登陆注册
5230100000094

第94章 CHAPTER XXXII(2)

With Kitty on one side and Cutty on the other Hawksley managed the descent tolerably well. Often a foot dragged. How strong she was, this girl! No hysterics, no confusion, after all that racket, with death - or something worse - reaching out toward her; calmly telling him that there was another step, warning him not to bear too heavily on Cutty! Holding him up physically and morally, these two, now all he had in life to care for. Yesterday, unknown to him; this night, bound by hoops of steel. The girl had forgiven him; he knew it by the touch of her arm.... Old Stefani! A sob escaped him. Their arms tightened.

"No; I was thinking of Stefani. Rather hard - to die all alone - because he loved me."

Kitty longed to be alone. There were still many unshed tears - some for Cutty, some for Stefani Gregor, some for Johnny Two-Hawks, and some for herself.

In the limousine Cutty sat in the middle, Kitty on his left and Hawksley on his right, his arms round them both. Presently Hawksley's head touched his shoulder and rested there; a little later Kitty did likewise. His children! Lord, he was going to have a tremendous interest in life, after all! He smiled with kindly irony at the back of the chauffeur. His children, these two; and he knew as he planned their future that they were thinking over and round but not of him, which is the way of youth.

At the apartment Cutty decided to let Hawksley sit in an easy chair in the living room until Captain Harrison arrived. Kuroki was ordered to prepare a supper, which would be served on the tea cart, set at Hawksley's knees. Kitty - because it was impossible for her to remain inactive - set the linen and silver. She was in and out of the room, ill at ease, angry, frightened, bitter, avoiding Hawksley's imploring eyes because she was not sure of her own.

She was sure of one thing, however. All the nonsense was out of her head. To-morrow she would be returning to the regular job. She would have a page from the Arabian Nights to look upon in the days to come. She understood, though it twisted her heart dreadfully: she was in the eyes of this man a plaything, a pretty woman he had met in passing. If she had saved his life he had in turn saved hers; they were quits. She did not blame him for his point of view. He had come from the top of the world, where women were either ornaments or playthings, while she and hers had always struggled to maintain equilibrium in the middle stratum. Cutty could give him friendship; but she could not because she was a woman, young and pretty.

Love him? Well, she would get over it. It might be only the glamour of the adventure they had shared. Anyhow, she wouldn't die of it.

Cutty hadn't. Of course it hurt; she was a silly little fool, and all that. Once he was in Montana he would be sending for his Olga.

There wasn't the least doubt in her mind that if ever autocracy returned to power, he'd be casting aside his American citizenship, his chaps and sombrero, for the old regalia. Well - truculently to the world at large - why not?

So she avoided Hawksley's gaze, sensing the sustained persistence of it. But, oh, to be alone, alone, alone!

同类推荐
  • 明伦汇编家范典夫妇部

    明伦汇编家范典夫妇部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 百愚禅师语录

    百愚禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Chimes

    The Chimes

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绛云楼题跋

    绛云楼题跋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲鸣凤记

    六十种曲鸣凤记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 佛说离睡经

    佛说离睡经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 老公:我才十八岁

    老公:我才十八岁

    一个呆板木讷的老男人搞不定,她林夕两字就倒过来写!可是,一切又和她想到和看到的完全不一样了。那个人其实还蛮帅滴。霸道的那样有味道,小心肝在慢慢地沦陷了。
  • 因明义断

    因明义断

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 左右逢源好人缘

    左右逢源好人缘

    不用左右为难成为矛盾焦点,巧用心思让自己彻底左右逢源,只有有了良好的人际关系,职场达人才具备了“人和”这个最重要的因素,职场之道可走得远、走得畅。其实生活中也一样,无论对亲情,朋友,爱人乃至家人,都要巧妙的运用左右逢源有个好人缘,这样的生活才够轻松,精彩!
  • 从故事中学会团结友爱(教青少年为人处事的故事宝库)

    从故事中学会团结友爱(教青少年为人处事的故事宝库)

    商汤网开三面,道之以德,齐之以礼,有耻且格。——孔子,我们要从历史中学习团结友爱。
  • 抗战之重生周卫国

    抗战之重生周卫国

    新书《我真不想管这些啊》求各位移步。======周文穿越重生了。恩,重生成了周卫国,原名周文。哟,还带个系统。哎哟厉害了我的哥。萧雅也救了,也没成杨过~读者群:707493786或者直接搜索小太阳的读者群~欢迎小伙伴加入~新书《抗战之小军医》已经上传,求各种支持!
  • 爱到荼蘼花事了

    爱到荼蘼花事了

    不久前,我还是上流社会里人人不可亵渎的千金大小姐。一场飞来横祸却让我一无所有。为了父亲,我如飞蛾扑火,委身于原本垂涎我的富家公子哥,做了他的情妇。原本的那些圈中好友一个个露出了最恶毒的嘴脸。失去自由,沦为上流圈中的玩物……
  • 冰山校花有点难撩

    冰山校花有点难撩

    开学第一天就和女神表白?贫穷的他,高高在上的她!如果不是那一个缘分的雨天,他们也不会相识!是缘分的牵绊?还是命运的捉弄?只有经过孤独的世界,才会体会到相爱的艰难!身份之间的巨大差距,注定我们有缘无份
  • 崇祯故事

    崇祯故事

    华裔士兵开着炮车穿越明末,去追寻一段历史,追求一个女人。QQ书友群:912093696(风清月莹)
  • 天启之门

    天启之门

    【NPC反击玩家!吊打穿越者!】我的世界我做主!哪里轮到你们这些魂淡来作威作福?!走上【史上最强救世主】的道路,注定充满了刺激!……陈小练:从今天开始,一个宗旨为抵抗那些魂淡的抵抗组织成立了!我们的团队名就叫……逗逼联盟!队员:队长,这名字,我怕说出去会被人打啊…………