登陆注册
5230500000088

第88章 XVIII(4)

When he was alone he sat lost in thought. At last he rang for a bell boy. And when the boy came, he said: "That door there"--indicating one in the opposite wall of the sitting room--"what does it lead into?"

"Another bedroom, sir."

"Unlock it, and tell them at the office I wish that room added to my suite."

As soon as the additional bedroom was at his dis-posal, he went in and began to undress. When he had taken off coat and waistcoat he paused to telephone to the office a call for eight o'clock. As he finished and hung up the receiver, a sound from the direction of the sitting room made him glance in there. On the threshold of the other bedroom stood his wife. She was in her nightgown; her hair, done in a single thick braid, hung down across her bosom. There was in the room and upon her childish loveliness the strange commingling of lights and shadows that falls when the electricity is still on and the early morning light is pushing in at the windows. They looked at each other in silence for some time. If she was frightened or in the least embarrassed she did not show it. She simply looked at him, while ever so slowly a smile dawned--a gleam in the eyes, a flutter round the lips, growing merrier and merrier. He did not smile. He continued to regard her gravely.

"I heard you and Mr. Tetlow come in," she said.

"Then--you talked so long--I fell asleep again. I only this minute awakened."

"Well, now you can go to sleep again," said he.

"But I'm not a bit sleepy. What are you doing in that room ?"

She advanced toward his door. He stood aside.

She peeped in. She was so close to him that her nightgown brushed the bosom of his shirt. "Another bedroom!" she exclaimed. "Just like ours."

"I didn't wish to disturb you," said he, calm and grave.

"But you wouldn't have been disturbing me," protested she, leaning against the door frame, less than two feet away and directly facing him.

"I'll stay on here," said he.

She gazed at him with great puzzled eyes. "Aren't you glad I'm back?" she asked.

"Certainly," said he with a polite smile. "But I must get some sleep." And he moved away.

"You must let me tell you how I happened to go and why I came----"

"Please," he interrupted, looking at her with a piercing though not in the least unfriendly expression that made her grow suddenly pale and thoughtful. "I do not wish to hear about it--not now--not ever. Tetlow told me all that it's necessary for me to know.

You have come to stay, I assume?"

"Yes--if"--her lip quivered--"if you'll let me."

"There can be no question of that," said he with the same polite gravity he had maintained throughout.

"You want me to leave you alone?"

"Please. I need sleep badly--and I've only three hours."

"You are--angry with me?"

He looked placidly into her lovely, swimming eyes.

"Not in the least."

"But how can you help being? I acted dreadfully."

He smiled gently. "But you are back--and the incident is closed."

She looked down at the carpet, her fingers playing with her braid, twisting and untwisting its strands. He stood waiting to close the door. She said, without lifting her eyes--said in a quiet, expressionless way, "I have killed your love?"

"I'll not trouble you any more," evaded he. And he laid his hand significantly upon the knob.

"I don't understand," she murmured. Then, with a quick apologetic glance at him, "But I'm very inconsiderate. You want to sleep. Good night."

"Good night," said he, beginning to close the door.

She impulsively stood close before him, lifted her small white face, as if for a kiss. "Do you forgive me?" she asked. "I was foolish. I didn't understand --till I went back. Then--nothing was the same. And I knew I wasn't fitted for that life--and didn't really care for him--and----"

He kissed her on the brow. "Don't agitate yourself," said he. "And we will never speak of this again."

She shrank as if he had struck her. Her head drooped, and her shoulders. When she was clear of the door, he quietly closed it.

同类推荐
  • 善一纯禅师语录

    善一纯禅师语录

    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。
  • 佛说般舟三昧经

    佛说般舟三昧经

    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。
  • 佛说佛医经

    佛说佛医经

    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。
  • Virginibus Puerisque

    Virginibus Puerisque

    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。
  • 胎金两界血脉

    胎金两界血脉

    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
  • 一品嫡女

    一品嫡女

    俊美的父亲+绝色的母亲=无颜的梦千落,只怪遗传出了错慵懒的性格+超级的智商=请别惹我,如果你把我内心的小老虎唤醒,就别怪我曾经是只猫五年前,梦千落懦弱,胆小,任人宰割五年后,梦千落乃是穿越之女,精通医术,光芒万丈重回京都,事易非,物已变,可惜歹人依旧在为非好吧,那就把过去加上未来的一起仇一起给我还回来!“千落,这条路,不好走。”“你输,我陪你东山再起;你赢,我陪你君临天下。”执子之手,与子偕老,女强男强文,请入坑
  • 快穿:戏精互怼日常

    快穿:戏精互怼日常

    南霜任务失败莫名其妙死亡后绑定了一个系统,然后穿越各个世界,完成寄体的遗愿,顺便给某狗系统收集情绪值。某狗系统:宿主!放下你手中的危险物品!南霜:你说什么?风太大我听不清啊!某男:媳妇加油!我支持你!——更新随缘,可入坑。1V1男女主身心干净。
  • 寂之途,魂之眠

    寂之途,魂之眠

    寂紫,是紫魂传人,七魂关键所在。与纪天言上古年间情感纠葛难成眷属,今生却也是波折难平,几番曲折。最后纪天言因蜀山锁妖塔中前世的恶念失去本性,坠入魔道。寂紫最终唤醒了他,并灭了赤炎王,重新封印了赤炎山……
  • 名人传记丛书:范仲淹

    名人传记丛书:范仲淹

    名人传记丛书——范仲淹——“先天下之忧而忧……”名言背后的真人真事:“立足课本,超越课堂”,以提高中小学生的综合素质为目的,让中小学生从课内受益到课外,是一生的良师益友。
  • 玄武天下

    玄武天下

    一名来历神秘却天赋极高的叶府少年叶凌一步步成为强者并揭露其身世,终成就玄祖的故事!一枪搅乱世!一拳轰云霄!一刀开天际!一掌碎山河!顺我者昌、逆我者亡!且看叶凌如何逆天而行,成就玄祖!
  • 重生之夺天女帝

    重生之夺天女帝

    幻隐门,人称暗夜冥府,门中皆是鬼才,医毒药学、阴阳八卦、天文地理他们皆涉足精研。她,幻月,幻隐门门主,集医毒、暗杀、伪装等各种奇门异学于一身的变态鬼才。然而,怀揣一身本事的她却重生到了一个修仙世界。在这个弱肉强食,强者为尊的世界,她这一身的本事竟毫无用武之地。这让久居上位的她,如何受得了如此无能的自己。一次奇遇,解开尘封的血脉,且看杀伐果断、医术倾天的她,如何一路开挂羽化成仙,最终夺天换帝,俯看天下……
  • 绝命香魂

    绝命香魂

    我们村子旁边有一条阴水河,冬天不结冰,底下葬有无数尸骨,连鱼儿也是冤魂化的。但是那一天,我在船上遇见了一个绝美的女人,她对我做了那种事……
  • 淡水观赏鱼饲养指南

    淡水观赏鱼饲养指南

    国内权威淡水观赏鱼饲养专家,对淡水观赏鱼饲养进行专业性、科普性、知识性的介绍。让大家了解饲养淡水鱼的技巧。配有大量精美的淡水观赏鱼彩色图片,图文并茂、文字浅显易懂,操作性强。详细地介绍饲养淡水观赏鱼的基础知识,让你在饲养观赏鱼前先了解它们。常见近100种淡水观赏鱼的生活习性、饲养环境等方面知识。让你轻松养好每一种鱼。
  • 庄子逍遥人生(传世名家经典文丛)

    庄子逍遥人生(传世名家经典文丛)

    人生是一门博大精深的学问,有着太多太多的智慧等待着我们去汲取、领悟;思想是一片宽广无垠的大海,有着太浓太浓的魅力吸引我们去畅游其中。名家的人生,闪烁智慧的光芒,为我们折射出人生的光彩,波荡出生活的弦音;名家的人生,尽显思想的魅力,引领我们享受心灵的美丽旅途,体味生命的丰富元素。驰骋于睿智的思想海洋,让我们的精神变得充盈,心灵变得纯净而通透。
  • THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER (英文朗读版)

    THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER (英文朗读版)

    《纳尼亚传奇》系列作品对后世作家影响深远,包括《哈利波特》系列的作者J·K·罗琳都曾表示自己深受C·S·刘易斯作品的影响。随着《纳尼亚传奇》系列故事改编成电影,全世界更多观众和读者开始认识这部不朽的作品。穿梭在一个又一个的纳尼亚冒险故事中,这绝对是你一生难忘的神奇旅程……