登陆注册
5235700000108

第108章 CHAPTER XXIII.

"What! eloped?"

"Heaven forbid! Why, mother, I didn't say she was alone with him; her father was of the party."

"Then surely you are distressing yourself more than you need. She goes to London with her papa, and Mr. Coventry happens to go up the same day; that is really all."

"Oh, but, mother, it was no accident. I watched his face, and there was no surprise when he came up with his luggage and saw her."

Mrs. Little pondered for a minute, and then said, "I dare say all her friends knew she was going up to London to-day; and Mr. Coventry determined to go up the same day. Why, he is courting her: my dear Henry, you knew before to-day that you had a rival, and a determined one. If you go and blame her for his acts, it will be apt to end in his defeating you."

"Will it? Then I won't blame her at all."

"You had better not till you are quite sure: it is one way of losing a high-spirited girl."

"I tell you I won't. Mother!"

"Well, dear?"

"When I asked leave to come to the station and see her off, she seemed put out."

"Did she forbid you?"

"No; but she did not like it somehow. Ah, she knew beforehand that Coventry would be there."

"Gently, gently! She might think it possible, and yet not know it.

More likely it was on account of her father. You have never told him that you love his daughter?"

"No."

"And he is rather mercenary: perhaps that is too strong a word; but, in short, a mere man of the world. Might it not be that Grace Carden would wish him to learn your attachment either from your lips or from her own, and not detect it in an impetuous young man's conduct on the platform of a railway, at the tender hour of parting?"

"Oh, how wise you are, and what an insight you have got! Your words are balm. But, there--he is with her for ever so long, and I am here all alone."

"Not quite alone, love; your counselor is by your side, and may, perhaps, show you how to turn this to your advantage. You write to her every day, and then the postman will be a powerful rival to Mr. Coventry, perhaps a more powerful one than Mr. Coventry to you."

Acting on this advice, Henry wrote every day to Grace Carden. She was not so constant in her replies; but she did write to him now and then, and her letters breathed a gentle affection that allayed his jealousy, and made this period of separation the happiest six weeks he had ever known. As for Grace, about three o'clock she used to look out for the postman, and be uneasy and restless if he was late, and, when his knock came, her heart would bound, and she generally flew upstairs with the prize, to devour it in secret. She fed her heart full with these letters, and loved the writer better and better. For once the present suitor lost ground, and the absent suitor gained it. Mrs. Little divined as much from Grace's letters and messages to herself; and she said, with a smile, "You see 'Les absents n'ont pas toujours tort.'"

同类推荐
  • 太上老君金书内序

    太上老君金书内序

    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。
  • 医案精华

    医案精华

    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。
  • 僧伽罗刹所集佛行经

    僧伽罗刹所集佛行经

    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。
  • 人子须知

    人子须知

    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 Last Stetson

    The Last Stetson

    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
  • 红色莫斯科

    红色莫斯科

    重生为红军米沙!
  • 圣龙图腾

    圣龙图腾

    龙,其形有九似。头似驼,角似鹿,眼似兔,耳似牛,项似蛇,腹似蜃,鳞似鲤,爪似鹰,掌似虎。先民氏族,以圣龙为图腾,延续火种,传承生命。诸天万界,龙腾四海。吾辈岂是池中物,一朝崛起,气吞山河亿万里。
  • 范军是只骆驼吗?

    范军是只骆驼吗?

    那天下午范军叫我去他那儿,我就知道其实又是为了彬炎的事。最近一阵,他心神不定,为了彬炎的事,他说二龙要翻面了。我不认识二龙,二龙是个传说。二龙的传说常常和恐惧联系在一起,提到二龙多的那一阵,范军根本不能到厂里来上班。恐惧感给了我一个印象,这个印象让我在范军门口看见二龙时,根本无法把眼前这个矮小的瘸子和传说联系在一起。我第一次看见的二龙,不光瘸腿,头上似有似无几根毛,不好用秃或不秃来说。
  • 体育教学设计

    体育教学设计

    本书介绍了体育教学设计的理论基础、模式、背景分析、过程,以及体育教学评价与体育教学设计评价等内容。
  • 乖,听话

    乖,听话

    李宇玉怀着不甘嫁给乐沨,而乐沨以满怀热情期待自己的婚姻却被泼了冷水。他们之间的关系形成了一个怪圈彼此都以尖锐,刻薄,甚至负面的太对来应对彼此的挑衅。最终,他们会有什么样的结局,是否能够从中找到自己想要的理想的婚姻?当终于有了机会可以做选择的时候,这场被动的婚姻是否还能继续?
  • 能说会做懂应酬让你处处受欢迎

    能说会做懂应酬让你处处受欢迎

    对于每个忙忙碌碌、为人生打拼的现代人来说,说话、做事与应酬,是其在社会生活中最基本的三项活动,也是体现一个人社会化能力最重要的三大成功资本。《能说会做懂应酬让你处处受欢迎》全面详细地介绍了得体的说话技巧、高效的做事经验和洒脱的应酬之道。深刻体验和借鉴书中的事例、事理,你的人际交往就会少一些摩擦,多一分和谐;智慧地汲取书中的做事方法和策略,你的事业就会多一分顺利,少一分波折。
  • 酒的奥妙

    酒的奥妙

    清人施补华在《岘佣说诗》里评子羽先生《凉州词》的后两句“醉卧沙场君莫笑,古来征战几人回”说:“作悲伤语便浅,作谐谑语读便妙”。还说,究竟酒的作用,“在学人领悟”。看来,喝酒的未必作得诗;作诗的大都是喝得酒的。到北京以后的喝酒记忆,已经是七八年以后的事了。大多是和作者、同学、同事之间的小酌,你来我往,难得会聚。那时要凭票吃饭凭票买酒,不是很方便,但一得机会,总有人会大方地拿出瓶酒来,且是带有地方特色,现在看来都是名酒了。生命的意义不在于时间的长度,不限于自己的感受,而在于人与人之间的情感。
  • 特种部队之德国篇

    特种部队之德国篇

    德国特种部队的组建与第二次世界大战有着密不可分的关系。德国希望在地区冲突不断、恐怖主义威胁世界安全的今天,在维护地区和平、防止和打击恐怖主义方面有所作为,为提高自身的国际政治地位增加筹码,于是着手组建及发展特种部队。
  • 暖宠迷心

    暖宠迷心

    【1v1暖宠】她赵家小透明当得好好的,一桩婚事愣是砸到了她头上。白捡了一个人人羡慕的钻石老公。不甘逃婚,亦是没能躲过他们的孽缘。为了离婚,使出浑身解数,依旧没能将那一纸婚约作废。好在小道消息,老公心系真爱白月光。当她放松心态,心安理得享受生活的时候。才发现自己大错特错,傻傻的跌进了骆子倾盘织的罗网。赵文舒咬牙切齿的控诉道:“你骗子,你真爱呢,白月光呢。”赵文舒噼里啪啦一堆问题砸下来,直接把骆子倾砸闷了。只能无辜的回了句:“都是你。”
  • 关键时刻,曹操是这么干的

    关键时刻,曹操是这么干的

    曹操,在中国历史上是最有议的人物。拥之者称之为英雄,反之者称为枭雄,但无论如何,能从一个叛经离道的顽皮少年,左右冲突,一步步造就霸势,走上高位这一点,便足以证明他的智慧超群。本书将曹操的一生的功过、成败细致点评,同时结合经济学和管理学的知识,为读者送去深刻的启示。