登陆注册
5237600000068

第68章 AYNESWORTH PLANS A LOVE STORY(1)

Wingrave disappeared suddenly from London. Aynesworth alone knew where he was gone, and he was pledged to secrecy. Two people received letters from him.

Lady Ruth was one of them.

"This," she remarked quietly, handing it over to her husband, "may interest you."He adjusted his eye glasses and read it aloud:--"Dear Lady Ruth,--I am leaving London today for several weeks. With the usual inconsistency of the person to whom life is by no means a valuable asset, I am obeying the orders of my physician. I regret, therefore, that I cannot have the pleasure of entertaining your husband and yourself during Cowes week. The yacht, however, is entirely at your disposal, and I have written Captain Masterton to that effect. Pray extend your cruise, if you feel inclined to.--Iremain, yours sincerely, W."

Mr. Barrington looked at his wife inquiringly.

"That seems to me entirely satisfactory, Ruth," he said. "I think that he might have added a word or two of acknowledgment for what you did for him.

There is no doubt that, but for your promptness, things might have gone much worse.""Yes," Lady Ruth said slowly, "I think that he might have added a few words."Her husband regarded her critically.

"I am afraid, dear," he said, "that all this anxiety has knocked you up a little. You are not looking well.""I am tired," she answered calmly. "It has been a long season. I should like to do what Wingrave has done--go away somewhere and rest."Barrington laid his hand upon hers affectionately. It seemed to him that the rings hung a little loosely upon the thin, white fingers. She was pale, too, and her eyes were weary. He did not notice that, as soon as she could, she drew her hand away.

"'Pon my word," he said, "I wish we could go off somewhere by ourselves. But with Wingrave's yacht to entertain on, we must do something for a few of the people. I don't suppose he minds whom we ask, or how many.""No!" she answered, "I do not suppose he cares.""It is most opportune," Barrington declared. "I wanted particularly to do something for the Hendersons. He seems very well disposed, and his influence means everything just now. Really, Ruth, I believe we are going to pull through after all."She smiled a little wearily.

"Do you think so, Lumley?"

"I am sure of it, Ruth," he answered. "I only wish I could see you a little more cheerful. Surely you can't still--be afraid of Wingrave," he added, glancing uneasily across the table.

She looked him in the eyes.

"That is exactly what I am," she answered. "I am afraid of him. I have always been afraid. Nothing has happened to change him. He came back to have his revenge. He will have it."Lumley Barrington, for once, felt himself superior to his clever wife. He smiled upon her reassuringly.

"My dear Ruth," he said, "if only you would reflect for a few moments, I feel sure you would realize the absurdity of such fancies. We did Wingrave a service in introducing him to society here, and I am sure that he appreciated it. If he wished for our ruin, why did he lend us eight thousand pounds on no security? Why does he lend us his yacht to entertain our friends? Why did he give me that information which enabled me to make the only money I ever did make on the Stock Exchange?"She smiled contemptuously.

"You do not understand a man like Wingrave," she declared. "Nothing that he has done is inconsistent with my point of view. He gave you a safe tip, knowing very well that when you had won a little, you would try again on your own account and lose--which you did. He lent us the money to become our creditor; and he lends us the yacht to give another handle to the people who are saying already that he occupies the position in our family which is more fully recognized on the other side of the Channel!""You are talking rubbish," he declared vehemently. "No one would dare to say such a thing of you--of my wife!"She laughed unmercifully.

"If you were not my husband," she said cruelly, "You would have heard it before now. I have been careful all my life--more careful than most women, but I can hear the whisperings already. There are more ways to ruin than one, Lumley.""We will refuse the yacht," Barrington said sullenly, "and I will go to the Jews for that eight thousand pounds.""We will do nothing of the sort," Lady Ruth answered. "I am not going to be a laughing stock for Emily and her friends if I can help it. We'll play the game through now! Only--it is best for you to know the risks . . ."Wingrave's second letter was to Juliet. She found it on her table one afternoon when she came back from her painting class. She tore it open eagerly enough, but her face clouded over as she read.

"Dear Juliet,--I am sorry that I am unable to carry out my promise to come and see you, but I have been slightly indisposed for some days, and am leaving London, for the present, almost at once. I trust that you are still interested in your work, and will enjoy your trip to Normandy.

同类推荐
  • 医经国小

    医经国小

    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。
  • 东坡志林

    东坡志林

    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。
  • 大毗卢遮那佛说要略念诵经

    大毗卢遮那佛说要略念诵经

    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。
  • 还山遗稿

    还山遗稿

    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。
  • Theologico-Political Treatise P2

    Theologico-Political Treatise P2

    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
  • 吾家皇后貌倾城

    吾家皇后貌倾城

    她是王朝最尊贵的嫡公主,出生之日紫气东来,尊上厚爱封号“倾城”二字。世间传言倾城公主貌可倾人于初见,才可倾世举手间,德亦倾城吹灰之力。倾倒众生,端的是贵妃愿研磨,郡主甘捧香。她自幼研习佛法,沐浴佛恩,一心向慈,佛祖赐予她最纯净的身躯,银发银眸,宛若濯莲。——这种白莲花的女主一般会被虐得很惨。但是要没有点隐藏性格,怎么发动隐藏攻击?腹黑,抽风,肩负仇恨不屈,四处装逼拉仇恨,看谁谁都是傻逼。皇权倾轧,宫阙沉浮,朝代更替,一路踏歌,橹尸百万,伏线千里。她说:“别看我长得小白我就真的小白。大抵是我长得太白了,所以心眼儿不是一般的黑。什么?不信?嗯,排你前面死我手上的也都是这么以为的。”她说:“在我面前装?你有我会装么?你能装出个天下第一么?不能就滚!哪来这么多绿茶婊!”她说:“违我意者,其远必诛。别惹我,我怕你——疼。”——————————————————————阴谋迭起,险象复生,兜兜转转,永不离弃。她一路走来,终有一人拥她入怀。他摘得世间最美的那朵濯莲,将江山置入她手,只笑言:“聘礼,我的皇后。”———(简言)一、1v1,无污染。二、女主系腹黑强大型,男主系黑吃黑更强大型。三、非小白非虐文非悲情。四、三年磨一剑,此乃漪漪倾心之作。不接受恶意评价,非喜勿扰。
  • 八零神医小娇媳

    八零神医小娇媳

    身为神医之女,上辈子一直悬壶济世,一朝穿越到现代!父母不爱就不爱吧,姐妹包子就包子吧!我有金手指怕什么?只是某妹看她的眼神怎么这么奇怪?本姑娘是神医,不是神棍,别不信呀!某妹眼神惊恐:明明上一世姐姐死了,这个妖孽是从哪里来的?新书《二分之一的甜度》上线,需要宝宝们支持!
  • 一舞倾城:绝世妖妃

    一舞倾城:绝世妖妃

    玄气作流彩,翩然起舞,她是第一人;一舞惊天下,琴弦拿命,她是第一人;神兽如倒贴,萌宠如云,她是第一人;各种外挂随便开,各种美男随便选,各种圣兽随便挑。邪恶是她的灵魂,精明是她的化身。不甘平凡,一步一步,只想站在世界顶端!她唯恐天下不乱,处处引火。最后却也是玩火自焚,坠入他早就铺下的情网…
  • 探秘:世界未解之迷(动植物篇)

    探秘:世界未解之迷(动植物篇)

    与太阳适度亲密的距离、丰富的水源、肥沃的土壤……种种机缘使地球成为了生命的摇篮。目前,地球上人类已知的动物大约有130万种,植物大37万种,每一种都有我们意想不到的精彩。在这些植物中到底蕴藏着什么样令人着迷的秘密呢?让我们一起来探寻。
  • Heretics

    Heretics

    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。
  • 三字经

    三字经

    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。
  • 那些难以忘怀的电影(每天读一点英文)

    那些难以忘怀的电影(每天读一点英文)

    该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,特点有三:内文篇目取自中外最经典、最权威、最流行的读本,适于诵读;“实战提升”部分,包括影片赏析、单词注解、脱口而出的句子,在重温经典中轻松掌握地道英语!
  • 我是天才大明星

    我是天才大明星

    新书:万物便利店,已发布√,欢迎收看。系统:宿主,我这里有个任务,你需要…苏云:嗯?我给你三秒钟重新组织一下语言?系统:QAQ没啥事儿,您先忙。想加书友群的小伙伴,在这里:922687950
  • Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

    Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Gardener, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny. Be sure to read the companion book, Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard. Praise for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes "Auxier has a juggler's dexterity with prose that makes this fantastical tale quicken the senses."-Kirkus Reviews
  • 清净观世音菩萨普贤陀罗尼经

    清净观世音菩萨普贤陀罗尼经

    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。