登陆注册
5260400000160

第160章 Chapter XLV(2)

In a way, Cowperwood was rather gratified by Aileen's message, for he felt that his present plight, bitter as it was, was largely due to Butler's opposition and he felt no compunction in striking him through his daughter. His former feeling as to the wisdom of not enraging Butler had proved rather futile, he thought, and since the old man could not be placated it might be just as well to have Aileen demonstrate to him that she was not without resources of her own and could live without him. She might force him to change his attitude toward her and possibly even to modify some of his political machinations against him, Cowperwood. Any port in a storm--and besides, he had now really nothing to lose, and instinct told him that her move was likely to prove more favorable than otherwise--so he did nothing to prevent it.

She took her jewels, some underwear, a couple of dresses which she thought would be serviceable, and a few other things, and packed them in the most capacious portmanteau she had. Shoes and stockings came into consideration, and, despite her efforts, she found that she could not get in all that she wished. Her nicest hat, which she was determined to take, had to be carried outside.

She made a separate bundle of it, which was not pleasant to contemplate. Still she decided to take it. She rummaged in a little drawer where she kept her money and jewels, and found the three hundred and fifty dollars and put it in her purse. It wasn't much, as Aileen could herself see, but Cowperwood would help her.

If he did not arrange to take care of her, and her father would not relent, she would have to get something to do. Little she knew of the steely face the world presents to those who have not been practically trained and are not economically efficient. She did not understand the bitter reaches of life at all. She waited, humming for effect, until she heard her father go downstairs to dinner on this tenth day of December, then leaned over the upper balustrade to make sure that Owen, Callum, Norah, and her mother were at the table, and that Katy, the housemaid, was not anywhere in sight. Then she slipped into her father's den, and, taking a note from inside her dress, laid it on his desk, and went out.

It was addressed to "Father," and read:

Dear Father,--I just cannot do what you want me to. I have made up my mind that I love Mr. Cowperwood too much, so I am going away. Don't look for me with him. You won't find me where you think. I am not going to him; I will not be there. I am going to try to get along by myself for a while, until he wants me and can marry me. I'm terribly sorry; but I just can't do what you want. I can't ever forgive you for the way you acted to me.

Tell mama and Norah and the boys good-by for me.

Aileen To insure its discovery, she picked up Butler's heavy-rimmed spectacles which he employed always when reading, and laid them on it. For a moment she felt very strange, somewhat like a thief--a new sensation for her. She even felt a momentary sense of ingratitude coupled with pain. Perhaps she was doing wrong. Her father had been very good to her. Her mother would feel so very bad. Norah would be sorry, and Callum and Owen. Still, they did not understand her any more. She was resentful of her father's attitude. He might have seen what the point was; but no, he was too old, too hidebound in religion and conventional ideas--he never would. He might never let her come back. Very well, she would get along somehow. She would show him. She might get a place as a school-teacher, and live with the Calligans a long while, if necessary, or teach music.

She stole downstairs and out into the vestibule, opening the outer door and looking out into the street. The lamps were already flaring in the dark, and a cool wind was blowing. Her portmanteau was heavy, but she was quite strong. She walked briskly to the corner, which was some fifty feet away, and turned south, walking rather nervously and irritably, for this was a new experience for her, and it all seemed so undignified, so unlike anything she was accustomed to doing. She put her bag down on a street corner, finally, to rest. A boy whistling in the distance attracted her attention, and as he drew near she called to him: "Boy! Oh, boy!"

He came over, looking at her curiously.

"Do you want to earn some money?"

"Yes, ma'am," he replied politely, adjusting a frowsy cap over one ear.

"Carry this bag for me," said Aileen, and he picked it up and marched off.

In due time she arrived at the Calligans', and amid much excitement was installed in the bosom of her new home. She took her situation with much nonchalance, once she was properly placed, distributing her toilet articles and those of personal wear with quiet care.

The fact that she was no longer to have the services of Kathleen, the maid who had served her and her mother and Norah jointly, was odd, though not trying. She scarcely felt that she had parted from these luxuries permanently, and so made herself comfortable.

Mamie Calligan and her mother were adoring slaveys, so she was not entirely out of the atmosphere which she craved and to which she was accustomed.

同类推荐
  • Arizona Nights

    Arizona Nights

    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。
  • 芳谷集

    芳谷集

    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。
  • 阳羡茗壶系

    阳羡茗壶系

    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。
  • 中日兵事始末

    中日兵事始末

    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。
  • 胎息秘要歌诀

    胎息秘要歌诀

    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
  • 梦里见洛神

    梦里见洛神

    已经是从市里调到县分公司,这么长时间,杜浩然仍然纠结于那个丢手机的傍晚。那天的情形,他记得很清楚。细梳细理,前前后后都很清爽。但手机究竟是怎么丢的呢?事情发生在回家的路上,他记得自己先把车停在小区附近的便利店,女儿瑶瑶早晨出门的时候告诉他想喝粉丝汤。家里没有粉丝了,他准备买两包粉丝。从车里下来,他还接了一个电话,有人约他晚上吃饭。他哪有出门吃饭的心思,便以老婆不在家,要给女儿做晚饭为由推脱了。他说的是实话,瑶瑶读高三,正处于关键时刻。更何况,除了这个原因,还有另外一件事搅得他的心情就像雨天的黄土路,泥泞不堪。
  • 花季那年,我们都沉沦过

    花季那年,我们都沉沦过

    如果不是夕阳西下的那个侧脸,不是那个懵懂的岁月里遇见那场盛开的烟花,也许所有的一切都不会这么复杂,可是,命运在冥冥之中便注定,有一种爱,叫做轮回。它不是生离死别,而是撕心裂肺。
  • 论语(国学启蒙书系列)

    论语(国学启蒙书系列)

    本书为语录体文集,主要记载孔子及其弟子的言行,因此称为语。《论语(国学启蒙书系列)》为该系列其中一册,丛书编者韩震等人采用活泼插图的表现方式,让读者在阅读中积淀文化底蕴,培养良好道德品质,从而受益一生。 “国民阅读文库”之“国学启蒙书系列”由权威教育专家及国学大师联袂编撰而成,为适应青少年的阅读习惯,采用了双色注音的方式;书中精美的插图帮助青少年加深对内容的理解;通过阅读精彩的故事,让青少年懂得为人处世的道理。可以说,这是一套为青少年读者倾力打造的国学启蒙经典读物。
  • 鬼面王爷敛财妃

    鬼面王爷敛财妃

    【已完结】【鬼面兰陵王VS敛财公主】她是理工科的天才型学生,对历史是一窍不通,甚至连南北朝是什么都不知道,却穿越成了北周公主。不过,当公主有好处呀!圆满了她爱财且爱敛财的本性!拐带侍女,大包小包的偷偷离宫,却不想一着不慎跌下悬崖...虽然没死成!但是那个劫财又劫色的绝色美男是谁啊啊啊!他有一副绝美的容颜,却因生母不详,招来无数鄙夷的目光。一副鬼面十年隐忍,他努力让自己变得强大,然而人怕出名猪怕壮!他的强大和绝色为他带来更多的嫉恨和杀机。只有她,无视这些,因为...她闪闪发亮的眸子里只有——钱!
  • 孩子他爸给我滚

    孩子他爸给我滚

    都说舍不得孩子套不住狼,只是为什么他连孩子都出动了,还是不能把她留在身边?明明她的彪悍令男人都望而止步,而又是为什么偏偏在他盯上她之后却一大堆男人跑出来瞎搅合?喂,对没错就是你,别以为是国际巨星就很了不起,松开你的进口咸猪手!喂喂,还有你,别以为你是小孩子我就不敢打你,小屁孩一边玩泥巴去,别缠着我的女人!我的天呀,大爷你牙齿都快掉光了吧?这女人有暴力侵向,你这幅老骨头吃不消,这份罪还是让我来受吧。***片段展示***“你不是说我是你唯一的男人吗?”“你不知道善变是女人的特长,说谎是女人的专利吗?”“可是你哪一点向女人?”“那我就爷们一点咯。”下一秒,男人已经被女人很爷们地摔在地上,而且是过肩摔!***“小姐能请你跳支舞吗?”“不好意思我不会跳。”“没关系,我来教你好了。”“那好吧,跳不好别生气哦。”一支曲子还没有完,男人已经被女人“不小心”踩了N次,这女人存心要他的脚报废的吧?***“嫁给我,我会全心全意一辈子只对你一个人好。”“才一个破戒指就想换我的一辈子,你想得美!”女人接过那束娇艳的玫瑰花狠狠地往男人脸上砸,男人不但丢脸还差点毁容。
  • 全景天津

    全景天津

    《全景天津》是天津电视台于2008年拍摄的以空中视角俯瞰天津的航拍纪录片,并荣获中国电视艺术家协会颁发的2009年度全国城市形象片一等奖等多个奖项,是天津电视台的天津航拍系列题材纪录片之一。
  • 法医王妃:王爷欠收拾

    法医王妃:王爷欠收拾

    她本是21世纪的一名法医,因为一次事故穿越到了历史没有记载的泽国,成为了宰相之女,可惜她是庶出,在宰相府一点地位也没有。由于政局动荡,诡事频出,不少凶案找不到症结所在,因为相府的一个丫头的死亡,使她走上了寻证探密之路,她利用自己的法医学知识破解了一个个难题,最终赢得了风流王爷的青睐。“这个女人我要定了!”“想什么呢?解剖刀拿来!”看21世纪的女法医怎样斗古代风流王爷,进而破解一个个迷案。
  • 王爷让偶轻薄下

    王爷让偶轻薄下

    本文实体书已上市,改名为《腹黑王爷要调教》,各大新华书店有售,淘宝网购买地址:http://m.wkkk.net/m.wkkk.net?id=13651536912&prt=1319273300778&prc=3大婚前被人退婚?退就退吧!没什么大不了的事情新婚夜被人休?休就休吧!也不是什么多大的事情一匹小毛驴,一个小木箱,是她行走江湖的道具外表温柔美丽大方,端庄又淑女,却是让人闻风丧胆的女魔头没事的时候煮煮人,有空的时候调戏调戏帅哥被休的日子滋润又多彩管你是卓一航还是欧阳锋,是薄情王爷还是冷酷的皇帝遇上她,都会让你成为温驯的小绵羊勤给偶做的漂亮视频:?pstyle=1很精彩,不可不看情景一:"你还是不是男人!”她讪讪一笑道他大怒冷道:“我是不是男人你刚才已经摸过了,用得着怀疑吗?”她咬着牙道:“好,你既然是男人,现在就求我放了你!”他不解道:“求你放了我?”她狡黠的道:“你中了我的迷魂药,难道是我求你放了我?”情景二:大锅里,他被热气腾腾的煮着,原本明亮的眸子有些晦暗不明。大锅外,她浅浅的笑着,纤纤素手轻轻勾起他的下巴,眸子里满是坏笑。她懒懒的道:“相公,这便是你休了我的下场。”她望了眼餐桌又接着道:“菜都好了,就差这个汤了!”-----------------------------------------------------------------------推荐自己的文:《丑妃无敌》:丑女不丑,帅哥很帅《坏坏相公倒霉妻》:聪慧可人的女主,腹黑的男主《娘子你别太嚣张》:男扮女装,女扮男装反串《夫君,女子不好欺!》:《错惹狂帝》:《王爷让偶轻薄下》:被人退婚不是可耻的事情,而是生命的新生《劣妻》:夜给自己建了一个群,群号:45841753,非铁杆勿入,定期清理群成员,敲门砖:潇湘帐户名+喜欢的文名-----------------------------------------------------------------------推荐自己的新文《劣妻》:,某夜的第一本现代文,请亲们多多支持!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • 王者荣耀之无双之巅

    王者荣耀之无双之巅

    【2018王者荣耀文学大赛·征文参赛作品】他在经历陨落后终于走出。那个曾经无敌的荣耀之王,如今再次意外归来。他,将重新站上世界的巅峰!
  • 文殊师利所说摩诃般若波罗蜜经

    文殊师利所说摩诃般若波罗蜜经

    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。