登陆注册
5262200000187

第187章 Chapter 4 A HAPPY RETURN OF THE DAY(4)

Never, never, never, marry a little man!" Papa also would remark to me (he possessed extraordinary humour),"that a family of whales must not ally themselves with sprats." His company was eagerly sought, as may be supposed, by the wits of the day, and our house was their continual resort. I have known as many as three copper-plate engravers exchanging the most exquisite sallies and retorts there, at one time.' (Here Mr Sampson delivered himself captive, and said, with an uneasy movement on his chair, that three was a large number, and it must have been highly entertaining.)'Among the most prominent members of that distinguished circle, was a gentleman measuring six feet four in height. HE was NOTan engraver.' (Here Mr Sampson said, with no reason whatever, Of course not.) 'This gentleman was so obliging as to honour me with attentions which I could not fail to understand.' (Here Mr Sampson murmured that when it came to that, you could always tell.) 'I immediately announced to both my parents that those attentions were misplaced, and that I could not favour his suit.

They inquired was he too tall? I replied it was not the stature, but the intellect was too lofty. At our house, I said, the tone was too brilliant, the pressure was too high, to be maintained by me, a mere woman, in every-day domestic life. I well remember mamma's clasping her hands, and exclaiming "This will end in a little man!"'

(Here Mr Sampson glanced at his host and shook his head with despondency.) 'She afterwards went so far as to predict that it would end in a little man whose mind would be below the average, but that was in what I may denominate a paroxysm of maternal disappointment. Within a month,' said Mrs Wilfer, deepening her voice, as if she were relating a terrible ghost story, 'within a-month, I first saw R. W. my husband. Within a year, I married him. It is natural for the mind to recall these dark coincidences on the present day.'

Mr Sampson at length released from the custody of Mrs Wilfer's eye, now drew a long breath, and made the original and striking remark that there was no accounting for these sort of presentiments. R. W. scratched his head and looked apologetically all round the table until he came to his wife, when observing her as it were shrouded in a more sombre veil than before, he once more hinted, 'My dear, I am really afraid you are not altogether enjoying yourself?' To which she once more replied, 'On the contrary, R. W.

Quite so.'

The wretched Mr Sampson's position at this agreeable entertainment was truly pitiable. For, not only was he exposed defenceless to the harangues of Mrs Wilfer, but he received the utmost contumely at the hands of Lavinia; who, partly to show Bella that she (Lavinia) could do what she liked with him, and partly to pay him off for still obviously admiring Bella's beauty, led him the life of a dog. Illuminated on the one hand by the stately graces of Mrs Wilfer's oratory, and shadowed on the other by the checks and frowns of the young lady to whom he had devoted himself in his destitution, the sufferings of this young gentleman were distressing to witness. If his mind for the moment reeled under them, it may be urged, in extenuation of its weakness, that it was constitutionally a knock-knee'd mind and never very strong upon its legs.

The rosy hours were thus beguiled until it was time for Bella to have Pa's escort back. The dimples duly tied up in the bonnet-strings and the leave-taking done, they got out into the air, and the cherub drew a long breath as if he found it refreshing.

'Well, dear Pa,' said Bella, 'the anniversary may be considered over.'

'Yes, my dear,' returned the cherub, 'there's another of 'em gone.'

Bella drew his arm closer through hers as they walked along, and gave it a number of consolatory pats. 'Thank you, my dear,' he said, as if she had spoken; 'I am all right, my dear. Well, and how do you get on, Bella?'

'I am not at all improved, Pa.'

'Ain't you really though?'

'No, Pa. On the contrary, I am worse.'

'Lor!' said the cherub.

'I am worse, Pa. I make so many calculations how much a year Imust have when I marry, and what is the least I can manage to do with, that I am beginning to get wrinkles over my nose. Did you notice any wrinkles over my nose this evening, Pa?'

Pa laughing at this, Bella gave him two or three shakes.

'You won't laugh, sir, when you see your lovely woman turning haggard. You had better be prepared in time, I can tell you. I shall not be able to keep my greediness for money out of my eyes long, and when you see it there you'll be sorry, and serve you right for not being warned in time. Now, sir, we entered into a bond of confidence. Have you anything to impart?'

'I thought it was you who was to impart, my love.'

'Oh! did you indeed, sir? Then why didn't you ask me, the moment we came out? The confidences of lovely women are not to be slighted. However, I forgive you this once, and look here, Pa;that's'--Bella laid the little forefinger of her right glove on her lip, and then laid it on her father's lip--'that's a kiss for you. And now Iam going seriously to tell you--let me see how many--four secrets.

Mind! Serious, grave, weighty secrets. Strictly between ourselves.'

同类推荐
  • 佛说大乘圣吉祥持世陀罗尼经

    佛说大乘圣吉祥持世陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 庆芝堂集

    庆芝堂集

    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。
  • 温热逢源

    温热逢源

    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。
  • 大道真传

    大道真传

    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。
  • 六十种曲目录

    六十种曲目录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 谪仙劫竹笙花

    谪仙劫竹笙花

    青衣瘦马,谪仙竹林。神仙岛上无神仙,汉水河中尽妖魔。风雨飘摇的江湖,落魄的王公贵族,两本绝世武功的秘籍,三个性格迥异的孩子。面对着种种劫难和诱惑,三位孩子如何才能最终找到属于自己的江湖?且看谪仙如何历尽劫难,最终等来竹上开花......
  • 超自然计划

    超自然计划

    拥有超自然能力的人,被称作超自然者。他们是不被世界接受的存在,是被孤立的种族,却在拼劲全力保护这个不包容自己的世界。为了获得社会与人民的认可,超自然者们拼劲全力,战斗了一次又一次。超自然者公会伊吾加居,背负着饱受争议的正义,保护着这个国家、这个世界。
  • 因为是你,我不顾一切

    因为是你,我不顾一切

    15个故事,写尽爱的深度和广度。256页内容,大胆探索爱的本质。我以为,爱你就是付出自己;你却说,爱情是两个人的事情。曾经相信,就算花开无果,哪怕此后天涯陌路,只要我的世界有过你,就已足够,可是,当我渐渐长大,才明白,爱情必须有你有我,才算完整。在这部寄托遥深的随笔集里,高堰阳承继了书写自我、张扬个性的现代散文传统,以如工笔画般的细腻笔触,讲述了在“荒废、狂闹、混乱”的青春岁月里,他和周围人似真如幻、无望而又亘古如斯的爱情故事。
  • 原来没有离开

    原来没有离开

    闻名玄冥大陆的第一废才蓝岚,嫁给了玄冥大陆第一高手紫邪王君影邪,说的过去的是,紫邪王并不爱蓝岚,因为他心里有一个人。…………一封信,一只步摇,君影邪发现蓝岚就是那名红衣女孩儿,这个发现让君影邪彻底崩溃,谁来告诉他,怎样能让一个原来对自己死心塌地的女孩儿被他伤的彻底然后重新爱上他。这时的玄冥大陆上有两个劲爆消息。一个是相府五小姐蓝岚是超级天才,另一个是紫邪王君影邪为了求王妃原谅竟一哭二闹三上吊。‖小剧场‖“岚儿,跟我说句话好不好,你都一星期不理我了。”蓝岚只求这个男人能签了和离书,让她回丞相府,之前的她太傻,现在她想过来了,一定离开那个男人。
  • 国学大讲堂:中国顶级国学圣贤的公开课

    国学大讲堂:中国顶级国学圣贤的公开课

    国学源远流长,并非一朝一夕可以得之。本书旨在化繁为简,将经典的国学用深入浅出的语言解读,为更多向往国学的读者提供精神上的“低门槛、无障碍阅读普及本”。史、儒、佛、道、法、兵、中医、易经、礼节、饮食……这里无所不包,等待着你的探索。
  • 沙郡年记

    沙郡年记

    追逐融雪中动物的足迹、阅读橡木年轮的历史、倾听大雁迁徙的长鸣……在这部作品中,奥尔多·利奥波德描述了自己在远离现代生活的简陋乡舍中的所见所闻,以及他在美国大陆各地的游历经历。在此过程中,他也持续思索着人类与他们生存其上的大地之间的关系,试图重新唤起人们对自然应保有的爱与尊重。
  • 奶爸他不务正业

    奶爸他不务正业

    作为一名“新晋”奶爸,张宸表示,哄娃什么的压力山大。孩子哭了,你要笑;孩子笑了,你快要哭了;孩子想睡了,你要给她讲故事;孩子醒了,你要唱着歌哄她下床。……关键是,这孩子的妈妈还是娱乐圈中横跨影、视、歌三栖的人气天后。于是本职工作原来只是医生的张宸,为了与她妈妈争宠,开始了“不务正业”的生活。写歌?出唱片?出版图书?编写电视剧本?他,无所不能。
  • 妖孽太监,非卿江山

    妖孽太监,非卿江山

    现代法医白非儿一朝穿越,竟来到了寒流暗涌的大明王朝。东厂、西厂、锦衣卫,乱了她的生活!妖孽太监、优雅王子、邪气美男,扰了她的心!勾心斗角,明争暗斗,关本小姐何事?被一个太监告白也是够了“从第一眼开始,你就在我的手掌心,你注定逃不掉,天涯海我也要把你拽回来。”滚!这没有技术含量的穿越,真特么牙疼!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 四分之一妖

    四分之一妖

    【双洁双强专情宠文,欢迎入坑】格陵莫名其妙猝死在网吧里,竟然穿越到了异世,附身于一个弱鸡半妖丫鬟身上。这片大陆上异族林立。妖兽族、精灵族、魔族、亡灵族、半神族、龙族……人族式微,仅能凭炼药术安身立命,苦苦挣扎在异族众强的包围下。好好的网游大神,到了异世里却成了最最底层的小奴婢?简直倒了八辈子血霉!听说原主勾引得太子神魂颠倒?只是,国家危机存亡的关头,这个贪生怕死的贱男竟然自己先跑了?留原主一人被太子妃活活打死?切!渣男贱女,果然天生一对!只是,敌国的皇子殿下却是看着格陵啧啧摇头:“本殿下还没见过比你更弱的……半妖了。”仅仅只有四分之一妖精血脉?还是只没有什么攻击力的花妖?一朝穿越,格陵大神怎能甘心沦为末流?花妖怎么了?格陵大神自带光环!以毒称霸,睥睨天下!带神宠,傲视群雄!炼金丹,名扬四海!烨麟看着这个整天嬉皮笑脸的小女人,一路修炼成连他都不敢小觑的比肩存在。【小剧场】某日,烨麟对格陵发出求爱讯息:“要不要和本殿下一起站在这个世界的顶端?”格陵巧笑嫣然:“小子,这个世界的顶端只能容纳一人,你还是乖乖站在我身后吧!”烨麟咬牙切齿,很长一段时间里只想把这个嚣张的小女人给调教成小鸟依人的温柔模样。然而,却是烨麟从百炼钢化了为绕指柔。婚后,烨麟更是化身宠妻狂魔,各种为妻背锅,收拾烂摊子……?本文正剧风,轻松向。简单来说就是某女打怪升级刷boss并收割某麟的小故事。?女强玄幻,故事纯属虚构。简介无能,欢迎移步正文一看究竟嗷~最后推荐阿九的完结文,青梅竹马养成系:《盛世谋之凰途霸业》,一个义气帅气霸气的女主在向你们招手哟~
  • 快穿系统:男主别着急!

    快穿系统:男主别着急!

    (宠文,1V1)在没遇到系统之前,白玉一直以为自己是个无比天真连么么都不懂的姑娘。而遇到系统之后,她没日没夜拖着又酸又累的身体,把系统和男主问候了一千遍一万遍。——最后总结的道理,身体易碎,且行且珍惜。这是一个穿越一个又一个世界攻略男主反被压的故事。