登陆注册
5291400000115

第115章 CHAPTER XXXIX.(3)

She started back suddenly from his embrace, influenced by a sort of inspiration. "Oh, I suppose," she stammered, "that I am really free?--that this is right? Is there REALLY a new law? Father cannot have been too sanguine in saying--"

He did not answer, and a moment afterwards Grace burst into tears in spite of herself. "Oh, why does not my father come home and explain," she sobbed, "and let me know clearly what I am? It is too trying, this, to ask me to--and then to leave me so long in so vague a state that I do not know what to do, and perhaps do wrong!"

Winterborne felt like a very Cain, over and above his previous sorrow. How he had sinned against her in not telling her what he knew. He turned aside; the feeling of his cruelty mounted higher and higher. How could he have dreamed of kissing her? He could hardly refrain from tears. Surely nothing more pitiable had ever been known than the condition of this poor young thing, now as heretofore the victim of her father's well-meant but blundering policy.

Even in the hour of Melbury's greatest assurance Winterborne had harbored a suspicion that no law, new or old, could undo Grace's marriage without her appearance in public; though he was not sufficiently sure of what might have been enacted to destroy by his own words her pleasing idea that a mere dash of the pen, on her father's testimony, was going to be sufficient. But he had never suspected the sad fact that the position was irremediable.

Poor Grace, perhaps feeling that she had indulged in too much fluster for a mere kiss, calmed herself at finding how grave he was. "I am glad we are friends again anyhow," she said, smiling through her tears. "Giles, if you had only shown half the boldness before I married that you show now, you would have carried me off for your own first instead of second. If we do marry, I hope you will never think badly of me for encouraging you a little, but my father is SO impatient, you know, as his years and infirmities increase, that he will wish to see us a little advanced when he comes. That is my only excuse."

To Winterborne all this was sadder than it was sweet. How could she so trust her father's conjectures? He did not know how to tell her the truth and shame himself. And yet he felt that it must be done. "We may have been wrong," he began, almost fearfully, "in supposing that it can all be carried out while we stay here at Hintock. I am not sure but that people may have to appear in a public court even under the new Act; and if there should be any difficulty, and we cannot marry after all--"

Her cheeks became slowly bloodless. "Oh, Giles," she said, grasping his arm, "you have heard something! What--cannot my father conclude it there and now? Surely he has done it? Oh, Giles, Giles, don't deceive me. What terrible position am I in?"

He could not tell her, try as he would. The sense of her implicit trust in his honor absolutely disabled him. "I cannot inform you," he murmured, his voice as husky as that of the leaves underfoot. "Your father will soon be here. Then we shall know.

I will take you home."

Inexpressibly dear as she was to him, he offered her his arm with the most reserved air, as he added, correctingly, "I will take you, at any rate, into the drive."

Thus they walked on together. Grace vibrating between happiness and misgiving. It was only a few minutes' walk to where the drive ran, and they had hardly descended into it when they heard a voice behind them cry, "Take out that arm!"

For a moment they did not heed, and the voice repeated, more loudly and hoarsely, "Take out that arm!"

It was Melbury's. He had returned sooner than they expected, and now came up to them. Grace's hand had been withdrawn like lightning on her hearing the second command. "I don't blame you--I don't blame you," he said, in the weary cadence of one broken down with scourgings. "But you two must walk together no more--I have been surprised--I have been cruelly deceived--Giles, don't say anything to me; but go away!"

He was evidently not aware that Winterborne had known the truth before he brought it; and Giles would not stay to discuss it with him then. When the young man had gone Melbury took his daughter in-doors to the room he used as his office. There he sat down, and bent over the slope of the bureau, her bewildered gaze fixed upon him.

When Melbury had recovered a little he said, "You are now, as ever, Fitzpiers's wife. I was deluded. He has not done you ENOUGH harm. You are still subject to his beck and call."

"Then let it be, and never mind, father," she said, with dignified sorrow. "I can bear it. It is your trouble that grieves me most." She stooped over him, and put her arm round his neck, which distressed Melbury still more. "I don't mind at all what comes to me," Grace continued; "whose wife I am, or whose I am not. I do love Giles; I cannot help that; and I have gone further with him than I should have done if I had known exactly how things were.

But I do not reproach you."

"Then Giles did not tell you?" said Melbury.

"No," said she. "He could not have known it. His behavior to me proved that he did not know."

Her father said nothing more, and Grace went away to the solitude of her chamber.

Her heavy disquietude had many shapes; and for a time she put aside the dominant fact to think of her too free conduct towards Giles. His love-making had been brief as it was sweet; but would he on reflection contemn her for forwardness? How could she have been so simple as to suppose she was in a position to behave as she had done! Thus she mentally blamed her ignorance; and yet in the centre of her heart she blessed it a little for what it had momentarily brought her.

同类推荐
  • 三十国春秋辑本

    三十国春秋辑本

    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。
  • Henry VIII

    Henry VIII

    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。
  • 宅法举隅

    宅法举隅

    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。
  • 玉豁子丹经指要

    玉豁子丹经指要

    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。
  • 颜氏家训

    颜氏家训

    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
  • 惊蛰

    惊蛰

    张漠死了。他是跳楼死的。下午放学后,有人在男生宿舍旁的小花园里发现了他。他面朝下,两条胳臂别在身后,头上有个拳头大小的窟窿。当时,那窟窿还在汩汩地往外冒血,周围地上红的白的一片狼藉。张漠的死像一记炸雷打破了死寂的校园。学校里认识与不认识的、知情与不知情的人,奔走相告,个个说得煞有介事,如亲见一般。那两个发现尸体的女生,在短暂的惊恐之后,马上以第一目击证人的身份一遍一遍不厌其烦地发布着最权威的陈述。
  • 流浪的权杖:晋文公传

    流浪的权杖:晋文公传

    晋文公,姓姬名重耳,与周王室同宗,春秋时期著名的政治家,晋国国君,春秋五霸之一。晋献公之子,因其父晋献公宠爱骊姬,便废太子申生,立骊姬之子为嗣,重耳(晋文公)也遭到骊姬之乱的迫害,在其舅舅狐偃、好友赵衰等一班文武贤才的护送下离开了晋国,并流亡国外19年,在其流亡期间先后到达过狄、齐、曹、宋、郑、楚、秦等国,受到狄、齐、楚、秦等国的礼待。这期间,他先后与狄国公主季隗、齐国郡主齐姜相遇,并与她们产生了深厚的感情,继而结为夫妻。在流亡的19年里,晋文公尝尽了人间的酸甜苦辣,也了解了各国的风土人情,丰富了政治经验,为他后来称霸诸侯创造了条件。本书为你一一阐述了晋文公的传奇传奇一生。
  • 异次元神坑系统

    异次元神坑系统

    凌落原本是个天才,直到有一天,他被一个不正经的系统砸中......从此天才变废柴,最关键的是,昏睡两年,凌落发现,他青梅竹马的童养媳,成了他的老师......
  • “要饭”的地主郑子蚨

    “要饭”的地主郑子蚨

    郑子蚨的历史被翻腾出来,是因为一次偶然的外调。他态度不老实,拒不交代问题,又加上王士道耍弄了那两个外调人员一家伙,小事闹大了。搞外调的是北京来的,牌子大,口气硬,竟让两个满头高粱花的农民耍了,恼羞成怒,直接找到公社革委会。根据外调人员提供的情况,郑子蚨很有些来历,不仅出身于地主兼资本家,而且和上边有关大人物还有些瓜葛。想不到顾河店这汪小水湾,竟然还藏着一条大鱼。公社革委会深感事情重大,立刻汇报了县革委会,选调骨干力量,协助北京来的外调人员,对郑子蚨开展政治攻势,必要时即采取专政手段。郑子蚨成了专政的重点人物。
  • 神震魔怒

    神震魔怒

    自古以来,黑可以说是白,白也可以说是黑。
  • 未知荒野

    未知荒野

    他是尤勒斯穿越计划的先遣者他是探索未知大陆寻找文明遗迹的探索者他是猎杀赏金首的追猎者他是找回自己身世的失忆者脑机系统是他生存的无形保护伞……周宇在沉睡中醒来,作为第一批先遣者之一,他来到了一个未知的世界,在找寻自己身世的道路上,他不停的探索……掠夺暴徒、变异生物、杀人机器……
  • 我不可爱的Ta

    我不可爱的Ta

    每个人的青春时代,都有他自己的颜色,有的稳重但朦胧;有的热烈但灼人;有的无暇但肆意;有的夺目但难以触及。但年少时,总有一段风尘,让独行的路充满磨砺;总有一段时光,让所有色彩填满画布。这些美好的,难忘的,终将封尘在记忆的最深处,或许有一天,会再度打开,遇见那个想忘记却又难以忘怀的,不可爱的Ta。
  • 财富思想家(语文新课标课外读物)

    财富思想家(语文新课标课外读物)

    《财富思想家》讲述了孔子、马克思,列宁等这些创造了人生财富的名人的生平事迹。
  • 愿君星辰大海

    愿君星辰大海

    这是一场爱情的豪赌,赢了吗?她不知道,她唯一知道的,与他打下这个赌,是她今生最正确的决定!他是娱乐圈佛系明星,却是最认真演戏的演员,他说,他是演员,他最大的梦想是演出好的作品,他曾经节目中的女友标准被粉丝印刷成册,直到遇见了那个令他所有原则都崩塌的人。他说,顾夫人,遇见你,正好。此书绝对甜宠,欢迎入坑!
  • 浴火重生:嫡女很狂傲

    浴火重生:嫡女很狂傲

    穿越到古代的楚慕婧妍真的很忙,忙着与府上的人斗智斗勇,忙着与宫内的人周旋,忙着习武,忙着撩妹.......然而突如其来的三个男子打破了这种平衡,前有痴情的青梅竹马向她伸出手“不管怎样我都会陪在你身边”,后有妖孽对她穷追不舍“你终究是我的”,更有来自现代的神秘男子自信满满“我们才是同一个世界的人”。不管怎样,她楚慕婧妍才不会这么容易动心......