登陆注册
5291400000123

第123章 CHAPTER XLII.(1)

The next morning Grace was at the window early. She felt determined to see him somehow that day, and prepared his breakfast eagerly. Eight o'clock struck, and she had remembered that he had not come to arouse her by a knocking, as usual, her own anxiety having caused her to stir.

The breakfast was set in its place without. But he did not arrive to take it; and she waited on. Nine o'clock arrived, and the breakfast was cold; and still there was no Giles. A thrush, that had been repeating itself a good deal on an opposite bush for some time, came and took a morsel from the plate and bolted it, waited, looked around, and took another. At ten o'clock she drew in the tray, and sat down to her own solitary meal. He must have been called away on business early, the rain having cleared off.

Yet she would have liked to assure herself, by thoroughly exploring the precincts of the hut, that he was nowhere in its vicinity; but as the day was comparatively fine, the dread lest some stray passenger or woodman should encounter her in such a reconnoitre paralyzed her wish. The solitude was further accentuated to-day by the stopping of the clock for want of winding, and the fall into the chimney-corner of flakes of soot loosened by the rains. At noon she heard a slight rustling outside the window, and found that it was caused by an eft which had crept out of the leaves to bask in the last sun-rays that would be worth having till the following May.

She continually peeped out through the lattice, but could see little. In front lay the brown leaves of last year, and upon them some yellowish-green ones of this season that had been prematurely blown down by the gale. Above stretched an old beech, with vast armpits, and great pocket-holes in its sides where branches had been amputated in past times; a black slug was trying to climb it.

Dead boughs were scattered about like ichthyosauri in a museum, and beyond them were perishing woodbine stems resembling old ropes.

From the other window all she could see were more trees, jacketed with lichen and stockinged with moss. At their roots were stemless yellow fungi like lemons and apricots, and tall fungi with more stem than stool. Next were more trees close together, wrestling for existence, their branches disfigured with wounds resulting from their mutual rubbings and blows. It was the struggle between these neighbors that she had heard in the night.

Beneath them were the rotting stumps of those of the group that had been vanquished long ago, rising from their mossy setting like decayed teeth from green gums. Farther on were other tufts of moss in islands divided by the shed leaves--variety upon variety, dark green and pale green; moss-like little fir-trees, like plush, like malachite stars, like nothing on earth except moss.

The strain upon Grace's mind in various ways was so great on this the most desolate day she had passed there that she felt it would be well-nigh impossible to spend another in such circumstances.

The evening came at last; the sun, when its chin was on the earth, found an opening through which to pierce the shade, and stretched irradiated gauzes across the damp atmosphere, making the wet trunks shine, and throwing splotches of such ruddiness on the leaves beneath the beech that they were turned to gory hues. When night at last arrived, and with it the time for his return, she was nearly broken down with suspense.

The simple evening meal, partly tea, partly supper, which Grace had prepared, stood waiting upon the hearth; and yet Giles did not come. It was now nearly twenty-four hours since she had seen him.

As the room grew darker, and only the firelight broke against the gloom of the walls, she was convinced that it would be beyond her staying power to pass the night without hearing from him or from somebody. Yet eight o'clock drew on, and his form at the window did not appear.

The meal remained untasted. Suddenly rising from before the hearth of smouldering embers, where she had been crouching with her hands clasped over her knees, she crossed the room, unlocked the door, and listened. Every breath of wind had ceased with the decline of day, but the rain had resumed the steady dripping of the night before. Grace might have stood there five minutes when she fancied she heard that old sound, a cough, at no great distance; and it was presently repeated. If it were Winterborne's, he must be near her; why, then, had he not visited her?

A horrid misgiving that he could not visit her took possession of Grace, and she looked up anxiously for the lantern, which was hanging above her head. To light it and go in the direction of the sound would be the obvious way to solve the dread problem; but the conditions made her hesitate, and in a moment a cold sweat pervaded her at further sounds from the same quarter.

They were low mutterings; at first like persons in conversation, but gradually resolving themselves into varieties of one voice.

It was an endless monologue, like that we sometimes hear from inanimate nature in deep secret places where water flows, or where ivy leaves flap against stones; but by degrees she was convinced that the voice was Winterborne's. Yet who could be his listener, so mute and patient; for though he argued so rapidly and persistently, nobody replied.

A dreadful enlightenment spread through the mind of Grace. "Oh," she cried, in her anguish, as she hastily prepared herself to go out, "how selfishly correct I am always--too, too correct! Cruel propriety is killing the dearest heart that ever woman clasped to her own."

同类推荐
  • 公冶长听鸟语纲常

    公冶长听鸟语纲常

    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。
  • 大乘玄论

    大乘玄论

    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。
  • A Message From the Sea

    A Message From the Sea

    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。
  • 包公案之百家公案

    包公案之百家公案

    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。
  • 岭海焚余

    岭海焚余

    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
  • 侯府商女

    侯府商女

    望着眼前古香古色的房间?这是什么情况啊?现代最大的百货业龙头女王意外穿越至启国,成了一等靖安侯府唯一的千金和子嗣。其父亲一方的正二品封疆大吏,母亲为救全城百姓而牺牲,被封为正一品的贞烈夫人,正经的名门世家。在这个等级森严,是人就分高低贵贱三六九等的封建王朝,娘哎,这个身份可真是很好很强大。。。。。。奈何前身是个不谙世事的小白花,因为母亲离世伤心一病不起,父亲无奈只能托付外祖家照顾,可惜这一家子给命都‘照顾’没了。曾经她一心痴恋表哥,为了能嫁给心爱之人,将铺子、票子、房子统统交给负心人和别有用心的大舅一家打理。结果事与愿违,琴瑟和鸣?长相厮守统统没了,有的只是阴谋诡计和算计,看上的完全是手里的银子,幸好姐姐来了一切为时不晚!什么?大舅一家为了表哥成亲,抢占了自己的宅子?这事好办,一顿胖揍滚回你的老家,姐姐的地方休想染指。什么?表哥为了娶高门女,下小定礼都是自己的银子和宝贝?这也好办,慧姐手拿单子笑眯眯的看着大舅母道:“不好意思大舅母,几个不长眼的奴才将御赐之物放错了地方,可不能坏了表哥的亲事!来人,抬走!”看着一箱箱的东西被慧姐抬走,大舅母气的前仰后合,脸色铁青,结果这“飘轻”的小定礼一出门就笑掉了全城的大牙!以往的娇气任性识人不清?不怕,那个什么扮猪吃老虎这年代都弱爆了,姐姐最擅长的就是扮兔子吃大象,瞧瞧都是瑞兽哎,啧啧这比例多么的震撼!以往不擅经营,虽有万贯家财结果手头拮据都被人骗去?不怕,姐姐本就是百货女王,敛财敛物都是经营强项,商道才是唯一的正理!以往视金钱如粪土,不肯花一分的心思。这也不怕,这世界没有什么比银子更贴心安全实在的东西了,乃是姐姐最喜爱之物,费点心思怕什么?重要的是君子爱财取之以道,小赚宜室宜家,中赚发家致富,大赚扬名立万,赚暴了利国利民,瞧瞧,商人多么的伟大!且看百货女王在这个朝代,如何将商人推到最高位,如何打造自己的商业帝国,如何振兴家业,振兴国业!咩哈哈哈。。。。。。让那些眼红羡慕嫉妒恨的都和西北风去吧!================================================经商之路风生水起,一晃年龄大了,这惦记自己婚事的太多了,不想被别人主宰婚约,干脆顺便拐了一个斯文多变男,这货比自己还爱银子!
  • 青玉

    青玉

    青玉出狱那阵儿,学校里只剩下一个正常上课的老师刘文俊,他是老师校长一肩挑。当然挑得不会潇洒,趔趔趄趄的。只有区区十来个学生娃,在校园里打打闹闹,距散坛只有一步之遥。村民们在四板桥头超市门前打麻将,都能听得见刘四眼一天到晚的叹息声。刘文俊往中心校去反映,领导双手一摊,说你要是缺个办公用品、课辅资料,甚至电脑,都可以供应,唯独这缺学生与老师,真是爱莫能助。你想想,有条件的娃儿都去了城里念书;老师呢,也都不愿呆在这乡旮旯里,这也是形势撵的,怪不得你。
  • 亡灵女巫

    亡灵女巫

    本文乃是西方玄幻言情,背景华丽,浪漫神话!费雯.洁雅岑:无上的尊贵,纯血的代表,继承了先祖的荣耀,篆刻了父母的爱情;亚特大陆上没有一个媲美得上你,但却是通奸的证据,肮脏的混合。在死气中得到哺育,从亡灵中获得新生。再次立于人前,且看她如何纵横傲立,让男子哭泣,女子匍匐……她到底是谁?死神新娘?王子情人?或是异界女神?亚特的灭世者,还是救世者?其实一切早有答案,万年前注定的故事,三千年的沉淀,五千年的相伴!高绝神祗也无法扭转的意志!“即便结局是死,我也无悔自己的选择,这就是我!”冰绿色的眼眸玉粲光耀,如闪烁繁星。尘封的记忆、相貌的秘密,将慢慢揭开,众神的演绎节节呈现!亚特大陆上将要掀起一个女子的传说!◆◆◆◆【剧中节选】:亲爱的,为了你,耀世的头衔可以丢弃,天生的能力亦如蛛丝。花开了,然后凋零;星星再璀璨,可那光芒也会消失。我的一生如果最后一定要归于尘土,但只要能再看你一眼,我愿意付出永恒的等待,笑看生死,笑看你我!●●●●剧中人物略赏:【梅赫斯】“女人该是用来赞美和疼爱的!”【修瑞缇】“你爱或不爱,我就在这里…”【伊瑞克】“她要什么都可以,但爱在我这里,只是单程票,不能退,不能换,更没有返回!”【兰帕托】“这世上,没有什么比禁忌之恋更让我热血沸腾的了!”【贝拉】“男人的习惯是,说‘我要你’时生猛有劲;讲‘我爱你’时有气无力!”●●●●父帝:赫塔安火之女神——芙奥耶;水之神——瓦利瑟;光明女神——丽希特;玄之神——路伏德;黑暗之神——施瓦兹;大地女神——爱尔迪;死亡之神——伊瑞克;生命女神——卡瑟琳中立神:太阳神——欧纳斯;四季女神——茵茉琪;冶炼之神——赫丙克●●●●泠君简介无能,请大家移驾正文看看!泠君无牙求收藏,求票票,求推荐。有喜欢的可以加群150370254一起讨论哦,敲门砖就是文的名字:亡灵女巫,一定要写哦。么么大家推荐好友文文:《调教多夫》:她是调教世家的独女,从小到大耳濡目染各种调教床技。恰逢十八岁生日,遭遇亲生哥哥的强暴,她穿越成了娘不爱爹不疼的软弱养女。她岂会任人欺负,凭着一手调教绝学,走青楼,踏江湖,斗皇宫……只是……身后的男人,为何越来越多言情推荐区:夜沐洛《异界之倾世狂颜》苡潆枫《狼少的通缉军火妻》楚雲《霸上特工女军师》简红装《刁—妾》紫魂
  • 王心斋语

    王心斋语

    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。
  • 舍与得的人生智慧课

    舍与得的人生智慧课

    《舍与得的人生智慧课》舍得,舍得,有舍才有得。很多人都知道这个道理,但现实生活中并没有多少人真正知道它的含义。人生在世,最难把握的也就是“舍得”这两个字了。人生有舍才有得,当你懂得了“舍”时,你就会“得”到更多。在人生漫漫长路上,会面临着很多选择,有选择就有放弃。选择什么,放弃什么,这是一门学问。人生最重要的是机遇,而正确的放弃,则是真正把握住了机遇。因为很多时候,放弃就是获得。人们常将“舍”与“得”合说成“舍得”,就是因为有“舍”才有“得”嘛!一个人在沙漠里迷失了方向,酷暑难熬,饥渴难忍。正当快撑不住时,他发现了一幢废弃的小屋,屋子里居然还有一台抽水机。他兴奋地上前汲水,却怎么也抽不出半滴水来。这时,他看见抽水机旁,有一个装满了水的瓶子,瓶子上贴了一张纸条,上面写着:你必须用水灌入抽水机才能饮水!不要忘了,在你离开前,请再将水装满!怎么办?能抽出水来当然好,要是水浪费掉了而抽不出水呢?自己不是有可能死在这里吗?如果将瓶中的水喝了,还能暂时远离饥渴。这个人犹豫不决。想来想去,他还是将水倒进抽水机。不一会儿,就抽出了清冽的泉水,他不仅喝了个够,还带足了水,最终走出了沙漠。临走前,他把瓶子装满水,然后在纸条上加了几句话:纸条上的话是真的,你只有先舍弃瓶中的水,才能得到更多的水!有一得必有一失,只有放弃一些东西,才有更多的收获。人生好比一个房间,想要搬进新的家具、电器,就得先扔掉一些东西。放弃不是失去,正确的放弃往往是一个全新的转折点,是一个脱胎换骨的再生过程。
  • 二十年

    二十年

    君晓睁开眼,透过屋顶的明瓦,看见天上飘过去几朵彩云。想起刚才的梦里,自己一口气生吞了六个肉包馒头,醒来的枕头上浸透了口水。起身来到灶屋,大铁锅里剩下四个实心团子,拿起筷子,直接戳向团子,一个接着一个往嘴里塞,一丢筷子往门外走。觉得眼睛粘啊粘的,又转身来到脸盆前,用手“嚯嚯”水,撸了一把面,嚼着团子,湿答答地出了门,直奔金美家,心内想:肯定晚了。天蓝得真,太阳耀得红火。小路干脆蓬松,沿路的树稀疏而挺拔,熟悉成了列队欢迎的士兵,都能叫出名字。金美门口,场上都坐满了人,没座的就站着,估估村上的人都来了。
  • 太神道

    太神道

    张叶,名不见经转,荒野山村中的一名弃婴。只因魂魄不全,年少之时受尽魂痛之苦。初成之时,养父养母家门被屠杀殆尽,师门更是在一夜之间灭亡。其后面隐藏着怎样一个巨大的阴谋?如此,张叶背负着身世之谜,师门家门被屠之谜踏上了修真旅途,一步一个脚印。从而也踏上了王者的巅峰!
  • 鲜鲜水果

    鲜鲜水果

    水果不仅是身体的需求,更是表达爱自己、爱亲人、爱伴侣的礼物!色彩缤纷、口感各异的水果,让你周围的世界充满了爱的空气!
  • 三国斩将

    三国斩将

    新书《别动我的三国》已经发布东汉末年,董卓乱朝纲,幽州一村中少年刘策,走出村子,在这乱世之中,由一个兵卒开始,一步一步,成为一方诸侯的故事。三国这个历史上最为璀璨的时代,一群英雄应时而起,他们在这个时代留下了他们的印记,刘策见证了改变时代的笔墨,也留下刘策一笔。(非穿越,非金手指)
  • 做最好的自己

    做最好的自己

    《做最好的自己:内心淡定的力量》是卡内基亲笔所写,从童年时代到去世前夕,从少年打工到领军钢铁业,从一穷二白到身家亿万,从积累财富到致力于慈善,让读者详尽地了解卡内基的同时,领悟到卡内基成功的奥秘所在,不论是内容选择还是版式设计,都非常具有创意,称得上是一本经典励志书!