登陆注册
5291400000042

第42章 CHAPTER XV.(2)

Eleven times had Winterborne gone to that corner of the ride, and looked up its long straight slope through the wet grays of winter dawn. But though the postman's bowed figure loomed in view pretty regularly, he brought nothing for Giles. On the twelfth day the man of missives, while yet in the extreme distance, held up his hand, and Winterborne saw a letter in it. He took it into the spar-house before he broke the seal, and those who were there gathered round him while he read, Grace looking in at the door.

The letter was not from Mrs. Charmond herself, but her agent at Sherton. Winterborne glanced it over and looked up.

"It's all over," he said.

"Ah!" said they altogether.

"Her lawyer is instructed to say that Mrs. Charmond sees no reason for disturbing the natural course of things, particularly as she contemplates pulling the houses down," he said, quietly.

"Only think of that!" said several.

Winterborne had turned away, and said vehemently to himself, "Then let her pull 'em down, and be d--d to her!"

Creedle looked at him with a face of seven sorrows, saying, "Ah, 'twas that sperrit that lost 'em for ye, maister!"

Winterborne subdued his feelings, and from that hour, whatever they were, kept them entirely to himself. There could be no doubt that, up to this last moment, he had nourished a feeble hope of regaining Grace in the event of this negotiation turning out a success. Not being aware of the fact that her father could have settled upon her a fortune sufficient to enable both to live in comfort, he deemed it now an absurdity to dream any longer of such a vanity as making her his wife, and sank into silence forthwith.

Yet whatever the value of taciturnity to a man among strangers, it is apt to express more than talkativeness when he dwells among friends. The countryman who is obliged to judge the time of day from changes in external nature sees a thousand successive tints and traits in the landscape which are never discerned by him who hears the regular chime of a clock, because they are never in request. In like manner do we use our eyes on our taciturn comrade. The infinitesimal movement of muscle, curve, hair, and wrinkle, which when accompanied by a voice goes unregarded, is watched and translated in the lack of it, till virtually the whole surrounding circle of familiars is charged with the reserved one's moods and meanings.

This was the condition of affairs between Winterborne and his neighbors after his stroke of ill-luck. He held his tongue; and they observed him, and knew that he was discomposed.

Mr. Melbury, in his compunction, thought more of the matter than any one else, except his daughter. Had Winterborne been going on in the old fashion, Grace's father could have alluded to his disapproval of the alliance every day with the greatest frankness; but to speak any further on the subject he could not find it in his heart to do now. He hoped that Giles would of his own accord make some final announcement that he entirely withdrew his pretensions to Grace, and so get the thing past and done with.

For though Giles had in a measure acquiesced in the wish of her family, he could make matters unpleasant if he chose to work upon Grace; and hence, when Melbury saw the young man approaching along the road one day, he kept friendliness and frigidity exactly balanced in his eye till he could see whether Giles's manner was presumptive or not.

His manner was that of a man who abandoned all claims. "I am glad to meet ye, Mr. Melbury," he said, in a low voice, whose quality he endeavored to make as practical as possible. "I am afraid I shall not be able to keep that mare I bought, and as I don't care to sell her, I should like--if you don't object--to give her to Miss Melbury. The horse is very quiet, and would be quite safe for her."

Mr. Melbury was rather affected at this. "You sha'n't hurt your pocket like that on our account, Giles. Grace shall have the horse, but I'll pay you what you gave for her, and any expense you may have been put to for her keep."

He would not hear of any other terms, and thus it was arranged.

They were now opposite Melbury's house, and the timber-merchant pressed Winterborne to enter, Grace being out of the way.

"Pull round the settle, Giles," said the timber-merchant, as soon as they were within. "I should like to have a serious talk with you."

Thereupon he put the case to Winterborne frankly, and in quite a friendly way. He declared that he did not like to be hard on a man when he was in difficulty; but he really did not see how Winterborne could marry his daughter now, without even a house to take her to.

Giles quite acquiesced in the awkwardness of his situation. But from a momentary feeling that he would like to know Grace's mind from her own lips, he did not speak out positively there and then.

He accordingly departed somewhat abruptly, and went home to consider whether he would seek to bring about a meeting with her.

In the evening, while he sat quietly pondering, he fancied that he heard a scraping on the wall outside his house. The boughs of a monthly rose which grew there made such a noise sometimes, but as no wind was stirring he knew that it could not be the rose-tree.

同类推荐
  • 金液还丹印证图

    金液还丹印证图

    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。
  • 唯识论(一名破色心论)

    唯识论(一名破色心论)

    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。
  • 太上说西斗记名护身妙经

    太上说西斗记名护身妙经

    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。
  • 不可刹那无此君

    不可刹那无此君

    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。
  • 燕子笺

    燕子笺

    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
  • 岭海兰言

    岭海兰言

    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。
  • 婚令如山,雷少别心急

    婚令如山,雷少别心急

    丈夫出轨,小三嚣张狠毒,柔弱的她该何去何从。拒绝反抗,逃走,却都无果,最后却发现,他对她的百般宠爱,别有目的。
  • 工业造大明

    工业造大明

    王晨,一个人到中年的坏蛋来到了大明,看着满目苍夷的中华大地,不由得端起了自己坏蛋的饭碗在这个前有李自成、后有后金铁蹄、身边环绕着正义感十足的东林党、王晨该怎么在这个血与泪交织的大明混下去呢?(新书三国已经上传求收藏)
  • 诸天之吞噬无限

    诸天之吞噬无限

    宇宙星空,万族林立。强者为尊,弱者为食。一场意外,黎平到达另一颗星球,在这武道文明极度发达之地,开喰道,创先河为种族之义而战斗!
  • 文献集

    文献集

    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。
  • 思念是一种病

    思念是一种病

    一年又一年的流逝,沉思追忆,回首前程往事,思念的伤痕越陷越深。多年以前的熟悉,多年以后的今天,一切的一切早已烟消云散,你还是你,我还是我,一样的陌生人。
  • On the Heavens

    On the Heavens

    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。
  • Once Gone (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1)
  • 手机控

    手机控

    这世界好像有雾。但在她拾起手机的那一刹那,一切焕发出无限的光明,耀不可视。云开雾散,她叫江心月。江心月欢喜地凝视着手机,像欣赏一个刚出生的娃娃。江心月是独自在商场逛街,只为了摆脱失恋的阴影,那个男生极其厌恶逛街。其实每个女人逛街的时候,其实也都是在逛男人。可惜每个好男人似乎都有女朋友了,而那么多好女人却没有男朋友。江心月望着眼花缭乱的衣服,盲目地选了一件,然后在更衣室发现了这个被落下的手机。
  • 错嫁亿万总裁

    错嫁亿万总裁

    【完】“你是我的,这辈子是,下辈子是,下下辈子还是!”她怒瞪他哭喊道;“那我就这辈子诅咒你,下辈子诅咒你,下下辈子还诅咒你!”三年前,他为了财产继承权,将她弃如敝履。她苦苦哀求,以至于自残,换来的却是他绝情的一耳光。三年后,他为了换回她,舍弃所有财产,而她却还回他绝情的一耳光说;“你现在给我提鞋都不配!”一心想要纯爱的她,为何偏偏和恶魔纠缠不清?婚礼上,她无从选择新郎。身孕时又无法选择孩子的生死,而她唯一可以选择的是改变自己。且看她从一个懵懂无知的少女,蜕变成冷傲精明的商场高手,一步步让自己心爱的和爱她的人走向深渊。