登陆注册
5291400000071

第71章 CHAPTER XXV.(2)

Thus the subject had ended in the yard. Meanwhile, the passive cause of all this loss still regarded the scene. She was beautifully dressed; she was seated in the most comfortable room that the inn afforded; her long journey had been full of variety, and almost luxuriously performed--for Fitzpiers did not study economy where pleasure was in question. Hence it perhaps arose that Giles and all his belongings seemed sorry and common to her for the moment--moving in a plane so far removed from her own of late that she could scarcely believe she had ever found congruity therein. "No--I could never have married him!" she said, gently shaking her head. "Dear father was right. It would have been too coarse a life for me." And she looked at the rings of sapphire and opal upon her white and slender fingers that had been gifts from Fitzpiers.

Seeing that Giles still kept his back turned, and with a little of the above-described pride of life--easily to be understood, and possibly excused, in a young, inexperienced woman who thought she had married well--she said at last, with a smile on her lips, "Mr.

Winterborne!"

He appeared to take no heed, and she said a second time, "Mr.

Winterborne!"

Even now he seemed not to hear, though a person close enough to him to see the expression of his face might have doubted it; and she said a third time, with a timid loudness, "Mr. Winterborne!

What, have you forgotten my voice?" She remained with her lips parted in a welcoming smile.

He turned without surprise, and came deliberately towards the window. "Why do you call me?" he said, with a sternness that took her completely unawares, his face being now pale. "Is it not enough that you see me here moiling and muddling for my daily bread while you are sitting there in your success, that you can't refrain from opening old wounds by calling out my name?"

She flushed, and was struck dumb for some moments; but she forgave his unreasoning anger, knowing so well in what it had its root.

"I am sorry I offended you by speaking," she replied, meekly.

"Believe me, I did not intend to do that. I could hardly sit here so near you without a word of recognition."

Winterborne's heart had swollen big, and his eyes grown moist by this time, so much had the gentle answer of that familiar voice moved him. He assured her hurriedly, and without looking at her, that he was not angry. He then managed to ask her, in a clumsy, constrained way, if she had had a pleasant journey, and seen many interesting sights. She spoke of a few places that she had visited, and so the time passed till he withdrew to take his place at one of the levers which pulled round the screw.

Forgotten her voice! Indeed, he had not forgotten her voice, as his bitterness showed. But though in the heat of the moment he had reproached her keenly, his second mood was a far more tender one--that which could regard her renunciation of such as he as her glory and her privilege, his own fidelity notwithstanding. He could have declared with a contemporary poet--"If I forget, The salt creek may forget the ocean;If I forget The heart whence flows my heart's bright motion, May I sink meanlier than the worst Abandoned, outcast, crushed, accurst, If I forget.

"Though you forget, No word of mine shall mar your pleasure;Though you forget, You filled my barren life with treasure, You may withdraw the gift you gave;You still are queen, I still am slave, Though you forget."

She had tears in her eyes at the thought that she could not remind him of what he ought to have remembered; that not herself but the pressure of events had dissipated the dreams of their early youth.

Grace was thus unexpectedly worsted in her encounter with her old friend. She had opened the window with a faint sense of triumph, but he had turned it into sadness; she did not quite comprehend the reason why. In truth it was because she was not cruel enough in her cruelty. If you have to use the knife, use it, say the great surgeons; and for her own peace Grace should have contemned Winterborne thoroughly or not at all. As it was, on closing the window an indescribable, some might have said dangerous, pity quavered in her bosom for him.

Presently her husband entered the room, and told her what a wonderful sunset there was to be seen.

"I have not noticed it. But I have seen somebody out there that we know," she replied, looking into the court.

Fitzpiers followed the direction of her eyes, and said he did not recognize anybody.

"Why, Mr. Winterborne--there he is, cider-making. He combines that with his other business, you know."

"Oh--that fellow," said Fitzpiers, his curiosity becoming extinct.

She, reproachfully: "What, call Mr. Winterborne a fellow, Edgar?

It is true I was just saying to myself that I never could have married him; but I have much regard for him, and always shall."

"Well, do by all means, my dear one. I dare say I am inhuman, and supercilious, and contemptibly proud of my poor old ramshackle family; but I do honestly confess to you that I feel as if I belonged to a different species from the people who are working in that yard."

"And from me too, then. For my blood is no better than theirs."

He looked at her with a droll sort of awakening. It was, indeed, a startling anomaly that this woman of the tribe without should be standing there beside him as his wife, if his sentiments were as he had said. In their travels together she had ranged so unerringly at his level in ideas, tastes, and habits that he had almost forgotten how his heart had played havoc with his principles in taking her to him.

"Ah YOU--you are refined and educated into something quite different," he said, self-assuringly.

"I don't quite like to think that," she murmured with soft regret.

"And I think you underestimate Giles Winterborne. Remember, I was brought up with him till I was sent away to school, so I cannot be radically different. At any rate, I don't feel so. That is, no doubt, my fault, and a great blemish in me. But I hope you will put up with it, Edgar."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 佛说圣法印经

    佛说圣法印经

    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。
  • 风华无双之毒医宠妃

    风华无双之毒医宠妃

    她,二十一世纪暗组织的一名顶级女杀手,拥有绝世容貌与妖娆身材,曾一人横扫若干名敌手,被誉为“最具潜力与爆发力的杀手”,没有之一。强横如她,却不料被未婚夫与亲姐姐联合起来暗杀。一觉醒来,竟穿越了?!她穿越的对象竟然还是个地位却连婢女都不如的丞相府二小姐!他,神佑帝国的帝君,一代战神。墨发银带,白衣胜雪,华贵逼人,宛若天神。拥有绝世的容颜与才华,竟从第一眼就看上了这个其貌不扬甚至有些丑陋的女孩。那一刻,他心里缺失许久的那一块,仿佛终于被填满了。万般维护,只为她一展笑颜!当新时代的顶级杀手魂穿于异世懦弱丑颜二小姐的身上,又会发生怎样惊心动魄的故事?当其貌不扬的她遇见宛若天神的他,是成为对手,还是并肩作战?是相携此生,还是患难与共?风云诡谲,万念俱变,步步惊心。暗杀,毒医,谋略,谁说女子不如男,她可是新世纪的新新人类,凤无双誓要在异世活出自己的精彩。以至于,若干年后,提起凤无双的名字,那个大陆,无人不竖起大拇指予以称赞,无人不对她俯首称臣。凤无双便是那个超越帝君的存在。且看一代天之骄女如何在这异世纤手拂云,万剑归心,只为寻一处安宁之处,与他携手共度一生!坚信一生一世一双人,1vs1宠文,正剧!推荐自己的新文《先婚后爱:盛世军宠》
  • 断天大陆

    断天大陆

    在一个古老的大陆上,战争不断,硝烟狂飞,亿万大军攻进龙族……而龙族守护神——轩玄魔,却奇异的转世在了一个人族小子身上,万年光阴,沧海桑田,仍是亿万大军,强者云集,势力林立,再次踏上征龙旅程……而那个人类小子,也被卷入了这场大战中……
  • 马云创业实录:给创业者的17堂课

    马云创业实录:给创业者的17堂课

    两年以前,我们不如腾讯的收入,我们当然嫉妒,现在好不容易赶上来了,他们又出了个微信。不过,这可能只是刚刚开始。在当年淘宝和eBay竞争的时候,我们认为eBay的思想未必会赢,他们只是希望用短暂的钱就赢得市场,但这不能长久,我们判断整个产业兴起需要10年。一直到今天为止,我们也并没有赢,我们其实只是开了个头。
  • 柳边纪略

    柳边纪略

    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。
  • 碧海穹弓缘

    碧海穹弓缘

    公元1141年,宋金签订“议和”之后,江湖上曾一度流传着一把“穹弓剑”,这把宝剑曾多次打退金兵的一次又一次的进攻。但打退金兵的进攻之后,江湖只见......究竟是“鹿”死谁手?而在此时少林武学秘籍唯恐被金人夺取,少林召开武林大会力保武学经典,大宋武林人士义不容辞.......
  • 多少代人的耕耘在傍晚结束

    多少代人的耕耘在傍晚结束

    各位,我们大家来到这里讨论诗人多多的创作,我认为是富有深意的举动。作为一个著名的朦胧诗诗人,甚至是最被低估的一个当代诗人,多多延续数十年的创作,不仅仅是属于他个人的一个征程,也是一个历史化的事业。为什么这样说呢?根据我的阅读体会和反复揣摩,在我个人看来,多多的诗歌不仅冲破了中国传统农耕文化的局限性,也冲破了这种古老的富有民族心理暗示意义的文化样式的优越性,并将这种文化心态上的优越感击得粉碎,在这样一个基础上,他还发展出一种富有个人性的语法途径。
  • 肥婆王妃有喜了

    肥婆王妃有喜了

    时尚女王穿越成重达一八百的肥婆时,林小黛没有怨天尤人,积极减肥,巴望转眼瘦成一道闪电,让她在古代发光发亮。相府嫡女太尊贵,惨遭小人忌妒,下春药想毁她名声,她借花献佛连夜约会两俊美王爷,准备来个现场搞基场景大饱眼福,结果却变成了三人同床共枕,一觉到天亮!吃干抹净,两大美男齐失踪,独遗林小黛一人承受恶果,三年后,小恶魔横空出世。折磨负心男最狠的办法是生个儿子来逆袭,所幸,三岁小儿不负所望,绝顶聪明,对外腹黑,对她乖巧,玩弄两美男团团转,最后双双强势来逼婚。“孩子到底是谁的?”二人怨怒抛出疑问。林小黛恶毒的望着二人,露出胜利的微笑,纤纤玉指轻点朱唇,她幽幽回答:“你猜!”那夜太混乱,谁X了谁,谁下的种,如今一概不知,只能望着儿子兴叹:“这孩子的脸蛋长的跟我小时候一模一样,肯定是我的孩子。”“他的眉宇和嘴角和我一个印子刻出来的。”另一个强硬力争。从来都是龙子争皇位,林小黛逆袭古代,来一场双龙争嫡子,精彩片段从此拉开序幕。此文:狗血,温馨,有爱有虐,男强女强,强强打压,胜者为王!
  • 阮义忠欧洲旅行手札:行·影不离

    阮义忠欧洲旅行手札:行·影不离

    阮义忠是位百分之百的人文主义者,顽固地坚持着报导摄影。他还有一项在摄影家身上很难见到的特质,那是能以批评的态度来整理、编辑自己的作品。这本书是阮义忠以及夫人一起旅行欧亚的摄影随笔。他用独特的视角记录了欧亚一些小城市的人情冷暖、风土民风。语言平实朴素却渗透着深刻的力量。通过他的文字读懂一代摄影大家的情怀。
  • 傻王的嗜血冷妃

    傻王的嗜血冷妃

    【最专情的黑玄童鞋由‘猫骨’亲领养】文:一点温馨+一点小虐+一点轻松+一点BT愿能给亲们带来十点快乐。女主腹黑强大,却冷眼看世,游戏人间,行事全凭一时喜好心情。过程美男多多。男主也是大都腹黑。谁输了心,谁又偷了心,谁又入戏太深,且看最终谁能脱戏而出,笑傲天下。希望亲们多多支持。多多收藏。*(文原名《教傻王爷洞房》)初始场景:“你知道怎么洞房么?”着大红新娘装的女子对面前形容俊美妖冶,表情却极纯真的新郎官说道。新郎官看着她,傻傻的摇摇头。“过来。”女子命令道。他走过去......*简介:她本是道中大名鼎鼎的杀手“噬”。向来以冷酷无情,杀人快、狠、准著名。一场变故,情殇,身逝。原来,杀手真的不能犯行内潜规则。一点点的情就足以毁灭一个顶级杀手。醒来已经是沧禹国丞相之女慕容流苏。并早已赐嫁其傻王爷黑玄。嫁就嫁呗。她到哪里都是谎妗?只是,为什么身为她亲哥哥的慕容风间要对她说“如果你不愿意就带你离开?”为什么那皇帝黑予总是找她麻烦,对自家傻王爷无限制的纵容?那个一直监视自己的神秘魅惑男人又是谁?她又从哪里招惹到了一个戴面具的死变态?!怎么又跳出来一个美男说是自己的青梅竹马?两小无猜?还有......而最后,她发现。傻王爷原来是这般样子......这桩联姻,其中又掺杂了多少人的利益和秘密?*【建议思想稍稍成熟点的亲看。请不要发表影响彼此心情的言论,谢谢。】初步设定一下孩子们的简介:【黑晨卷:】他指着星星发誓,一定不能找一个流苏那样腹黑没心没肺的女人他指着家里的雪虎小白发誓,一定不能做黑玄这样一个失败的男人,一辈子都没从自己女人口中听到过一句我爱你……他指着自己脑门心发誓,他黑晨将来的女人一定要把他伺候得像大爷。……那个小蘑菇的确很乖很听话,很温柔很传统。可,为何看到胆小善良的她居然冲去去要保护他时,吓得他心脏一阵紧缩?该死的,她就傻到往刀口上撞么。为何,在她偷偷给他做饭而伤了手时气得他一把火烧了玄王府的厨房?得,还是他把她伺候得像‘大爷’吧。发誓?他有说过那样的话么?没听见,他什么都不知道。*【黑辰卷:】路人一号:听说玄王府的二世子是个怪胎,就生下来的时候哭了一声。路人二号:听说他从小到大从来没说过一个字,没笑过一次。路人三号:听说任何人都不敢靠近他的身,纵然是亲生父母他也照杀不误