登陆注册
5292700000037

第37章 ALICIA'S DIARY(12)

I told him that it was useless to dwell on what was past,that I no doubt had erred,that the remedy lay in the future and their marriage.In this he quite agreed with me,and on my informing him that M.de la Feste was at that moment with Caroline in the sacristy,he assented to my proposal that we should leave them to themselves,and return together to await them at the pension,where he had also engaged a room for me.This we did,and going up to the chamber he had chosen for me,which overlooked the Canal,I leant from the window to watch for the gondola that should contain Charles and my sister.

They were not long in coming.I recognized them by the colour of her sunshade as soon as they turned the bend on my right hand.They were side by side of necessity,but there was no conversation between them,and I thought that she looked flushed and he pale.When they were rowed in to the steps of our house he handed her up.I fancied she might have refused his assistance,but she did not.Soon I heard her pass my door,and wishing to know the result of their interview Iwent downstairs,seeing that the gondola had not put off with him.

He was turning from the door,but not towards the water,intending apparently to walk home by way of the calle which led into the Via 22Marzo.

'Has she forgiven you?'said I.

'I have not asked her,'he said.

'But you are bound to do so,'I told him.

He paused,and then said,'Alicia,let us understand each other.Do you mean to tell me,once for all,that if your sister is willing to become my wife you absolutely make way for her,and will not entertain any thought of what I suggested to you any more?'

'I do tell you so,'said I with dry lips.'You belong to her--how can I do otherwise?'

'Yes;it is so;it is purely a question of honour,'he returned.

'Very well then,honour shall be my word,and not my love.I will put the question to her frankly;if she says yes,the marriage shall be.But not here.It shall be at your own house in England.'

'When?'said I.

'I will accompany her there,'he replied,'and it shall be within a week of her return.I have nothing to gain by delay.But I will not answer for the consequences.'

'What do you mean?'said I.He made no reply,went away,and I came back to my room.

CHAPTER IX.--SHE WITNESSES THE END

April 20.Milan,10.30p.m.--We are thus far on our way homeward.

I,being decidedly de trop,travel apart from the rest as much as Ican.Having dined at the hotel here,I went out by myself;regardless of the proprieties,for I could not stay in.I walked at a leisurely pace along the Via Allesandro Manzoni till my eye was caught by the grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele,and I entered under the high glass arcades till I reached the central octagon,where Isat down on one of a group of chairs placed there.Becoming accustomed to the stream of promenaders,I soon observed,seated on the chairs opposite,Caroline and Charles.This was the first occasion on which I had seen them en tete-a-tete since my conversation with him.She soon caught sight of me;averted her eyes;then,apparently abandoning herself to an impulse,she jumped up from her seat and came across to me.We had not spoken to each other since the meeting in Venice.

'Alicia,'she said,sitting down by my side,'Charles asks me to forgive you,and I do forgive you.'

I pressed her hand,with tears in my eyes,and said,'And do you forgive him?'

'Yes,'said she,shyly.

'And what's the result?'said I.

'We are to be married directly we reach home.'This was almost the whole of our conversation;she walked home with me,Charles following a little way behind,though she kept turning her head,as if anxious that he should overtake us.'Honour and not love'seemed to ring in my ears.So matters stand.Caroline is again happy.

April 25.--We have reached home,Charles with us.Events are now moving in silent speed,almost with velocity,indeed;and I sometimes feel oppressed by the strange and preternatural ease which seems to accompany their flow.Charles is staying at the neighbouring town;he is only waiting for the marriage licence;when obtained he is to come here,be quietly married to her,and carry her off.It is rather resignation than content which sits on his face;but he has not spoken a word more to me on the burning subject,or deviated one hair's breadth from the course he laid down.They may be happy in time to come:I hope so.But I cannot shake off depression.

May 6.--Eve of the wedding.Caroline is serenely happy,though not blithe.But there is nothing to excite anxiety about her.I wish Icould say the same of him.He comes and goes like a ghost,and yet nobody seems to observe this strangeness in his mien.

I could not help being here for the ceremony;but my absence would have resulted in less disquiet on his part,I believe.However,Imay be wrong in attributing causes:my father simply says that Charles and Caroline have as good a chance of being happy as other people.Well,to-morrow settles all.

May 7.--They are married:we have just returned from church.

Charles looked so pale this morning that my father asked him if he was ill.He said,'No:only a slight headache;'and we started for the church.

There was no hitch or hindrance;and the thing is done.

4p.m.--They ought to have set out on their journey by this time;but there is an unaccountable delay.Charles went out half-an-hour ago,and has not yet returned.Caroline is waiting in the hall;but I am dreadfully afraid they will miss the train.I suppose the trifling hindrance is of no account;and yet I am full of misgivings ...

Sept.14.--Four months have passed;ONLY four months!It seems like years.Can it be that only seventeen weeks ago I set on this paper the fact of their marriage?I am now an aged woman by comparison!

同类推荐
  • 介存斋论词杂著

    介存斋论词杂著

    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。
  • 酒人觞政

    酒人觞政

    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。
  • 涉异志

    涉异志

    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。
  • 经籍会通

    经籍会通

    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。
  • 袁中郎全集

    袁中郎全集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 十里繁花等你来

    十里繁花等你来

    生活如同奔流的河水,一直朝前,真能永不言悔?亦或后悔有期?三生花,三世情,前世情未断,今生花凋零,来生已陌路。勿忘卿,勿忘心,奈河毅拒孟婆汤,断桥痴等许仙郎。冬细语,夏荫眠,望穿旧照,惟闻叹息。
  • 黑暗圆环之穿梭奥特曼宇宙

    黑暗圆环之穿梭奥特曼宇宙

    得到黑暗圆环,依靠时空之力穿梭特摄世界。大古看着眼前的黑暗迪迦默默的放下了手中的神光棒。门矢士看着眼前这个以黑色为主格调的帝骑缓缓的打出了问号一不知名宇宙人看着眼前的怪兽军团双股颤颤,指着江木青骂到“说好的单挑呢?”江木青微微一笑.“能群殴何必单挑呢...”本书又名《我的黑暗圆环有点不一样》、《黑暗圆环的一百种使用方法》。(ps:书友群:1039981303,欢迎来群探讨)关键词:奥特曼,假面骑士,特摄.
  • 明名臣琬琰续录

    明名臣琬琰续录

    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。
  • 使命

    使命

    一个不辱使命的公安局长,将面临怎样的抉择——队伍不纯的困扰。工作经费的匮乏,执法环境的恶劣,腐败分子的高压,刑事犯罪的升级,黑恶势力的挑战,党和人民的重托,血与火的拼搏……在一般人的心目中,公安局长应该是力量的象征,正义的化身,平安的保证。可是,有谁知道,身为基层的公安局长,他们置身于怎样的环境中?一个不辱使命的公安局长,将面临怎样的抉择——队伍不纯的困扰。工作经费的匮乏,执法环境的恶劣,腐败分子的高压,刑事犯罪的升级,黑恶势力的挑战,党和人民的重托,血与火的拼搏……这就是本书要讲述的故事。
  • 来自阿尔特里亚的英雄们

    来自阿尔特里亚的英雄们

    这是一本综漫小说emmm……首卷《超神学院》,以上!PS:目前更新随缘……
  • 刀九圣

    刀九圣

    讲一个故事,故事中的我,手持善恶之刀——九圣,在黑暗中慢慢前行。我只是一颗棋子,他们画了一个圈,规划好了故事的发展方向,我只能遵循那所谓的命运。终了,是悲剧,我能做的,只是将这个悲伤的故事讲给下个人听,希望他不要活成我的样子。
  • 阴阳入殓师

    阴阳入殓师

    入殓师一职始于夏商时期,其工作是帮离逝的人梳洗装扮,让其体面的离开人世,传到近代,竟有人误以为东赢是其发源地,这是表面的记载,很少人知道这个世界上还有一个不为人知的存在,那就是灵魂入殓者,又称阴阳入殓师。
  • 娱乐之造星家

    娱乐之造星家

    带着记忆重生新世界,走上为华夏领先造星之路!
  • 末世小疯狂

    末世小疯狂

    桑桑是个小可爱,她穿越了,于是变成了一个大可爱的故事。其实这是一个关于末日世界的——小疯狂。
  • 我家鱼缸是万界飞升点

    我家鱼缸是万界飞升点

    一阵电闪雷鸣后,我家鱼缸成了万界飞升点。从此,一尊尊度过大劫的“神明”降临。就在陈歌惊慌失措的时候,他发现这些神明,好像有点不一样…手指一般大,御剑飞行的剑仙?手指一般大,脚踩魔云而来的魔尊?手指一般大,倾城倾国的圣女?就算是巨人,也只有二十厘米不到的身高?陈歌表示很无语:拜托,你们真的是神吗?小人国出来的还差不多!关键是,这些所谓的神,陈歌居然能像拍苍蝇一样一巴掌把他们拍飞。这就是神?天啊…好弱的神!