登陆注册
5297800000177

第177章 Life and trust.(6)

"That's his way,"said Mrs.Burleigh in an aside to Jennie;"but would you believe it,the poor man has scarcely eaten or slept since you have been ill.If it had been any one else but you I'd been jealous."But Van Berg knew well that all this geniality was like the ripple and sparkle that play above deep waters.Occasionally he found Miss Burton's eyes directed towards himself in a way that caused him deep anxiety,and he had an uneasy consciousness that she was reading his innermost thoughts.While he exerted his utmost power to banish everything from his mind that was not loyal to her,he made no effort to avoid Ida or say little to her at the table and during the afternoon,but rather took pains to treat her with frank and cordial courtesy;however,in spite of himself,he could not keep out of his eyes at all times the reverence and gratitude with which his very soul overflowed;for he felt that he owed to Ida,who had saved his manhood,far more than to Jennie,who had saved his life only.

Ida also observed Miss Burton's slight and carefully disguised scrutiny with a fluttering heart."I suppose he does the best he can,"she thought;"but she'll surely find him out;there is no use of trying to hide anything from a woman who loves.Well,well,let her but remain discreetly blind for a little time,and with her powers of fascination she will win him heart and soul."Before Jennie slept that night her mind was clear as to her course.

"I think,"she murmured,"I understand them both now.His manner towards Miss Mayhew is certainly not that of a conventional lover;but as I have seen him look at her twice as if he could say his prayers to her,I think I'll venture on the only match-making I ever attempted.But what to do with Mr.Stanton,I don't know.

Poor man!he might as well love a shadow as me,and yet he seems so simple,honest,and real himself.He is disappointing me daily,and I have wronged him very much.I thought him a selfish man of the world,but he persists in offering me a chivalric,unselfish devotion,for which he asks nothing in return.Alas!I can give him nothing--nothing compared with what he gives.""I am going to make my last visit to Mr.Eltinge and the old garden,"said Ida to Van Berg as she passed him on the piazza the following morning.

He looked after her so wistfully,and sighed so deeply,that Jennie Burton,unseen herself,smiled as if she had discovered something that gave her deep satisfaction.

"Mr.Van Berg,"she said a few moments later "can you give me a little of your valuable time to-day?""All of it,"he said promptly.

"Thanks.I shall take,then,all I want.Come with me to yonder shady rustic seat,for I long to be out of doors again;and you have learned to hobble so gracefully and deftly that you can manage the journey,I'm sure."He accompanied her,wondering a little at her words and manner.

When they had reached the seclusion she sought her manner changed,and she became very grave and earnest,for she felt that it might be the crisis moment of two lives,and she was not one who could self-complacently and confidently seek to shape human destiny.

"Mr.Van Berg,"she said,"I shall not use any tedious circumlocution,for your time is precious this morning;more so than you think at this moment.Nor shall I try to entrap you by guile and feminine diplomacy;but you made me a very explicit pledge when I found you last Tuesday morning.""Yes,Jennie Burton,I am yours,body and soul.""But how about your heart,Mr.Van Berg?""My heart overflows with gratitude to you,"he said promptly,but with rising color;"and as I said when you rescued me,so now Ivow again,I dedicate my life to you.I do not ask you to forget the past all at once--I do not ask you to forget it at all--but only to let me aid you in taking the bitterness out of those memories that now are destroying as sweet and beneficent a life as God ever gave.I have suspected that you had some unselfish guile in that last promise you obtained from me,but I shall be loyal to the promise I intended to make,and which was in my mind;I shall be loyal to the promise I made you at first,to win you if I could,and I shall wait till I can.""What,then,will Ida Mayhew do?"she asked looking him full in the face.

He colored still more deeply,but meeting her searching gaze without blenching,he said,firmly and quietly:"She will always do what is right and noble,God bless her!"Miss Burton appeared a little perplexed and troubled for a moment,and then said,slowly:"I called you my friend last July,and when I speak in the mood I was in then I mean all that I say.Friends should be very frank when the occasion requires,or else they are but acquaintances.I am going to be very frank with you to-day,and if I err,charge it to friendship only.Ida Mayhew loves you,Mr.Van Berg;she has loved you almost from the first;and now that her life has become so noble and beautiful,I am greatly mistaken if you do not return her affection.If this be true,what are you offering me?""I HAVE given you,Miss Burton,my truth and loyalty for all coming time.You may decline them now--you probably will--but you cannot change my attitude towards you or alter my course.I shall not attempt to hide anything from you.Indeed,to do so would be vain,and I have never been intentionally insincere with you."Then he told her of the freak of fancy that had led him to follow Ida to the country in the first instance,and much that followed since,making no reference,however,to her dark purpose against herself.

同类推荐
  • Chaucer

    Chaucer

    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。
  • 玉清无极总真文昌大洞仙经

    玉清无极总真文昌大洞仙经

    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。
  • 碑传选集

    碑传选集

    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。
  • 观音玄义记

    观音玄义记

    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。
  • 阿毗昙五法行经

    阿毗昙五法行经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 骨董祸

    骨董祸

    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。
  • 仙界蟾蜍不好当

    仙界蟾蜍不好当

    #枫杳杳一觉醒来发现自己变成了蟾蜍#“我觉得她会是只螃蟹!”这是蟾蜍和螃蟹浪迹异界的故事“嗯?那只臭名远扬的鲶鱼是我表哥?!”
  • 王阳明:人生即修行

    王阳明:人生即修行

    本书是一部以王阳明的心学形成历程为主线的人物传记,将他的生平、心学以及现代励志概念结合起来,更深层次地、更独特性地介绍王阳明其人其学。这不是一部简单的传记,它深入浅出,幽默有趣,是有关王阳明的著述中不可多得的一部精品。
  • 天堂候鸟

    天堂候鸟

    当闷骚男遇到豪放女,当青春期撞上要独立,当亲情、友情、爱情交织,是剪断还是理清? 原名《在十八岁路上》,少云新书,青春校园系。。。候鸟群:113212880
  • 小故事大道理(全集)

    小故事大道理(全集)

    一书在手,尽览人生哲理;触类旁通,领悟成功真谛。一滴水,可以折身太阳的光辉;一本书,可以滋养无数的心灵。本书共收录近1000则小故事,它们涵盖了幸福人生的所有诠释,有习惯养成、职业生涯、财富金钱、潜能激励、爱情婚姻、交际处世、心灵境界等47辑32类。这些精辟的小故事背后,都隐藏着无穷的思想和智慧。如果把一盏灯放进全黑的房间,黑暗会瞬间消失,房间顿时有了光明。这时,如果增加十盏、百盏或千盏明灯,房间就会变得越来越亮。愿书中的这些哲理故事能成为点亮你人生的灯,在它的照耀下,我们可以把不快的忧伤变为沉醉的美酒,把午夜的黑暗化为黎明的曙光,使原本没有意义的人生之旅变得格外轻松、欢快、达观。
  • 墨守陈规

    墨守陈规

    人生一世,草木一秋,只要能活着就不能辜负自己,她从活死人堆里爬出来,从笑起来如沐春风的柳沐风,到陈墨的沉默,去勇敢的面对生活,爱我的人我会努力爱他一辈子,伤我的人一定要讨回来。出了活死人推面对新的生活,才发现没钱没能力多可悲,所以,她杀的第一个人堂堂一个知县只值二百两银子,只是她人生最便宜的一次人命买卖。重新迈进柳家,只想怀念从前,怀念母亲;在王权势力的大浪里颠簸,却能滴水不沾。凉茶棚里的人们在讨论着墨门的人不能随便惹,却不知这最大的头头这会就坐在他们身边喝茶,一副闲散人的样子。她不怕生死,不怕疼痛,只怕这生白活。能活着不容易,所以要努力活着,因为一生便是一生,没有什么下辈子。
  • 结婚季

    结婚季

    看似是谈恋爱、找对象,实则是中国人生存状况的盘点与梳理,青年女性的再抉择,再“投胎”。恋爱、结婚的漫漫旅程,不啻于中国人家底大调查,大盘点。通过21位(对)青年的择偶故事,生动反映了当下中国现实及当代青年的生存状况,透过恋爱、婚姻、家庭的多棱镜,表达他们对于世界的认知。
  • 血色玫瑰

    血色玫瑰

    月色温柔,大华集团总经理秘书肖婷婷下班后,先与同事参加了好友文丽的生日聚会,将近八点,却突然告辞离去,早早地赶回了住在桃花源小区的家中。这是位于城乡结合部的一个新开发的住宅小区,但却以其设施齐全、服务周到而享誉业内。肖婷婷几乎一眼就相中了这里,她以银行按揭的方式购买了一套小两居,从而告别了那个拥挤的合租式公寓。她打算过些日子,将尚生活在县城的父母接过来同住。而此时,她却仰卧在加满水的浴缸内,尽情享受着水流所带给她的轻松与愉悦。
  • 中国最美的散文

    中国最美的散文

    本书提炼的散文不仅是被公认的上乘之作,更分门别类,意蕴宽广。此外,每一篇散文更是加入了编者的心路花语,与读者分享。我们诚挚地期望,通过本书,能够引领读者登堂入室,管中窥豹,领略中外散文的真貌,同时启迪心智,陶冶性情,进而提高个人的审美意识、文学素养、写作水平、鉴赏能力、人生品位,为自己的人生添上光彩亮丽的一笔。
  • 邪神专宠:魔神大小姐

    邪神专宠:魔神大小姐

    她是陆府众所周知的傻女,万事不知。和亲路上被亲人抛之毫无生还可能的黑沙漠,一朝蛇血改命。尘封的记忆,不同的陆府,天赋异禀的她强势登上天地舞台。无情地帝皇,恶毒的二娘,待她重新归来,必定斩于剑下。