登陆注册
5297800000055

第55章 Love Put to Work.(2)

But with a growing feeling of disquietude he saw that Van Berg also was deeply interested in Miss Burton,and,what was worse,he thought he detected an answering interest on her part.

Occasionally,when the artist's face was turned away so that she obtained a good profile view of it,Stanton observed her looking at him with an expression which both puzzled and troubled him.She seemed to forget everything and every one,and to gaze for a moment with a wistful,longing intensity that he would give his fortune for were the glance directed toward himself.And yet when Van Berg addressed her,sought her society,met her suddenly,there was no heightening of color,nor a trace of the "sweet confusion"that is usually inseparable from a new and growing affection in a maiden's heart.

Apart from this occasion,furtive,and wistful look during which her cheeks would grow pale and she appear for the moment oblivious of present surroundings,her manner toward the artist was as frank and natural as toward any one else.It was evident that she liked and respected him,but even his jealousy could not detect the certainty of anything more.

But what was the tendency of Van Berg's mind toward her?That was the question which troubled him more and more every day.From the time of their parting on the previous Sabbath evening there had been a growing reluctance on the part of each to speak of one who so largely occupied the thoughts of both.The old jest and banter about the "school ma'am"ceased utterly,and they mentioned her only occasionally as "Miss Burton."The old frank confidence between them diminished daily,and in their secret consciousness they began to recognize the fact that they might soon become open rivals.

The attitude of Van Berg toward the young stranger who had so deeply interested him from the first hour of their meeting,was peculiar but characteristic.His reason approved of her.Never before had he met a woman who had seemed endowed with so many attractive qualities.She was not beautiful,--a cardinal virtue with him--but her face often lighted up with something so near akin to beauty as to leave little cause to regret its absence and the conviction grew upon him that the spirit enshrined within the graceful and fragile form was almost perfection itself.

It became clearer to him every day that some deep experience or sorrow has so thoroughly refined away the dross of her nature as to make her seem the embodiment of truth and purity.What though she still maintained complete reticence as to the past,avoiding in their conversation all allusion to herself,as far as possible;he still,in his inmost soul,knew he could trust her,and that while her smiling face,like the sunlit rippling surface of mountain lakes not far away,might hide dark,silent depths,it concealed nothing impure.

He also felt that there was no occasion to imagine any deep mystery to be part of her past history.The facts that she was poor and orphaned suggested all the explanations needed,and he felt sure that the sorrows she so sacredly and unselfishly shrouded from the general view would be frankly revealed to the man who might win the right to comfort and sustain her.

Could he win that right?Did he wish to win it?As day after day passed he felt this question to be growing more and more vitally important.

He was not one he believed who,like Stanton,could be carried away by a sudden and absorbing passion.In any and every case,reason,judgment,and taste would offer their counsel,and their advice would be carefully weighed.With increasing distinctness,this cabinet within his own breast urged him to observe this maiden well lest the chief opportunity of his life pass beyond recall.

And he did study her character carefully.Stanton,with the keen pain of jealousy,and Ida Mayhew with a disquiet and sinking of heart that she could not understand,noted that he very quietly and unobtrusively sought her society.When she spoke,he listened.

When it was possible without attracting attention his eyes followed her,and yet his conduct was governed so thoroughly by good taste and chivalric regard for the lady herself,that only eyes rendered penetrating by the promptings of the heart would have seen anything more than the general friendliness which she inspired on every side.

Stanton,on the contrary,grew more undisguised and demonstrative in his attentions,although he aimed to conceal his feeling under the humorous and bantering style of address that was habitual with him.The guests of the house were not very long in recognizing in him an admirer of Miss Burton,but they imagined that his devotion was caused more by a wish to while away his idle hours than from any other motive;and it was also quite evident that the young lady herself took the same view.She gave a light and humorous aspect to everything she said,and permitted him scarcely an opportunity for a solitary "tete-a-tete."In vain he placed his bays and buggy at her disposal.

"I am social and gregarious in my tastes,"she would reply,"and need the exhilaration of a party to enjoy myself."Thus Stanton was led to a course of action decidedly in contrast with his past tendencies.He would attach his bays to a roomy carriage,giving her a "carte-blanche"in making up the party if she would be one of the number.He would perspire like a hero in any boating excursion or picnic that she would originate;and thus the fastidious and elegant fellow often found himself in unwonted company,for,with an instinct peculiarly her own,she soon found out the comparatively poor and neglected in the hotel,and appeared to derive her chief pleasure in enlivening their dull days.

Quick-witted Stanton early learned that the surest way to winning a smile from her was to be polite to people that,hitherto,he had habitually ignored.To Miss Burton herself he made no secret of the fact that his course was prompted only by a desire to please her,but she smiling persisted in ascribing it all to his good-nature and kindness of heart.

同类推荐
  • 太上玄司灭罪紫府消灾法忏

    太上玄司灭罪紫府消灾法忏

    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。
  • 入幕须知

    入幕须知

    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。
  • 留别复本修古二上人

    留别复本修古二上人

    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。
  • 窥天外乘

    窥天外乘

    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。
  • 周易正义

    周易正义

    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
  • 地球明星群

    地球明星群

    被公司雪藏八年的歌手郑锐无意间加入名为地球歌手群的聊天群。这个聊天群净说些郑锐所在世界没有的事情,分享一些他没有听过的音乐、没有看过的小说、电影等。于是,郑锐火了。
  • 重生之女翻译官

    重生之女翻译官

    【简短版】外交部发言人秦卿,亿万富豪孙景炀,驻英大使余青童,三个男人异口同声:“晓云,你必须在我们中选一个!”她穆晓云只想靠本事吃饭,靠双手赚钱,靠头脑发财,为什么却引来一堆高干富豪追逐?她最烦的就是男人了!“选了一个呢?”“剩下两个就终身不娶!”【详细版】前一世,穆晓云是个为爱轻生的傻女人,再次醒来,却已经回到十年前……这一世,穆晓云决定斩断情丝,此生此世不再相信任何一个男人!现在的她只愿意实现自己前世未竟的梦想——成为一名出色的翻译官。然而命运之轮,却再一次把他,孙景炀,带到她的身边……她曾经为他怀过孕、流过产、捉过小三、赶过红颜、防过闺蜜、斗过婆婆……这种生活,她上辈子已经过够了!却没想到,曾经的花花大少,这一世却变成了深情专一的男人。只是他身边蜂蜂蝶蝶依旧环绕,而她,已经不想再上演那种无聊的婚姻保卫战!片段一2005年6月1日,南部,S大校园。“你不安好心。”小小年纪就当自己表妹的狗头军师,指点她怎么挽回男人。秦卿越看越觉得这个女孩子可怕。“我又没有害冯茹,你那么担心干嘛?”促狭的杏眼里,恶作剧的光芒一闪一闪地。冯茹在旁边弱弱拉穆晓云袖子:“晓云,从来没有人敢这样跟我表哥说话……”片段二2008年,5月18日,四川,北川。“穆晓云,你疯了,军人的铁则就是无条件服从命令——”秦卿漆黑的瞳仁充满怒火,盯着眼前满面血污,只剩下一双明丽美眸的佳人,“现在,我命令你,马上给我回学校去!”“长官,难道你不知道我在擅自上飞机之前,已经把退学信交到了教务处吗?现在你不能命令我了。”看着他脸色铁青,她冷冷一笑:“不是所有女人,都只敢在男人身后瑟瑟发抖的!”说罢,她毫不迟疑地跳上了他的抢险救援车,往灾区中心点飞驰而去。【新文推荐】江洋大盗重生到软弱的豪门大小姐身上,一睁眼就面对未婚夫悔婚,伪善的庶母庶妹假仁假义,父亲偏心母亲无能,她要如何扭转乾坤,活出不一样的过去?《重生之小姐你好毒》:
  • 电梯谋杀案

    电梯谋杀案

    《电梯谋杀案》讲述了:那时,我不晓得杨诗韵正在那里采访大三线的工厂。她是一个鼻子挺灵敏的人,总能抓住时机,抓住题材,而且也能抓住乐于帮忙的男士,属于交际类型有几分姿色的女作者。不知是哪位女同胞这样叹息过:“做女人难,做名女人更难!”说句不敬的话,这可算是吃得太饱太撑以后胃胀得难受,严格讲属于一种快乐的苦恼。但我比较同情杨诗韵,虽然她也有不能原谅的地方。
  • 情锁深宫—绝代郡主

    情锁深宫—绝代郡主

    烽火狼烟,风起云涌,群雄割据,天下三国之分。一朝穿越,她——是寄人篱下的深宫郡主,是战败的俘虏,是三方霸主暗自争夺的女人……她想远离纷争,却被迫卷入残酷的夺位之争;她想远离皇宫,千辛万苦、九死一生的逃离,然而命运却将她带入另一个漩涡;她坚强、她正义、她热情、她开朗,现实却让她迷茫。当她敞开心扉,全心全意、毫无保留地爱上他时,残酷的现实与真相,却将她的美梦击得粉碎……她该何去何从,是该跟随自己的心意,还是抛开尘世的喧嚣……他——是战场战无不胜的沙场宿将,是菱国至高无上的一代君王,他放眼天下,胸怀万丈。他冷漠、他睿智、他果断、他狂放,命运的安排,让他遇上了她,从此的目光,就只想追随着她……简介无能,内容绝对精彩纷呈,一起来穿越千年,感受这旷世绝恋。一次穿越,一回人生,纷扰的岁月,乱世方显佳人!**************************************默的新文已经开坑了,不同的风格,不同的故事,却是别有一番味道,《血色豪门,断指情缘》郡主篇保质保量一完结,便会全力大更。届时欢迎光临惠顾哦!!!
  • 异世紫衣罗刹

    异世紫衣罗刹

    她,是杀手界第一杀手紫衣罗刹中的罗刹倾蓝,因生退隐之意,被组织截杀,那一日,紫衣玄雨为护她而身死,而她……“玄雨,若有来世,我一定听你的话,好好学武,绝不让今天的一幕发生…”再次醒来时,她的身份已不再是杀手罗刹,而是权倾风国的丞相之女,一个帝都所公认的超级花痴少女。本来以为自己的心已经随着上一世玄雨的离去,死了,麻木了,可是那个男子一次次地温暖着她,终于令她愤然而起!“伤害了我身边的人,就算你是斗气修炼到圣级战士的帝王,我也要覆了你的天下…”谁说女子不如男儿,凡事都有例外,而她……恰恰就是那个例外!正所谓有意栽花花不开,无心插柳柳成荫!却不知何时起,龙凤大陆突然出现了一个风华绝代的人物——紫衣罗刹。那一身耀眼的紫衣,那一抹轻蔑的冷笑,令各国少男少女相继模仿,以她为偶像……参考:龙凤大陆战士等级,总共分为一到十级,然后就是青铜战士、白银战士、黄金战士、王级战士、皇级战士、君级战士、圣级战士……等等,而青铜到圣级战士又分为初、中、高阶。注意:此文已加入五折书库,一次性订阅全文可享半价优惠哟O(∩_∩)O~◆◆◆◆◆推荐自己的东方玄幻新文《最强皇女》推荐一下自己的旧文《紫邪》好友的玄幻联盟传送阵:《狐狂》尘邪《夜倾》虫丘虫引《灵师》暗夜萧然《长安》叶筱兮《巫仙惑》血零《天玄赌后》云繇《灭世双生》残雪樱《异世御神》瑞夜楠《绝世灭天》浮生微凉《弹指灭天》东方流火《异世之风行》东方流火《异世之紫衣天下》雪梦璃《小小仙子狂狂狂》云容脉脉《死神方程式》浮云团子《双生契约者》浮云团子下面是小九儿的书哦,大家一定不要错过:《极品修真》帝九鸢哇噻,这是血宝的《魔主》哦:好友的言情类别传送阵:《霸妻》巫氏家族《风云皇后》倾城殇《末世凤狂》流风回雪《皇后不好惹》炎筱妮《色色母女闹古代》楚云《黑道总裁的伪善妻》莲子儿◆◆◆◆◆推荐一下自己的旧文◆◆◆◆◆《紫邪》◆◆◆◆◆推荐自己的东方玄幻新文《最强皇女》嘻嘻,以上烟火推荐的文都是不错的,走过、路过的千万别错过哦!恩大家不妨去看一看,说不定就是你喜欢的类型哦!^_^
  • 暗恋情事

    暗恋情事

    18岁她遇见他一见钟情,满心欢喜28岁他们克服了重重阻碍步入了婚姻殿堂她与他终成正果我原以为,喜欢你只有一瞬间的事,可是我却坚持了一生。
  • 懒汉得以重生

    懒汉得以重生

    好吃懒做邢跃进重生了,重回八十年代,一切不愉快全消失了,因太简单了,不用多费力有吃有喝,还有数不清美女簇拥,想想没重生前落魄样,真是一言难尽呀!
  • 三天读懂五千年黄金传奇

    三天读懂五千年黄金传奇

    跌宕起伏黄金历史,错综复杂财富传奇。黄金历史发展脉络、趣闻故事、黄金开采冶炼过程等奇闻异事,让您从历史、文化、宗教、生产、生活诸多方面领会黄金的魅力,了解真正的黄金时代。
  • 神魔浴血之都

    神魔浴血之都

    每当黑夜降临之时,便是杀戮重启之时。神魔的战场蔓延向地球,人类的生命已经岌岌可危……
  • 凤临天下:邪王的倾世宠妃

    凤临天下:邪王的倾世宠妃

    (新书已发:《倾城医妃:冷情王爷请入榻》希望大家支持)大婚当日,她被人所掳,未婚夫一纸休书,让她成为整个澜沧大陆的笑话。不堪受辱,自尽而亡。再度睁眼,迎来的是二十一世纪的军火女王,一身暗器出神入化,举止投足间风云万变,性格更是狂傲至极。她跨越千年而来,只为找到心中最初的那份执念。一曲琴萧合奏,至此天下相随!三段痴缠绝恋,三生痴情守候,他能否换回她的情定三生!