登陆注册
5297800000067

第67章 A Hateful,Wretched Life.(1)

The advent of half a score of young men from the city naturally made dancing the order of the occasion on Saturday evening.Mr.

Burleigh,however,gave Sibley a hint that the features he had introduced the previous week must be omitted tonight,since nothing that would in the slightest degree lower the character of his house would be tolerated.The excitement therefore that Sibley had formerly received from Cognac,he now sought to obtain by pursuing with greater ardor his flirtation with Ida.Indeed,to such a nature as his,her beauty was quite as intoxicating as the "spirit of wine."There was a brilliancy in her appearance to night and a piquancy in her words that struck him as very unusual.

Nor was he alone in his admiration.The young men from the city thronged about her,and her hand was soon engaged for every dance until late in the evening;but on this occasion she had no opportunity,as before,of declining invitations from Van Berg.

The solicitations of others went for little,the admiring eyes that she saw following her on every side could not compensate for the lack of all attention from him.He danced several times,but it was with those who seemed to be neglected by others.In his quiet,dignified bearing,in his unselfish affability toward those who otherwise would have had a dull evening,he appeared to her in most favorable contrast to the giddy young fellows who fluttered around her,and whose supreme thoughts were always of themselves,and of her only as she could minister to their pleasure.

"Miss Burton has so plainly won him,"she thought,"that he has adopted her tactics of looking after those whom every one neglects.

I could soon show him the one he has the greatest power of cheering,and I know that she has the deepest need of cheer of any one in this crowded house,but I'd rather die than give one hint of our first meeting he has humiliated me,and I in return love him!But he shall never know it.My looks can be as cold as his."And so they were toward him,but for all others she had had the gayest smiles and repartee.Vividly conscious of the secret she would so jealously guard,she sought by every means in her power to mask it from him and all others.She would even permit her name for a time to be associated with a man she detested and despised,since thus the truth could be more effectively concealed.

Sibley's attentions were certainly ardent enough to attract attention,and occasionally there was a boldness in his compliments,which she,even in her reckless mood,sharply resented.His eyes seemed to grow more wolfish every time she encountered them,and more than once the thought crossed her mind:

"What a heaven it would be to look up into the eyes of a man Icould trust,and who honored me."

What torture it was to see such a man present,and yet to feel that he justly scorned her.

Excitement and her strong will kept her up for a long time,but as the evening advanced despondency and weariness began to gain the mastery.Sibley came to her and said:"Miss Ida,I have your hand for the next waltz,but I see you are worn and tired.Let us go out on the cool piazza instead of dancing."Listlessly she took his arm and passed through one of the open windows near.Van Berg had disappeared some time before,and there was no longer any motive to keep up the illusion of gayety.

Hardly had she stepped on the piazza before she heard her father say:

"Miss Burton,if it will give you any pleasure to know that you have made this evening memorably bright to one whose life is peculiarly clouded,you can certainly enjoy that assurance in the fullest measure.You have kept your word and have not preached at me at all;and yet I feel I ought to be a better man for this interview.""O,Miss Ida,"exclaimed Sibley,"this is the opportunity that Ihave been wishing for all the evening.I cannot tell you how gladly I exchange the glare of that room for the light of your eyes only.

Would that life were but one long summer evening,and your eyes the only starts in my sky.""Absurd,"she carelessly replied;and then they passed out of hearing.

"Good-night,Miss Burton,"said Mr.Mayhew abruptly;and he hastily descended the steps and was soon lost from view in the darkness.

His daughter and the man who seemed to be the companion of her choice,brought back at once the old conditions of his life.The prison walls closed around him again,the air seemed all the more foul and stifling in contrast with the pure atmosphere which he had been breathing,and the gloom of the night was light in comparison with his thoughts as he muttered:

同类推荐
  • 大唐新翻密严经

    大唐新翻密严经

    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。
  • 白喉全生集

    白喉全生集

    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。
  • 春日游曲江

    春日游曲江

    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。
  • 金胎两界师资相承

    金胎两界师资相承

    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。
  • Poetics

    Poetics

    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
  • 吞噬九天

    吞噬九天

    一枚蕴含战意本质的泥塑吊坠,一本可夺天命为己身的绝世功法,聚集万千气运于一身,看落魄少年白梓年为救其母,醒其父,走向那逆天修神之路。
  • 培养优秀女孩的100个细节

    培养优秀女孩的100个细节

    女孩将来是否幸福首先取决于家庭教育的优劣,100个细节让父母抓住培养完美女孩的金钥匙。女孩父母必读的3大理由:1.适合女孩的才是最好的!全面解读女孩的心理特征和成长规律,让家长洞悉女孩面临的机遇和挑战,掌握女孩教育的方向和技巧,真正教到点子上,事半功倍。2.100个细节解决100个家教难题!每一个细节都含有大量具体的教育实例和操作指导,是众多成功父母总结出来的教育经验,简单实用,能引导你解决女孩教育中最常见、最关键的难题。3.培养真正优秀的女孩!以培养聪明、乐观、自尊、善良的女孩为目标,全面塑造女孩的修养、情感、品质,是真正意义上的完美教育。
  • 猜凶4

    猜凶4

    如果世界没有罪恶,我宁愿我不曾存在。梦中出现的幽灵般的小女孩,她神秘的手势到底是什么意义?无论走到哪里,你的身边都会发生凶杀案――这恐怕真是西门通无法摆脱的梦魇了……
  • 流浪者

    流浪者

    《流浪者》是邓一光早期创作的短篇小说集。《流浪者》作者早期的短篇小说多反映其生活所在地四川和武汉等地的民情风俗,地方色彩粗重,叙事技巧朴实无华,目光向下,多反映底层的人和事,具有较强的现实观照力。
  • 绯婚秘爱:总裁金屋可藏娇

    绯婚秘爱:总裁金屋可藏娇

    岳景渊是一位霸道总裁,顶配的那种。关于他的感情众说纷纭,有人说他一直对初恋情人念念不忘,有人说他跟世家名媛亲密非常,还有人说异国公主正在对他展开追求。那么,岳氏总裁夫人的桂冠究竟花落谁家?岳景渊冲一个方向招招手:“顾云初,过来,先跟我把结婚证领了!”顾云初:“其实吧岳总裁,我觉得做人不要太讲究形式,那张纸没有也挺好的……”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 诱婚之楚少太凶残

    诱婚之楚少太凶残

    楚离笙不明白,自己订婚前一夜还远在美国的人,现在为何会出现在自己卧室的床上。而自己也不过是在婚宴前回来换个衣服,就被那笑得一脸阴翳的男人按在床上剥皮抽骨,吃得渣都不剩。最后还要接受‘他其实是受害者’这种理由,迫不得已的签下一纸婚书,在幕后做了隐身的‘楚夫人’。说好的挂名夫妻,井水不犯河水。只是......一次又一次的磋磨之后,楚离笙终于明白,什么叫男人的话信不得!......她是低调内敛的CIN首席设计师,也是海城楚家唯一的血脉。他原是被她从街上带回家的小乞丐,后来却摇身一变,成了美国联邦银行的执行总裁。......楚默从前总以为,身边那老是围着他转的小娃娃会一直守在他身后,乖巧的做他的小尾巴,只是不想某一天却忽然收到了她就要订婚的消息——呵,开什么玩笑!他瞬间失控化身成魔,不远千里赶去将她吞吃入腹,只为将她锁在身边。“楚离笙,现在除了我,你还能嫁给谁?”
  • 文学理论向度研究

    文学理论向度研究

    本书以向度作为考察文学理论的全新视角,通过分析并探讨载体向度、本体向度、读者向度与文学之外的文论向度,对古今中外的文学理论进行了全方位的综合创新研究,可作为文艺学、美学、艺术学等专业学生考研、专升本、自学考试时的重要参考资料。被评为“有见解的、内容扎实的、有益于我国文学理论建设的值得一读的一书”。
  • 江山为聘之冷面帝皇天价妃

    江山为聘之冷面帝皇天价妃

    “风华绝代艳天下,玉色倾城倾山河。今日,朕赐你‘倾城’为名。”从那一刻开始两人注定羁绊此生。世人皆知,他是不可一世的冷面帝皇,她只是无权无势的宫女。她为了给兄长报仇忍辱负重在他身边唯命是从:“倾城,去给朕端茶。”“是……”“倾城,服侍更衣。”“是……”“倾城,今夜给朕侍寝。”“是……”。后来真相大白,某个天娇贵女扮猪吃老虎成功俘获冷面帝皇,“赫连懿寒,我要喝水。”“来了。”“赫连懿寒,我饿了,去做饭。”“好了。”“赫连懿寒……”一代天骄终成妻奴。那日,“我娶你,以万里江山为聘,天地为证,日月为鉴,红妆铺路,十里相迎。可愿?”
  • 荀子:儒学主流的真正塑造者

    荀子:儒学主流的真正塑造者

    在大一统气氛笼罩的时代,荀子才是儒学的主流。中国文化经常和儒家被等同看待。不论称赞还是批判中国文化,很自然都会拿儒家的主张、信念作为代表。更进一步,儒家往往也就和孔孟画上等号。儒家相信什么、主张什么,也就理所当然认为是孔子和孟子所说、所主张的。这种常识态度,在历史上不只不精确,而且带着许多误会。那些想当然对儒家的种种说法,其实里面来自《荀子》的部分可能多过来自《孟子》的。孟子名气大,和孔子并称,荀子的名字往往被湮没在背景里,但若从思想内容及表达形式上来看的话,荀子对于后世建立的儒家传统,影响恐怕大过孟子。
  • 启迪学生思考人生的故事全集:享受生命的春光

    启迪学生思考人生的故事全集:享受生命的春光

    人生仿佛是四季的轮回,生命的状态便是这四季的写照。每个人都有属于自己的春、夏、秋、冬,不必为沐浴春风而得意,也不必为置身冬季而叹息,人生中的每一个季节都是我们必经的过程,生命中的每一个时刻都是值得我们珍藏的记忆。