登陆注册
5363100000027

第27章

'I will ask her, if you please. I have such trust in her judgment that I should leave her altogether to her own discretion.'

The magnificent thing must be done, and the major made up his mind accordingly. Something of regret came over his spirit as he thought of a father-in-law disgraced and degraded, and of his own father broken-hearted. But now there was hardly any alternative left to him.

And was it not the manly thing for him to do? He had loved the girl before this trouble had come upon her, and was he not bound to accept the burden which his love had brought with it? 'I will see her,' he said, 'at once, if you will let me, and ask her to be my wife. But Imust see her alone.'

Then Miss Prettyman paused. Hitherto, she had undoubtedly been playing her fish cautiously, or rather her young friend's fish--perhaps I may say cunningly. She had descended to artifice on behalf of the girl whom she loved, admired, and pitied. She had seen some way into the man's mind, and had been partly aware of his purpose--of his infirmity of purpose, of his double purpose. She had perceived that a word from her might help Grace's chance, and had led the man on till he had committed himself, at any rate to her. In doing this she had been actuated by friendship rather than by abstract principle. But now, when the moment had come in which she must decide upon some action, she paused. Was it right, for the sake of either of them, that an offer of marriage should be made at such a moment as this? It might be very well, in regard to some future time, that the major should have so committed himself. She saw something of the man's spirit, and believed that, having gone so far--having so far told his love, he would return to his love hereafter, let the result of the Crawley trial be what it might. But--but, this could be no proper time for love-making. Though Grace loved the man, as Miss Prettyman knew well, though Grace loved the child, having allowed herself to long to call it her own, though such a marriage could be the making of Grace's fortune as those who loved her could hardly have hoped that it should ever have been made, she would certainly refuse the man, if he were to propose to her now. She would refuse him, and then the man would be free;--free to change his mind if he saw fit. Considering all these things, craftily in the exercise of her friendship, too cunningly, I fear, to satisfy the claims of a high morality, she resolved that the major had better not see Miss Crawley at the present moment. Miss Prettyman paused before she replied, and, when she did speak, Major Grantly had risen from his chair and was standing with his back to the fire. 'Major Grantly,' she said, 'you shall see if you please, and if she pleases; but I doubt whether her answer at such a moment as this would be that which you would wish to receive.'

'You think she would refuse me?'

'I do not think she would accept you now. She would feel--I am sure she would feel, that these hours of her father's sorrow are not hours in which love should be either offered or accepted. You shall, however, see her if you please.'

The major allowed himself a moment for thought; and as he thought he sighed. Grace Crawley had become more beautiful in his eyes than ever, was endowed by these words from Miss Prettyman with new charms and brighter virtues than he had seen before. Let come what might he would ask her to be his wife on some future day; if he did not ask her now.

For the present, perhaps, he had better be guided by Miss Prettyman.

'Then I will not see her,' he said.

'I think that would be the wiser course.'

'Of course you knew before this that I--loved her?'

'I thought so, Major Grantly.'

'And that I intended to ask her to be my wife?'

同类推荐
  • The King of the Golden River

    The King of the Golden River

    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。
  • 寿昌无明和尚语录

    寿昌无明和尚语录

    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。
  • 东西洋考

    东西洋考

    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。
  • 江城名迹

    江城名迹

    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。
  • 黄庭内景玉经注

    黄庭内景玉经注

    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
  • 无非求碗热汤喝

    无非求碗热汤喝

    人生在世,吃喝二字。豆瓣、知乎、虎扑知名作者张佳玮暖心美食随笔。从家常食话,到零食小点;从应景吃食,到各地风物,从文化掌故,到童话臆想……引经据典,深入浅出。有吃,有文化,有故事;关于吃,吃什么,怎么吃;更关于吃的心情,陪你吃的人,你吃的时候想着你和你想着的人……
  • 古美山迷案

    古美山迷案

    堂兄堂弟,都是古美村的能人好汉,却为了一块山地,争出一场情仇恩怨的来龙去脉,揭开了一桩隐藏了六年之久的命案,演译出一段凶险诡诈的人间悲剧……今天是莫绍奎最高兴的日子,因为洽谈了近两个月的合作项目——古美山锑矿冶炼厂终于正式签订了合作协议。说起来,这纯属一种巧合,两个月前,古美山的矿老板莫绍奎无意间听一位来拉矿石的驾驶员说,省城一家大公司的老板,很看好锑材的行情,准备投资到矿上,与矿主联合办一家锑矿冶炼厂。对于这个商业信息,莫绍奎当然不肯错过。
  • 戚少,你家青梅又跑啦

    戚少,你家青梅又跑啦

    推荐新书《盛世嫡妃,腹黑王爷太撩人》大爆料:某贵族学校一女子居然进入了会长车内,并给了他一脚!表面上,所有能够出现戚野薄的地方便会出现该女子;然而该女子却数次离开,让一众粉丝牵肠肚挂。看似联姻的外衣下,某人内心早已打定主意,联姻?你是哪位?不存在!戚野薄却早已吃味,将所有的一切偷偷打理好,顺带拔除一切情敌。/我要选择自由/先绑定好我/你是我世界的唯一/强宠!本文一对一
  • 明治天皇:碧血怒涛卷(中册)

    明治天皇:碧血怒涛卷(中册)

    本书是由传奇武的日本历史小说高产作家山冈庄八创作的一部纪实体小说。它以文学的笔调、宏大的篇幅,描绘了日本幕末那场决定国家命运的倒幕运动的整个过程,塑造出一个个鲜活的日本近代史中的人物形象,展现了日本有志之士为推翻幕府统治,实现国家新生所付出的巨大牺牲和艰辛努力,揭示了日本在内忧外患的双重冲击下,幕府政治退出历史舞台、统治权重新回到天皇手中,并最终走向明治维新的必然规律。本书翔实生动地描写了诸如“黑船来航”、“安政大狱”、“樱田门外之变”、“和宫下嫁”、“寺田屋骚乱”等当时日本的重大历史事件。阅读此书,对中国读者了解日本近代史,尤其是从幕末政治走向明治维新的过程,具有一定的参考价值。
  • 封鬼

    封鬼

    离家出走的怕鬼少女×来历神秘的失忆少年×嗜吃蔬果的怪癖白猫=超诡异的「猫人组合」,在人类和魔物混杂的荒诞之界,为各自心中的坚持,大步迈向布满荆棘和未知的危险世界!在命运的叩门下,他们经历人生至苦的“八劫”顿悟,令人震撼的真相也随之浮出水面:当亲情、爱情和使命彼此激烈冲突的重要时刻,三个同伴纷纷陷入空前绝后的两难绝境,可是又毫不犹豫地做出各自的抉择……
  • 大方等陀罗尼经

    大方等陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 御夫有道:风华二小姐

    御夫有道:风华二小姐

    她是天生灵力,却无法修习,成为世人口中的废柴十余载。她胆小懦弱,被爹爹嫌弃,被姨娘鄙视,更是被姐妹嘲笑。某天醒来,她仿佛变了一个人,果敢果断,有勇有谋,一身好身手让人惊叹,双系灵力更是成为优秀的炼药师,带着神兽,发誓要找回自己曾经失去的东西,也要那些欺负过她的人好看。他是外表温和内心腹黑的皇子,是世人口中的天才,是众女心中的王子。却偏偏对她情有独钟,宠她上天入地。“念儿说的,错的也是对的。”“我只有更加的强大,才能护你周全。”她一句我没时间和你谈情说爱,竟让他甘心等待。命运,从她出生就已经注定。当曾经最亲密的人变成敌人,她该何去何从?新书《无良毒妃:妖孽魔君,求放过》求支持。
  • 年轻人要克服的人性弱点全集

    年轻人要克服的人性弱点全集

    每个年轻人都会有自己的弱点,没有贪婪可能会有自私,没有嫉妒却会有虚荣,没有懒惰同时也没有耐性,这些弱点,就像是捣蛋的魔鬼,总是变换了各种模样,羁绊人们的思路,束缚着人们的手脚,阻碍人们前进。而成功的唯一法宝就是战胜弱点,战胜自我。如此才能做出意想不到的改变,获得巨大的成功。
  • 寻宝档案之擎天棒槌

    寻宝档案之擎天棒槌

    传说在东北长白山的深山之中,也就是满清的龙脉所在之地。有一个巨大的人参,它有真人般大小,长者人身上所有的器官。而且据说可以幻化人形,呼风唤雨,甚至施展圆光幻术。它就是“擎天棒槌”而且它还有一大堆的子子孙孙。可是想见到它,并不容易,一个开人参行的老板洪奎和一个祖传的风水之术的张铁嘴,还有一个背负着灭门之仇的放山人的儿子二憨,三个人走进了东北的深山老林。踏上了寻找擎天棒槌的路。
  • 奇谭怪事录

    奇谭怪事录

    最有看头的志怪短文,最包罗万象的奇谭怪事。燕垒生最耐看短篇集,说尽奇闻怪事,奇人怪事,奇事怪事。