登陆注册
5377900000122

第122章

"No"- she considered- "keep that for liking to dislike.""Do you wish to provoke me then," Osmond laughed, "to a passion for him?"She said nothing for a moment, but then met the light question with a disproportionate gravity."No, Mr.Osmond; I don't think Ishould ever dare to provoke you.Lord Warburton, at any rate," she more easily added, "is a very nice man.""Of great ability?" her friend enquired.

"Of excellent ability, and as good as he looks.""As good as he's good-looking do you mean? He's very good-looking.

How detestably fortunate!- to be a great English magnate, to be clever and handsome into the bargain, and, by way of finishing off, to enjoy your high favour! That's a man I could envy."Isabel considered him with interest."You seem to me to be always envying some one.Yesterday it was the Pope; today it's poor Lord Warburton.""My envy's not dangerous; it wouldn't hurt a mouse.I don't want to destroy the people- I only want to be them.You see it would destroy only myself.""You'd like to be the Pope?" said Isabel.

"I should love it- but I should have gone in for it earlier.But why"- Osmond reverted- "do you speak of your friend as poor?""Women- when they are very, very good- sometimes pity men after they've hurt them; that's their great way of showing kindness," said Ralph, joining in the conversation for the first time and with a cynicism so transparently ingenious as to be virtually innocent.

"Pray, have I hurt Lord Warburton?" Isabel asked, raising her eyebrows as if the idea were perfectly fresh.

"It serves him right if you have," said Henrietta while the curtain rose for the ballet.

Isabel saw no more of her attributive victim for the next twenty-four hours, but on the second day after the visit to the opera she encountered him in the gallery of the Capitol, where he stood before the lion of the collection, the statue of the Dying Gladiator.She had come in with her companions, among whom, on this occasion again, Gilbert Osmond had his place, and the party, having ascended the staircase, entered the first and finest of the rooms.

Lord Warburton addressed her alertly enough, but said in a moment that he was leaving the gallery."And I'm leaving Rome," he added."Imust bid you good-bye." Isabel, inconsequently enough, was now sorry to hear it.This was perhaps because she had ceased to be afraid of his renewing his suit; she was thinking of something else.She was on the point of naming her regret, but she checked herself and simply wished him a happy journey; which made him look at her rather unlightedly."I'm afraid you'll think me very 'volatile.' I told you the other day I wanted so much to stop.""Oh no; you could easily change your mind.""That's what I have done."

"Bon voyage then."

"You're in a great hurry to get rid of me," said his lordship quite dismally.

"Not in the least.But I hate partings."

"You don't care what I do," he went on pitifully.

Isabel looked at him a moment."Ah," she said, "you're not keeping your promise!"He coloured like a boy of fifteen."If I'm not, then it's because I can't; and that's why I'm going.""Good-bye then."

"Good-bye." He lingered still, however."When shall I see you again?"Isabel hesitated, but soon, as if she had had a happy inspiration:

"Some day after you're married."

同类推荐
  • 身观经

    身观经

    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。
  • 彭祖摄生养性论

    彭祖摄生养性论

    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。
  • 太白山人漫稿

    太白山人漫稿

    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。
  • 文殊支利普超三昧经

    文殊支利普超三昧经

    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。
  • CRITIAS

    CRITIAS

    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
  • 在上海

    在上海

    怀着梦想,怀着期许,我从家乡义无反顾的来到了憧憬着的上海。然而,现实却不像想象中的那么美好,刚到上海的我就被“当头一棒”......
  • 茗笈

    茗笈

    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。
  • 名媛贵女:今夜BOSS降临

    名媛贵女:今夜BOSS降临

    她在最落魄的夜晚遇到他,北城的第一公子,他准备将她收拾回家,原因只有一个,“我缺一个女人来暖被窝。”直到另一个女人的出现,她才发现自己这辈子最犯贱的事情就是留在他身边。某年后,当盛世豪门崛起北城,她仿佛流星一般闪亮了他的眼。只是……这个女人,似乎从不拒绝任何男人的追求,哪怕她身后,还跟着一个小包子。她后来又说:“我这辈子见过最贱的男人,就是北城的少霆公子,薛大BOSS,你怎么看?”薛少霆看了一眼她身后那群追求者,抽了一口烟,“我也这么觉得。”
  • 最后一个大魔头

    最后一个大魔头

    群号:欢迎加入:234909134希望大家能踊跃加入我若成魔天下无佛、我若成妖,妖中为尊!魔,不是冷酷无情,魔,不是恨天恨地!魔!是一种对世间一切不满的控诉!魔,当行天下不敢为之事!魔,当行天下不敢做之事!!魔,当行天下不敢当之事!!!请不要认为这是一本小说,因为它是文明和修炼的结合!
  • 戾王嗜妻如命

    戾王嗜妻如命

    别人的坏名声,不是自己作的,就是被人诬陷的;靖婉的坏名声,不是自己作的,而是她家未来夫君算计的;鸿渊的坏名声,不是别人作的,而是他自己设计的,只为娶他盯了两辈子的女人!一个没得娶,一个没得嫁,因为他是第一美男,而她不是第一美女,所以还是她赚了?什么鬼?大婚,夫君近身的漂亮丫鬟不爬床,反将她当祖宗伺候;前任总管不揽权,反将产业乃至夫君小金库悉数上交。怎么看怎么诡异!日夜相处,她发现,自家夫君是蛇精病重症患者,求破!夫君,你到底看上我哪点?我改,只求别变态。蛇精病秒秒钟病发,实际行动告诉你,他对你有多强的占有欲,你就要回以多少在意。好吧,为了蛇精病不加重病情,又看在没有小三小四各种小妖精的份上,靖婉摞起袖子拼了。简而言之:这就是,别的女人被小妾逼成妒妇,而她被自家夫君逼成妒妇加悍妇的血泪史!不彪悍不行啊,不秒秒钟灭了各方情敌,她家夫君秒秒钟病发,“灭”了她。【女主穿越,男主重生,1V1,不是小三的小三,那是给靖婉玩儿的,真正的情敌,不管是自己的,还是自家爱妻的,某人都暗搓搓的碾成灰】
  • 纸玫瑰Ⅰ

    纸玫瑰Ⅰ

    小护士白雁与青年才俊康剑闪婚,突然发现这不是一出灰姑娘与王子的剧情。他心里早有一位红颜知已,婆婆视她如眼中钉,公公与她妈妈居然有旧情,到处是迷。后来,白雁定义:如果你是只麻雀,不小心成了凤凰,别太当真,这只是个传说……
  • 混沌圣诀

    混沌圣诀

    故事以主角重生到异世界为背景展开,横跨多个时代,面对不同的对手,主角虽然不为己甚,无奈对手咄咄逼人,主角只能勉强应对,不料却暗合无为而无不为的道家宗旨,成就了一段波澜壮阔的传奇。侏儒是天生的工程师和科学家,矮人都是天生的高级技工,如果单论钳工技术,全银河联邦最优秀的钳工也比不上一个普通的矮人族工匠…………
  • 每个人都有天使守护

    每个人都有天使守护

    作者首次将出生日期与色彩相结合,简单直接的进行分析。用我们生活中最常见的十种颜色,解读了色彩中蕴藏的的能量信息。以及如何来运用这些色彩。人们常因外相而误解,却很少有人用心理解他人内在的美好。透过色彩或许你能看到不一样的信息。
  • 了无梦

    了无梦

    一朝功成,一朝覆灭。不是所有人都有从头再来的勇气,可是她却有。不同风物,不同光景,突逢变故,她选择不走捷径,从头再来。对世界心怀善意的人,不一定会收到同等的,来自这世界的善意。算计,背叛,杀戮,同时发生在她身上之时,她是否还能保持初心
  • 穿越之我是雄霸

    穿越之我是雄霸

    以我之血助其開封伴我成長縱橫天下我雄霸之命由我不由天