登陆注册
5377900000184

第184章

"Aren't you afraid that you'll bore her?" And as her companion stared at this enquiry Isabel added: "If she can't dance with you for half an hour how will she be able to dance with you for life?""Ah," said Lord Warburton readily, "I'll let her dance with other people! About the cotillion, the fact is I thought that you-that you-""That I would do it with you? I told you I'd do nothing.""Exactly; so that while it's going on I might find some quiet corner where we may sit down and talk.""Oh," said Isabel gravely, "you're much too considerate of me."When the cotillion came Pansy was found to have engaged herself, thinking, in perfect humility, that Lord Warburton had no intentions.Isabel recommended him to seek another partner, but he assured her that he would dance with no one but herself.As, however, she had, in spite of the remonstrances of her hostess, declined other invitations on the ground that she was not dancing at all, it was not possible for her to make an exception in Lord Warburton's favour.

"After all I don't care to dance," he said; "it's a barbarous amusement: I'd much rather talk." And he intimated that he had discovered exactly the corner he had been looking for-a quiet nook in one of the smaller rooms, where the music would come to them faintly and not interfere with conversation.Isabel had decided to let him carry out his idea; she wished to be satisfied.She wandered away from the ball-room with him, though she knew her husband desired she should not lose sight of his daughter.It was with his daughter's pretendant, however; that would make it right for Osmond.

On her way out of the ball-room she came upon Edward Rosier, who was standing in a doorway, with folded arms, looking at the dance in the attitude of a young man without illusions.She stopped a moment and asked him if he were not dancing.

"Certainly not, if I can't dance with her!" he answered.

"You had better go away then," said Isabel with the manner of good counsel.

"I shall not go till she does!" And he let Lord Warburton pass without giving him a look.

This nobleman, however, had noticed the melancholy youth, and he asked Isabel who her dismal friend was, remarking that he had seen him somewhere before.

"It's the young man I've told you about, who's in love with Pansy.""Ah yes, I remember.He looks rather bad.""He has reason.My husband won't listen to him.""What's the matter with him?" Lord Warburton enquired."He seems very harmless.""He hasn't money enough, and he isn't very clever."Lord Warburton listened with interest; he seemed struck with this account of Edward Rosier."Dear me; he looked a well-set-up young fellow.""So he is, but my husband's very particular.""Oh, I see." And Lord Warburton paused a moment."How much money has he got?" he then ventured to ask.

"Some forty thousand francs a year."

"Sixteen hundred pounds? Ah, but that's very good, you know.""So I think.My husband, however, has larger ideas.""Yes; I've noticed that your husband has very large ideas.Is he really an idiot, the young man?""An idiot? Not in the least; he's charming.When he was twelve years old I myself was in love with him.""He doesn't look much more than twelve to-day," Lord Warburton rejoined vaguely, looking about him.Then with more point, "Don't you think we might sit here?" he asked.

"Wherever you please." The room was a sort of boudoir, pervaded by a subdued, rose-coloured light; a lady and gentleman moved out of it as our friends came in.

"It's very kind of you to take such an interest in Mr.Rosier,"Isabel said.

"He seems to me rather ill-treated.He had a face a yard long.Iwondered what ailed him."

"You're a just man," said Isabel."You've a kind thought even for a rival."Lord Warburton suddenly turned with a stare."A rival! Do you call him my rival?""Surely-if you both wish to marry the same person.""Yes-but since he has no chance!"

"I like you, however that may be, for putting yourself in his place.

It shows imagination."

"You like me for it?" And Lord Warburton looked at her with an uncertain eye."I think you mean you're laughing at me for it.""Yes, I'm laughing at you a little.But I like you as somebody to laugh at.""Ah well, then, let me enter into his situation a little more.

What do you suppose one could do for him?""Since I have been praising your imagination I'll leave you to imagine that yourself," Isabel said."Pansy too would like you for that.""Miss Osmond? Ah, she, I flatter myself, likes me already.""Very much, I think."

同类推荐
  • 宁古塔山水记

    宁古塔山水记

    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。
  • 净土旨诀

    净土旨诀

    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。
  • 佛说摩达国王经

    佛说摩达国王经

    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。
  • 占察善恶业报经

    占察善恶业报经

    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。
  • The Georgics

    The Georgics

    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
  • 一滴水可以流多远

    一滴水可以流多远

    《一滴水可以流多远》这是一位军旅诗人的处女诗集。作为军人,史桢玮一直在写诗,《星星》诗刊、《中国诗歌》、《西南军事文学》等军内外刊物、网站都发表过他的诗作。《一滴水可以流多远》收入了他1993年以后的诗歌,从中可以看到他的诗路历程,读到诗人对心灵家园的守望,对诗意栖居的寻求,对人生真谛的沉思。
  • 营销员为什么要读毛选

    营销员为什么要读毛选

    不打无准备之战。在毛泽东的革命思想里学营销。“一切为了群众”与满足消费者需求;“为人民服务”与服务创造价值;“独立自主,自力更生”与品牌营销;“农村包围城市”与市场推进;“没有调查就没有发言权”与营销调研;“集中优势兵力”与重点市场突破;“统一战线”与关系营销,与人斗其乐无穷!
  • 快穿之女主是个小妖精

    快穿之女主是个小妖精

    珑五这辈子没什么大的理想,就想吃遍天下美食,睡遍天下软床,除了有点小懒,偶尔想一出是一出,没什么大毛病,但是!但是!但是!谁告诉她睡觉睡穿越是几个意思,她看过那么多小说都没见过这么扯的。还有一个什么九世系统你这是强买强卖你懂不懂?还有,拯救世界这么大的责任真的不适合她,请送本宝宝回到那软乎乎的大床上让她继续挺尸,慢走不送,谢谢。
  • 蜀山风情画(下篇)

    蜀山风情画(下篇)

    喻老大上山猎熊,遭熊报复,一命呜呼;粉棠花为葬夫,将女儿花娘卖给曾府。秀才娘子与卢大棒私通,被秀才之子所杀,团总汪三槐趁机霸占了秀才娘子。小毛牛自荐去曾府扮祝寿金童,带花娘逃走被抓,花娘被卖入宫保府。为寻花娘,小毛牛误入宝月寺学得一身武艺。粉棠花因酒失身嫁给曾二少爷;小毛牛回家探亲打伤汪三槐之兄,走投无路为粉棠花所救。汪三槐私设关卡,民怨沸腾。黑衣女子闯关,打伤多名团丁;汪三槐惊遇“追杀令”。
  • 海晏落清歌

    海晏落清歌

    她说晏清与清歌,生来便最为般配。他是她的万里海晏与河清,她却不是他的回头是岸。落雪满枝头,清风无艳日。时过境迁,真相渐渐浮出水面,他们的爱情又将走向何方……
  • 火爆王爷下堂妃:替嫁小丫鬟

    火爆王爷下堂妃:替嫁小丫鬟

    “王八爷,你……给我滚!”火爆王爷步步紧逼,她险些丢了命。他是八王爷,不是王八爷!这死女人!“女人,装什么清高,竟然敢替嫁进我王府,不就是为了引本王的吗?”他残忍的笑容凝固在唇角,看着她满身的青痕……自此那一刻,她决定要报复他。传言这王爷杀人不眨眼,怪不得将军府的小姐誓死不嫁,却让她从将军府替嫁过来了,果然是杯具呀!
  • 不倒翁

    不倒翁

    小说以国有企业上世纪九十年代以来国有企业改革为背景,通过主人公经历的与不同领导的工作交往,不同工作风格、秉性、作风,如何与不同上司打交道工作学问和艺术,透过企业在发展中经历的挫折、艰辛和困难,从一个侧面反映了社会在不断发展与进步中存在的弊病。小说叙说的故事同时也是国有企业办公室工作人员的现实借鉴。本书为第一届海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛入围作品。
  • 魔祖仙尊

    魔祖仙尊

    身为仙门传人,武林子弟,当他踏入江湖的一刻,注定江湖不再平静。本是翩翩少年郎,身为武林人,却在凡尘外。闯禁地,造神剑,取魔刀、在仙佛人魔间徘徊的他在拿起屠刀的一刻,天下将会陷入一场如何的局势。
  • 倾世毒医

    倾世毒医

    生来就是上一代恩怨的牺牲品,过着被死神追赶的日子,所以,水玉烟极度任性!也因此她性情淡薄疏离,相信无情不似多情苦。偏偏出现了个仓行云,愿将行云付流水。他打破了她的藩篱,为她卷入是非,甚至不惜放弃一切!偏偏她就动了心。
  • 大学生职业生涯规划与就业竞争

    大学生职业生涯规划与就业竞争

    本书针对目前大学生就业压力增大的严峻现实,从增强大学生职业生涯规划视角提出对大学生职业素养的培养,分析各类职业的要求,以及大学生职业生涯规划的基本方法和内容要求,分析大学生就业竞争力的构成要素和增强就业竞争力的途径与方法。本书突出实用,针对性强,可以作为高等职业院校和普通高等院校的教材,也可以作为社会青年就业的培训教材。