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
  • 闲燕常谈

    闲燕常谈

    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。
  • 岁除日奉推事使牒追

    岁除日奉推事使牒追

    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。
  • In Defence of Harriet Shelley

    In Defence of Harriet Shelley

    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。
  • 云谣集杂曲子

    云谣集杂曲子

    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。
  • 乐论

    乐论

    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。
热门推荐
  • 重生之巧媳妇

    重生之巧媳妇

    身为二十一世纪女孩的韩子禾,重生到了一个类似于地球八、九十年代的平行世界。
  • 网游之爱你七巧玲珑心

    网游之爱你七巧玲珑心

    【风尚阁】告诉你,阅读是一件美丽的事。http://m.wkkk.net/fengshang/如果你玩过网游,你会发现,那里处处是狗血。比如刚刚,蒋玲珑去卫生间洗了个澡,出来便看见自己被游戏里的老公PK死亡了。原因:“江湖乱世”离歌服第一美女玲珑居然是人妖!玲珑不在乎那个美女排行榜,可为毛悠悠家族的人总是对她进行辱骂、诋毁!那个喜新厌旧的前老公为了讨现任老婆欢心,不仅将自己驱逐出帮,还在枫林醉峡谷轮白自己!要装备是吧,老娘送给你当分手费!要PK是吧,老娘奉陪到底!抛开萝莉的外表,玲珑那颗常年沉睡的伪御姐心咆哮了。双开PK、单操作强势、医女也是可以很暴力的。噢,神啊!蒋玲珑觉得自己曾嫁给第一帮派帮主已经够狗血了,可是为毛她一个下堂妇又被第一大神亲睐了!?【女生网游,萌宠轻松,喜欢的进哟!】推荐颜的完结文《萌妃很有钱》:http://m.wkkk.net/a/433486/推荐颜连载文《画骨成颜,医妃妙手》:http://m.wkkk.net/a/570878/颜新浪微博:http://m.wkkk.net/sanci
  • 一品神医倾城

    一品神医倾城

    “宝贝,天冷了,不如热热身子?”妖孽搂着腰缠上来。“拒绝,我有大白。”“宝贝,我比大白有用,不信试试……”“大白有毛你没有。”她一代绝世魔女,却穿越到一个废柴身体,容貌尽毁,丹田被废,家也被屠杀殆尽……乖乖女变大魔女,她风华无双,手染仇人血,虐渣打脸专业户……上古神兽、灵丹妙药信手拈来,千金难求的进阶丹药拿来喂狗……世人流泪悲叹:活得还不如狗!第二天,大白变成了一条没有毛的大狗……(女强爽文宠宠宠!女扮男装!)
  • 锋刃

    锋刃

    一个大户人家的庄园在乱世中风雨飘摇,庄主董笑天年岁已高,狂傲,有势力,杀人不见血,但在乱世中也显得苍白无力;大少爷藿玉山做事稳重,却也胆小怕事,与弟弟董玉虎见弟情深;二少爷黄玉虎年轻莽撞,有青春活力,敢打敢拼不怕死,是一只猛虎。控制秦川的土霸王朱昌与董笑天有私人恩怨,在日本人来袭时主动投降,并且充当走狗,欺凌老百姓,将董笑天置于风口浪尖上;潜伏在秦川的徐绍贵,阴差阳错走进董家序园,因身负重任而无法跟?人厮守一生。
  • 韩娱之你的名字

    韩娱之你的名字

    论:两人灵魂互换后之间的日常破事~~滑稽!!应某书友要求,建了个群,群号是:537129466
  • 啸龙天下

    啸龙天下

    只有低到尘埃里,才能一步步丈量巅峰的高度。虽然他是孤儿,是奴隶,可他坐拥奇葩神兽,领悟魔法真谛,风起云涌,天下归心,终将踏上那条艰难的王者之路!
  • 神魔大唐

    神魔大唐

    这是一个不一样的大唐世界,这里有飞天之能的人类强者,又有阴谋诡计的皇位战争,一切尽在神魔大唐。
  • 铁掌无敌王小军

    铁掌无敌王小军

    铁掌帮第四顺位继承人王小军根本不相信现代社会还有所谓的武林,他最大的希望就是能继承帮主的位子然后把帮里的四合院卖个好价钱去环游世界,可是事不遂人愿,警察、神盗门、唐门纷纷找上门来。王小军这时才知道自己的门派在神秘组织“武协”里占有重要的地位,而他肩负的,是将门派发扬光大,他是一个门派所有的未来……慌张啊!
  • 尘世风华:逆天除魔师

    尘世风华:逆天除魔师

    天才除魔师因一时失足穿越变成废柴二小姐,当天才变废柴一切变得不同。那些欺她,骗她,之人将一一被她寻找,能力,美男也将因她的能力不断升起更逐渐出现,当能力为主时,一切又变得不同,家族的明争暗斗更让她铁心的把这个世界颠覆……(情节虚构,切勿模仿)
  • 桃花派除妖事件簿

    桃花派除妖事件簿

    小说家滕狩云与同/居人夏侯净偶遇妖怪们的故事。桃花派大师兄夏侯净。那个俊美得像杂志封面上走出来的少年,却有着一个奇怪的身份。神秘的桃花派大师兄魔都除妖手札,与滕狩云多姿多彩的恋爱生活,谱写一段浪漫传奇……这部小说集合快穿、幻想、爆笑为一体。