登陆注册
5378900000013

第13章

'What do you think of all this, Mr.Craggs?' said Snitchey.

Mr.Craggs shook his head.

'It was our opinion, on the day when that release was executed, that there was something curious in the parting of that pair; Irecollect,' said Snitchey.

'It was,' said Mr.Craggs.

'Perhaps he deceives himself altogether,' pursued Mr.Snitchey, locking up the fireproof box, and putting it away; 'or, if he don't, a little bit of fickleness and perfidy is not a miracle, Mr.

Craggs.And yet I thought that pretty face was very true.Ithought,' said Mr.Snitchey, putting on his great-coat (for the weather was very cold), drawing on his gloves, and snuffing out one candle, 'that I had even seen her character becoming stronger and more resolved of late.More like her sister's.'

'Mrs.Craggs was of the same opinion,' returned Craggs.

'I'd really give a trifle to-night,' observed Mr.Snitchey, who was a good-natured man, 'if I could believe that Mr.Warden was reckoning without his host; but, light-headed, capricious, and unballasted as he is, he knows something of the world and its people (he ought to, for he has bought what he does know, dear enough); and I can't quite think that.We had better not interfere: we can do nothing, Mr.Craggs, but keep quiet.'

'Nothing,' returned Craggs.

'Our friend the Doctor makes light of such things,' said Mr.

Snitchey, shaking his head.'I hope he mayn't stand in need of his philosophy.Our friend Alfred talks of the battle of life,' he shook his head again, 'I hope he mayn't be cut down early in the day.Have you got your hat, Mr.Craggs? I am going to put the other candle out.' Mr.Craggs replying in the affirmative, Mr.

Snitchey suited the action to the word, and they groped their way out of the council-chamber, now dark as the subject, or the law in general.

My story passes to a quiet little study, where, on that same night, the sisters and the hale old Doctor sat by a cheerful fireside.

Grace was working at her needle.Marion read aloud from a book before her.The Doctor, in his dressing-gown and slippers, with his feet spread out upon the warm rug, leaned back in his easy-chair, and listened to the book, and looked upon his daughters.

They were very beautiful to look upon.Two better faces for a fireside, never made a fireside bright and sacred.Something of the difference between them had been softened down in three years'

time; and enthroned upon the clear brow of the younger sister, looking through her eyes, and thrilling in her voice, was the same earnest nature that her own motherless youth had ripened in the elder sister long ago.But she still appeared at once the lovelier and weaker of the two; still seemed to rest her head upon her sister's breast, and put her trust in her, and look into her eyes for counsel and reliance.Those loving eyes, so calm, serene, and cheerful, as of old.

'"And being in her own home,"' read Marion, from the book; '"her home made exquisitely dear by these remembrances, she now began to know that the great trial of her heart must soon come on, and could not be delayed.O Home, our comforter and friend when others fall away, to part with whom, at any step between the cradle and the grave"'-'Marion, my love!' said Grace.

'Why, Puss!' exclaimed her father, 'what's the matter?'

She put her hand upon the hand her sister stretched towards her, and read on; her voice still faltering and trembling, though she made an effort to command it when thus interrupted.

'"To part with whom, at any step between the cradle and the grave, is always sorrowful.O Home, so true to us, so often slighted in return, be lenient to them that turn away from thee, and do not haunt their erring footsteps too reproachfully! Let no kind looks, no well-remembered smiles, be seen upon thy phantom face.Let no ray of affection, welcome, gentleness, forbearance, cordiality, shine from thy white head.Let no old loving word, or tone, rise up in judgment against thy deserter; but if thou canst look harshly and severely, do, in mercy to the Penitent!"'

'Dear Marion, read no more to-night,' said Grace for she was weeping.

'I cannot,' she replied, and closed the book.'The words seem all on fire!'

The Doctor was amused at this; and laughed as he patted her on the head.

'What! overcome by a story-book!' said Doctor Jeddler.'Print and paper! Well, well, it's all one.It's as rational to make a serious matter of print and paper as of anything else.But, dry your eyes, love, dry your eyes.I dare say the heroine has got home again long ago, and made it up all round - and if she hasn't, a real home is only four walls; and a fictitious one, mere rags and ink.What's the matter now?'

'It's only me, Mister,' said Clemency, putting in her head at the door.

'And what's the matter with YOU?' said the Doctor.

'Oh, bless you, nothing an't the matter with me,' returned Clemency - and truly too, to judge from her well-soaped face, in which there gleamed as usual the very soul of good-humour, which, ungainly as she was, made her quite engaging.Abrasions on the elbows are not generally understood, it is true, to range within that class of personal charms called beauty-spots.But, it is better, going through the world, to have the arms chafed in that narrow passage, than the temper: and Clemency's was sound and whole as any beauty's in the land.

'Nothing an't the matter with me,' said Clemency, entering, 'but -come a little closer, Mister.'

The Doctor, in some astonishment, complied with this invitation.

'You said I wasn't to give you one before them, you know,' said Clemency.

同类推荐
  • 金刚般若经挟注

    金刚般若经挟注

    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。
  • 佛说五苦章句经

    佛说五苦章句经

    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。
  • 法华经显应录

    法华经显应录

    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。
  • 补张灵崔莹合传

    补张灵崔莹合传

    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。
  • 胸腹门

    胸腹门

    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
  • 蓬轩类记

    蓬轩类记

    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。
  • 夜半鬼叫门

    夜半鬼叫门

    惨淡的月光洒进古旧残破的钟魁庙中,让庙中的两个人的脸显的有些狰狞。其中一个长相极为凶恶的大胡子质问对方:“李大人你立志扫尽欺神骗鬼之辈,的确是想为民做一件好事,不过你真的不信这世间有鬼存在吗?”
  • 醉花窗医案

    醉花窗医案

    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。
  • 玉莲天妖:媚世妖妃倾天下

    玉莲天妖:媚世妖妃倾天下

    炫炫已发新书《妖孽邪宠:倾世兽妃太撩人》很好看的文文新书简介:前世,她死于爱人之手,再次睁开眼眸,却变成了皇城鼎鼎有名的丑颜大废物!说她是不会聚灵的废物,没有召唤兽的草包,但那只对自己无限卖萌,打滚求包养的兽又是什么?丑颜看着恶心倒胃口,死了还污染空气,可是那只妖孽为毛要缠着自己不放?当丑颜褪去,露出倾城容颜之后,某只妖孽笑得花枝乱颤:“掩埋在沙堆里面的珍珠,先下手为强才能抱得美人归啊!”【宠文+女强+爱情+搞笑】
  • 一句话照亮一个世界

    一句话照亮一个世界

    改变一个人有时候就是一句话彷徨的时候, 这一句话让你豁然开朗;不知所措的时候,这一句话指一个支点,让阅读者时时心有磐石和灵犀。本书从畅销杂志中选文,智慧,励志,给人正能量,一篇文,一句话,如同一束光,照耀读者的心。
  • 穿越女尊吃颗糖

    穿越女尊吃颗糖

    穿越了,就是因为去上了个厕所。胖球:我能说什么。
  • 嗜爱成瘾:邪魅少主惹不起

    嗜爱成瘾:邪魅少主惹不起

    婚前他是主,她是仆,他对她千般“伤害”万般“折磨”。婚后她是主,他是仆。“老婆,你想要吃什么?我现在去给你做!”某妖孽男子蹲在地上看着沙发上慵懒的女子一脸谄媚的问道,犹如一只大型卖萌犬只。某女眼角狠狠一抽,揶揄出声:“不用,看见你我就饱了!”“老婆是说我秀色可餐?想要吃我?!”“你还能再厚颜无耻一点吗?”某女汗。“可以啊!”某妖孽男邪气一笑:“那……我吃老婆好了!”起身直接将某女扑倒之。
  • 著名思想家成才故事(中国名人成才故事)

    著名思想家成才故事(中国名人成才故事)

    本套书精选荟萃了中国历史上最具有代表性的也最具有影响力的名人,编辑成了这套《中国名人成才故事》(共10册),即《著名政治家成才故事》、《著名军事家成才故事》、《著名谋略家成才故事》、《著名思想家成才故事》、《著名文学家成才故事》、《著名艺术家成才故事》、《著名科学家成才故事》、《著名发明家成才故事》、《著名财富家成才故事》、《著名教育家成才故事》等,这些故事既有趣味性,又蕴含深刻的道理,能够带给我们深刻的启迪,是青少年课外不可缺少的精神食粮。
  • 陪你看遍万千星河

    陪你看遍万千星河

    又名:我和他的遇见,命中注定她,因为心上人毒害,父母双亡,无依无靠,被人陷害,含恨而终。再次重生,成为大家闺秀,却无意闯入他的生活,成为她的独宠。片段一:“老公,我喜欢那家公司!”第二天那家公司成为了某女私人财产。片段二:“老公,我不喜欢你的秘书。”某总裁立马就把秘书换掉了!片段三:“老公,我们签字离婚吧!”某男怒了:“我永远都不会离婚,你想都不要想了。”哎,某男宠妻无下限,可就是不准某女勾三搭四,谈离婚。(一对一宠文)
  • 请允许我一个人仰望

    请允许我一个人仰望

    一生中至少该有一次,为了某个人而忘了自己。不可能有交集的两人因为一次班级活动而相互认识。从那时,梅小清便开始了对任远漫长的暗恋,但始终未曾开口。她为他整理抽屉,他生病时给他送药,一直以朋友的身份关心着他。最后,任远以高考状元身份进入一流大学,而梅小清只考上了本市的三流大学,两人渐行渐远……一生中至少该有一次,为了某个人而忘了自己,不求有结果,不求同行,不求曾经拥有,甚至不求你爱我。只求在我最美的年华里,遇到你。