登陆注册
5382100000102

第102章 CHAPTER XXII(5)

It was not through any circumstance so palpable, and possibly accidental, as the bringing down a servant, whom Mr. Donne seemed to consider as much a matter of course as a carpet-bag (though the smart gentleman's arrival "fluttered the Volscians in Corioli" considerably more than his gentle-spoken master's). It was nothing like this; it was something indescribable--a quiet being at ease, and expecting every one else to be so--an attention to women, which was so habitual as to be unconsciously exercised to those subordinate persons in Mr. Bradshaw's family--a happy choice of simple and expressive words, some of which it must be confessed were slang, but fashionable slang, and that makes all the difference--a measured, graceful way of utterance, with a style of pronunciation quite different to that of Eccleston. All these put together make but a part of the indescribable whole which unconsciously affected Mr. Bradshaw, and established Mr. Donne in his estimation as a creature quite different to any he had seen before, and as most unfit to mate with Jemima. Mr. Hickson, who had appeared as a model of gentlemanly ease before Mr. Donne's arrival, now became vulgar and coarse in Bradshaw's eyes. And yet, such was the charm of that languid, high-bred manner, that Mr. Bradshaw "cottoned" (as he expressed it to Mr.

Farquhar) to his new candidate at once. He was only afraid lest Mr. Donne was too indifferent to all things under the sun to care whether he gained or lost the election; but he was reassured after the first conversation they had together on the subject. Mr. Donne's eye lightened with an eagerness that was almost fierce, though his tones were as musical, and nearly as slow, as ever; and, when Mr. Bradshaw alluded distantly to "probable expenses"and "packets," Mr. Donne replied-- "Oh, of course! disagreeable necessity! Better speak as little about such things as possible; other people can be found to arrange all the dirty work. Neither you nor I would like to soil our fingers by it, I am sure.

Four thousand pounds are in Mr. Pilson's hands, and I shall never inquire what becomes of them; they may, very probably, be absorbed in the law expenses, you know. I shall let it be clearly understood from the hustings that Imost decidedly disapprove of bribery, and leave the rest to Hickson's management.

He is accustomed to these sort of things; I am not." Mr. Bradshaw was rather perplexed by this want of bustling energy on the part of the new candidate; and if it had not been for the four thousand pounds aforesaid, would have doubted whether Mr. Donne cared sufficiently for the result of the election. Jemima thought differently. She watched her father's visitor attentively, with something like the curious observation which a naturalist bestows on a new species of animal. "Do you know what Mr. Donne reminds me of, mamma?" said she, one day, as the two sat at work, while the gentlemen were absent canvassing. "No! he is not like anybody I ever saw. He quite frightens me, by being so ready to open the door for me if I am going out of the room, and by giving me a chair when I come in. I never saw any one like him. Who is it, Jemima?" "Not any person--not any human being, mamma," said Jemima, half smiling.

"Do you remember our stopping at Wakefield once, on our way to Scarborough, and there were horse-races going on somewhere, and some of the racers were in the stables at the inn where we dined?" "Yes! I remember it; but what about that?" "Why, Richard, somehow, knew one of the jockeys, and, as we were coming in from our ramble through the town, this man, or boy, asked us to look at one of the racers he had the charge of." "Well, my dear?" "Well, mamma! Mr. Donne is like that horse!" "Nonsense, Jemima; you must not say so. I don't know what your father would say if he heard you likening Mr. Donne to a brute." "Brutes are sometimes very beautiful, mamma. I am sure I should think it a compliment to be likened to a racehorse, such as the one we saw. But the thing in which they are alike, is the sort of repressed eagerness in both." "Eager! Why, I should say there never was any one cooler than Mr. Donne.

同类推荐
  • 注华严经题法界观门颂引

    注华严经题法界观门颂引

    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。
  • 原诗

    原诗

    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 Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan

    The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan

    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。
  • 伤寒论注

    伤寒论注

    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。
  • 吴下谚联

    吴下谚联

    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
  • 让我再看你一眼0

    让我再看你一眼0

    那年遇见,那年再见,那年那些人再也难见到却再也忘不了。
  • 归缘纪世约

    归缘纪世约

    妖族帝姬与人族太子有着一纸婚约,却不料两人第一眼相看成厌。一个躲去剑宗修炼,一个偷溜走全天下游玩。命运当前,孰能躲过?红线之神,必将两人牵在一起。文艺版:白发红袍,绝代佳颜,谁惊艳了谁的苍生?人妖殊途,一纸婚约,谁打断了谁的命运?凤耀狐鸣,剑气化龙,谁主导了谁的一切?世代婚约,道起不过缘深二字。雪丝三千,描眉点妆,不惑江山,只为惑你。---------------------坚信本文是宠(虐)文,不宠(虐)算我输,1v1双洁!愿你与我一同等候这木槿花开,花期将至。【弟弟篇:《归缘纪:罪颜》文/乔于暻】倾一世约,负一罪颜。
  • 异大陆的杂货店

    异大陆的杂货店

    有一间小小的杂货店,每到深夜十二点后,光顾的都是一些奇怪的客人,它们中有精灵、妖姬、女巫,也有狼人、血族、猫耳娘……总之,这是一间普通的杂货店日常经营的故事。“欢迎光临,请问有什么需要吗?”
  • 遇见弗洛伊德的眼泪:心理治疗师的爱情与灵药

    遇见弗洛伊德的眼泪:心理治疗师的爱情与灵药

    湖南卫视热播剧《十五年等待候鸟》原著作者盈风暖心新作,倾情讲述心理治疗师的自我救赎与逐爱之旅。你有没有过这种感觉,当你失去一个人的时候,你以为时间就此停止。但其实,时间始终在流逝,只是你自欺欺人不愿承认罢了。你有没有过这种经历,当你尝试去接受另一个人,你以为终于可以放下。但终究,过去一直纠缠着你,只是你自我催眠自我麻痹而已。其实这世上每个人的身体里都住着一个心魔,即使是作为心理治疗师的我也不能幸免。
  • 证治准绳·类方

    证治准绳·类方

    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。
  • 百味素佳人

    百味素佳人

    五岁时,一场车祸令她失去了父母,从此她的人生跌宕起伏。十三岁时,她遇到了他,他在她的记忆中留下了深刻的一角。再见面时,她已长大,他成了影视界的明星,而她因为各种各样的事情,慢慢离他越来越近。别人都说她运气好,但大家不知道,这一切其实是她精心计划好的……
  • 迷途

    迷途

    工作是嘉兴市中级法院的一名法官。已发表小说100万余字,散见于《小说选刊》、《中篇小说选刊》、《中国作家》、《江南》、《山花》、《百花洲》等期刊。
  • 关于我是神之键羽渡尘这件事

    关于我是神之键羽渡尘这件事

    你便是我,我便是你即使自己已经不再是自己但至少现在还活着――祈羽(黎羽尘)
  • 皇道孤独

    皇道孤独

    为了能重新站在她的身边,赵小凡继往圣之绝学,杀系统,灭诸天!
  • 决世屠尊

    决世屠尊

    乱世红尘,卷一地风风雨雨,天马行空,挥世事豪情。爱字不放手,战字不低头!萧萧乾坤,谁为红颜……