登陆注册
5382600000094

第94章 CHAPTER XX(1)

WHEREIN THE ELDER AMMON OFFERS ADVICE,AND EDITH CARR EXPERIENCES REGRETSPhilip Ammon walked from among his friends a humiliated and a wounded man.Never before had Edith Carr appeared quite so beautiful.All evening she had treated him with unusual consideration.

Never had he loved her so deeply.Then in a few seconds everything was different.Seeing the change in her face,and hearing her meaningless accusations,killed something in his heart.Warmth went out and a cold weight took its place.But even after that,he had offered the ring to her again,and asked her before others to reconsider.

The answer had been further insult.

He walked,paying no heed to where he went.He had traversed many miles when he became aware that his feet had chosen familiar streets.He was passing his home.

Dawn was near,but the first floor was lighted.

He staggered up the steps and was instantly admitted.

The library door stood open,while his father sat with a book pretending to read.At Philip's entrance the father scarcely glanced up.

"Come on!"he called."I have just told Banks to bring me a cup of coffee before I turn in.Have one with me!"Philip sat beside the table and leaned his head on his hands,but he drank a cup of steaming coffee and felt better.

"Father,"he said,"father,may I talk with you a little while?""Of course,"answered Mr.Ammon."I am not at all tired.I think I must have been waiting in the hope that you would come.I want no one's version of this but yours.Tell me the straight of the thing,Phil."Philip told all he knew,while his father sat in deep thought.

"On my life I can't see any occasion for such a display of temper,Phil.It passed all bounds of reason and breeding.

Can't you think of anything more?"

"I cannot!"

"Polly says every one expected you to carry the moth you caught to Edith.Why didn't you?""She screams if a thing of that kind comes near her.

She never has taken the slightest interest in them.I was in a big hurry.I didn't want to miss one minute of my dance with her.The moth was not so uncommon,but by a combination of bad luck it had become the rarest in America for a friend of mine,who is making a collection to pay college expenses.For an instant last June the series was completed;when a woman's uncontrolled temper ruined this specimen and the search for it began over.A few days later a pair was secured,and again the money was in sight for several hours.Then an accident wrecked one-fourth of the collection.I helped replace those last June,all but this Yellow Emperor which we could not secure,and we haven't been able to find,buy or trade for one since.So my friend was compelled to teach this past winter instead of going to college.When that moth came flying in there to-night,it seemed to me like fate.

All I thought of was,that to secure it would complete the collection and secure the money.So I caught the Emperor and started it to Elnora.I declare to you that I was not out of the pavilion over three minutes at a liberal estimate.If Ionly had thought to speak to the orchestra!I was sure Iwould be back before enough couples gathered and formed for the dance."The eyes of the father were very bright.

"The friend for whom you wanted the moth is a girl?"he asked indifferently,as he ran the book leaves through his fingers.

"The girl of whom I wrote you last summer,and told you about in the fall.I helped her all the time I was away.""Did Edith know of her?"

"I tried many times to tell her,to interest her,but she was so indifferent that it was insulting.She would not hear me.""We are neither one in any condition to sleep.Why don't you begin at the first and tell me about this girl?

To think of other matters for a time may clear our vision for a sane solution of this.Who is she,just what is she doing,and what is she like?You know I was reared among those Limberlost people,I can understand readily.

What is her name and where does she live?"Philip gave a man's version of the previous summer,while his father played with the book industriously.

"You are very sure as to her refinement and education?""In almost two months'daily association,could a man be mistaken?She can far and away surpass Polly,Edith,or any girl of our set on any common,high school,or supplementary branch,and you know high schools have French,German,and physics now.Besides,she is a graduate of two other institutions.All her life she has been in the school of Hard Knocks.She has the biggest,tenderest,most human heart I ever knew in a girl.She has known life in its most cruel phases,and instead of hardening her,it has set her trying to save other people suffering.Then this nature position of which I told you;she graduated in the School of the Woods,before she secured that.The Bird Woman,whose work you know,helped her there.Elnora knows more interesting things in a minute than any other girl I ever met knew in an hour,provided you are a person who cares to understand plant and animal life."The book leaves slid rapidly through his fingers as the father drawled:"What sort of looking girl is she?""Tall as Edith,a little heavier,pink,even complexion,wide open blue-gray eyes with heavy black brows,and lashes so long they touch her cheeks.She has a rope of waving,shining hair that makes a real crown on her head,and it appears almost red in the light.She is as handsome as any fair woman I ever saw,but she doesn't know it.Every time any one pays her a compliment,her mother,who is a caution,discovers that,for some reason,the girl is a fright,so she has no appreciation of her looks.""And you were in daily association two months with a girl like that!How about it,Phil?""If you mean,did I trifle with her,no!"cried Philip hotly.

"I told her the second time I met her all about Edith.

Almost every day I wrote to Edith in her presence.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 世界经典童话故事全集:魔鬼妖怪的故事

    世界经典童话故事全集:魔鬼妖怪的故事

    童话王国简直就是一个多姿多彩的万花筒,在那些语言浅显、妙趣盎然的美丽童话故事里,有的蕴藏着严肃的人生准则,富于哲理,发人深省;有的反映了社会的真实现象,揭露了黑暗、鞭打了丑恶;有的揭示了大自然的奥秘,使人增长知识, 开拓视野。
  • 佛说阿罗汉具德经

    佛说阿罗汉具德经

    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。
  • 莎士比亚悲剧集

    莎士比亚悲剧集

    《哈姆雷特》、《奥瑟罗》、《李尔王》、《麦克白》是代表莎士比亚悲剧创作最高成就的“四大悲剧”,也是最淋漓地表现其伟大之处的作品,其中尤以《哈姆雷特》在世界上享誉最高,成为世界戏剧史上难以企及的巅峰之作。而莎士比亚在喜剧创作方面也同样成就斐然,“四大喜剧”是他的代表作品,这些作品不仅具有很强的喜剧效果,同时还富有深刻的社会讽刺意味,成为世界戏剧创作史上的典范之作。
  • 穿越时空捉妖去

    穿越时空捉妖去

    俞小然表示,都9102年了,竟然还有人信奉鬼神之说?作为一个新世纪下长大的科学少女告诉你,盲目迷信是要不得的——事后,俞小然捂着脸表示,很疼好吗!!!在一个有妖魔鬼怪的时代里醒过来,被定义成借尸还魂的俞小然,成了唐家的二小姐,稀里糊涂的被卷进了一桩家宅阴谋中……本以为自己只是个过客,却不想姻缘的红线早已注定…………等等,你说红线乱牵,情缘太小?啊,这个呢……可以慢慢等他长大嘛!!
  • 南空微寒

    南空微寒

    十年前两人从师极道王朝首领夜凌云!十年后,她是全球人人闻风丧胆的黄金杀手——冷魅!他是全球人人望而却步的死神——残影!十年未见的两人这次会擦出怎样的火花?肖启铭的野心究竟能否如他自己所愿,一统极道?极道王朝的命运就交在这些少年手中……
  • 温长君生活随笔

    温长君生活随笔

    这些文字都是我自己在生活,学习,还有那些寻常和不同寻常的经历中磨练出的一只自己的名言,还有一些可爱的文字。
  • 年轻人成功做人的66条智慧黄金法则

    年轻人成功做人的66条智慧黄金法则

    《年轻人成功做人的66条智慧黄金法则》收录了66条与我们日常生活息息相关的定律、效应和法则。这些法则都是社会学家和心理学家经过长期研究和实践的成果总结,内容涉及之广泛几乎涵盖了个人成功与企业发展的各个方面。
  • 戊子大谋杀

    戊子大谋杀

    公元2008(中国农历戊子)年6月13日上午,东北重镇关东城著名民营企业家墨东生毙命于自己的办公室。关东城刑侦支队女刑警简迎迎与男刑警黎敏军接到队长李道根电话,立即赶往案发现场。案发现场在“墨东生房地产公司”12楼。这套办公室是墨东生自己设计的:12层右侧近2000平方米的地方都属于他的办公区。首先是6名保安全天候24小时守门,每两人一组,每8小时轮换一班;门内走廊两侧两个房间,分别为保安临时休息室和更衣室。
  • 慢慢相爱:刘晓鸥作品集

    慢慢相爱:刘晓鸥作品集

    一本适合在午后的阳光下,伴一盏香茗细细感受的美文集。作为一本美文精选集,本书包含了作者对温暖亲情的记述,对少年时光的追忆,对当下流行文化现象的探讨和思索,以及旅行在外行走中的种种见闻和感悟。
  • 天下至尊

    天下至尊

    古往今来,无数人成仙成佛,却为何只留下无尽传说,从不见这些人再现人间呢?苍茫天际之上,真有一处永生天界?少年重生,发现体内重重封印,危机、仇恨迫使,他不断变强,解开封印。入神界,傲九天,斩诸神,成就至尊神位,与天地同存。