登陆注册
5383200000199

第199章 VISIONS, AND AN AWAKENING(2)

Another voice, a man's voice, answered:--``Thank God! Let me fan him.You are tired.''

``I am not tired,'' answered the first voice.

``I do not see how you have stood it,'' said the man's voice.``You will kill yourself, Madame la Vicomtesse.

The danger is past now.''

``I hope so, Mr.Temple,'' said the first voice.``Please go away.You may come back in half an hour.''

I heard the footsteps retreating.Then I said: ``I am not asleep.''

The fan stopped for a brief instant and then went on vibrating inexorably.I was entranced at the thought of what I had done.I had spoken, though indeed it seemed to have had no effect.Could it be that I hadn't spoken? Ibegan to be frightened at this, when gradually something crept into my mind and drove the fear out.I did not grasp what this was at first, it was like the first staining of wine on the eastern sky to one who sees a sunrise.And then the thought grew even as the light grows, tinged by prismatic colors, until at length a memory struck into my soul like a shaft of light.I spoke her name, unblushingly, aloud.

``Helene!''

The fan stopped.There was a silence that seemed an eternity as the palm leaf trembled in her hand, there was an answer that strove tenderly to command.

``Hush, you must not talk,'' she said.

Never, I believe, came such supreme happiness with obedience.I felt her hand upon my brow, and the fan moved again.I fell asleep once more from sheer weariness of joy.She was there, beside me.She had been there, beside me, through it all, and it was her touch which had brought me back to life.

I dreamed of her.When I awoke again her image was in my mind, and I let it rest there in contemplation.

But presently I thought of the fan, turned my head, and it was not there.A great fear seized me.I looked out of the open door where the morning sun threw the checkered shadows of the honeysuckle on the floor of the gallery, and over the railing to the tree-tops in the court-yard.

The place struck a chord in my memory.Then my eyes wandered back into the room.There was a polished dresser, a crucifix and a prie-dieu in the corner, a fauteuil, and another chair at my bed.The floor was rubbed to an immaculate cleanliness, stained yellow, and on it lay clean woven mats.The room was empty!

I cried out, a yellow and red turban shot across the window, and I beheld in the door the spare countenance of the faithful Lindy.

``Marse Dave,'' she cried, ``is you feelin' well, honey?''

``Where am I, Lindy?'' I asked.

Lindy, like many of her race, knew well how to assume airs of importance.Lindy had me down, and she knew it.

``Marse Dave,'' she said, ``doan yo' know better'n dat?

Yo' know yo' ain't ter talk.Lawsy, I reckon I wouldn't be wuth pizen if she was to hear I let yo' talk.''

Lindy implied that there was tyranny somewhere.

``She?'' I asked, ``who's she?''

``Now yo' hush, Marse Dave,'' said Lindy, in a shrill whisper, ``I ain't er-gwine ter git mixed up in no disputation.

Ef she was ter hear me er-disputin' wid yo', Marse Dave, I reckon I'd done git such er tongue-lashin'--''

Lindy looked at me suspiciously.``Yo'-er allus was powe'rful cute, Marse Dave.''

Lindy set her lips with a mighty resolve to be silent.

I heard some one coming along the gallery, and then Isaw Nick's tall figure looming up behind her.

``Davy,'' he cried.

Lindy braced herself up doggedly.

``Yo' ain't er-gwine to git in thar nohow, Marse Nick,''

she said.

``Nonsense, Lindy,'' he answered, ``I've been in there as much as you have.'' And he took hold of her thin arm and pulled her back.

``Marse Nick!'' she cried, terror-stricken, ``she'll done fin' out dat you've been er-talkin'.''

``Pish!'' said Nick with a fine air, ``who's afraid of her?''

Lindy's face took on an expression of intense amusement.

``Yo' is, for one, Marse Nick,'' she answered, with the familiarity of an old servant.``I done seed yo' skedaddle when she comed.''

``Tut,'' said Nick, grandly, ``I run from no woman.

Eh, Davy?'' He pushed past the protesting Lindy into the room and took my hand.

``Egad, you have been near the devil's precipice, my son.A three-bottle man would have gone over.'' In his eyes was all the strange affection he had had for me ever since ave had been boys at Temple Bow together.

``Davy, I reckon life wouldn't have been worth much if you'd gone.''

I did not answer.I could only stare at him, mutely grateful for such an affection.In all his wild life he had been true to me, and he had clung to me stanchly in this, my greatest peril.Thankful that he was here, Isearched his handsome person with my eyes.He was dressed as usual, with care and fashion, in linen breeches and a light gray coat and a filmy ruffle at his neck.But I thought there had come a change into his face.The reckless quality seemed to have gone out of it, yet the spirit and daring remained, and with these all the sweetness that was once in his smile.There were lines under his eyes that spoke of vigils.

``You have been sitting up with me,'' I said.

``Of course,'' he answered patting my shoulder.``Of course I have.What did you think I would be doing?''

``What was the matter with me?'' I asked.

``Nothing much,'' he said lightly, ``a touch of the sun, and a great deal of overwork in behalf of your friends Now keep still, or I will be getting peppered.''

I was silent for a while, turning over this answer in my mind.Then I said:--``I had yellow fever.''

He started.

``It is no use to lie to you,'' he replied; ``you're too shrewd.''

I was silent again for a while.

``Nick,'' I said, ``you had no right to stay here.You have--other responsibilities now.''

He laughed.It was the old buoyant, boyish laugh of sheer happiness, and I felt the better for hearing it.

``If you begin to preach, parson, I'll go; I vow I'll have no more sermonizing.Davy,'' he cried, ``isn't she just the dearest, sweetest, most beautiful person in the world?''

同类推荐
  • 孝行览

    孝行览

    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。
  • 归田录

    归田录

    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。
  • 救荒事宜

    救荒事宜

    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。
  • 佛说八大菩萨曼荼罗经

    佛说八大菩萨曼荼罗经

    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。
  • Sunday Under Three Heads

    Sunday Under Three Heads

    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
  • 嫡女很嚣张:王爷接招

    嫡女很嚣张:王爷接招

    上一世,她为他,身披铠甲,添刃饮血,剑锋扫过的地方,鲜血蹦出,稳固龙吟王朝。可是他确为了纳妃,纳嫔,让她边境平乱,意外惨死。幸的上天垂怜,她重生在一个七品不受宠的嫡女身上。可是再生后,她的生活?有点太过于悲剧了?或许,是不是也可以称之为太喜剧了?某女小脸板着,虽然她是七品嫡女,但是她还有一个富豪爹得:“我爹可是龙吟首富,所以我不缺男人。”某男脸色一黑:“你敢拿着钱养男人?本王告诉你,想也别想,谁敢碰你,本王宰了他。”
  • 下个路口再见

    下个路口再见

    题记:路口即选择,在生活中,我们每个人都有可能成为屠夫或者羔羊,如果你选择做一只羔羊,记得一定要在一个恰当的时机逃脱。本文主人公方琼完美主义,容不得生活中出现岔子,期望过简单的生活。一个电话将她平静的生活搅乱,重情,仗义,却使她伤痕累累,后来,她全身而退,却迷失了人生的方向,迷茫,犹疑,最终她能否战胜自己的命运呢?她的朋友翟盈盈被生活所迫沦为歌女,一个众人唾弃的职业,却最终收获爱情,领悟人生的真谛,浪子回头金不换。灵魂是飘渺无形的纱,我们的心是一支孤独的箭,射向广袤的天空。什么是爱,什么是情,什么是人生?尽在《下个路口再见》。Ps:朋友们,【推荐】【收藏】【砸票】清莲不会让你们失望的!
  • 蒋介石全传(上)

    蒋介石全传(上)

    蒋介石是中国现代史上一个极其重要的人物,他作为旧中国统治阶级的代表和最高统治者,曾经统治中国22年,其后又统治台湾27年,前后近50年。蒋介石(1887—1975)浙江奉化人,名中正,幼名瑞元,谱名周泰,学名志清。1907年入保定全国陆军速成学堂。1908年留学日本。1908年加入同盟会。1910年日本振武学校毕业后,入日本陆军第十三师团第十九联队为士官候补生,辛亥革命后追随孙中山,曾参加反对袁世凯的活动。1923年赴苏联考察军事政治。1924年回国后任黄埔军校校长,国民革命军第一军军长。1926年先后制造“中山舰事件”、“整理党务案”,打击共产党和革命势力。后任国民政府军事委员会主席,国民革命军总司令,国民党中央执行委员会常务委员会主席。率师北伐途中,于1927年发动了“4·12”政变,在各地清党,第一次国共合作公开破裂。1928年任南京国民政府主席,不断进行新军阀混战。1931年“9·18”事变后,任军事委员会委员长,推行“攘外必先安内”政策,围攻红军革命根据地。1936年“西安事变”后,被迫接受抗日主张,实行第二次国共合作。1938年任中国国民党总裁,三民主义青年团团长。
  • 你是第八个(希区柯克最悬疑的故事集)

    你是第八个(希区柯克最悬疑的故事集)

    本书辑录了希区柯克经典推理小说近三十篇。这一个个小故事,似乎都是发生在人们身边的事情,但是通过希区柯克的演绎,它们变得意味深长,引人入胜。希区柯克通过镜头缓缓道来,在不知不觉中你就落入了他用时间和空间布下的迷宫,那一个个慢镜头透射出一处处角落暗藏着的人性的阴暗。在阅读希区柯克的推理小说过程中,你能够体会到他作品所表达出的复杂性及其蕴涵的多义性,从而在阅读过程中获得一种快乐和艺术享受。
  • 女巫

    女巫

    1480年延续到1780年迫害女巫的恶潮,席卷了欧洲三百多年。这是欧洲史上最黑暗的时代之一,无数良家妇女遭到斩首示众,焚烧尸体的酷刑。而玛格蕾塔,卡塔琳娜和安娜便是处在最疯狂的时期,同时她们也是无数冤魂的代表。但是,怨念最强的玛格蕾塔在受到火刑后却神秘的复活了,救活她的神秘巫师给予了她新的躯体,但玛格蕾塔不知道的是,神秘巫师并没有把这幅躯体的原有主人的灵魂从这幅躯体中剥离。玛格蕾塔复活后,知道了她生前的儿子还没有死去,而是落在了教会的手中。玛格雷蕾塔毅然踏上了拯救儿子菲利普的道路,但是,等待她的是却是一个未知的骗局以及隐藏在暗处的无数危险……
  • 家有妖孽夫:驱魔王妃不好惹

    家有妖孽夫:驱魔王妃不好惹

    一次不小心闯进温泉里,看见美男沐浴,结果那个美男就追着自己狂喊爱妃?“爱妃,杀人这体力活,为夫代劳。”上官紫聆无语。“爱妃这个小家伙哪里来的?”某妖孽男指着一个完全是自己翻版的小男孩陷入石化状态。“妈咪,这个人是我爹地?”小家伙指了指石化中的男人,质问自家的妈咪。上官紫聆看了看陷入石化的男人,再看了看小家伙,勉强开口,“应该是吧。”某男人从石化状态中回过神来,咬牙切齿的说着,“什么叫应该是吧?”新书【皇叔狂宠:邪魅大小姐】以发,期待跟各位再见!
  • 宝云经

    宝云经

    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。
  • 关里关外

    关里关外

    大家都说,我爷爷这辈子活得并不屈枉。我想也是,他一生不知道啥叫爱情,却赢得了两个女人的心。他孤身一人闯关东,却拥着兄弟般的手足之情。民国时期,邢老坎的老家山东临沂,军阀混战,民不聊生,又赶上那年家乡闹饥荒,邢老坎为了活命也怕被抓去做壮丁当炮灰,便随着逃荒的人流闯了关东。之所以叫老坎,是因为他打小儿就多灾多难,一步一坎儿。临走时他唯一放不下的就是本村的姑娘桂荣。桂荣家有田有地,有骡子有马,虽说不是大户也算富足。在那个年代,婚姻要讲究门当户对,就算邢老坎不走关东也断然不会娶到桂荣,因为他只是桂荣家的一个短工。
  • 俗人之贴身修神

    俗人之贴身修神

    【火爆爽文,霹雳来袭】来自大山彼岸的一位少年,机缘巧合的在京火车站广场的地摊上,买了一块金属手表。然而就是这块金属手表,改变了他今后的生活。“叮!主人,神级抽奖系统已为您开启,是否抽奖?“抽!”“叮!主人,已抽奖,请稍等……”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到补肾丹一颗,是否使用?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到补血丹一颗,是否使用?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到太古红旗一把,是否取出?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到睡美人一个,是否取出?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到药园戒指一个,是否取出?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到四象神功一套,是否学习?”“叮!恭喜主人,已抽到蟠桃一个,是否食用?”
  • 灵宝毕法

    灵宝毕法

    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。