登陆注册
5386000000109

第109章

All my feelings, as a gentleman and a clergyman, revolt from such an occupation as I am now engaged in; but there is no other choice. I must either do this violence to my own self-respect, or I must leave Allan, with his easy nature, and in his assailable position, to defend himself against a wretch who is prepared, Ifirmly believe, to take the most unscrupulous advantage of his weakness and his youth. His mother's dying entreaty has never left my memory; and, God help me, I am now degrading myself in my own eyes in consequence.

'There has been some reward already for the sacrifice. This day (Saturday) I have gained an immense advantage--I have at last seen the woman's face. She went out with her veil down as before;and Robert kept her in view, having my instructions, if she returned to the house, not to follow her back to the door. She did return to the house; and the result of my precaution was, as I had expected, to throw her off her guard. I saw her face unveiled at the window, and afterward again in the balcony. If any occasion should ari se for describing her particularly, you shall have the description. At present I need only say that she looks the full age (five-and-thirty) at which you estimated her, and that she is by no means so handsome a woman as I had (Ihardly know why) expected to see.

"This is all I can now tell you. If nothing more happens by Monday or Tuesday next, I shall have no choice but to apply to my lawyers for assistance; though I am most unwilling to trust this delicate and dangerous matter in other hands than mine. Setting my own feelings however, out of the question, the business which has been the cause of my journey to London is too important to be trifled with much longer as I am trifling with it now. In any and every case, depend on my keeping you informed of the progress of events, and believe me yours truly, "DECIMUS BROCK."Midwinter secured the letter as he had secured the letter that preceded it--side by side in his pocket-book with the narrative of Allan's Dream.

"How many days more?" he asked himself, as he went back to the house. "How many days more?"Not many. The time he was waiting for was a time close at hand.

Monday came, and brought Mr. Bashwood, punctual to the appointed hour. Monday came, and found Allan immersed in his preparations for the picnic. He held a series of interviews, at home and abroad, all through the day. He transacted business with Mrs.

Gripper, with the butler, and with the coachman, in their three several departments of eating, drinking, and driving. He went to the town to consult his professional advisers on the subject of the Broads, and to invite both the lawyers, father and son (in the absence of anybody else in the neighborhood whom he could ask), to join the picnic. Pedgift Senior (in his department)supplied general information, but begged to be excused from appearing at the picnic, on the score of business engagements.

Pedgift Junior (in his department) added all the details; and, casting business engagements to the winds, accepted the invitation with the greatest pleasure. Returning from the lawyer's office, Allan's next proceeding was to go to the major's cottage and obtain Miss Milroy's approval of the proposed locality for the pleasure party. This object accomplished, he returned to his own house, to meet the last difficulty now left to encounter--the difficulty of persuading Midwinter to join the expedition to the Broads.

On first broaching the subject, Allan found his friend impenetrably resolute to remain at home. Midwinter's natural reluctance to meet the major and his daughter after what had happened at the cottage, might probably have been overcome. But Midwinter's determination not to allow Mr. Bashwood's course of instruction to be interrupted was proof against every effort that could be made to shake it. After exerting his influence to the utmost, Allan was obliged to remain contented with a compromise.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 太上紫微中天七元真经

    太上紫微中天七元真经

    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。
  • 黄河异事录

    黄河异事录

    传说,黄河上有一个最神秘的职业——黄河捞尸人。他们繁衍上千年,经历了无数奇诡往事,也掌握着黄河最大的秘密。我自小随身为捞尸人的爷爷在黄河上干着捞尸的营生,耳闻目睹了各种诡异的现象。一次,爷爷从黄河里捞出一具藏在巨型龟壳里的棺材,由此引出一桩桩离奇事件。我、爷爷、叶教授、古枚笛四人经历无数艰难险阻,九死一生,在浩荡不息的黄河中寻找着上古的秘密。阴兵渡河、幽灵船、鱼骨神庙;龟型巨棺、死亡灵蛊、巨型石碑出世,真相尚未水落,谜团蜂拥而至,我们一行四人更落入一个步步为局的阴谋之中……
  • 历史:鱼胶的气味

    历史:鱼胶的气味

    有很多年我都接受这一点:我儿时所熟知的那个城市已经不复存在,现在在那里的东西属于别人。纳扎拉里·巴克什当年做了我出国穿的衣服,但是早就不再是圣文森特大街上的一个名字了。然而,朝原来他的裁缝店所在的地方看看那些毁掉的废墟,就会比以往任何时候都更加怀念他。马路对面,那座维多利亚时代的哥特式警察总署大楼——他那时候给他们定做警服——有一侧从里面炸掉了。那灰色的外墙还伫立在那儿,但被熏得一片漆黑;浓烟从那尖顶的拱廊里冒了出来。
  • 唐代佛教

    唐代佛教

    密教使佛教堕落成为以妖法惑世欺众的巫术,使佛教走八绝境,是在文化交流中流采了一股比其他各宗派更秽浊的脏水。华严宗无非是脑里空想,口上空谈,毫无买际意叉,根本是为统治阶级忠实服务的一套骗人把戏。
  • 倾城风华只许你

    倾城风华只许你

    【1v1甜宠,欢迎入坑。】☆倾城风华晗溪篇婚后——姿容清绝男子一步步向洛唯晗逼近,笑容勾人。“你……你要做什么?”她往后退,吞了吞口水。男子继续逼近,薄唇色泽红润,他将她逼至墙角。“你说,我要做什么呢,亲爱的晗晗~”他在她未反应时抬起她的下巴,低头。“……”☆倾城风华莜墨篇一觉醒来,尽在咫尺的妖孽美颜让夏莜儿一愣,脚一抬,紧接着——“砰!”“莜儿夫人,你是不是又想家、法、伺、候了?!”北冥烨墨站起来,咬牙切齿。莜儿抱歉一笑:“那个……我又忘记你睡在这里了……”“……”☆倾城风华离瑾篇睡觉前——“玛德!你滚远点!”莫离欢居高临下地看着霸占自己床的某男,极度不爽。“不要~”他轻轻拉起她的手,可怜兮兮。“……”这货又抽风了。☆倾城风华婳林篇南宫林一一把把紫芊婳扯入怀里。“怎么了?”她环住他的腰,抬头看向他。矜贵男子没有说话,紧紧拥住她,就像拥住了全世界。☆倾城风华诺白篇“陪我打游戏吧。”白诺拿着手机在他身边坐下。林书白将她整个抱起,让她坐在自己腿上,然后拿起手机:“这样打”“……”
  • 快穿之专治各种不服

    快穿之专治各种不服

    喜欢就看,不喜欢就点叉。别难为自己,也难为作者,谢谢!连音的任务从来都是护住那些不服气的任务目标,没限手段方式,也不讲应不应该。从以和为贵、五美四讲三热爱的进步青年到“社会我连姐、人美路子野”,好像也不是一条太长的路嘛。部分故事线会与《来自快穿的你》交叠。男主未定,候选人很多。最后的选择?看心情吧。作者有群:123018364(敲门请写书名)
  • 物种:越来越多的物种

    物种:越来越多的物种

    在东部非洲肯尼亚的东部,生长着一种奇特的水果,果实呈扁圆形。奇特的是果子前面是银白色,后面是赤黄色。果实上有些突出的果疤,巧似人脸上的眼、鼻、眉,而且分布的也如人的五官一样匀称。因此整个果实看起来仿佛是一张小孩的脸。人们称它为“人面果”。人面果是一种叫“婆其格利德树”的果实。这种树每年3月开花,5月结出拳头大的果实。每当收获季节,那压满枝头的累累果实犹如枝叶扶疏间的一张张小脸,特别惹人喜爱。
  • 权位风暴

    权位风暴

    因能源,经济,社会危机而引发的三战已经过去二十余年了,战后的城邦划分取代了国家制度,大大小小的势力如星空般繁多,作为其中的前三名之一的城邦“赤月”,他的一切,在白家的统治之下,进行的紧紧有条。此刻,已经进入战后四十年,有关白家的下一任继任者的竞选,忽然之间,已进入了白热化阶段······虽然我对自己的能力不是那么太自信,但你既然给我一个法人地位,那我也顺便带走一个军的军心,你把我丢到国外,我带个航母回来,来,我们私聊。
  • 成熟自信(中华民族传统美德教育读本)

    成熟自信(中华民族传统美德教育读本)

    本丛书筛选内容主要遵循以下原则要求:(1)坚持批判继承思想,取其精华、去其糟粕。既不全盘肯定,也不全盘否定。坚持抽象继承、演绎发展、立足当代、为我所用。(2)坚持系统整体的原则。注意各历史时期分布;注意各民族的进步人物;注意各层面人物;注意人物各侧面。做到:竖看历史五千年,纵向成条线;横看美德重实践,横向不漏面。(3)坚持古为今用,为我所用原则。在发掘美德资源时,特别挖掘古代人物故事、言论,注重寻找挖掘各阶层、各民族的传统公德、通德、同德;注重人民性、民主性、进步性、发展性、普遍性、抽象性,不求全古代,不求全个体。
  • 莫然的那些案子

    莫然的那些案子

    民国年间,江北地界。因为一场意外,我认识了一个人,莫然。他是一个聪明且有才华的人,我们一起工作,成为了最好的朋友。他一生只中意一件事,探案。他破了很多案子,这些案子有些很诡异,匪你所思。有些则很现实,很巧妙。太多太多,而我很荣幸参与其中。