登陆注册
5392600000098

第98章

"I know it was not because of the money--the price, I mean.Father told me that you refused the five thousand he offered and would accept only a part of it; thirty-five hundred, I think he said.Ishould have known that the price had nothing to do with it, even if he had not told me.But why did you sell it?"I would have given all I had, or ever expected to have, in this world, to tell her the truth.For the moment I almost hated George Taylor.

"Oh, I thought I might as well, give in then as later," I answered, with a shrug."It was no use fighting the inevitable.""That was not it.I know it was not.If it had been you would have taken the five thousand.And I know, too, that you meant what you said when you told me you never would sell.I have known it all the time.I know you were telling me the truth."I was astonished."You do?" I cried."Why, you said--""Don't! I know what I said, and I am so ashamed.I did not mean it, really.For a moment, there in the library, when Father first told me, I thought perhaps you--but I did not really think it.And when he told me the price, I KNEW.Won't you tell me why you sold?""I can't.I wish I could."

"I believe I can guess."

I started."You can GUESS?" I repeated.

"Yes.I think you wanted the money for some purpose, some need which you had not foreseen.And I do not believe it was for yourself at all.I think it was for some one else.Wasn't that it?"I could not reply.I tried to, tried to utter a prompt denial, but the words would not come.Her "guess" was so close to the truth that I could only stammer and hesitate.

"It was," she said."I thought so.For your mother, wasn't it?""No, no.Miss Colton, you are wrong.I--""I am not wrong.Never mind.I suppose it is a secret.Perhaps Ishall find out some day.But will you forgive me for being so hateful? Can you? What is the matter?""Nothing--nothing.I--you are too good to me, that is all.Idon't deserve it."

"Hush! And we will be friends again?"

"Yes.....Oh, no! no! I must not think of it.It is impossible.""Must not think of it? When I ask you to? Can't you forgive me, after all?""There was nothing to forgive."

"Yes, there was, a great deal.Is there something else? Are you still angry with me because of what I said that afternoon at the gate?""No, of course not."

"It was hateful of me, I know.But I could see that you wished to avoid me and I was provoked.Besides, you have punished me for that.You have snubbed me twice since, sir.""_I_ snubbed YOU?"

"Yes--twice.Once when we met in the street.You deliberately turned away and would not look at me.And once when I passed you in the canoe.You saw me--I know you did--but you cut me dead.

That is why I did not return your bow to-day, at the wedding.""But you had said--I thought--"

"I know.I had said horrid things.I deserved to be snubbed.

There! now I have confessed.Mayn't we be friends?""I...Oh, no, we must not, for your sake.I--""For my sake! But I wish it.Why not?"

I turned on her."Can't you see?" I said, despairingly."Look at the difference between us! You are what you are and I--"She interrupted me."Oh," she cried, impatiently, "how dare you speak so? How dare you believe that money and--all the rest of it influences me in my friendships? Do you think I care for that?""I did not mean money alone.But even that Miss Colton, that evening when we returned from the trip after weakfish, you and your father and I, I heard--I did not mean to hear but I did--what your mother said when she met you.She said she had warned you against trusting yourself to 'that common fellow,' meaning me.That shows what she thinks.She was right; in a way she was perfectly right.

Now you see what I mean by saying that friendship between us is impossible?"I had spoken at white heat.Now I turned away.It was settled.

She must understand now.

"Mr.Paine."

"Yes, Miss Colton."

"I am sorry you heard that.Mother--she is my mother and I love her--but she says foolish things sometimes.I am sorry you heard that, but since you did, I wish you had heard the rest.""The rest?"

"Yes.I answered her by suggesting that she had not been afraid to trust me in the care of Victor--Mr.Carver.She answered that she hoped I did not mean to compare Mr.Carver with you.And I said--""Yes? You said--?"

"I said," the tone was low but I heard every syllable, "I said she was right, there was no comparison.""You said THAT!"

"Yes."

"You said it! And you meant--?"

"I meant--I think I meant that I should not be afraid to trust you always--anywhere."Where were my good resolutions--my stern reasons to remember who and what I was--to be sane, no matter at what cost to myself? I do not know where they were; then I did not care.I seized her hand.

It trembled, but she did not draw it away.

"Mabel--" I cried."Mabel--"

"BUMP!"

The Comfort shook as the bow of a dory scraped along her starboard quarter.A big red hand clasped the rail and its mate brandished a good-sized club before my eyes.

"Now," said a determined voice, "I've got ye at last! This time I've caught ye dead to rights! Now, by godfreys, you'll pay me for them lobsters!"

同类推荐
  • 维摩经疏卷第三

    维摩经疏卷第三

    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。
  • 佛祖历代通载

    佛祖历代通载

    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。
  • 三秦记

    三秦记

    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。
  • American Literary Centers

    American Literary Centers

    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。
  • Rowdy of the Cross L

    Rowdy of the Cross L

    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
  • 佛为心王菩萨说投陀经

    佛为心王菩萨说投陀经

    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。
  • 愿闺阁依然蜜友

    愿闺阁依然蜜友

    两个都是没有父母陪伴成长的小孩,从小学就一直陪着刘亚梦的唐凰却在临小升初考试时莫名失踪,没有唐凰陪伴的日子,刘亚梦一度患上了轻微抑郁自闭症。亚梦的妈妈高绮担心女儿病情严重,跟据心理医师定制的治疗方案,赶紧把女儿接回到了自己的身边,给她换了新的环境。后来,刘亚梦重新认识了一群新的伙伴,有花心萝卜杨凯,天真可爱的黎娜,每恋每败却坚持每败再恋的好强狮子座徐楠,青春期的一群小伙伴一起经历了属于她们“闺阁里”的故事,新的小伙伴们让刘亚梦逐渐恢复了正常。幸运的是,即便她们现在已经各自踏入了复杂的社会,这段属于“闺阁里”的情谊依旧没变,真正的友情,哪怕隔着千山万水,哪怕过了日久天长,依然蜜友。
  • 玉景九天金霄威神王祝太元上经

    玉景九天金霄威神王祝太元上经

    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。
  • 大明文魁

    大明文魁

    紫禁城前九重门,百官簪缨南阙来。帽插宫花朝天颜,金殿传胪名声传。十里御街打马过,人称大明状元郎。这是一个现代人在明朝好好读书,天天向上的故事,已有两本两百万字作品完本,人品保证!书友群:164.548.046大家来聊聊天,提提意见。
  • 九死封天

    九死封天

    仙帝重生,得上古奇功,历九生九死,重回仙帝巅峰,解开远古仙界崩塌之谜
  • 无底运河

    无底运河

    三好彻:1931年出生于东京,原名河上雄三,国立大学经济学部毕业。1950年入职读卖新闻担任编辑工作,1959年以笔名三好彻创作《远生》并入选第八届“文学界”新人赏次席。1966的《枫尘地带》获得了第二十届日本推理作家协会赏,同年退职而转为职业作家,而1968年的《圣少女》也获得了第五十八届直木赏。三好彻并曾于1979年继佐野洋担任了两年日本推理作家协会理事长。
  • 教你打乒乓球(学生球类运动学习手册)

    教你打乒乓球(学生球类运动学习手册)

    球类体育运动的起源很早,中国在2300年前,即春秋战国时代,就有了足球运动,当时的足球叫“蹴鞠,至汉代,蹴鞠运动发展到了鼎盛时期,有了专业足球队、竞赛规则,还设立了裁判员。汉代,我国的踢毽子运动也十分盛行,至清末,参加的人越来越多,人们不仅用踢毽子锻炼身体,而且还把它和书画、下棋、放风筝、养花鸟、唱二黄等相提并论,可见对其的宠爱程度。
  • 龙牙外传:星河飞尘

    龙牙外传:星河飞尘

    人类自古以来一直就对璀璨的星空充满了好奇和向往,而对她的探索更是步履维艰。当终于有一天人类的太空殖民舰队可以冲破星空的阻隔前往遥远的深空去寻找新的乐土时,却意外地遭遇了外星生物无情地进攻。在前有强敌却孤立无援、没有补给、没有退路、身陷绝境的情况下,肖星河、陈飞尘等等这些昔日龙牙部队的精英战士们能否看到胜利的曙光?又将付出怎样的代价?而人类第一批太空殖民者的命运最终又将如何?
  • 受益终生的精粹:受益终生的美术精粹

    受益终生的精粹:受益终生的美术精粹

    阅读的广度改变生命历程的长短,阅读的深度决定思想境界的高低。大师经典带来的影响,不只是停留在某个时代,而是会穿越时空渗透到我们的灵魂中去。英国著名诗人拜伦曾经说过:“一滴墨水可以引发千万人的思考,一本好书可以改变无数人的命运。”的确,读书对于一个人的文化水平高低、知识多少、志向大小、修养好坏、品行优劣、情趣雅俗,往往起着至关重要的作用。我们精心编写的这套丛书品位高雅,内容丰富,设计、装帧精美、时尚,不仅具有较高的阅读欣赏价值,还可以收藏,或作为礼物馈赠亲朋好友,是一套能让读者从中获益良多的读物。
  • 六界史歌

    六界史歌

    少年天生,浴血成长。何谓仙,何谓神,何谓魔?仙路漫漫,且让我们随着少年的成长,一同见证这六界史歌!PS:欢迎加入书友群613156203