登陆注册
5406200000036

第36章

I - would have been willing to say 'Yes' when you wouldn't have been willing to let me.I didn't know he was Mr.Temple Barholm then."Hutchinson rubbed the back of his head, reddening and rather bristling.

"Dost tha think th' Temple Barholms would look down on thee?""I should look down on myself if I took him up at his first words, when he's all upset with excitement, and hasn't had time to find out what things mean.I'm--well, I 'm too fond of him, Father."Hutchinson gave her a long, steady look.

"You are? " he said.

"Yes, I am."

Tembarom lifted his head, and looked at her, too.

"Are you?" he asked.

She put her hands behind her back, and returned his look with the calm of ages.

"I'm not going to argue about it," she answered."Arguing's silly."His involuntary rising and standing before her was a sort of unconscious tribute of respect.

"I know that," he owned."I know you.That's why I take it like this.

But I want you to tell me one thing.If this hadn't happened, if I'd only had twenty dollars a week, would you have taken me?""If you'd had fifteen, and Father could have spared me, I'd have taken you.Fifteen dollars a week is three pounds two and sixpence, and I've known curates' wives that had to bring up families on less.It wouldn't go as far in New York as it would in the country in England, but we could have made it do--until you got more.I know you, too, Mr.

Temple Barholm."

He turned to her father, and saw in his florid countenance that which spurred him to bold disclosure.

"Say," he put it to him, as man to man, "she stands there and says a thing like that, and she expects a fellow not to jerk her into his arms and squeeze the life out of her! I daren't do it, and I'm not going to try; but--well, you said her mother was like her, and I guess you know what I'm up against."Hutchinson's grunting chuckle contained implications of exultant tenderness and gratified paternal pride.

"She's th' very spit and image of her mother," he said, "and she had th' sense of ten women rolled into one, and th' love of twenty.You let her be, and you're as safe as th' Rock of Ages.""Do you think I don't know that?" answered Tembarom, his eyes shining almost to moisture."But what hits me, by thunder! is that I've lost the chance of seeing her work out that fifteen-dollar-a-week proposition, and it drives me crazy.""I should have downright liked to try it," said Little Ann, with speculative reflection, and while she knitted her brows in lovely consideration of the attractive problem, several previously unknown dimples declared themselves about her mouth.

"Ann," Tembarom ventured, "if I go to Temple Barholm and try it a year and learn all about it---""It would take more than a year," said Ann.

"Don't make it two," Tembarom pleaded."I'll sit up at night with wet towels round my head to learn; I'll spend fourteen hours a day with girls that look like the pictures in the `Ladies' Pictorial', or whatever it is in England; I'll give them every chance in life, if you'll let me off afterward.There must be another lost heir somewhere; let's dig him up and then come back to little old New York and be happy.Gee! Ann,"--letting himself go and drawing nearer to her,-- "how happy we could be in one of those little flats in Harlem!"She was a warm little human thing, and a tender one, and when he came close to her, glowing with tempestuous boyish eagerness, her eyes grew bluer because they were suddenly wet, and she was obliged to move softly back.

"Yes," she said; "I know those little flats.Any one could---" She stopped herself, because she had been going to reveal.what a home a woman could make in rooms like the compartments in a workbox.She knew and saw it all.She drew back a little again, but she put out a hand and laid it on his sleeve.

"When you've had quite time enough to find out, and know what the other thing means, I'll do whatever you want me to do," she said."It won't matter what it is.I'll do it.""She means that," Hutchinson mumbled unsteadily, turning aside."Same as her mother would have meant it.And she means it in more ways than one."And so she did.The promise included quite firmly the possibility of not unnatural changes in himself such as young ardor could not foresee, even the possibility of his new life withdrawing him entirely from the plane on which rapture could materialize on twenty dollars a week in a flat in Harlem.

同类推荐
  • 赠徐安宜

    赠徐安宜

    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。
  • MARIE

    MARIE

    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。
  • 明伦汇编人事典投胎部

    明伦汇编人事典投胎部

    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。
  • How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day

    How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day

    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。
  • 七颂堂识小录

    七颂堂识小录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 止山集

    止山集

    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。
  • 凰权天下:美人谋

    凰权天下:美人谋

    一场权谋交易,她所背负的是家国重任。异国他乡,她步步为营,男人的战场也好,女人的江山也罢,她都需要那个善于逢场作戏的男人的支持。是心动还是算计……不过是棋逢对手难相安。她誓要博一个锦绣前程出来!情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 圣骑士的一生

    圣骑士的一生

    一个寻找正义与美德的圣骑士,所渡过的平凡一生。
  • Once Forsaken (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 7)

    Once Forsaken (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 7)

    "A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page."--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)ONCE FORSAKEN is book #7 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 700 five star reviews!
  • 地理未解之谜(世界未解之谜精编)

    地理未解之谜(世界未解之谜精编)

    本书是《世界未解之谜精编》系列之一,该系列精心收集了众多千奇百怪、扑朔迷离的世界未解之谜,内容涉及宇宙、生物、地理、飞碟、人体、恐龙、宝藏、百慕大、历史、金字塔、文化等多个领域,书中令人耳目一新和不可思议的未解之谜,给予了人类新的思索。人类究竟创造了多少奇迹,又留下了多少谜团,有待我们进一步探索和研究……我们深信,通过不断的努力,未知一定会变为已知。让无数探寻声化做利刃,刺破一桩桩人类千年未解之谜。
  • 萌妻爆笑反穿

    萌妻爆笑反穿

    许言舞本是一千年前北楚大名鼎鼎的镇国女将军,可是很不幸她穿越到了现代;再不幸她发现自己穿越的这个人,是个人人喊打的小三!而最最不幸的就是这小三已经被人给卖到了别人的手上!是可忍孰不可忍,老虎不发威你当老娘是病猫!一脚踹过去,男人当即断子绝孙遍地哀嚎……
  • 草样年华3

    草样年华3

    曾经的叛逆青年,走到青春尾巴之时,蓦然回首,发现生活并不是初设想的那样,对人生和世界的认识也发生了重大转变,对家庭和情感有了不一样的感触。曾经的愤世变得宽容,曾经的激情蜕化温情,曾经的梦想随风而散……在经历了草样年华般的青春后,他们已能平静、从容、坦然地面对生活,并对已结束的青春说一声:青春无悔。
  • 上清琼宫灵飞六甲箓

    上清琼宫灵飞六甲箓

    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。
  • 快穿:总裁夫人就是我

    快穿:总裁夫人就是我

    论如何成为总裁夫人?唐尘表示首先你要装得了白莲,耍得了心机,然后关键时刻被扑倒!什么?你最讨厌白莲花?那你没戏了,滚吧!唐尘,一无业游民!无奈下选择了进入时空管理有限公司,然后开始了狗血的快穿人生!本想着此工作虽危险但好歹工资高啊,谁知入坑后才发现她总是被无限拖欠工资!再然后,她就直接升为总裁夫人了!唐尘:“对,没错,总裁夫人就是我!为什么?别问我,我也想知道!”
  • 盛宠拽后:本宫就爱戏诸王

    盛宠拽后:本宫就爱戏诸王

    (已完结,包月会员可免费看文)四位藩王本打算将她作为人质,最后却:大哥,大嫂好美,晚上我要和她一起睡;二哥,小世子好可爱,我要用青煜来换他;三哥,听说三嫂离家出走了,我去帮你找回来吧;五弟,你还没娶妃,让我和三嫂来帮你选妃吧……够了,你还是回去吧!我们不绑架你了!