登陆注册
5406200000063

第63章

"It is MOST kind of you," she said with grateful emphasis, "but Imustn't sit down and detain you.I can explain in a few words--if Imay."

He positively still held her hand in the oddest, natural, boyish way, and before she knew what she was doing he had made her take the chair--quite MADE her.

"Well, just sit down and explain," he said."I wish to thunder you would detain me.Take all the time you like.I want to hear all about it--honest Injun."There was a cushion in the chair, and as he talked, he pulled it out and began to arrange it behind her, still in the most natural and matter-of-fact way--so natural and matter-of-fact, indeed, that its very natural matter-of-factedness took her breath away.

"Is that fixed all right?" he asked.

Being a little lady, she could only accept his extraordinary friendliness with grateful appreciation, though she could not help fluttering a little in her bewilderment.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Mr.Temple Barholm," she said.

He sat down on the square ottoman facing her, and leaned forward with an air of making a frank confession.

"Guess what I was thinking to myself two minutes before you came in? Iwas thinking, `Lord, I'm lonesome--just sick lonesome!' And then Iopened my eyes and looked-- and there was a relation! Hully gee! Icall that luck!"

"Dear me!" she said, shyly delighted."DO you, Mr.Temple Barholm--REALLY?"

Her formal little way of saying his name was like Ann's.

"Do I? I'm tickled to death.My mother died when I was ten, and I've never had any women kin-folks.""Poor bo--" She had nearly said "Poor boy!" and only checked the familiarity just in time--" Poor Mr.Temple Barholm!""Say, what are we two to each other, anyhow?" He put it to her with great interest.

"It is a very distant relationship, if it is one at all," she answered."You see, I was only a second cousin to the late Mr.Temple Barholm, and I had not really the SLIGHTEST claim upon him." She placed pathetic emphasis on the fact."It was most generous of him to be so kind to me.When my poor father died and I was left quite penniless, he gave me a--a sort of home here.""A sort of home?" Tembarom repeated.

"My father was a clergyman in VERY straitened circumstances.We had barely enough to live upon--barely.He could leave me nothing.It actually seemed as if I should have to starve --it did, indeed." There was a delicate quiver in her voice."And though the late Mr.Temple Barholm had a great antipathy to ladies, he was so--so noble as to send word to me that there were a hundred and fifty rooms in his house, and that if I would keep out of his way I might live in one of them.""That was noble," commented her distant relative.

"Oh, yes, indeed, especially when one considers how he disliked the opposite sex and what a recluse he was.He could not endure ladies.Iscarcely ever saw him.My room was in quite a remote wing of the house, and I never went out if I knew he was in the park.I was most careful.And when he died of course I knew I must go away."Tembarom was watching her almost tenderly.

"Where did you go?"

"To a kind clergyman in Shropshire who thought he might help me.""How was he going to do it?"

She answered with an effort to steady a somewhat lowered and hesitating voice.

"There was near his parish a very nice--charity,"--her breath caught itself pathetically,--"some most comfortable almshouses for decayed gentlewomen.He thought he might be able to use his influence to get me into one." She paused and smiled, but her small, wrinkled hands held each other closely.

Tembarom looked away.He spoke as though to himself, and without knowing that he was thinking aloud.

"Almshouses!" he said."Wouldn't that jolt you!" He turned on her again with a change to cheerful concern."Say, that cushion of yours ain't comfortable.I 'm going to get you another one." He jumped up and, taking one from a sofa, began to arrange it behind her dexterously.

"But I mustn't trouble you any longer.I must go, really," she said, half rising nervously.He put a hand on her shoulder and made her sit again.

"Go where?" he said."Just lean back on that cushion, Miss Alicia.For the next few minutes this is going to be MY funeral."She was at once startled and uncomprehending.What an extraordinary expression! What COULD it mean?

"F--funeral?" she stammered.

Suddenly he seemed somehow to have changed.He looked as serious as though he was beginning to think out something all at once.What was he going to say?

"That's New York slang," he answered."It means that I want to explain myself to you and ask a few questions.""Certainly, certainly, Mr.Temple Barholm."

He leaned his back against the mantel, and went into the matter practically.

"First off, haven't you ANY folks?" Then, answering her puzzled look, added, "I mean relations."Miss Alicia gently shook her head.

"No sisters or brothers or uncles or aunts or cousins?"She shook her head again.

He hesitated a moment, putting his hands in his pockets and taking them out again awkwardly as he looked down at her.

"Now here's where I'm up against it," he went on."I don't want to be too fresh or to butt in, but--didn't old Temple Barholm leave you ANYmoney?"

"Oh, no!" she exclaimed."Dear me! no! I couldn't possibly EXPECT such a thing."He gazed at her as though considering the situation."Couldn't you?"he said.

There was an odd reflection in his eyes, and he seemed to consider her and the situation again.

"Well," he began after his pause, "what I want to know is what you expect ME to do."There was no unkindness in his manner, in fact, quite the contrary, even when he uttered what seemed to Miss Alicia these awful, unwarranted words.As though she had forced herself into his presence to make demands upon his charity! They made her tremble and turn pale as she got up quickly, shocked and alarmed.

同类推荐
  • 浦峰长明炅禅师语录

    浦峰长明炅禅师语录

    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。
  • 阴符经讲义

    阴符经讲义

    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。
  • 黄檗山寺志

    黄檗山寺志

    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。
  • 摩尼教下部赞

    摩尼教下部赞

    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。
  • 禽星易见

    禽星易见

    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
  • 声律启蒙(语文新课标课外必读第十二辑)

    声律启蒙(语文新课标课外必读第十二辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 我和学生的故事:浙江万里学院商学院育人工作手札(一)

    我和学生的故事:浙江万里学院商学院育人工作手札(一)

    开放改变了观念,思想解放了社会,繁荣造就了住房,住房大庇了天下。改革开放30年,中国房地产业风云际会应运而生,并从无到有、从小到大,以前所未有的速度迅速崛起,成为国民经济毫无疑问的支柱产业和中国主体经济腾飞的历史推手。回首30年中国老百姓的住房变迁,就会发现,房地产业记载的既是一部中国30年的建设史,又是一部浓缩了我国社会主义建设的改革开放史。
  • 农家巧妇种田忙

    农家巧妇种田忙

    穿越成农家女,家徒四壁,吃了上顿没下顿。弟妹幼小,娘亲病弱,顾九九表示扶额!不过,好在姐姐会医术会赚钱。卖药,经商,种田,日子过的一日比一日好。
  • 非我倾城:王爷要休妃(全本+出版)

    非我倾城:王爷要休妃(全本+出版)

    后来,我才知道,你才是藏得最深的那个人。这天下的东西对你来说很简单,想要的夺取,不爱的摧毁。取东陵深矿精髓研成针,擢北地珍兽皮毛制成线,仅为成就我袖襟衣绣。他们说,这份爱可以叫做倾城。可是,有一天,你若发现我其实早已不是原来的“她”,你会怎么样?——(题记.睿王妃题)★★★简介:本以为穿越成帝国属地领主的女儿,应是荣华富贵的命,却原来不是嫡出就不受宠。她爹不宠小老婆干嘛还要把她娘娶回家?害的她饱受家中大娘和姐妹欺压。好不容易压迫人民群众的恶势力——姐姐终于嫁出去一个,嫁的却是自己喜欢的帝国太子。*这杀千刀的太子!明明小时候跟她定了合同,愿意跟她合并的,现在却并购了恶势力。偏偏她娘的娘家有难,做爹的又不管,她只好千里迢迢到朝歌参加太子弟弟——那个据说身有残疾的神秘睿王的选妃大赛。惟有把王妃的名衔拿到手,才能救娘的娘家,也才能有机会觐见那个权倾天下的负心汉!只是么,再见的时候,使君有妇,罗敷有夫,想必好玩!*可是,当那段王侯争霸、阴谋惊骇的岁月即将过去,诡谲多变的宫廷斗争仍迷雾重重的时候,是谁的女人多如苼萧,却晚晚在她耳边低喃:“别尝试离开我,否则,我将血洗北地,用它做重娶你的聘礼。”
  • 封印师

    封印师

    本书是一本动漫幻想轻小说。新锐小说家两色风景,擅长描绘童话中的世界。他的新作《封印师》,以童话般的笔调构筑了一个融合了“蒸汽朋克”、“剑与魔法”和未来科技的世界,一个传奇的世界。喜欢变魔术的风趣少年卫矛,与古灵精怪的萝莉小玉一道在这个世界旅行,遭遇不同的人类和妖怪事件。卫矛的真实身份是传说的封印师一族,能够以操作空间的方式将妖怪封印,而小玉的身份是妖狐玉萝,二人相互依赖,亦敌亦友。相比起其他能力者对妖怪的赶尽杀绝,行走在乱世中的卫矛所秉承的是用“禁锢”这一相对温和的方式,来求得与妖怪的共处。他和玉萝就这样一面旅行,一面逃避族人及犀利妖怪的追杀,一面努力开创崭新的和平时代。
  • 成大事必备的148个成功法则(教你成功丛书15本)

    成大事必备的148个成功法则(教你成功丛书15本)

    由于所处环境和生活背景的不同,每个人对成功的理解也各不相同,然而殊途同归,目标都是一样的——实现自己的人生价值。本书收集了大量中外成功人士的例子,并对他们的成功经验加以分析研究,从而总结出了确保你人生成功的148个法则。遵照这些法则,一步一步完善自我,你就会逐渐实现你的成功之梦。
  • 一错成婚,总裁太难撩

    一错成婚,总裁太难撩

    遭遇恶婆婆和渣男,晓菀选择出逃。和顾子亭因为一场误会而结缘,紧接着谈婚论嫁……进展太快,让晓菀觉得不靠谱,但是顾总却用无比高超的宠妻技巧,让她获得了幸福。
  • 三世及忘川

    三世及忘川

    一个接着一个的游魂走到一口大锅前,接过盛汤之人手中的碗,做到木桌边喝了下去。片刻后他们的眼神空洞了起来,浑浑噩噩的朝着一座桥走了过去。
  • 媳妇儿帅酷拽

    媳妇儿帅酷拽

    他因为心底的白月光,从矜贵的世家公子变成了一个双腿残废的人,背后是冷嘲热讽,性情变得怪异。直到某一天遇见了她,也可以说是她偏偏找到了他。嫁给一个有残废的人,把他从深渊中拯救出来,治好了他的腿疾,给了他无条件的宠爱。“为什么偏偏是我?一个残废的人不值得你对我这么好。”“可能是因为你长的好看吧。一个长得好看残废的世家少爷,好拿捏,好听话。”“不,你到底图的是什么?”“当然,我要的只是一个会宠我,照顾我,无条件包容我的丈夫。”她拯救了陷入深渊中的他,他只有回报她以最忠诚的爱。
  • 极品相公跟我走

    极品相公跟我走

    丑女穿越,八只相公,个个极品!是天公作美?还是月老醉酒搭错了线?——此文NP+小虐+女强,女主乐观向上。本文原名“八个相公跟我走”,因涉及暧昧改名,给亲带来不便,请谅解。——★腹黑型男——薛逸然★重重的板子打在屁股之上,炽痛传入大脑,金巧巧紧咬双唇,感受液体从面颊划过,一声未吱。薛逸然手握茶杯,一副悠然自得,面对金巧巧痛苦的表情,薄唇轻起“一下、两下、三下……”★调皮偷儿——司空星★“金巧巧,现在就让你看看我这里行不行!”司空星恨得咬牙切齿,站起身,望着她不安分的小手。金巧巧惊愕的瞪大了双眼,随后死命的眨巴下眼睛,开口“我靠,司空星,你咋这么小!”★双煞皇子——紫竹瑾、紫竹辰★摸着嘴角还残留的唾液,某皇子大惊“丑女人,你竟然偷袭我!”某皇弟为其喊冤“皇兄,她刚才在救你”某女人无奈呆愣“拜托兄台,那叫人工呼吸”什么偷袭说的那么难听,委婉一点那叫‘吻’★忠心护卫——卫临风★“巧巧,我愿一直守护于你,此生,你若不离,我定不弃!”“额……先告诉我,你多大?”“二十有一”“靠,老娘竟然上了童男!”★冷酷侠客——路行远★某女双手叉腰,极其愤然“喂,你凭什么绑架我?”“收人钱财,替人消灾”话语简单,冷酷至极“胆敢收受贿赂,说,谁?”“你相公…们!”★黄发老外——普罗盖斯★某男手握玫瑰,深情似火“我喜欢你,我需要你,我爱你,金巧巧”某女双手平摊,白眼直翻“I’mNO!”★憨厚师兄——凌赤云★“师妹,莫非你忘记了你这张丑颜是蓄意易容的吗?”某巧儿大惊“你说什么?这颗朱砂痣是假的?”她不是丑女?!————NP阿,王道!本文美男多多、尺度偏大、色色女,渐变强。走过路过不要错过,喜欢此文的亲一定要收藏。留言、撒票、鲜花、钻石才是写文的动力与支持。桃花简介无能,待修改,亲们看看文先,么么。。★★★精彩好文推荐★★★《拐嫁》-----------(完结)《错妻》-----------(完结)《娇颜媚盅》-------(强推)《恶魔的禁锢》-----(半价)《极品相公跟我走》-(完结)《北定王妃莫紫汐》-(半价)