登陆注册
5429600000106

第106章

'False? Of course it is false, false as the father of falsehood--if indeed falsehoods need a sire and are not self-begotten since the world began. You are ready to sacrifice the world for love? Come let us see what you will sacrifice. I care nothing for nuptial vows. The wretch, I think you were kind enough to call him so, whom I swore to love and obey, is so base that he can only be thought of with repulsive disgust. In the council chamber of my heart I have divorced him. To me that is as good as though aged lords had gloated for months over the details of his licentious life. I care nothing for what the world can say. Will you be as frank? Will you take me to your home as your wife? Will you call me Mrs Slope before bishop, dean, and prebendaries?' The poor tortured wretch stood silent, not knowing what to say. 'What! You won't do that.

Tell me then, what part of the world is it that you will sacrifice for my charms?'

'Were you free to marry, I would take you to my house to-morrow and wish no higher privilege.'

'I am free;' said she, almost starting up in her energy. For though there was no truth in her pretended regard for her clerical admirer, there was a mixture of real feeling in the scorn and satire with which she spoke of love and marriage generally. 'I am free; free as the winds. Come, will you take me as I am? Have your wish; sacrifice the world, and prove yourself a true man.'

Mr Slope should have taken her at her word. She would have drawn back, and he would have had the full advantage of the offer. But he did not. Instead of doing so, he stood wrapt in astonishment, passing his fingers through his lank red hair, and thinking as he stared upon her animated countenance that her wondrous beauty grew more and more wonderful as he gazed on it. 'Ha! Ha! Ha!,' she laughed out loud. 'Come, Mr Slope, don't talk of sacrificing the world again. People beyond one-and-twenty should never dream of such a thing. You and I, if we have the dregs of any love left in us, if we have the remnants of a passion remaining in our hearts, should husband our resources better. We are not in our premiere jeunesse. The world is a very nice place. Your world, at any rate, is so. You have all manner of fat rectories to get, and possible bishoprics to enjoy. Come, confess; on second thoughts you would not sacrifice such things for the smiles of a lame lady?'

It was impossible for him to answer this. In order to be in any way dignified, he felt that he must be silent.

'Come,' said she--'don't boody with me: don't be angry because Ispeak out some home truths. Alas, the world, as I have found it, has taught me bitter truths. Come, tell me that I am forgiven. Are we not to be friends?' and she again put her hand to him.

He sat himself down on the chair beside her, and took her proffered hand and leant over her.

'There,' said she, with her sweetest, softest smile--a smile to withstand which a man should be cased in triple steel, 'there; seal your forgiveness on it,' and she raised it towards his face. He kissed it again and again, and stretched over her as though desirous of extending the charity of his pardon beyond the hand that was offered to him. She managed, however, to check his ardour.

For one so easily allured as this poor chaplain, her hand was surely enough.

'Oh, Madeline!' said he, 'tell me that you love me--do you--do you love me?'

'Hush,' said she. 'There is mother's step. Our tete-a-tete has been of monstrous length. Now you had better go. But we shall see you soon again, shall we not?'

Mr Slope promised that he would call again on the following day.

'And Mr Slope,' she continued, 'pray answer my note. You have it in your hand, though, I declare during these two hours you have not been gracious enough to read it. It is about the Sabbath school and the children. You know how anxious I am to have them here. I have been learning the catechism myself, on purpose. You must manage it for me next week. I will teach them, at any rate, to submit themselves to their spiritual pastors and masters.'

Mr Slope said but little on the subject of Sabbath schools, but he made his adieu, and betook himself home with a sad heart, troubled mind, and uneasy conscience.

同类推荐
  • 玉箓资度午朝仪

    玉箓资度午朝仪

    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。
  • 神仙养生秘术

    神仙养生秘术

    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。
  • 上方大洞真元妙经品

    上方大洞真元妙经品

    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。
  • 异出菩萨本起经

    异出菩萨本起经

    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。
  • 太玄朗然子进道诗

    太玄朗然子进道诗

    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
  • 蓝山集

    蓝山集

    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。
  • 重生小丫鬟

    重生小丫鬟

    现代的普通人穿越成了被卖为奴没人权的小丫头绮罗,开始了一段为了脱籍努力奋斗的日子,总算是费尽心思离开了工作了十二年的牛国公府,接下来的日子也不是那么省心呢。女儿大了该出嫁了,不出嫁?不行!绮罗就开始了寻人出嫁的慢慢征途...
  • 非同寻常:赖斯成长回忆录(传记译林)

    非同寻常:赖斯成长回忆录(传记译林)

    这部书立体地展现了赖斯早年的生活,细致诚恳,真实感人。这是赖斯从未讲述过的故事。她描写了愉快的家庭时光,回想了母亲与癌症的坚强斗争;展现了自己与前苏联领导人的近距离交锋。在这里,她不是叱咤风云的国际政要,而只是一名小女孩、一位年轻姑娘,她要在不太友善的世界里寻找自己的位置;在这里,有一对杰出的父母,一个可亲的大家庭,还有赖斯成长于其中的美国社会。出人意料地引人入胜……读者可以感受到这位处理公共事务的钢铁女士背后的浪漫柔情。赖斯对父母的尊重,对充满年少回忆的泰特斯维尔社区的永恒之爱,感人至深。
  • 上清高上金元羽章玉清隐书经

    上清高上金元羽章玉清隐书经

    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。
  • 偷心猎爱:首席的心尖宠

    偷心猎爱:首席的心尖宠

    她没有想到,去了趟医院割阑尾,却阴差阳错躺错病床,带了个球回来。岂料含辛茹苦养大,最后只能拱手让人。再见面的时候,昏暗的空间,她被他逼到死角,中间隔着圆滚滚的肚皮,连同肚子里那个不老实的小家伙,面前的男人那张颠倒众生的脸上噙着笑:“打了,我还可以让你做严太太。”她昂首挺胸,不再畏惧,“严总的好意我心领了,不过——现在请叫我宋太太!”【读者群:361043718】
  • 0~3岁聪明宝宝怎么教

    0~3岁聪明宝宝怎么教

    本书由著名亲子教育专家亲自编写,是一本必须放在手边随时拿出来参阅的早教读物。其内容详尽、具体、实用,操作性极强。全书按照宝宝成长的月龄分为22个章节,每个章节都包含了:早教专家说、早教可以这样教、大动作训练、语言训练、数学训练、人际交往训练等结构设计,以游戏实战、游戏目的、注意事项等为内容填充。
  • 倒霉的奥多

    倒霉的奥多

    如果一个人,每隔一段时间醒来,就会出现在不同的地方,变成不同的身体,这样的人,是该说幸运呢,还是倒霉呢?奥多,一个年轻的特技飞行员,就发生这种令人难以置信的事情。因为一场约会,他不幸被闪电击中丧生。当再次醒来时,他发现自己来到了澳大利亚,不过身体却不是原先的自己。他不敢相信眼前的事实,就在思考怎么办时,不料却被一只袋鼠打晕了过去。之后的每隔一段时间,有时是几天,有时是几个星期,有时又是几个月,他都会从不同的地方醒来,变成不同的男人…甚至有次还变成了一条流浪狗…就是这样一个无法控制时间,无法控制自己,可以是任何人,却又唯独不能是自己的男人,他该如何面对不停变化的生活?又该如何抓住他的爱情呢?
  • 朱门春深

    朱门春深

    "穿越到病重卧床的皇商嫡次女身上,被继母的女儿、同父异母的妹妹害死,带着本尊记忆重生到十四岁。那一年,亲姐姐未遭不幸、幼弟不曾惨死,而自己,也还没有碰上心机深沉的夫君。朱门绮户,富贵无边,深陷其中,她只是一个不甘屈从命运的弱女子,誓要从深深庭院中走出一条锦绣大道!"
  • 你一直都在

    你一直都在

    遇见你,是天崩地裂的祸害,还是最美丽的意外?十八岁的一次“意外摔倒”,竟把暗恋两年的英俊学长梁之尧摔到了九霄云外。而那个有点痞有点帅有点拉风的陈尚佑一只手捂住被她踹到的“要害”,一只手变出一枚“草戒指”,大言不惭地宣布接管她的人生!尽管我夏茉莉平板身材齐耳刘海被放羊在H班,但面对如此“草率”的表白方式,坚决不干!可造化弄人,无辜的茉莉惨遭家长算计,非但与“色狼”陈尚佑“拜堂成亲”,还住进新房当“女主人”,与他“同居”……
  • 罪与罚

    罪与罚

    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。