登陆注册
5429600000144

第144章

She made her way through the crowd as best she could, sick herself almost to death. Oh, his mother--his poor mother! how could she ever forgive herself. The agony of that moment was terrific. She could hardly get to the place where the poor lad was lying, as three or four men in front were about the horse which had risen with some difficulty; but at last she found herself close to the young farmer.

'Has he marked himself? for heaven's sake tell me that; has he marked his knees?' said Harry, slowly rising and rubbing his left shoulder with his right hand, and thinking only of his horse's legs. Miss Thorne soon found that he had not broken his neck, nor any of his bones, nor been injured in any essential way. But from that time forth she never instigated any one to ride at the quintain.

Eleanor left Dr Stanhope as soon as she could do so civilly, and went in quest of her father whom she found on the lawn in company with Mr Arabin. She was not sorry to find them together. She was anxious to disabuse at any rate her father's mind as to this report which had got abroad respecting her, and would have been well pleased to have been able to do the same with regard to Mr Arabin.

She put her own through her father's arm, coming up behind his back, and then tendered her hand also to the vicar of St Ewold's.

'And how did you come?' said Mr Harding, when the first greeting was over.

'The Stanhopes brought me,' said she; 'their carriage was obliged to come twice, and has now gone back for the signora.' As she spoke she caught Mr Arabin's eye, and saw that he was looking pointedly at her with a severe expression. She understood at once the accusation contained in his glance. It said as plainly as an eye could speak, 'Yes, you came with the Stanhopes, but you did so in order that you might be in company with Mr Slope.'

'Our party,' said she, still addressing her father, 'consisted of the Doctor and Charlotte Stanhope, myself, and Mr Slope.' As she mentioned the last name she felt her father's arm quiver slightly beneath her touch. At the same moment Mr Arabin turned away from them, and joining his hands behind his back strolled slowly away by one of the paths.

'Papa,' said she, 'it was impossible to help coming in the same carriage with Mr Slope; it was quite impossible. I had promised to come with them before I dreamt of his coming, and afterwards Icould not get out of it without explaining and giving rise to talk.

You weren't at home, you know, I couldn't possibly help it.' She said all this so quickly that by the time her apology was spoken she was quite out of breath.

'I don't know why you should have wished to help it, my dear,' said her father.

'Yes, papa, you do; you must know, you do know all the things they said at Plumstead. I am sure you do. You know all the archdeacon said. How unjust he was, and Mr Arabin too. He's a horrid man, a horrid, odious man, but--'

'Who is an odious man, my dear? Mr Arabin?'

'No; but Mr Slope. You know I mean Mr Slope. He's the most odious man I ever met in my life, and it was most unfortunate my having to come here in the same carriage with him. But how could I help it?'

A great weight began to move itself off Mr Harding's mind. So, after all, the archdeacon with all his wisdom, and Mrs Grantly with all her tact, and Mr Arabin with all his talent were in the wrong.

同类推荐
  • The Vicar of Wakefield

    The Vicar of Wakefield

    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。
  • 梅仙观记

    梅仙观记

    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。
  • 桂林风土记

    桂林风土记

    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。
  • Wolfville

    Wolfville

    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。
  • 新印大佛顶首楞严经

    新印大佛顶首楞严经

    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。
热门推荐
  • The Flying U Ranch

    The Flying U Ranch

    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。
  • 金刚萨埵说频那夜迦天成就仪轨经

    金刚萨埵说频那夜迦天成就仪轨经

    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。
  • 快穿炮灰的反转人生

    快穿炮灰的反转人生

    打脸渣男、手撕小三、狂虐仇人……凌姝的任务就是帮助大千世界任务剧情中因各种原因或抱憾终身或死不瞑目的炮灰们反转他们悲剧的人生。在一次次的逆袭之路中,凌姝发现了一个惊天大秘密并被卷入其中还不小心误惹了一个惹不起的大boss……某boss:二选一,扑还是撩?凌姝:有第三种选择吗?第二天,某boss用实际行动告诉了爬不起床的凌姝什么叫做第三种选择。
  • 乡愁旧事(最受学生喜爱的散文精粹)

    乡愁旧事(最受学生喜爱的散文精粹)

    《最受学生喜爱的散文精粹》从喧嚣中缓缓走来,如一位许久不见的好友,收拾了一路趣闻,满载着一眼美景,静静地与你分享。靠近它,你会忘记白日里琐碎的工作,沉溺于片刻的宁谧。靠近它,你也会忘却烦恼,还心灵一片晴朗。一个人在其一生中,阅读一些立意深远、具有丰富哲学思考的散文,不仅可以开阔视野,重新认识历史、社会、人生和自然,获得思想上的盎然新意,而且还可以学习中外散文名家高超而成熟的创作技巧。
  • 推理门徒之恋曲1990

    推理门徒之恋曲1990

    一幅被盗的油画“就是这个了?”周帆回头问道。作为这次事件的委托人,西城最著名的画商王安意只能无奈地点头:“你要求看的昨晚录像就是这个了。”他语气中透着笃定,没有一点受害者的样子。王安意今年五十三岁,在中国,这个年龄算是已经步入老年人的范畴了,可如果不看他花白的头发,任谁都只会认为他只有四十岁左右。王安意是西城公认的最成功的商人之一,名下的洗砚阁在世界各地都有分管,每年的营业额说出来就足以让人对眼前的老人肃然起敬。
  • 穿越系统之辉煌人生

    穿越系统之辉煌人生

    此书主要讲述嚣张,腹黑且正义的女主叶芊芊,遇到电梯故障穿越到修仙界,签订蠢萌神兽妖妖零,激活赏善罚恶系统,顺便救了一个大魔头驰韵,从此踏上了维护世界和平,惩罚一切罪恶之路!“嘚,你们这群欺男霸女的坏蛋,赶快洗干净脖子等死吧!”叶芊芊皱了皱眉,一个爆栗敲在了妖妖零的脑袋上:“妖妖零,你怎么说话的?先让他们将钱财交出来,再洗脖子!我们这是在劫富济贫!”驰韵趁机凑到叶芊芊面前,抛了个媚眼,幽幽道:“我早就洗干净脖子了,连身子也洗干净了,你什么时候来临幸我呀~~”文风轻松,适合闲暇时刻,打发时间
  • 色彩人生:透过颜色读懂人生

    色彩人生:透过颜色读懂人生

    美丽与丑陋,光荣与梦想,光辉与嘲弄,快乐与哀伤幻化成多彩的颜色,融入我们的内心和生活,伴我们走过人生每一个驿站。本书介绍了十二种颜色,用颜色来讲述文化,用颜色描述生活,用颜色表述心情。就让我们在读书的过程中,融化在颜色里,融化在自己的生命里吧!
  • 思想家成长故事(激励学生成长的名人故事)

    思想家成长故事(激励学生成长的名人故事)

    在人生的茫茫大海中,谁可以为我们竖起一道不变的航标?在事业的漠漠荒野里,谁可以向我们昭示一条坚实的路径?在心灵的干枯河床上,谁可以帮我们挖开那个堵塞的泉源?当你真切感受过他们的青春激情,细细品味了他们的人生故事后,你会发现,贫穷、危难、冷眼、嘲笑、挫折、失败也曾光顾过他。
  • 1987我不知你会降临这个世界

    1987我不知你会降临这个世界

    如果我回到1987年,我会阻止自己的出生吗?第一个念头,当然是,会,如果我不曾存在于这个世界,我就会少了许多的烦恼可是,转念再一想若我真的得到这个阻止自己存在于这个世界上的机会我会不会真的这么决绝?我真的会吗?怀疑令人不知所措,思考令人杂念丛生,不如,就把谜底交给这部小说让它带我们去刺破人生中那些又美丽又痛苦的泡沫1987,我不知你会降临这个世界……
  • 凤斗五龙:误娶棘手俏皇妃

    凤斗五龙:误娶棘手俏皇妃

    她,斗战群雄,上演一出又一出谍战戏码,却一次又一次错摆乌龙,联盟,她从不按套路出牌,搞得五大帅哥手忙脚乱;对决,她从不分敌众我寡,害得五大寒王叫苦不迭;她贪财,贪的明目张胆;她好色,色得肆无忌惮!她多情,多得泛滥成灾;她,就是雪千羽,一个现代绝俏佳丽.