登陆注册
5430300000021

第21章 HORTON LODGE(1)

THE 31st of January was a wild, tempestuous day: there was a strong north wind, with a continual storm of snow drifting on the ground and whirling through the air. My friends would have had me delay my departure, but fearful of prejudicing my employers against me by such want of punctuality at the commencement of my undertaking, I persisted in keeping the appointment.

I will not inflict upon my readers an account of my leaving home on that dark winter morning: the fond farewells, the long, long journey to O-, the solitary waitings in inns for coaches or trains - for there were some railways then - and, finally, the meeting at O- with Mr. Murray's servant, who had been sent with the phaeton to drive me from thence to Horton Lodge. I will just state that the heavy snow had thrown such impediments in the way of both horses and steam-engines, that it was dark some hours before I reached my journey's end, and that a most bewildering storm came on at last, which made the few miles' space between O- and Horton Lodge a long and formidable passage. I sat resigned, with the cold, sharp snow drifting through my veil and filling my lap, seeing nothing, and wondering how the unfortunate horse and driver could make their way even as well as they did; and indeed it was but a toilsome, creeping style of progression, to say the best of it. At length we paused; and, at the call of the driver, someone unlatched and rolled back upon their creaking hinges what appeared to be the park gates. Then we proceeded along a smoother road, whence, occasionally, I perceived some huge, hoary mass gleaming through the darkness, which I took to be a portion of a snow-clad tree.

After a considerable time we paused again, before the stately portico of a large house with long windows descending to the ground.

I rose with some difficulty from under the superincumbent snowdrift, and alighted from the carriage, expecting that a kind and hospitable reception would indemnify me for the toils and hardships of the day. A gentleman person in black opened the door, and admitted me into a spacious hall, lighted by an amber-coloured lamp suspended from the ceiling; he led me through this, along a passage, and opening the door of a back room, told me that was the schoolroom. I entered, and found two young ladies and two young gentlemen - my future pupils, I supposed. After a formal greeting, the elder girl, who was trifling over a piece of canvas and a basket of German wools, asked if I should like to go upstairs.

I

replied in the affirmative, of course.

'Matilda, take a candle, and show her her room,' said she.

Miss Matilda, a strapping hoyden of about fourteen, with a short frock and trousers, shrugged her shoulders and made a slight grimace, but took a candle and proceeded before me up the back stairs (a long, steep, double flight), and through a long, narrow passage, to a small but tolerably comfortable room. She then asked me if I would take some tea or coffee. I was about to answer No;but remembering that I had taken nothing since seven o'clock that morning, and feeling faint in consequence, I said I would take a cup of tea. Saying she would tell 'Brown,' the young lady departed; and by the time I had divested myself of my heavy, wet cloak, shawl, bonnet, &c., a mincing damsel came to say the young ladies desired to know whether I would take my tea up there or in the schoolroom. Under the plea of fatigue I chose to take it there. She withdrew; and, after a while, returned again with a small tea-tray, and placed it on the chest of drawers, which served as a dressing-table. Having civilly thanked her, I asked at what time I should be expected to rise in the morning.

'The young ladies and gentlemen breakfast at half-past eight, ma'am,' said she; 'they rise early; but, as they seldom do any lessons before breakfast, I should think it will do if you rise soon after seven.'

I desired her to be so kind as to call me at seven, and, promising to do so, she withdrew. Then, having broken my long fast on a cup of tea and a little thin bread and butter, I sat down beside the small, smouldering fire, and amused myself with a hearty fit of crying; after which, I said my prayers, and then, feeling considerably relieved, began to prepare for bed. Finding that none of my luggage was brought up, I instituted a search for the bell;and failing to discover any signs of such a convenience in any corner of the room, I took my candle and ventured through the long passage, and down the steep stairs, on a voyage of discovery.

Meeting a well-dressed female on the way, I told her what I wanted;but not without considerable hesitation, as I was not quite sure whether it was one of the upper servants, or Mrs. Murray herself:

it happened, however, to be the lady's-maid. With the air of one conferring an unusual favour, she vouchsafed to undertake the sending up of my things; and when I had re-entered my room, and waited and wondered a long time (greatly fearing that she had forgotten or neglected to perform her promise, and doubting whether to keep waiting or go to bed, or go down again), my hopes, at length, were revived by the sound of voices and laughter, accompanied by the tramp of feet along the passage; and presently the luggage was brought in by a rough-looking maid and a man, neither of them very respectful in their demeanour to me. Having shut the door upon their retiring footsteps, and unpacked a few of my things, I betook myself to rest; gladly enough, for I was weary in body and mind.

同类推荐
  • 录异传

    录异传

    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。
  • 禅林宝训拈颂

    禅林宝训拈颂

    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。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典乡里部

    明伦汇编交谊典乡里部

    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。
  • 新华严经论

    新华严经论

    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。
  • 洞真太极北帝紫微神咒妙经

    洞真太极北帝紫微神咒妙经

    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
  • 轮台罪己:汉武帝

    轮台罪己:汉武帝

    《轮台罪己——汉武帝》中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。
  • 借魂之书

    借魂之书

    元历5000年,元界,清风宫外……清风宫,是一个仙人的洞府。传说,清风宫是清风道人飞升的地方,其中宝物数不胜数,每年都吸引了一大批修炼者前来探寻。天空下起了绵绵小雨,一处悬崖峭壁,其上点缀着横生的树木,冷风吹拂着。七个人冒着小雨,踏着湿润的泥土,慢慢地前行着。这支队伍是临时组建而成的,目的是夺取清风宫的宝物。
  • 修行路上我有树

    修行路上我有树

    路天带着一款名为‘能量森林’的游戏穿越到九星大陆,开启了强者进阶之路。
  • 萌宝来袭:天才宝宝腹黑妈咪

    萌宝来袭:天才宝宝腹黑妈咪

    六年后,长相酷似他的缩小版站在他的面前,皱了皱眉头:“听说你不好?”男人脸上青筋浮现,尊严再一次遭到鄙视!只有5岁的小屁孩?!重点是,小屁孩还是他的种!!
  • 有个人爱你很久很久

    有个人爱你很久很久

    乔未若与重利轻义的初恋男友韩苏维分手,辞去了空姐的工作,却不想来到飞机上邂逅的“冰山美男”林霁远的公司,成为他的助理。在与林霁远的朝夕相处中,两人日久生情。在公司的一个新项目中,合作方竟然是韩苏维家的公司韩氏,造成彼此的误会。伤心失望的乔未若决定离开,无意中发现,原来林霁远早在高中时期就暗恋自己,却在表白前遭遇车祸,错失了一段美好的初恋。她意识到他倔强冷漠的外表下是无人能及的深情,重新回到他的身边。
  • 旺夫小主妇的幸福宣言

    旺夫小主妇的幸福宣言

    《旺夫小主妇的幸福宣言》从十个方面揭示了旺夫女的旺夫特质,别担心自己长得不够旺夫,只要你用心修炼,你一定会成为带给你丈夫幸运的那个人。
  • 波澜壮阔的世界近代史

    波澜壮阔的世界近代史

    世界近代史是资本主义产生和发展的历史,在200多年的时间洪流中逐步形成资本主义世界体系并向帝国主义过渡。从1640年英国资产阶级革命的爆发,到1917年俄国十月社会主义革命的结束。世界近代史可以说是一部改革史、一部战争史。以史为镜,在过去的经验和教训的基础上才能让我们更好的前行。
  • 狐妖娆

    狐妖娆

    此文一女十多男~不喜欢的就不要进入了~谢谢第一章节有些慢热~不喜欢的可以直接跳过从第二章节看因为现在男主们还没有出完场~所以现在就先不展开投票~等男主们一一登场后~洛洛会发一个调查看大家最喜欢哪个男主~谢谢鲜小橙大大帮我做的封面~非常漂亮~她笑里藏刀的看着六界之首冥界阎尊的俊脸,心中暗自腹诽,你丫的不负责任的将原本阳寿未尽的本小姐拘来你这阎王殿,现在又想这般不负责任的将本小姐投下往生轮,做梦吧你!他,堂堂六界之首的冥界天尊,可怜自打牛头马面拘错了魂魄将这无法无天的小色女拘来这地府,便自此过上了惨无天日的生活,不但对色女要言听计从随传随到,还让这色女吃尽了豆腐。他,天界天尊,原本来她有着千年的姻缘,却阴差阳错失交臂,再回首,佳人身边五个同样出色的男子虎视眈眈的盯着他,想插队,想走后门,没门!他,神界天尊,儿时的一次游玩偶遇这半人半妖的人妖女,还不小心让她给咬上了脖子吸了血,于是他笑逐颜开的望着那还在吸着他血的人妖女说:男女授受不亲,既然你亲过了我,那么你得负责!他,魔界天尊,他堂堂魔界天尊的得力属下居然让一个名不见经传的女人给杀了,还让这女人手下的小丫头吃了他属下的元丹,而她而嚣张的说:我这是替你清理门户,不然那魔罗天早晚会爬到你的头顶,你应该感谢我替你铲除了一大威胁。他,妖界之王,第一次相遇,她指着他大叫:我知道了,你便是那个攻!一口气没顺上,看着周围五彩缤纷的目光,他堂堂妖界之王只能夹着尾巴灰溜溜的采用尿遁之术,可怜他自此沦为另外五尊的笑后谈资!他,兽界天尊,自诩风流倜傥,却不料她来来回回打量完之后,瞪着他重要部位非常不满意的说:为什么小得像牙签呢?兽便是动物,动物的根种应该是非常大的嘛。牙签是什么他不懂,可是这个小他当然听得懂,于是当下把腰围一挺,掀开马甲,展露雄风非常自信的大吼:这还叫小吗?四周一片掌声,才发现,不知何时,身边围了一群色女正色咪咪的盯着他的重要部位。。。。泪悲。。。此文有小虐~剧情需要~推荐自己另一篇文[弃妃为后]【收了祸世相公们】小师弟的文!要加油哦~!另外推荐一个朋友的新文[兽谑]作者:香烟喜欢的朋友可以加52857788这个QQ群~敲门砖为任何一个角色的名
  • OUR MUTUAL FRIEND

    OUR MUTUAL FRIEND

    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。
  • 侦情校园

    侦情校园

    一段录音,一起意外事件,将大学生苏伊曼意外卷入了正在调查的一场秘密案件。