登陆注册
15324400000058

第58章

The rest of Darrow's day was a succession of empty and agitating scenes.On his way down to Givre, before he had seen Effie Leath, he had pictured somewhat sentimentally the joy of the moment when he should take her in his arms and receive her first filial kiss.Everything in him that egotistically craved for rest, stability, a comfortably organized middle-age, all the home-building instincts of the man who has sufficiently wooed and wandered, combined to throw a charm about the figure of the child who might--who should--have been his.Effie came to him trailing the cloud of glory of his first romance, giving him back the magic hour he had missed and mourned.And how different the realization of his dream had been! The child's radiant welcome, her unquestioning acceptance of, this new figure in the family group, had been all that he had hoped and fancied.If Mother was so awfully happy about it, and Owen and Granny, too, how nice and cosy and comfortable it was going to be for all of them, her beaming look seemed to say;and then, suddenly, the small pink fingers he had been kissing were laid on the one flaw in the circle, on the one point which must be settled before Effie could, with complete unqualified assurance, admit the new-comer to full equality with the other gods of her Olympus.

"And is Sophy awfully happy about it too?" she had asked, loosening her hold on Darrow's neck to tilt back her head and include her mother in her questioning look.

"Why, dearest, didn't you see she was?" Anna had exclaimed, leaning to the group with radiant eyes.

"I think I should like to ask her," the child rejoined, after a minute's shy consideration; and as Darrow set her down her mother laughed: "Do, darling, do! Run off at once, and tell her we expect her to be awfully happy too."The scene had been succeeded by others less poignant but almost as trying.Darrow cursed his luck in having, at such a moment, to run the gauntlet of a houseful of interested observers.The state of being "engaged", in itself an absurd enough predicament, even to a man only intermittently exposed, became intolerable under the continuous scrutiny of a small circle quivering with participation.Darrow was furthermore aware that, though the case of the other couple ought to have made his own less conspicuous, it was rather they who found a refuge in the shadow of his prominence.

Madame de Chantelle, though she had consented to Owen's engagement and formally welcomed his betrothed, was nevertheless not sorry to show, by her reception of Darrow, of what finely-shaded degrees of cordiality she was capable.

Miss Painter, having won the day for Owen, was also free to turn her attention to the newer candidate for her sympathy;and Darrow and Anna found themselves immersed in a warm bath of sentimental curiosity.

It was a relief to Darrow that he was under a positive obligation to end his visit within the next forty-eight hours.When he left London, his Ambassador had accorded him a ten days' leave.His fate being definitely settled and openly published he had no reason for asking to have the time prolonged, and when it was over he was to return to his post till the time fixed for taking up his new duties.Anna and he had therefore decided to be married, in Paris, a day or two before the departure of the steamer which was to take them to South America; and Anna, shortly after his return to England, was to go up to Paris and begin her own preparations.

In honour of the double betrothal Effie and Miss Viner were to appear that evening at dinner; and Darrow, on leaving his room, met the little girl springing down the stairs, her white ruffles and coral-coloured bows making her look like a daisy with her yellow hair for its centre.Sophy Viner was behind her pupil, and as she came into the light Darrow noticed a change in her appearance and wondered vaguely why she looked suddenly younger, more vivid, more like the little luminous ghost of his Paris memories.Then it occurred to him that it was the first time she had appeared at dinner since his arrival at Givre, and the first time, consequently, that he had seen her in evening dress.She was still at the age when the least adornment embellishes;and no doubt the mere uncovering of her young throat and neck had given her back her former brightness.But a second glance showed a more precise reason for his impression.

同类推荐
  • 哭苗垂

    哭苗垂

    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。
  • THE MOONSTONE

    THE MOONSTONE

    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。
  • 福王登极实录

    福王登极实录

    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。
  • 郑氏史料三编

    郑氏史料三编

    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。
  • 三皇内文遗秘

    三皇内文遗秘

    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。
热门推荐
  • 万古霸主

    万古霸主

    吾乃日曜煞体,战天、战地、战鬼、战神!望目天下之间,全是吾敌!帝?草芥尔!女人?吾不缺!吾只缺一战,斩天地,碎大道,破阴阳、除五行,重塑新天地!吾乃万古霸主!尔可敢与吾一战?哈哈哈哈!
  • 绝世兵器

    绝世兵器

    一次意外,却换来了一次机缘,混沌丹田,吞噬一切力量,让司马温明的势力一点点提升,为了家族他离家出走,在外面残酷的世界里面历练。经历过痛苦,经历过辛酸,最后也终于一步步成长起来,让一切都水落石出,带领着自己的家族,风一样的成长。
  • 次元寄生

    次元寄生

    为了揭开网戒中心暗中进行人体实验的真相,拯救自己的好友,周玄潜入羊教授所掌控的电疗机构进行调查。在一次电击之后,周玄魂穿来到了一个被迷雾所封锁的异界,如果三十天内无法脱离,他的灵魂便会面临死亡的结局。迷雾中的异界和网戒中心似乎存在着某种特别的联系,能够双向穿越的周玄,发现在异界获得的能力,居然能够同时在现实中使用。随即,网戒中心也同样被从外部封锁起来,被称为狂病的可怕瘟疫在患者间迅速扩散……其中似乎隐藏着即使柯南也要花一个剧场版的时间才能解开的阴谋。
  • 巴比伦的爱恋

    巴比伦的爱恋

    身为商界精英的天才考古学家,在参透了皇极世经之衍生术和宇宙虫洞间的联系后离奇失踪,身为他唯一的女儿,才华横溢的理科状元,意外发现了自己的身体可以产生金色的楔形文字,这些文字居然是开启古代文明的钥匙,她究竟是谁?她的到来,加剧了阿摩利和苏美尔的王朝斗争,在寻找的父亲失踪的真相中,展开了一段与古巴比伦王爱恨纠缠的故事。
  • 后青春虐恋

    后青春虐恋

    萧刹是一个来自小县城的男孩,在高中认识了雨希这个女孩,从此开启了单边受虐的爱情,这部小说是本人的亲生经历,这段孽缘本人希望能忘记,但是忘不了
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 维新大将军

    维新大将军

    17岁军迷大佬杨林穿越在1863年倒幕运动前夕的日本,化身维新军官胜宗秀,一步步升官发财,却不知道他的到来改变了历史的进程。。
  • 凯妻日记

    凯妻日记

    三个女孩遇见偶像,又发生了什么事……这一切的一切,都像是梦一样
  • 强者回归:千钧涧

    强者回归:千钧涧

    写这个文,只是因为小时候看多了金庸,总觉得要是不做点什么就对不起那些存在我心里的、曾经的武侠梦。也算是能,博君一笑。世人景仰的的清都公子,不知为何与孔门少主孔平生决一死战,一伤一死。鬼门关捡了一条命回来的萧颂,却不是那个宅心仁厚,乐于助人的萧颂。正如傅长信不知道萧颂如何变成这般冷血,萧颂也不知自己为何对千钧涧这个地方有如此大的恨意。世人不知,幽兰一族除了美貌外,还有一种秘术,还魂。
  • 坏坏公主的狼殿下

    坏坏公主的狼殿下

    她,智慧与美丽并重。狼族的冰艳美人二公主,前世她与危害库英洛与司尔格的妖女决斗,不幸两败俱伤,缘分未尽,轮回转世后,又将会发生什么?是否又将轮回?他,英俊冷酷,是司尔格狼族的王子,与前世的库英洛公主两情相悦,但公主已故,却得知公主灵魂转世,缘分未尽,便与三公主,二王子到人间寻找公主,这一路会有什么危险?王子是否会找到公主呢?