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
热门推荐
  • 神玉情缘

    神玉情缘

    十年前,逍遥门一夜灭门,为了探求真相救,梦辰北上昆仑。雪神告诉她,只有天机神玉可以打开轮回境门,他遂踏上夺玉之旅,却发现,原来一切都在背后那双黑手操纵着···
  • 上古世纪前传之日月风云

    上古世纪前传之日月风云

    在原本荒无人烟的原大陆,天帝和日月风云四位神灵带来了五个不同部族的人,然后把这一片富饶的土地赐予了他们。从此,他们和他们的子孙后代在这一大地上世代栖息,繁衍不绝。直到有一天,眼红这一方水土的恶魔浴血军团入侵,打破了往日的宁静。人们纷纷拿起武器,保家卫国。为此,老去的国柱“八大守卫”殚精竭虑,新生的希望“十二青年”踏上了远行的路,故事,将往何处发展,这群神灵的子民的未来,究竟在何方。是驱除恶魔,重建家园?还是眼含热泪,背井离乡?就请我们拭目以待吧!
  • 超级修补师

    超级修补师

    化身天庭扫把星,横扫都市任我行,极品御姐,可爱萝莉,统统都到碗里来!
  • 妾意浓

    妾意浓

    金宵玉暖花间梦,魂影消兮妾意浓。曾几何时,萧淳意以为,爱一个人只要值得自己去爱,哪怕不能并肩笑看锦绣山河,只是独自角落静默看着他,哪怕俯视于自己不过微末如尘也甘之如饴,只是,小儿女的隐隐之念在这个风云叱诧的浮华乱世,立顿消散于无形。金戈铁马,赤血黄沙,纷争频起,滚滚硝烟万里江河,刀光剑影,梦里征还几度。生死往复不过寻常,相王封侯,成王败寇,不过一念之差。她萧淳意,在这场暗流汹涌,风云际变的棋局博弈里,不过微末指端的一小女子罢了。谁手握天下,俯瞰生死,那与她何干?所希求的,不过是平静的活着便足够了,可偏偏,让她遇上他,那个宁愿自己背负万千骂名,倾尽所有为之守护的男子,一切便都变了......
  • 变异的异能

    变异的异能

    本书主人公,是出生在最底层的家庭,本应该平平淡淡的过完这一生,可是一场无端的意外改变了一生,他拥有了常人无法理解的异能,从此性格大变,野心越来越大,一心想着控制全中国的异能者,最终导致国运大变,外国异能者,趁机想侵占中国,主人公这时后悔莫及,带领中国的异能者,和国外的异能者对持,热血沸腾的异能者争斗,从此拉开序幕。
  • 改变青少年一生的成功之道

    改变青少年一生的成功之道

    每个人都向往成功,渴望成功,然而成功的道路铺满了荆棘,我们时常见到无数前行者乘兴而去,失败而归。并不是他们走错了方向,而是他们没有拿到成功的法宝。其实成功的背后隐藏着许多的诀窍,取得成功不仅依靠我们自身的才智,更需要掌握一些成功的技巧。本书将为青少年开启成功的厦门,引领青少年走上成功大道。
  • 吾尸成道

    吾尸成道

    如果相信世界上有鬼,那鬼便在你身边;如果不相信世界上有鬼,那就请听我的讲述
  • 潜龙九尊

    潜龙九尊

    上古时期,一个群雄争霸的界面,由于诸神大肆的攻伐九天崩塌,十地砸落人间,先帝们为了保护剩下的人类挺身而出,有九位法术高强的神帝组成拨星大阵顶住天穹,而十地却掉落了下来于是为了争夺资源,在这个乱世并存的界面谁人又能称霸九天。
  • 修仙升级路慢慢

    修仙升级路慢慢

    一步一个脚印,从一个小小的叶家村一步一步走向广袤无垠的修仙界,慢慢体会世界世界在自己眼中越变越大,从最初的惊愕、期待与好奇到后来的习以为常,淡然视之。
  • 暗界之混沌至尊

    暗界之混沌至尊

    我曾是七剑剑主。我曾是人人所畏惧的冥王。远古动荡,我从我们的王座被拉了下来,甚至从历史中将我抹去。现在,我又回到了暗界,但是一万年后,这里的一切都改变了。这是一个陌生的世界,我却是这个世界的混沌至尊。远古时期到底发生了,掌握世界的人都去哪了?(小冰子是新手作家,也是一个学生,所以只能每周周末更新,大家见谅。)