登陆注册
15518500000006

第6章

"One moment, I beg," their visitor interposed. "I have established, I trust, my credentials. May I remind you that I was compelled to ensure the safety of these few minutes' conversation with you, by locking that door. Are you likely to be disturbed?"

"No, no! No chance at all," Philippa assured him.

"If we are, we'll explain," Helen promised.

"In that case," the intruder begged, "perhaps you will excuse me."

He moved towards the door and softly turned the key, then he drew the curtains carefully across the French windows. Afterwards he made his way towards the tea-table. A little throbbing cry had broken from Helen's lips.

"Philippa," she exclaimed, "it's from Dick! It's Dick's handwriting!"

Philippa's reply was incoherent. She was tearing open her own envelope. With a well-satisfied smile, the bearer of these communications seized a sandwich in one hand and poured himself out some tea with the other. He ate and drank with the restraint of good-breeding, but with a voracity which gave point to his plea of starvation. A few yards away, the breathless silence between the two women had given place to an almost hysterical series of disjointed exclamations.

"It's from Dick!" Helen repeated. "It's his own dear handwriting.

How shaky it is! He's alive and well, Philippa, and he's found a friend."

"I know - I know," Philippa murmured tremulously. "Our parcels have been discovered, and he got them all at once. Just fancy, Helen, he's really not so ill, after all!"

They drew a little closer together.

"You read yours out first," Helen proposed," and then I'll read mine."

Philippa nodded. Her voice here and there was a little uncertain.

MY DEAREST SISTER, I have heard nothing from you or Helen for so long that I was really getting desperate. I have had a very rough time here, but by the grace of Providence I stumbled up against an old friend the other day, Bertram Maderstrom, whom you must have heard me speak of in my college days. It isn't too much to say that he has saved my life. He has unearthed your parcels, found me decent quarters, and I am getting double rations. He has promised, too, to get this letter through to you. =20

You needn't worry about me now, dear. I am feeling twice the man I was a month ago, and I shall stick it out now quite easily.

Write me as often as ever you can. Your letters and Helen's make all the difference.

My love to you and to Henry.

Your affectionate brother, RICHARD.

P.S. Is Henry an Admiral yet? I suppose he was in the Jutland scrap, which they all tell us here was a great German victory. I hope he came out all right.

Philippa read the postscript with a little shiver. Then she set her teeth as though determined to ignore it.

"Isn't it wonderful!" she exclaimed, turning towards Helen with glowing eyes.=20 "Now yours, dear?"

Helen's voice trembled as she read. Her eyes, too, at times were misty:

DEAREST, I am writing to you so differently because I feel that you will really get this letter. I have bad an astonishing stroke of luck, as you will gather from Philippa's note. You can't imagine the difference. A month ago I really thought I should have to chuck it in. Now I am putting on flesh every day and beginning to feel myself again. I owe my life to a pal with whom I was at college, and whom you and I, dearest, will have to remember all our lives.

I think of you always, and my thoughts are like the flowers of which we see nothing in these hideous huts. My greatest joy is in dreaming of the day when we shall meet again.

Write to me often, sweetheart. Your letters and my thoughts of you are the one joy of my life.

Always your lover, DICK.

There were a few moments of significant silence. The girls were leaning together, their arms around one another's necks, their heads almost touching. Behind them, their visitor continued to eat and drink. He rose at last, however, reluctantly to his feet, and coughed. They started, suddenly remembering his presence. Philippa turned impulsively towards him with outstretched hands.

"I can't tell you how thankful we are to you," she declared.

"Both of us," Helen echoed.

He touched with his fingers a box of cigarettes which stood upon the tea-table.

"You permit? "he asked.

同类推荐
  • 法集经

    法集经

    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。
  • 上清河图宝箓

    上清河图宝箓

    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。
  • 宗鉴录

    宗鉴录

    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。
  • 金刚顶经多罗菩萨念诵法

    金刚顶经多罗菩萨念诵法

    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。
  • 永嘉八面锋

    永嘉八面锋

    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
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 湘西神兵

    湘西神兵

    “兵”非兵员,亦非兵器,而是多种神奇,玄妙功夫的代称。这些功夫并非武侠小说里所描写的那样,注重一招一式的贯通,所发出的力道讲究稳,准,狠。然而湘西神兵与武术截然不同,它是由唐朝初期的法恋姊妹,美女三娘而传,跟远古时的东山圣公,南山圣母所传功夫相似,俗话称,“大把戏七十二套,小把戏多如牛毛。”无论施展何种神功皆百发百中,绝无疏漏,威力大小都在一念之间,令人防不胜防,凡对手过招,虽非武力也九死一生,令人叹为观止。
  • 紫瞳

    紫瞳

    一场车祸,一个手术所用到的血液,变异的右眼,鬼魂的愿望,人性的冷漠,残酷的社会,知道结果却难以改变的现实。变异的右眼,对我来说时好时坏?紫瞳带你走进一个不一样的世界!
  • 幽冥妖皇

    幽冥妖皇

    做任何事都要做到最好”我,秦枫,总有一天要站在世界的巅峰,睥睨众生。总有一天我要带领妖族登上最顶端,傲世神魔。与天斗,与地斗,与仙斗,与人斗,与命斗。
  • 花的寿命有多长

    花的寿命有多长

    "这是我国第一部“问答寓言集”。全书题目均以问话形式出现,然后以有趣的故事来揭开问题的谜底。以问话做题目,不仅激发起读者的好奇心,也强化了寓言题目的引人入胜之功能,让每一个题目看起来不再平淡如水、相互重复。给问答寓言插上科学的翅膀,把复杂的科学问题故事化、简明化,让读者在简明的故事中,明了轻松地领会科学奥妙。使每一篇寓言除了哲理、教训和讽喻以外,还有新的知识看点。收入全书的192篇问答寓言,新颖独特,精彩纷呈。"
  • 图腾燃烧

    图腾燃烧

    人生失意的少年纹身师林越意外穿越,谁知命运依旧坎坷,是低头臣服,还是昂首战斗?在这神奇的图腾大陆充满了无限的可能。治疗?我擅长!输出?不好意思我也会!悄悄告诉你,我还能防御!强力的天赋战技,牛掰的被动技能。别人只有一个图腾,林越笑了笑。不好意思,我有很多个。想学啊?我教你啊。。。
  • 樱花树之恋

    樱花树之恋

    回忆。失忆,这段记忆,回忆,该何去何从,他们是否只是擦肩而过,我今生唯一的遗憾就是没有让你成为世界上最幸福的女人,杰说道。我只要你爱着我就足够了,菲说道
  • 琅嬛记

    琅嬛记

    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。
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 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!)