登陆注册
14817200000013

第13章

This explanation was not then wholly clear to Louis, but he understood that there was a barrier between his father and Maude, and this of itself was sufficient to draw him more closely to the latter, who, after that day, cherished him, if possible, more tenderly than she had done before, keeping him out of his father's way, and cushioning his little crutches so they could not be heard, for she rightly guessed that the sound of them was hateful to the harsh man's ears.

Maude was far older than her years, and during the period of time over which we have passed so briefly she had matured both in mind and body, until now at the age of twelve she was a self-reliant little woman on whom her mother wholly depended for comfort and counsel. Very rapidly was Mrs. Kennedy passing from the world, and as she felt the approach of death she leaned more and more upon her daughter, talking to her often of the future and commending Louis to her care, when with her he would be motherless. Maude's position was now a trying one, for, when her mother became too ill to leave her room, and the doctor refused to hire extra help, saying, "two great girls were help enough," it was necessary for her to go into the kitchen, where she vainly tried to conciliate old Hannah, who "wouldn't mind a chit of a girl, and wouldn't fret herself either if things were not half done."

From the first Nellie resolutely refused to work--"it would black her hands," she said, and as her father never remonstrated she spent her time in reading, admiring her pretty face, and drumming upon the piano, which Maude, who was fonder even than Nellie of music, seldom found time to touch. One there was, however, who gave to Maude every possible assistance, and this was John. "Having tried his hand," as he said, "at everything in Marster Norton's school," he proved of invaluable service--sweeping, dusting, washing dishes, cleaning knives, and once ironing Dr. Kennedy's shirts, when old Hannah was in what he called her "tantrums." But alas for John! the entire print of the iron upon the bosom of one, to say nothing of the piles of starch upon another, and more than all, the tremendous scolding which he received from the owner of said shirt, warned him never to turn laundress again, and in disgust he gave up his new vocation, devoting his leisure moments to the cultivation of flowers, which he carried to his mistress, who smiled gratefully upon him, saying they were the sweetest she had ever smelled. And so each morning a fresh bouquet was laid upon her pillow, and as she inhaled their perfume she thought of her New England home, which she would never see again--thought, too, of Janet, whose cheering words and motherly acts would be so grateful to her now when she so much needed care.

"'Tis a long time since I've heard from her," she said one day to Maude. "Suppose you write tomorrow, and tell her I am sick--tell her, too, that the sight of her would almost make me well, and maybe she will come," and on the sick woman's face there was a joyous expression as she thought how pleasant it would be to see once more one who had breathed the air of her native hills--had looked upon her Harry's grave--nay, had known her Harry when in life, and wept over him in death.

Poor, lonesome, homesick woman! Janet shall surely come in answer to your call, and ere you deem it possible her shadow shall fall across your threshold--her step be heard upon the stairs--her hand be clasped in yours!

同类推荐
  • 夜谭随录

    夜谭随录

    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。
  • 幼科释谜

    幼科释谜

    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。
  • 沙弥十戒法并威仪

    沙弥十戒法并威仪

    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 Letters

    The Letters

    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。
  • 紫团丹经

    紫团丹经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 莫少宠妻,公式n加1

    莫少宠妻,公式n加1

    十八岁,她一无所有,他陪在她身边。“你还有莫哥哥,我们回家。”他炙热的大手握紧她的小手。这一刻,三天三夜没开口说话的她,扑进他怀中嚎啕大哭。二十二岁,她大学毕业,他醉酒将她扑倒在床。“你,你干嘛?”“好好爱你。”二十八岁,她事业有成,却丢了他。她暧昧般附在他耳边说:“韩莫,有种你脱掉衣服,让我看看你的肩膀,验明正身。”他利落的脱掉了西服,之后开始解皮带:“本少爷姓莫,今天大奉送,让你从头到脚看个够。”
  • 校园or深宫

    校园or深宫

    一个名叫韩雨馨的可爱女生,家庭的原因和身边的人和他把她变成另一个自己,被朋友抛弃,被他人背叛,让她失去了童真。一个意外让她认识了张咏轩,而她却不知道张咏轩在她背后默默的保护着她......
  • 三国之战王

    三国之战王

    宅男李悔在路上低头看手机的时候,被车撞的穿越了,醒来时候,穿越到了一个农民家庭里,坏处是出身差,好处是天赋神力...而到了三国,李悔却想做的事是保汉....
  • 双蝎说:十年青春,一往情深

    双蝎说:十年青春,一往情深

    “穆可可,你喜欢我十年,怎么不说?”男生控诉“你看过倚天屠龙记吗?”她答非所问“恩?小说?电视?哪个版的?”他一脸迷茫态。“原版!”她语气平静。“看过,怎样?”“于我而言,你就是那个张无忌,我本以为我是赵敏,可很多人说我的恋爱态度是周芷若,性子偏向阿离”男生撇了撇嘴:“所以然后呢?”她神色认真:“然后,你从未发觉我就是个小昭罢了!”
  • 现实的人生百态:舞台

    现实的人生百态:舞台

    人生就是舞台,每个人都是演员。心有所属的张逢源,却被同事吴若凝和学生苏文媛暗暗喜欢,并因无意中发现上司唐明骥与同事的暧昧而频遭恶意打压报复。表姐夫莫洛文一心在生意场上有所作为,却心存侥幸,利用张逢源的关系结识政府官员陈洋生。同学陈洋生在大肆收受贿赂之余,强买张逢源创作的小说以迎合上司的爱好……真实与虚构,现实与梦境,纵横交错。浮世的点点滴滴,现实的人生百态,尽在不言中!
  • tfboys之甜蜜的水晶糖

    tfboys之甜蜜的水晶糖

    他们喜欢上了同一个女生,一个是命中注定,一个是青梅竹马,一个是远远陪伴。上天总会眷顾有爱的人,经历了许多他们找到了最适合自己的能够相伴一生的人。
  • 凌天神祖

    凌天神祖

    盘武界一代天骄叶宇在新婚之夜被自己最心爱的女人杀害,他带着不甘与怨念死去,意外地重生于五百年后。五百年后,叶宇吞天噬地,踏着尸山骨海逆天改命,誓要王者归来,把那贱人打下神坛。“你若负我,我必杀之!
  • 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!)
  • 战神联盟之奇幻穿越

    战神联盟之奇幻穿越

    本文是我第一次写的文章,本人语文成绩很low,如有不好的地方,请各位多多包涵。啊,对了,还请大家多多指点!那个,本人还没想好简介,所以,还请各位看文吧!(明明是你不会写。。。)
  • 捡到只系统君肿么破

    捡到只系统君肿么破

    系统,明星文女猪脚:自闭症患者自捡到系统君后往吐槽的道路越走越远系统君:不卖萌会死星人性别不明总的说,这是一篇女主捡到喵星人一只后在喵星人的帮助下走向巨星之路.拜脱自闭症的成长文,所以没有男主是很正常的(本作者才不会承认是写爱情线无能的原因呢!)因此,读者们注意了啊,想看爱情的慎入!但是呢额……本作者如果心情好突然EQ爆涨也可能“不小心”爆出顺舒的爱情线哦~~敬请期待!