登陆注册
14820400000071

第71章

Well, if anything be damned, It will be twelve o'clock at night; that twelve Will never scape.

CYRIL TOURNEUR.--The Revenger's Tragedy.

Letters arrived at Arnstead generally while the family was seated at breakfast. One morning, the post-bag having been brought in, Mr. Arnold opened it himself, according to his unvarying custom; and found, amongst other letters, one in an old-fashioned female hand, which, after reading it, he passed to Euphra.

"You remember Mrs. Elton, Euphra?"

"Quite well, uncle--a dear old lady!"

But the expression which passed across her face, rather belied her words, and seemed to Hugh to mean: "I hope she is not going to bore us again."She took care, however, to show no sign with regard to the contents of the letter; but, laying it beside her on the table, waited to hear her uncle's mind first.

"Poor, dear girl!" said he at last. "You must try to make her as comfortable as you can. There is consumption in the family, you see," he added, with a meditative sigh.

"Of course I will, uncle. Poor girl! I hope there is not much amiss though, after all."But, as she spoke, an irrepressible flash of dislike, or displeasure of some sort, broke from her eyes, and vanished. No one but himself seemed to Hugh to have observed it; but he was learned in the lady's eyes, and their weather-signs. Mr. Arnold rose from the table and left the room, apparently to write an answer to the letter. As soon as he was gone, Euphra gave the letter to Hugh. He read as follows:--"MY DEAR MR. ARNOLD, "Will you extend the hospitality of your beautiful house to me and my young friend, who has the honour of being your relative, Lady Emily Lake? For some time her health has seemed to be failing, and she is ordered to spend the winter abroad, at Pau, or somewhere in the south of France. It is considered highly desirable that in the meantime she should have as much change as possible; and it occurred to me, remembering the charming month I passed at your seat, and recalling the fact that Lady Emily is cousin only once removed to your late most lovely wife, that there would be no impropriety in writing to ask you whether you could, without inconvenience, receive us as your guests for a short time. I say us; for the dear girl has taken such a fancy to unworthy old me, that she almost refuses to set out without me. Not to be cumbersome either to our friends or ourselves, we shall bring only our two maids, and a steady old man-servant, who has been in my family for many years.--I trust you will not hesitate to refuse my request, should I happen to have made it at an unsuitable season; assured, as you must be, that we cannot attribute the refusal to any lack of hospitality or friendliness on your part. At all events, I trust you will excuse what seems--now Ihave committed it to paper--a great liberty, I hope not presumption, on mine. I am, my dear Mr. Arnold, "Yours most sincerely, "HANNAH ELTON."Hugh refolded the letter, and laid it down without remark. Harry had left the room.

"Isn't it a bore?" said Euphra.

Hugh answered only by a look. A pause followed.

"Who is Mrs. Elton?" he said at last.

"Oh, a good-hearted creature enough. Frightfully prosy.""But that is a well-written letter?"

"Oh, yes. She is famed for her letter-writing; and, I believe, practises every morning on a slate. It is the only thing that redeems her from absolute stupidity."Euphra, with her taper fore-finger, tapped the table-cloth impatiently, and shifted back in her chair, as if struggling with an inward annoyance.

"And what sort of person is Lady Emily?" asked Hugh.

"I have never seen her. Some blue-eyed milk-maid with a title, Isuppose. And in a consumption, too! I presume the dear girl is as religious as the old one.--Good heavens! what shall we do?" she burst out at length; and, rising from her chair, she paced about the room hurriedly, but all the time with a gliding kind of footfall, that would have shaken none but the craziest floor.

"Dear Euphra!" Hugh ventured to say, "never mind. Let us try to make the best of it."She stopped in her walk, turned towards him, smiled as if ashamed and delighted at the same moment, and slid out of the room. Had Euphra been the same all through, she could hardly have smiled so without being in love with Hugh.

That morning he sought her again in her room. They talked over their versions of Dante. Hugh's was certainly the best, for he was more practised in such things than Euphra. He showed her many faults, which she at once perceived to be faults, and so rose in his estimation. But at the same time there were individual lines and passages of hers, which he considered not merely better than the corresponding lines and passages, but better than any part of his version. This he was delighted to say; and she seemed as delighted that he should think so. A great part of the morning was spent thus.

"I cannot stay longer," said Hugh.

"Let us read for an hour, then, after we come up stairs to-night.""With more pleasure than I dare to say."

"But you mean what you do say?"

"You can doubt it no more than myself."

Yet he did not like Euphra's making the proposal. No more did he like the flippant, almost cruel way in which she referred to Lady Emily's illness. But he put it down to annoyance and haste--got over it somehow--anyhow; and began to feel that if she were a devil he could not help loving her, and would not help it if he could.

The hope of meeting her alone that night, gave him spirit and energy with Harry; and the poor boy was more cheery and active than he had been for some time. He thought his big brother was going to love him again as at the first. Hugh's treatment of his pupil might still have seemed kind from another, but Harry felt it a great change in him.

In the course of the day, Euphra took an opportunity of whispering to him:

"Not in my room--in the library." I presume she thought it would be more prudent, in the case of any interruption.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 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!)
  • 云破沧澜

    云破沧澜

    一个山村平凡少年,体内封印着一个未知的邪恶。偶遇大陆之上传奇一般的人物,误入一个神秘的遗址,得到了旷世神兵,养母的死,身世的真相,让他内心更加坚定,从此踏上了艰难的修炼之路...........
  • 重生奇迹

    重生奇迹

    一条诡异的空间裂缝,让高岚肉体尽毁。一个神秘的异界古墓,让高岚灵魂重生。“我重生了,那就让我开始创造奇迹!”于是,奇迹开始了。神奇的紫果,绝世的武典,骑白鹤的少女……这一切,演绎着一次又一次的奇迹。本文讲述一个大学生重生后,在修真界的传奇人生。
  • 呆萌领养人,总裁六岁半

    呆萌领养人,总裁六岁半

    她掌管着‘杜氏’和‘夏氏’两个家族,也是韩国的‘人气偶像’Eliy,更是zero的专宠保镖夏天。她拼了命的唤回自己遗失的记忆,千里迢迢的从韩国来到中国,意外遇上了自己死去未婚夫的弟弟,成为了超级偶像天团“zero”的贴身保镖,和四个不一样的性格的大男孩生活在了同一檐下,究竟会闹出什么样的笑话呢?遗失的记忆被一点一滴的唤醒,她是上帝派来的18号天天使,守护者每一个人,却让身边的所有的异性都对她心生爱慕,金雯霏回国,究竟会给这个18号天使带来什么样的麻烦?她在偶然遇到了自己的哥哥,还参加了‘杜氏的酒会’面对已经换了另一张脸蛋的自己,她该如何跟自己的母亲还有哥哥姐姐
  • 傲娇相公快到碗里来

    傲娇相公快到碗里来

    路文璇被卡车撞飞,醒来之后已是二丫,上有大姐为给她买药卖身为丫鬟,下有弟妹终日不得饱食。八岁的她手无缚鸡之力,如何能撑起这破碎的家?上帝关上了一扇门,便又打开了一扇窗。一场宿命的邂逅,让她从此与岳峰纠缠在一起。岳母临死‘托孤’,八岁‘童养媳’举步维艰。城隍庙辞别被她视为亲人的神像,苍天有情,神像滴泪,她的眉心多了一粒朱砂痣......为赎大姐,她与周扒皮斗智斗勇。好不容易发家致富奔小康,竟有岳峰亲戚纠缠上门,患难容易富贵难,到底能不能相守?
  • 毒医狂妃:废柴九小姐

    毒医狂妃:废柴九小姐

    前世是杀手界的风云人物,一朝身死,竟成了废柴九小姐!庶女陷害?不好意思,她现在就让她后悔出生在这个世上!珍禽异兽?不好意思,她都是当做小弟使唤的!神品丹药?不好意思,她拿那些当糖丸吃!但是,这个妖孽是哪来的?“你是哪来的?从哪来滚哪去。”“好,我滚床上去。”某妖孽笑嘻嘻地说。月疏雁无奈扶额,说好的断绝女色的冷面王爷呢?
  • 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、、、、、、、
  • 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
  • 吾本大神

    吾本大神

    多年以前,不知是仙见我日亦崛起,灭了我,可惜我还没死透!五十年后君归来,拿破这日月,盗尽这苍穹。吾本大神,护佑天下。吾本大神,无限嚣狂。吾本大神,无惧仙邪。
  • 酒窝男神攻略

    酒窝男神攻略

    宋芷在公交车上遇到了许洲,便一见钟情“供奉”他为酒窝男神。好不容易再次遇到男神,宋芷不得不感慨“猿粪”,死磨硬磨要来联系方式,才知道男神并不如他的酒窝一样和蔼可亲,没关系,反正咱看上你了。于是,每天骚扰骚扰男神,没事做做黑暗小点心祸害祸害舍友,无聊拒绝拒绝追求者。反正宋芷的小日子过得很是安心,除了被男神拒绝的时候喝喝酒,醒来之后又忘的干干净净接着往前冲。总之,这是一个逗比女子的追夫记。