登陆注册
15296300000020

第20章 THE CACTUS(2)

As Trysdale grimly wrenched apart the seam of his last glove, the crowning instance of his fatuous and tardily mourned egoism came vividly back to him.The scene was the night when he had asked her to come up on his pedestal with him and share his greatness.He could not, now, for the pain of it, allow his mind to dwell upon the memory of her convincing beauty that night--the careless wave of her hair, the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words.But they had been enough, and they had brought him to speak.During their conversation she had said:

"And Captain Carruthers tells me that you speak the Spanish language like a native.Why have you hidden this accomplishment from me? Is there anything you do not know?"Now, Carruthers was an idiot.No doubt he (Trysdale) had been guilty (he sometimes did such things) of airing at the club some old, canting Castilian proverb dug from the hotchpotch at the back of dictionaries.

Carruthers, who was one of his incontinent admirers, was the very man to have magnified this exhibition of doubtful erudition.

But, alas! the incense of her admiration had been so sweet and flattering.He allowed the imputation to pass without denial.

Without protest, he allowed her to twine about his brow this spurious bay of Spanish scholarship.He let it grace his conquering head, and, among its soft convolutions, he did not feel the prick of the thorn that was to pierce him later.

How glad, how shy, how tremulous she was! How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! He could have sworn, and he could swear now, that unmistakable consent was in her eyes, but, coyly, she would give him no direct answer."I will send you my answer to-morrow," she said; and he, the indulgent, confident victor, smilingly granted the delay.The next day he waited, impatient, in his rooms for the word.At noon her groom came to the door and left the strange cactus in the red earthen jar.There was no note, no message, merely a tag upon the plant bearing a barbarous foreign or botanical name.He waited until night, but her answer did not come.His large pride and hurt vanity kept him from seeking her.

Two evenings later they met at a dinner.Their greetings were conventional, but she looked at him, breathless, wondering, eager.

He was courteous, adamant, waiting her explanation.With womanly swiftness she took her cue from his manner, and turned to snow and ice.Thus, and wider from this on, they had drifted apart.Where was his fault? Who had been to blame? Humbled now, he sought the answer amid the ruins of his self-conceit.If--The voice of the other man in the room, querulously intruding upon his thoughts, aroused him.

"I say, Trysdale, what the deuce is the matter with you? You look unhappy as if you yourself had been married instead of having acted merely as an accomplice.Look at me, another accessory, come two thousand miles on a garlicky, cockroachy banana steamer all the way from South America to connive at the sacrifice--please to observe how lightly my guilt rests upon my shoulders.Only little sister I had, too, and now she's gone.Come now! take something to ease your conscience.""I don't drink just now, thanks," said Trysdale.

"Your brandy," resumed the other, coming over and joining him, "is abominable.Run down to see me some time at Punta Redonda, and try some of our stuff that old Garcia smuggles in.It's worth the, trip.

Hallo! here's an old acquaintance.Wherever did you rake up this cactus, Trysdale?""A present," said Trysdale, "from a friend.Know the species?""Very well.It's a tropical concern.See hundreds of 'em around Punta every day.Here's the name on this tag tied to it.Know any Spanish, Trysdale?""No," said Trysdale, with the bitter wraith of a smile--"Is it Spanish?""Yes.The natives imagine the leaves are reaching out and beckoning to you.They call it by this name--Ventomarme.Name means in English, 'Come and take me.'"

同类推荐
  • Diary of a Pilgrimage

    Diary of a Pilgrimage

    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。
  • 大六壬灵觉经

    大六壬灵觉经

    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。
  • 金丹直指

    金丹直指

    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。
  • 闺人赠远二首

    闺人赠远二首

    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。
  • 书史会要

    书史会要

    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
  • 花谢又见花飞

    花谢又见花飞

    她是名门闺秀,也是母亲眼中的一根刺,每天面对母亲的冷言恶行,避无可避;他是超尘风流的白衣公子,最爱打抱不平,寄情山水间。一次偶然的机会他们相遇,一见倾心。再见时,她和他已然不再是少时模样,还会认出彼此吗?是缘浅情深抑或只是年少时一场迷离的梦?敬请关注!
  • 想跟我斗你还嫩

    想跟我斗你还嫩

    孤儿院长大的野丫头宋甜儿居然进入了韩国最有名的贵族学校白金学园学习。这是不是在做梦啊?更离谱的是学园里最受注目的超级大帅哥崔盛基居然第一天见面就要求她作女朋友!天哪!有没有搞错?对于这种不良少年还是远离为妙!可是,爱情来临的时候,真是挡也挡不住啊……甜儿的儿时好友安熙也一跃变成了富家小姐,并且把甜儿忘得一干二净,更夸张的是安熙竟然是崔盛基的未婚妻。一段永远难忘的儿时友谊,一段刻骨铭心的校园恋情,究竟应该何去何从……
  • 萌宝从天而降爹地请接招

    萌宝从天而降爹地请接招

    五年前,她被霸道总裁强势抓补,她无奈之下带球出国。五年后,她成为著名演员歌手--slocem,服装设计师--Dearmlady.带球强势回归
  • 一婚到底,高冷男神又来了

    一婚到底,高冷男神又来了

    安夕颜爱上了自己姐姐的未婚夫,这种错爱,她打算直接掐死在萌芽状态。但不料,二十岁生日那天,他狠狠地夺走了她的初吻。想大方爱,她不敢;想逃,亦无法逃开;终于那一日,她趁着醉酒,凶神恶煞地撂下狠话,“莫向北,你要是再敢亲我,我就……缠死你!”他一个翻身向上,低头,以唇封缄。安夕颜傻了!她抖着两条小白腿,在犹豫着……到底……是缠还是不缠?……莫向北,身份显赫,身家过百亿。他有未婚妻,名唤安丁香,八年前出车祸,成了植物人。他不仅没悔婚约,更是将未婚妻的妹妹接到身边,妥善安置,待如亲人。众人皆传,莫氏集团总裁不仅身份尊贵长相出尘,更是一位有情有义善始善终的绝好男人。每当听到这话,安夕颜就忍不住冷哼……“绝世好男人?”每当这时,莫向北就强忍着掐死她的冲动,“安夕颜,我要的,从来都是你!”......新文:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/1206747/【一见倾心,抢来的老婆有点甜】
  • 爱你到永远:总裁独宠千金小娇妻

    爱你到永远:总裁独宠千金小娇妻

    小时候,7岁的南宫紫千和12岁的万守泽约定好长大后在一起。3年后,万守泽要出国留学,他和南宫紫千说,等他,说好的在一起,南宫紫千点点头。当南宫紫千19岁时,万守泽找到了她,发现她身边有一个“霸王”——秦斌霖,想得到她。万守泽和南宫紫千结婚后,秦斌霖又来搅乱他们的生活。原本的宠婚生活,会变成什么样呢?
  • 蒂语花

    蒂语花

    十六、七岁的年纪里,我们不懂什么是爱,对一份感情的经营还很茫然,不论亲情还是友情……而这些在成长路上又是人生的必修课。人最软弱的地方是舍不得,她也逃不过这断言。直到那一天,她静静地坐在病床上,涣散的眼神看着手中捧着的相框,微笑停留的嘴角,眼皮不受控制地往下垂。手中的相框滑落,与光滑的地砖相触,一声巨响伴随着四散的玻璃,和一只无力垂下的手……
  • 青丘狐梦

    青丘狐梦

    她最大的梦想就是像个平凡人一样过完这一生……虽然这一生无比漫长……只可惜命运多舛……
  • 剔骨匠

    剔骨匠

    人有皮,鬼有相。冤魂邪祟匿于骨,驱邪改命剔骨匠。怨骨,媚骨,痴骨,反骨,懒骨,恶骨…………欲登帝位者求帝骨,欲成大事者求运骨,欲招桃花者求媚骨。从小能看见鬼怪异物并做出奇怪举动的楚辞被自己亲生父母所畏惧,一直被囚禁在自家地下室里不见天日。直到那一日死人复活,日月翻天……它对楚辞说:你想要自由吗?无论什么代价?
  • 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!)
  • tfboys爱只因你的存在

    tfboys爱只因你的存在

    十年之前,你身影小小惹人怜。笑颜浅浅,目光潋滟,此般清澈的少年。你说,你在等十年的坚持。他们笑你,笑你太幼稚。十年之后,你盘旋世界各城市。日光映眼,眉梢间,流动着岁月的影子。你笑,笑彼此十年前的样子。而当年的那些人,又在哪呢?