登陆注册
15323300000012

第12章

But, before entering on the subject, let me first satisfy the anxiety of your faithful bosom with respect to my father's legacy.All the accounts, I am happy to tell you, are likely to be amicably settled; but the exact amount is not known as yet, only I can see, by my brother's manner, that it is not less than we expected, and my mother speaks about sending me to a boarding-school to learn accomplishments.Nothing, however, is to bedone until something is actually in hand.But what does it all avail to me? Here am I, a solitary being in the midst of this wilderness of mankind, far from your sympathising affection, with the dismal prospect before me of going a second time to school, and without the prospect of enjoying, with my own sweet companions, that light and bounding gaiety we were wont to share, in skipping from tomb to tomb in the breezy churchyard of Irvine, like butterflies in spring flying from flower to flower, as a Wordsworth or a Wilson would express it.

We have got elegant lodgings at present in Norfolk Street, but my brother is trying, with all his address, to get us removed to a more fashionable part of the town, which, if the accounts were once settled, I think will take place; and he proposes to hire a carriage for a whole month.Indeed, he has given hints about the saving that might be made by buying one of our own; but my mother shakes her head, and says, "Andrew, dinna be carri't." From all which it is very plain, though they don't allow me to know their secrets, that the legacy is worth the coming for.But to return to the lodgings;- -we have what is called a first and second floor, a drawing-room, and three handsome bedchambers.The drawing-room is very elegant; and the carpet is the exact same pattern of the one in the dress- drawing-room of Eglintoun Castle.Our landlady is indeed a lady, and I am surprised how she should think of letting lodgings, for she dresses better, and wears finer lace, than ever I saw in Irvine.But I am interrupted.-I now resume my pen.We have just had a call from Mrs.and Miss Argent, the wife and daughter of the colonel's man of business.They seem great people, and came in their own chariot, with two grand footmen behind; but they are pleasant and easy, and the object of their visit was to invite us to a family dinner to-morrow, Sunday.I hope we may become better acquainted; but the two livery servants make such a difference in our degrees, that I fear this is a vain expectation.Miss Argent was, however, very frank, and told me that she was herself only just come to London for the first time since she was a child, having been for the last seven years at a school in the country.I shall, however, be better able to say more about her in my next letter.Do not, however, be afraid that sheshall ever supplant you in my heart.No, my dear friend, companion of my days of innocence,--that can never be.But this call from such persons of fashion looks as if the legacy had given us some consideration; so that I think my father and mother may as well let me know at once what my prospects are, that I might show you how disinterestedly and truly I am, my dear Bell, yours,RACHEL PRINGLE.

When Miss Isabella Tod had read the letter, there was a solemn pause for some time--all present knew something, more or less, of the fair writer; but a carriage, a carpet like the best at Eglintoun, a Hussar officer, and two footmen in livery, were phantoms of such high import, that no one could distinctly express the feelings with which the intelligence affected them.It was, however, unanimously agreed, that the Doctor's legacy had every symptom of being equal to what it was at first expected to be, namely, twenty thousand pounds;--a sum which, by some occult or recondite moral influence of the Lottery, is the common maximum, in popular estimation, of any extraordinary and indefinite windfall of fortune.Miss Becky Glibbans, from the purest motives of charity, devoutly wished that poor Rachel might be able to carry her full cup with a steady hand; and the Rev.Mr.Snodgrass, that so commendable an expression might not lose its edifying effect by any lighter talk, requested Mr.Micklewham to read his letter from the Doctor.

同类推荐
  • 观心诵经法记

    观心诵经法记

    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。
  • 装潢志

    装潢志

    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。
  • 秋灯对雨寄史近崔积

    秋灯对雨寄史近崔积

    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。
  • 临川山行

    临川山行

    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。
  • 泰泉集

    泰泉集

    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
  • 青春不疯狂,何为叫青春

    青春不疯狂,何为叫青春

    她对他说:你驾驭不了我,靠近我,你只会遍体鳞伤。他却不死心:哪怕遍体鳞伤,只要是你,我都无所谓……她是集齐于所有宠爱一身的掌上明珠,她拥有着守护她的死党,一起长大的青梅竹马。他是黑白两道独特的花花公子,家大业大颜值高,唯一搞不定的就是那位令他爱恨交加的女孩。
  • 首席专属,阎少的掌心宝

    首席专属,阎少的掌心宝

    第一次见面,她袭击了他的脸,玩笑的说了句:不错,够滑,够嫩!本来她只是想恶整他一下,没想到就这样被他缠上了。他没想到,自己爱上的女人,竟然是自己的前妻!他本来恨她入骨,巴不得离婚丧妻。却一次纠缠中,食遂知味。他要的,不仅是她的身体,还有她的心……
  • 幸运星

    幸运星

    前半辈子活的很窝囊的刘斌在一次和别人单挑的过程中被打晕才知道自己原来是几千年才有一个的幸运星!幸运使者赐予他很多能力,其中最重要的是一个神秘且力量无穷的痣随着和他交合的女子越来越多他所获得的能力也越来越多,靠着自己和自己的分身闯荡着商界,军界,政界...
  • 魂途渺渺

    魂途渺渺

    赤色大陆因缘起,灵魂之途,谁主沉浮?一个流浪少年,如何在这波云诡谲的灵魂世界中步步为营,书写传奇之路?正可谓宁为玉碎不为瓦全,我命由我不由天!魂途虽渺,笑看风云!
  • 甜蜜婚令:溺爱小娇妻

    甜蜜婚令:溺爱小娇妻

    他宠她,恨不得把自己最好的一切给她!她说,“慕司晨,你混蛋,我要离婚!要离婚!要离婚!”他把她抵在墙上,亲吻她的红唇,邪魅一笑:“宝贝儿,军婚不能离!”
  • 狂灵

    狂灵

    青枫谷外谷弟子陆修,修为一直停留在三重炼体者阶段在十六岁之前,莫名其妙的被天道玉玺认主从此便踏上了一条传奇的道路,丹、器、符、阵样样精通且看他这一生如何力战八尊笑傲灵气大陆!注:本书纯属虚构,如有雷同,必然巧合
  • 无面鬼人:街头传说

    无面鬼人:街头传说

    混乱之城——黑岩市,无数地下黑暗势力在这里暗自争斗,曾经活跃的极端英雄销声匿迹。周强,为了寻找唯一的亲人来到这里,无意间头脑发热涉入的争斗,使他逐渐成为一个打击犯罪的义警。罪恶之源的丧钟已经敲响,秩序的天平终将平衡。黑暗中成长起来的次世代自由战士正在悄然崛起,然而一场足以摧毁世界的危机和阴谋却在默默斟酌酝酿。
  • 君櫹盟约:鬼眼红眸闯天下

    君櫹盟约:鬼眼红眸闯天下

    她,是二十一世纪的金牌特工,为报仇而在一次意外事件中穿越到前世。在前世,虐渣渣,敌异母姐妹,上青楼,什么坏事没做过,老娘就是你不烦我,就算了,你一犯贱,拿把斧头劈了你。现代与古代的联系又是什么,现代老狼为何又遇上自己,背后的盟约又是什么。一双红眸,是神秘,是魔鬼,背后的心酸又该放在哪里?扣扣:2107408209
  • 有些事其实有所谓

    有些事其实有所谓

    人活着,有许许多多的事情是有所谓的,是必须在意的,是来不得半点虚假的。你必须用一丝不苟的态度去对待,必须用满腔的热情去维护,甚至用最宝贵的生命去铸就。责任心、事业心、进取心、诚信心、感恩心、关爱心、道德观、是非观、荣辱观……这些都是有所谓的。正是这些有所谓的东西,成就了人们有所谓的人生,成全了人们有所谓的现实生活。
  • 我不过是你的游戏吗:爱情距离(完整版)

    我不过是你的游戏吗:爱情距离(完整版)

    外表冷傲沉着的经纪人竟然努力隐忍压抑着狂燥不安。华丽璀璨的著演员隐藏的却是一颗受伤易碎的心。迷糊又死要面子的毕业生高喊着女人要坚强独立的口号,阴差阳错的陷入尴尬的感情漩涡。什么是一念天堂,一念地狱,痛彻心扉后恍然领悟,爱情其实很简单,爱就爱了,那些剪不断理还乱的情丝,原来是自己给自己套上了沉重的枷锁,将透明的灵魂层层束缚。