登陆注册
15327700000054

第54章

"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Father Benwell.Surely Imet you at that delightful evening at the Duke's? I mean when we welcomed the Cardinal back from Rome.Dear old man--if one may speak so familiarly of a Prince of the Church.How charmingly he bears his new honors.Such patriarchal simplicity, as every one remarked.Have you seen him lately?"The idea of the Order to which he belonged feeling any special interest in a Cardinal (except when they made him of some use to them) privately amused Father Benwell."How wise the Church was,"he thought, "in inventing a spiritual aristocracy.Even this fool of a woman is impressed by it." His spoken reply was true to his assumed character as one of the inferior clergy."Poor priests like me, madam, see but little of Princes of the Church in the houses of Dukes." Saying this with the most becoming humility, he turned the talk in a more productive direction, before Mrs.

Eyrecourt could proceed with her recollections of "the evening at the Duke's.""Your charming daughter and I have been talking about Clovelly,"he continued."I have just been spending a little holiday in that delightful place.It was a surprise to me, Mrs.Eyrecourt, to see so many really beautiful country seats in the neighborhood.I was particularly struck--you know it, of course?--by Beaupark House."Mrs.Eyrecourt's little twinging eyes suddenly became still and steady.It was only for a moment.But that trifling change boded ill for the purpose which the priest had in view.Even the wits of a fool can be quickened by contact with the world.For many years Mrs.Eyrecourt had held her place in society, acting under an intensely selfish sense of her own interests, fortified by those cunning instincts which grow best in a barren intellect.

Perfectly unworthy of being trusted with secrets which only concerned other people, this frivolous creature could be the unassailable guardian of secrets which concerned herself.The instant the priest referred indirectly to Winterfield, by speaking of Beaupark: House, her instincts warned her, as if in words:--Be careful for Stella's sake!

"Oh, yes," said Mrs.Eyrecourt."I know Beaupark House; but--may I make a confession?" she added, with her sweetest smile.

Father Benwell caught her tone, with his customary tact."Aconfession at a ball is a novelty, even in my experience," he answered with _his_ sweetest smile.

"How good of you to encourage me!" proceeded Mrs.Eyrecourt."No, thank you, I don't want to sit down.My confession won't take long--and I really must give that poor pale daughter of mine a glass of wine.A student of human nature like you--they say all priests are students of human nature; accustomed of course to be consulted in difficulties, and to hear _real_ confessions--must know that we poor women are sadly subject to whims and caprices.

We can't resist them as men do; and the dear good men generally make allowances for us.Well, do you know that place of Mr.

Winterfield's is one of my caprices? Oh, dear, I speak carelessly; I ought to have said the place represents one of my caprices.In short.Father Benwell, Beaupark House is perfectly odious to me, and I think Clovelly the most overrated place in the world.I haven't the least reason to give, but so it is.

Excessively foolish of me.It's like hysterics, I can't help it;I'm sure you will forgive me.There isn't a place on the habitable globe that I am not ready to feel interested in, except detestable Devonshire.I am so sorry you went there.The next time you have a holiday, take my advice.Try the Continent.""I should like it of all things," said Father Benwell."Only Idon't speak French.Allow me to get Miss Eyrecourt a glass of wine."He spoke with the most perfect temper and tranquillity.Having paid his little attention to Stella, and having relieved her of the empty glass, he took his leave, with a parting request thoroughly characteristic of the man.

"Are you staying in town, Mrs.Eyrecourt?" he asked.

"Oh, of course, at the height of the season!""May I have the honor of calling on you--and talking a little more about the Continent?"If he had said it in so many words he could hardly have informed Mrs.Eyrecourt more plainly that he thoroughly understood her, and that he meant to try again.Strong in the worldly training of half a lifetime, she at once informed him of her address, with the complimentary phrases proper to the occasion."Five o'clock tea on Wednesdays, Father Benwell.Don't forget!"The moment he was gone, she drew her daughter into a quiet corner."Don't be frightened, Stella.That sly old person has some interest in trying to find out about Winterfield.Do you know why?""Indeed I don't, mamma.I hate him!"

"Oh, hush ! hush! Hate him as much as you like; but always be civil to him.Tell me--have you been in the conservatory with Romayne?""Yes."

"All going on well?"

"Yes."

"My sweet child! Dear, dear me, the wine has done you no good;you're as pale as ever.Is it that priest? Oh, pooh, pooh, leave Father Benwell to me."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 血溅孽缘

    血溅孽缘

    本书以平凡的小人物刘静莲由面对现实社会的无奈到人生之光再现为主线,体现了小人物也能笑到最后的当今社会之法则。读来实在令人快慰。
  • 逆战天行

    逆战天行

    楚苍漠从未想过,自己会为了一种倔强,从一个平平凡凡混饭吃的少爷,变成踏着无数血肉一步步走上让众生为之震颤的巅峰强者。当一切落幕,那些恩怨情仇,又该何去何从?
  • 萧引:凤流觞

    萧引:凤流觞

    古籍曾有:相传有四大女子:璟瑶、凝仙、雪姬、浅画,身具奇力。璟瑶擅入梦,能改忆,且过目不忘;凝仙可易骨,使人变声,母不能认也。雪姬琴不离身,琴声可催眠,使人为傀儡,任其驱使;浅画洞知今后矣,可引见孤魂。四女相貌倾城,性格温和,不喜凡世金钱名利,亲如一家。若是惹其太过,其将不死不休,灭世足矣!
  • 药之仙

    药之仙

    “风萧,醒醒啊,醒。。。醒”看着在自己面前死去的娘亲,风萧心里如同猫挠。“小伙,我可以救你娘亲哦。不过,你得做我的徒弟。”为了救娘亲,我什么都做的出来!“你问我是谁?我叫药之仙,你只要帮我重回仙界,没什么是不能做的!”行,药之仙是吗?我帮你!只要你救活我的娘亲!
  • 我为界主

    我为界主

    天地已经残破,仙道已然崩毁,我在万劫之中倔起,唯有踏着敌人的层层尸骨,才能走上大道巅峰,我为界主,为永恒而战……
  • 凰决

    凰决

    ———医尊冷卿颜穿越异世,王爷爱,爹爹恨,姨娘贪,姐妹阴险,被利用,统统不成问题,一个个收入本尊的囊中,本尊跟你们有共同特点就是利用。姨娘?踹进地牢好好伺候。姐姐?别闹了,自爆没用。王爷?滚犊子,本尊要收的是后宫!喂,那只神王快过来,家里奴婢要造反虐我,你降服了,封你做男主!
  • 文艺复兴与中西文化交流

    文艺复兴与中西文化交流

    意大利是欧洲国家中纺织业率先发展且占有优势的国家,中世纪意大利曾以其毛织业的率先发展而致富,并享誉全欧,在欧洲毛织业的激烈竞争中,由于其原料和产品过于依赖海外市场的经济外向型特征,使得最初由毛织业构建起来的经济链条因缺乏国内供、产、销的联系而十分脆弱。
  • 冷血千金复仇计划

    冷血千金复仇计划

    她,本是无忧无虑的调皮公主,被父母送到日本留学,在日本,她遇上了他,而后,为了救她,去世了,几天后,却不知道为什么,父母被人害死,从此,她便失去了双亲的疼爱,和哥哥相依为命,成了孤儿,最后,她失踪了,7年后,她又回来了,人却变得冰冷无情,异常的嗜血…
  • 发生在育贤高中的离奇事件

    发生在育贤高中的离奇事件

    在夏常安等人进入了高二之后,发生了意想不到的事情,芳靖的真实名字居然叫幻灵月,浩轩,隋玉,蔡宇,蔡宇也有了另一个灵魂,还多了个什么前世,什么幽尔希艿,什么凌俊熙,什么花凌落种族,什么泪漠雨种族,高一新生的一系列情况,灭灵组织的不翼而飞(就是死了),一件件离奇的事情,让常安等人陷入困境,新的敌人,新的故事,一切都是未知。
  • 跟李嘉诚学创业

    跟李嘉诚学创业

    《跟李嘉诚学创业》对李嘉诚的创业过程及成功之道进行了全面的、系统的阐述。告诉我们应该从李嘉诚身上学些什么:从李嘉诚作为一个推销员,我们学习如何赚到人生第一桶金;从李嘉诚作为一个小老板,发奋图强成为“塑胶花大王”,我们学习他如何开拓自己的事业;从李嘉诚把握投资良机、兵不血刃、以小搏大屡战屡胜,我们学习他如何运用非凡的商业智慧;从李嘉诚善用人才“海纳百川”,我们学习他充满智慧的管理艺术;从李嘉诚以“做事先做人”之信条搏击商场数十年,创造了一个只有朋友,没有敌人的奇迹,我们学习他做一个高尚的商人……