登陆注册
15328000000037

第37章 TWO AMERICANS(12)

How provoking! She glanced again; he was leaning against a tree and was obviously as preoccupied as she was herself.He was actually sketching the ivy-covered gable of the library.What presumption! And he was sketching with his left hand.A sudden thrill of superstition came over her.She moved eagerly forward for a better view of him.No! he had two arms!

But his quick eye had already caught sight of her, and before she could retreat she could see that he had thrown away his sketch-book and was hastening eagerly toward her.Amazed and confounded she would have flown, but her limbs suddenly refused their office, and as he at last came near her with the cry of "Helen!" upon his lips, she felt herself staggering, and was caught in his arms.

"Thank God," he said."Then she HAS let you come to me!"She disengaged herself slowly and dazedly from him and stood looking at him with wondering eyes.He was bronzed and worn; there was the second arm: but still it was HE.And with the love, which she now knew he had felt, looking from his honest eyes!

"SHE has let me come!" she repeated vacantly."Whom do you mean?""The duchess."

"The duchess?"

"Yes." He stopped suddenly, gazing at her blank face, while his own grew ashy white."Helen! For God's sake tell me! You have not accepted him?""I have accepted no one," she stammered, with a faint color rising to her cheeks."I do not understand you."A look of relief came over him."But," he said amazedly, "has not the duchess told you how I happen to be here? How, when you disappeared from Paris long ago--with my ambition crushed, and nothing left to me but my old trade of the fighter--I joined a secret expedition to help the Chilian revolutionists? How I, who might have starved as a painter, gained distinction as a partisan general, and was rewarded with an envoyship in Europe? How I came to Paris to seek you? How I found that even the picture--your picture, Helen--had been sold.How, in tracing it here, I met the duchess at Deep Hill, and learning you were with her, in a moment of impulse told her my whole story.How she told me that though she was your best friend, you had never spoken of me, and how she begged me not to spoil your chance of a good match by revealing myself, and so awakening a past--which she believed you had forgotten.How she implored me at least to let her make a fair test of your affections and your memory, and until then to keep away from you--and to spare you, Helen; and for your sake, Iconsented.Surely she has told this, NOW!"

"Not a word," said Helen blankly.

"Then you mean to say that if I had not haunted the park to-day, in the hope of seeing you, believing that as you would not recognize me with this artificial arm, I should not break my promise to her,--you would not have known I was even living."

"No!--yes!--stay!" A smile broke over her pale face and left it rosy."I see it all now.Oh, Philip, don't you understand? She wanted only to try us!"There was a silence in the lonely wood, broken only by the trills of a frightened bird whose retreat was invaded.

"Not now! Please! Wait! Come with me!"

The next moment she had seized Philip's left hand, and, dragging him with her, was flying down the walk towards the house.But as they neared the garden door it suddenly opened on the duchess, with her glasses to her eyes, smiling.

The General Don Felipe Ostrander did not buy Hamley Court, but he and his wife were always welcome guests there.And Sir James, as became an English gentleman,--amazed though he was at Philip's singular return, and more singular incognito,--afterwards gallantly presented Philip's wife with Philip's first picture.

同类推荐
  • 大涅槃经义记卷第四

    大涅槃经义记卷第四

    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。
  • 俱舍论实义疏

    俱舍论实义疏

    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。
  • 通玄真经缵义释音

    通玄真经缵义释音

    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。
  • 浣纱石上女

    浣纱石上女

    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。
  • 女丹十则

    女丹十则

    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
  • 春秋正旨

    春秋正旨

    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。
  • 超级系统之养成小富婆

    超级系统之养成小富婆

    (快穿类)张熙觉得自己最近很倒霉。实习了三个月好不容易要转正的职位被一个空降而来的白富美顶替。大学期间勤勤恳恳省吃俭用好不容易存下来的存款因为一次不大不小的车祸全部清零。莫名冒出来的小富婆养成系统给出的攒钱任务第一步竟然是——玩游戏?
  • 大宋小侯爷

    大宋小侯爷

    再世为人,竟身在大宋!家徒四壁,一贫如洗,如何生存?胸中韬略万千,腹内诗书满车,无奈一手狗爬似的字,实在拿不出手……争名妓,抢娇女,恶豪迫害;奇从军,遇名师,倾囊相授。结义兄弟,肝胆相照,屡屡化险为夷;红袖添香,妩媚风流,总是百转千回……北有夏辽虎视,西有吐蕃扰乱,内有权相欺压,外有藩王觊觎,可既然我来到这大宋,就要还天下一个太平,还百姓一个盛世!历史的车轮滚滚向前,究竟他能否一展心中抱负?且看《大宋小侯爷》为你徐徐展开这幅历史的画轴。
  • 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!)
  • 太阴黑莲经

    太阴黑莲经

    人有人法,天有天规,人法失衡则会凶杀四起,暴徒肆虐,而天道失衡,则会阴阳混乱妖魔纷显。大庆国军神长子苏北,不慎被神秘阴气入体,为求破解之法,冒死选择《黑莲经》,曾经,他是镇守南疆的虎威少将,庇佑一方百姓,现在,他以重塑天道为己任,誓护天下太平……
  • 单身女老板

    单身女老板

    年轻漂亮的单身女老板于珊琳,性感优雅,身家千万,香车豪宅。在生意场上,于珊琳被客户灌酒,揩油,被局长非礼,被歹徒抢劫,李睿均挺身而出,最终与老板于珊琳擦出了火花。。。可是短暂的甜蜜时光之后,老板于珊琳又经历了一连串的打击和挫折,李睿和于珊琳的感情,能经受得了这些磨难和考验吗?他们最终能有情人终成眷属吗?
  • 《穿越到了异世界》

    《穿越到了异世界》

    某天,雨叶走在放学的路上,突然,调入一个坑发现自己穿越了。
  • 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!)
  • 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!)
  • 异世之武神系统

    异世之武神系统

    神秘的宇宙神族,古老的武神传承。地球的失意高中毕业生携带着“武神系统”穿越到洪武大陆。洞天福地,能量兑换系统,每日抽奖....逆天的资质,无敌的战神血脉,强大的修炼功法,全能的宗师,怎一个爽字了得!兄弟之间的情谊,爱人之间的纠缠,学院,国家,魔兽。一切尽在武神系统!