登陆注册
15328000000005

第5章

Astounded as he was, Peter succumbed.It was better that she should indulge her astounding caprice under his roof than elsewhere.It would not do for the sister of an Atherly to provoke scandal.He gave entertainments, picnics, and parties, and "Jinny"Atherly plunged into these mild festivities with the enthusiasm of a schoolgirl.She not only could dance with feverish energy all night, but next day could mount a horse--she was a fearless rider--and lead the most accomplished horsemen.She was a good shot, she walked with the untiring foot of a coyote, she threaded the woods with the instinct of a pioneer.Peter regarded her with a singular mingling of astonishment and fear.Surely she had not learned this at school! These were not the teachings nor the sports of the good sisters! He once dared to interrogate her regarding this change in her habits."I always FELT like it," she answered quickly, "but Ikept it down.I used sometimes to feel that I couldn't stand it any longer, but must rush out and do something," she said passionately; "but," she went on with furtive eyes, and a sudden wild timidity like that of a fawn, "I was afraid! I was afraid ITWAS LIKE MOTHER! It seemed to me to be HER blood that was rising in me, and I kept it down,--I didn't want to be like her,--and Iprayed and struggled against it.Did you," she said, suddenly grasping his hand, "ever feel like that?"But Peter never had.His melancholy faith in his father's race had left no thought of his mother's blood mingling with it."But," he said gravely, "believing this, why did you change?""Because I could hold out no longer.I should have gone crazy.

Times I wanted to take some of those meek nuns, some of those white-faced pupils with their blue eyes and wavy flaxen hair, and strangle them.I couldn't strive and pray and struggle any longer THERE, and so I came here to let myself out! I suppose when I get married--and I ought to, with my money--it may change me! You don't suppose," she said, with a return of her wild-animal-like timidity, "it is anything that was in FATHER, in those ATHERLYS,--do you?"

But Peter had no idea of anything but virtue in the Atherly blood;he had heard that the upper class of Europeans were fond of field sports and of hunting; it was odd that his sister should inherit this propensity and not he.He regarded her more kindly for this evidence of race."You think of getting married?" he said more gently, yet with a certain brotherly doubt that any man could like her enough, even with her money."Is there any one here would--suit you?" he added diplomatically.

"No--I hate them all!" she burst out."There isn't one I don't despise for his sickening, foppish, womanish airs."Nevertheless, it was quite evident that some of the men were attracted by her singular originality and a certain good comradeship in her ways.And it was on one of their riding excursions that Peter noticed that she was singled out by a good-looking, blond-haired young lawyer of the town for his especial attentions.As the cavalcade straggled in climbing the mountain, the young fellow rode close to her saddle-bow, and as the distance lengthened between the other stragglers, they at last were quite alone.When the trail became more densely wooded, Peter quite lost sight of them.But when, a few moments later, having lost the trail himself, they again appeared in the distance before him, he was so amazed that he unconsciously halted.For the two horses were walking side by side, and the stranger's arm was round his sister's waist.

Had Peter any sense of humor he might have smiled at this weakness in his Amazonian sister, but he saw only the serious, practical side of the situation, with, of course, its inevitable relation to his one controlling idea.The young man was in good practice, and would have made an eligible husband to any one else.But was he fit to mate with an Atherly? What would those as yet unknown and powerful relatives say to it? At the same time he could not help knowing that "Jinny," in the eccentricities of her virgin spinsterhood, might be equally objectionable to them, as she certainly was a severe trial to him here.If she were off his hands he might be able to prosecute his search for his relatives with more freedom.After all, there were mesalliances in all families, and being a woman she was not in the direct line.

同类推荐
  • 佛果克勤禅师心要

    佛果克勤禅师心要

    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。
  • 潘子求仁录辑要

    潘子求仁录辑要

    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。
  • 斩鬼传

    斩鬼传

    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。
  • 摩诃止观辅行助览

    摩诃止观辅行助览

    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。
  • Personal Memoirs

    Personal Memoirs

    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
  • 迷失的御魔者

    迷失的御魔者

    浩瀚的星空中,有一颗名为桑格拉的神秘星球。那里所有习以为常的事情,在地球上都已成为传说。姬羽只是一个普普通通的大学生,但是命运挑中了他,让他不可思议的穿越了亿万光年的星空来到神秘的桑格拉。这里有地球上传说中的精灵,还有神奇的魔法,恐怖的魔兽……一切都是那么不可思议,然而姬羽却不得不在这里生活下去,背负着对于一切过往的思念,在这里成长。璀璨的魔纹在他身上点亮,力量在他身上蔓延。总有一天,他要勘破桑格拉的所有神秘,找到回家的路。“我只是一个迷失了归途的人……”
  • 一如初见爱你

    一如初见爱你

    她,当初和母亲被父亲抛弃,自力更生,开创了一片自己的天空。他,是富家子弟,没有喜欢过一个人的他,却看上了,处处与他作对的女孩儿······
  • 心理呵护200招

    心理呵护200招

    21世纪重要的是知识,比知识更重要的是能力,比能力更重要的是心理素质。随着社会的进步,科技的发展,人们面临的竞争愈来愈激烈,对每个人的心理素质要求也愈来愈高。不论是在校的大、中、小学生,还是即将或正在求职的大、中专毕业学生和各类研究生,不论是男是女,是老是少,不论在家庭、学校,还是在社会,只要是社会的人,就都有七情六欲,喜怒哀乐,都有思维等心理状态。人的心理状态如何,对于改变客观世界,改变历史乃至于改变人生命运,具有决定性作用。
  • 三圣轮回

    三圣轮回

    带恨轮回,只为遇到自己真爱!为爱而生,成就三生一体掌控三道!怒可一戟灭天地,喜可一挥万物生!
  • 《ThisHouse》

    《ThisHouse》

    虽然毫无血缘,但我们依然兄妹相称;尽管相隔阴阳,但我们依然相亲相爱。
  • 英华曲

    英华曲

    五十三年话劫灰,江山摇动令人哀;一言难尽兴亡事,军阀分裂是祸胎。频年篡弑竟相寻,礼教沦亡世独裁;英华一曲留史鉴,馨苑玫瑰花香来。改自蔡老先生的五代史通俗演义的收场绝句。笔者也算不知深浅,妄做改动,但绝对没有任何一丝不尊重的意思,希望老先生泉下有知,不要怪罪。但我想,纵然是军阀割据的时代,各国纷争,铁蹄滚滚,唯有真爱,才能永恒。
  • 神血王座

    神血王座

    误闯商周墓穴,惊动千年尸王。身怀僵尸血脉的少年,穿越到暮色大陆一个人族和血族混血的少年身上。吸万种血,造最强血脉,登最高王座。
  • 恶魔大人的萌妹子

    恶魔大人的萌妹子

    第一次碰碎了恶魔的古董花瓶,恶魔道:“给你两个选择要么做我助理要么做我女仆。”第二次恶魔救了他,恶魔道:“你欠我人情怎么还?把你的初吻给我吧!”第三次恶魔为了她受伤,恶魔醒来道:“你又欠我人情,这次──以身相许吧!”
  • 再世阴圣

    再世阴圣

    诸神离世,将冲击神界时的力量播散在了世间,是为神之遗韵。当人们觉察的时候,这个世间已经没有神了。有的,只是曾经神祗们的影子,守望者大陆千百年,觉醒了神之遗韵的强者们。神韵师。紫狱只是一个最不起眼的小镇民,被人冷落蔑视,渴望见识外面世界的小青年。偶然的机会,他走出了小镇,迈开了步子。他的步调,大得离谱。“步子大了,容易扯到蛋。”这是他引以自诫的名言,但往往不管不顾。他数着步子,划过寒冷彻骨的月叹溪,走过寂静的永恒山麓,穿越了一望无垠的雪原。当一切都尽在掌握的时候。他停下了前进的步伐。步临山巅,四下临渊,他又该何去何从?神器得失,红颜去还……一切精彩,尽在不世阴圣之中!
  • 贩卖地球

    贩卖地球

    江星宇,冰火两重天,地球上,坐拥智能眼镜+星际飞船,职场,情场,无往而不利!星际联盟内,他是最卑微的屌丝,从零开始,全力争上游!事情缘起于离奇,他是地产中介业务员,到手的大单和巨额佣金,因车祸而被人横抢,愤怒郁闷之余,却因“地球领主”网名,以地球领主身份,出席星际拆迁听证会,被告知地球只有一年的拆迁宽限期。他须在一年内,想办法赚到一万星币,完成地球领主的注册登记,不然,地球,将被依法拆迁!他所能依仗的,只有一副智能眼镜,一艘已被废弃的,不怎么听话的星舟级单人星际飞船,以及,他自己!从此,他的生活就是冰火两重天,更为可怕的是,当他历尽艰辛,贩卖地球,终于成功赚到一万星币,去完成地球领主的注册登记时,才发现,他和地球的真正麻烦,才刚刚开始……【已有百万字完本作品《晋王吕布传》,敬请收藏!】