登陆注册
15423800000006

第6章 MOTHER AND DAUGHTER(1)

Dr.Ballard had gone,and his hostesses were awaiting the summons to dinner.Mrs.Evringham regarded her daughter critically as the girl sat at the piano,idly running her fingers over the keys.

The listlessness expressed in the fresh face and rounded figure brought a look of disapproval into the mother's eyes.

"You must practice that nocturne,"she said."You played it badly just now,and there is no excuse for it,Eloise.""If you will let me give lessons I will,"responded the girl promptly,without turning her graceful,drooping head.

The unexpected reply was startling.

"What are you talking about?"asked Mrs.Evringham.

"Oh,I'm so tired of it all,"replied the girl wearily.

A frown contracted her mother's forehead."Tired of what?Turn around here!"She rose and put her hands on the pretty shoulders and turned her child until the clear gray eyes met hers."Now then,tired of what?"Eloise smiled slightly,and sighed."Of playing nocturnes to Dr.

Ballard."

"And he is quite as tired of hearing you,I dare say,"was the retort.

"It seems to me you always stumble when you play to the doctor,and he adores Chopin."Eloise continued to meet her mother's annoyed gaze,her hands fallen in her lap,all the lines of her nut-brown hair,her exquisite face,and pliable,graceful figure so many silent arguments,as they always were,against any one's harboring annoyance toward her.

"You say he does,mother,and you have assured him of it so often that the poor man doesn't dare to say otherwise;but really,if you'd let him have the latest Weber and Field hit,I think he would be so grateful.""Learn it then!"returned Mrs.Evringham.

Eloise laughed lazily."Intrepid little mother!"Then she added,in a different tone,"Don't you think there is any danger of our being too obliging?I'm not the only girl in town whose mother wishes her to oblige Dr.Ballard.May we not overreach ourselves?""Eloise!"Mrs.Evringham's half-affectionate,half-remonstrating grasp fell from her child's shoulders."That remark is in very bad taste."The girl shook her head slowly."I never can understand why it is any satisfaction to you to pretend.You find comfort in pretending that Mr.Evringham likes to have us here,likes us to use his carriages,to receive his friends,and all the rest of it.We've been here seven weeks and three days,and that little game of pretending is satisfying you still.You are like the ostrich with its head in the sand."Mrs.Evringham drew her lithe figure up."Well,Eloise,I hope there are limits to this.To call your own mother an--an ostrich!""Don't speak so loud,"returned the girl,rising and patting her mother's hand."Grandfather has returned from his ride.I just heard him come in.It is too near dinner time for a scene.There is no need of our pretending to each other,is there?You have always put me off and put me off,but surely you mean to bring this to an end pretty soon?""You could bring it to an end at once if you would!"returned Mrs.

Evringham,her voice lowered."Dr.Ballard has nothing to wait for.Iknow all about his circumstances.There never was such a providence as father's having a friend like him ready to our hand--so suitable,so attractive,so rich!""Yes,"responded the girl low and equably,"it is just five weeks and two days that you have been throwing me at that man's head.""I have done nothing of the kind,Eloise Evringham.""Yes you have,"returned the girl without excitement,"and grandfather sneering at us all the time under his mustache.He knows that there are other girls and other mothers interested in Dr.Ballard more desirable than we are.Oh!how easy it is to be more desirable than we are!""There isn't one girl in five hundred so pretty as you,"returned Mrs.

Evringham stoutly.

"I wish my prettiness could persuade you into my way of thinking.""What do you mean?"The glance of the older woman was keen and suspicious.

"We would take a cheap little apartment to-morrow,"said the girl wistfully.

Mrs.Evringham gave an ejaculation of impatience."And do all our own work and live like pigs!"she returned petulantly.

Eloise shrugged her shoulders."I may flatter myself,but I fancy Ishould keep it rather clean."

"You wouldn't mind your hands then."Mrs.Evringham regarded the hands worthy to be imitated by a sculptor's art,and the girl raised them and inspected the rose-tints of their tips."I've read something about rubber gloves,"she returned vaguely.

"You'd better read something else then.How do you suppose you would get on without a carriage?"asked her mother with exasperation."You have never had so much as a taste of privation in any form.Your suggestion is the acme of foolishness.""I think I could do something if you would let me,"rejoined the girl as calmly as before."I think I could teach music pretty well,and keep house charmingly.If I had any false pride when we came out here,the past six weeks have purified me of it.Will you let me try,mother?I'm asking it very seriously.""Certainly not!"hotly."There are armies of music teachers now,and you would not have a chance.""I think I could dress hair well,"remarked Eloise,glancing at the reflection in a mirror of her own graceful coiffure.

"I dare say!"responded Mrs.Evringham with sarcastic heat,"or I'm sure you could get a position as a waitress.The servant problem is growing worse every year.""I'd like to be your waitress,mother."For the first time the girl lost her perfect poise,and the color fluctuated in her cheek.She clasped her hands."It would be heaven compared with the feeling,the sickening,appalling suspicion,that we are becoming akin to the adventuresses we read of,the pretty,luxurious women who live by their wits.""Silence!"commanded Mrs.Evringham,her eyes flashing and her effective black-clothed figure drawn up.

Eloise sighed again."I didn't expect to accomplish anything by this talk,"she said,relapsing into listlessness.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 血剑无痕

    血剑无痕

    一个出生在没落家族的少年怎样完成家族的使命?一个得到至宝的少年怎样领悟人生,笑傲大陆?传说中的三大奇刃有着怎样的联系与秘密?到底这片迷失大陆迷失了什么?世界上真的有天上飞着的仙人么?修真的世界与凡人的世界到底会有怎样的联系?一段与众不同的修炼之旅该怎样开始?一切尽在《血剑无痕》。
  • 一品废材:凰女惊天下

    一品废材:凰女惊天下

    【坑深勿入】她不是灵魂穿越,她是整个人穿越了!衣服一换,她摇身变成无法修炼的娴宁郡主。想她堂堂特种兵学校的高材生,结果只打得过这里的小喽喽,这叫她情何以堪!于是乎,某男诱惑道:“本世子帮你开灵,让你修炼,你答应本世子一个条件。”“什么条件?”某女小心问道。“一直这么有趣下去。”某男眼中闪烁着幽幽暗光,脸上笑得正儿八经。某女懵,这算什么鬼条件,能说句人话吗?!【爽文+男强vs女强+宠文,亲爱的毫不犹豫地点进来吧~】
  • 最强狂暴兵王

    最强狂暴兵王

    【爆爽新书】绝代兵王逆天重生成为史上最牛学生,为重回部队,修龙魂之体,练楚家绝技,以一双铁拳横扫所有强敌。不服就干,不爽就战!当楚南无意间展露锋芒的刹那,绝色校花,清纯萝莉,长腿尤物,高冷总裁……纷至沓来!
  • 魔戒2-双塔奇兵

    魔戒2-双塔奇兵

    魔戒三部曲的第二部分,“双城奇谋”讲述的是在分散之后,魔戒远征队每一名成员的命运,直到黑暗降临,魔戒圣战展开为止;剩下的部分则是会记述在魔戒三部曲的第三部中。
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 异能之一缘定情一双人

    异能之一缘定情一双人

    他和她只在他13岁,她12岁有过一面之缘。可他却许她一生,但未等她回答。便红着脸,跑开了。却不知这一别,便是多年后。他也变得冷酷,嗜血。她也变得无情,面对一切都是淡淡的。当再次见面,他便认出了她,可她还懵懵懂懂......
  • 仙道一途

    仙道一途

    一条直路少人寻,寻到山根始入门。坐定方知行气主,真人之息自深深。慕容俊逸是地球上的一个隐士上古家族,传承儒道释三家功法,还精通琴棋书画。慕容俊逸是一名优秀的军机试飞员,再一次试飞新式的战机时,无意间飞入空间空洞,来到了一个未知的世界,开启了修仙之旅。
  • 豪门校草赖上我

    豪门校草赖上我

    一个女孩(苏雪颜)在街上遇到了个傲娇校草(柏希寒)。后来竟阴差阳错成了同班同学,之后成为欢喜冤家。最后两人成为了情侣,大学毕业了。
  • 刀塔西游之世界冠军

    刀塔西游之世界冠军

    这里没有是与非,只有胜与败,没有神与魔,只有强与弱!召唤那些耳熟能详的英雄们,用最纯粹的武力来证明自己,以力证道,才是王道!自从S1、S2世界总决赛以来,冠军似乎已经被韩国队霸占,而在这一年,S3的赛季来临,一只新星队伍SG战队自那中国DSPL甲级职业联赛而出,势如破竹踏入S3的顶尖队伍之列。不知是否能够创造奇迹?
  • EXO校园小说之我爱你

    EXO校园小说之我爱你

    自从她进入校园后,自己的生活变发生了巨大的改变,不知道将来的生活会不会幸福……