登陆注册
15445900000014

第14章 Miss Westerfield's Education(14)

In the meanwhile Miss Wigger had entered her drawing-room. With the slightest possible inclination of her head, she eyed the stranger through her green spectacles. Even under that disadvantage his appearance spoke for itself. The servant's estimate of him was beyond dispute. Mr. Herbert Linley's good breeding was even capable of suppressing all outward expression of the dismay that he felt, on finding himself face to face with the formidable person who had received him.

"What is your business, if you please?" Miss Wigger began.

Men, animals, and buildings wear out with years, and submit to their hard lot. Time only meets with flat contradiction when he ventures to tell a woman that she is growing old. Herbert Linley had rashly anticipated that the "young lady," whom it was the object of his visit to see, would prove to be young in the literal sense of the word. When he and Miss Wigger stood face to face, if the door had been set open for him, he would have left the house with the greatest pleasure.

"I have taken the liberty of calling," he said, "in answer to an advertisement. May I ask"--he paused, and took out a newspaper from the pocket of his overcoat--"If I have the honor of speaking to the lady who is mentioned here?"

He opened the newspaper, and pointed to the advertisement.

Miss Wigger's eyes rested--not on the passage indicated, but on the visitor's glove. It fitted him to such perfection that it suggested the enviable position in life which has gloves made to order. He politely pointed again. Still inaccessible to the newspaper, Miss Wigger turned her spectacles next to the front window of the room, and discovered a handsome carriage waiting at the door. (Money evidently in the pockets of those beautiful trousers, worthy of the gloves!) As patiently as ever, Linley pointed for the third time, and drew Miss Wigger's attention in the right direction at last. She read the advertisement.

"A Young Lady wishes to be employed in the education of a little girl. Possessing but few accomplishments, and having been only a junior teacher at a school, she offers her services on trial, leaving it to her employer to pay whatever salary she may be considered to deserve, if she obtains a permanent engagement.

Apply by letter, to S.W., 14, Delta Gardens, N.E."

"Most impertinent," said Miss Wigger.

Mr. Linley looked astonished.

"I say, most impertinent!" Miss Wigger repeated.

Mr. Linley attempted to pacify this terrible woman. "It's very stupid of me," he said; "I am afraid I don't quite understand you."

"One of my teachers has issued an advertisement, and has referred to My address, without first consulting Me. Have I made myself understood, sir?" She looked at the carriage again, when she called him "sir."

Not even Linley's capacity for self-restraint could repress the expression of relief, visible in his brightening face, when he discovered that the lady of the advertisement and the lady who terrified him were two different persons.

Have I made myself understood?" Miss Wigger repeated.

"Perfectly, madam. At the same time, I am afraid I must own that the advertisement has produced a favorable impression on me."

"I fail entirely to see why," Miss Wigger remarked.

"There is surely," Linley repeated, "something straightforward--I might almost say, something innocent--in the manner in which the writer expresses herself. She seems to be singularly modest on the subject of her own attainments, and unusually considerate of the interests of others. I hope you will permit me--?"

Before he could add, "to see the young lady," the door was opened: a young lady entered the room.

Was she the writer of the advertisement? He felt sure of it, for no better reason than this: the moment he looked at her she interested him. It was an interest new to Linley, in his experience of himself There was nothing to appeal to his admiration (by way of his senses) in the pale, worn young creature who stood near the door, resigned beforehand to whatever reception she might meet with. The poor teacher made him think of his happy young wife at home--of his pretty little girl, the spoiled child of the household. He looked at Sydney Westerfield with a heartfelt compassion which did honor to them both.

"What do you mean by coming here?" Miss Wigger inquired.

She answered gently, but not timidly. The tone in which the mistress had spoken had evidently not shaken her resolution, so far.

"I wish to know," she said, "if this gentleman desires to see me on the subject of my advertisement?"

"Your advertisement?" Miss Wigger repeated. "Miss Westerfield! how dare you beg for employment in a newspaper, without asking my leave?"

"I only waited to tell you what I had done, till I knew whether my advertisement would be answered or not."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 拜金名媛:限量版爱情

    拜金名媛:限量版爱情

    她接着打开衣柜门,里面是一个约25平米的房间,一排排衣架上挂着的全是顶级品牌的洋装和晚礼服,匆匆换上了一件Gucci印花连衣短裙后,又跑进另一个房间,在一大堆令人眼花缭乱的名牌包具和鞋子中,抓起一只蓝色Fendi Spy拎包,踩上Jimmy Choo的高跟鞋,驾驶着奔驰SLK280直奔四季酒店。
  • 恶魔校草跟我走

    恶魔校草跟我走

    “顾梓辰我喜欢你,这辈子我只要你”“慕言惜你要不要脸,你一个女孩子竟然说出这种话”某腹黑面上依旧冰冷,内心却早已波涛汹涌
  • 悠闲岛主

    悠闲岛主

    当黑帮大佬成了悠闲岛主,会是怎样一副另类情形?蓝天、阳光、沙滩、海浪…却有着另外一面诙谐的场景。“我的目标…是让崇阳岛成为中国的超级大城!下一个香港!中国的迪拜!”李阳深吸了口烟,缓缓吐出烟圈,微笑道。(轻松文,新书上传,求收藏求推荐!)
  • 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!)
  • 黑色玫瑰

    黑色玫瑰

    一朵盛放在腐朽尸体上的黑色玫瑰;一个被隐藏了多年的惊人秘密;一段充满了恐惧与悲伤的人生历程;以及一段此生终究无法白头偕老的悲剧爱情。故事的最后又会是怎样的一个结局呢?惊悚,心酸,无奈,悲情--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 配角人设总在崩

    配角人设总在崩

    作为一个穿越位面实习的软妹子,要推得动剧情,救的好女主,玩的转他杀……可是,系统人设总在崩怎么破!说好的恶毒女配呢?尼玛,我真心不是来抢女主光环的!说好的娇纵大小姐呢!尼玛,娇纵能用可爱来形容吗?摔!这些世界好虐心,扑倒组长哭一哭!组长,求带走!求转正啊!
  • 复仇公主的第一本恋爱史

    复仇公主的第一本恋爱史

    顾家唯一的独生子,顾米亚。米亚的妈妈十年前早就被贪恋美色的爸爸扫地出门了。只留下她。顺便还把插足爸妈感情的小三戴安铜和她的两个女儿两个儿子带来家中。忍受到十七岁,她,“重生”了。魅力复仇公主,遇上各位身怀绝技的王子们,写出了复仇公主的第一本恋爱史。
  • 真龙归位之真命天子

    真龙归位之真命天子

    这是一个架空的历史故事,述说一个新的史诗故事,现实的历史虽然美丽,但无缘参与其中,既然无法参与,那就创造一个我能参与的新历史,真龙归位是梦希笔谈新历史中的一个朝代,述说皇位争夺下的腥风血雨......故事中的主线是炎朝皇太子夜熙爵,但父皇夜宓炎重病驾崩,皇叔夜南靳举兵篡位,年幼的皇太子逃出宫外流离失所,幸好有忠心耿耿的李啸虎将军、神机妙算的萧月亮先生,还有,受天命女扮男装前来守护的邹紫灵一路相随,完成了复位登基的重任。一路上少年天子夜熙爵,与女扮男装的护龙使邹紫灵,又会发生什么不离不弃的动人爱情故事……
  • 逆天龙脉:七十二重楼戒

    逆天龙脉:七十二重楼戒

    【完结】天元大陆,在这里,没有强横如斯的斗气,也没有绚烂多彩的魔法,有的,仅仅是真气发展到了颠峰状态下的产物天脉:源脉,灵脉,神脉,圣脉,更有那传说欲与天比高的逆天龙脉.当某一天,一个意外的灵魂穿越到了这里时,逆天龙脉的传说就此拉开了序幕.记住,我叫谢无双,上天入地,唯我无双的那个无双.人是狂人,刀为狂刀,七分刀,八分天下,刀占七分,七分刀出,无回首.尊之上,是为神.然而,那场震惊寰宇的尊神之战中,一人,一刀,却告诉了所有人只要抱以必死的决心,尊,同样可以战胜神.
  • 娱乐之功夫巨星

    娱乐之功夫巨星

    第一版本简介:楚瑜做为一个小小武行,失手杀人,锒铛入狱,紧跟着又被一个秘密的科研基地,买去当了试验品。实验之中,意外发生,他穿越来到了一个平行世界。在这个世界功夫片没能得到有效的发展,甚至没有一两部精品出现,只因为这个世界缺少了那些曾经在功夫电影界一挽狂澜的诸多传奇!曾经作为一名武行的他,立刻就有了在这个世界的报复,他要成为在这个世界上,最为耀眼的那一颗明星!自此,楚瑜将会书写自己的传奇,让东西方的人都知道,什么是功夫,什么是真正的动作电影!第二版本简介:面临人生最大窘境,意外穿越,原本穿越之后,他具备了成为传说中超级英雄的诸多条件,只是他却将成为明星当做了目标,成为了荧幕上的英雄......