登陆注册
15451400000024

第24章 CHAPTER V(3)

"I am conquered," he said in a voice in which vexation struggled with a laugh, "and by a woman over whom I had an advantage. It is humiliating, for I confess I do not like being beaten."

"Don't you think that women generally win if they mean to?" asked Barbara. "I believe that when they fail, which is often enough, it is because they don't care, or can't make up their minds. A woman in earnest is a dangerous antagonist."

"Yes," he answered, "or the best of allies." Then he gave the clubs and half-a-crown to the caddies, and when they were out of hearing, added, "Miss Champers, I have been wondering for some time whether it is possible that you would become such an ally to me."

"I know nothing of business, Sir Robert; my tastes do not lie that way."

"You know well that I was not speaking of business, Miss Champers. I was speaking of another kind of partnership, that which Nature has ordained between men and women--marriage. Will you accept me as a husband?"

She opened her lips to speak, but he lifted his hand and went on.

"Listen before you give that ready answer which it is so hard to recall, or smooth away. I know all my disadvantages, my years, which to you may seem many; my modest origin; my trade, which, not altogether without reason, you despise and dislike. Well, the first two cannot be changed except for the worse; the second can be, and already is, buried beneath the gold and ermine of wealth and titles.

What does it matter if I am the son of a City clerk who never earned more than ā2 a week and was born in a tenement at Battersea, when I am one of the rich men of this rich land and shall die a peer in a palace, leaving millions and honours to my children? As for the third, my occupation, I am prepared to give it up. It has served my turn, and after next week I shall have earned the amount that years ago I determined to earn. Thenceforth, set above the accidents of fortune, I propose to devote myself to higher aims, those of legitimate ambition.

So far as my time would allow I have already taken some share in politics as a worker; I intend to continue in them as a ruler which I still have the health and ability to do. I mean to be one of the first men in this Empire, to ride to power over the heads of all the nonentities whose only claim upon the confidence of their countrymen is that they were born in a certain class, with money in their pockets and without the need to spend the best of their manhood in work. With you at my side I can do all these things and more, and such is the future that I have to offer you."

Again she would have broken in upon his speech and again he stopped her, reading the unspoken answer on her lips.

"Listen: I have not told you all. Perhaps I have put first what should have come last. I have not told you that I love you earnestly and sincerely, with the settled, unalterable love that sometimes comes to men in middle-age who have never turned their thought that way before.

I will not attempt the rhapsodies of passion which at my time of life might sound foolish or out of place; yet it is true that I am filled with this passion which has descended on me and taken possession of me. I who often have laughed at such things in other men, adore you.

You are a joy to my eyes. If you are not in the room, for me it is empty. I admire the uprightness of your character, and even your prejudices, and to your standard I desire to approximate my own. I think that no man can ever love you quite so well as I do, Barbara Champers. Now speak. I am ready to meet the best or the worst."

After her fashion Barbara looked him straight in the face with her steady eyes, and answered gently enough, for the man's method of presenting his case, elaborate and prepared though it evidently was, had touched her.

"I fear it is the worst, Sir Robert. There are hundreds of women superior to myself in every way who would be glad to give you the help and companionship you ask, with their hearts thrown in. Choose one of them, for I cannot do so."

同类推荐
  • 杂纂之义山杂纂

    杂纂之义山杂纂

    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。
  • 最上乘论

    最上乘论

    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。
  • 海滨大事记

    海滨大事记

    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。
  • 梅花拳秘谱

    梅花拳秘谱

    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。
  • 史讳举例

    史讳举例

    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
  • 七星塔之怒海

    七星塔之怒海

    七星七层,一层一世界。一席红袍,手持血锋长刃,矗立在亮如月亮的星光上,猖狂大笑!怒海狂潮,天地颠覆,一艘艘千丈巨型星船如同海中小舟,天星破碎,如流星洒落大地,毁天灭地……各位看官一起进来拾起那碎了一地的世界观吧!
  • 我本将心项明月

    我本将心项明月

    爱一个人到底有没有期限,东方磊不知道,只知道自己爱了她整整五年。五年前,她亲口告诉他,想要娶她就要考上状元和成为逍遥剑的传人。他都做到了,不但如此,他还成为一代儒商,家财万贯,风靡万千少女。而他几乎把这辈子所有的温柔都给了她。可是,那又怎么样,狠得下心给他使暗器伤他,使他锒铛入狱。一杯忘情水,从此再不愿想起她,可是再次相遇,换了个身份性格,而她只需要一对眼泪就能让他彻底沦陷,原来他的心里从很早就刻上了她的名字--向明月。
  • 煞无痕

    煞无痕

    五行大陆,看智障少年逆命破天!至高功法,看煞术吞噬天下五行!徐昊,徐日天,煞噬五行,唯有无痕!
  • 恋汐成瘾

    恋汐成瘾

    不知从什么时候,她已完全占据他心。是第一次相见是第一次kiss还是......情不知所起,一往情深-----恨不知所踪,一笑而泯
  • 扑倒娇妻:男神总裁要二婚

    扑倒娇妻:男神总裁要二婚

    “结婚六年,她勤俭持家,他却路边采花,她伺候一家吃喝拉撒,他外面花前月下。她六年主妇被嫌弃的生活过早的成了黄脸婆,他在外一日日的风流倜傥。他却为了外面的‘美貌小三’用变成黄脸婆生不出孩子的理由和她离婚。苦笑着接了离婚协议书,指着挺着肚子趾高气昂的小三‘莫永,她如果经历我我嫁给你的这六年,还能美貌如花,她如果五年和丈夫见面不到10次,还能怀孩子,那么我诚心祝福你们。“工作,她也是曾今的人才。立志努力活出自己。不在受男人左右,可谁知自己顶头大boss老是想被自家左右。某男悠闲的说,“正好你也离了婚,我也离了婚,我们可以一起来一个‘二婚’”。某女脸抽了一抽,拿出一个瓶子“boss您该吃药了。
  • 御石至尊

    御石至尊

    女娲补天的最后一块五色石遗落人间,一分为五,分落在世界各地,后人吸收神石上灵气,开始修炼武学,创立万千门派。少年张彻,得世外高人指导,融合五块神石之力,借助自身的神秘体质,通过不同寻常的修道路走上修行的巅峰。“圣人们说谁掌握了神石,谁就掌握了整个世界,而现在神石就在我的口袋里。”“敌人灰飞烟灭,世界在我脚下燃烧。”
  • 乐绕情恋

    乐绕情恋

    EXO的唯美爱恋她与EXO会发生什么趣事呢尽请期待
  • 华夏异闻录

    华夏异闻录

    这里的人界叫华夏,华夏的大陆叫九州。九州的天暗的好像从来没有光,那是因为天被封印了的原因,而有一天封印将被解开,众神将要归来.....适时,谁主修界沉浮?修真者?武者?血继者?阴阳师?还是......人、魔、妖、鬼、异、灵、神,神界之上是否还有天?“天又如何,天也有害怕的东西,终有一天我要叫你也忏悔!”....
  • 权势熏天

    权势熏天

    老陈家祖传一句话:“是个坏人就做个坏人,是个好人就做个好人,逆着人性来生活会把你像相片一样撕得粉碎!”原本注定陈文龙像一只猛虎一样叱咤风云,但是,小时候一位路过村庄的道士改变了他前二十年的命运,卜出一道凶卦,其爷无奈,以命抵命,换取孙儿二十年平安无事。二十年后,二十好几的年轻人原本以为一切尘埃落定,踏踏实实做个良民,熟知,一击炮弹,炸起惊涛怒浪。属于老陈家的道路被重新拉开了序幕......陈文龙感叹:原来不是每个男人都适合平静的生活。
  • 时光之舟

    时光之舟

    多维时空之外的一次星际战争中发生意外,一只高级文明的智能设备被送出那个空间、突破维度到了地球,被主角获得,开始了不一样的人生。