登陆注册
15464600000044

第44章 CHAPTER IX(1)

NEW YORK is at its very brightest and best in October. This month of the year may be safely trusted not to disappoint. The skies are blue, the air balmy, and there is generally a delightful absence of wind. The summer exiles are home again from Jersey boarding houses, and mountain camps, and seaside hotels, and thankful to the point of hilarity that this episode of the year is over, that they can once more dwell under their own roofs without breaking any of the manifest laws of the great goddess Custom or Fashion.

Judge Rawdon's house had an especially charming "at home" appearance. During the absence of the family it had been made beautiful inside and outside, and the white stone, the plate glass, and falling lace evident to the street, had an almost conscious look of luxurious propriety.

The Judge frankly admitted his pleasure in his home surroundings. He said, as they ate their first meal in the familiar room, that "a visit to foreign countries was a grand, patriotic tonic." He vowed that the "first sight of the Stars and Stripes at Sandy Hook had given him the finest emotion he had ever felt in his life," and was altogether in his proudest American mood. Ruth sympathized with him. Ethel listened smiling. She knew well that the English strain had only temporarily exhausted itself; it would have its period of revival at the proper time.

"I am going to see grandmother," she said gayly. "I shall stay with her all day.""But I have a letter from her," interrupted the Judge, "and she will not return home until next week.""I am sorry. I was anticipating so eagerly the joy of seeing her. Well, as I cannot do so, I will go and call on Dora Stanhope.""I would not if I were you, Ethel," said Ruth. "Let her come and call on you.""I had a little note from her this morning, welcoming me home, and entreating me to call."The Judge rose as Ethel was speaking, and no more was said about the visit at that time but a few hours later Ethel came down from her room ready for the street and frankly told Ruth she had made up her mind to call on Dora.

"Then I will only remind you, Ethel, that Dora is not a fortunate woman to know. As far as I can see, she is one of those who sow pain of heart and vexation of spirit about every house they enter, even their own. But Icannot gather experience for you, it will have to grow in your own garden.""All right, dear Ruth, and if I do not like its growth, I will pull it up by the roots, Iassure you."

Ruth went with her to the door and watched her walk leisurely down the broad steps to the street. The light kindled in her eyes and on her face as she did so. She already felt the magnetism of the great city, and with a laughing farewell walked rapidly toward Dora's house.

Her card brought an instant response, and she heard Dora's welcome before the door was opened. And her first greeting was an enthusiastic compliment, "How beautiful you have grown, Ethel!" she cried. "Ah, that is the European finish. You have gained it, my dear; you really are very much improved.""And you also, Dora?"

The words were really a question, but Dora accepted them as an assertion, and was satisfied.

"I suppose I am," she answered, "though I'm sure I can't tell how it should be so, unless worry of all kinds is good for good looks.

I've had enough of that for a lifetime."

"Now, Dora."

"Oh, it's the solid truth--partly your fault too.""I never interfered----"

"Of course you didn't, but you ought to have interfered. When you called on me in London you might have seen that I was not happy; and I wanted to come to Rawdon Court, and you would not invite me. I called your behavior then `very mean,' and I have not altered my opinion of it.""There were good reasons, Dora, why I could not ask you."

"Good reasons are usually selfish ones, Ethel, and Fred Mostyn told me what they were.

"He likely told you untruths, Dora, for he knew nothing about my reasons. I saw very little of him.""I know. You treated him as badly as you treated me, and all for some wild West creature--a regular cowboy, Fred said, but then a Rawdon!""Mr. Mostyn has misrepresented Mr. Tyrrel Rawdon--that is all about it. I shall not explain `how' or `why.' Did you enjoy yourself at Stanhope Castle?""Enjoy myself! Are you making fun of me? Ethel, dear, it was the most awful experience.

You never can imagine such a life, and such women. They were dressed for a walk at six o'clock; they had breakfast at half-past seven. They went to the village and inspected cottages, and gave lessons in housekeeping or dressmaking or some other drudgery till noon. They walked back to the Castle for lunch. They attended to their own improvement from half-past one until four, had lessons in drawing and chemistry, and, I believe, electricity. They had another walk, and then indulged themselves with a cup of tea. They dressed and received visitors, and read science or theology between whiles. There was always some noted preacher or scholar at the dinner table. The conversation was about acids and explosives, or the planets or bishops, or else on the never, never-ending subject of elevating the workingman and building schools for his children.

Basil, of course, enjoyed it. He thought he was giving me a magnificent object lesson. He was never done praising the ladies Mary Elinor and Adelaide Stanhope.

I'm sure I wish he had married one or all of them--and I told him so.""You could not be so cruel, Dora."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 合江亭

    合江亭

    合江亭,地处成都,府河与南河于此相合,汇为一条河流。因为两江相合,永不分离的寓意,成了当地人心中的爱情圣地。《合江亭》即以此背景,讲述了在这个物欲和浮躁的现在,一对男女为追求真爱发生的悲欢离合的感人故事。因恋人高尚在一次登山中遭遇不幸,林点点一直活在痛失恋人的阴影中。林点点具有典型成都女孩的个性——外表温婉,内心隐忍倔强。在生活和感情道路上,她一次次遭受打击,过着痛苦自疚的日子。和相爱的人走过合江亭,是她的梦想。可到合江亭的路,却那么的遥远。直到通过一次偶遇,他见到了一位与高尚非常相像的男人苏易。苏易的到来,给她久已阴霾的生活射进一缕光线。可是苏易却是一个心有隐衷的人,因为先天的疾病,让他对感情不抱有希望。尽管对林点点充满好感,却始终未能放下心防。这反而加剧了点点的痛苦。尊敬的书友,本书选载最精华部分供您阅读。留足悬念,同样精彩!
  • 生化袭击

    生化袭击

    当GSGT研究所发现国内生化局势失控后,通过联盟政府会议决定成立一支联合部队“RT部队”,而“RT部队”很显然是第一轮交手便全军覆没,由此演化出了“抗生化大队”其中我们的7位主人公也陆续登场。一次影响全球的战争由此引爆,各种对抗方式不断展开,其中包括袭击,抢夺武器库,仓库等据点和资源,或者直接的互相杀戮……经过一轮对抗后,“抗生化大队”势力在自己不断强大,而“GSGT生化”的实力也不断扩大,因此也毫不示弱展开了两股势力的对抗。而“TheCompany”公司本身愿望就是消灭现有人类,所以来势凶猛,直接对“抗生化大队”与“GSGT生化”进行屠杀。然而“Thecompany"公司却“默默无闻”地在一边旁观。三方势力在对抗当中难分胜负,而战斗的枪声也才刚刚打响……….
  • 神纹戒

    神纹戒

    文艺版简介:这个世界好大,我想去看看,哪怕没钱,但我有一颗勇敢的心。正常版简介:偶然间的一枚戒指,让少年一步步变强的故事。中二版简介:神戒神戒,快快显灵,我要隐身,姐姐在洗澡!
  • 三界风云志

    三界风云志

    【创世2016奇幻新锐作品】【创世2016人气作品】【创世第一部“玄幻+仙侠+神话+奇幻”融合式大作】天地初开,鸿蒙初始,盘古和女娲有一个古老的约定。两人联手创立三界,随后进入三界。(仙界、凡界、冥界)。然而盘古却身死,身体让女娲拿出补天,只剩下一块石头……石头吸天地精气,日月精华,被冥界至尊魁拔带到了冥界……没想到这块石头竟化作了“齐天大圣”!于此同时,三界大战爆发在即……“天选之子”后羿……天蓬元帅……齐天大圣……越来越多的绝世天才纷纷横空出世……
  • 倾世恋之夏家三千金

    倾世恋之夏家三千金

    夏水(落白颜),只是想隐瞒自己的身份而已,可一场游戏,将她的庞大身世暴露出来,她上有全国公司百强前三的CEO总裁姐姐——夏雪(落红颜),下有黑帮老大的干女儿,黑道妹妹——夏雨(落紫颜),她恨所有碰过她的人,只是为了一个承诺,承诺打破,他再度回归,却带着所谓的“儿子,妻子”······
  • 呆萌少女:邪恶时代

    呆萌少女:邪恶时代

    当呆萌少女穿越至邪恶时代。会不会……发生一些,不大正常的事情呢?本书作者声明如有雷同纯属巧合。
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。
  • 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!)
  • 三界道途

    三界道途

    鸿蒙初分,混沌开辟,茫茫星海,苍苍大界。这里,万族林立;这里,诸强争锋。无数天才力争上游,无数传奇黯然落幕。血与泪洒满天地,诗与歌传颂万古。......诸天万域吾为王,悠悠岁月我称尊。
  • 万灵通鉴

    万灵通鉴

    古老的流放之地天使星系发生异变,来历不明的姐弟来到宇宙联盟下属的高等术法学院。所谓的史鉴,记载了多少上古六大家族的密辛?故事,从百合一族徐徐展开......