登陆注册
15464900000085

第85章 CHAPTER XX(1)

HER CLINGING ARMS

The ancient capital of Canada--the old gray queen of the mighty St.

Lawrence--is a city of many charms and of much stately beauty. Its narrow, climbing streets, with their quaint shops and curious gables, its old market, with chaffering habitant farmers and their wives, are full of living interest. Its noble rock, crowned with the ancient citadel, and its sweeping tidal river, lend it a dignity and majestic beauty that no other city knows; and everywhere about its citadel and walls, and venerable, sacred buildings, there still linger the romance and chivalry of heroic days long gone. But there are times when neither the interests of the living present nor the charms of the romantic past can avail, and so a shadow lay upon Maimie's beautiful face as she sat in the parlor of the Hotel de Cheval Blanc, looking out upon the mighty streets and the huddled roofs of the lower town. She held in her hand an open note.

"It is just awfully stupid," she grumbled, "and I think pretty mean of him!""Of whom, may I ask?" said Kate, pausing in her singing, "or is there any need? What says the gallant lieutenant?"Maimie tossed her the note.

"The picnic is postponed. Well, of course the rain told us that;and he is unavoidably prevented from calling, and entreats your sympathy and commiseration. Well, that's a very nice note, I am sure.""Where has he been these three days! He might have known it would be stupid, and Harry gives one no satisfaction." Maimie was undeniably cross. "And Ranald, too," she went on, "where has he been? Not even your music could bring him!" with a little spice of spite. "I think men are just horrid, anyway.""Especially when they will keep away," said Kate.

"Well, what are they good for if not to entertain us? I wish we could do without them! But I do think Ranald might have come.""Well," said Kate, emphatically, "I can't see why you should expect him.""Why not?"

"I think you ought to know."

"I, how should I know?" Maimie's innocent blue eyes were wide open with surprise.

"Nonsense," cried Kate, with impatience rare in her, "don't be absurd, Maimie; I am not a child.""What do YOU mean?"

"You needn't tell me you don't know why Ranald comes. Do you want him to come?""Why, of course I do; how silly you are."

"Well," said Kate, deliberately, "I would rather be silly than cruel and unkind.""Why, Kate, how dreadful of you!" exclaimed Maimie; "'cruel and unkind!'""Yes." said Kate; "you are not treating Ranald well. You should not encourage him to--to--care for you when you do not mean to--to--go on with it."

"Oh, what nonsense; Ranald is not a baby; he will not take any hurt.""Oh, Maimie," said Kate, and her voice was low and earnest, "Ranald is not like other men. He does not understand things. He loves you and he will love you more every day if you let him. Why don't you let him go?""Let him go!" cried Maimie, "who's keeping him?" But as she spoke the flush in her cheek and the warm light in her eye told more clearly than words that she did not mean to let him go just then.

"You are," said Kate, "and you are making him love you.""Why, how silly you are," cried Maimie; "of course he likes me, but--""No, Maimie," said Kate, with sad earnestness, "he loves you; you can see it in the way he looks at you; in his voice when he speaks and--oh, you shouldn't let him unless you mean to--to--go on. Send him right away!" There were tears in Kate's dark eyes.

"Why, Katie," cried Maimie, looking at her curiously, "what difference does it make to you? And besides, how can I send him away? I just treat him as I do Mr. De Lacy.""De Lacy!" cried Kate, indignantly. "De Lacy can look after himself, but Ranald is different. He is so serious and--and so honest, and he means just what he says, and you are so nice to him, and you look at him in such a way!""Why, Kate, do you mean that I try to--" Maimie was righteously indignant.

"You perhaps don't know," continued Kate, "but you can't help being fascinating to men; you know you are, and Ranald believes you so, and--and you ought to be quite straightforward with him!" Poor Kate could no longer command her voice.

"There, now," said Maimie, caressing her friend, not unpleased with Kate's description of her; "I'm going to be good. I will just be horrid to both of them, and they'll go away! But, oh, dear, things are all wrong! Poor Ranald," she said to herself, "I wonder if he will come to the picnic on Saturday?"Kate looked at her friend a moment and wiped away her tears.

"Indeed I hope he will not," she said, indignantly, "for I know you mean to just lead him on. I have a mind to tell him.""Tell him what?" said Maimie, smiling.

"Just what you mean to do."

"I wish you would tell me that."

"Now I tell you, Maimie," said Kate, "if you go on with Ranald so any longer I will just tell him you are playing with him.""Do," said Maimie, scornfully, "and be careful to make clear to him at the same time that you are speaking solely in his interest!"Kate's face flushed red at the insinuation, and then grew pale.

She stood for some time looking in silence at her friend, and then with a proud flash of her dark eyes, she swept from the room without a word, nor did Maimie see her again that afternoon, though she stood outside her door entreating with tears to be forgiven.

Poor Kate! Maimie's shaft had gone too near a vital spot, and the wound amazed and terrified her. Was it for Ranald's sake alone she cared? Yes, surely it was. Then why this sharp new pain under the hand pressing hard upon her heart?

Oh, what did that mean? She put her face in her pillow to hide the red that she knew was flaming in her cheeks, and for a few moments gave herself up to the joy that was flooding her whole heart and soul and all her tingling veins. Oh, how happy she was. For long she had heard of the Glengarry lad from Maimie and more from Harry till there had grown up in her heart a warm, admiring interest.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 大神娇妻难搞定

    大神娇妻难搞定

    当年的电竞圈表示:从未见过这种技术与无耻并重,不要脸与臭不要脸齐飞的大神。如今的网游圈表示:夭寿啦,电竞远古大神臭不要脸的来网游里虐菜啦!贺诀表示:这游戏是我买的,不就范,信不信永封了你账号?阮明姿:……说我不要脸的那些人快过来看看他!
  • 醉在你的笑

    醉在你的笑

    初见她时,一袭青衣连身裙,翩翩而舞。初见他时,一袭华贵墨色长袍,负手而立。他说她,笑靥如花。她说他,狂傲无比。初见时,已一见倾心。他说:“遇见你,是我这一生最幸运的事。”可为何,命运总是会把他们,不断的分开?爱到最后,遍体鳞伤,没有力气去爱了。
  • 本宫来自军情十三处

    本宫来自军情十三处

    她是军情处十三军上校,冷酷无情。重生已是凤家痴傻出名的嫡出小姐。痴傻呆滞不见,聪明睿智惊现,貌倾天下一夜扬名天下。传说得凤家之女可得天下。她邪倪一笑,双眸折射出杀机。她恣意狂放,负手而立,她说,“我,绝非善类。想得到我,除非山海关崩塌,天地沦陷,否则绝不可能!”片段一:莫言兮神色复杂地看着她,“七七,在你心里我就只是你的师父这么简单吗?”她说,“是,在我凤七的心里。你莫言兮永远只是我凤七的师父。就算有,那也只能是师徒之情。”“为什么!是因为冥非离么。就是因为他,所以你才不肯接受我。七七,他不值得你为他付出,他只是在利用你,根本就不值得你爱他。”片段二:“七七,只有朕才配的上你。因为我们是同一类人。”冥非离低沉充满磁性的声音对她说道。“你错了,我们不是同一类人。你是一人之下万人之上的皇帝,而我凤七,却只是个心狠手辣,杀人如麻的杀手。配的上你的人,并非是我,而是你的宛秋。”片段三:“美人,别那么严肃!本公子会好好对你的。”夜妖月魅惑妖娆一笑,羽扇轻摇,动作轻浮犹如浪荡公子般调戏她。
  • 无限厮杀

    无限厮杀

    他是一名普通的初中生,他很平凡。他有一个平凡的她,有一天,她失踪了。他获得了一个机遇,称之为机遇,不如说是折磨,但这个机遇使他得到了寻回失踪女友的机会。为了你深爱的人,你能做到哪一步?连蚂蚁都不敢踩的他,最后竟杀人不眨眼。一场场厮杀游戏,一次次死里逃生。他不再平凡,成为了万人瞩目的神。
  • 君临天下之异世重生

    君临天下之异世重生

    待我君临天下,许你四海为家!(非得20个字,希望大家多多支持新书,谢谢大家)
  • 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!)
  • 你在盛开的时光里翩然而至

    你在盛开的时光里翩然而至

    初中时的童可欣追求学霸周辉三年未果,努力考上S高中,却遇见了幼时的青梅竹马陈端泽,陈端泽对童可欣念念不忘,两人成为了同桌,童可欣的闺蜜何小妮对陈端泽一见钟情,并暗地里使尽招数挑拨童和陈的关系……
  • 千世宠

    千世宠

    “请主人赐名!”“翠花?”“不行,太没品了!”“小红?”“不行,这也没品!”“菊花?”“哎呀哎呀,我喜欢菊花这个名字!”........“你是我见过最漂亮的女人....额...搞错,最霸气的男人!”“扶桦啊扶桦,枉你还是浮生殿的殿主,你的高傲和冷呢!怎么全变成二啦?还有还有,什么叫做最漂亮的女人.....哼哼哼....女人你欠调教了吗?”“魔主饶命!”
  • 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!)
  • 修真之升仙

    修真之升仙

    想了想,做事有始有终,还是坚持写完,不管有没有人看,只是给自己一个理由。混沌分而天地现,化万物而修真