登陆注册
15467600000010

第10章

"I am afraid I have shocked you," she resumed, noticing the startled expression of his countenance. "But really it was quite inevitable, if we were at all to understand each other. You will forgive me, won't you?""Forgive!" stammered he, "I have nothing to forgive. It was only your merciless truth- fulness which startled me. I rather owe you thanks, if you will allow me to be grateful to you. It seems an enviable privilege.""Now," interrupted Edith, raising her forefinger in playful threat, "remember your promise."The lesson was now continued without further interruption. When it was finished, a little girl, with her hair done up in curl-papers, and a very stiffly starched dress, which stood out on all sides almost horizontally, entered, accompanied by Mrs. Van Kirk. Halfdan immediately recognized his acquaintance from the park, and it appeared to him a good omen that this child, whose friendly interest in him had warmed his heart in a moment when his fortunes seemed so desperate, should continue to be associated with his life on this new continent. Clara was evidently greatly impressed by the change in his appearance, and could with difficulty be restrained from commenting upon it.

She proved a very apt scholar in music, and enjoyed the lessons the more for her cordial liking of her teacher.

It will be necessary henceforth to omit the less significant details in the career of our friend "Mr. Birch." Before a month was past, he had firmly established himself in the favor of the different members of the Van Kirk family. Mrs. Van Kirk spoke of him to her lady visitors as "a perfect jewel," frequently leaving them in doubt as to whether he was a cook or a coachman. Edith apostrophized him to her fashionable friends as "a real genius," leaving a dim impression upon their minds of flowing locks, a shiny velvet jacket, slouched hat, defiant neck-tie and a general air of disreputable pretentiousness. Geniuses of the foreign type were never, in the estimation of fashionable New York society, what you would call"exactly nice," and against prejudices of this order no amount of argument will ever prevail. Clara, who had by this time discovered that her teacher possessed an inexhaustible fund of fairy stories, assured her playmates across the street that he was "just splendid," and frequently invited them over to listen to his wonderful tales. Mr. Van Kirk himself, of course, was non-committal, but paid the bills unmurmuringly.

同类推荐
  • 蜀王本纪

    蜀王本纪

    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。
  • 少仪外传

    少仪外传

    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。
  • 香畹楼忆语

    香畹楼忆语

    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。
  • 白雨斋词话

    白雨斋词话

    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。
  • 梅花岭遗事

    梅花岭遗事

    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
  • TFBOYS王俊凯之因为遇见你

    TFBOYS王俊凯之因为遇见你

    喜欢他,是爱情,遇见他,是意外,离开他,是天意,在遇他,是喜悦
  • 腹黑BOSS:差评小甜妻

    腹黑BOSS:差评小甜妻

    她只想做个安静、呆萌的淘宝卖家,却无故遭受无数差评投诉是怎么回事?她可是良心商家,哪个不长眼的竟敢写差评?他本是南宫集团的总裁,却因为一场“碰瓷儿”对她怀恨在心,一气之下,竟在她的淘宝店买了巨款的内衣以后,写下无数差评。于是,她气冲冲的跑去找他理论。他却说:“做我一个月的佣人,我便撤销差评如何?”叔可忍,婶婶不能忍。“你……”“你没有谈条件的资格……”于是她妥协了……从此以后,便误入了狼窝。
  • 夫君桃花朵朵开

    夫君桃花朵朵开

    她,五岁时便被爹娘从神界扔到了幻影大陆,直到有一天,她救了他,她开玩笑说,若真的要报答的话,那不如以身相许。他说:好啊!何时成亲。她选了一个黄道吉日,便和他成了亲奈何夫君桃花多,她只能一朵一朵的赶…………
  • 鲜卑帝国

    鲜卑帝国

    本书以鲜卑帝国中最强大的国家北魏为主线,通过对北魏王朝兴盛、衰亡的描写,让朋友们了解从三国到隋唐这段不为人知的历史,解开一个接一个的谜团。
  • 金融学基础联考重点、难点及模拟考场

    金融学基础联考重点、难点及模拟考场

    本书紧扣2010年金融联考大纲,并结合最新的金融理论与实践详细解析重点、难点部分,有助于配合考生第二阶段的复习。除此之外,本书还配有10套模拟试题,模拟试题严格按照2010年金融联考大纲样卷的题型结构与知识点分布进行编写,可以让考生抢先品味联考真题的“滋味”。对每一道题,我们均给出了详细的解析,非常适合考生复习巩固知识要点。
  • 爱若无言

    爱若无言

    爱若无言为一款魔幻类游戏曾经写的主角剧情背景主角姓名:布兰琪?格林主角性别:女主角种族:人主角身份:格林达尔城教皇之女
  • 滴水禅思

    滴水禅思

    本书以散文随笔的笔调,诠释了关于人生的许多道理。收入的文章包括《圈内圈外》、《学会快乐》、《朋友》等。
  • 最强穿越直播系统

    最强穿越直播系统

    【2018免费火爆】记者:请问当着上百万人的面调戏阿狸是什么感觉?林飞:感觉,很软!很大!很舒服!抢走黑胡子的暗暗果实,调戏女帝;成为金木研的师父,教他盲僧的天音波、回旋踢;地球末日,智械危机,这个世界需要屁股!(新书《老子就是大魔王》求收藏,求支持)
  • 江山倾尽桃花落

    江山倾尽桃花落

    “你愣什么?小呆子?”“容熙,我叫容熙。”“日后每天我都摘最灿烂的桃花给你。”“我会给你最盛大的婚礼。”“此生,容熙永不负你。”各种短篇故事各种嗨,喜欢的童鞋点进来!!!
  • 穿越恋之爱你无悔

    穿越恋之爱你无悔

    女黑人白芊芊手中持着的刃一横,架在他的脖子上。“你不解释吗?”“有什么好解释的。”男的黑衣人不屑的说道,双眼里透出的是冷漠。难道自己在他眼中,终究还是一个普通的不屑的人吗?白芊芊嘴角抽了抽,还是冷笑,毕竟她与他相识多年,最终他有了真爱说抛弃了她,当初如果不是为了他,她能当刺客吗?如果不是为了他,家人会为她而牺牲吗?