登陆注册
15467600000033

第33章

Some weeks later Colonel Grim received an appointment at thefortress of Aggershuus, and immediately took up his residence in the capital. He saw that his son cut a fine figure in the highest circles of society, and expressed his gratification in the most emphatic terms. If he had known, however, that Ralph was in the habit of visiting, with alarming regularity, at the house of a plebeian merchant in a somewhat obscure street, he would, no doubt, have been more chary of his praise. But the Colonel suspected nothing, and it was well for the peace of the family that he did not. It may have been cowardice in Ralph that he never mentioned Bertha's name to his family or to his aristocratic acquaintances; for, to be candid, he himself felt ashamed of the power she exerted over him, and by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing so inglorious a conquest. Nevertheless it wounded his egotism that she never showed any surprise at seeing him, that she received him with a certain frank unceremoniousness, which, however, was very becoming to her; that she invariably went on with her work heedless of his presence, and in everything treated him as if she had been his equal. She persisted in talking with him in a half sisterly fashion about his studies and his future career, warned him with great solicitude against some of his reprobate friends, of whose merry adventures he had told her; and if he ventured to compliment her on her beauty or her accomplishments, she would look up gravely from her sewing, or answer him in a way which seemed to banish the idea of love-making into the land of the impossible. He was constantly tormented by the suspicion that she secretly disapproved of him, and that from a mere moral interest in his welfare she was conscientiously laboring to make him a better man. Day after day he parted from her feeling humiliated, faint-hearted, and secretly indignant both at himself and her, and day after day he returned only to renew the same experience. At last it became too intolerable, he could endure it no longer. Let it make or break, certainty, at all risks, was at least preferable to this sickening suspense. That he loved her, he could no longer doubt; let his parents foam and fret as much as they pleased; for once he was going to stand on his own legs. And in the end, he thought, they would have to yield, for they had no son but him.

Bertha was going to return to her home on the sea-coast in a week.

Ralph stood in the little low-ceiled parlor, as she imagined, to bid her good-bye. They had been speaking of her father, her brothers, and the farm, and she had expressed the wish that if he ever should come to that part of the country he might pay them a visit. Her words had kindled a vague hope in his breast, but in their very frankness and friendly regard there was something which slew the hope they had begotten. He held her hand in his, and her large confiding eyes shone with an emotion which was beautiful, but was yet not love.

"If you were but a peasant born like myself," said she, in a voice which sounded almost tender, "then I should like to talk to you as I would to my own brother; but--""No, not brother, Bertha," cried he, with sudden vehemence; "I love you better than I ever loved any earthly being, and if you knew how firmly this love has clutched at the roots of my heart, you would perhaps--you would at least not look so reproachfully at me."She dropped his hand, and stood for a moment silent.

"I am sorry that it should have come to this, Mr. Grim," said she, visibly struggling for calmness. "And I am perhaps more to blame than you.""Blame," muttered he, "why are you to blame?""Because I do not love you; although I sometimes feared that this might come. But then again I persuaded myself that it could not be so."He took a step toward the door, laid his hand on the knob, and gazed down before him.

"Bertha," began he, slowly, raising his head, "you have always disapproved of me, you have despised me in your heart, but you thought you would be doing a good work if you succeeded in making a man of me.""You use strong language," answered she, hesitatingly; "but there is truth in what you say."Again there was a long pause, in which the ticking of the old parlor clock grew louder and louder.

"Then," he broke out at last, "tell me before we part if I can do nothing to gain--I will not say your love--but only your regard?What would youdo if you were in my place?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 千少暴宠小娇妻

    千少暴宠小娇妻

    世间繁荣不及你回眸一笑。她,一个集万千宠爱于一身,家世显赫,却爱上了他。他,神秘家世,高冷男神,但温柔只给她。。
  • 某百合的漫游记

    某百合的漫游记

    对于她的敌人来说,她是潜伏在阴影深处的恶魔,不寒而栗。对于她的友人来说,她是可以信赖的,与之交换性命的存在。对于她的Master来说......昂:“艾丽莎,快点到我碗里来~”艾丽莎:“我,我才不要。昂是大坏蛋!!”————————————————————————————————————PS.1以上只是关于艾丽莎个人的看法。。。PS.2扣扣群二四五一一四八六四,验证神马的书名,主角名,作者名都行。作者君欢迎各种调教。PS.3请不要期待,作者君的节操,那东西早就让某红白喝掉了。虽然本君认为不会有什么人来看这本奇怪的小说。PS.4好了,如果这都有人看的话,本君一定会很欢迎的。(握拳!)
  • 御魂之刃

    御魂之刃

    千年前的不甘,百世后的逆转。我以我血,不计一切,夺回世界。孤身少年,独自上路。神秘使命,波涛暗涌。两世魂灵,交错相杀,战神之尊,大陆威腾。异族血液沸腾,千年诅咒验证,谁弱谁强?转身之后,只想回到最初开始的地方。
  • 王牌特工

    王牌特工

    男人不坏,女人不爱。这个特工会撩骚,所以桃花运很好!这个特工脸皮厚,所以泡妞的成功率还很高!什么?不装逼会不会死?开什么玩笑,不装逼当然不会死,但是——会疯!
  • 守护甜心之圣雪蝶舞

    守护甜心之圣雪蝶舞

    天渐渐暗了下来,去了新的家,认识了一群可靠的朋友,没想到的是,他们居然不是普通的人类,每个人身上都肩负这重大的使命,在他们身上会发生什么有趣的历险呢?
  • 孤行者

    孤行者

    每个人,都是孤独而又冷清的走完那条叫做人生的道路的...
  • 狼人吉子

    狼人吉子

    这是一个关于小女孩吉子化身为狼人的故事。失去记忆的吉子发现自己渐渐地变成狼人。在遭到家族的排斥后,吉子决定离开家族,去寻找自己变成狼人的原因。没想到离开家族后却陷入了一场更大的阴谋当中……
  • 锦衣之下(任嘉伦、谭松韵主演)

    锦衣之下(任嘉伦、谭松韵主演)

    同名电视剧由任嘉伦、谭松韵主演,2018年即将播出。朝廷十万两修河银款不翼而飞,六扇门奉命协助锦衣卫一同追查。女捕快今夏不乐意了,前脚被锦衣卫抢功,后脚还要受其差遣。锦衣卫大人陆绎什么来历——当今锦衣卫最高指挥使之子,与权倾朝野、只手遮天的当朝首辅严嵩相交日久。顾及私心,亦为辨清敌友,她无意间成了他手中的一颗棋子。弃她于深林,陷她于不义,追她入惶恐惊梦中,陆绎对她,究竟是惜才,是愧疚,还是情难自已?
  • 混世法则

    混世法则

    我是废物?我被退亲?我被赶出家门?这些其实......我都不在乎,你应该明白我作为一个顶天立地的混混,就得有黑帮老大的样子,绝不苟且偷生,绝不低声下气,不就是退亲吗?不就是废物体质吗?不就是赶出家门吗?我在乎吗?我不在乎,真的,你要相信我,真的,呜呜........
  • 三生缘千年恋

    三生缘千年恋

    一朝穿越,她变成他的妃,性格多变的她,对他的爱只能隐藏着,她慢慢在后宫里面懂得了,人要狠。在生死之际的时候,他却选择了自己的姐姐,她没有说一句话,只是默默留下泪水,她再次醒来,变得冷漠腹黑,可是她却不知道他一直在等待她。再次相见,她一身大红色的红袍,没有了以前的清纯,变得妩媚起来,从一个都不如自己姐姐,变成了一个让人惊羡的女子。一次劫难,他抱着她说,这一次我再也不会放开你的手了,她哭了,哭着说这一次我再也不会离开你了。