登陆注册
15512400000045

第45章 CHAPTER IX(4)

"He seemed rather in a muddle."

Eugenia, who was near the window, glanced out, listening a moment.

"The matter--the matter"--she answered. "But you don't say such things here."

"If you mean that he had been drinking a little, you can say that."

"He does n't drink any more. I have cured him. And in return--he 's in love with me."

It was Acton's turn to stare. He instantly thought of his sister; but he said nothing about her. He began to laugh.

"I don't wonder at his passion! But I wonder at his forsaking your society for that of your brother's paint-brushes."

Eugenia was silent a little. "He had not been in the studio.

I invented that at the moment."

"Invented it? For what purpose?"

"He has an idea of being romantic. He has adopted the habit of coming to see me at midnight--passing only through the orchard and through Felix's painting-room, which has a door opening that way.

It seems to amuse him," added Eugenia, with a little laugh.

Acton felt more surprise than he confessed to, for this was a new view of Clifford, whose irregularities had hitherto been quite without the romantic element. He tried to laugh again, but he felt rather too serious, and after a moment's hesitation his seriousness explained itself. "I hope you don't encourage him," he said.

"He must not be inconstant to poor Lizzie."

"To your sister?"

"You know they are decidedly intimate," said Acton.

"Ah," cried Eugenia, smiling, "has she--has she"--

"I don't know," Acton interrupted, "what she has.

But I always supposed that Clifford had a desire to make himself agreeable to her."

"Ah, par exemple!" the Baroness went on. "The little monster!

The next time he becomes sentimental I will him tell that he ought to be ashamed of himself."

Acton was silent a moment. "You had better say nothing about it."

"I had told him as much already, on general grounds," said the Baroness. "But in this country, you know, the relations of young people are so extraordinary that one is quite at sea.

They are not engaged when you would quite say they ought to be.

Take Charlotte Wentworth, for instance, and that young ecclesiastic.

If I were her father I should insist upon his marrying her; but it appears to be thought there is no urgency.

On the other hand, you suddenly learn that a boy of twenty and a little girl who is still with her governess--your sister has no governess? Well, then, who is never away from her mamma--a young couple, in short, between whom you have noticed nothing beyond an exchange of the childish pleasantries characteristic of their age, are on the point of setting up as man and wife."

The Baroness spoke with a certain exaggerated volubility which was in contrast with the languid grace that had characterized her manner before Clifford made his appearance.

It seemed to Acton that there was a spark of irritation in her eye--a note of irony (as when she spoke of Lizzie being never away from her mother) in her voice. If Madame Munster was irritated, Robert Acton was vaguely mystified; she began to move about the room again, and he looked at her without saying anything.

Presently she took out her watch, and, glancing at it, declared that it was three o'clock in the morning and that he must go.

"I have not been here an hour," he said, "and they are still sitting up at the other house. You can see the lights.

Your brother has not come in."

"Oh, at the other house," cried Eugenia, "they are terrible people!

I don't know what they may do over there. I am a quiet little humdrum woman; I have rigid rules and I keep them.

One of them is not to have visitors in the small hours--especially clever men like you. So good night!"

Decidedly, the Baroness was incisive; and though Acton bade her good night and departed, he was still a good deal mystified.

The next day Clifford Wentworth came to see Lizzie, and Acton, who was at home and saw him pass through the garden, took note of the circumstance.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 碧落黄泉之灵宠

    碧落黄泉之灵宠

    爱恨痴嗔,世间五味,她是收集五味的仙,人魔仙三界,她上天入地,耗尽灵力,只为了那个出尘的身影。女主是猫仙,代替自己的主人成为新一代仙灵,集齐人间五味。所谓仙灵,就是每千年用来祭祀天地,维持三界平衡的仙魄,最终会湮没,成为三界太极(可以净化灵魂的物质)。
  • 宠妃横行:邪帝别挡道

    宠妃横行:邪帝别挡道

    她啊,本来也就是个配角小渣渣。一朝女主光环就“幸运”的砸到了她头上。什么愁什么怨啊被战神冰块脸抓着不放。“夫君你为什么一直抓着我不放啊?”她一脸天真烂漫问“因为你夺我初吻,偷我心这买卖我赔大了啊。”某男回答到“那你…”“怎么还有问题不成?”一言不合就强上啊。
  • 妖都驱魔人

    妖都驱魔人

    酒点半酒吧附近接连发生的连环杀人碎尸案件把酒吧员工仇开和刚做警察两个月的警花文晨曦联系到一起,一个看看普普通通的杀人案却.......牵扯出很多不为人知的‘非人类’。繁杂花都,妖魔横行,隐遁于世的驱魔人......悄然现身.......
  • 黑狐秘事

    黑狐秘事

    这是我和老人之间的约定轻易不可对人谈起这是规矩,也是另一个世界的秘密,黑狐,哭泣小孩,下证,美女精神病........不想这些真实发生过的事情就随风而逝,还是忍不住一一揭开它的面纱
  • 网游之星际时代

    网游之星际时代

    华夏2200年,地球联合国推出全球各国联合开发了100年的新一代虚拟网游《星际时代》,身为华夏第五集团的唯一继承人林龙天,选择领主类玩家进入游戏之后,获得最高级部落建立令牌星光令以及一本神秘强大的功法,建立第一玩家部落龙城部落,率领麾下势力踏上星际争霸之途。然而,林龙天不知道的是,自游戏开始之后,一场针对林家,针对林龙天的阴谋正在一步一步向他靠近,直到家破人亡。。。从此,誓报血仇!ps:新书求点击,推荐和收藏还有评论~
  • 温病指南

    温病指南

    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。
  • 我变成丧尸皇的宠物

    我变成丧尸皇的宠物

    经过第一部的了解,第二部开始了,在我结婚当日,我竟然被人掳走了,醒来之后,我竟然变成丧尸皇的宠物,原来赤月没有与我融合,鬼仙竟然被人封印记忆,我又该何去何从?
  • 杂病心法要诀

    杂病心法要诀

    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。
  • 血瞳穿越之倾城

    血瞳穿越之倾城

    在陌生的世界中会与他擦出怎么样的火花呢.....哼废物吗?血家族你们看着我会怎么样强大起来吧全是系元素、神兽一群、身边美男一堆..................哈哈看我如何异闯天下吧!
  • 东子的那个夏天

    东子的那个夏天

    那个夏天,东子因为一时意气签了两份协议,从此改变了他的一生,他的一生从此与众不同。