登陆注册
15512400000056

第56章 CHAPTER XI(5)

"Oh, no," said Charlotte, very earnestly. "Mr. Brand has always admired her.

But we did not want anything of that kind."

Felix stared. "Surely, marriage was what you proposed."

"Yes; but we did n't wish to force her."

"A la bonne heure! That 's very unsafe you know.

With these arranged marriages there is often the deuce to pay."

"Oh, Felix," said Charlotte, "we did n't want to 'arrange.' "

"I am delighted to hear that. Because in such cases--even when the woman is a thoroughly good creature--she can't help looking for a compensation.

A charming fellow comes along--and voila!" Charlotte sat mutely staring at the floor, and Felix presently added, "Do go on with your slipper, I like to see you work."

Charlotte took up her variegated canvas, and began to draw vague blue stitches in a big round rose. "If Gertrude is so--so strange," she said, "why do you want to marry her?"

"Ah, that 's it, dear Charlotte! I like strange women;

I always have liked them. Ask Eugenia! And Gertrude is wonderful; she says the most beautiful things!"

Charlotte looked at him, almost for the first time, as if her meaning required to be severely pointed.

"You have a great influence over her. "

"Yes--and no!" said Felix. "I had at first, I think; but now it is six of one and half-a-dozen of the other; it is reciprocal. She affects me strongly--for she is so strong.

I don't believe you know her; it 's a beautiful nature."

"Oh, yes, Felix; I have always thought Gertrude's nature beautiful."

"Well, if you think so now," cried the young man, "wait and see!

She 's a folded flower. Let me pluck her from the parent tree and you will see her expand. I 'm sure you will enjoy it."

"I don't understand you," murmured Charlotte. "I can't, Felix."

"Well, you can understand this--that I beg you to say a good word for me to your father. He regards me, I naturally believe, as a very light fellow, a Bohemian, an irregular character.

Tell him I am not all this; if I ever was, I have forgotten it.

I am fond of pleasure--yes; but of innocent pleasure. Pain is all one; but in pleasure, you know, there are tremendous distinctions.

Say to him that Gertrude is a folded flower and that I am a serious man!"

Charlotte got up from her chair slowly rolling up her work.

"We know you are very kind to every one, Felix," she said.

"But we are extremely sorry for Mr. Brand."

"Of course you are--you especially! Because," added Felix hastily, "you are a woman. But I don't pity him. It ought to be enough for any man that you take an interest in him."

"It is not enough for Mr. Brand," said Charlotte, simply.

And she stood there a moment, as if waiting conscientiously for anything more that Felix might have to say.

"Mr. Brand is not so keen about his marriage as he was," he presently said.

"He is afraid of your sister. He begins to think she is wicked."

Charlotte looked at him now with beautiful, appealing eyes--eyes into which he saw the tears rising. "Oh, Felix, Felix," she cried, "what have you done to her?"

"I think she was asleep; I have waked her up!"

But Charlotte, apparently, was really crying, she walked straight out of the room. And Felix, standing there and meditating, had the apparent brutality to take satisfaction in her tears.

Late that night Gertrude, silent and serious, came to him in the garden; it was a kind of appointment. Gertrude seemed to like appointments.

She plucked a handful of heliotrope and stuck it into the front of her dress, but she said nothing. They walked together along one of the paths, and Felix looked at the great, square, hospitable house, massing itself vaguely in the starlight, with all its windows darkened.

"I have a little of a bad conscience," he said. "I ought n't to meet you this way till I have got your father's consent."

Gertrude looked at him for some time. "I don't understand you."

"You very often say that," he said. "Considering how little we understand each other, it is a wonder how well we get on!"

"We have done nothing but meet since you came here--but meet alone.

The first time I ever saw you we were alone," Gertrude went on.

"What is the difference now? Is it because it is at night?"

"The difference, Gertrude," said Felix, stopping in the path, "the difference is that I love you more--more than before!"

And then they stood there, talking, in the warm stillness and in front of the closed dark house. "I have been talking to Charlotte--been trying to bespeak her interest with your father.

She has a kind of sublime perversity; was ever a woman so bent upon cutting off her own head?"

"You are too careful," said Gertrude; "you are too diplomatic."

"Well," cried the young man, "I did n't come here to make any one unhappy!"

Gertrude looked round her awhile in the odorous darkness.

"I will do anything you please," she said.

"For instance?" asked Felix, smiling.

"I will go away. I will do anything you please."

Felix looked at her in solemn admiration. "Yes, we will go away," he said.

"But we will make peace first."

Gertrude looked about her again, and then she broke out, passionately, "Why do they try to make one feel guilty? Why do they make it so difficult?

Why can't they understand?"

"I will make them understand!" said Felix. He drew her hand into his arm, and they wandered about in the garden, talking, for an hour.

同类推荐
  • 北征录

    北征录

    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。
  • 翼庵禅师语录

    翼庵禅师语录

    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。
  • 游云际寺

    游云际寺

    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。
  • 书集传或问卷

    书集传或问卷

    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。
  • 薛仁贵征辽事略

    薛仁贵征辽事略

    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
  • 狱血之翼

    狱血之翼

    小飘新手上路,请大家多多照顾,万分感激。
  • 光明主宰

    光明主宰

    因为梦想我曾经堕落,因为信仰我选择拿起了手中剑柄,因为爱人我在混沌中等候了百万年。——直到我回到了一切刚开始的那一天,这是一条重回主宰的道理,而这一世我会选择守候在您的身边。
  • 天际之路

    天际之路

    一曲高歌吟天际,芜湖四海皆荒芜,一段血泪历,不杀魔,怎成佛。
  • 时光初见

    时光初见

    像是打开了某扇记忆的大门......季樊突然就笑了,他弯着桃花眼,亮晶晶的眸子如夜里的零碎星光。昏黄的路灯下,眼前安静如山水墨画的身影,渐渐和藏在内心深处的记忆重合在一起,他犹豫着走上前去,低头内心一番挣扎过后,终是抬起手......不料---却抓了个空。
  • 无界永恒

    无界永恒

    一沙一世界,一花一天堂,转念一瞬,一念永恒,转身一晃,无远弗界。苦寂滅道、无智无得,心无挂碍,菩提萨陀。纵横众多世界,打破规则局限,摆脱时间束缚,缔造无界永恒。
  • 哥在诸天万界混日子

    哥在诸天万界混日子

    何峰是个小人物,他最想做的事情就是混日子,可是总有人不开眼来欺负他。有人抢地盘?何峰带着提着开山刀的武圣关羽,拿着军刺的武神赵云,手持棍子的孙悟空,还有总是美哒哒的妲己上去就是一阵乱揍!面对觉醒者警察局的局长岳不群,面对大佬级别的菩提老祖,何峰从来没怕过,因为他的地盘不允许任何抢夺!混日子,就是要轻松一些!于是拿出手机发个微信:“二郎神,三缺一,快来,啥玩意?没资金了,好了好了!我借三个世界给你!”与秦时明月的韩非与卫庄吃个火锅,那就发个朋友圈呗,欢迎诸天万界各位人物来点赞!不一样的故事!等你来参与!无限流?手机穿越流?微信通天庭与古代流?喔!那都out了!
  • 掌控主神

    掌控主神

    宇宙是一个整体,如生灵般有生有死,有始有终,不断在生与死之间轮回,直到耗尽真正的寿命。这是一个凡人追求跳出无限轮回,达到永恒不灭的故事。嗯,简单来说,就是猪脚建设自己的主神空间,然后不断攻略世界,超脱轮回。本书改名,换了个地方从发,《无限之掠夺空间》
  • 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!)
  • 剑侠奇谭传

    剑侠奇谭传

    女主人公是叫何雪,男主人公叫苏杭,苏杭是个孤儿,被一名高手收留,何雪是幽都的公主,长大后历经磨难两人终于在了一起,期间发生了许多事,与古剑奇谭大不一样看了就知道,快来看吧!
  • 邪王专宠狂傲六公主

    邪王专宠狂傲六公主

    她因情被杀,发誓来生再不相信爱。但上天似乎偏爱她,她竟然重生了,重生的她抛渣男,收神宠,斗刁女,绽放属于自己的光彩,成为一颗耀眼的明珠。但谁来告诉她,这位人前高冷的邻国皇叔怎么会是个无赖,天天缠着她,还想着怎么把她娶回家。