登陆注册
15512700000075

第75章 CHAPTER 24(2)

He made Do answer, and the meal was concluded in silence. It was a relief to both when the letter-bag was brought in. It contained, upon examination, a newspaper and one or two letters for him, and a couple of letters for me, which he tossed across the table without a remark. One was from my brother, the other from Milicent Hargrave, who is now in London with her mother. His, I think, were business letters, and apparently not much to his mind, for he crushed them into his pocket with some muttered expletives, that I should have reproved him for at any other time. The paper, he set before him, and pretended to be deeply absorbed in its contents during the remainder of breakfast, and a considerable time after.

The reading and answering of my letters, and the direction of household concerns, afforded me ample employment for the morning; after lunch, I got my drawing, and from dinner till bedtime, I read. Meanwhile, poor Arthur was sadly at a loss for something to amuse him or to occupy his time. He wanted to appear as busy and as unconcerned as I did: had the weather at all permitted, he would doubtless have ordered his horse and set off to some distant region--no matter where--immediately after breakfast, and not returned till night; had there been a lady anywhere within reach, of any age between fifteen and forty-five, he would have sought revenge and found employment in getting up--or trying to get up--a desperate flirtation with her; but being, to my private satisfaction, entirely cut off from both these sources of diversion, his sufferings were truly deplorable. Ben he had done yawning over his paper and scribbling short answers to his shorter letters, he spent the remainder of the morning and the whole of the afternoon in fidgeting about from room to room, watching the clouds, cursing the rain, alternately petting, and teasing, and abusing his dogs, sometimes lounging on the sofa with a book that he could not force himself to read, and very often fixedly gazing at me, when he thought I did not perceive it, with the vain hope of detecting some traces of tears, or some tokens of remorseful anguish in my face. But I managed to preserve an undisturbed, though grave serenity throughout the day. I was not really angry: I felt for him all the time, and longed to be reconciled; but I determined he should make the first advances, or at least show some signs of an humble and contrite spirit, first; for, if I began, it would only minister to his self-conceit, increase his arrogance, and quite destroy the lesson I wanted to give him.

He made a long stay in the dining-room after dinner, and, I fear, took an unusual quantity of wine, but not enough to loosen his tongue; for when he came in and found me quietly occupied with my book, too busy to lift my head on his entrance, he merely murmured an expression of suppressed disapprobation, and, shutting the door with a bang, went and stretched himself at full length on the sofa, and composed himself to sleep. But his favourite cocker, Dash, that had been lying at my feet, took the liberty of jumping upon him and beginning to lick his face. He struck it off with a smart blow; and the poor dog squeaked, and ran cowering back to me. den he woke up, about half an hour after, he called it to him again; but Dash only looked sheepish and wagged the tip of his tail. He called again, more sharply, but Dash only clung the closer to me, and licked my hand as if imploring protection. Enraged at this, his master snatched up a heavy book and hurled it at his head. The poor dog set up a piteous outcry and ran to the door. I let him out, and then quietly took up the book.

`Give that book to me,' said Arthur,in very courteous tone. I gave it to him.'

`Why did you let the dog out?' he asked. `You knew I wanted him.'

`By what token?' I replied; `by your throwing the book at him? but perhaps it was intended for me?'

`No--but I see you've got a taste of it,' said he, looking at my hand, that had also been struck, and was rather severely grazed.

I returned to my reading; and he endeavoured to occupy himself in the same manner; but, in a little while, after several portentous yawns, he pronounced his book to be `cursed trash,' and threw it on to the table. Then followed eight or ten minutes of silence, during the greater part of which, I believe, he was staring at me. At last his patience was tired out.

`What is that book, Helen?' he exclaimed.

I told him.

`Is it interesting?'

`Yes, very.'

`Humph!'

I went on reading--or pretending to read, at least--I cannot say there was much communication between my eyes and my brain; for, while the former ran over the pages, the latter was earnestly wondering when Arthur would speak next, and what he would say, and what I should answer. But he did not speak again till I rose to make the tea, and then it was only to say he should not take any. He continued lounging on the sofa. and alternately closing his eyes and looking at his watch and at me, till bedtime, when I rose, and took my candle and retired.

`Helen!' cried he, the moment I had left the room. I turned back, and stood awaiting his commands.

`What do you want, Arthur?' I said, at length.

`Nothing,' replied he. `Go!'

I went, but hearing him mutter something as I was closing the door, I turned again. It sounded very like `confounded slut,' but I was quite willing it should be something else.

`Were you speaking, Arthur?' I asked.

`No,' was the answer; and I shut the doom and departed. I saw nothing more of him till the following morning at breakfast, when he came down a full hour after the usual time.

`You're very late,' was my morning's salutation.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 静志居琴趣

    静志居琴趣

    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。
  • 时空的旅人

    时空的旅人

    一个穿梭的无数时空的旅人,追寻着世界的真相和未来。
  • 终焉神陨

    终焉神陨

    两次圣战之后,世间已少有神明的迹象。瑟尔瑞拉,即使被黑暗笼罩,即使原罪充斥人心,耀世之荣光依旧长存。时与空的轮转,产生不可控的命运,被命运枷锁束缚之人,终将于此觉醒,这是命中注定,这……无法改变。
  • 六界乱时空混

    六界乱时空混

    上古时期,在另外一个星球上,史前文明破裂,星球步入了一个战乱的年代,究竟谁,能再次做到统一天下?
  • 穿越火线之末日战神

    穿越火线之末日战神

    我叫杨勇,是一名大学生,我是个穷屌丝,虽然长的不错但是家境贫寒,当末日来临,看我如何摸爬打滚。
  • 第一总裁夫人2

    第一总裁夫人2

    历经千辛建立起来的爱情,却因为两个女子的介入,再度暗潮汹涌。 为救丈夫将MISS—KINGDOH总裁左冷艳逼出商界; 为救儿女,将小妖范捧上大位。 黑暗经商手腕,血色情感掠夺,再掀人性道德沉沦大战。
  • 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!)
  • 看清经济新常态

    看清经济新常态

    聚焦两会,看清经济新常态。中国经济是否会进入一个持续衰退期?全面深化改革路在何方?
  • 拐你一辈子

    拐你一辈子

    如果有一个人,能让你不再胆怯的奔跑,你是否有勇气,在爱情的路上勇往直前?
  • 秦王逸史

    秦王逸史

    秦王李世民是唐代一位著名的开国皇帝。本辑所收《秦王传奇》及《混唐后传》两部历史演义,生动集中地敷演了唐代开国前后的一些传奇故事。