登陆注册
15528800000180

第180章 Life and trust.(9)

"Pardon me,"he said,"but I left my sketchbook here some days since;and I especially wished to bid Mr.Eltinge good-by and to thank him with all the warmth and fulness that can be put into words."Mr.Eltinge was cordially and gravely kind in his reception,but Ida kept her face averted,for she knew that the traces of grief were too apparent.

After a few moments Mr.Eltinge said:"Since this is your last visit,I cannot think of letting either of you go back before dinner,and,if you will excuse me for a little time,I soon can see that our simple arrangements are made.""I shall be very glad to remain,"said Van Berg,so promptly that Ida turned and looked at him with surprise.She was still more surprised when,as soon as they were alone,he hobbled to the rustic seat and sat down beside her.

"Miss Ida,"he said,"you have always given me such admirable advice that I come to you again.Miss Burton refuses me absolutely and irrevocably,and in language that renders it impossible for me ever to address her again on the subject.You thus perceive what a forlorn object is before you--a rejected man and a cripple!""Miss Burton refused you!"exclaimed Ida in utter amazement."You were but a cold wooer,I imagine,"she added reproachfully,and she rose from the seat and stood aloof from him.

"You know well,Miss Ida,"he said earnestly,"that a falsehood would be impossible in this place,and I assure you I honestly did the best I could.We have plighted our faith in a friendship that will be a brother's love on my part,but she said solemnly that she would regard offers of marriage from me,now or at any future time,as an insult.In brief,she has at last told me her story.

Her lover is dead,and it was because she detected certain resemblances in my appearance to him that she looked at me sometimes in the way you described.I had surmised as much before,but at one time hoped that this accidental resemblance might give me a vantage-ground in winning her from a past that I knew must have been very sad indeed.My resemblance was only an outward one,the man himself was immeasurably my superior,and on the principle of contrast alone Jennie Burton could never think of me.But her love for Harrold Fleetwood is her life.It is a strange,unearthly devotion that time only increases.I felt weeks since that I could worship her as a saint far easier than I could love her as a woman,and I now know the reason.It would indeed be an insult for any man to speak to her of love and marriage,if he knew what I have learned to-day.""Then poor Cousin Ik has no chance either,"said Ida,with tears in her eyes.

"No,I do not think he has,although she has learned to appreciate him.She spoke of him as a 'true,noble-hearted gentleman,'and such terms from the lips of a woman like Jennie Burton are better than a king's title.As far as my complacent and deliberate wooing of last summer is concerned,I believe that when it did not pain and annoy her she was rather amused by it.She had seen the genuine thing,you know,and thus I was the only one imposed upon by a sentiment which at the time received the unqualified approval of my infallible reason and judgment.The very superior Mr.Harold Van Berg once declined your acquaintance,as you may remember.Take your full revenge upon him now,for you see to what a battered and dilapidated condition of body and mind he has been reduced.He has developed a genius for blundering and getting himself and other people into trouble,that is quite sublime.If ever a man needed daily advice and counsel,he does,and the incalculable service that you have rendered him in this respect leads him to come to you again.""Indeed,sir,"said Ida,turning away with a crimson face,"I have no further advice to give you.Mr.Eltinge will soon be back;take him as your counsellor.I'm going to gather some flowers for dinner."He at once was on his crutches and in close pursuit,but she flitted away before him till in despair he returned to the rustic seat.Then she shyly and hesitatingly began to approach,apparently absorbed in tying up her flowers.

"Haven't you observed that I am a cripple?"he asked.

"I have observed that you are a very nimble one.""I think you are very cruel to treat a helpless man in this style.""Indeed,sir,I have not taken away your crutches.When you spoke of a helpless man,to whom did you refer?""I thought you once said that mercy was 'twice bless'd.'""That's a truism that has become a little trite.Don't you think Mr.Eltinge will like my bouquet?""Here is a flower that to me is worth all that ever bloomed.Come and tell me if you still recognize it,"and he took out the little note-book in which was pressed the imperfect and emblematic rose-bud.

"Poor little thing!"Ida sighed,looking over his shoulder,"how faded it has become!"By a motion that was almost instantaneous he dropped the note-book and caught her hand."Yes,Ida,"he said eagerly,it is faded,but it grows dearer to me daily,as you will long after the exquisite color has faded from your face.Ida Mayhew,the brook has stopped now because it cannot help itself,nor will it ever go on again,even in spring or summer,unless it bears you away with it."She turned and looked him full in his eyes,in accordance with her custom when she felt that she must know the innermost thoughts of the speaker.

"Mr.Van Berg,"she said very gravely,"let that little emblem there remind you that you are speaking to a very faulty and ignorant girl.I cannot regain in a few weeks what I have lost in a wasted life.You may regret---""Hush,Ida;for once I will not listen to you.When I believed myself dying my chief thought was of you,and when I heard sounds near me,in my half unconscious state I called your name.""Oh,that it had been my privilege to answer,"she sighed.

"You saved me when I was in far worse peril,"he resumed in words that flowed like a torrent."You saved my honor,my manhood;you saved me from folly that would have blasted my life.I owe far more to you than to Jennie Burton,and I know at what cost to yourself.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 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!)
  • 狐生恋

    狐生恋

    一个延续万年的阴谋,一个涉及无数神族的庞大组织,牢牢地将每个人的命运控制,就像沿着轨道行走,一切偶然,却是无形中的必然一位知天知地知天下的九华仙上,却唯独不知自己,一段孽缘,历经万年,万年前他为了天下抛弃了她,万年之后,再度面临选择,是重蹈覆辙还是为美人负天下?
  • 星径

    星径

    “星焰”是来自灵魂的一种能量,是每个人都可以操控的一种能量,这种能量有时微弱;有时却异常强大……
  • 豪门危情:我的爹地是只狼

    豪门危情:我的爹地是只狼

    “宝贝,你叫什么名字?”一夜缠绵,他竟然问出这样的问题。她笑了,“我叫vivi,总裁常来照顾我生意啊!”丑女逆袭成功,梦中情人变饿狼,夜夜索爱还不够。是捕狼计划成功?还是已入狼口不自知?爱情,谁说的清。看着眼前和自己小时候几乎一个模子刻出来的小人,叶景殊凌乱了。“小朋友,你爸爸是谁?”“妈咪说我爸爸是条掉毛的大尾巴狼。”
  • 玉爱南风情

    玉爱南风情

    母亲说男人不可信但她没说不能跟男神睡一起啊。于是两个原本没有交集的人因为一场伤心事而走到了一起。他们举行婚礼,共度蜜月。然而是梦总要醒的。分开一年后,迟玉化身红发姬与雅南风再次相遇。物是人非还是前缘再续?一个搞不灵清的后妈,一个暴力贪婪的哥哥,一个任性的前女友,一个为情所困的搭档。当这些人一起出现在迟玉生活中的时候她原本想要的宁静生活又该如何继续?对于青春而言,就算爱情是毒蛇猛兽那又如何。爱了便是爱了,就算没有结果也是一种结果。
  • 时光对吻伤痕

    时光对吻伤痕

    她幸福的生活,因她母亲的死而结束,她母亲尸骨未寒,她的父亲就带了另一个女人回来,林家,迎来了另一个女主人,那个人还带来了她的女儿-林悦心。原来,她所谓的父亲,早就在外面跟其他女人私相授受,生下了这个只比她小一岁的“妹妹”。后来,她遇见了他。他对她很好,可是,这只是一场灰姑娘的白日梦。“我恨你”这,是她留下,最后的话语
  • 神奇宝贝之谜一样的世界

    神奇宝贝之谜一样的世界

    穿越了,是神奇宝贝的世界哦!哦。身份是怪物猎人哦!哈?有家传武学基本内功哦!啊?!仇家是间桐家哦!什么鬼?世界正在被黑色齿轮污染哦!!等等,这种世界我不要穿啦!呐呐,为了锻炼我的写作技巧之构建世界观的能力!我就这么做死了!来啊!正面上我啊!
  • 星战之巅

    星战之巅

    星空战场胜者为王,烈武扬空改变世界法则。星战赛场玩着瞩目,每个人都为之痴迷,为胜利者欢呼。可没有一个人能够看清他们的真面目,在叱咤星空的背后,又隐藏着怎样的艰辛。真正的王者站在巅峰,即使没有人理解,也会捍卫他的王座。银河3015年甲级巅峰联赛,即将揭晓,谁才是真正的王者。
  • 尊上收萌宝为徒之萌宝欺上头

    尊上收萌宝为徒之萌宝欺上头

    女主因为种种原因穿越了,穿越到谁的身体里不好偏偏穿越到一个废材的身上,还好女主的父母对女主很好,女主虽然算不上最美的但是三界最卡哇伊的,不然不穿越回去就不干了,此时男主也穿越了,穿越到谁的身上不好偏偏穿越到三界最强最厉害的人身上,美貌也是三界最美的,怎么能叫人不嫉妒?
  • 极品逍遥行

    极品逍遥行

    此生若不逍遥行,且疯狂,疯狂若不得逍遥,那吾为王!