登陆注册
15528800000032

第32章 Phrases too Suggestive.(3)

"Come,Coz,let me get you some sweet-oil before you finish your supper.You know you are the handsomest girl in the State,and that's distinction enough for one woman.To you,Miss Burton is only a plain school-teacher.Why should you envy her?""I do not envy her,nor can I see why people are so carried away with her.""It IS remarkable to see what an impression she has made in two brief days.Of course her courage in saving the child served as a general and favorable introduction,but it does not by any means explain her growing popularity.For some reason or other those about her always seem to be having a good time.See how animated and pleased is the expression of all the faces at her table yonder.

It was the same on the croquet-ground this morning.She effervesced like champagne,and before we knew it we were all in a state of exhilaration and the morning had gone.""I hate these bold,forward women who are quick to become acquainted with every one.A man of this type is bad enough,but a woman is unendurable.""I agree with you in the abstract most heartily;but the only bold thing that I have seen Miss Burton do was to run under the feet of my horses.You might as well call a ray of sunshine bold and forward;and people like sunshine when it is as nicely tempered as her manner is.I confess that when I first learned who she was,and before I had met her personally,I was greatly prejudiced against her,but one would have to be a churl indeed to remain proof against her genial good-nature.For my part I intend to enjoy it,as I do all the other good things the gods throw in my way.""The gods would indeed be careless to leave any good things within your reach,unless they were meant for you,"snapped Ida.

"Good for you,Coz;your ride with Van Berg has already brightened you up.There is no telling what you might not become if you would only associate with men who had sufficient brains not to grow spooney over your pretty face."As Ida and her mother passed out on the piazza,Van Berg joined them and said:

"I am glad to see that you have so fully recovered,Miss Mayhew.

You prove again that you possess good strong nerves.""Thank you,"said the young lady,laconically,and with a sudden accession of color.

"Mr.Van Berg,"began Mrs.Mayhew with great animation,"I'm excessively thankful that you happened to be on the road,and that the stage overtook you this morning.It was so fortunate that I almost think it providential.How dreadful it would have been if Ida had been alone in such frightful peril!I cannot tell you also how delighted I am that my daughter behaved so beautifully.

Indeed,I must confess that I am agreeably surprised,for Ida was never famous for her courage.Your own manner must have inspired confidence in her;and now that you have been so fortunately THROWNTOGETHER,I trust you may be better friends in the future."Miss Mayhew's rising color deepened into an intense scarlet,and,as she turned away to hide her confusion,she could not forbear shooting a wrathful glance at the artist.He had sufficient self-control not to change a muscle,or to appear in the slightest degree aware of the embarrassment caused by her mother's words,and especially the use of the phrase--grown to be most hateful from its associations--that so vividly recalled to the incensed maiden the anomalous position in which she found herself at the end of her perilous morning ride.

"You ladies differ favorably from us men,"said Van Berg,quietly.

"You rise to meet an emergency by an innate quality of your sex,whereas,in our case,if our native strength is not equal to the occasion we fall below it as a matter of course.""Oh,that accounts for Ida's coming off with such flying colors--she rose to meet the emergency.I hope,however,she will EMBRACEno more such opportunities of showing her courage--why!Ida,what IS the matter?what have I said?"but the young lady,with face inflamed,vanished in the direction of her room.

"Well,this IS strange,"remarked the lady with a sharp glance of inquiry at the artist,who still managed to maintain an expression of lamb-like innocence."I do believe the poor child is ill,and,now I think of it,she has not acted like herself for several days;"and she sought her daughter with hasty steps.

But the young lady did not go to her room,being well aware that her mother would soon follow for the explanation which she could not give.Therefore,taking a side corridor,she joined some acquaintances on another piazza.

同类推荐
  • 分别功德论

    分别功德论

    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。
  • 尚书大论

    尚书大论

    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。
  • 明伦汇编人事典十岁部

    明伦汇编人事典十岁部

    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。
  • 诸经要集

    诸经要集

    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。
  • 勅修百丈清规

    勅修百丈清规

    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
  • 四世一界

    四世一界

    奥兰世界、艾伦世界、泰尔世界、达兹世界,这四个世界分别为四个宇宙,四世大战后,四大世界中的各个种族在这场战争中失去了大量的人口与数额巨大的物质,四百年过去了,今非昔比,有的大种族没落,而有的种族,却在这场战争后愤然崛起。
  • 存亡日

    存亡日

    故事从一个千疮百孔的乱世开始,在一个繁华淡去的盛世结束。他由一个凡人过渡到权力的制高点,在怀疑和信任之间做出选择。明天很难变得更好,因为只要你活着,“更好”这个概念就会一直存在下去。
  • 金丹道

    金丹道

    叹叹叹,三千大道几磨难!为得金丹,红尘情丝尽斩断!苦苦苦,一壶浊酒对月沽!遥望逍遥,青锋布衣华发束!还你一本原汁原味的仙侠!
  • 寒窗录

    寒窗录

    你若害我,我便以牙还牙,你若伤我所爱,我便让你生不如死。我,寒窗钰,必与你生死两隔。
  • 妖途漫漫

    妖途漫漫

    她说:“从前你是师我是徒,后来你是妖我是人,,现在我们都是妖了,还不能在一起吗?”齐川脸红,白璃嘟囔:“你今年十岁就可以把五岁的经历丢掉吗?过河拆桥可不好啊,孩子。”
  • 厉害了岛主

    厉害了岛主

    “想当年我开着挖掘机打丧尸,和巨人国王称兄道弟,带着二十来艘船就敢跟机甲岛硬碰硬,还帮无数岛屿脱离了生化危机,你们猜后来怎么着?”“怎么着了?”众人连忙追问道。林天化点起一支香烟,意味深长地笑了笑说:“我放下了所有荣誉,跑到这里来和你们吹牛逼……”“厉害了岛主!”“低调,其实我的愿望是,世界和平!”
  • 仙侠界的一股清流

    仙侠界的一股清流

    众人只爱女主,关注女主,上天偏爱女主,给予女主最好的,金手指,珍奇异兽,美男无双小白表示呲嘴不屑一顾,她一人也能在这里过得潇洒,美男不是女主的吗?好!!她绕道,不招惹奇珍异宝不是女主的吗?好!!!她闭眼闭眼不看反正咱不和女主抢,咱就安安稳稳的过咱的小日子作者说:看到别的小说但凡也有两个穿越的,总是女主的光鲜,另一个穿越的就是低俗不聪明,颜丑,只配侍卫,我真的看不下去啦!!!这算是我的一个想法我文采不好,不会华丽带着深奥含意的优美词语,各位看官多多见谅
  • 双黑骑士

    双黑骑士

    我以为我已经足够强大,但为什么身边的人却在离我远去?我以为我拥有足够的地位和权力,但到头来却发现自己不过是一颗棋子。我以为我已经麻木不仁,但从心底传来的痛苦却刻骨铭心……我却不能停,就算我知道这样只会让我背负更多的罪恶,我还是要继续走下去,我已经没有选择,因为……在这里就算不是家乡,我也还有要守护的人。
  • Their Wedding Journey

    Their Wedding Journey

    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。
  • 安心爱

    安心爱

    ‘我想不到我可以遇见苏正,现在看到他,就有点让我想哭。可能是因为我过的太幸福了吧。’