登陆注册
15676100000059

第59章

Ashurst turned to the new speaker, Stella, shook his head, and smiled. She was very pretty! Sabina said regretfully: "You might!"Then the talk switched off to caves and swimming.

"Can you swim far?"

"About two miles."

"Oh!"

"I say!"

"How jolly!"

The three pairs of blue eyes, fixed on him, made him conscious of his new importance--The sensation was agreeable. Halliday said:

"I say, you simply must stop and have a bathe. You'd better stay the night.""Yes, do!"'

But again Ashurst smiled and shook his head. Then suddenly he found himself being catechised about his physical achievements. He had rowed--it seemed--in his college boat, played in his college football team, won his college mile; and he rose from table a sort of hero.

The two little girls insisted that he must see "their" cave, and they set forth chattering like magpies, Ashurst between them, Stella and her brother a little behind. In the cave, damp and darkish like any other cave, the great feature was a pool with possibility of creatures which might be caught and put into bottles. Sabina and Freda, who wore no stockings on their shapely brown legs, exhorted Ashurst to join them in the middle of it, and help sieve the water.

He too was soon bootless and sockless. Time goes fast for one who has a sense of beauty, when there are pretty children in a pool and a young Diana on the edge, to receive with wonder anything you can catch! Ashurst never had much sense of time. It was a shock when, pulling out his watch, he saw it was well past three. No cashing his cheque to-day-the bank would be closed before he could get there.

Watching his expression, the little girls cried out at once:

"Hurrah! Now you'll have to stay!"

Ashurst did not answer. He was seeing again Megan's face, when at breakfast time he had whispered: "I'm going to Torquay, darling, to get everything; I shall be back this evening. If it's fine we can go to-night. Be ready." He was seeing again how she quivered and hung on his words. What would she think? Then he pulled himself together, conscious suddenly of the calm scrutiny of this other young girl, so tall and fair and Diana-like, at the edge of the pool, of her wondering blue eyes under those brows which slanted up a little.

If they knew what was in his mind--if they knew that this very night he had meant! Well, there would be a little sound of disgust, and he would be alone in the cave. And with a curious mixture of anger, chagrin, and shame, he put his watch back into his pocket and said abruptly:

"Yes; I'm dished for to-day."

"Hurrah! Now you can bathe with us."

It was impossible not to succumb a little to the contentment of these pretty children, to the smile on Stella's lips, to Halliday's "Ripping, old chap! I can lend you things for the night!" But again a spasm of longing and remorse throbbed through Ashurst, and he said moodily:

"I must send a wire!"

The attractions of the pool palling, they went back to the hotel.

Ashurst sent his wire, addressing it to Mrs. Narracombe: "Sorry, detained for the night, back to-morrow." Surely Megan would understand that he had too much to do; and his heart grew lighter.

It was a lovely afternoon, warm, the sea calm and blue, and swimming his great passion; the favour of these pretty children flattered him, the pleasure of looking at them, at Stella, at Halliday's sunny face;the slight unreality, yet extreme naturalness of it all--as of a last peep at normality before be took this plunge with Megan! He got his borrowed bathing dress, and they all set forth. Halliday and he undressed behind one rock, the three girls behind another. He was first into the sea, and at once swam out with the bravado of justifying his self-given reputation. When he turned he could see Halliday swimming along shore, and the girls flopping and dipping, and riding the little waves, in the way he was accustomed to despise, but now thought pretty and sensible, since it gave him the distinction of the only deep-water fish. But drawing near, he wondered if they would like him, a stranger, to come into their splashing group; he felt shy, approaching that slim nymph. Then Sabina summoned him to teach her to float, and between them the little girls kept him so busy that he had no time even to notice whether Stella was accustomed to his presence, till suddenly he heard a startled sound from her: She was standing submerged to the waist, leaning a little forward, her slim white arms stretched out and pointing, her wet face puckered by the sun and an expression of fear.

"Look at Phil! Is he all right? Oh, look!"

Ashurst saw at once that Phil was not all right. He was splashing and struggling out of his depth, perhaps a hundred yards away;suddenly he gave a cry, threw up his arms, and went down. Ashurst saw the girl launch herself towards him, and crying out: "Go back, Stella! Go back!" he dashed out. He had never swum so fast, and reached Halliday just as he was coming up a second time. It was a case of cramp, but to get him in was not difficult, for he did not struggle. The girl, who had stopped where Ashurst told her to, helped as soon as he was in his depth, and once on the beach they sat down one on each side of him to rub his limbs, while the little ones stood by with scared faces. Halliday was soon smiling. It was--he said--rotten of him, absolutely rotten! If Frank would give him an arm, he could get to his clothes all right now. Ashurst gave him the arm, and as he did so caught sight of Stella's face, wet and flushed and tearful, all broken up out of its calm; and he thought: 'I called her Stella! Wonder if she minded?'

While they were dressing, Halliday said quietly "You saved my life, old chap!""Rot!,"

Clothed, but not quite in their right minds, they went up all together to the hotel and sat down to tea, except Halliday, who was lying down in his room. After some slices of bread and jam, Sabina said:

"I say, you know, you are a brick!" And Freda chimed in:

"Rather!"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 漫画里的爱

    漫画里的爱

    凌千岚朋友不多,她就是这样一个人,不喜欢和别人有太多的接触,她觉得她不需要朋友,当然除了雪子。雪子始终沉浸在漫画中,终于有一天凌千岚也爱上了漫画,之后竟然突然穿越到了漫画的世界里,并和漫画中的人产生了一番感情纠葛,最终和欧阳寒走在了一起。
  • 通玄真经缵义释音

    通玄真经缵义释音

    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。
  • 邪魅夫君:轻狂大小姐

    邪魅夫君:轻狂大小姐

    她,本是21世纪暗夜杀手,古老家族的家主,武功高强,医毒无双,却不幸赶上时空乱流,穿越到了国公府大小姐身上,what?到了异世,照样能过得风生水起,打造一个属于自己的王国!他,本是强大邪魅,俊美尊贵的王爷,传言中,他冷酷无情,不近女色,却对她,一见钟情,两人因为一纸婚约,从此纠缠不休……
  • 杂种狗

    杂种狗

    山神自小在大横坑的山林田野里长大,热爱家人和生活。因为主人家庭变故,搬离村子后它被转送给他人,成为了猎犬和斗犬。山神总是期盼着回归大横坑,回归家庭,和所爱的人在一起,它的愿望总是落空,但回归的心从未改变,始终寻觅着回家的讯息……
  • 非卿不可:妖孽殿下请自重(完结)

    非卿不可:妖孽殿下请自重(完结)

    如果你清楚通往幸福的旅途该往哪里停住,请告诉我,因为我会用一辈子去追逐。——千若雪梨花树下,一袭湖蓝色的衬衣,无暇的脸颊带了深深的落寞,琉璃般的眼眸飘向远处,唇微启,他说:“我是,蓝钥臣……”梨花纷纷扬扬地落下,霎那间凋谢了芳华。几瓣俏皮的花瓣似眷恋着他周身的温暖,不愿离去。她痴痴的望着他,迷失在了他垒起来的城堡。**********************据说当朝太子阴佞狠辣,睚眦必究!据说当朝太子邪肆多情,嗜血无比!据说他不惜弑君登上皇位,靠着女人当垫脚石,一步步走向了宫廷的制高点。穿越,她成为阶下囚,变成了宫女,只因他一句话,便将她从死亡线上拉了回来。邪肆如他:“千若雪,你要记住你的身份。”青楼学艺,只为勾.引那个如花一般妖媚的男子。那一夜,大红色的袍子迎风翻飞,他美的竟似神人。妖异的眼眸诉说着他对她的兴趣,修长的手臂缠住她,他说:“我们还会再见的。”只为他的一句话,她让他从朝中重臣变成了一介草民!他无怨,她却有愧于心。悬崖,那么近,也那么远,被善妒红颜推落悬崖,她失去了记忆。那些刻骨铭心,被全数忘记。毁容,那么疼,亦是心伤,被青楼宿敌毁尽容颜,她恨不得去死,却在最狼狈的时刻,高高在上的他出现了,将她救走。**********************几近波折,他们终于回宫,雾国公主却指名要做他的妃!她心疼,却无力阻止,被人种下苗疆最毒的情蛊,唯有挚爱之人的血液方可解毒!迷茫,彷徨,无措,她想要逃离、他却霸道的囚了她的身:“千若雪,一辈子你都只能呆在我身边!任何人都不要妄想从你身边将我带走!”**********************强推宫斗文:《嗜血暴君:逆妃,朕不准你死!》链接:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/275472/*****************推荐好友绯雪很好看的宫斗文:《监牢宠妃翻身记》链接:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/231020/
  • 离倾天下

    离倾天下

    她,一个平凡的女孩,阴差阳错,卷入了一场本不该牵连到她的恩怨是非。他,一个无情的杀手,因有意为之,结识了特立独行,与众不同的她。缘起?缘灭?有情?无情?是有缘无分?还是情深缘浅?是造化弄人?还是命中注定?当他与她相遇之时,她,是个玩世不恭,行事出人意表的小姑娘;而他,是个风趣幽默却性情乖张的翩翩少年。时过境迁,当他与她再度重逢,所有一切都已改变。她,凶狠毒辣,喜怒无常,随意一挥手,便可以让人顷刻丧命。而他,不削一顾,杀人如麻,冰冷的眼神,找不到一丝情感!似乎,命运的齿轮已经开始转动,把他和她送入了各自应在的轨道。一念成佛,一念成魔。一念为善,一念作恶冰心玉决,浴火凤凰,恩怨情仇,究竟,谁对谁错?亲情与爱情,友情与仇恨,理智与杀戮,又要,如何抉择?翻手为云,覆手为雨,何人痴笑何人狂?独闯异世,尽展才华,离倾天下未可知!
  • 晨光未满

    晨光未满

    如果可以看见未来,不要让等待成为遗憾。这是一个真实的故事,这是我的故事,这是少年努力向往美好爱情的故事。尽管这个故事还没有完结,我只是想通过另一种方式演绎我心中的故事。
  • 冷酷校草没我霸气

    冷酷校草没我霸气

    “你为什么不能喜欢我?”安亦晨满脸受伤的看着云之筱。“我就是不喜欢你,这是改变不了的事实。”他为什么就这么固执呢?云之筱看着他。她的身份不只是云氏集团的千金,还是世界上第一暗黑组织的创办人,在她还没有找到那个人时,她不可以喜欢上任何人……可是她自己的心,控制不住。
  • 流浪电影世界

    流浪电影世界

    龙象般若功+金钟罩+金刚不坏体神功=超级版绿巨人?那再加上北冥神功呢?还不行?火影中的BUG多重影分身之术?啊?傀儡术+点化之术+捏纸成物术,我有纸人三千,可横推天下!
  • 转角遇见知心人

    转角遇见知心人

    他,原来温顺的面孔,如今高冷如神,被别人称为“高冷之帝”。她,活泼可爱,如果她有什么瞒不下去的,她就会自己说出来。如果当两人的性格反常,又会怎样?