登陆注册
15677600000111

第111章

'I know that at the present moment they are in great trouble.'

Mrs Dale was going on, but she was interrupted by Major Grantly. 'That is just it,' he said. 'There are circumstances at present which make it almost impossible that I should go to Mr Crawley and ask his permission to address his daughter. I do not know whether you have heard the whole story?'

'As much, I believe, as Grace could tell me.'

'He is, I believe, in such a state of mental distress as to be hardly capable of giving me a considerate answer. And I should not know how to speak to him, or how not to speak to him, about this unfortunate affair.

But, Mrs Dale, you will, I think, perceive that the same circumstances make it imperative upon me to be explicit to Miss Crawley. I think I am the last man to boast of a woman's regard, but I had learned to think that I was not indifferent to Grace. If that be so, what must she think of me if I stay away from her now?'

'She understands too well the weight of the misfortune which has fallen upon her father, to suppose that anyone not connected with her can be bound to share it.'

'That is just it. She will think that I am silent for that reason. Ihave determined that that shall not keep me silent, and, therefore, Ihave come here. I may, perhaps, be able to bring comfort to her in her trouble. As regards my worldly position--though, indeed, it will not be very good--as hers is not good either, you will not think yourself bound to forbid me to see her on that head.'

'Certainly not. I need hardly say that I fully understand that, as regards money, you are offering everything where you can get nothing.'

'And you understand my feeling?'

'Indeed I do--and appreciate the great nobility of your love for Grace.

You shall see her here, if you wish it--and today, if you choose to wait.' Major Grantly said that he would wait and would see Grace on that afternoon. Mrs Dale again suggested that he should lunch with her, but this he declined. She then proposed that he should go across and call upon the squire, and thus consume his time. But to this he also objected. He was not exactly in humour, he said, to renew so old and so slight an acquaintance at that time. Mr Dale would probably have forgotten him, and would be sure to ask what had brought him to Allington. He would go and take a walk, he said, and come again at exactly half-past three. Mrs Dale again expressed her certainty that the young ladies would be back by that time, and Major Grantly left the house.

Mrs Dale when she was left alone could not but compare the good fortune that was awaiting Grace, with the evil fortune which had fallen on her own child. Here was a man who was at all points a gentleman. Such, at least, was the character which Mrs Dale at once conceded to him. And Grace had chanced to come across this man, and to please his eye, and satisfy his taste, and be loved by him. And the result of that chance would be that Grace would have everything given to her that the world has to give worth acceptance. She would have a companion for her life whom she could trust, admire, love, and of whom she could be infinitely proud. Mrs Dale was not at all aware whether Major Grantly might have five hundred a year to spend, or five thousand--or what sum intermediate between the two--nor did she give much of her thoughts at the moment to that side of the subject. She knew without thinking of it--or fancied that she knew, that there were means sufficient for comfortable living.

It was solely the nature and character of the man that was in her mind, and the sufficiency that was to be found in them for a wife's happiness.

But her daughter, her Lily, had come across a man who was a scoundrel, and, as the consequence of that meeting, all her life was marred! Could any credit be given to Grace for her success, or any blame attached to Lily for her failure. Surely not the latter! How was her girl to have guarded herself from a love so unfortunate, or have avoided the rock on which her vessel had been shipwrecked? Then many bitter thoughts passed through Mrs Dale's mind, and she almost envied Grace Crawley her lover.

Lily was contented to remain as she was, but Lily's mother could not bring herself to be satisfied that her child should fill a lower place in the world than other girls. It had ever been her idea--an ideal probably never absolutely uttered even to herself, but not the less practically conceived--that it is the business of a woman to be married.

That her Lily should have been won and not worn, had been, and would be, a trouble to her for ever.

同类推荐
  • 痫门

    痫门

    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。
  • 太平经钞

    太平经钞

    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。
  • 蚓窍集

    蚓窍集

    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。
  • 毛诗多识

    毛诗多识

    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。
  • 阿难问事佛吉凶经

    阿难问事佛吉凶经

    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
  • 一枕奇

    一枕奇

    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。
  • 花千骨之穿越千年浓情不浅

    花千骨之穿越千年浓情不浅

    花千骨因为贪玩来到未来,手机大祸害。什么,花千骨不喜欢白子画了,怎么喜欢上一个。。。。
  • 圣斗士之魔王

    圣斗士之魔王

    在美丽的夜空中有88个星座,因此有88件圣衣“黄金圣衣”12件“白银圣衣”24件“青铜圣衣”48件。转世的神魔穿上了圣衣,成为了女神雅典娜的圣斗士.....
  • 巨龙追猎者

    巨龙追猎者

    白天,他是善良幽默的阳光少年,晚上,他是疯狂变态的凶残野兽。间接害死自己至亲的影,亲眼目睹的一切让其人格分裂,跟随无名老人学会绝世武学之后,影开始了网游之旅。在无数玩家纷纷抱怨魔兽太强太聪明时,在巨龙肆意屠杀弱小玩家时,影挥起了恶魔之牙,带着残忍疯狂的意志开始了追猎7只远古巨龙的征程……怪物猎人式的武士战斗!DND式的法术系统!魔兽世界式的......本书BOSS,非常BT和强大,喜欢看虐BOSS的人,可以略过本书。当巨龙怒吼时,当所有人恐惧的跪地时,只有一个人,挥舞着大剑,迎着巨龙之炎而浴血奋战!
  • 仙门有犬子

    仙门有犬子

    匹夫一怒,血溅三尺。天子一怒,伏尸百万!仙人一怒,又当如何?一个为天道所弃的少年,以身化符,以符入道,步步登仙!
  • 快穿之女配不服

    快穿之女配不服

    凭什么这种没外貌没身材的女人会被男主看上,男主审美有问题吗?放着漂亮又身材好的女配不要就喜欢白莲花。女配表示很不服
  • 韩娱守护骑士

    韩娱守护骑士

    林智轩重生了,带着一生的夙愿,跨越时空与她们相遇和她们一起欢笑悲哭,和她们一起长大成长做一名忠诚的骑士,永远守护在她们身边
  • 极道灵修

    极道灵修

    世间有化天地之灵为力者,便可超脱凡俗,生命本源极尽升华,悟天地之玄妙,法世间之万千术,世人尊称为“灵修者”。一个本源破碎的少年为了夺回失去的灵,踏上了追寻灵修极致的道路!天地洪荒,灵道称尊!
  • 倾世天女配帝君

    倾世天女配帝君

    帝师预言,天女降临,天女可保天下。她15岁,天女上仙,流落人间,成为一代明君唯一女儿义女。天赋极高。世上唯一可用仙力之人。他,三国帝师,一代帝君,霸道强势。他们的相遇,会带来怎样的故事呢?加上帝君情敌无数,他该怎样面对呢?若冰,该是谁的呢?虽说帝君是男主角,但还有男二,剧情千变万化,女主该何去何从?
  • 步步为赢:罪宠

    步步为赢:罪宠

    初入宫闱那一日,她的家族被查出与敌国暗中交涉而满门抄斩。那一日是三月十八,诸事宜,不宜见血。她因为在宫里,没有被赐死。然而她的一切也都在那一日戛然而止。没有饶恕,没有宠幸,没有背景,在尔虞我诈的宫里,她要做的就是让自己生存下去。