登陆注册
15678200000070

第70章

"Actress, you must hear me! Do you know what this calling of the stage is in the eyes of prejudice,--that is, of the common opinion of mankind? It is to be a princess before the lamps, and a Pariah before the day.No man believes in your virtue, no man credits your vows; you are the puppet that they consent to trick out with tinsel for their amusement, not an idol for their worship.Are you so enamoured of this career that you scorn even to think of security and honour? Perhaps you are different from what you seem.Perhaps you laugh at the prejudice that would degrade you, and would wisely turn it to advantage.Speak frankly to me; I have no prejudice either.Sweet one, I am sure we should agree.Now, this Prince di --, I have a message from him.Shall I deliver it?"Never had Viola felt as she felt then, never had she so thoroughly seen all the perils of her forelorn condition and her fearful renown.Nicot continued:--"Zanoni would but amuse himself with thy vanity; Glyndon would despise himself, if he offered thee his name, and thee, if thou wouldst accept it; but the Prince di -- is in earnest, and he is wealthy.Listen!"And Nicot approached his lips to her, and hissed a sentence which she did not suffer him to complete.She darted from him with one glance of unutterable disdain.As he strove to regain his hold of her arm, he lost his footing, and fell down the sides of the rock till, bruised and lacerated, a pine-branch saved him from the yawning abyss below.She heard his exclamation of rage and pain as she bounded down the path, and, without once turning to look behind, regained her home.By the porch stood Glyndon, conversing with Gionetta.She passed him abruptly, entered the house, and, sinking on the floor, wept loud and passionately.

Glyndon, who had followed her in surprise, vainly sought to soothe and calm her.She would not reply to his questions; she did not seem to listen to his protestations of love, till suddenly, as Nicot's terrible picture of the world's judgment of that profession which to her younger thoughts had seemed the service of Song and the Beautiful, forced itself upon her, she raised her face from her hands, and, looking steadily upon the Englishman, said, "False one, dost thou talk of me of love?""By my honour, words fail to tell thee how I love!""Wilt thou give me thy home, thy name? Dost thou woo me as thy wife?" And at that moment, had Glyndon answered as his better angel would have counselled, perhaps, in that revolution of her whole mind which the words of Nicot had effected, which made her despise her very self, sicken of her lofty dreams, despair of the future, and distrust her whole ideal,--perhaps, I say, in restoring her self-esteem,--he would have won her confidence, and ultimately secured her love.But against the prompting of his nobler nature rose up at that sudden question all those doubts which, as Zanoni had so well implied, made the true enemies of his soul.Was he thus suddenly to be entangled into a snare laid for his credulity by deceivers? Was she not instructed to seize the moment to force him into an avowal which prudence must repent? Was not the great actress rehearsing a premeditated part? He turned round, as these thoughts, the children of the world, passed across him, for he literally fancied that he heard the sarcastic laugh of Mervale without.Nor was he deceived.

Mervale was passing by the threshold, and Gionetta had told him his friend was within.Who does not know the effect of the world's laugh? Mervale was the personation of the world.The whole world seemed to shout derision in those ringing tones.He drew back,--he recoiled.Viola followed him with her earnest, impatient eyes.At last, he faltered forth, "Do all of thy profession, beautiful Viola, exact marriage as the sole condition of love?" Oh, bitter question! Oh, poisoned taunt! He repented it the moment after.He was seized with remorse of reason, of feeling, and of conscience.He saw her form shrink, as it were, at his cruel words.He saw the colour come and go, to leave the writhing lips like marble; and then, with a sad, gentle look of self-pity, rather than reproach, she pressed her hands tightly to her bosom, and said,--"He was right! Pardon me, Englishman; I see now, indeed, that Iam the Pariah and the outcast."

"Hear me.I retract.Viola, Viola! it is for you to forgive!"But Viola waved him from her, and, smiling mournfully as she passed him by, glided from the chamber; and he did not dare to detain her.

同类推荐
  • 玉烛宝典

    玉烛宝典

    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。
  • 阿毗达磨法蕴足论

    阿毗达磨法蕴足论

    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。
  • 金刚錍论释文

    金刚錍论释文

    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。
  • Brother Jacob

    Brother Jacob

    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。
  • 大明玄天上帝瑞应图录

    大明玄天上帝瑞应图录

    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
  • 后代说岳:岳飞真传

    后代说岳:岳飞真传

    历史上,有谁打过120多场仗,从未有过败绩?有谁战场上是赳赳武夫,脱下戎装,是恂恂儒生?智勇双全,
  • 修灵之随羽而安

    修灵之随羽而安

    沐氏嫡小姐在新历三百三十七年早春病逝,无人见过这位小姐真容,无人在意这个消息。两年后,天鼎学宫新弟子里多了个绝色少女,天赋卓绝,名唤羽安。北境风氏的少主是全大陆公认的第一天才,传闻风少主俊美无铸,惊采绝艳,飞扬得意无人能及。只是风都城街上卖面的大娘不知道,那个总来吃面的温和少年,就姓风。他身负父母大仇,她目睹亲人惨死,他们都曾在泥泞里挣扎起身,都未曾放弃。修炼、阴谋、情意、战争…一对绝色眷侣,一代修灵宗师,踏过白骨血肉时光长流,终将天下镇于脚下!
  • 闪婚疯妻休想逃

    闪婚疯妻休想逃

    她的相亲条件?一,领证结婚不给生娃;二,礼金千万不能刷卡。就是这么任性!什么,这条件也有人答应?哪个男人这么傻?抬头一看,我去,这……这不是被自己砸了车窗的太子爷吗?他怎么在这?她没还玻璃的钱啊!立刻拿出号码牌一看,靠,进错地了!偷偷退了两步,逮到机会,一定要逃啊……
  • 十香记

    十香记

    十种香,十段缱绻人情的故事,她穿越各个朝代,找回“遗香卷”,却遇到了让自己倾心的人,如果时间能够为你而倒流,我愿意放弃一切,再次牵起你的手,在星空下再说一次我爱你……
  • 滋溪文稿

    滋溪文稿

    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。
  • 中华上下五千年

    中华上下五千年

    我们伟大的祖国有非常悠久的历史。按照古代的传统说法,从传说中的黄帝到现在,大约有四千多年的历史,通常叫做“上下五千年”。期间流传有许多的神话,历史故事等。故有书《中华上下五千年》。
  • 缘来不等人

    缘来不等人

    两个女生来自不同的家庭背景,姜燃在父母的怀抱下平安快乐的长大,想法单纯活的乐观。俞凡则在父母的冷淡忽视中长大,随着父母的离异,和母亲的离奇死亡,让俞凡对原本就不存有温情的家庭更是增添了一份仇恨,对父亲的仇恨,对死去的母亲仇恨。对于姜燃来说她可以为了俞凡不做父母的乖乖女,同样对于俞凡来说为了姜燃她可以放下仇恨。“你以后不许走在我前面”姜燃带有一丝撒娇的口吻和俞凡谈条件,俞凡微微笑道“好。”“对不起,我还是走在你前面了,你不会生气吧”俞凡眼角留下一滴泪,她还是食言了。“你食言一次我也食言一次好了,要不然太不公平了”姜燃笑了,只是脸上的笑容比哭还难看。
  • 狂妃当道,邪王宠无度

    狂妃当道,邪王宠无度

    传闻,她是沐府软弱无能的废柴大小姐,人人欺之侮之;传闻,他是不能人道的废人王爷,残忍无度…然而传闻不可信!她是能为死尸说话的全能法医!他是权倾天下能只手遮天的王者!被逼至墙角,她尴尬笑道:“那个,倒霉君大哥,你得遵守诺言!咱们啥时候可以解除婚约?”某君勾嘴:“本王从未答应。”“不不不,你答应过的,真的答应过的…”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 报告爹地:妈咪又跑了

    报告爹地:妈咪又跑了

    向暖一向奉行有钱就拽,没钱就跑,却没想到自己也会有栽了的一天!谢炎一向最讨厌白痴女,只会花痴,倒没发觉自己也会爱上这样一位!“总裁,向小姐说您再不下去,就砸了楼下的大门玻璃。”秘书胆战心惊。谢炎淡定起身,拿着文件去开会。“让她砸。”“老大,嫂子说要把你名下的酒吧都卖了,属下拦不住。”下属满头大汗。谢炎淡定起身,拿着手机打电话。“让她卖。”“爹地,妈咪说不想要小妹妹,要带着钱私逃。”宝贝一脸天真的说道。谢炎淡定起身,风风火火跑向厨房。“向暖你给我出来说清楚。”当‘狡诈’女遇上‘腹黑’男,才发现狡诈女其实很单纯,腹黑男其实……
  • 索罗核心

    索罗核心

    在寂灭天陆,有一颗名为索罗核心的至宝,它掌控的空间,得到它就能开辟属于自己的空间领域,在空间里可以创造第二世界,掌握丰富资源。看一位高中生奇葩穿越,经历惊心动魄的战斗,创造辉煌篇章!索罗核心书友群:399427679凌空毅光QQ:756496011