登陆注册
15681800000072

第72章

Having made this excellent point he became quiet; but the next time that Ralph was with him he again addressed himself to conversation.The nurse had gone to her supper and Ralph was alone in charge, having just relieved Mrs.Touchett, who had been on guard since dinner.The room was lighted only by the flickering fire, which of late had become necessary, and Ralph's tall shadow was projected over wall and ceiling with an outline constantly varying but always grotesque.

"Who's that with me- is it my son?" the old man asked.

"Yes, it's your son, daddy."

"And is there no one else?"

"No one else."

Mr.Touchett said nothing for a while; and then, "I want to talk a little," he went on.

"Won't it tire you?" Ralph demurred.

"It won't matter if it does.I shall have a long rest.I want to talk about you.

Ralph had drawn nearer to the bed; he sat leaning forward with his hand on his father's."You had better select a brighter topic.""You were always bright; I used to be proud of your brightness.Ishould like so much to think you'd do something.""If you leave us," said Ralph, "I shall do nothing but miss you.""That's just what I don't want; it's what I want to talk about.

You must get a new interest."

"I don't want a new interest, daddy.I have more old ones than Iknow what to do with."

The old man lay there looking at his son; his face was the face of the dying, but his eyes were the eyes of Daniel Touchett.He seemed to be reckoning over Ralph's interests."Of course you have your mother,"he said at last."You'll take care of her.""My mother will always take care of herself," Ralph returned.

"Well," said his father, "perhaps as she grows older she'll need a little help.""I shall not see that.She'll outlive me.""Very likely she will; but that's no reason-!" Mr.Touchett let his phrase die away in a helpless but not quite querulous sigh and remained silent again.

"Don't trouble yourself about us," said his son."My mother and Iget on very well together, you know."

"You get on by always being apart; that's not natural.""If you leave us we shall probably see more of each other.""Well," the old man observed with wandering irrelevance, "it can't be said that my death will make much difference in your mother's life.""It will probably make more than you think.""Well, she'll have more money," said Mr.Touchett."I've left her a good wife's portion, just as if she had been a good wife.""She has been one, daddy, according to her own theory.She has never troubled you.""Ah, some troubles are pleasant," Mr.Touchett murmured."Those you've given me for instance.But your mother has been less- less-what shall I call it? less out of the way since I've been ill.Ipresume she knows I've noticed it."

"I shall certainly tell her so; I'm so glad you mention it.""It won't make any difference to her; she doesn't do it to please me.She does it to please- to please-" And he lay a while trying to think why she did it."She does it because it suits her.But that's not what I want to talk about," he added."It's about you.You'll be very well off.""Yes," said Ralph, "I know that.But I hope you've not forgotten the talk we had a year ago- when I told you exactly what money I should need and begged you to make some good use of the rest.""Yes, yes, I remember.I made a new will- in a few days.I suppose it was the first time such a thing had happened- a young man trying to get a will made against him.""It is not against me," said Ralph."It would be against me to have a large property to take care of.It's impossible for a man in my state of health to spend much money, and enough is as good as a feast.""Well, you'll have enough- and something over.There will be more than enough for one- there will be enough for two.""That's too much," said Ralph.

"Ah, don't say that.The best thing you can do, when I'm gone, will be to marry."Ralph had foreseen what his father was coming to, and this suggestion was by no means fresh.It had long been Mr.Touchett's most ingenious way of taking the cheerful view of his son's possible duration.Ralph had usually treated it facetiously; but present circumstances proscribed the facetious.He simply fell back in his chair and returned his father's appealing gaze.

"If I, with a wife who hasn't been very fond of me, have had a very happy life," said the old man, carrying his ingenuity further still, "what a life mightn't you have if you should marry a person different from Mrs.Touchett.There are more different from her than there are like her." Ralph still said nothing; and after a pause his father resumed softly: "What do you think of your cousin?"At this Ralph started, meeting the question with a strained smile.

"Do I understand you to propose that I should marry Isabel?""Well, that's what it comes to in the end.Don't you like Isabel?""Yes, very much." And Ralph got up from his chair and wandered over to the fire.He stood before it an instant and then he stooped and stirred it mechanically.

"I like Isabel very much," he repeated.

"Well," said his father, "I know she likes you.She has told me how much she likes you.""Did she remark that she would like to marry me?""No, but she can't have anything against you.And she's the most charming young lady I've ever seen.And she would be good to you.Ihave thought a great deal about it."

"So have I," said Ralph, coming back to the bedside again."Idon't mind telling you that."

"You are in love with her then? I should think you would be.It's as if she came over on purpose.""No, I'm not in love with her; but I should be if- if certain things were different.""Ah, things are always different from what they might be," said the old man."If you wait for them to change you'll never do anything.

同类推荐
  • 闽县乡土志

    闽县乡土志

    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。
  • 录曲余谈

    录曲余谈

    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。
  • 佛说阿弥陀经

    佛说阿弥陀经

    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。
  • 大乘广百论释论

    大乘广百论释论

    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。
  • 备急灸法景宋本

    备急灸法景宋本

    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
  • 尸王窟

    尸王窟

    当无情无欲的尸体遇上身材火辣的总裁美女、单纯可爱的小公主、冰雪机智的盗墓女......会擦出怎样的火花。且看一具尸体怎样让无数美女沉浮脚下,成就一番霸业。
  • 在宇宙中旅行的咱

    在宇宙中旅行的咱

    题材科幻应该属于太空歌剧这类的小说,一个失去记忆的少年寻找记忆的过程,碰到各种各样的事情,遇上很多美女,当然都是外星人,算不算后宫我也不清楚,应该还有个前传啥的,当然是完全不同的故事了。
  • 天才宝宝:买一送一

    天才宝宝:买一送一

    人生最苦逼的是什么?撞见自己的男票与其他女人啪啪啪?还是撒酒疯,将一个陌生男人扑倒在床?还是她欲把人推到,反倒被人吃光抹净之后又被带到警察局?好吧好吧,我唐朵朵什么都不好就是脾气好承受力强。什么!要抢我儿子?特么谁来我就灭了谁!老娘不允许啊喂!
  • 血咒星神

    血咒星神

    星废星运凭谁定,谁可逆天改运命?定乾定坤测祸福,我命由我不由天!修炼皆从修心始,行运必先行动来。叱咤星际风云起,血咒灭尽诸星神!天灾元年,末世之战,正邪交锋,银河破碎,星空尽毁,生灵近灭、、、数千千星年之后,宇宙生机从毁灭中渐渐恢复、、、
  • 界破驭仙

    界破驭仙

    北风乍起的第一部小说,还请各位大大支持。
  • 绝对超脑

    绝对超脑

    正常人的脑细胞约140亿~150亿个,但只不足10%被开发利用,其余大部份在休眠状态,更有研究统计认为有98.5%的细胞是处于休眠,甚至有专家认为只有1%参加大脑的功能活动。所谓天才,只是大脑区域开发的比一般人多一些罢了,那当人的大脑开发并激活到100%时,他是人?还是神?
  • 倾城虐恋:如果来世再重来

    倾城虐恋:如果来世再重来

    【虐恋三部曲之玄幻虐恋】前世,她身手无敌,是顶级的杀手,但奈何长相欠缺。今生,她妖娆艳丽,很少有人能比过她的容貌,但偏偏是个废柴!呵呵……废柴?没关系,她可以练!品味不好?没关系,她可以改!有女人跟她作对?没关系,她可以打!那,如果有男人不乖的话……她只能调教了!——“女人,你是要挑战我的极限么?”某女不屑一顾:“一边去,我忙着呢!”——“女人,你这是引火上身!”某女一脸不耐烦:“去去去!找别的女人泄火去,我忙着呢!”终于某天,他忍不了了,把某女霸王硬上弓:“看来,是我对你太好了么……”接下来……你们懂!看她如何执一袭红装,携一身妖娆狂傲,倾天下,惑众生。【你送我满城烟火,我赠你一世迷离。】
  • 突发事件应急演练与处置对策

    突发事件应急演练与处置对策

    《突发事件应急演练与处置对策》为使突发事件应急演练进一步普及、推广和深化,笔者结合几年来组织突发事件应急演练的教学实践,以突发事件应急演练与处置对策为题目,进行了综合整理阐述,尽量使之理性化、条理化、系统化、规范化、具体化,力求有可操作性。
  • 五百罗汉之谜

    五百罗汉之谜

    《全彩五百罗汉之谜》由云一编著,以罗汉为开端,从介绍罗汉起源一直到佛教的宗派传承,洋洋洒洒间。带出十六罗汉、十八罗汉、五百罗汉、八百罗汉的相应解释,最后具化为佛陀、菩萨、僧信、与佛结缘的人物和形形色色的佛教人物。作者通过一个个美丽动人的传说和一个个佛教典故来深入浅出地诠释深奥佛法的传布、佛教宗派的发展与传承。本书对大量的资料进行了筛选,精心构建了一座人们可以轻而易举地跨越的通向佛法之桥。
  • 丧尸堆里的幸存者

    丧尸堆里的幸存者

    一个初三少年和他的青梅竹马对抗丧尸的故事