登陆注册
15692200000041

第41章 LADY MOTTISFONT(5)

To renounce Dorothy in the bustle of Bath was a different thing from living without her in this quiet home.One evening Sir Ashley missed his wife from the supper-table;her manner had been so pensive and woeful of late that he immediately became alarmed.He said nothing,but looked about outside the house narrowly,and discerned her form in the park,where recently she had been accustomed to walk alone.In its lower levels there was a pool fed by a trickling brook,and he reached this spot in time to hear a splash.Running forward,he dimly perceived her light gown floating in the water.To pull her out was the work of a few instants,and bearing her indoors to her room,he undressed her,nobody in the house knowing of the incident but himself.She had not been immersed long enough to lose her senses,and soon recovered.She owned that she had done it because the Contessa had taken away her child,as she persisted in calling Dorothy.Her husband spoke sternly to her,and impressed upon her the weakness of giving way thus,when all that had happened was for the best.She took his reproof meekly,and admitted her fault.

After that she became more resigned,but he often caught her in tears over some doll,shoe,or ribbon of Dorothy's,and decided to take her to the North of England for change of air and scene.This was not without its beneficial effect,corporeally no less than mentally,as later events showed,but she still evinced a preternatural sharpness of ear at the most casual mention of the child.When they reached home,the Countess and Dorothy were still absent from the neighbouring Fernell Hall,but in a month or two they returned,and a little later Sir Ashley Mottisfont came into his wife's room full of news.

'Well--would you think it,Philippa!After being so desperate,too,about getting Dorothy to be with her!'

'Ah--what?'

'Our neighbour,the Countess,is going to be married again!It is to somebody she has met in London.'

Lady Mottisfont was much surprised;she had never dreamt of such an event.The conflict for the possession of Dorothy's person had obscured the possibility of it;yet what more likely,the Countess being still under thirty,and so good-looking?

'What is of still more interest to us,or to you,'continued her husband,'is a kind offer she has made.She is willing that you should have Dorothy back again.Seeing what a grief the loss of her has been to you,she will try to do without her.'

'It is not for that;it is not to oblige me,'said Lady Mottisfont quickly.'One can see well enough what it is for!'

'Well,never mind;beggars mustn't be choosers.The reason or motive is nothing to us,so that you obtain your desire.'

'I am not a beggar any longer,'said Lady Mottisfont,with proud mystery.

'What do you mean by that?'

Lady Mottisfont hesitated.However,it was only too plain that she did not now jump at a restitution of one for whom some months before she had been breaking her heart.

The explanation of this change of mood became apparent some little time farther on.Lady Mottisfont,after five years of wedded life,was expecting to become a mother,and the aspect of many things was greatly altered in her view.Among the more important changes was that of no longer feeling Dorothy to be absolutely indispensable to her existence.

Meanwhile,in view of her coming marriage,the Countess decided to abandon the remainder of her term at Fernell Hall,and return to her pretty little house in town.But she could not do this quite so quickly as she had expected,and half a year or more elapsed before she finally quitted the neighbourhood,the interval being passed in alternations between the country and London.Prior to her last departure she had an interview with Sir Ashley Mottisfont,and it occurred three days after his wife had presented him with a son and heir.

'I wanted to speak to you,'said the Countess,looking him luminously in the face,'about the dear foundling I have adopted temporarily,and thought to have adopted permanently.But my marriage makes it too risky!'

'I thought it might be that,'he answered,regarding her steadfastly back again,and observing two tears come slowly into her eyes as she heard her own voice describe Dorothy in those words.

'Don't criticize me,'she said hastily;and recovering herself,went on.'If Lady Mottisfont could take her back again,as I suggested,it would be better for me,and certainly no worse for Dorothy.To every one but ourselves she is but a child I have taken a fancy to,and Lady Mottisfont coveted her so much,and was very reluctant to let her go ...I am sure she will adopt her again?'she added anxiously.

'I will sound her afresh,'said the baronet.'You leave Dorothy behind for the present?'

'Yes;although I go away,I do not give up the house for another month.'

He did not speak to his wife about the proposal till some few days after,when Lady Mottisfont had nearly recovered,and news of the Countess's marriage in London had just reached them.He had no sooner mentioned Dorothy's name than Lady Mottisfont showed symptoms of disquietude.

'I have not acquired any dislike of Dorothy,'she said,'but I feel that there is one nearer to me now.Dorothy chose the alternative of going to the Countess,you must remember,when I put it to her as between the Countess and myself.'

同类推荐
  • 满洲秘档选辑

    满洲秘档选辑

    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。
  • 律抄第三卷手决

    律抄第三卷手决

    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。
  • 五灯严统解惑编

    五灯严统解惑编

    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。
  • 十八契印

    十八契印

    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。
  • 排调

    排调

    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
  • 东方的少年

    东方的少年

    他,一个学习优异的少年,在高考后的几天父亲突发事故,倒在了病床上,昂贵的医疗费用,让这个原本平淡的家庭陷入了困境中,就在少年打算休学的时候意外发生了.
  • 每天学一点历史常识

    每天学一点历史常识

    本书包括人物春秋、要事回眸、史迹觅踪、典制与文化、历史典故等。
  • 当伪学霸遇真大神

    当伪学霸遇真大神

    张卉丹花痴一个,整天吃不离手,可想而知这身材…初恋是美好的现实是残酷的,自己省吃俭用省下来的钱全给了渣男,害的自己瘦了一圈,用我的钱去劈腿,呵呵,长的帅了不起啊,成绩好了不起啊,姐要逆袭,虐死你们。当她遇到他,永远败在他脚下,伪学霸的本质只在他面前暴露出来,所以“大神,这是我全部的零食,都给你,帮我补习吧”张卉丹忍痛割爱的给了他,但是高冷的夏希辰并不领情,选择无视,哼哼,张卉丹是谁啊,打不死的小强啊,终于在她的不懈努力下攻破了他,但是画风突变,说好的高冷呢,这个在我面前撒娇的人是谁啊“小卉,我生病了,我要你亲自喂药给我”,张卉丹心里抓狂:美男计,我承受不住啊,不行,要逃
  • 人间自白书

    人间自白书

    每一个灵魂只能承载一种身份每一个人都需铭记自己本书每个章节都有过万字,读起来可能费力,但是每一个剧情我都不知该如何分割开来,所以抱歉了各位
  • 清朝野史大观

    清朝野史大观

    本书分“清富遣闻”、“清朝史料”、“清人逸事”、“清朝艺苑”、“清代逮异”五辑,共十二卷。内容涉及上至帝王后妃、天潢贵胄、悍将权臣、名媛佳丽、学士才子,下至讼师衙役、游侠术士、市井小民,构成了一幅色彩斑斓、光怪陆离的众生世相。
  • 狂野梁山

    狂野梁山

    惩奸除恶,替天行道!为了同一个信念,我们从五湖四海汇聚梁山,在同一面旗帜下,热血盟誓,生死与共!.当勇武侠义的三山派系执掌梁山泊,天下会有怎样改变?一个誓不接受朝廷招安的梁山,能否兄弟齐心,统一华夏,扫辽灭金?这是一个豪气干云的水浒故事!这是一个激情奔涌的狂野派梁山!因为,这里没有龌蹉小人的立足之地!
  • 失眠的驴子

    失眠的驴子

    《失眠的驴子》是以比喻、夸张、对比等各种方式,写成生动活泼、诙谐有趣而寓意深长的童话故事。篇篇是精彩的极短篇童话,有新意、有寓意,每一篇都是一朵美丽的智慧花朵。相信读者看完后,都会得到一种清新愉快的感觉。
  • 青春计划书:青春的十大优势心态设计

    青春计划书:青春的十大优势心态设计

    世界上的每个人都是独一无二的,既然存在于这个世界上,就一定要找到属于自己的一席之地,身为青少年的我们也许还未找到,不要放弃、不要悲观、更不要自暴自弃,这个时候必须有一个坚定的信念——肯定能找到属于自己的那片绿洲,这就是心态。
  • 刺春刀

    刺春刀

    大明末期,锦衣卫一夜之间惨遭灭门,最后一个锦衣卫御前使零握着当初皇上御赐的刺春刀是去是留?和自己从小长到大的北使又被派来暗杀自己,两个高手既是兄弟又是敌人,零又该怎么做?在一连串的事件思考后,零才意识到这是个巨大的阴谋,在经历了一次次的刺杀事件后,背后的智谋才若隐若现,突如其来的打击让零开始选择放弃,是什么唤醒了零做深处的惊天秘密,在经历了一场儿女私情后,零是该从此退隐山林还是坚持最初的信念?锦衣卫能否重现当初的辉煌,最后的阴谋能否真相大白,零最后又该做出何种选择.......
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)