登陆注册
15732900000062

第62章

Money, and all it bought, did not bring happiness. Love only brought that. The ox-eyed daisies in this orchard, which gave it such a moony look sometimes, grew wild and happy, and had their hour. 'They oughtn't to have called me Fleur,' she mused, 'if they didn't mean me to have my hour, and be happy while it lasts.' Nothing real stood in the way, like poverty, or disease--sentiment only, a ghost from the unhappy past! Jon was right. They wouldn't let you live, these old people! They made mistakes, committed crimes, and wanted their children to go on paying! The breeze died away; midges began to bite. She got up, plucked a piece of honeysuckle, and went in.

It was hot that night. Both she and her mother had put on thin, pale low frocks. The dinner flowers were pale. Fleur was struck with the pale look of everything; her father's face, her mother's shoulders;the pale panelled walls, the pale grey velvety carpet, the lamp-shade, even the soup was pale. There was not one spot of colour in the room, not even wine in the pale glasses, for no one drank it.

What was not pale was black--her father's clothes, the butler's clothes, her retriever stretched out exhausted in the window, the curtains black with a cream pattern. A moth came in, and that was pale. And silent was that half-mourning dinner in the heat.

Her father called her back as she was following her mother out.

She sat down beside him at the table, and, unpinning the pale honeysuckle, put it to her nose.

"I've been thinking," he said.

"Yes, dear?"

"It's extremely painful for me to talk, but there's no help for it.

I don't know if you understand how much you are to me I've never spoken of it, I didn't think it necessary; but--but you're everything. Your mother--" he paused, staring at his finger-bowl of Venetian glass.

"Yes?"'

"I've only you to look to. I've never had--never wanted anything else, since you were born.""I know," Fleur murmured.

Soames moistened his lips.

"You may think this a matter I can smooth over and arrange for you.

You're mistaken. I'm helpless."

Fleur did not speak.

"Quite apart from my own feelings," went on Soames with more resolution, "those two are not amenable to anything I can say. They--they hate me, as people always hate those whom they have injured.""But he--Jon--""He's their flesh and blood, her only child. Probably he means to her what you mean to me. It's a deadlock.""No," cried Fleur, "no, Father!"Soames leaned back, the image of pale patience, as if resolved on the betrayal of no emotion.

"Listen!" he said. "You're putting the feelings of two months--two months--against the feelings of thirty-five years! What chance do you think you have? Two months--your very first love affair, a matter of half a dozen meetings, a few walks and talks, a few kisses--against, against what you can't imagine, what no one could who hasn't been through it. Come, be reasonable, Fleur! It's midsummer madness!"Fleur tore the honeysuckle into little, slow bits.

"The madness is in letting the past spoil it all.

What do we care about the past? It's our lives, not yours."Soames raised his hand to his forehead, where suddenly she saw moisture shining.

"Whose child are you?" he said. "Whose child is he? The present is linked with the past, the future with both. There's no getting away from that."She had never heard philosophy pass those lips before. Impressed even in her agitation, she leaned her elbows on the table, her chin on her hands.

"But, Father, consider it practically. We want each other. There's ever so much money, and nothing whatever in the way but sentiment.

Let's bury the past, Father."

His answer was a sigh.

"Besides," said Fleur gently, "you can't prevent us.""I don't suppose," said Soames, "that if left to myself I should try to prevent you; I must put up with things, I know, to keep your affection. But it's not I who control this matter. That's what Iwant you to realise before it's too late. If you go on thinking you can get your way and encourage this feeling, the blow will be much heavier when you find you can't.""Oh!" cried Fleur, "help me, Father; you can help me, you know."Soames made a startled movement of negation. "I?" he said bitterly.

"Help? I am the impediment--the just cause and impediment--isn't that the jargon? You have my blood in your veins."He rose.

"Well, the fat's in the fire. If you persist in your wilfulness you'll have yourself to blame. Come! Don't be foolish, my child--my only child!"Fleur laid her forehead against his shoulder.

All was in such turmoil within her. But no good to show it! No good at all! She broke away from him, and went out into the twilight, distraught, but unconvinced. All was indeterminate and vague within her, like the shapes and shadows in the garden, except--her will to have. A poplar pierced up into the dark-blue sky and touched a white star there. The dew wetted her shoes, and chilled her bare shoulders. She went down to the river bank, and stood gazing at a moonstreak on the darkening water. Suddenly she smelled tobacco smoke, and a white figure emerged as if created by the moon. It was young Mont in flannels, standing in his boat. She heard the tiny hiss of his cigarette extinguished in the water.

"Fleur," came his voice, "don't be hard on a poor devil! I've been waiting hours.""For what?""Come in my boat!"

"Not I."

"Why not?"

"I'm not a water-nymph."

"Haven't you any romance in you? Don't be modern, Fleur!"He appeared on the path within a yard of her.

"Go away!"

"Fleur, I love you. Fleur!"

Fleur uttered a short laugh.

"Come again," she said, "when I haven't got my wish.""What is your wish?""Ask another."

"Fleur," said Mont, and his voice sounded strange, "don't mock me!

Even vivisected dogs are worth decent treatment before they're cut up for good."Fleur shook her head; but her lips were trembling.

"Well, you shouldn't make me jump. Give me a cigarette."Mont gave her one, lighted it, and another for himself.

同类推荐
  • Youth

    Youth

    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。
  • 佛说圣法印经

    佛说圣法印经

    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。
  • 翁母些

    翁母些

    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。
  • The Little White Bird

    The Little White Bird

    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。
  • 般若波罗蜜多心经注解

    般若波罗蜜多心经注解

    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
  • 主宰道经

    主宰道经

    奔流的时间覆盖了太多的人和文明,或渺小,或浩瀚,曾经的修真文明多么伟大,长生主宰者让人多么向往,修真文明中的伟人从覆灭中走来,走向遥远的未来,他们将火种《道经》传授给一个幸运儿,他将带着一个文明的希望在都市中修真,与时间对抗,重现修真世界……
  • 为爱杀生

    为爱杀生

    他是万魔之首,未来的万神之祖。她是神级医师,拥有天使皇族的血脉。他爱她,不需要语言。她爱他,没有承诺。她死了,他为她杀生。最后,他把自己还给了天地。为了她,也为了世界。
  • 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!)
  • EXO之青春未至我们未老

    EXO之青春未至我们未老

    一段重生的旅途,让一群腹黑的少年和一个经常神经脱线的骚女遇见,会发生怎样爆笑的事情呢?什么?她穿越到自己写的小说里了?在开玩笑吗,这可一点都不好笑!不过......那里面好像有她的偶像,看看美男也是一件非常美好的事!反正有爱装逼的系统,神马都不用怕了,看她如何逆袭女主,当上CEO,迎娶一群高富帅,走向人生巅峰吧.......不过,人有梦想是件好事,有些事情想想就好。但是,不试试又怎么知道不行呢?(本文原创,如有雷同,纯属巧合!)【喜欢本书可加QQ群:606102202】
  • 腹黑少爷的呆萌公主

    腹黑少爷的呆萌公主

    父母丢下他们,作为公主和未来的王。他走了,留下他的妹妹一个人在不见阳光的鬼谷森林里。几年后,他回来了。带着她一起走了。血族大乱,四处寻找他们……
  • 影子陪伴的生活

    影子陪伴的生活

    一只鬼,平平淡淡的生活。某一天降临了一只自称她影子的家伙,打破了她的无趣鬼生。谜题慢慢打开,用了她余生去探索。到最后,谜题揭开,她却失望透顶。“影,你说陪我永久,就是把我晒在人间独留吗?”
  • 喜欢欢喜,心甘情愿

    喜欢欢喜,心甘情愿

    未成年少女为了读上自己所理想的学校,奋不顾身地拼命地打工赚钱,画漫画养活自己...直到到了学校,她遇见了小时候的青梅竹马,没想到他和小时候性格简直就是两个人,他变的叛逆,学会逃课,玩弄校长老师...好像认不出她了...叛逆青梅竹马开始捉弄她,最后...
  • 王牌电影

    王牌电影

    真实电影,一种用潜意识出演的电影。潜意识已经成了衡量一个演员前途的关键。无论你是青春玉女,还是阴险狡诈,在真实电影中都只有显出原形,张峰在穿越之后拥有了屏蔽潜意识的能力。模仿周星驰出演搞笑无厘头,模仿郑伊健出演重义气的大哥,模仿莱昂纳多出演情场浪子,模仿白兰度出演教父。被称为潜意识之王的男人——张峰!!“做人如果没有梦想,那和咸鱼有什么区别?”其实我是一名演员。
  • 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!)
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。