登陆注册
15739700000022

第22章

"Two very nice things," Mrs. Dowling informed him. "Everybody is so anxious for Henrietta Lamb to have a pleasant evening, because it's the very first time she's been anywhere since her father's death, and of course her dear grandfather's an old friend of ours, and----""Well, well!" her son interrupted. "Miss Adams isn't interested in all this, mother.""But Henrietta came to speak to Ella and me, and I told her you were so anxious to dance with her----""Here!" he cried. "Look here! I'd rather do my own----""Yes; that's just it," Mrs. Dowling explained. "I just thought it was such a good opportunity; and Henrietta said she had most of her dances taken, but she'd give you one if you asked her before they were all gone. So I thought you'd better see her as soon as possible."Dowling's face had become rosy. "I refuse to do anything of the kind.""Bad fellow!" said his mother, gaily. "I thought this would be the best time for you to see Henrietta, because it won't be long till all her dances are gone, and you've promised on your WORD to dance the next with Ella, and you mightn't have a chance to do it then. I'm sure Miss Adams won't mind if you----""Not at all," Alice said.

"Well, _I_ mind!" he said. "I wish you COULD understand that when I want to dance with any girl I don't need my mother to ask her for me. I really AM more than six years old!"He spoke with too much vehemence, and Mrs. Dowling at once saw how to have her way. As with husbands and wives, so with many fathers and daughters, and so with some sons and mothers: the man will himself be cross in public and think nothing of it, nor will he greatly mind a little crossness on the part of the woman; but let her show agitation before any spectator, he is instantly reduced to a coward's slavery. Women understand that ancient weakness, of course; for it is one of their most important means of defense, but can be used ignobly.

Mrs. Dowling permitted a tremulousness to become audible in her voice. "It isn't very--very pleasant --to be talked to like that by your own son--before strangers!""Oh, my! Look here!" the stricken Dowling protested. "_I_didn't say anything, mother. I was just joking about how you never get over thinking I'm a little boy. I only----"Mrs. Dowling continued: "I just thought I was doing you a little favour. I didn't think it would make you so angry.""Mother, for goodness' sake! Miss Adams'll think----""I suppose," Mrs. Dowling interrupted, piteously, "I suppose it doesn't matter what _I_ think!""Oh, gracious!"

Alice interfered; she perceived that the ruthless Mrs. Dowling meant to have her way. "I think you'd better go, Frank.

Really."

"There!" his mother cried. "Miss Adams says so, herself! What more do you want?""Oh, gracious!" he lamented again, and, with a sick look over his shoulder at Alice, permitted his mother to take his arm and propel him away. Mrs. Dowling's spirits had strikingly recovered even before the pair passed from the corridor: she moved almost bouncingly beside her embittered son, and her eyes and all the convolutions of her abundant face were blithe.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 小心毅意

    小心毅意

    一个关于欺骗和相信的奇幻爱情故事。林小小是一个具有双重性格的大学女生,心动之人的偶然出现让她卷入一个奇幻瑰丽的精灵世界,那个人居然就是精灵王子!怎么也不相信这种童话般的爱情会发生在自己身上,是在做梦?还是一切有人安排?随着种种接连不断的怪异事件的发生,她终于知道是因为自己小时候的淘气让自己已然成为精灵国的大恩人!小时候不懂事的恶作剧让她放走了人家捉妖师的白狐,事后居然很不负责任地给忘了!谁知那根本不是白狐,而是精灵国的老国王,精灵王子的爷爷!才知道王子的出现根本不是偶然,从她救起白狐的那一天,王子就已经决定要娶这个善良的恩人了……
  • 冰雪奇缘之冰雪公主

    冰雪奇缘之冰雪公主

    本小说是靠冰雪奇缘里的艾沙的冰雪魔法写的,里面会有冰雪,白冰,冰花等人物,他们会发起神奇的事情,后面的情景看了小说,快来看吧。
  • 休闲营养菜

    休闲营养菜

    “营养”是人类从外界吸取适量有益物质以谋求养生的行为。“营养”是个“过程”,而不是一种物质。研究营养与健康关系的学科,称之为“营养学”。把营养学与烹调实践有机地结合起来是《休闲营养菜》的特色。以家常菜为主,将科学膳食理念融入菜谱之中,为家庭生活设计最佳的饮食方案。教您短时间内合理搭配膳食,又不失营养和美味。
  • 冥府神王

    冥府神王

    昔日强者姚宏杰转世重生,远超他人的见识阅历,再加上六道轮回盘碎片在手,他发誓要拳打各种纨绔少爷,脚踩各种天骄人物!
  • Tom Swift And His Giant Cannon

    Tom Swift And His Giant Cannon

    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。
  • 子陵修真录

    子陵修真录

    子陵修真录贸商李家之子,因爱武学弃商从武。从没经历过挫折,不知修真世界残酷。到只手遮天,杀戮万敌。看李子陵如何踏上修真之路,灭万敌于剑下
  • 异世太极至尊

    异世太极至尊

    林天是现代社会太极宗师,已将太极练成八卦领域,遭逢劫难与女友重生异界,来到了一个另类的魔法和斗气世界,八卦领域有我无敌!魔法,斗气在林天面前就像乖顺的小孩一样驾驭,阴阳互转,魔宠在他面前都叫他大哥,阴阳之力的朱雀守护,看他如何在异世扮猪吃虎,成就一世辉煌!(气士或法士,师,大师,王,皇,宗,圣,神,帝,尊,每阶段10阶)太极至尊群:177564218(非诚勿扰,谢谢合作)!欢迎大家前来商讨!在异世成就太极至尊,与兄弟征战大陆,将太极广传异界,爱恨情仇,成就一世之名!新颖的故事情节!包罗万象的太极与吞噬毁灭一切的无极相遇,最终哪个更胜一筹!^_^!Y(^_^)Y!
  • 傲天神皇

    傲天神皇

    涅槃重生,神皇再世!特种兵杨武魂穿异世,摇身成为仙宗唯一真传弟子。修灵决,炼武道,灵武双修,君临天下!踩天才,灭魔宗,收小弟,成就最强神皇之路!魔修女,灵公主,小师姐,异界美妞一网打尽!
  • 动苍穹

    动苍穹

    坚毅,是每个人与生俱来的本事,但是坚持得住却只有渺渺几人,一位从破落的种族中一步一个脚印的走出大千世界,斩妖魔,收至宝,武苍穹,动乾坤。
  • 重生之千金养女

    重生之千金养女

    想过好日子有错吗,抛弃我的是他们,我一点错都没有!带着最后一声歇斯底里女孩花季凋零。随后,轮回,转魂。“马雪奈,说好了你是我男朋友的,你要保护我。”娇俏可人儿的少女拽着女孩手臂撒娇。“行,一千万,我去泰国变个性分分钟回来做你的小白脸儿。”女孩嘴角微勾,右手平伸在少女面前讨要资金。“停,你真打算亲下去?”女孩一脸淡定的伸手拦住男子试图下压的俊脸,“你想清楚,我前生可是个男人。”“是嘛。”男子嘴角勾出了然的弧度,随后邪魅一笑,“怪不得我二十多年来从未对女人动过心。”女孩满头黑线,没想到莫名其妙挖掘出了某人的真正性取向,可她别说现在是女人了,前生虽然假小子可也是一货真价实的女汉子啊。