登陆注册
15753700000086

第86章

"That is nonsense, Reginald. Of course such a girl as Ayala has to do the best she can with her good looks. What else has she to depend upon?""My brother-in-law will do something for her.""I hope he will -- though I do not think that a very safe reed to depend upon as she has twice offended him. But of course a girl thinks of marrying. Ayala would be very much disgusted if she were told that she was to be an old maid, and live upon L#100a year supplied by Sir Thomas's bounty. It might have been that she would have to do it -- but now that chances are open she ought to take them. She should choose between her cousin Tom and this Colonel Stubbs; and you should tell her that, if she will not, you will no longer be responsible for her."To this Mr Dosett turned altogether a deaf ear. He was quite sure that his responsibility must be continued till Ayala should marry, or till he should die, and he would not make a threat which he would certainly be unable to carry out. He would be very glad if Ayala could bring herself to marry either of the young men. It was a pity that she should feel herself compelled to refuse offers so excellent. But it was a matter for her own judgment, and one in which he would not interfere. For two days this almost led to a coldness between the man and his wife, during which the sufferings of poor Mrs Dosett were heartrending.

Not many days after Ayala's return her sister Lucy came to see her. Certain reasons had caused Lady Tringle to stay at Glenbogie longer than usual, and the family was now passing through London on their way to Merle Park. Perhaps it was the fact that the Trafficks had been effectually extruded from Glenbogie, but would doubtless turn up at Merle Park, should Lady Tringle take up her residence there before the autumn was over. That they should spend their Christmas at Merle Park was an acknowledged thing -- to mamma Tringle an acknowledged benefit, because she liked to have her daughter with her; to papa Tringle an acknowledged evil, because he could not endure to be made to give more than he intended to give. That they should remain there afterwards through January, and till the meeting of Parliament, was to be expected. But it was hoped that they might be driven to find some home for themselves if they were left homeless by Sir Thomas for a while. The little plan was hardly successful, as Mr Traffick had put his wife into lodgings at Hastings, ready to pounce down on Merle Park as soon as Lady Tringle should have occupied the house a few days. Lady Tringle was now going there with the rest of the family, Sir Thomas having been in town for the last six weeks.

Lucy took advantage of the day which they passed in London, and succeeded in getting across to the Crescent. At this time she had heard nothing of Colonel Stubbs, and was full indeed of her own troubles.

"You haven't seen him?" she said to her sister.

"Seen who?" asked Ayala, who had two "hims" to her bow -- and thought at the moment rather of her own two "hims" than of Lucy's one.

"Isadore. He said that he would call here." Ayala explained that she had not seen him, having been absent from town during the last ten days -- during which Mr Hamel had in fact called at the house. "Ayala," concluded Lucy, "what am I to do?""Stick to him," said Ayala, firmly.

"Of course I shall. But Aunt Emmeline thinks that I ought to give him up or -- ""Or what?"

"Or go away," said Lucy, very gravely.

"Where would you go to?"

"Oh, where indeed? Of course he would have me, but it would be ruin to him to marry a wife without a penny when he earns only enough for his own wants. His father has quarrelled with him altogether. He says that nobody can prevent our being married if we please, and that he is quite ready to make a home for me instantly; but I know that last year he hardly earned more than two hundred pounds after paying all his expenses, and were Ito take him at his word I should ruin him.""Would Uncle Tom turn you out?"

"He has been away almost ever since Mr Hamel came to Glenbogie, and I do not know what he will say. Aunt Emmeline declares that I can only stay with them just as though I were her daughter, and that a daughter would be bound to obey her.""Does Gertrude obey her about Mr Houston?""Gertrude has her own way with her mother altogether. And of course a daughter cannot really be turned out. If she tells me to go I suppose I must go.""I should ask Uncle Tom," said Ayala. "She could not make you go out into the street. When she had to get rid of me, she could send me here in exchange; but she can't say now that you don't suit, and have me back again.""Oh, Ayala, it is so miserable. I feel that I do not know what to do with myself.""Nor do I," said Ayala, jumping up from the bed on which she was sitting. "It does seem to be so cross-grained. Nobody will let you marry, and everybody will make me.""Do they still trouble you about Tom?"

"It is not Tom now, Lucy. Another man has come up.""As a lover?"

"Oh, yes; quite so. His name is -- such a name, Lucy -- his name is Colonel Jonathan Stubbs.""That is Isadore's friend -- the man who lives at Drumcaller.

"Exactly. He told me that Mr Hamel was at Drumcaller with him.

And now he wants me to be his wife."

"Do you not like him?"

"That is the worst part of it all, Lucy. If I did not like him I should not mind it half so much. It is just because I like him so very much that I am so very unhappy. "His hair is just the colour of Aunt Emmeline's big shawl.""What does that signify?"

"And his mouth stretches almost from ear to ear.""I shouldn't care a bit for his mouth."

"I don't think I do much, because he does look so good-natured when he laughs. Indeed he is always the most good-natured man that ever lived.""Has he got an income enough for marriage?" asked Lucy, whose sorrows were already springing from that most fertile source of sorrowing.

"Plenty they tell me -- though I do not in the least know what plenty means.""Then, Ayala, why should you not have him?""Because I can't," said Ayala. "How is a girl to love a man if she does not love him? Liking has nothing to do with it. You don't think liking ought to have anything to do with it?"This question had not been answered when Aunt Margaret came into the room, declaring that the Tringle manservant, who had walked across the park with Miss Dormer, was waxing impatient. The sisters, therefore, were separated, and Lucy returned to Queen's Gate.

同类推荐
  • 千转大明陀罗尼经

    千转大明陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 六即义

    六即义

    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。
  • FRECKLES

    FRECKLES

    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。
  • 曹文贞公诗集

    曹文贞公诗集

    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。
  • 寻芳雅集

    寻芳雅集

    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
  • 末世生存系统:炮灰逆袭

    末世生存系统:炮灰逆袭

    一介孤儿千瑾兮被系统莫名其妙的带到小说里!成为了小说里的炮灰!不甘的她,带着金手指系统,持着无双空间,领着一众美男,肩上俩酷帅神宠,一路走上巅峰!
  • 华夏之明末崛起

    华夏之明末崛起

    明朝末年,天下大乱,一个现代精英,一个江洋大盗,两个灵魂在一具身体里会碰撞出怎样的火花,斗豪强、杀贪官、举义旗,北海牧羊,西湖饮马,一段波澜壮阔的时代序幕正缓缓揭开
  • 神魔戮武

    神魔戮武

    天道有愧,武族有殇。龙杀天下,仙临八方。神魔乱舞,烽火乱葬。浴血成君,刑戮如狂。横绝六合,血战八荒。执子之手,予子无殇!苏御说:“待我斩了龙,逆了天,弑了仙,我再来娶你!”
  • 天机神剑录

    天机神剑录

    任天地早已断却成仙路,唯我一剑破苍穹。天道的考验突然降临,命运的随之改变,让沈安走上了一条未知的成仙路。群号:592280041
  • 一个平凡女的不平凡

    一个平凡女的不平凡

    我们都是一个平凡人,每天都有形形色色的人出现在我们面前,谁是主角谁是配角,谁是路人,谁又是平凡人。其实在心里我们都觉得自己才是主角:每天都会有发生在自己身上的事,'大千世界其中就有一个平凡的人,开始了她的不平凡之旅
  • 失落的浮士德

    失落的浮士德

    相传,有座漂浮在天空的神之岛屿:浮士德;在古生物的嘶吼中,各大组织开始了为寻找通向浮士德之路的战斗;远古神兵的相继出世,鲜血开始流淌。
  • 35岁之前要掌握的16条成功法则

    35岁之前要掌握的16条成功法则

    一个没有掌握成功法则的人,好比盲目航行的船,在“东碰西撞”后,收获的必然是失败。本书是35岁之前成功的“导航图”,一旦有了正确指引,即使远航的路再艰辛、再黑暗,也能抵达成功的彼岸。在本书里,我们收集了大量中外成功人士的例子,并对他们的成功经验加以分析研究,从而总结出了取得成功的十六条黄金法则。遵照这些法则,一步一步完善自我,你就会逐渐实现你的成功之梦。
  • 恋相随,倾城为王

    恋相随,倾城为王

    雨哲千里迢迢给未婚夫送生日惊喜,却收获了意外的惊吓。她执着于寻找自己的命中注定,浑然不觉已经在宠溺之中。
  • 异界之数码暴龙召唤师

    异界之数码暴龙召唤师

    李望星,一个碌碌无为的打工仔,因为一次罕见的九星连珠的天象,导致他穿越到了一个和地球一样的平行世界---兽神星。兽神星,是一个不可思议的星球,这里的环境和地球差不多,同样有着高大的山峰,蔚蓝的天空,波涛汹涌的海洋。这里除了有着人类,还有着一种不可思议的幻兽。幻兽师,是兽神星上的人类和幻兽在生活中逐渐一种可以和幻兽订契约诞生的一人类。经历了漫长的时间,现在的兽神星上百分之九十九的人类都可以成为幻兽师,只有百分之一的人类是成为不了幻兽师。很不幸,穿越过来的李望星就是那百分之一的人类,不能成为幻兽师的他,在兽神星的命运将会如何。
  • 阳绝

    阳绝

    你站住,说你呢。你在叫我?对就是你。有事吗?嗯,很荣幸的告诉你,你将是我下部戏的男主角。“白痴”诶,你怎么知道我名字。别走啊,回来。..............................为什么,我没有灵力!!!