登陆注册
15324900000011

第11章

Disgrace.

For of fortune's sharp adversitie The worst kind of infortune is this:

A man that hath been in prosperitie, And it remember when it passed is.

-- Chaucer.

Harry Glen's perfect self-complacency did not molt a feather when the victors returned to camp flushed with their triumph, which, in the eyes of those inexperienced three-months men, had the dimensions of Waterloo.He did not know that in proportion as they magnified their exploit, so was the depth of their contempt felt for those of their comrades who had declined to share the perils and the honors of the expedition with them.He was too thoroughly satisfied with himself and his motives to even imagine that any one could have just cause for complaint at anything he chose to do.

This kept him from understanding or appreciating the force of the biting innuendoes and sarcasms which were made to his very face;and he had stood so aloof from all, that there was nobody who cared to take the friendly trouble of telling him how free the camp conversation was making with his reputation.

He could not help, however, understanding that in some way he had lost caste with the regiment: but he serenely attributed this to mean-spirited jealousy of the superior advantages he was enjoying, and it only made him more anxious for the coming of the time when he could "cut the whole mob of beggars," as Ned Burnleigh phrased it."A few days more would end the regiment's term of service, and he readily obtained permission to return him in advance.

The first real blow his confidence received was when he walked down the one principal street of Sardis, and was forced to a perception of the fact that there was an absence of that effusive warmth with which the Sardis people had ever before welcomed back their young townsman, of whose good looks and gentlemanliness they had always been proud.Now people looked at him in a curious way.They turned to whisper to each other, with sarcastic smiles and knowing winks, as he came into view, and they did not come forward to offer him their hands as of old.It astonished him that nobody alluded to the company or to anything that had happened to it.

Turning at length from the main street, he entered the lateral one leading to his home.As he did so, he heard one boy call out to another in that piercing treble which boys employ in making their confidential communications to one another, across a street, "S-a-y-, did you know that Hank Glen 'd got back? and they say he looks pale yet?""Has he?" the reply came in high falsetto, palpably tinged with that fine scorn of a healthy boy, for anything which does not exactly square with his young highness's ideas."Come back to mammy, eh?

Well, it's a pity she ever let him go away from her.Hope she'll keep him with her now.He don't seem to do well out of reach of her apron strings."The whole truth flashed upon him: Envious ones had slandered him at home, as a coward.

He walked onward in a flurry of rage.The thought that he had done anything to deserve criticism could not obtrude itself between the joints of his triple-plated armor of self-esteem.

A swelling contempt for his village critics flushed his heart.

"Spiteful, little-minded country boobies," he said to himself with an impatient shake of his head, as if to adjust his hair, which was his usual sign of excitement, "they've always hated me because I was above them.They take advantage of the least opportunity to show their mean jealousy."After a moment's pause: "But I don't care.I'd a little rather have their dislike than their good-will.It'll save me a world of trouble in being polite to a lot of curs that I despise.I'm going to leave this dull little burg anyhow, as soon as I can get away.I'm going to Cincinnati, and be with Ned Burnleigh.There is more life there in a day than here in a year.After all, there's nobody here that I care anything for, except father and mother--and--Rachel."A new train of thought introduced itself at this tardy remembrance of his betrothed.His heat abated.He stopped, and leaning against a shady silver maple began anew a meditation that had occupied his mind very frequently since that memorable night under the old apple tree on the hill-top.

There had been for him but little of that spiritual exaltation which made that night the one supreme one in Rachel's existence;when the rapture of gratified pride and love blended with the radiant moonlight and the subtle fragrance of the flowers into a sweet symphony that would well chord with the song the stars sang together in the morning.

He was denied the pleasure that comes from success, after harrowing doubts and fears.His unfailing consciousness of his own worth had left him little doubt that a favorable answer would promptly follow when he chose to propose to Rachel Bond, or to any other girl, and when this came with the anticipated readiness, he could not help in the midst of his gratification at her assent the intrusion of the disagreeable suspicion that, peradventure, he had not done the best with his personal wares that he might.Possibly there would appear in time some other girl, whom he might prefer to Rachel, and at all events there was no necessity for his committing himself when he did, for Rachel "would have kept," as Ned Burnleigh coarsely put it, when made the recipient of Harry's confidence.

Three months of companionship with Ned Burnleigh, and daily imbibation of that young man's stories of his wonderful conquests among young women of peerless beauty and exalted social station confirmed this feeling, and led him to wish for at least such slackening of the betrothal tether as would permit excursions into a charmed realm like that where Ned reigned supreme.

For the thousandth time--and in each recurrence becoming a little clearer defined and more urgent--came the question:

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 道妖恋

    道妖恋

    上古时期,有女者掌岁时祓除、衅浴,而称巫,巫者,上横为天,下横为地,中有人有奇能而贯通天地者,即巫尔,有男子类能者,历四方而消众之疾厄,称为觋。此二者,授后世以术与道,兹能趋吉避凶,方得流传!农历三月初三,传为轩辕氏所诞之日,又为鬼魂污秽尽出之际,是以民间设礼祭,求苍天神明庇佑,纪以“上巳祭”
  • 废女翻身:倾城驭魂师

    废女翻身:倾城驭魂师

    夏璃被一个机器人骗了——这个骗不是小撒谎,而是让她整个人生都斯巴达,并且还颠覆了她现实主义与科学理论价值观的坑妈事。从此,惊艳与狗血并存。左手爱宠,右手魂器,身后还有个大跟班。花样百出的任务,新奇危险的历练,她都不感兴趣,只想问:“怎样才能扛过三次命运杀机?”广阔无垠的洲域,层出不穷的大Boss,为夺魂体,夏璃只求来战!
  • 山海封界

    山海封界

    怪异的梦,一朝醒来,发现原来自己竟是山海大陆穿越过来的人而山海大陆又与地球有着丝丝联系,这之中到底有着什么秘密?跟随自己一起而来的佩饰竟是天地神器!!!为了挽救心爱的人,誓要返回山海大陆武道重新开始!
  • 伊莲调

    伊莲调

    《伊》中时值黄巢被灭,李唐风雨飘摇间,昭宗被囚,梁王称帝,晋王世子玩耍权谋。故事中佛、道、儒三家的历史交替,终南山的楼观派,崂山的上清教、西北戈壁滩里沉香山下寿阳宫中的梅妆派三派的恩怨纠葛,期间有少林寺李唐复国大计,西北巫驼帮、太湖神龟帮在江湖间翻云覆雨间,各怀心机。从隐仙谷到延安府,延安府到西北明州镇,接着是寿阳宫、太湖边、叶家庄、少林寺、洛阳白马寺、法门寺地宫、鸳鸯湖边等。地点转遍大半个华夏,所见人民疾苦,沿途风光迤逦,各场景的交换、故事的延伸也推波助澜,依次呈现。
  • 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!)
  • 圣樱学院贵族王子公主爱恋

    圣樱学院贵族王子公主爱恋

    不是说他们是不近女色吗?怎么到了她们身上完全不一样了,接近后才知道,四个人原来是青梅竹马,后来发生了一系列故事
  • 王俊凯:那个她

    王俊凯:那个她

    身份特殊的林雪遇上国内当红偶像TFBOYS队长王俊凯,为了他违背自己必须完成的宿命,失去一切。亲情,友情,爱情全都都没有。
  • 旧时光,一顾无秦

    旧时光,一顾无秦

    我青春里的那股柠檬的清香,就像是你时刻为我准备的白开水,已成为了一个习惯,让我怎么戒掉?我曾说:顾秦,许我时光忘记你。让我抹掉属于你的记忆,将你悄悄的留在旧时光中,我用了一支笔,虚构了一个故事,述说了整个青春——一个属于我们的青春。可是后来我们为什么还要相遇?
  • 闲时雨

    闲时雨

    在漫长岁月里想到说的话,以前,现在,未来。
  • kill玩家在异界

    kill玩家在异界

    上古沉睡的魔神已经苏醒,蛰伏了万载的魂妖已经举起了手中的屠刀……已经消逝掉荣光的圣体一族在那满是尸骨的战场上苟延残喘。