登陆注册
15402600000022

第22章

Now,Mr.Smith,said the lady imperatively,coming downstairs,and appearing in her riding-habit,as she always did in a change of dress,like a new edition of a delightful volume,you have a task to perform to-day.These earrings are my very favourite darling ones;but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much,and when I am riding I cant give my mind to them.It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them,and remember them every minute of the day,and tell me directly I drop one.They have had such hairbreadth escapes,havent they,Unity?she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door.

Yes,miss,that they have!said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.

Once twas in the lane that I found one of them,pursued Elfride reflectively.

And then twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres,Unity chimed in.

And then twas on the carpet in my own room,rejoined Elfride merrily.

And then twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat,miss;and then twas down your back,miss,wasnt it?And oh,what a way you was in,miss,wasnt you?my!until you found it!

Stephen took Elfrides slight foot upon his hand:One,two,three,and up!she said.

Unfortunately not so.He staggered and lifted,and the horse edged round;and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant.Smith looked all contrition.

Never mind,said the vicar encouragingly;try again!Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice,although it looks so easy.Stand closer to the horses head,Mr.Smith.

Indeed,I shant let him try again,said she with a microscopic look of indignation.Worm,come here,and help me to mount.

Worm stepped forward,and she was in the saddle in a trice.

Then they moved on,going for some distance in silence,the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze,which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea.

I suppose,said Stephen,that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance;but,Miss Swancourt,Ill learn to do it all for your sake;I will,indeed.

What is so unusual in you,she said,in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewomans address to a benighted walker,is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things.

Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers.

You know,he said,it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didnt trouble about that particular bit of knowledge.I thought it would be useless to me;but I dont think so now.I will learn riding,and all connected with it,because then you would like me better.Do you like me much less for this?

She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered.

Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?she began suddenly,without replying to his question.Fancy yourself saying,Mr.

Smith:

"I sat her on my pacing steed,And nothing else saw all day long,For sidelong would she bend,and sing A fairys song,She found me roots of relish sweet,And honey wild,and manna dew;"

and thats all she did.

No,no,said the young man stilly,and with a rising colour.

"And sure in language strange she said,I love thee true."

Not at all,she rejoined quickly.See how I can gallop.Now,Pansy,off!And Elfride started;and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing.

He walked on in the same direction,and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning.Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone,and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard.Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot.

Such a delightful scamper as we have had!she said,her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.She turned the horses head,Stephen arose,and they went on again.

Well,what have you to say to me,Mr.Smith,after my long absence?

Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?said he.

I cannot exactly answer now,either.

Why cant you?

Because I dont know if I am more to you than any one else.

Yes,indeed,you are!he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation,at the same time gliding round and looking into her face.

Eyes in eyes,he murmured playfully;and she blushingly obeyed,looking back into his.

And why not lips on lips?continued Stephen daringly.

No,certainly not.Anybody might look;and it would be the death of me.You may kiss my hand if you like.

He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove,and that a riding-glove,was not a great treat under the circumstances.

There,then;Ill take my glove off.Isnt it a pretty white hand?Ah,you dont want to kiss it,and you shall not now!

If I do not,may I never kiss again,you severe Elfride!You know I think more of you than I can tell;that you are my queen.I

would die for you,Elfride!

A rapid red again filled her cheeks,and she looked at him meditatively.What a proud moment it was for Elfride then!She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life.

Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand.

No;I wont,I wont!she said intractably;and you shouldnt take me by surprise.

There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand,in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman.Then Pansy became restless.Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself.

You make me behave in not a nice way at all!she exclaimed,in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger,but partaking of both.I

ought not to have allowed such a romp!We are too old now for that sort of thing.

I hope you dont think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man,said he in a penitent tone,conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding.

同类推荐
  • H069

    H069

    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。
  • 宁远州志

    宁远州志

    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。
  • A Knight of the Cumberland

    A Knight of the Cumberland

    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。
  • 清朝柔远记选录

    清朝柔远记选录

    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。
  • 佛说大净法门品经

    佛说大净法门品经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 洪荒御劫

    洪荒御劫

    如果有面对孙悟空的机会,你最想对他说什么?那再面对申公豹、杨戬……甚至圣人呢?“道友,请留步!”身后传来令人抓狂的叫唤,带给他的是福是祸?这里有先天至宝,也有吃人妖怪;有成仙机会,也有恐怖僵尸,更有神秘的巫……摆脱蚊道人的追杀只是开始,前面还有更大的威胁在等着他。他奋起反抗,拨开重重迷雾。神通能不能对抗天数,覆巢大劫谁能幸免?他来了,御劫开始……
  • 医女哑妻

    医女哑妻

    小草是个哑巴,哑的莫名其妙,如果可以这样安稳平静,她真的想一直做个哑巴。
  • 八荒一同

    八荒一同

    得过且过的普通青年,穿越奇异世界。只为让自己过上舒服的日子努力了那么一下下,却背负起诸多情仇。在主角华天同寻找回乡之路中有爱情、友情与激情!新人新书敬请期待。
  • 重生之影后,进入娱乐圈

    重生之影后,进入娱乐圈

    上一世的影后,竟被渣男男朋友和妹妹所陷害。却意外重生并得到系统。成为一个爹疼娘爱,有两妹控哥哥的人。(本文爽文,也是宠文)【本文虚构,绝不是抄袭,如有雷同,纯属巧合。】
  • 上山吧,假医生

    上山吧,假医生

    在西藏自驾旅行,撞上潜逃的杀人犯。本以为难逃一死,没想到被一群“军绿大衣”给救回了雪山上。从此边防武警们鸡飞狗跳的生活,正式开始。我:“报告,我想申请当队医。”他:“噢,你的执业医师证是假的。”我:“报告,可我喜欢你……们这座雪山。”一个吊销执业医师证的女神经,怎样去追一只闷葫芦?部分冒险悬疑部分血腥暴力写得慢,欢迎先收藏。考据党请勿深究。
  • 青舟醉流霞

    青舟醉流霞

    若叹流霞一曲美梦,且看青舟几度秋凉。.注:已签约,今天开始稳定更新。
  • 一统生死门

    一统生死门

    如若人生,不曾热血,那何为人生?如果男儿,不成一方霸业,那何须再说曾经风云往事?我入江湖,何人敢当?生门如何?死门何惧?四方称雄,成就霸业。大展宏图,一统山河。生门如白昼,让人平平淡淡,死门如夜晚,却能翻手为云覆手为雨。统一生死,且看月圆之夜,诉说曾经风云往事。当属我慕容浩南是也!求支持!收藏!推荐!小弟不定时爆发!
  • 大神快到我碗里来

    大神快到我碗里来

    一位大神,不知不觉走到小作家碗里的故事。
  • (完)祸妃天降:温柔邪帝别碰我

    (完)祸妃天降:温柔邪帝别碰我

    她不过是为那夭折的第22次恋情吼几声,却穿了……摸着摔的痛痛的小屁股,眼前这个比女人还美的邪魅小帅哥竟然是皇上?帮你没问题,可亲爱的小弟弟,你也不用这么的设计姐姐吧?做你的皇后?你那四个宠妃还不吃了我啊?等等,皇上,别碰我!别坏坏的偷吻我!别对我动手动脚!什么?这不是偷吻,你是光明正大的……也不行,我可是克夫的。洞房被踢下龙床,皇上鼻血冒的狂、四大宠妃勾心斗,美男桃花运连连……都是意外,别喊我祸妃了,我只是有点克夫……
  • 一个平凡人的无限

    一个平凡人的无限

    平樊,一个平凡的普通人,无意间进入了无限空间他该如何掌控自己的命运且看一个平凡人如何在无限空间中闯荡,最后超脱命运……书友QQ群号:391774020(大家可以加一下,可以一起讨论哒)