登陆注册
4907600000036

第36章

"No, no," said I; "I had too good an excuse.""I wish I'd been there--at the reception, I mean.""I'm extremely glad you weren't, Lady Mickleham. As it was Iforgot all my troubles."

Dolly is not resentful; she did not mind the implied description.

She leant back, smiling still. I sighed again, smiled at Dolly, and took my hat. Then I turned to the mirror over the mantelpiece, arranged my necktie, and gave my hair a touch.

"No one," I observed, "can afford to neglect the niceties of the toilet. Those dainty little curls on the forehead--""You've had none there for ten years," cried Lady Mickleham.

"I did not mean my forehead," said I.

Sighing once again, I held out my hand to Dolly.

"Are you doing anything this evening?" she asked.

"That depends on what I'm asked to do," said I cautiously.

"Well, Archie's going to be at the House, and I thought you might take me to the Phaetons' party. It's quite a long drive, a horrible long drive, Mr. Carter."I stood for a moment considering this proposal.

"I don't think," said I, "that it would be proper.""Why, Archie suggested it! You're making an excuse. You know you are!" and Lady Mickleham looked very indignant. "As if," she added scornfully, "you cared about what was proper!"I dropped into a chair, and said, in a confidential tone, "Idon't care a pin. It was a mere excuse. I don't want to come.""You're very rude, indeed. Many women would never speak to you again.""They would," said I, "all do just as you will.""And what's that, Mr. Carter."

"Ask me again on the first opportunity."

"Why won't you come?" said Dolly, waiving this question.

I bent forward, holding my hat in my left hand and sawing the air with my right forefinger.

"You fail to allow," said I impressively, "for the rejuvenescence which recent events have produced in me. If I came with you this evening, I should be quite capable--" I paused.

"Of anything dreadful?" asked Dolly.

"Of paying you pronounced attentions," said I gravely.

"That," said Dolly with equal gravity, "would be very regrettable. It would be unjust to me--and very insulting to her, Mr. Carter.""It would be the finest testimonial to her," I cried.

"And you'll spend the evening thinking of her?" asked Dolly.

"I shall go through the evening," said I, "in the best way Ican." And I smiled contentedly.

"What's her husband?" asked Dolly suddenly.

"Her husband," I rejoined, "is nothing at all."Dolly, receiving this answer, looked at me with a pathetic air.

"It's not quite fair," she observed. "Do you know what I'm thinking about, Mr. Carter?""Certainly I do, Lady Mickleham. You are thinking that you would like to meet me for the first time.""Not at all. I was thinking that it would be amusing if you met me for the first time."I said nothing. Dolly rose and walked to the window. She swung the tassel of the blind and it bumped against the window. The failing sun caught her ruddy brown hair. There were curls on her forehead, too.

"It's a grand world," said I. "And, after all, one can grow old very gradually.""You're not really old," said Dolly, with the fleetest glance at me. A glance should not be over-long.

"Gradually and disgracefully," I murmured.

"If you met me for the first time--" said Dolly, swinging the tassel.

"By Heaven, it should be the last!" I cried, and I rose to my feet.

Dolly let the tassel go, and made me a very pretty curtsey.

"I am going to another party tonight," said I, nodding my head significantly.

"Ah!" said Dolly.

"And I shall again," I pursued, "spend my time with the prettiest woman in the room.""Shall you?" asked Dolly, smiling.

"I am a very fortunate fellow," I observed. "And as for Mrs.

Hilary, she may say what she likes."

"Oh, does Mrs. Hilary know the Other Lady?"

I walked toward the door.

"There is," said I, laying my hand on the door, "no Other Lady.""I shall get there about eleven," said Dolly.

同类推荐
  • 周易述

    周易述

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Life of General Francis Marion

    The Life of General Francis Marion

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蓬轩类记

    蓬轩类记

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Can Such Things Be

    Can Such Things Be

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 神尊独宠:纨绔大小姐

    神尊独宠:纨绔大小姐

    前世她乖巧温柔,待人极好。可这都换来了什么家族的背叛亲友的背弃。这一世她发誓,待她好的人她会百倍千倍的回报,但那些敢欺她负她背叛她的人她也绝不会轻饶,定要让他们尝尝她的手段。这一世去tmd的温柔去tmd的娴淑。她要随心而活要像风一样无拘无束的翱翔于天地间!但谁来告诉她,这不要脸的人是谁?“你的高傲呢?你的冷漠呢?你的仙人气质呢?都哪儿去了?”凤羽娴忍无可忍道。“小羽儿都被你吃了,你说你该怎么补偿我?”某人一脸无赖的说道。
  • 媚骨生妖:夫君,收了我吧

    媚骨生妖:夫君,收了我吧

    她是清丽可人的妖狐。八百年前,他是天险山青云观的修行之人却被她当枪使。使完了就溜之大吉。他是冰漠之原的狼主,差点夺走她的纯真。而身为梦魇山鬼主的他,只是偶遇,却一眼万年。恩恩怨怨,爱恨情仇,八百年后,谁成了谁的伤,谁又牵绊了谁?他,习惯了她的死缠烂打。他,受不了她的冷若冰霜。他,痴恋于她的妩媚娇笑。
  • 校花PK校草誓言你要兑现

    校花PK校草誓言你要兑现

    许偌,学校的校花,许家的二小姐,有一个宠她上天的哥哥,尚宇然,闵夜的老大,黑道的王,尚家的独生子,在母亲的威逼下不得已去了学校上学,一个校花和一个黑道的王,会发生什么事情呢。。。。。亲们脑补一下吧!
  • 前列腺病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    前列腺病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    前列腺病是男性的“专利”,给男性朋友的生活带来很大的影响。本书从正确了解前列腺,正确检查前列腺病、前列腺炎、前列腺增生症,前列腺疾病的饮食治疗等方面为患者提供权威的医学指导。
  • 你好我的主脑大人

    你好我的主脑大人

    修复的系统,正在完美的运行,怎么这个男的背后的黑洞那么大??一跟这个男的有关,就开始不受控制和走向了,这可怎么办?游戏公司你们管不管这个男的?不管???好吧,我也不管了。直接扑到就好。
  • 一品御前侍女

    一品御前侍女

    年少便被派来当细作,长孙沐汐对宫中的一切人和事都很熟悉,有皇上和太后保驾护航,长孙沐汐虽为御前侍女,却也要风得风,要雨得雨,谁敢欺负她,转身一告状,什么问题都解决了,只是,一向如意的她,心中却一直有一个讨厌的人,那个四皇子,我告诉你,虽然我很喜欢你母妃和你妹妹,但一点都不妨碍我讨厌你啊,啊,你说什么,喜欢我,开什么玩笑,哎,我没答应和你在一起啊,你给我死开点,别整天在我眼前晃来晃去,行不行?这是一个宫女上位记,也是一个皇子追妻记,过程比较坎坷,但结局总归还是圆满滴!
  • 大学·中庸(中华国学经典)

    大学·中庸(中华国学经典)

    中国传统文化博大精深,包罗万象,远不是一本书所能囊括的。本丛书只是选取其中部分内容分门别类进行介绍。我们约请的作者,都是各个领域的专业研究者,每一篇简短的文字背后其实都有多年的积累,他们努力使这些文字深入浅出而严谨准确。与此同时,我们给一些文字选配了图片,使读者形成更加直观的印象。无论您是什么学历,无论您是什么年龄,无论您从事的是什么职业,只要您是中国传统文化的爱好者,您都可以从本书中获得您想要的。
  • 师爷来了

    师爷来了

    许子言一觉醒来,却蓦然发现自己已身处崇祯十一年。而且,自己竟然成了一伙流寇的狗头师爷。更让他惊掉半条命的是,自己辅佐的流寇头子竟然称帝了,然后,没多久就托孤了……
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 主宰抽奖机

    主宰抽奖机

    "哇!我好帅。。。。咦!卧槽,镜子怎么碎了。好吧,我其实走的可爱路线""噼里啪啦""。。。。。。"