登陆注册
5395900000032

第32章

Both ladies are devoted to your little flock, and Miss Mortimer seems not to have a thought but for them.The high opinion I formed of her at the outset is more than justified by all I see of her daily, household life.I know what her faults are, for she seems to take delight in revealing them.But I also know her rare virtues, and what a wealth of affection she has to bestow on the man who is so happy as to win her heart.But I shall never be that man.Her growing aversion to me makes me dread a summons to your house, and I have hardly manliness enough to conceal the pain this gives me.I entreat you, therefore, never again to press this subject upon me.After all, Iwould not, if I could, dispense with the ministry of disappointment and unrest.

Mrs.Crofton, in reply:

....So she hates you, does she? I am charmed to hear it.

Indifference would be an alarming symptom, but good, cordial hatred, or what looks like it, is a most hopeful sign.The next chance you get to see her alone, assure her that you never shall repeat your first offence.If nothing comes of it I am not a woman, and never was one; nor is she.

MARCH 25, 1836.-The New Year and my birthday have come and gone, and this is the first moment I could find for writing down all that has happened.

The day after my last date I was full of serious, earnest thoughts, of new desires to live, without one reserve, for God.I was smarting under the remembrance of my folly at Mrs.Embury's, and with a sense of vague disappointment and discomfort, and had to fly closer than ever to Him.In the evening I thought I would go to the usual weekly service.It is true I don't like prayer-meetings, and that is a bad sign, I am afraid.But I am determined to go where good people go, and see if I can't learn to like what they like.

Mother went with me, of course.

What was my surprise to find that Dr.E.was to preside! I had no idea that he was that sort of a man.

The hymns they sang were beautiful, and did me good.So was his prayer.If all prayers were like that, I am sure I should like evening meetings as much as I now dislike them.He so evidently spoke to God in it, and as if he were used to such speaking.

He then made a little address on the ministry of disappointments, as he called it.He spoke so cheerfully and hopefully that I began to see almost for the first time God's reason for the petty trials and crosses that help to make up every day of one's life.He said there were few who were not constantly disappointed with themselves, with their slow progress, their childishness and weakness; disappointed with their friends who, strangely enough, were never quite perfect enough, and disappointed with the world, which was always promising so much and giving so little.Then he urged to a wise and patient consent to this discipline, which, if rightly used, would help to temper and strengthen the soul against the day of sorrow and bereavement.But I am not doing him justice in this meagre report;there was something almost heavenly in his expression which words cannot describe.

Coming out I heard some one ask, "Who was that young clergyman?" and the answer, "Oh, that is only a doctor!"Well! the next week I went again, with mother.We had hardly taken our seats when Dr.E.marched in with the sweetest looking little creature I ever saw.He was so taken up with her that he did not observe either mother or myself.As she sat by my side I could not see her full face, but her profile was nearly perfect.Her eyes were of that lovely blue one sees in violets and the skies, with long, soft eye-lashes, and her complexion was as pure as a baby's.Yet she was not one of your doll beauties; her face expressed both feeling and character.They sang together from the same book, though Ioffered her a share of mine.Of course, when people do that it can mean but one thing.

So it seems he has forgotten me, and consoled himself with this pretty little thing.No doubt she is like his mother, that "gentlest, meekest, sweetest and fairest among women!"Now if anybody should be sick, and he should come here, I thought, what would become of me? I certainly could not help showing that a love that can so soon take up with a new object could not have been a sentiment of much depth.

It is not pleasant to lose even a portion of one's respect and esteem for another.

The next day mother went to visit an old friend of hers, who has a beautiful place outside of the city.The baby's nurse had ironing to do, so I promised to sit in the nursery till it was finished.Lucy came, with her books, to sit with me.She always follows like my shadow.After a while Mrs.Embury called.I hesitated a little about trusting the child to Lucy's care, for though her prim ways have given her the reputation of being wise beyond her years, I observe that she is apt to get into trouble which a quick-witted child would either avoid or jump out of in a twinkling.However, children are often left to much younger girls, so, with many cautions, I went down, resolving to stay only a few moments.

But I wanted so much to know all about that pretty little friend of Dr.E.'s that I let Mrs.Embury stay on and on, though not a ray of light did I get for my pains At last I heard Lucy's step coming downstairs.

"Cousin Katy," she said, entering the room with her usual propriety, "I was seated by the window, engaged with my studies.and the children were playing about, as usual, when suddenly I heard a shriek, and one of them ran past me, all in a blaze and-"I believe I pushed her out of my way as I rushed upstairs, for I took it for granted I should meet the little figure all in a blaze, coming to meet me.But I found it wrapped in a blanket, the flames extinguished.Meanwhile, Mrs.Embury had roused the whole house, and everybody came running upstairs.

"Get the doctor, some of you," I cried, clasping the poor little writhing form in my arms.

And then I looked to see which of them it was, and found it was Aunty's pet lamb, everybody's pet lamb, our little loving, gentle Emma.

同类推荐
  • 佛说四辈经

    佛说四辈经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东塘日札

    东塘日札

    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。
  • Ivanoff

    Ivanoff

    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。
  • 说无垢称经疏(本)

    说无垢称经疏(本)

    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。
  • 跌打损伤方

    跌打损伤方

    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
  • 绿光倾城

    绿光倾城

    世界上最耀眼的光,不是太阳,也不是一颗叫“绿光”的钻石。而是,她的笑容。那是一种很奇怪的感觉。第一次见到她的时候,明明,还不了解,他却有一种,他们总有一天会相爱的预感……一颗价值连城的钻石“绿光”,由国际友人捐赠到国内,入住S市的波西米亚大厦,引发各路盗窃团伙摩拳擦掌跃跃欲试。一个外表花哨肤浅的光头男,找到了一对身世复杂的兄妹,也打起了钻石的主意——但是,目的却是保护这颗意义特殊的“绿光”。由此,一场较量艰难的钻石防守战就此拉开。
  • 七月没有初七八月没有十五

    七月没有初七八月没有十五

    一代人的记忆,一代人的回忆,一个被抛弃了的女婴,经历了九零年代所有九零后经历的没有经历的岁月往事,以此纪念九零年代这一年代爱情友情亲情的相互交织,以及青春岁月的美好
  • 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。
  • 朱自清散文选(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    朱自清散文选(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    这就是我们出版本书的初衷。本书选材严谨,取舍得当,对学生有很高的实用价值,对教师教学有很好的参考价值,非常适合广大青少年阅读和收藏。
  • 绯闻巨星

    绯闻巨星

    “梁沐枫,我不欠你的!这辈子,我只欠了一个人,他叫言深叶……”风起云涌的娱乐圈中,有一群人占据着最顶端的位置,而他们的星途并不一帆风顺,他们之间的感情纠葛对他们的事业产生了巨大的影响……
  • 超级脱单系统

    超级脱单系统

    “您好,滴滴脱单提醒您,您有一个定制男友,请点击链接获取……”任元浩获得了滴滴脱单系统,从此结束了他接连十世的单身生涯,上天入地无所不能,摘星揽月为你倾心,只求给个五星好评啊亲!“美女,想恋爱吗?滴滴脱单了解一下?”
  • 爆笑宠妃:爷,我等你追妻

    爆笑宠妃:爷,我等你追妻

    杀手界的奇葩,没错,就是她!别人都是冷血无情的杀手,但她不是。檀梵曾说过一句话:生命财可贵,美食价更高,若为美男故,一切皆可抛!和美男赛车,檀梵很不幸发生了意外……再次睁开双眼,漏雨的屋顶,透风的窗户,盖不着脚丫子的破棉被和断了一部分的烂桌子,靠啊,这是哪儿?不过,穿越嘛,多大点儿事儿,姐也是有一技之长的,饿不着,还很逍遥,听说古代盛产美男?那感情好啊,像美男这种生物,多多益善,养眼!谁知,见了某男以后,某女的眼睛就再也挪不开了。于是某女决定制定一套计划,套路某爷追妻!
  • 谁来咬狗

    谁来咬狗

    吾名有毒莫叫唤一声修为降一层敢叫十声立瘫痪牛老狗不甘岁月摧残,不甘香火绝灭,在即将入土为安的那年,毅然踏上漫漫仙途,从此千难万苦,一步步前行,一步步崛起,后据毒虫咒术,创《毒名毒姓大法》,携其功纵横诸天,所向披靡,后与阴夺其舍之创世老祖博弈,终成一代仙尊,实现美好愿望~
  • 七个小故事带你轻松玩转单词

    七个小故事带你轻松玩转单词

    作者精心编写了七个有趣的小故事,内含1500个生活和学习中的高频词汇。本书将为你打开一扇新世界的大门,你会发现原来单词记忆可以如此简单!
  • 抓住那只程序猿

    抓住那只程序猿

    我是一只程序猿,格子衫,秃顶,996,对不起这些我都没有,我和那群妖艳贱货不一样。我,猿界中最亮的崽儿!