登陆注册
5486000000016

第16章 CHAPTER 6(1)

Progression During the next four months, I did not enter Mrs Graham's house, nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her, and still our acquaintance continued, though slowly, to advance. As for their talk, I paid but little attention to that (when it related to the fair hermit, I mean), and the only information I derived from it was that, one fine, frosty day, she had ventured to take her little boy as far as the vicarage, and that, unfortunately, nobody was at home but Miss Millward; I nevertheless, she had sat a long time, and, by all accounts, they had found a good deal to say to each other, and parted with a mutual desire to meet again.--But Mary liked children, and fond mammas like those who can duly appreciate their treasures.

But sometimes I saw her myself,--not only when she came to church, but when she was out on the hills with her son, whether taking a long, purpose-like walk, or--on special fine days--leisurely rambling over the moor or the bleak pasture-lands surrounding the old hall, herself with a book in her hand, her son gambolling about her; and, on any of these occasions, when I caught sight of her in my solitary walks or rides, or while following my agricultural pursuits, I generally contrived to meet or overtake her; for I rather liked to see Mrs Graham, and to talk to her, and I decidedly liked to talk to her little companion, whom, when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken, I found to be a very amiable, intelligent, and entertaining little fellow; and we soon became excellent friends--how much to the gratification of his mamma, I cannot undertake to say. I suspected at first, that she was desirous of throwing cold water on this growing intimacy--to quench, as it were, the kindling flame of our friendship--but discovering, at length, in spite of her prejudice against me, that I was perfectly harmless, and even well-intentioned, and that, between myself and my dog, her son derived a great deal of pleasure from the acquaintance, that he would not otherwise have known, she ceased to object, and even welcomed my coming with a smile.

As for Arthur, he would shout his welcome from afar, and run to meet me fifty yards from his mother's side. If I happened to be on horseback, he was sure to get a canter or a gallop; or, if there was one of the draught horses within an available distance, he was treated to a steady ride upon that, which served his turn almost as well; but his mother would always follow and trudge beside him--not so much, I believe, to ensure his safe conduct, as to see that I instilled no objectionable notions into his infant mind; for she was ever on the watch, and never would allow him to be taken out of her sight. What pleased her best of all, was to see him romping and racing with Sancho, while I walked by her side--not, I fear, for love of my company (though I sometimes deluded myself with that idea), so much as for the delight she took in seeing her son thus happily engaged in the enjoyment of those active sports, so invigorating to his tender frame, yet so seldom exercised for want of playmates suited to his years; and, perhaps, her pleasure was sweetened, not a little, by the fact of my being with her instead of with him; and therefore incapable of doing him any injury, directly or indirectly, designedly or otherwise--small thanks to her for that same.

But sometimes, I believe, she really had some little gratification in conversing with me; and one bright February morning, during twenty minutes' stroll along the moor, she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve, and fairly entered into conversation with me, discoursing with so much eloquence, and depth of thought and feeling, on a subject, happily coinciding with my own ideas, and looking so beautiful with all that I went home enchanted; and on the way (morally) started to find myself thinking that, after all, it would, perhaps, be better to spend one's days with such a woman than with Eliza Millward;--and then I (figuratively) blushed for my inconstancy.

On entering the parlour, I found Eliza there, with Rose and no one else. The surprise was not altogether so agreeable as it ought to have been. We chatted together a long time; but I found her rather frivolous, and even a little insipid, compared with the more mature and earnest Mrs Graham--Alas, for human constancy!

`However,' thought I, `I ought not to marry Eliza since my mother so strongly objects to it, and I ought not to delude the girl with the idea that I intended to do so. Now, if this mood continue, I shall have less difficulty in emancipating my affections from her soft, yet unrelenting sway; and, though Mrs Graham might be equally objectionable, I may be permitted, like the doctors, to cure a greater evil by a less; for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow, I think,--nor she with me--that's certain--but if I find a little pleasure in her society, I may surely be allowed to seek it; and if the star of her divinity be bright enough to dim the lustre of Eliza's, so much the better; but I scarcely can think it.'

And thereafter, I seldom suffered a fine day to pass without paying a visit to Wildfell, about the time my new acquaintance usually left her hermitage; but so frequently was I balked in my expectations of another interview, so changeable was she in her times of coming forth, and in her places of resort, so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain, that I felt half inclined to think she took as much pains to avoid my company, as I to seek hers; but this was too disagreeable a supposition to be entertained a moment after it could, conveniently, be bed.

同类推荐
  • 宗范

    宗范

    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。
  • 钗小志

    钗小志

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 婴童百问

    婴童百问

    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 Soul of the Far East

    The Soul of the Far East

    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。
  • 玄沙师备禅师语录

    玄沙师备禅师语录

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一个娃娃两个爹

    一个娃娃两个爹

    白天,她是可爱八岁娃娃黑夜,她是妖媚妙龄娇娘是遭受诅咒,还是身患奇症白日的单纯可爱夜晚的婀娜妖娆哪个才是真正的她,哪个才是心中的她午夜化身为狼,爬上美男大床送去处子身,带走腹中宝遇上那个邪魅的男人,是其幸,还是其不幸爱上或恨上,只是一线之间的事大娃娃生小娃娃娃娃成娘亲为爱而重生【娃娃语录】*1*、“古话说:英雄难过美人关,爹爹难过娘亲关,娃娃不是美人不过关!”*2*、“娘亲,你好漂亮,我们私奔吧,不要管那个糟老头子了!”(糟老头子乃其父东方仕南)*3*、“哇,娃娃好可怜,亲爹爹不要,养爹爹不疼…”(某日东方仕南要责罚娃娃时,娃娃猜想自己不是其亲生之女,劲爆开口)【伊月语录】*1*、“把衣服脱了,让我生个宝宝!”(某午夜,伊月潜入一美男房间,冷冷道)*2*、“是男人就快点,不是男人就去给我找个真男人来!”(躺在美男床上,看着眼前一动不动的人,伊月微微眯起好看的水眸)*3*、“宝宝生下了谁要谁拿去,我只是想回家而已。”(十月怀胎后,伊月看着站在眼前的几个性格外表迥异的男人,淡然道)视频地址——http://m.pgsk.com/deux_m.pgsk.com【妖自己的文】【狂女】——穿越女强文【豪门童养媳】——豪门虐恋文【王爷,走着瞧】——温馨穿越文【养个奴隶做老婆】——都市虐恋文【一个娃娃两个爹】——新奇架空文
  • 卸妆·张爱玲

    卸妆·张爱玲

    第三部《卸妆·张爱玲》,写张爱玲晚年在海外漂零的苦难岁月,一直写到死在公寓一星期却无人知道。写她的孤独、她的绝望与凄凉。
  • 玩转魔方步步高(青少年挖掘大脑智商潜能训练集)

    玩转魔方步步高(青少年挖掘大脑智商潜能训练集)

    潜能是人类原本存在但尚未被开发与利用的能力,是潜在的能量。根据能量守恒定律,能量既不会消灭,也不会创生,它只会从一种形式转化为其他形式,或者从一个物体转移到另一个物体,而转化和转移过程中,能的总量保持不变。
  • 九转金身

    九转金身

    太古圣文,极道九转。玄门八卦,晓地通天。能者,可上至青冥,下达九幽,一手荡乾坤,只手碎星河。登天之路,仅有一条,欲通过者,唯有杀杀杀!且看一普通少年如何林立星空之巅。九九世界,欲登极天!
  • 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。
  • 偏执鲛夫惹不起

    偏执鲛夫惹不起

    ◆鲛族与人族的旷世之情·有兴趣了解一下?◆回首过往,她最懊悔一件事情,便是去主动招惹了一个闻风丧胆、嗜血狠厉的鲛人领主。*作为三十二世纪超智能人类,自毁在仿史莱姆系统101后,成为了最盛宠的二公主。原主有两个亲皇兄护着,一个小心眼的母妃宠着,性格演变成了骄横跋扈,不择手段。因此,便肆意豢养着倾容绝貌的鲛人。南海有鲛人一传说,归为事实,并沦落为了家豢养之物,她眼前养着的囚禁那美少年,正是寻仇而来。*某一位鲛美少年怒吼道:“我要凡碰过我的人,都灰飞烟灭;我要灭我一族的人,满门灭族······”某女哆嗦一抖:“系统系统,我要改变命运!我要走上人生巅峰!”决心替着原主逆转悲惨的命运。并甩开那一个病娇又偏执极度的鲛人少年,免得被灭族。然而——那一位鲛人少年美目狰狞,阴鸷道:“纵使你能逆转乾坤,都无法逆转‘你是我的东西’,是生或死,无论无何都只能待在我的身边!”某女:纳尼(?д?)
  • hello路先生

    hello路先生

    前世乔妤被背叛,被毁容,被羞辱至死。侥幸重生,不好意思,这辈子本小姐不做好人了!“乔妤,你要不要这么作?!”某男:“我宠的,有意见?憋着!”乔妤:“我乐意作,有人愿意宠,嘻嘻,你嫉妒呀?”#1v1双洁,齁甜!#
  • 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。
  • 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。
  • 我的老婆很高冷

    我的老婆很高冷

    慎入!!!古有英雄救美现有美女救英雄念念不忘必有回响从18岁开始穆琛心里就有一个叫安岚的白月光为了向她靠齐他不停地学习学习再学习就是为了有一天能有资格站在她身边“老婆,要亲亲抱抱举高高!””滚”“老婆,你不理你的小可爱了吗?”“滚”“老婆,我爱你!”“滚”新书大佬天天撒狗粮那些相爱的时光求收藏呀~