友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
a girl of the limberlost-第74部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
the hazard that possibly I had given up too soon。 It said
that in a fit of petulance you had broken your engagement
with Ammon twice this winter; and he had come back because
he knew you did not really mean it。 I thought deeply there
on the dock when I read that; and my boat sailed without me。
I argued that anything so weak as an engagement twice broken
and patched up again was a mighty frail affair indeed; and
likely to smash completely at any time; so I came on the run。
I said once I would not see you marry any other man。
Because I could not bear it; I planned to go into exile of
any sort to escape that。 I have changed my mind。 I have
come back to haunt you until the ceremony is over。 Then I go;
not before。 I was insane!〃
The girl laughed merrily。 〃Not half so insane as you
are now; Hart!〃 she cried gaily。 〃You know that Philip
Ammon has been devoted to me all my life。 Now I'll tell
you something else; because this looks serious for you。
I love him with all my heart。 Not while he lives shall he
know it; and I will laugh at him if you tell him; but the
fact remains: I intend to marry him; but no doubt I shall
tease him constantly。 It's good for a man to be uncertain。
If you could see Philip's face at the quarterly return of his
ring; you would understand the fun of it。 You had better
have taken your boat。〃
〃Possibly;〃 said Henderson calmly。 〃But you are the
only woman in the world for me; and while you are free; as
I now see my light; I remain near you。 You know the old adage。〃
〃But I'm not ‘free!'〃 cried Edith Carr。 〃I'm telling
you I am not。 This night is my public acknowledgment
that Phil and I are promised; as our world has surmised
since we were children。 That promise is an actual fact;
because of what I just have told you。 My little fits of
temper don't count with Phil。 He's been reared on them。
In fact; I often invent one in a perfect calm to see him
perform。 He is the most amusing spectacle。 But; please;
please; do understand that I love him; and always shall;
and that we shall be married。〃
〃Just the same; I'll wait and see it an accomplished
fact;〃 said Henderson。 〃And Edith; because I love you;
with the sort of love it is worth a woman's while to
inspire; I want your happiness before my own。 So I
am going to say this to you; for I never dreamed you
were capable of the feeling you have displayed for Phil。
If you do love him; and have loved him always; a
disappointment would cut you deeper than you know。
Go careful from now on! Don't strain that patched
engagement of yours any further。 I've known Philip all
my life。 I've known him through boyhood; in college;
and since。 All men respect him。 Where the rest of us
confess our sins; he stands clean。 You can go to his arms
with nothing to forgive。 Mark this thing! I have heard
him say; ‘Edith is my slogan;' and I have seen him march
home strong in the strength of his love for you; in the face
of temptations before which every other man of us fell。
Before the gods! that ought to be worth something to a
girl; if she really is the delicate; sensitive; refined
thing she would have man believe。 It would take a woman
with the organism of an ostrich to endure some of the
men here to…night; if she knew them as I do; but Phil
is sound to the core。 So this is what I would say
to you: first; your instincts are right in loving him;
why not let him feel it in the ways a woman knows?
Second; don't break your engagement again。 As men
know the man; any of us would be afraid to the soul。
He loves you; yes! He is long…suffering for you; yes!
But men know he has a limit。 When the limit is
reached; he will stand fast; and all the powers can't
move him。 You don't seem to think it; but you can go
too far!〃
〃Is that all?〃 laughed Edith Carr sarcastically。
〃No; there is one thing more;〃 said Henderson。 〃Here or
here…after; now and so long as I breathe; I am your slave。
You can do anything you choose and know that I will
kneel before you again。 So carry this in the depths of
your heart; now or at any time; in any place or condition;
merely lift your hand; and I will come。 Anything you
want of me; that thing will I do。 I am going to wait; if
you need me; it is not necessary to speak; only give me
the faintest sign。 All your life I will be somewhere near
you waiting for it。〃
〃Idjit! You rave!〃 laughed Edith Carr。 〃How you
would frighten me! What a bugbear you would raise!
Be sensible and go find what keeps Phil。 I was waiting
patiently; but my patience is going。 I won't look nearly
so well as I do now when it is gone。〃
At that instant Philip Ammon entered。 He was in
full evening dress and exceptionally handsome。
〃Everything is ready;〃 he said; 〃they are waiting for
us to lead the march。 It is formed。〃
Edith Carr smiled entrancingly。 〃Do you think I am ready?〃
Philip looked what he thought; and offered his arm。
Edith Carr nodded carelessly to Hart Henderson; and
moved away。 Attendants parted the curtains and the
Yellow Empress bowing right and left; swept the length
of the ballroom and took her place at the head of the
formed procession。 The large open dancing pavilion was
draped with yellow silk caught up with lilac flowers。
Every corner was filled with bloom of those colours。
The music was played by harpers dressed in yellow and
violet; so the ball opened。
The midnight supper was served with the same colours
and the last half of the programme was being danced。
Never had girl been more complimented and petted in
the same length of time than Edith Carr。 Every minute
she seemed to grow more worthy of praise。 A partners'
dance was called and the floor was filled with couples
waiting for the music。 Philip stood whispering delightful
things to Edith facing him。 From out of the night;
in at the wide front entrance to the pavilion; there
swept in slow wavering flight a large yellow moth and
fluttered toward the centre cluster of glaring electric lights。
Philip Ammon and Edith Carr saw it at the same instant。
〃Why; isn't that?〃 she began excitedly。
〃It's a Yellow Emperor! This is fate!〃 cried Philip。
〃The last one Elnora needs for her collection。 I must
have it! Excuse me!〃
He ran toward the light。 〃Hats! Handkerchiefs! Fans!
Anything!〃 he panted。 〃Every one hold up something and
stop that! It's a moth; I've got to catch it!〃
〃It's yellow! He wants it for Edith!〃 ran in a murmur
around the hall。 The girl's face flushed; while she bit her
lips in vexation。
Instantly every one began holding up something to
keep the moth from flying back into the night。 One fan
held straight before it served; and the moth gently settled
on it。
〃Hold steady!〃 cried Philip。 〃Don't move for your life!〃
He rushed toward the moth; made a quick sweep and held it
up between his fingers。 〃All right!〃
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!