登陆注册
15422500000020

第20章 DECISION (2)

He was dead. And yet, with a shifting of the scene, she was once more in the Harley Street drawing-room, talking to him as of old, and still with a consciousness all the time that she had seen him killed by that terrible fall. Miserable, unresting night! Ill preparation for the coming day! She awoke with a start, unrefreshed, and conscious of some reality worse even than her feverish dreams. It all came back upon her; not merely the sorrow, but the terrible discord in the sorrow. Where, to what distance apart, had her father wandered, led by doubts which were to her temptations of the Evil One? She longed to ask, and yet would not have heard for all the world. The fine Crisp morning made her mother feel particularly well and happy at breakfast-time. She talked on, planning village kindnesses, unheeding the silence of her husband and the monosyllabic answers of Margaret. Before the things were cleared away, Mr. Hale got up; he leaned one hand on the table, as if to support himself: 'I shall not be at home till evening. I am going to Bracy Common, and will ask Farmer Dobson to give me something for dinner. I shall be back to tea at seven.' He did not look at either of them, but Margaret knew what he meant. By seven the announcement must be made to her mother. Mr. Hale would have delayed making it till half-past six, but Margaret was of different stuff.

She could not bear the impending weight on her mind all the day long: better get the worst over; the day would be too short to comfort her mother. But while she stood by the window, thinking how to begin, and waiting for the servant to have left the room, her mother had gone up-stairs to put on her things to go to the school. She came down ready equipped, in a brisker mood than usual. 'Mother, come round the garden with me this morning; just one turn,' said Margaret, putting her arm round Mrs. Hale's waist. They passed through the open window. Mrs. Hale spoke--said something--Margaret could not tell what. Her eye caught on a bee entering a deep-belled flower:

when that bee flew forth with his spoil she would begin--that should be the sign. Out he came. 'Mamma! Papa is going to leave Helstone!' she blurted forth. 'He's going to leave the Church, and live in Milton-Northern.' There were the three hard facts hardly spoken. 'What makes you say so?' asked Mrs. Hale, in a surprised incredulous voice.

'Who has been telling you such nonsense?' 'Papa himself,' said Margaret, longing to say something gentle and consoling, but literally not knowing how. They were close to a garden-bench. Mrs.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 易生只要你安好

    易生只要你安好

    简介:【四年的时光,我们都还安好。“千玺,我眼睛好了。”她康复了,她说她即将离开,却被卷入一场大风暴,最后,他问她:“岳安安,你还是那安好吗?”最后的最后,他低声问她:“你怕吗?”她笑道:“怕,但我还有你。”】
  • 做仙人

    做仙人

    心有梦想,再不拘束于世间,做大仙人。就是一个平凡人一步步登临高处的故事。
  • 无懈可击之高手如林

    无懈可击之高手如林

    金钱主宰的世界扭曲了人格,势利、肮脏、贪婪的一张张丑陋的嘴脸使人感到恶心,作呕!在金钱时代生活的他从小性格倔强,这个浮躁的世界并没有感染他。一日偶遇高人,修仙之路从此启程,日后他称霸武林,无人撼动,与自己的数名妻子过着神仙眷侣的生活。
  • 六个梦2

    六个梦2

    续《六个梦》的又一作品《六个梦2》,希望大家喜欢,喜欢的读者多多支持啊!
  • 灵武小天

    灵武小天

    废物下人,一朝逆袭大少爷,震惊全场,且看他如何应付。被全族追杀,且看他如何踏平仇敌,杀出一条血路,登上巅峰。强者如林的天下,血腥与残暴的前路,是死亡还是独孤的巅峰之路?
  • 战神联盟之冰封誓约

    战神联盟之冰封誓约

    世界上最远的距离,不是生与死的距离,而是站在原地,却茫茫看不清前路。黑暗中最亮的一颗流星,划破黑暗的结界,捎来黎明前第一丝曙光……当你看见光明时,别忘了向它许愿,因为——那是奇迹之光……
  • 请巫爱

    请巫爱

    帅逼巫师为了救家人被魔法穿越到古代。巫师:我是不是太笨了?教主:只有我在的时候你才这么笨,不许在别人面前笨,知道了嘛!!!!
  • 伪废柴修仙记

    伪废柴修仙记

    她这一生有两个师父。第一个师父为了漫漫仙途,夺她修为与肉身,然后,被她杀了;第二个师父,也为了漫漫仙途,给了她最沉重的两剑,一剑在她心口,一剑在那半缕元神之上,那就,也杀了吧。都说漫漫仙途,弃情忘爱才能可得上天途那么,就让他成为她手中之剑,爱恨莫提,一切不过为了这漫长天途。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 缘来玉赐:家有仙友

    缘来玉赐:家有仙友

    作晚去小摸了一把,收获了一块破玩意。话说这破玩意真够奇怪,在白天看是一块黑色的普通石头,晚上一看却变得血红血红的,起初还以为是一块血玉。胡翠翠是一个有知识有文化的夜间工作者,因为家里条件极其差,只好一边工作一边上学。
  • 梦都之新星崛起

    梦都之新星崛起

    曾,有所罗门王,双火平天下之乱;玄幽冥王,令阎王,聚鬼众,率领黑白无常,他们是梦都天地十皇之首和之末,所罗门王,名为——归海逸尘;玄幽冥王名为冥幽·奈里安。他们是一对天下皆知的神仙眷侣,而他们唯一的掌上明珠——归海森唯(另一个名字叫冥幽·唯),会成长成一个怎样的顶级强者呢??