登陆注册
38559000000126

第126章

"Very true; but to-day is a day by itself.""There is nothing to prevent their going back to Lucerne.

I depend upon your taking charge of them."At this Rowland reclined upon the grass again; and again, after reflection, he faced his friend."How would you express,"he asked, "the character of the profit that you expect to derive from your excursion?""I see no need of expressing it.The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

The case is simply this.I desire immensely to be near Christina Light, and it is such a huge refreshment to find myself again desiring something, that I propose to drift with the current.As I say, she has waked me up, and it is possible something may come of it.She makes me feel as if Iwere alive again.This," and he glanced down at the inn, "I call death!""That I am very grateful to hear.You really feel as if you might do something?""Don't ask too much.I only know that she makes my heart beat, makes me see visions.""You feel encouraged?"

"I feel excited."

"You are really looking better."

"I am glad to hear it.Now that I have answered your questions, please to give me the money."Rowland shook his head."For that purpose, I can't!""You can't?"

"It 's impossible.Your plan is rank folly.I can't help you in it."Roderick flushed a little, and his eye expanded."I will borrow what money I can, then, from Mary!" This was not viciously said;it had simply the ring of passionate resolution.

Instantly it brought Rowland to terms.He took a bunch of keys from his pocket and tossed it upon the grass.

"The little brass one opens my dressing-case," he said.

"You will find money in it."

Roderick let the keys lie; something seemed to have struck him;he looked askance at his friend."You are awfully gallant!""You certainly are not.Your proposal is an outrage.""Very likely.It 's a proof the more of my desire.""If you have so much steam on, then, use it for something else.

You say you are awake again.I am delighted; only be so in the best sense.Is n't it very plain? If you have the energy to desire, you have also the energy to reason and to judge.

If you can care to go, you can also care to stay, and staying being the more profitable course, the inspiration, on that side, for a man who has his self-confidence to win back again, should be greater."Roderick, plainly, did not relish this ****** logic, and his eye grew angry as he listened to its echo.

"Oh, the devil!" he cried.

Rowland went on."Do you believe that hanging about Christina Light will do you any good? Do you believe it won't? In either case you should keep away from her.If it won't, it 's your duty;and if it will, you can get on without it.""Do me good?" cried Roderick."What do I want of 'good'--what should I do with 'good'? I want what she gives me, call it by what name you will.I want to ask no questions, but to take what comes and let it fill the impossible hours!

But I did n't come to discuss the matter.""I have not the least desire to discuss it," said Rowland.

"I simply protest."

Roderick meditated a moment."I have never yet thought twice of accepting a favor of you," he said at last; "but this one sticks in my throat.""It is not a favor; I lend you the money only under compulsion.""Well, then, I will take it only under compulsion!" Roderick exclaimed.

And he sprang up abruptly and marched away.

His words were ambiguous; Rowland lay on the grass, wondering what they meant.Half an hour had not elapsed before Roderick reappeared, heated with rapid walking, and wiping his forehead.He flung himself down and looked at his friend with an eye which expressed something purer than bravado and yet baser than conviction.

"I have done my best!" he said."My mother is out of money;she is expecting next week some circular notes from London.

She had only ten francs in her pocket.Mary Garland gave me every sou she possessed in the world.It makes exactly thirty-four francs.

That 's not enough."

"You asked Miss Garland?" cried Rowland.

"I asked her."

"And told her your purpose?"

"I named no names.But she knew!"

"What did she say?"

"Not a syllable.She simply emptied her purse."Rowland turned over and buried his face in his arms.

He felt a movement of irrepressible elation, and he barely stifled a cry of joy.Now, surely, Roderick had shattered the last link in the chain that bound Mary to him, and after this she would be free!....When he turned about again, Roderick was still sitting there, and he had not touched the keys which lay on the grass.

"I don't know what is the matter with me," said Roderick, "but I have an insurmountable aversion to taking your money.""The matter, I suppose, is that you have a grain of wisdom left.""No, it 's not that.It 's a kind of brute instinct.

I find it extremely provoking!" He sat there for some time with his head in his hands and his eyes on the ground.

His lips were compressed, and he was evidently, in fact, in a state of profound irritation."You have succeeded in ****** this thing excessively unpleasant!" he exclaimed.

"I am sorry," said Rowland, "but I can't see it in any other way.

"

"That I believe, and I resent the range of your vision pretending to be the limit of my action.You can't feel for me nor judge for me, and there are certain things you know nothing about.

I have suffered, sir!" Roderick went on with increasing emphasis.

"I have suffered damnable torments.Have I been such a placid, contented, comfortable man this last six months, that when I find a chance to forget my misery, I should take such pains not to profit by it?

You ask too much, for a man who himself has no occasion to play the hero.

I don't say that invidiously; it 's your disposition, and you can't help it.

But decidedly, there are certain things you know nothing about."Rowland listened to this outbreak with open eyes, and Roderick, if he had been less intent upon his own eloquence, would probably have perceived that he turned pale.

"These things--what are they?" Rowland asked.

"They are women, principally, and what relates to women.

Women for you, by what I can make out, mean nothing.

同类推荐
  • 肉门

    肉门

    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。
  • 分别经

    分别经

    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。
  • 冷庐医话

    冷庐医话

    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。
  • 漱华随笔

    漱华随笔

    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。
  • 七佛父母姓字经

    七佛父母姓字经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 狱之子

    狱之子

    身在牢笼身不由己,牢笼脱困一飞冲天。正所谓金麟岂是池中物,一个生于监狱的孩子,带着三个和他有着相同命运的孩子,在他们18岁时,走出监狱,进入都市,开始在都市叱咤风云……
  • 黑道校草的黑道校花

    黑道校草的黑道校花

    小时候他(她)们在一起玩的非常要好,互相许下承诺:永远不会忘记对方。他答应会回来找她的。但是一场车祸夺走了他的家人的生命而他意外地活了下来被亲戚收养却失去了8岁前的记忆。而她还在原地等他。无奈爸妈要把她接去国外。10年后她回来了,两人相遇却不认识对方。群号:147259667
  • 响指神明之回归

    响指神明之回归

    东擎大陆遇到了有史以来最大的动乱!一系列匪夷所思的事情不断上演!各路英豪纷纷响应救援,抵抗暴乱。有位拥有恐怖异能的银发少年,手持奇异黑剑破空穿越!他会选择拯救苍生?还是屠戮万物?
  • 苍梧青女

    苍梧青女

    雪神青女因受情伤,下凡隐居在苍梧山,在这里她遇到了当年阿爹的弟子月寒,可惜她早已不记得他,到底是谁
  • 遥不可及的校草

    遥不可及的校草

    优秀的男生身边总是有一个优秀的女生。还是一个好看的女生。打得了流氓,下得了厨房。就是太过于自信了。不过顾言被她吸引了好几次都忍不住想和她表白。却每次都有突发状况,上帝这么不给面子。。。
  • 问题初音的心之途

    问题初音的心之途

    杀死一个人三观的办法①:重复让它听一半非常好听的音乐②:把它交给饥饿的吃货洛天依③:给一个不切实际的目标让它穿越。。。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 慎勇玩家

    慎勇玩家

    末日+废土=凉凉集镇青年白起,有个杀神的名字,却是荀彧(gouhuo)性格。就在新一轮风暴到来之际,白起终于获得属于他自己的超凡能力,本来以为获得超凡能力后,就能改变自己的性格!结果却在慎勇这条道路上,越走越远......
  • 关于匆忘的那缕暖色阳光

    关于匆忘的那缕暖色阳光

    对不起,不能追随你的梦想因为,你的梦想是她而我的梦想,是你那个笑若阳光,眼淀星辰的少年,我们回忆里再见关于匆忘的那缕暖色阳光,将永远让我向往并于心中埋葬
  • 奔向星光也奔向你

    奔向星光也奔向你

    星际女特工重伤穿异世,与一人类相恋?“阿柒,你是我的,谁也抢不走”某人类轻轻亲吻她的额头。野外,星光璀璨,某人类搂住叶柒,将头放在她的肩上,“好美的星光啊!”“嗯,不如你美”