登陆注册
19400200000042

第42章

After five days of most intensely stormy weather, the sea settled down into a dead calm, and the passengers flocked on deck. During the last three days of the storm, Clotelle had been so unwell as to be unable to raise her head. Her pale face and quivering lips and languid appearance made her look as if every pulsation had ceased. Her magnificent large and soft eyes, fringed with lashes as dark as night, gave her an angelic appearance. The unreserved attention of Devenant, even when sea-sick himself, did much to increase the little love that the at first distrustful girl had placed in him. The heart must always have some object on which to centre its affections, and Clotelle having lost all hope of ever again seeing Jerome, it was but natural that she should now transfer her love to one who was so greatly befriending her. At first she respected Devenant for the love he manifested for her, and for his apparent willingness to make any sacrifice for her welfare. True, this was an adventure upon which she had risked her all, and should her heart be foiled in this search for hidden treasures, her affections would be shipwrecked forever. She felt under great obligations to the man who had thus effected her escape, and that noble act alone would entitle him to her love.

Each day became more pleasant as the noble ship sped onward amid the rippled spray. The whistling of the breeze through the rigging was music to the ear, and brought gladness to the heart of every one on board. At last, the long suspense was broken by the appearance of land, at which all hearts leaped for joy. It was a beautiful morning in October. The sun had just risen, and sky and earth were still bathed in his soft, rosy glow, when the Utica hauled into the dock at Bordeaux. The splendid streets, beautiful bridges, glittering equipages, and smiling countenances of the people, gave everything a happy appearance, after a voyage of twenty-nine days on the deep, deep sea.

After getting their baggage cleared from the custom-house and going to a hotel, Devenant made immediate arrangements for the marriage.

Clotelle, on arriving at the church where the ceremony was to take place, was completely overwhelmed at the spectacle. She had never beheld a scene so gorgeous as this. The magnificent dresses of the priests and choristers, the deep and solemn voices, the elevated crucifix, the burning tapers, the splendidly decorated altar, the sweet-smelling incense, made the occasion truly an imposing one. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the loud and solemn peals of the organ's swelling anthem were lost to all in the contemplation of the interesting scene.

The happy couple set out at once for Dunkirk, the residence of the bridegroom's parents. But their stay there was short, for they had scarcely commenced visiting the numerous friends of the husband ere orders came for him to proceed to India to join that portion of the French army then stationed there.

In due course of time they left for India, passing through Paris and Lyons, taking ship at Marseilles. In the metropolis of France, they spent a week, where the husband took delight in introducing his wife to his brother officers in the French army, and where the newly-married couple were introduced to Louis Phillippe, then King of France. In all of these positions, Clotelle sustained herself in a most ladylike manner.

At Lyons, they visited the vast factories and other public works, and all was pleasure with them. The voyage from Marseilles to Calcutta was very pleasant, as the weather was exceedingly fine.

On arriving in India, Captain Devenant and lady were received with honors--the former for his heroic bravery in more than one battle, and the latter for her fascinating beauty and pleasing manners, and the fact that she was connected with one who was a general favorite with all who had his acquaintance. This was indeed a great change for Clotelle. Six months had not elapsed since her exposure in the slave-market of New Orleans. This life is a stage, and we are indeed all actors.

同类推荐
  • 山店

    山店

    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。
  • 疡医大全

    疡医大全

    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。
  • 王制

    王制

    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。
  • 太子瑞应本起经

    太子瑞应本起经

    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。
  • 地震问答

    地震问答

    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
  • 夙愿随风

    夙愿随风

    只为了完成一个夙愿还将付出何几鲜血。有些情入苦难回绵窗间月夕夕成玦!有些仇心藏却无言腹化风雪为刀剑!随风而下!手中还有,一缕牵挂。云重雾浓秋风劲,晴天白云新。蓝天绿地曾许愿,几度秋风叶落归自然。往昔岁月过眼前,黄叶成碎片。随风飘摇何处游。
  • 洞窟猎手

    洞窟猎手

    洞窟魅影,暗流涌动。平常人很少接触的潜水运动五彩缤纷却又危机重重。本来是为解开一件灵异事件的法事道士李义却意外的发现了不为人所知的奇异生物。猎杀,抓捕,降服,忙的不亦乐乎。子虚乌有的宝藏以及失传的道家功法使得李义在洞穴潜水的探索路上越走越远。
  • 挺进产权交易市场

    挺进产权交易市场

    本书概述了我国产权交易市场和民航运输业的发展现状,结合案倒讨论了产权交易市场在民航企业重组中的积极作用,剖析了航空公司进场交易的基础及方案选择。本书对于从事民航企业发展和产权交易市场理论研究及实际运用的人士颇具参考价值。
  • 古剑奇谭之今生注定

    古剑奇谭之今生注定

    晴雪找了苏苏100年,突然一道光闪过,出现了神秘女孩,她知道苏苏在哪里。可是苏苏不认得晴雪,......苏苏恢复了记忆,同样在苏苏复活时少恭也复活了,......神秘女孩出现在襄铃和兰生面前。帮他(她)俩成为夫妻,从此她(他)们四个幸福的生话在起。.......
  • 崩坏的无限之旅

    崩坏的无限之旅

    某本政治课本里面说过权利和义务是相对的,袁琅也一向觉得这句话说的很对。但是!自己为啥付出了那么多最后就换来一群无时无刻不在惦记着自己贞操的少女的纠缠?!对了,忘记说了。袁琅,性别女,曾用名袁朗,性别男,单身主义者!!!
  • 九幽传说

    九幽传说

    雅蠛蝶啊!现在连救人也会和一群奇葩一起穿越吗?诶,有美女!!!美人莫走!啊,这是什么异能?卧槽,读心术,幻术,轻功,驯兽术。还有怎么到了三国,唐朝,法国埃及和二次元?什么,要失忆?什么?就这样永远轮回重新穿越?什么?男主终于要出场了,太好了,不要啊,又要重来穿越之旅找镜片,诶,这次不一样。。。。
  • 致远天下

    致远天下

    【起点第一编辑组签约作品】读过马尾海战的悲壮往事,读过甲午战争的致远英魂,附身的历史人物重新改写这一切,实现海军强国梦,实现亿万军迷的航母梦~~去打败法国远东舰队,蹂躏小日本的三景舰,这就是【致远天下】,描写海军架空历史小说.此事发生在平行年代,如有雷同,纯属巧合~~%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%推荐本近代架空,近代架空不好写,这本写的不错,一个朋友的书《华夏大同》,书号1046998
  • 光荣日以后

    光荣日以后

    在昨日之前,春花、秋色、白雪与明月俱皆明明白白、干净明了在光荣日以后,万物不在我心,花树自开自落、日月自明自熄
  • 大荒生死劫

    大荒生死劫

    爱与恨的纠结,生与死的缠绵!不容于世的爱恋,天若不容我便为你破去这片天,地若不容我便为你砸碎这大地,神若不容我便为你诛神,魔若不容我便为你伏魔!你若落泪,这大荒必浮尸万里!卿牵君心,荒刀只为卿出鞘!君入卿心。绝颜只为君红妆!
  • 齐天大圣闯都市

    齐天大圣闯都市

    仙界四灵兽知道吗?那全是我的坐骑,四个我轮换着坐,爱怎么骑怎么骑!丘比特可爱吧,那是我干儿子!八歧大蛇凶残吗?凶残个屁,那是给我拉车的!宙斯的雷电锤厉害吧!还不是照样被我给熔了?你问我是谁?我乃花果山水帘洞美猴王齐天大圣孙悟空是也!