登陆注册
19897600000212

第212章 THE STORM BURSTS(1)

The autumn drifted away through all its seasons; the golden corn-harvest, the walks through the stubble fields, and rambles into hazel-copses in search of nuts; the stripping of the apple-orchards of their ruddy fruit, amid the joyous cries and shouts of watching children; and the gorgeous tulip-like colouring of the later time had now come on with the shortening days.There was comparative silence in the land, excepting for the distant shots and the whirr of the partridges as they rose up from the field.

Ever since Miss Browning's unlucky conversation things had been ajar in the Gibsons' house.Cynthia seemed to keep every one out at (mental)arm's-length; and particularly avoided any private talks with Molly.Mrs Gibson, still cherishing a grudge against Miss Browning for her implied accusation of not looking enough after Molly, chose to exercise a most wearying supervision over the poor girl.It was, 'Where have you been, child?' 'Who did you see?' 'Who was that letter from?' 'Why were you so long out when you had only to go to so-and-so?' just as if Molly had really been detected in carrying on some underhand intercourse.She answered every question asked of her with the simple truthfulness of perfect innocence;but the inquiries (although she read their motive, and knew that they arose from no especial suspicion of her conduct, but only that Mrs Gibson might be able to say that she looked well after her stepdaughter), chafed her inexpressibly.Very often she did not go out at all, sooner than have to give a plan of her intended proceedings, when perhaps she had no plan at all, only thought of wandering out at her own sweet will, and of taking pleasure in the bright solemn fading of the year.It was a very heavy time for Molly, - zest and life had fled; and left so many of the old delights mere shells of seeming.She thought it was that her youth had fled; at nineteen! Cynthia was no longer the same, somehow; and perhaps Cynthia's change would injure her in the distant Roger's opinion.Her stepmother seemed almost kind in comparison with Cynthia's withdrawal of her heart;Mrs Gibson worried her to be sure, with all these forms of watching over her; but in all her other ways, she, at any rate, was the same.Yet Cynthia herself, seemed anxious and care-worn, though she would not speak of her anxieties to Molly.And then the poor girl in her goodness would blame herself for feeling Cynthia's change of manner; for as Molly said to herself, 'If it is hard work for me to help always fretting after Roger, and wondering where he is, and how he is; what must it be for her?'

One day Mr Gibson came in, bright and swift.

'Molly,' said he, 'where's Cynthia?'

'Gone out to do some errands -- '

'Well, it's a pity - but never mind.Put on your bonnet and cloak as fast as you can.I've had to borrow old Simpson's dogcart, - there would have been room both for you and Cynthia; but as it is, you must walk back alone.I'll drive you as far on the Barford Road as I can, and then you must jump down.I can't take you on to Broadhurst's, I may be kept there for hours.'

Mrs Gibson was out of the room; out of the house it might be, for all Molly cared, now she had her father's leave and command.Her bonnet and cloak were on in two minutes, and she was sitting by her father's side, the back scat shut up, and the light weight going swiftly and merrily bumping over the stone-paved lanes.

'Oh, this is charming,' said Molly, after a toss-up on her seat from a tremendous bump.

'For youth, but not for crabbed age,' said Mr Gibson.'My bones are getting rheumatic, and would rather go smoothly over macadamized streets.'

'That's treason to this lovely view and this fine pure air, papa.Only I don't believe you.'

'Thank you.As you are so complimentary, I think I shall put you down at the foot of this hill; we have passed the second milestone from Hollingford.'

'Oh, let me just go up to the top! I know we can see the blue range of the Malverns from it, and Dorrimer Hall among the woods; the horse will want a minute's rest, and then I will get down without a word.'

So she went up to the top of the hill; and there they sate still a minute or two, enjoying the view, without much speaking.The woods were golden, the old house of purple-red brick, with its twisted chimneys, rose up from among them facing on to green lawns, and a placid lake; beyond again were the Malvern Hills!

'Now jump down, lassie, and make the best of your way home before it gets dark.You'll find the cut over Croston Heath shorter than the road we've come by.'

To get to Croston Heath, Molly had to go down a narrow lane overshadowed by trees, with picturesque old cottages dotted here and there on the steep sandy banks; and then there came a small wood, and then there was a brook to be crossed on a plank-bridge, and up the steeper fields on the opposite side were cut steps in the turfy path, which ended, she was on Croston Heath, a wide-stretching common skirted by labourers' dwellings, past which a near road to Hollingford lay.

同类推荐
  • 难提释经

    难提释经

    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。
  • 中山传信录

    中山传信录

    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。
  • 道德经新解

    道德经新解

    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。
  • 航海遗闻

    航海遗闻

    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。
  • 益部谈资

    益部谈资

    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
  • 豪门密爱:误惹腹黑总裁

    豪门密爱:误惹腹黑总裁

    她只是养女,没钱没权,本以为安分一生,却被两个男人同时爱着,一个是温柔深情的未婚夫,一个是霸道野蛮的仇人,而她偏偏爱上了她的仇人。躲避等于被杀?相守等于欺辱?那么她宁可不要这些可怜的爱情,誓要做那人上人!
  • 文穆念禅师语录

    文穆念禅师语录

    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。
  • The Letters of Mark Twain Vol.1

    The Letters of Mark Twain Vol.1

    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。
  • 巫道尸圣

    巫道尸圣

    罗喉魔主再次现世,引发大劫。大劫之后资源越发缺乏,仙魔两界征伐纷纷,无法魔皇在无奈之下打开了一条通往异界之路。
  • 红色沙皇之眼

    红色沙皇之眼

    在严酷的西伯利亚丛林中,他浑浑噩噩过了九年,一枚熟悉的翡翠之眼唤起曾经的记忆。为了查明末代沙皇家族死亡的真相,为了心中不灭的信念,他接受敌人的请求,成为特别调查员“回到人间”。然而时过境迁,证据都已湮灭,他该如何在似是而非的流言中找寻真相?沙皇小儿子阿列克谢为何莫名失踪?末代沙皇家族的宝藏究竟是传说还是确有其事?随着调查的步步深入,知情人员却一一被害身亡,凶手究竟是谁,潜藏何处?对方的目的又是什么?俄罗斯传奇人物“翡翠之眼”——调查员佩卡拉的精彩人生。
  • 高唐梦

    高唐梦

    李饮家贫,从小习毛体,喜诗词,上高中不久,便开始了大唐开元之旅。本书风格写实,文笔先下重墨,之后会浓淡相宜。——这是芹菜的第一本书,肯定会有许多不尽如人意的地方,真心希望得到大家的宽容、理解与支持。——以下附庸风雅——香草美人,当从那馨香之物始。至于仗剑去国,游历天涯的情志,大唐除了这白之侠气和饮之儒雅,竟是难寻其右。饮穿大唐,唯有缚鸡之力,未得莫测神功。此人生存之道太差,只运气极佳,又因儿时于那诗词歌赋的些许嗜好,竟在大唐成了正果。至于正果究竟为何物,以愚拙见,当是免不了正头娘子以齐家,偏枕美妾以风流。再如治国、平天下者,当是凭栏浊酒咏醉之词,不足为据,只做流年笑谈罢了。
  • 李山传

    李山传

    惊鸿之物,从未一蹴而成,何况漫天佛陀仙神。
  • 幻世残像

    幻世残像

    洒落的血雨溅入眼帘,染红了双目。他仰天而笑,缓步前行。他是修罗!他掌控这空间。他,背负著具有争论的使命,他,拥有者不死之身。他掌控着时间。一个废柴的成长与一个天才的怒火的故事。这个世纪,被称为黑世纪。世上本没有好坏之分,那什么才是正义呢。群星在月光之下聚集,十大种族纷乱四起,有些鸟儿关管不住的。谁才会坐上最终的王座。
  • 空元天帝

    空元天帝

    千世轮回转,缘逢灭魔心;万法皆一律,一元化乾坤;逍遥常自乐,奈何人已兮!花香首作,望各位提点,如有不足,定当改善!
  • 妖妃倾城:王,今晚约不

    妖妃倾城:王,今晚约不

    当天才少女成为废材小姐,将会引起怎样的风波?当千面女神遇上超级大腹黑又会发生什么连锁反应?落千夏扶额,谁说妖王殿下冷酷嗜血的?这货分明是一完全没长大的小破孩好吗?“夏夏,不要想跑,你跑不掉的。”“是吗?那我偏偏跑给你看!”一场追逐与被追逐的好戏。最后,谁先虏获了谁的心?又是谁为了谁甘愿与天下人为敌?