登陆注册
4617600000005

第5章

Late at night, he would start out of a long reverie, take a candle, and, going through the house, would touch what she had touched, and look long and fixedly at things associated with her. Her gowns still hung in the closet, just as she had left them; he would take them out and recall the well-remembered scenes and occasions when they were worn. At such times, she almost seemed beside him, and he had a consciousness of companionship which soothed his perturbed spirit. He felt that she appreciated such loving remembrance, although unable to express her approval. He did not know it, but his nature was being softened, deepened, and enriched by these deep and unwonted experiences; the hard materiality of his life was passing away, rendering him capable of something better than he had ever known.

In the morning all the old, prosaic problems of his life would return, with their hard, practical insistence, and he knew that he must decide upon something very soon. His lonely vigils and days of quiet had brought him to the conclusion that he could not hunt up a wife as a matter of business. He would rather face the "ever angry bears" than breathe the subject of matrimony to any woman that he could ever imagine himself marrying. He was therefore steadily drifting toward the necessity of selling everything and going away.

This event, however, was like a coral reef to a sailor, with no land in view beyond it. The only thing which seemed certain was the general breaking up of all that had hitherto made his life.

The offer of help came from an unexpected source. One morning Holcroft received a call from a neighbor who had never before shown any interest in his affairs. On this occasion, however, Mr. Weeks began to display so much solicitude that the farmer was not only surprised, but also a little distrustful. Nothing in his previous knowledge of the man had prepared the way for such very kindly intervention.

After some general references to the past, Mr. Weeks continued, "I've been saying to our folks that it was too bad to let you worry on alone without more neighborly help. You ought either to get married or have some thoroughly respectable and well-known middle-aged woman keep house for you. That would stop all talk, and there's been a heap of it, I can tell you. Of course, Iand my folks don't believe anything's been wrong.""Believing that something was wrong is about all the attention my neighbors have given me, as far as I can see," Holcroft remarked bitterly.

"Well, you see, Holcroft, you've kept yourself so inside your shell that people don't know what to believe. Now, the thing to do is to change all that. I know how hard it is for a man, placed as you be, to get decent help.

My wife was a-wondering about it the other day, and I shut her up mighty sudden by saying, 'You're a good manager, and know all the country side, yet how often you're a-complaining that you can't get a girl that's worth her salt to help in haying and other busy times when we have to board a lot of men.'

Well, I won't beat around the bush any more. I've come to act the part of a good neighbor. There's no use of you're trying to get along with such haphazard help as you can pick up here and in town. You want a respectable woman for housekeeper, and then have a cheap, common sort of a girl to work under her. Now, I know of just such a woman, and it's not unlikely she'd be persuaded to take entire charge of your house and dairy. My wife's cousin, Mrs. Mumpson--" At the mention of this name Holcroft gave a slight start, feeling something like a cold chill run down his back.

Mr. Weeks was a little disconcerted but resumed, "I believe she called on your wife once?""Yes," the farmer replied laconically. "I was away and did not see her.""Well, now," pursued Mr. Weeks, "she's a good soul. She has her little peculiarities; so have you and me, a lot of 'em; but she's thoroughly respectable, and there isn't a man or woman in the town that would think of saying a word against her. She has only one child, a nice, quiet little girl who'd be company for her mother and make everything look right, you know.""I don't see what there's been to look wrong," growled the farmer.

"Nothing to me and my folks, of course, or I wouldn't suggest the idea of a relation of my wife coming to live with you. But you see people will talk unless you stop their mouths so they'll feel like fools in doing it. I know yours has been a mighty awkward case, and here's a plain way out of it. You can set yourself right and have everything looked after as it ought to be, in twenty-four hours. We've talked to Cynthy--that's Mrs. Mumpson--and she takes a sight of interest. She'd do well by you and straighten things out, and you might do a plaguey sight worse than give her the right to take care of your indoor affairs for life.""I don't expect to marry again," said Holcroft curtly.

"Oh, well! Many a man and woman has said that and believed it, too, at the time. I'm not saying that my wife's cousin is inclined that way herself.

Like enough, she isn't at all, but then, the right kind of persuading does change women's minds sometimes, eh? Mrs. Mumpson is kinder alone in the world, like yourself, and if she was sure of a good home and a kind husband there's no telling what good luck might happen to you. But there'll be plenty of time for considering all that on both sides. You can't live like a hermit.""I was thinking of selling out and leaving these parts," Holcroft interrupted.

同类推荐
  • Dona Perecta

    Dona Perecta

    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。
  • 前汉书平话

    前汉书平话

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太清五十八愿文

    太清五十八愿文

    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。
  • 宫观碑志

    宫观碑志

    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。
  • 道咸同光四朝奏议选辑

    道咸同光四朝奏议选辑

    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
  • 这个世界一直很暖心

    这个世界一直很暖心

    本书中有一句话说得好,也呼应了我长久以来的沉淀信念──“真正幸福的人,不仅仅指的是他生活中的每一个时刻都是快乐的,而是指他的生命整个状态,即使有经历痛苦的时刻,但他明白这些痛苦的真实意义,他知道这些痛苦过后,依然指向幸福。”生命来无影去无踪,无法臆测也难以捉摸。无论身处力争上游的快跑阶段,或逢人生变故减速慢行的彷徨时刻,或是看尽千山万水绚丽归于平淡的踌躇关头,面临其中的悲欢离合喜怒哀乐,唯有抱持观照内心并惜福感恩的心态,一切的真相才会自动还原水落石出,这就是我写这本书的最大动机。
  • 人身损害赔偿

    人身损害赔偿

    随着科技的进步和社会的发展以及人们的权利意识的增强,现实生活中各种类型的侵权纠纷逐渐增多,尤以人身损害赔偿案最为突出。在面对这类纠纷时,由于相关的法律知识具有一定的专业性,很多受害人在如何维护自身的合法权益方面感到困惑。为了普及相关的法律知识,增强人们的法制意识和依法维权的本领,编辑一本人身侵权纠纷方面的普法读物,确有必要。这样一本读物应当采取通俗易懂的活泼形式,同时尽可能涵盖人身侵权方面的各种法律知识,具有实用性和指导性。在这种想法的基础上,我们策划和编写了这本《人身侵权损害赔偿》。
  • 四部律并论要用抄

    四部律并论要用抄

    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。
  • 最是人间留不住

    最是人间留不住

    拣定安宁或沉静的一隅,焚上一炉沉香,暗香袅袅里静睇着那炉上斑驳,借此窥得一点长眠在岁月中的过往。在幽香细细中我们还窥得见那些岁月里的女人们。她们鲜活在时光里,庄妍靓致,风雅超群。她们或倚楼独望,或长风吟诗。她们飘扬的衣袂化作了时代的旌旗。她们像岁月里的浮光锦,不沾染一丝世俗污淖,留给我们的都是皓月般完美的倩影。世代的笔墨已经将她们的故事渲染得锦绣如斯,而历史仍旧让我们从只言片语中感受到现实的粗粝。
  • 穿越贵女悠闲日常

    穿越贵女悠闲日常

    意外穿越就罢了为什么成了俩包子的娘?为什么包子爹迟迟不出现?为什么感觉自己掉进了陷阱?为什么……呸,墨子语暗自吐槽哪有那么多为什么异世之旅看似简单却是疑点重重那个常常出现在自己梦里的墨子语到底是什么鬼?要死就死干净点不好吗?那个在异世对自己纠缠不休的就是包子爹?为啥你是现代人?……哎哟,墨子语要烦死了(本文慢热,先流水后感情,一对一)
  • 星兽家园

    星兽家园

    被九级文明摩卡族猎杀的始星兽逃到了地球所在星域,留下了它的火种,给地球带来灾难的同时,也给地球带来了扑朔迷离的未知命运。地球成为了始星兽幼崽的乳化地,主角余生木在未知的命运下与星兽幼崽联系在了一起。
  • 豪门独宠:总裁不要太过分

    豪门独宠:总裁不要太过分

    他是外人眼中优雅迷人的总裁大人,却在面对她的时候化身为一匹腹黑的饿狼。他精心布下甜蜜陷阱,设计与她结了婚,“我需要一个女人,而你是最好的选择。”面对霸道强势的他,她没有反抗的权利。他宠她宠到所有人嫉妒,给她所有却唯独除了爱情。当他的旧爱归来,她下决心想要离开的时候,他却将她压在身下,疯狂地占有索欢,捏着她的下巴狠戾地说:”季向暖,惹到我就别想轻易逃开!”
  • 王爷您要保持淡定

    王爷您要保持淡定

    她,井清然,是个女人,还是个穿了的女人,还是个一穿就傍上皇二代当上王爷后院第一把交椅王妃的女人。此女最大的心愿便是:找个好夫家,在他那里混吃等死!什么是混吃等死啊?重活一世嘛,睡睡觉,打打盹,再换个好姿势……继续,嗯,目测天色尚早,还能睡到明天中午!
  • THE HOUSE OF MIRTH

    THE HOUSE OF MIRTH

    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。
  • 元帅韬略:第二次世界大战著名元帅

    元帅韬略:第二次世界大战著名元帅

    第二次世界大战的胜利也是世界人民反法西斯战争的胜利,成为20世纪人类历史的一个重大转折,它结束了一个战争和动荡的旧时期,迎来了一个和平与发展的新阶段。我们回首历史,不应忘记战争给我们带来的破坏和灾难,以及世界各个国家和人民为胜利所付出的沉重代价。我们应当认真吸取这次大战的历史经验教训,为防止新的世界大战发生,维护世界持久和平,不断推动人类社会进步而英勇奋斗。这就是我们编撰《第二次世界大战纵横录》的初衷。该书综合国内外的最新研究成果和最新解密资料,在有关部门和专家的指导下,以第二次世界大战的历史进程为线索,贯穿了第二次世界大战的主要历史时期、主要战场战役和主要军政人物,全景式展现了第二次世界大战的恢宏画卷。该书主要包括战史、战场、战役、战将和战事等内容,时空纵横,气势磅礴,史事详尽,图文并茂,具有较强的历史性、资料性、权威性和真实性,最最有阅读和收藏价值。