登陆注册
5231500000147

第147章 LXVII.(2)

Then, indeed, after they returned to the hotel, she lost no time in going to her father beyond that which must be given to a long hand-pressure under the fresco of the five poets on the stairs landing, where her ways and Burnamy's parted. She went into her own room, and softly opened the door into her father's and listened.

"Well?" he said in a sort of challenging voice.

"Have you been asleep?" she asked.

"I've just blown out my light. What has kept you?"

She did not reply categorically. Standing there in the sheltering dark, she said, "Papa, I wasn't very candid with you, this afternoon. I am engaged to Mr. Burnamy."

"Light the candle," said her father. "Or no," he added before she could do so. "Is it quite settled?"

"Quite," she answered in a voice that admitted of no doubt. "That is, as far as it can be, without you."

"Don't be a hypocrite, Agatha," said the general. "And let me try to get to sleep. You know I don't like it, and you know I can't help it."

"Yes," the girl assented.

"Then go to bed," said the general concisely.

Agatha did not obey her father. She thought she ought to kiss him, but she decided that she had better postpone this; so she merely gave him a tender goodnight, to which he made no response, and shut herself into her own room, where she remained sitting and staring out into the moonlight, with a smile that never left her lips.

When the moon sank below the horizon, the sky was pale with the coming day, but before it was fairly dawn, she saw something white, not much greater than some moths, moving before her window. She pulled the valves open and found it a bit of paper attached to a thread dangling from above. She broke it loose and in the morning twilight she read the great central truth of the universe:

"I love you. L. J. B."

She wrote under the tremendous inspiration:

"So do I. Don't be silly. A. T."

She fastened the paper to the thread again, and gave it a little twitch.

She waited for the low note of laughter which did not fail to flutter down from above; then she threw herself upon the bed, and fell asleep.

It was not so late as she thought when she woke, and it seemed, at breakfast, that Burnamy had been up still earlier. Of the three involved in the anxiety of the night before General Triscoe was still respited from it by sleep, but he woke much more haggard than either of the young people. They, in fact, were not at all haggard; the worst was over, if bringing their engagement to his knowledge was the worst; the formality of asking his consent which Burnamy still had to go through was unpleasant, but after all it was a formality. Agatha told him everything that had passed between herself and her father, and if it had not that cordiality on his part which they could have wished it was certainly not hopelessly discouraging.

They agreed at breakfast that Burnamy had better have it over as quickly as possible, and he waited only till August came down with the general's tray before going up to his room. The young fellow did not feel more at his ease than the elder meant he should in taking the chair to which the general waved him from where he lay in bed; and there was no talk wasted upon the weather between them.

"I suppose I know what you have come for, Mr. Burnamy," said General Triscoe in a tone which was rather judicial than otherwise, "and I suppose you know why you have come." The words certainly opened the way for Burnamy, but he hesitated so long to take it that the general had abundant time to add, "I don't pretend that this event is unexpected, but I should like to know what reason you have for thinking I should wish you to marry my daughter. I take it for granted that you are attached to each other, and we won't waste time on that point. Not to beat about the bush, on the next point, let me ask at once what your means of supporting her are. How much did you earn on that newspaper in Chicago?"

"Fifteen hundred dollars," Burnamy answered, promptly enough.

"Did you earn anything more, say within the last year?"

"I got three hundred dollars advance copyright for a book I sold to a publisher." The glory had not yet faded from the fact in Burnamy's mind.

"Eighteen hundred. What did you get for your poem in March's book?"

"That's a very trifling matter: fifteen dollars."

"And your salary as private secretary to that man Stoller?"

"Thirty dollars a week, and my expenses. But I wouldn't take that, General Triscoe," said Burnamy.

General Triscoe, from his 'lit de justice', passed this point in silence.

"Have you any one dependent on you?"

"My mother; I take care of my mother," answered Burnamy, proudly.

"Since you have broken with Stoller, what are your prospects?"

"I have none."

"Then you don't expect to support my daughter; you expect to live upon her means."

"I expect to do nothing of the kind! " cried Burnamy. "I should be ashamed--I should feel disgraced--I should--I don't ask you--I don't ask her till I have the means to support her--"

"If you were very fortunate," continued the general, unmoved by the young fellow's pain, and unperturbed by the fact that he had himself lived upon his wife's means as long as she lived, and then upon his daughter's, "if you went back to Stoller--"

同类推荐
  • Prayers Written At Vailima

    Prayers Written At Vailima

    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。
  • 华严大意

    华严大意

    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 Real Thing

    The Real Thing

    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。
  • 异闻总录

    异闻总录

    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。
  • 樵语

    樵语

    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
  • 守望恒星

    守望恒星

    算起来,这应该就是我的处女作了吧。我想每一位像我一样的作者,从自己平凡的生活中寻找到一丝淡淡的灵感,都不是偶然的,他们是我们最想表达出来东西。而我的灵感便来自我童年的回忆,便引用了我熟知的奥特曼来贯穿这个故事。我是个很喜欢看星星的男孩,不知道茫茫的宇宙中哪里会有我想要的答案。我的童年也很丰富,奥特曼一直陪伴了我18年,直到高中的我有一天终于决心写小说了。我是以奥特曼为故事核心来塑造我这部小说的故事,有借用了奥特曼系列的杰诺奥特曼为我小说的主人公。故事是从主人公在m78星云就幻想过外面的世界,终于有了机会以奥特战士的身份出来历练,结果来到了地球生活着。那些经历是他这一辈子都不会忘记的,野花开在废墟上,孩子们在上面玩耍...这是我的处女作,自己回忆起来还别有趣味的。
  • 这样读资治通鉴(第2部)

    这样读资治通鉴(第2部)

    青年学子亦可从中学到有别于课堂上的历史讲述,一部一直放在毛泽东床头的大书,一部曾经让毛泽东读了17遍的大书,《资治通鉴》是中国人的管理智慧。这样读《资治通鉴》,是为官者的管理智慧,是企业家的MBA教材,是奋斗者的行为指南。
  • 或许只有你懂我

    或许只有你懂我

    “于绅,我们在一起吧?”成林语一脸傲娇地说道。“啊?我们不是约定了三年后解除婚约吗?”“作废了,违约金已经打到你卡上。”可甜可盐型女主VS双标男主
  • 绝世鬼医:废材四小姐

    绝世鬼医:废材四小姐

    纪栎(yue)祈,22世纪令人闻风丧胆的鬼医,既可救人,也可杀人!一朝穿越,成了人人唾弃的小废物,原以为人生此行多艰难,却不料遇见了他。“诶,那个谁,帮我捏个肩膀。”某女指着某男使唤。某男屁颠屁颠跑过去帮她捏肩膀。“诶,那个谁,帮我买个东西。”某女继续使唤。某男自觉拎着自己的钱上街买东西。“诶,就是你,帮我生个孩子!”某女噘着嘴巴,水汪汪的看着某男。他邪笑:“这种事,还是夫人你来做比较好,没关系,为夫来帮你……”某女惊恐摇头,第二天晚上,某男进不了房门。这里栖昀!QQ群:577434481欢迎大家么么么!
  • 老解

    老解

    前两天在南京的朋友打电话告诉我,老解死了。我坐在窗前握着电话,许久没有说话。老解虽然跟我无亲无故,但是他毕竟在我们家院子的那个拐窑子里生活了六年,和我的家人一样出出进进,就是我家的狗也把他当家里人一样,舔他的脚手。尤其是过了四十岁,我忽然觉得能在一个院子里生活六年时间,那确实需要一种缘分的。有道是“百年修得同船渡,千年修得共枕眠”,且不说这共枕眠,单就说这同船一渡,尚需百年,那么六年相处,大约也需数百年的修炼吧。老解是个右派被下放到我们队上的。从进村的那一刻到最后的离开,我想我有必要把这篇文章写出来。
  • 这个杀手不高冷

    这个杀手不高冷

    他是一个令江湖中人闻风丧胆的杀手,他犯案累累,却又如谜一般,从没有人见过他的模样……
  • 平民贵妃

    平民贵妃

    她是一位无出色容貌的一介平民,却意外被皇上册封成为太子的侧妃,这一切是福还是祸?他是高高在上的天之骄子,高贵的血统,不凡的俊容,高傲的个性,无视世俗礼教他在遇到这个完全不符合他审美观的妃子,会有什么表现——他温文儒雅,为了他心爱的师妹的幸福,倾尽所能,可惜有的事是早也注定,无力回天——他是冷酷无情、邪魅,异国将军,一次意外认识了她,他们之间会发生什么样的故事——一直以为,觉得爱一个人,最重要是爱上她的性格,她的内在,她的一切一切,这样的爱才能长久,而不单单是因为容貌美就恋上了.喜欢这本书的朋友,可以加下群号:(38035743)(已满)(37585851)(可加)特别注明《平民贵妃》的视频:(有兴趣的朋友可以去看看,本文大概的故事情节都在上面了,只差我详细的写了,呵呵,这个是我花半天的功夫做出来的,希望喜欢!)※※※※※※※※※分割※※※※※※※※※※※组合轩雅阁正式出炉啦!属于本阁的四位作者-----北雪泠、幽夜罗、随意希、晚风微尘本阁出品,保质保量!缺斤少两,欢迎群里投诉!轩雅阁作者好文共赏:幽夜罗<罪妃>:(此文更新速度绝对快!)随意希<下堂妻(古代篇)>:(此文已完结,现在在写续)北雪泠<王爷,算你狠!>群号:63271793(轩雅阁)-----------VIP会员专群!凡是喜欢看我们轩雅阁作者的文的亲都可进,没有特别的属于谁的读者,V会员可以在里面随意,敲门砖是你的会员名字,否则恕不开门.
  • 税苑花香

    税苑花香

    在全市上下深入开展“爱我临汾、树我形象、建我家乡”活动的热潮中,在全市人民广泛学习“敢为人先、坚韧不拔、开放包容、勤劳智慧”的“临汾精神”热潮中,山西人民出版社编辑出版的《税苑花香》一书,就要与广大读者见面了。
  • 拐个男主跟我走

    拐个男主跟我走

    甘棠(甘行露):“嘿嘿嘿,帅哥跟不跟本女神走啊?保你吃香的喝辣的!”搓了搓手,看着面前的男人。薄言一脸冷漠,不为所动的别开脸表示自己拒绝!甘棠立刻大吼,“慕扶苏!上钢管!”于是乎,甘棠手上突然变出一根钢管,她对着薄言的脑袋快狠准的下手!等薄言晕了过去之后,一边拖着他走一边说,“敬酒不吃吃罚酒,非要老子把你敲晕才知道错!”(1v1,360°无死角甜宠,听说男人听了沉默女人听了落泪!!
  • 神帝宠妃:驭灵女神棍

    神帝宠妃:驭灵女神棍

    她本应是一个极其平凡的姑娘,出生在了一个极其平凡的家庭。可是,她却偏偏被妖怪寄了魄。明明早该魂飞魄散的她,却阴差阳错地离开了阴灵充沛的出生地,在阳灵鼎盛的部队里安然长大……然而,寄生在她体内的残魄终究还是醒了过来,扰乱了她原本快要恢复平静的生活!为了摆脱身体里的这个妖精,她被迫走上了修炼之路。现世里:她从学渣到学霸,文武全被她拿下;剖恶人略渣渣,哪里热闹哪里趴;风水算命样样来,赚钱捞金全不落。幽冥间:她抓灵物,偷仙草,媚妖凶兽她都要;渡冤魂抓恶鬼,蛊惑邪术她都效;魑魅魍魉逗着玩儿,牛鬼蛇神拿来嘲。她以为一切都如此顺遂之时,却不知自己正一步一步跌入深渊!她心狠手辣,但也菩萨心肠……她见利忘义,但也义胆侠肝……她,亦正,亦邪!她,亦善,亦魔!*简介无能,欢迎跳坑看正文!【特别说明:】1、爽文,现代半架空,双洁,1V1,有虐有宠,以宠为主,小虐为辅2、文中涉及的药理功效、宗教设定请勿过分较真,一切均是为情节所需而设定;3、关于幽冥轮回,修仙驱鬼,各种蛊术请勿深究,均是百度+脑洞,不严谨之处,欢迎指正;4、关于文中的江湖行话,最好不要随便拿到江湖上使用,以免弄巧成拙,如果生活中碰巧遇到了,还一不小心听懂了,那也真的是碰了巧了,万不可当真;5、玻璃心不至于,只要不是人身攻击,留言区随便狂轰乱炸,热忱欢迎大家讨论指教。6、本故事纯属虚构,如有雷同,纯属巧合。