登陆注册
38569200000011

第11章 TEMPLE BOW(1)

In the morning I started for Temple Bow on horseback behind one of Mr.Lowndes' negroes.Good Mrs.

Lowndes had kissed me at parting, and tucked into my pocket a parcel of sweetmeats.There had been a few grave gentlemen to see me, and to their questions I had replied what I could.But tell them of Mr.Temple Iwould not, save that he himself had told me nothing.

And Mr.Lowndes had presently put an end to their talk.

``The lad knows nothing, gentlemen,'' he had said, which was true.

``David,'' said he, when he bade me farewell, ``I see that your father has brought you up to fear God.

Remember that all you see in this life is not to be imitated.''

And so I went off behind his negro.He was a merry lad, and despite the great heat of the journey and my misgivings about Temple Bow, he made me laugh.I was sad at crossing the ferry over the Ashley, through thinking of my father, but I reflected that it could not be long now ere I saw him again.In the middle of the day we stopped at a tavern.And at length, in the abundant shade of evening, we came to a pair of great ornamental gates set between brick pillars capped with white balls, and turned into a drive.And presently, winding through the trees, we were in sight of a long, brick mansion trimmed with white, and a velvet lawn before it all flecked with shadows.In front of the portico was a saddled horse, craning his long neck at two panting hounds stretched on the ground.A negro boy in blue clutched the bridle.On the horse-block a gentleman in white reclined.He wore shiny boots, and he held his hat in his hand, and he was gazing up at a lady who stood on the steps above him.

The lady I remember as well--Lord forbid that Ishould forget her.And her laugh as I heard it that evening is ringing now in my ears.And yet it was not a laugh.Musical it was, yet there seemed no pleasure in it: rather irony, and a great weariness of the amusements of this world: and a note, too, from a vanity never ruffled.It stopped abruptly as the negro pulled up his horse before her, and she stared at us haughtily.

``What's this?'' she said.

``Pardon, Mistis,'' said the negro, ``I'se got a letter from Marse Lowndes.''

``Mr.Lowndes should instruct his niggers,'' she said.

``There is a servants' drive.'' The man was turning his horse when she cried: ``Hold! Let's have it.''

He dismounted and gave her the letter, and I jumped to the ground, watching her as she broke the seal, taking her in, as a boy will, from the flowing skirt and tight-laced stays of her salmon silk to her high and powdered hair.She must have been about thirty.Her face was beautiful, but had no particle of expression in it, and was dotted here and there with little black patches of plaster.

While she was reading, a sober gentleman in black silk-breeches and severe coat came out of the house and stood beside her.

``Heigho, parson,'' said the gentleman on the horse-block, without moving, ``are you to preach against loo or lansquenet to-morrow?''

``Would it make any difference to you, Mr.Riddle?''

Before he could answer there came a great clatter behind them, and a boy of my own age appeared.With a leap he landed sprawling on the indolent gentleman's shoulders, nearly upsetting him.

``You young rascal!'' exclaimed the gentleman, pitching him on the drive almost at my feet; then he fell back again to a position where he could look up at the lady.

``Harry Riddle,'' cried the boy, ``I'll ride steeplechases and beat you some day.''

``Hush, Nick,'' cried the lady, petulantly, ``I'll have no nerves left me.'' She turned to the letter again, holding it very near to her eyes, and made a wry face of impatience.

Then she held the sheet out to Mr.Riddle.

``A pretty piece of news,'' she said languidly.``Read it, Harry.

The gentleman seized her hand instead.The lady glanced at the clergyman, whose back was turned, and shook her head.

``How tiresome you are!'' she said.

``What's happened?'' asked Mr.Riddle, letting go as the parson looked around.

``Oh, they've had a battle,'' said the lady, ``and Moultrie and his Rebels have beat off the King's fleet.''

``The devil they have!'' exclaimed Mr.Riddle, while the parson started forwards.``Anything more?''

``Yes, a little.'' She hesitated.``That husband of mine has fled Charlestown.They think he went to the fleet.'' And she shot a meaning look at Mr.Riddle, who in turn flushed red.I was watching them.

``What!'' cried the clergyman, ``John Temple has run away?''

``Why not,'' said Mr.Riddle.``One can't live between wind and water long.And Charlestown's--uncomfortable in summer.''

At that the clergyman cast one look at them--such a look as I shall never forget--and went into the house.

``Mamma,'' said the boy, ``where has father gone? Has he run away?''

``Yes.Don't bother me, Nick.''

``I don't believe it,'' cried Nick, his high voice shaking.

``I'd--I'd disown him.''

At that Mr.Riddle burst into a hearty laugh.

``Come, Nick,'' said he, ``it isn't so bad as that.Your father's for his Majesty, like the rest of us.He's merely gone over to fight for him.'' And he looked at the lady and laughed again.But I liked the boy.

As for the lady, she curled her lip.``Mr.Riddle, don't be foolish,'' she said.``If we are to play, send your horse to the stables.'' Suddenly her eye lighted on me.``One more brat,'' she sighed.``Nick, take him to the nursery, or the stable.And both of you keep out of my sight.''

Nick strode up to me.

``Don't mind her.She's always saying, `Keep out of my sight.' '' His voice trembled.He took me by the sleeve and began pulling me around the house and into a little summer bower that stood there; for he had a masterful manner.

``What's your name?'' he demanded.

``David Trimble,'' I said.

``Have you seen my father in town?''

The intense earnestness of the question surprised an answer out of me.

``Yes.''

``Where?'' he demanded.

``In his house.My father left me with your father.''

``Tell me about it.''

I related as much as I dared, leaving out Mr.Temple's double dealing; which, in truth, I did not understand.

同类推荐
  • 湘学略

    湘学略

    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。
  • 佛说摩利支天经

    佛说摩利支天经

    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。
  • 历代词话

    历代词话

    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。
  • 魏忠贤小说斥奸书

    魏忠贤小说斥奸书

    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。
  • 毗尼心一卷

    毗尼心一卷

    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
  • 甜甜的林先生

    甜甜的林先生

    桃夭夭,桃家最受宠的女儿,和林家联姻后……多年后,桃夭夭站在A国第一高楼上俯身看着眼前城市的夜景,抬头:“衡阴,我…想你了……”一滴眼泪顺着脸颊滑落…
  • 废柴医仙

    废柴医仙

    她,因种种原因,将他忘得一干二净他,在茫茫人海中,只为寻找她的一丝残影他再次见到她,她却冷淡的轻语了句“你是何人?”“你当真是忘了我么?”“我压根就不认得你”她淡然一笑...
  • 乾坤逍遥纪

    乾坤逍遥纪

    姥姥说“吾心归处便是逍遥天!”——你在哪,哪便是我的逍遥天!姥姥还说“逍遥在心,不在身,更不在修为!”姥姥又说“试问天地,敢一战否?”你问姥姥是谁?乾坤大陆万古第一奇女子为她千魅仙子尔!
  • 重生捕快

    重生捕快

    从小生活在菜的混混星逸,意外重生开到另一个世界,成了一名捕快,从此开始了混世和破案两种人格日子
  • 柯南,我来自外来世界

    柯南,我来自外来世界

    她是一名孤儿,她见证了一位最要好朋友的死亡,而精神受到打击太大而丧失了记忆。长大后,他迷上了名侦探柯南,当上了一名警察,一次意外让他穿越到了柯南世界,她的双手为所有人染上鲜血,谁也不知道他在想什么,在一次次的欺骗中,她放弃了希望.......还有谁会拯救他吗?
  • 总裁求娶:娇妻今天也狠乖

    总裁求娶:娇妻今天也狠乖

    人说沈言奚爱财如命,卖儿卖女卖老公。顾洐御:是我女人无疑。人说顾洐御财大气粗,俩人本无缘,全靠他花钱。沈言奚:纯属放屁!“顾洐御,别妄想了,姐是你这辈子都得不到的女人!”“哦,我也是你这辈子都甩不掉的男人。”“二爷,夫人又搞传销骗钱了!您的情敌给她砸了五个亿!”男人大手一挥:“马上给夫人账上打二十个亿!”“二爷!夫人卷了您的钱,领着小白脸跑了!还开直播恭喜您喜提呼伦贝尔大草原!”男人冷笑:“马上黑了她的手机,全国直播我们的结婚守则一千零一页!”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 风雨别墅

    风雨别墅

    每个女人都想嫁入豪门,可偏偏,豪门不是那么容易进的……
  • 寻龙密码

    寻龙密码

    从死人堆中爬出的扬州小混混,却成了神州道派的唯一传人。为了寻找已经散开的神州龙脉,他从过去来到了现代,为得是能将龙脉重新聚合。嘻笑怒骂也好,恩怨情仇也罢,他义无返顾的踏上了漫漫的寻龙之路。
  • 修灵志

    修灵志

    修真世界的百态生活。修真世界的百态生活。
  • 好想陪你在一起

    好想陪你在一起

    "我还喜欢你呢!你现在喜欢我了吗?"我担心又害怕的问。"嗯,其实…"…"等等,你去干嘛?""恩,爷爷,您孙女当然是去……happy啦,嘿嘿"