登陆注册
38722900000039

第39章 THE PRIMROSES(1)

MISS MURRAY now always went twice to church, for she so loved admiration that she could not bear to lose a single opportunity of obtaining it; and she was so sure of it wherever she showed herself, that, whether Harry Meltham and Mr. Green were there or not, there was certain to be somebody present who would not be insensible to her charms, besides the Rector, whose official capacity generally obliged him to attend. Usually, also, if the weather permitted, both she and her sister would walk home;Matilda, because she hated the confinement of the carriage; she, because she disliked the privacy of it, and enjoyed the company that generally enlivened the first mile of the journey in walking from the church to Mr. Green's park-gates: near which commenced the private road to Horton Lodge, which lay in the opposite direction, while the highway conducted in a straightforward course to the still more distant mansion of Sir Hugh Meltham. Thus there was always a chance of being accompanied, so far, either by Harry Meltham, with or without Miss Meltham, or Mr. Green, with perhaps one or both of his sisters, and any gentlemen visitors they might have.

Whether I walked with the young ladies or rode with their parents, depended upon their own capricious will: if they chose to 'take'

me, I went; if, for reasons best known to themselves, they chose to go alone, I took my seat in the carriage. I liked walking better, but a sense of reluctance to obtrude my presence on anyone who did not desire it, always kept me passive on these and similar occasions; and I never inquired into the causes of their varying whims. Indeed, this was the best policy - for to submit and oblige was the governess's part, to consult their own pleasure was that of the pupils. But when I did walk, the first half of journey was generally a great nuisance to me. As none of the before-mentioned ladies and gentlemen ever noticed me, it was disagreeable to walk beside them, as if listening to what they said, or wishing to be thought one of them, while they talked over me, or across; and if their eyes, in speaking, chanced to fall on me, it seemed as if they looked on vacancy - as if they either did not see me, or were very desirous to make it appear so. It was disagreeable, too, to walk behind, and thus appear to acknowledge my own inferiority;for, in truth, I considered myself pretty nearly as good as the best of them, and wished them to know that I did so, and not to imagine that I looked upon myself as a mere domestic, who knew her own place too well to walk beside such fine ladies and gentlemen as they were - though her young ladies might choose to have her with them, and even condescend to converse with her when no better company were at hand. Thus - I am almost ashamed to confess it -but indeed I gave myself no little trouble in my endeavours (if Idid keep up with them) to appear perfectly unconscious or regardless of their presence, as if I were wholly absorbed in my own reflections, or the contemplation of surrounding objects; or, if I lingered behind, it was some bird or insect, some tree or flower, that attracted my attention, and having duly examined that, I would pursue my walk alone, at a leisurely pace, until my pupils had bidden adieu to their companions and turned off into the quiet private road.

One such occasion I particularly well remember; it was a lovely afternoon about the close of March; Mr. Green and his sisters had sent their carriage back empty, in order to enjoy the bright sunshine and balmy air in a sociable walk home along with their visitors, Captain Somebody and Lieutenant Somebody-else (a couple of military fops), and the Misses Murray, who, of course, contrived to join them. Such a party was highly agreeable to Rosalie; but not finding it equally suitable to my taste, I presently fell back, and began to botanise and entomologise along the green banks and budding hedges, till the company was considerably in advance of me, and I could hear the sweet song of the happy lark; then my spirit of misanthropy began to melt away beneath the soft, pure air and genial sunshine; but sad thoughts of early childhood, and yearnings for departed joys, or for a brighter future lot, arose instead.

As my eyes wandered over the steep banks covered with young grass and green-leaved plants, and surmounted by budding hedges, I longed intensely for some familiar flower that might recall the woody dales or green hill-sides of home: the brown moorlands, of course, were out of the question. Such a discovery would make my eyes gush out with water, no doubt; but that was one of my greatest enjoyments now. At length I descried, high up between the twisted roots of an oak, three lovely primroses, peeping so sweetly from their hiding-place that the tears already started at the sight; but they grew so high above me, that I tried in vain to gather one or two, to dream over and to carry with me: I could not reach them unless I climbed the bank, which I was deterred from doing by hearing a footstep at that moment behind me, and was, therefore, about to turn away, when I was startled by the words, 'Allow me to gather them for you, Miss Grey,' spoken in the grave, low tones of a well-known voice. Immediately the flowers were gathered, and in my hand. It was Mr. Weston, of course - who else would trouble himself to do so much for ME?

'I thanked him; whether warmly or coldly, I cannot tell: but certain I am that I did not express half the gratitude I felt.

同类推荐
  • 大慧度经宗要

    大慧度经宗要

    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。
  • 送郢州郎使君

    送郢州郎使君

    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。
  • 訄书

    訄书

    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。
  • 三教平心论

    三教平心论

    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。
  • 两交婚小传

    两交婚小传

    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
  • 被影帝扛回家

    被影帝扛回家

    被渣男抛弃醉酒后,被陌生男人拖回家,从此惊艳世界!张丽颖:恋爱六年的男朋友和公司女老板搞在一起,怎么做?黄大明:及时止损,好比吃肥肠吃到屎快吐了,好男还有,比如我。张丽颖:你是影帝,怎么居然会爱上我?黄大明:有人说不清哪里好,但就是谁也替代不了。张丽颖:不但勾走男友还造谣污蔑我,是不是左右开弓扇回去?黄大明:当然,虐惨她,我挺你。杨小幂:黄大明是我的,有些人不是你能惹的。张丽颖:黄大明烦死人像牛皮糖;一般人我不想惹,就爱惹不能惹的。
  • 花仙子下凡

    花仙子下凡

    她,九天之上,百花仙子。他,人间百花谷谷主,“花痴”郑无邪。她触犯仙规,被贬下凡,落入人间百花谷。
  • 手指速算法

    手指速算法

    “手指速算法”,国内首创,世界独一。学了它,人们将会发现,我们具有的两只手,也是一个完美的计算器。一般用它可以进行六位以内数的加、减、乘、除、平方、开平方六种运算。其运算速度,加减可与电子计算机相媲美,乘除比珠算还要快,平方、开平方比笔算快得多D手指速算,人人都能学,人人都能用。尤其大、中、小学生在考试中,人们在经济往来及买卖交易等活动中,有关的计算用指算进行,最为方便快捷,得心应手。学会了手指速算,将会终生受益,既能算数,又能巧手益智、健脑强身,可谓一举多得。
  • 次元神话群主

    次元神话群主

    穿越成乞丐,原本以为贫苦一生的苏常,做了大家族的女婿,偶得次元神话聊天群开始了成神之路。天才甲:我是天才。苏常:我有次元神话聊天群。天才乙:我身怀上古血脉。苏常:我有次元神话聊天群。天才丙:我身具逆天圣体。苏常:我有次元神话聊天群。天才丁:……苏常:我有次元神话聊天群。【本书以玄幻为主,聊天群为辅,所以聊天群内容不会太多】
  • 反传战略

    反传战略

    不知名小作者在看书时意外穿越成女二——女主前世被她的胞姐害死,复仇后,来自二十一世纪的女二穿越到胞姐身上,某女邪魅一笑
  • 强者回归路之无懈可击

    强者回归路之无懈可击

    一个神秘的少年,身怀奇异禀赋的他,竟沦落到民间。在失去记忆的日子里,凭借着他那超人的能力,陆续得到了各路美女的芳心;直至他的家人找到了他,并帮助他恢复了记忆,他又是如何撑起了他那古老的家族,并实现了雨后春笋般的崛起。让我们一起来见证他的伟大传奇.........
  • 竹马总裁:步步逼婚

    竹马总裁:步步逼婚

    “女人犹如股票,十八岁到二十五岁之前是人人争抢的优质股,二十五岁到三十岁进入贬值期,三十岁以上就是垃圾股了,所以你要赶在三十岁之前赶紧将自己抛售出去,找个男人嫁了!”“男人三十一枝花,女人三十就是一根草了,趁你现在还没成草赶紧嫁了!”“……”面对全世界都急着将自己推销出去,欧阳夏雪内心的苦逼简直难以形容!找竹马喝酒诉苦,两人喝着喝着,居然喝到床上去了?!这可怎么办?赶紧跑吧!欧阳夏雪包袱卷卷准备溜之大吉,谁知跑哪儿都被腹黑竹马揪出来,叫嚷着要她负责,这……这到底要不要负责呢?“这可是我宝贵的第一次,你说要不要负责?”竹马凑近欧阳夏雪的耳边,吹气轻声笑道。
  • 元始千界

    元始千界

    “五色,令人目盲;五音,令人耳聋;五味,令人口爽;”真正的圣人当为腹不为目,去彼取此。在这原始的大千世界存在着诸多的乾坤奥妙,锲子,始灵,修灵……一步步的修炼只为了成为圣人,只为了统治这大千世界,舍我灵龟,观我朶颐,世人为了得到这一切,不惜与整个大千世界抗衡!
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 我是太子妃小姐

    我是太子妃小姐

    明日都快成太子妃了,就因为贪玩怎的还出了岔子?陆云迟百思不得其解,周围的一切都使她心中产生莫名的恐惧,但作为未来的太子妃,最基本的修养还是要有的!面对陌生的人事物,以她的聪明才智肯定没问题啊!只是......事情好像远远没有她想的那么简单.