the queen of hearts-第88节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


deprived　him　of　speech。　He　stood　eagerly　looking　at　us　all　three；
with　outstretched　hands　and　glistening　eyes。

〃Have　I　folded　up　my　surplice　forever；〃　asked　Owen；　〃or　am　I　to
wear　it　once　again；　George；　in　your　service？〃

〃Answer　this　question　first；〃　interposed　Morgan；　with　a　look　of
grim　anxiety。　〃Have　you　actually　taken　your　young　woman　off　my
hands；　or　have　you　not？〃

No　direct　answer　followed　either　question。　George's　feelings　had
been　too　deeply　stirred　to　allow　him　to　return　jest　for　jest　at　a
moment's　notice。

〃Oh；　father；　how　can　I　thank　you！〃　he　said。　〃And　you！　and　you！〃
he　added；　looking　at　Owen　and　Morgan　gratefully。

〃You　must　thank　Chance　as　well　as　thank　us；〃　I　replied；　speaking
as　lightly　as　my　heart　would　let　me；　to　encourage　him。　〃The
advantage　of　numbers　in　our　little　love…plot　was　all　on　our　side。
Remember；　George；　we　were　three　to　one。〃

While　I　was　speaking　the　breakfast…room　door　opened　noiselessly；
and　showed　us　Jessie　standing　on　the　threshold；　uncertain　whether
to　join　us　or　to　run　back　to　her　own　room。　Her　bright　complexion
heightened　to　a　deep　glow；　the　tears　just　rising　in　her　eyes；　and
not　yet　falling　from　them；　her　delicate　lips　trembling　a　little；
as　if　they　were　still　shyly　conscious　of　other　lips　that　had
pressed　them　but　a　few　minutes　since；　her　attitude　irresolutely
graceful；　her　hair　just　disturbed　enough　over　her　forehead　and
her　cheeks　to　add　to　the　charm　of　themshe　stood　before　us；　the
loveliest　living　picture　of　youth；　and　tenderness；　and　virgin
love　that　eyes　ever　looked　on。　George　and　I　both　advanced
together　to　meet　her　at　the　door。　But　the　good；　grateful　girl　had
heard　from　my　son　the　true　story　of　all　that　I　had　done；　and
hoped；　and　suffered　for　the　last　ten　days；　and　showed　charmingly
how　she　felt　it　by　turning　at　once　to　_me_。

〃May　I　stop　at　the　Glen　Tower　a　little　longer？〃　she　asked；
simply。

〃If　you　think　you　can　get　through　your　evenings；　my　love；〃　I
answered。　〃'But　surely　you　forget　that　the　Purple　Volume　is
closed；　and　that　the　stories　have　all　come　to　an　end？〃

She　clasped　her　arms　round　my　neck；　and　laid　her　cheek　fondly
against　mine。

〃How　you　must　have　suffered　yesterday！〃　she　whispered；　softly。

〃And　how　happy　I　am　to…day！〃

The　tears　gathered　in　her　eyes　and　dropped　over　her　cheeks　as　she
raised　her　head　to　look　at　me　affectionately　when　I　said　those
words。　I　gently　unclasped　her　arms　and　led　her　to　George。

〃So　you　really　did　love　him；　then；　after　all；〃　I　whispered；
〃though　you　were　too　sly　to　let　me　discover　it？〃

A　smile　broke　out　among　the　tears　as　her　eyes　wandered　away　from
mine　and　stole　a　look　at　my　son。　The　clock　struck　the　hour；　and
the　servant　came　in　with　breakfast。　A　little　domestic
interruption　of　this　kind　was　all　that　was　wanted　to　put　us　at
our　ease。　We　drew　round　the　table　cheerfully；　and　set　the　Queen
of　Hearts　at　the　head　of　it；　in　the　character　of　mistress　of　the
house　already。






End