condensed novels(压缩小说)-第3节
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carefully。
〃Ah； this was cut； not broken！〃
〃With a knife？〃 asked Little。
〃No。 Observe both sides are equally indented。 It was done with a
SCISSORS！〃
〃Just Heaven！〃 gasped Little。 〃Therese！〃
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CHAPTER XI。
Little returned to London。 Passing through London one day he met a
dog…fancier。 〃Buy a nice poodle； sir？〃
Something in the animal attracted his attention。 〃Fido！〃 he gasped。
The dog yelped。
Little bought him。 On taking off his collar a piece of paper rustled to
the floor。 He knew the handwriting and kissed it。 It ran：
〃TO THE HON。 AUGUSTUS RABYI cannot marry you。 If I marry
any one〃 （sly puss） 〃it will be the man who has twice saved my life；
Professor Little。
〃CAROLINE COVENTRY。〃
And she did。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
LOTHAW；OR； THE
ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG
GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A
RELIGION。
BY MR。 BENJAMINS。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
〃I remember him a little boy；〃 said the Duchess。 〃His mother was a
dear friend of mine； you know she was one of my bridesmaids。〃
〃And you have never seen him since； mamma？〃 asked the oldest
married daughter； who did not look a day older than her mother。
〃Never； he was an orphan shortly after。 I have often reproached myself；
but it is so difficult to see boys。〃
This simple yet first…class conversation existed in the morning… room
of Plusham； where the mistress of the palatial mansion sat involved in the
sacred privacy of a circle of her married daughters。 One dexterously
applied golden knitting…needles to the fabrication of a purse of floss silk of
the rarest texture； which none who knew the almost fabulous wealth of the
Duke would believe was ever destined to hold in its silken meshes a less
sum than L1；000；000； another adorned a slipper exclusively with seed
pearls； a third emblazoned a page with rare pigments and the finest quality
of gold leaf。 Beautiful forms leaned over frames glowing with embroidery；
and beautiful frames leaned over forms inlaid with mother…of…pearl。 Others；
more remote； occasionally burst into melody as they tried the passages of
a new and exclusive air given to them in MS。 by some titled and devoted
friend； for the private use of the aristocracy alone； and absolutely
prohibited for publication。
The Duchess； herself the superlative of beauty； wealth； and position；
was married to the highest noble in the Three Kingdoms。 Those who
talked about such matters said that their progeny were exactly like their
parents；a peculiarity of the aristocratic and wealthy。 They all looked like
brothers and sisters； except their parents； who； such was their purity of
blood； the perfection of their manners； and the opulence of their condition；
might have been taken for their own children's elder son and daughter。 The
daughters； with one exception； were all married to the highest nobles in
the land。 That exception was the Lady Coriander； who； there being no
vacancy above a marquis and a rental of L1；000；000； waited。 Gathered
around the refined and sacred circle of their breakfast…table； with their
glittering coronets； which； in filial respect to their father's Tory instincts
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CONDENSED NOVELS
and their mother's Ritualistic tastes； they always wore on their regal brows；
the effect was dazzling as it was refined。 It was this peculiarity and their
strong family resemblance which led their brother…in…law； the good…
humored St。 Addlegourd； to say that； 〃'Pon my soul； you know； the whole
precious mob looked like a ghastly pack of court cards； you know。〃 St。
Addlegourd was a radical。 Having a rent…roll of L15；000；000； and
belonging to one of the oldest families in Britain； he could afford to be。
〃Mamma； I've just dropped a pearl；〃 said the Lady Coriander； bending
over the Persian hearthrug。
〃From your lips； sweet friend；〃 said Lothaw； who came of age and
entered the room at the same moment。
〃No； from my work。 It was a very valuable pearl； mamma； papa gave
Isaacs and Sons L50；000 for the two。〃
〃Ah； indeed；〃 said the Duchess； languidly rising； 〃let us go to
luncheon。〃
〃But your Grace；〃 interposed Lothaw； who was still quite young； and
had dropped on all…fours on the carpet in search of the missing gem；
〃consider the value〃
〃Dear friend；〃 interposed the Duchess； with infinite tact； gently lifting
him by the tails of his dress…coat； 〃I am waiting for your arm。〃
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CHAPTER II。
Lothaw was immensely rich。 The possessor of seventeen castles；
fifteen villas； nine shooting…boxes； and seven town houses； he had other
estates of which he had not even heard。
Everybody at Plusham played croquet； and none badly。 Next to their
purity of blood and great wealth； the family were famous for this
accomplishment。 Yet Lothaw soon tired of the game； and after seriously
damaging his aristocratically large foot in an attempt to 〃tight croquet〃 the
Lady Aniseed's ball； he limped away to join the Duchess。
〃I'm going to the hennery；〃 she said。
〃Let me go with you； I dearly love fowlsbroiled；〃 he added；
thoughtfully。
〃The Duke gave Lady Montairy some large Cochins the other day；〃
continued the Duchess； changing the subject with delicate tact。
〃Lady Montairy； Quite contrairy； How do your cochins grow？〃
sang Lothaw gayly。
The Duchess looked shocked。 After a prolonged silence； Lothaw
abruptly and gravely said：
〃If you please； ma'am； when I come into my property I should like to
build some improved dwellings for the poor； and marry Lady Coriander。〃
〃You amaze me； dear friend； and yet both your aspirations are noble
and eminently proper；〃 said the Duchess； 〃Coriander is but a child；and
yet；〃 she added； looking graciously upon her companion； 〃for the matter of
that； so are you。〃
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CHAPTER III。
Mr。 Putney Giles's was Lothaw's first grand dinner…party。 Yet； by
carefully watching the others； he managed to acquit himself creditably；
and avoided drinking out of the finger…bowl by first secretly testing its
contents with a spoon。 The conversation was peculiar and singularly
interesting。
〃Then you think that monogamy is simply a question of the
thermometer？〃 said Mrs。 Putney Giles to her companion。
〃I certainly think that polygamy should be limited by isothermal
lines；〃 replied Lothaw。
〃I should say it was a matter of latitude；〃 observed a loud talkative
man opposite。 He was an Oxford Professor with a taste for satire； and had
made himself very obnoxious to the company； during dinner； by speaking
disparagingly of a former well…known Chancellor of the Exchequer；a
great statesman and brilliant novelist；whom he feared and hated。
Suddenly there was a sensation in the room； among the females it
absolutely amounted to a nervous thrill。 His Eminence； the Cardinal； was
announced。 He entered with great suavity of manner； and； after shaking
hands with everybody； asking after their relatives； and chucking the more
delicate females under the chin with a high…bred grace peculiar to his
profession； he sat down； saying； 〃And how do we all find ourselves this
evening； my dears？〃 in sever
