condensed novels(压缩小说)-第4节
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profession； he sat down； saying； 〃And how do we all find ourselves this
evening； my dears？〃 in several different languages； which he spoke
fluently。
Lothaw's heart was touched。 His deeply religious convictions were
impressed。 He instantly went up to this gifted being； confessed； and
received absolution。 〃To…morrow；〃 he said to himself； 〃I will partake of the
communion； and endow the Church with my vast estates。 For the present
I'll let the improved cottages go。〃
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CHAPTER IV。
As Lothaw turned to leave the Cardinal； he was struck by a beautiful
face。 It was that of a matron； slim but shapely as an Ionic column。 Her face
was Grecian； with Corinthian temples； Hellenic eyes that looked from
jutting eyebrows； like dormer… windows in an Attic forehead； completed
her perfect Athenian outline。 She wore a black frock…coat tightly buttoned
over her bloomer trousers； and a standing collar。
〃Your Lordship is struck by that face；〃 said a social parasite。
〃I am； who is she？〃
〃Her name is Mary Ann。 She is married to an American； and has lately
invented a new religion〃
〃Ah！〃 said Lothaw eagerly； with difficulty restraining himself from
rushing toward her。
〃Yes； shall I introduce you？〃 Lothaw thought of Lady Coriander's
High Church proclivities； of the Cardinal； and hesitated： 〃No； I thank you；
not now。〃
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CHAPTER V。
Lothaw was maturing。 He had attended two woman's rights
conventions； three Fenian meetings； had dined at White's； and had danced
vis…a…vis to a prince of the blood； and eaten off of gold plates at Crecy
House。
His stables were near Oxford； and occupied more ground than the
University。 He was driving over there one day； when he perceived some
rustics and menials endeavoring to stop a pair of runaway horses attached
to a carriage in which a lady and gentleman were seated。 Calmly awaiting
the termination of the accident； with high…bred courtesy Lothaw forbore to
interfere until the carriage was overturned； the occupants thrown out； and
the runaways secured by the servants； when he advanced and offered the
lady the exclusive use of his Oxford stables。
Turning upon him a face whose perfect Hellenic details he
remembered； she slowly dragged a gentleman from under the wheels into
the light and presented him with ladylike dignity as her husband； Major…
General Camperdown； an American。
〃Ah；〃 said Lothaw； carelessly； 〃I believe I have some land there。 If I
mistake not； my agent； Mr。 Putney Giles； lately purchased the State of
IllinoisI think you call it。〃
〃Exactly。 As a former resident of the city of Chicago； let me introduce
myself as your tenant。〃
Lothaw bowed graciously to the gentleman； who； except that he
seemed better dressed than most Englishmen； showed no other signs of
inferiority and plebeian extraction。
〃We have met before；〃 said Lothaw to the lady as she leaned on his
arm； while they visited his stables； the University； and other places of
interest in Oxford。 〃Pray tell me； what is this new religion of yours？〃
〃It is Woman Suffrage； Free Love； Mutual Affinity； and Communism。
Embrace it and me。〃
Lothaw did not know exactly what to do。 She however soothed and
sustained his agitated frame and sealed with an embrace his speechless
form。 The General approached and coughed slightly with gentlemanly
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tact。
〃My husband will be too happy to talk with you further on this
subject；〃 she said with quiet dignity； as she regained the General's side。
Come with us to Oneida。 Brook Farm is a thing of the past。〃
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CHAPTER VI。
As Lothaw drove toward his country…seat； 〃The Mural Enclosure；〃 he
observed a crowd； apparently of the working class； gathered around a
singular…looking man in the picturesque garb of an Ethiopian serenader。
〃What does he say？〃 inquired Lothaw of his driver。
The man touched his hat respectfully and said； 〃My Mary Ann。〃
〃'My Mary Ann！'〃 Lothaw's heart beat rapidly。 Who was this
mysterious foreigner？ He had heard from Lady Coriander of a certain
Popish plot； but could he connect Mr。 Camperdown with it？
The spectacle of two hundred men at arms who advanced to meet him
at the gates of The Mural Enclosure drove all else from the still youthful
and impressible mind of Lothaw。 Immediately behind them； on the steps
of the baronial halls； were ranged his retainers； led by the chief cook and
bottle…washer； and head crumb…remover。 On either side were two
companies of laundry…maids； preceded by the chief crimper and fluter；
supporting a long Ancestral Line； on which depended the family linen； and
under which the youthful lord of the manor passed into the halls of his
fathers。 Twenty…four scullions carried the massive gold and silver plate of
the family on their shoulders； and deposited it at the feet of their master。
The spoons were then solemnly counted by the steward； and the perfect
ceremony ended。
Lothaw sighed。 He sought out the gorgeously gilded 〃Taj；〃 or sacred
mausoleum erected to his grandfather in the second story front room； and
wept over the man he did not know。 He wandered alone in his magnificent
park； and then； throwing himself on a grassy bank； pondered on the Great
First Cause； and the necessity of religion。 〃I will send Mary Ann a
handsome present；〃 said Lothaw； thoughtfully。
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CHAPTER VII。
〃Each of these pearls； my Lord； is worth fifty thousand guineas；〃 said
Mr。 Amethyst； the fashionable jeweler； as he lightly lifted a large shovelful
from a convenient bin behind his counter。
〃Indeed；〃 said Lothaw； carelessly； 〃I should prefer to see some
expensive ones。
〃Some number sixes； I suppose；〃 said Mr。 Amethyst； taking a couple
from the apex of a small pyramid that lay piled on the shelf。 〃These are
about the size of the Duchess of Billingsgate's； but they are in finer
condition。 The fact is； her Grace permits her two children； the Marquis of
Smithfield and the Duke of St。 Giles； two sweet pretty boys； my Lord；
to use them as marbles in their games。 Pearls require some attention； and I
go down there regularly twice a week to clean them。 Perhaps your
Lordship would like some ropes of pearls？〃
〃About half a cable's length；〃 said Lothaw； shortly； 〃and send them to
my lodgings。〃
Mr。 Amethyst became thoughtful。 〃I am afraid I have not the exact
numberthat isexcuse me one moment。 I will run over to the Tower and
borrow a few from the crown jewels。〃 And before Lothaw could prevent
him； he seized his hat and left Lothaw alone。
His position certainly was embarrassing。 He could not move without
stepping on costly gems which had rolled from the counter； the rarest
diamonds lay scattered on the shelves； untold fortunes in priceless
emeralds lay within his grasp。 Although such was the aristocratic purity of
his blood and the strength of his religious convictions that he probably
would not have pocketed a single diamond； still he could not help thinking
that he might he accused of taking some。 〃You can search me； if you like；〃
he said when Mr。 Amethyst returned； 〃but I assure you； upon the honor of
a gentleman； that I have taken nothing。〃
〃Enough； my Lord；〃 said Mr。 Amethyst； with a low bow； 〃we never
search the aristocracy。〃
