登陆注册
34924400000007

第7章

Irksome as all this necessarily was to a man of taste, I suffered even more when we reached our destination. As we drove through the village the girl Jenny uttered shrieks of delight at the sight of flowers growing up the cottage walls, and declared they were "just like a music-'all without the drink license." As my horses required a rest, I was forced to abandon my intention of dropping these persons at their lodgings and returning to town at once, and I could not go to the inn lest I should meet inquisitive acquaintances. Disagreeable circumstances, therefore, compelled me to take tea with a waiter's family--close to a window too, through which I could see the girl Jenny talking excitedly to the villagers, and telling them, I felt certain, that I had been good to William. I had a desire to go out and put myself right with those people.

William's long connection with the club should have given him some manners, but apparently his class cannot take them on, for, though he knew I regarded his thanks as an insult, he looked them when he was not speaking them, and hardly had he sat down, by my orders, than he remembered that I was a member of the club, and jumped up. Nothing is in worse form than whispering, yet again and again, when he thought I was not listening, he whispered to Mrs. Hicking, "You don't feel faint?" or "How are you now?" He was also in extravagant glee because she ate two cakes (it takes so little to put these people in good spirits), and when she said she felt like another being already the fellow's face charged me with the change. I could not but conclude, from the way Mrs. Hicking let the baby pound her, that she was stronger than she had pretended.

I remained longer than was necessary, because I had something to say to William which I knew he would misunderstand, and so I put off saying it. But when he announced that it was time for him to return to London,--at which his wife suddenly paled, so that he had to sign to her not to break down,--I delivered the message.

"William," I said, "the head waiter asked me to say that you could take a fortnight's holiday just now. Your wages will be paid as usual."

Confound them! William had me by the hand, and his wife was in tears before I could reach the door.

"Is it your doing again, sir?" William cried.

"William!" I said, fiercely.

"We owe everything to you," he insisted. "The port wine--"

"Because I had no room for it in my cellar."

"The money for the nurse in London--"

"Because I objected to being waited on by a man who got no sleep."

"These lodgings--"

"Because I wanted to do something for my old nurse."

"And now, sir, a fortnight's holiday!"

"Good-bye, William!" I said, in a fury.

But before I could get away Mrs. Hicking signed to William to leave the room, and then she kissed my hand. She said something to me. It was about my wife. Somehow I-- What business had William to tell her about my wife?

They are all back in Drury Lane now, and William tells me that his wife sings at her work just as she did eight years ago. I have no interest in this, and try to check his talk of it; but such people have no sense of propriety, and he even speaks of the girl Jenny, who sent me lately a gaudy pair of worsted gloves worked by her own hand.

The meanest advantage they took of my weakness, however, was in calling their baby after me. I have an uncomfortable suspicion, too, that William has given the other waiters his version of the affair; but I feel safe so long as it does not reach the committee.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 火影之孤旅

    火影之孤旅

    一个食种在火影世界的故事。(3天更新1~2章,黑化文)
  • 她美艳无双

    她美艳无双

    南璇绑定女配系统,穿越不同世界攻略人心。只要她想,这世上没有她攻略不了的人。女主妖艳贱货,在每个世家魅惑众生。让每一个男人对她魂牵梦萦,如痴如醉。在各个世界遵循你不情我愿,你情我不愿,你情我愿原则。“毁容女主播。”“干哥哥,真闷骚。”“禁欲系影帝。”“死道友,不死贫道。”“皇族青涩太子。”“……”为了恢复绝色美貌,她也是拼了。南璇妖娆地扶了把腰,问:“能不能一起来?”
  • 风与忆

    风与忆

    现代少女怀着万般不舍因病去世,本以为这就是终结,却不成想另一个时空的“自己”却自愿放弃着躯体,一个千万般求生,一个千万般求死,既然这样,那就交换吧。但你也没说你已经婚嫁了啊!!!
  • 扑街者的成神论

    扑街者的成神论

    在21世纪,写小说之路荆棘重重,屡挫屡败,受不了打击的玉溪本想借酒消愁,却不想酒精中毒……一觉醒来,发现自己竟然穿越了!
  • 诸天文明记

    诸天文明记

    混沌之中诞生着无数混沌生灵,混沌生灵能开辟天地,创造世界,有世界泯灭,亦有世界诞生,更产生了如修真,魔法,吞噬,天使,科技,寄生等诸多璀璨的文明。洛言被异界神灵带到了异世界,作为外来者的他不能修炼异世界的法门,但是阴差阳错间却用召唤术召唤出自己世界的生灵,后来在得知混沌世界的秘密后,便开始了一段在各个不可思议的世界间修炼和探索的神奇之旅。
  • 神武虚空

    神武虚空

    你布阵很厉害?能将阵法刻在自己的身上吗?你炼丹很厉害?能以自身为丹鼎直接吞下丹药吗?当这迥异常规的丹与阵结合在一起,会缔造出怎样的传奇?嗯……故事,我们还是从林小宝给那个昏迷的少女做人工呼吸开始说起……喜欢本书的书友可以加群:100176781
  • 十字书

    十字书

    民国年间,家中第十子的陈十从未受过教育;他写下过十字,却包含其一生悲欢离合、生离死别、喜怒哀乐…
  • 斗罗之开局神级抽奖系统

    斗罗之开局神级抽奖系统

    一个叫叶少天的人,意外得到一个神级系统穿越到一个叫斗罗大陆的地方。从此走上了巅峰之路。
  • 萌喵王妃之亲爱的铲屎官

    萌喵王妃之亲爱的铲屎官

    天灵国王爷在弱冠之年被皇上赐婚娶了一只小奶喵,震惊天灵国上下。然而,王爷很傲娇的表示,从今往后,咱就是有猫的人了,全府上下都要好好的对待本王的猫,啊,不对,是本王的王妃。喜提王妃喵一只,夜凌澜的生活开始美滋滋。但是,小家伙贪吃,竟然三四天就变成了人,夜凌澜强扯着笑脸,没什么不好,人形王妃就只是有点难撩,有点难撩而已。面对痴情王爷的献殷勤,小动作,葉喵喵表示,铲屎的,你休想本喵给你生猫崽子!不存在,不可能,你做梦!(否认三连,手动滑稽。)
  • 西凉

    西凉

    十七岁的夏晚歌遇到陆西凉,天时、地利、人合、躲都躲不掉,所以她顺应天意接收了他。然后,在少年轻狂,艳衣怒马的青春年月里,他们相杀相爱,一路欢歌,直将年华从满枝花桠唱到满地落黄。一场盛大青春的华丽剧演中,所有人哭过笑过,爱过恨过,一切平静之后,青春哪去了?