登陆注册
20268100000018

第18章

'I've been perfectly devoted to her for weeks and hope she won't forget it,' said another.'If she doesn't give me some of her gloves, I shall think she's very mean, for she has heaps, and I tried on a pair in fun so she could see they fitted and take a hint,' added a third.I did take the hint, you see." And Rose opened a handsome box in which lay several pairs of her best gloves, with buttons enough to satisfy the heart of the most covetous.

"Plenty of silver paper and perfume, but not much love went into that bundle, I fancy?" And Dr.Alec could not help smiling at the disdainful little gesture with which Rose pushed away the box.

"Not a particle, nor in most of these.I have given them what they wanted and taken back the confidence and respect they didn't care for.It is wrong, I know, but I can't bear to think all the seeming goodwill and friendliness I've been enjoying was insincere and for a purpose.That's not the way I treat people.""I am sure of it.Take things for what they are worth, dear, and try to find the wheat among the tares, for there is plenty if one knows how to look.Is that all the trouble?""No, sir, that is the lightest part of it.I shall soon get over my disappointment in those girls and take them for what they are worth as you advise, but being deceived in them makes me suspicious of others, and that is hateful.If I cannot trust people I'd rather keep by myself and be happy.I do detest maneuvering and underhanded plots and plans!"Rose spoke petulantly and twitched her silk till it broke, while regret seemed to give place to anger as she spoke.

"There is evidently another thorn pricking.Let us have it out, and then I'll kiss the place to make it well as I used to do when I took the splinters from the fingers you are pricking so unmercifully," said the doctor, anxious to relieve his pet patient as soon as possible.

Rose laughed, but the color deepened in her cheeks as she answered with a pretty mixture of maidenly shyness and natural candor.

"Aunt Clara worries me by warning me against half the young men I meet and insisting that they want only my money.Now that is dreadful, and Iwon't listen, but I can't help thinking of it sometimes, for they are very kind to me and I'm not vain enough to think it is my beauty.I suppose I am foolish, but I do like to feel that I am something besides an heiress."The little quiver was in Rose's voice again as she ended, and Dr.Alec gave a quick sigh as he looked at the downcast face so full of the perplexity ingenuous spirits feel when doubt first mars their faith and dims the innocent beliefs still left from childhood.He had been expecting this and knew that what the girl just began to perceive and try modestly to tell had long ago been plain to worldlier eyes.The heiress was the attraction to most of the young men whom she met.Good fellows enough, but educated, as nearly all are nowadays, to believe that girls with beauty or money are brought to market to sell or buy as the case may be.

Rose could purchase anything she liked, as she combined both advantages, and was soon surrounded by many admirers, each striving to secure the prize.

Not being trained to believe that the only end and aim of a woman's life was a good match, she was a little disturbed, when the first pleasing excitement was over, to discover that her fortune was her chief attraction.

It was impossible for her to help seeing, hearing, guessing this from a significant glance, a stray word, a slight hint here and there, and the quick instinct of a woman felt even before it understood the self-interest which chilled for her so many opening friendships.In her eyes love was a very sacred thing, hardly to be thought of till it came, reverently received and cherished faithfully to the end.Therefore, it is not strange that she shrank from hearing it flippantly discussed and marriage treated as a bargain to be haggled over, with little thought of its high duties, great responsibilities, and tender joys.Many things perplexed her, and sometimes a doubt of all that till now she had believed and trusted made her feel as if at sea without a compass, for the new world was so unlike the one she had been living in that it bewildered while it charmed the novice.

Dr.Alec understood the mood in which he found her and did his best to warn without saddening by too much worldly wisdom.

同类推荐
  • 订正太素脉秘诀

    订正太素脉秘诀

    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。
  • ENGLISH TRAITS

    ENGLISH TRAITS

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • SECRETS OF THE WOODS

    SECRETS OF THE WOODS

    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。
  • 东坡先生年谱

    东坡先生年谱

    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。
  • 佛说首楞严三昧经

    佛说首楞严三昧经

    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
  • 烟花倾城颜:许你三生情缘

    烟花倾城颜:许你三生情缘

    一代转校生,风华绝代,苏氏千金苏雪,天使与魔鬼的结合体,看似风光的背后,却很少人知道,苏雪这两个字意味着怎样的孤独与寂寞,当按轨而行的命运与突如其来的爱情相互冲突,未婚夫尚言恒宇,校草夜泽,青梅竹马安然,以及神秘到让人无法琢磨的冷彦,她将如何抉择,究竟谁能够改写苏雪的命运?
  • 全能机甲师

    全能机甲师

    一个从贫民窟走出怀揣着秘密的少年,怀着对机甲的热爱,成为史上第一位全能机甲师。
  • 每天一个逻辑游戏

    每天一个逻辑游戏

    如果你平时不喜欢做逻辑游戏。那么这《每天一个逻辑游戏》会让你爱上它;如果你是个逻辑游戏迷,那么这《每天一个逻辑游戏》会让你觉得有新意;如果你觉得这《每天一个逻辑游戏》上的题太简单,那么。恭喜你,你已经出师了!逻辑思维是人的一种潜在能力,逻辑思维能力强则是智商高的表现。一般来说,每个人的逻辑思维能力都不是一成不变的,它是一个永远也挖不完的宝藏,只要我们愿意通过各种途径加以培养和训练,我们的逻辑思维能力就能提高!《每天一个逻辑游戏》突破以往根据解题方式而分类的方法,将题目分为文字游戏、数字游戏、图形游戏等;使各种题型灵活的交叉在一起。
  • BOSS来袭:宝贝妈妈不要跑

    BOSS来袭:宝贝妈妈不要跑

    在一夜间,叶沐菲因为家庭缺钱原因,迫不得已去卖身,可是!!!沐菲上错了床,惹到了F市大BOSS冷夜。“女人,从今天开始你就是我的人了”。半年后,叶沐菲逃离了魔爪,却发现自己怀孕了!!!叶沐菲发现自己爱上了冷夜......BOSS宝宝来袭啦!!!欢迎加入宇儿粉丝交流群,号码:欢迎加入暮光宇儿粉丝交流群,群号码:535243086~
  • 山河风云录

    山河风云录

    不求不欲不念不择,乱世英雄出,一剑定太平。
  • 文豪至尊

    文豪至尊

    赵无悔前世是一名大鉴赏家,知识渊博的他来到一个和华夏古代相近的世界,他能否用华夏无数的诗词文章来征服这个世界的人们?征服你们的灵魂,掌控你们的命运。这里的美女倾国倾城,这里的书生意气风发这里的华夏狼烟满地,这里的英雄勇赴国难问天下谁主沉浮?舍我其谁?
  • 我本无恨

    我本无恨

    当年,在这片大陆有正邪两道,正道同枝一气镇压邪道以保卫黎明百姓不被残害。现如今,由于正道的两大家族鼎盛,而另一外一家走向衰落。鼎盛的两家却不念当年赵家当年的救门恩情眼看唇亡齿寒。赵家的第九子由不学无术,娇生惯养走到贫穷如水,过路乞讨的生活,杀父之仇,灭门之怨面对如此强横的仇敌他是选择听天由命,还是拿起手中的武器战斗,拿回属于自己的东西。精彩尽在本书。
  • 痋术

    痋术

    很少有人知道滇南三大邪术之一,痋术里的门道儿。也很少有人知道,痋术不但能害人,还能救人,更能追溯死者的死因。几乎绝迹的痋术寡为人知,说白了就是一种炼虫术,和蛊术不同的是,这种炼虫术不是靠虫类之间的彼此吞噬,而是用人体本身来炼虫!可以用死人,亦可以用活人!甚至是自己!十年前,一个孤儿的离奇经历跟痋术结下了不解之缘。剥皮的生苗寨,遮龙山上的尸爷庙,湘西的“喜”神村儿,化人为蛾的邪术,还有那痋人坛里一声声的求死的哀嚎……
  • 附骨之宠

    附骨之宠

    那一夜,李月华被心爱的准驸马出卖给逆贼。她经历了亡国、宫变、丧亲、屈辱,她被仇人践踏,她被最信任的好姐妹一刀刀毁容,她由尊贵的公主沦为半人半鬼的废人,她以为一生,就这么完了。不,她不甘心。不甘心看着仇人坐拥属于她的天下!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 逆天通神

    逆天通神

    这个世界无永生,无极限,唯有铮铮铁骨不灭战魂!在阴谋与阳谋的角逐中,在生存与杀戮的徘徊中,在大义与亲情的取舍中,在天命与我命的博弈中,一个叫元辰的小人物开始走上一条不归之路。吾心向天,奈何天不容我,唯有战歌高昂,一往无前。