登陆注册
20281100000118

第118章

He found her propped up with pillows this time. She begged him to be seated.

She had evidently something on her mind, and her nurses watched her like cats.

"You are fond of music, sir?"

"Not of all music. I adore good music, I hate bad, and I despise mediocre. Silence is golden, indeed, compared with poor music.""You are right, sir. Have you good music in the house?""A little. I get all the operas, and you know there are generally one or two good things in an opera--among the rubbish. But the great bulk of our collection is rather old-fashioned. It is sacred music--oratorios, masses, anthems, services, chants. My mother was the collector. Her tastes were good, but narrow. Do you care for that sort of music?""Sacred music? Why, it is, of all music, the most divine, and soothes the troubled soul. Can I not see the books? I read music like words. By reading I almost hear.""We will bring you up a dozen books to begin on."He went down directly; and such was his pleasure in doing anything for the Klosking that he executed the order in person, brought up a little pile of folios and quartos, beautifully bound and lettered, a lady having been the collector.

Now, as he mounted the stairs, with his very chin upon the pile, who should he see looking over the rails at him but his sister Zoe.

She was sadly changed. There was a fixed ashen pallor on her cheek, and a dark circle under her eyes.

He stopped to look at her. "My poor child," said he, "you look very ill.""I am very ill, dear."

"Would you not be better for a change?"

"I might."

"Why coop yourself up in your own room? Why deny yourself a brother's sympathy?"The girl trembled, and tears came to her eyes.

"Is it with me you sympathize?" said she.

"Can you doubt it, Zoe?"

Zoe hung her head a moment, and did not reply. Then she made a diversion.

"What are those books? Oh, I see--your mother's music-books. Nothing is too good for _her."_"Nothing in the way of music-books is too good for her. For shame! are you jealous of that unfortunate lady?"Zoe made no reply.

She put her hands before her face, that Vizard might not see her mind.

Then he rested his books on a table, and came and took her head in his hands paternally. "Do not shut yourself up any longer. Solitude is dangerous to the afflicted. Be more with me than ever, and let this cruel blow bind us more closely, instead of disuniting us."He kissed her lovingly, and his kind words set her tears flowing; but they did her little good--they were bitter tears. Between her and her brother there was now a barrier sisterly love could not pass. He hated and despised Edward Severne; and she only distrusted him, and feared he was a villain. She loved him still with every fiber of her heart, and pined for his explanation of all that seemed so dark.

So then he entered the sick-room with his music-books; and Zoe, after watching him in without seeming to do so, crept away to her own room.

Then there was rather a pretty little scene. Miss Gale and Miss Dover, on each side of the bed, held a heavy music-book, and Mademoiselle Klosking turned the leaves and read, when the composition was worth reading. If it was not, she quietly passed it over, without any injurious comment.

Vizard watched her from the foot of the bed, and could tell in a moment, by her face, whether the composition was good, bad, or indifferent. When bad, her face seemed to turn impassive, like marble; when good, to expand; and when she lighted on a masterpiece, she was almost transfigured, and her face shone with elevated joy.

This was a study to the enamored Vizard, and it did not escape the quick-sighted doctress. She despised music on its own merits, but she despised nothing that could be pressed into the service of medicine; and she said to herself, "I'll cure her with esculents and music."The book was taken away to make room for another.

Then said Ina Klosking, "Mr. Vizard, I desire to say a word to you.

Excuse me, my dear friends."

Miss Gale colored up. She had not foreseen a _te'te-'a-te'te_ between Vizard and her patient. However, there was no help for it, and she withdrew to a little distance with Fanny; but she said to Vizard, openly and expressively, "Remember!"When they had withdrawn a little way, Ina Klosking fixed her eyes on Vizard, and said, in a low voice, "Your sister!"Vizard started a little at the suddenness of this, but he said nothing:

he did not know what to say.

When she had waited a little, and he said nothing, she spoke again. "Tell me something about her. Is she good? Forgive me: it is not that I doubt.""She is good, according to her lights."

"Is she proud?"

"Yes."

"Is she just?"

"No. And I never met a woman that was."

"Indeed it is rare. Why does she not visit me?""I don't know"

"She blames me for all that has happened.""I don't know, madam. My sister looks very ill, and keeps her own room.

If she does not visit you, she holds equally aloof from us all. She has not taken a single meal with me for some days.""Since I was your patient and your guest.""Pray do not conclude from that--Who can interpret a woman?""Another woman. Enigmas to you, we are transparent to each other. Sir, will you grant me a favor? Will you persuade Miss Vizard to see me here alone--all alone? It will be a greater trial to me than to her, for I am weak. In this request I am not selfish. She can do nothing for me; but Ican do a little for her, to pay the debt of gratitude I owe this hospitable house. May Heaven bless it, from the roof to the foundation stone!""I will speak to my sister, and she shall visit you--with the consent of your physician.""It is well," said Ina Klosking, and beckoned her friends, one of whom, Miss Gale, proceeded to feel her pulse, with suspicious glances at Vizard. But she found the pulse calm, and said so.

Vizard took his leave and went straight to Zoe's room. She was not there.

He was glad of that, for it gave him hopes she was going to respect his advice and give up her solitary life.

He went downstairs and on to the lawn to look for her. He could not see her anywhere.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 让我再想一下

    让我再想一下

    这是一个真实的故事,我们每个人身边都经历过生离死别,都切身体会过那种莫名的悲痛,我们忘不了过去,可我们可以用我们一生的记忆去一点点放映他们,他们一生都会在自己的脑海中,逐渐模糊的是他们的面孔,我们以后的人生还会偶尔想起他们吗,用这来提醒自己,用这来奠基他们的灵魂,证明他们在这个世上是伟大的(其实这是我第一写,仅仅想尝试着写下这段感情,我知道每个人都经历过或是见过,都已思空见惯,但我依旧想试试,我知道我也相信会有人产生共鸣的)
  • 炀帝

    炀帝

    杨广和李世民,两个人都对自己兄弟动了辣手,李世民是哥哥弟弟都灭了,杨广则只是抓到造自己反的弟弟杨谅后囚禁起来;世人都说杨广霸占了父妾,可对于李世民强娶自己弟媳的事不闻不问;杨广修了功在千秋的大运河,而李世民却只能是在蝗灾的时候跑到后花园里抓只蝗虫咬两口,说:要吃你就吃我的心吧,干嘛要害我的子民呢?然后回了11又找来鱼翅漱口……可是为什么!一个就是昏得不能再昏的千古昏君,一个就称作千古明君!而这个昏君,众人齐手一指——是杨广……
  • 迷茫而返

    迷茫而返

    一个小人物在迷茫中重生。拨开迷雾,享受生活的故事
  • 自制力:如何掌控自己的时间与生活?

    自制力:如何掌控自己的时间与生活?

    哈佛商学院最受欢迎的MBA自我管理课程,世界500强企业领导者重点培训科目!一次彻底改变你行为模式的魔鬼训练。一本让你能够掌控自己的生活、时间与情绪的书。在本书中,作者就“自制力”提出了18个问题,针对性地设置了18节课。解决这些问题,就是每个人能否成为自己主人的关键。这18节课的主要能帮助你战胜拖延症、驱除无力感、走出失控的怪圈,同时用具体的步骤与方法让你学会时间管理、情绪掌控等,这是MBA商学院最受欢迎的自我管理课程,是心理学和自我管理学的一次完美组合,学会本书,你的自律能力、意志力、效率都得到锻炼和提高!
  • 英雄联盟之重生男皇

    英雄联盟之重生男皇

    .打野打野无尽的打野为了成为新时代的打野之王陈偌加入了CYY战队进入了一种既快乐又温馨的战队家庭5人一起打一起闹最终将CYY战队推入世界巅峰而他们也焕然一新陈偌也成为了一代打野之王虽然他是穿越而来的……
  • 甜妞追逃夫

    甜妞追逃夫

    爷,您是从了妞呢?还是从了妞呢?还是从了妞呢?我到底要说多少遍,要说多大声,你才能相信我有多爱你?我的死皮赖脸,你的冷漠无情,是不是很讽刺?……算了算了吧,愿赌服输……
  • 四个女孩的校园

    四个女孩的校园

    四个女孩在校园里,她们是好友吗。不。她们是敌人吗。不。她们只是四个闺蜜,上天早已注定好的闺蜜,她们是喜欢恶搞其他两人的,她们却不知道,她们笑的特别欢,---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • 手把手教你会计核算

    手把手教你会计核算

    企业购置的固定资产是为本企业生产经营和非生产经营使用的,由于固定资产的使用期限已满或丧失了使用功能以及由于技术进步等原因企业需要对其报废;对那些不适用或不需用的固定资产,企业可以出售转让;或由于遭受自然灾害等非常损失发生毁损等,这些都将减少固定资产。
  • 600题让你精通心理学5

    600题让你精通心理学5

    心理咨询是现代人们的一种精神按摩方式。它能使人的心理获得突然面对平原和高空那样的豁然开朗、神清气爽和舒适平和的感觉,还能促进人的理解力和进取心,使人变得善解人意、充满激情。其实,心理咨询是咨询师帮助求询者学会更有效的方式对待自己、他人和生活中的困惑以适应人的社会生活的过程。
  • 投错胎

    投错胎

    一个大清富户人家的富二代,他曾游手好闲!也曾花天酒地!