按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She made no reply。 She rapidly tied her bonnet…strings； the ribbons trembling ominously in her fingers。
〃You are not going； Cornelia？ You must stay to dinner； now that you are hereit is readyand we will talk this further over afterward。〃
〃This has been dinner enough for me for one day；〃 spoke she； putting on her gloves。 〃That I should have lived to see my father's son throw up his business； and change himself into a lazy； stuck…up parliament man！〃
〃Do stay and dine with us； Cornelia； I think I can subdue your prejudices； if you will let me talk to you。〃
〃If you wanted to talk to me about it； why did you not come in when you left the office？〃 cried Miss Corny； in a greater amount of wrath than she had shown yet。 And there's no doubt that； in his not having done so； lay one of the sore points。
〃I did not think of it；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I should have come in and told you of it to…morrow morning。〃
〃I dare say you would；〃 she ironically answered。 〃Good evening to you both。〃
And； in spite of their persuasions； she quitted the house and went stalking down the avenue。
Two or three days more； and the address of Mr。 Carlyle to the inhabitants of West Lynne appeared in the local papers； while the walls and posts convenient were embellished with various colored placards； 〃Vote for Carlyle。〃 〃Carlyle forever！〃
Wonders never cease。 Surprises are the lot of man； but perhaps a greater surprise had never been experienced by those who knew what was what； than when it went forth to the world that Sir Francis Levison had converted himself fromfrom what he wasinto a red…hot politician。
Had he been offered the post of prime minister？ Or did his conscience smite him； as was the case with a certain gallant captain renowned in song？ Neither the one nor the other。 The simple fact was； that Sir Francis Levison was in a state of pecuniary embarrassment； and required something to prop him upsome snug sinecureplenty to get and nothing to do。
Patch himself up he must。 But how？ He had tried the tables； but luck was against him； he made a desperate venture upon the turf； a grand /coup/ that would have set him on his legs for some time； but the venture turned out the wrong way； and Sir Francis was a defaulter。 He began then to think there was nothing for it but to drop into some nice government nest； where； as I have told you； there would be plenty to get and nothing to do。 Any place with much to do would not suit him； or he it； he was too empty…headed for work requiring talent； you may have remarked that a man given to Sir Francis Levison's pursuits generally is。
He dropped into something good； or that promised goodnothing less than the secretaryship to Lord Headthelot； who swayed the ministers in the upper House。 But that he was a connection of Lord Headthelot's he never would have obtained it； and very dubiously the minister consented to try him。 Of course a condition was； that he should enter parliament the first opportunity； his vote to be at the disposal of the ministryrather a shaky ministryand supposed； by some； to be on its last legs。 And this brings us to the present time。
In a handsome drawing…room in Eaton Square； one sunny afternoon； sat a lady； young and handsome。 Her eyes were of violet blue； her hair was auburn； her complexion delicate； but there was a stern look of anger； amounting to sullenness； on her well…formed features； and her pretty foot was beating the carpet in passionate impatience。 It was Lady Levison。
The doings of the past had been coming home to her for some time now past doings； be they good or be they ill； are sure to come home； one day or another； and bring their fruits with them。
In the years pastmany years past nowFrancis Levison had lost his heartor whatever the thing might be that； with him； did duty for one to Blanche Challoner。 He had despised her once to Lady Isabelas Lord Thomas says in the old ballad； but that was done to suit his own purpose； for he had never； at any period； cared for Lady Isabel as he had cared for Blanche。 He gained her affection in secretthey engaged themselves to each other。 Blanche's sister； Lydia Challoner； two years older than herself suspected it； and taxed Blanche with it。 Blanche； true to her compact of keeping it a secret； denied it with many protestations。 〃/She/ did not care for Captain Levison； rather disliked him； in fact。〃 〃So much the better；〃 was Miss Challoner's reply； for she had no respect for Captain Levison； and deemed him an unlikely man to marry。
Years went on； and poor； unhappy Blanche Challoner remained faithful to her love。
He played fast and loose with herprofessing attachment for her in secret； and visiting at the house； perhaps he feared an outbreak from her； an exposure that might be anything but pleasant； did he throw off all relations between them。 Blanche summoned up her courage and spoke to him； urging the marriage； she had not yet glanced at the fear that his intention of marrying her； had he ever possessed such； was over。 Bad men are always cowards。 Sir Francis shrank from an explanation； and so far forgot honor as to murmur some indistinct promise that the wedding should be speedy。
Lydia Challoner had married； and been left a widow； well off。 She was Mrs。 Waring； and at her house resided Blanche。 For the girls were orphans。 Blanche was beginning to show symptoms of her nearly thirty years； not the years； but the long…continued disappointment； the heart…burnings； were telling upon her。 Her hair was thin； her face was pinched； her form had lost its roundness。 〃Marry /her/； indeed！〃 scoffed to himself Sir Francis Levison。
There came to Mrs。 Waring's upon a Christmas visit a younger sister； Alice Challoner； a fair girl of twenty years。 She resided generally with an aunt in the country。 Far more beautiful was she than Blanche had ever been； and Francis Levison； who had not seen her since she was a child； fellas he would have called itin love with her。 Love！ He became her shadow； he whispered sweet words in her ear； he turned her head giddy with its own vanity； and he offered her marriage。 She accepted him； and preparations for the ceremony immediately began。 Sir Francis urged speed； and Alice was nothing loth。
And what of Blanche？ Blanche was stunned。 A despairing stupor took possession of her； and； when she woke from it； desperation set in。 She insisted upon an interview with Sir Francis； and evade it he could not； though he tried hard。 Will it be believed that he denied the past that he met with mocking suavity her indignant reminders of what had been between them？ 〃Love！ Marriage？ Nonsense！ Her fancy had been too much at work。〃 Finally； he defied her to prove that he had regarded her with more than ordinary friendship； or had ever hinted at such a thing as a union。
She could not prove it。 She had not so much as a scrap of paper written on by him； she had not a single friend or enemy to come forward and testify that they heard him breathe to her a word of love。 He had been too wary for that。 Moreover there was her own solemn protestations to her sister Lydia that there /was not/ anything between her and Francis Levison； who would believe her if she veered round now； and avowed these protestations were fa