登陆注册
19884100000048

第48章

"I beg your pardon, I must have got it from the press notices of your book of poetry.I knew that Montgomery was only a stage name, and as it was necessary that I should have another in making the business investments you were good enough to charge me with, I used what I thought was your real name.It can be changed, or you can sign M'Corkle.""Let it go," said Miss Montgomery, resuming her former manner.

"What matters? I wish there was no such thing as business.Well,"she resumed, after a pause, "my husband's name is Hurlstone.""But there was no Hurlstone on the passenger list either," said Brimmer."I knew them all, and their friends.""Not in the list from the States; but if he came on board at Callao, you wouldn't have known it.I knew that he arrived there on the Osprey a few days before the Excelsior sailed."Mr.Brimmer's eyes changed their expression.

"And you want to find him?"

"No," she said, with an actress's gesture."I want to know the truth.I want to know if I am still tied to this man, or if I am free to follow the dictates of my own conscience,--to make my life anew,--to become--you see I am not ashamed to say it--to become the honest wife of some honest man.""A divorce would suit your purpose equally," said Brimmer coldly.

"It can be easily obtained."

"A divorce! Do you know what that means to a woman in my profession? It is a badge of shame,--a certificate of disgrace,--an advertisement to every miserable wretch who follows me with his advances that I have no longer the sanctity of girlhood, nor the protection of a wife."There was tragic emotion in her voice, there were tears in her eyes.Mr.Brimmer, gazing at her with what he firmly thought to be absolute and incisive penetration, did not believe either.But like most practical analysts of the half-motived sex, he was only half right.The emotion and the tears were as real as anything else in the woman under criticism, notwithstanding that they were not as real as they would have been in the man who criticised.He, however, did her full justice on a point where most men and all women misjudged her: he believed that, through instinct and calculation, she had been materially faithful to her husband; that this large goddess-like physique had all the impeccability of a goddess; that the hysterical dissipation in which she indulged herself was purely mental, and usurped and preoccupied all other emotions.In this public exposition of her beauty there was no sense of shame, for there was no sense of the passion it evoked.

And he was right.But there he should have stopped.Unfortunately, his masculine logic forced him to supply a reason for her coldness in the existence of some more absorbing passion.He believed her ambitious and calculating: she was neither.He believed she might have made him an admirable copartner and practical helpmeet: he was wrong.

"You know my secret now," she continued."You know why I am anxious to know my fate.You understand now why I sympathize with"--she stopped, and made a half contemptuous gesture--"with these men Markham and Keene.THEY do not know it; perhaps they prefer to listen to their own vanity--that's the way of most men;but you do know it, and you have no excuse for misjudging me, or undeceiving them." She stopped and looked at the clock."They will be here in five minutes; do you wish them to find you already here?""It is as YOU wish," stammered Brimmer, completely losing his self-possession.

"I have no wish," she said, with a sublime gesture of indifference.

同类推荐
  • 水石缘

    水石缘

    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。
  • The Borgias

    The Borgias

    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。
  • 春日灞亭同苗员外寄

    春日灞亭同苗员外寄

    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。
  • Life of Johnsonl

    Life of Johnsonl

    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。
  • 明伦汇编皇极典法祖部

    明伦汇编皇极典法祖部

    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。
热门推荐
  • 精灵世界

    精灵世界

    一段隐藏的神话,且看精灵世界!精灵的世界没有哀愁没有忧伤,没有一切繁文缛节,有的只是快乐,没有烦恼!情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 废柴孤女绝色锋芒:岚郡主

    废柴孤女绝色锋芒:岚郡主

    她,权尊势重的苏王幼女,草包一枚,被人当街毁婚死于非命。移魂出彩重生!为安抚苏王,君主钦封“岚郡主”,赏她孤城一座,孰料一座荒城因她苏醒,以强劲的态度横扫大陆。万千男儿皆绝色!天下尽在手中!本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 我最想要的幸福快乐书

    我最想要的幸福快乐书

    在长期的工作实践中,成功学大师戴尔·卡耐基通过对女人的人生愿望、生活烦恼、生理和心理问题的深入研究,总结出了一套专门针对女人如何获得幸福和快乐的方法。本书从女人如何增加魅力指数,如何掌控自己的情绪,如何做到成熟稳重,如何让心中的他喜欢上自己,如何改变自己的丈夫,如何帮助自己的丈夫走向成功,如何在交际中胜出,如何在职场上成功等方面指导女性全面提升自己,从而拥有美好的爱情,收获幸福的婚姻,成就辉煌的事业,迎来别样的人生!
  • 土塄上的孩子(高平作家丛书)

    土塄上的孩子(高平作家丛书)

    夯者脸上开心的笑容,幽默风趣的夯歌,瞎子富才与高平鼓书,心地善良的父亲母亲……作者用朴实的文笔,为我们描绘出了一幅幅充满乡土气息的温馨画面。使我们在感受人间真情的同时,也仿佛看到了,作者那颗善良、朴实的心灵。城市化的今天,乡村正远离我们而去。“我确信乡村会永远存在,而且会以一种稳定的姿态坚守着脚下的土地”。多么善良朴实的百灵啊!我深深地为她这份对土地对乡村的执着而感动着。
  • 第二次世界大战实录:将领篇

    第二次世界大战实录:将领篇

    本书记叙了奋斗于二战前线的多个将领的英勇事迹,通过对战争的生动描写和详细刻画,向读者展示危急的战争时态和关键战役,并通过列举多个成功战例突显将领们过人的机智和临危不惧的坚韧精神。该书内容丰富,叙事客观,极具历史性、资料性、权威性和真实性,对想要探究二战时期各个著名将领的读者来说,非常具有阅读和收藏价值。
  • 绝世神通

    绝世神通

    帝落星河,万古寂灭!亘古轮回,大道沧桑!一息尚存,诸神意志,只等他归来!少年秦萧得上古神通,练就不灭之躯,逆天战体打破千年铁律,醒上古血脉,承继恒古不朽意志!青剑出鞘,杀敌万里之外,无上神通显圣,升级突破瞬息之间,得志该猖狂,少年很嚣张!
  • 现代实用礼仪全集

    现代实用礼仪全集

    本书归纳阐释了100多个人们必须懂得的礼仪常识,内容涉及职场、商务、社交、家庭、服务等诸多领域。
  • 宋末水师

    宋末水师

    南宋末年,朝廷腐败,国势衰颓,奸臣当道,陷害忠良,百姓无所依靠,挣扎在水深火热之中。而外政更是不堪,军事上与蒙古作战屡战屡败,败军覆师,空耗国力。公元1255年,蒙古出兵经甘肃、四川至云南,灭亡大理段氏政权,平定云南全境,实现了对南宋实行大迂回的战略包围圈。蒙古大军枕戈待旦,随时南下灭宋。宋室江山风飘雨摇,朝不保夕……公元1257年,林峰横空出世,成为了淮南西路永安府槐树村一个泼皮破落户……
  • 我在仙界当富翁

    我在仙界当富翁

    主角一不小心一脚踢翻了孟婆的桶,打翻了孟婆汤,遭到孟婆怒火冲天般的追杀,主角只能拼命逃窜,情急之下跳入了一口奇怪的轮回井,结果因此获得了一个改变他一身的机缘。主角:“怪我咯……”
  • 翠屏集

    翠屏集

    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。