登陆注册
26211600000008

第8章

In the light of Cape Town and the practical advice which had been his for the asking, his outfit appeared comically complete.Two thirds of it must be stored in Cape Town; of the other third, one full half must be left with the negro servants at the hotel.His toilet fixtures would have been adequate for a Paris season; his superfluous rugs would have warmed him during a winter on the apex of the North Pole.It was with something between a smile and a sigh that he stowed away the greater part of his waistcoats and neckties, in company with the silver-mounted medicine chest by which his mother had set such store.It was as Carew had said: quinine and tobacco were the main essentials.

Then, for the last time in many months, he arrayed himself in black cloth and fine linen, chose his stick and gloves with care, and, leaving Adderley Street behind him, turned eastward towards the home of the Dents.

He found Ethel on the broad veranda, bordered with flower-boxes and overlooking the garden and the blue waters of Table Bay.Dressed in a thin white gown which, to Weldon's mind, was curiously out of keeping with all his preconceived notions of January weather, she rose and came forward to greet him at the top of the steps.

"At last," she said cordially, while she gave him her hand."I began to fear you had already gone to the front.""Not without seeing you again," he answered, as he followed her back to the bamboo chairs at the shaded western end of the veranda."In fact, I began to be rather afraid I should never see the front at all.""What do you mean?" she asked quickly."Has something happened since I saw you?""A great deal has happened.The thing I referred to was my first sight of British regulars."Her face cleared.

"Oh, is that all?"

"It is a good deal," he assured her, as he sat down."I came out here with all sorts of high notions regarding volunteers.""Well?" she questioned smilingly.

"Well, they have been taken out of me.An untrained man isn't worth much in any line, least of all in the firing line.Still, it would be very ignominious to go back home again."Her eyes swept over his alert, well-groomed figure.

"And when do you start for the front, Trooper Weldon?""How do you know I start at all?"

"How do I know you are sitting opposite me?" she asked lightly.

"Having eyes, I use them."

"And they tell you--?" he responded.

"That you are looking content with life."The laughter died out of his eyes.

"I am," he said gravely; "perfectly content.I am enrolled in the Scottish Horse, and I go tomorrow.""The Scottish Horse?" she asked quickly."Which squadron?""Do you know anything of it?"

"A little," she answered; "but that little is good.Then it is to Maitland that you are going?""Are you omniscient, Miss Dent?"

"No; merely an inquisitive girl who remembers the answers to the questions that she asks.My father, you know, is in the thick of things, and it seems to me I have met half the British army, in the four days I have been at home.""Officers, or Tommies?" he reminded her.

She laughed at the recollection of her former prejudice.

"You told the truth, Mr.Weldon.One of the men I danced with, last season, is riding across Natal in the same squadron with his groom.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 天策府之红衣之乱

    天策府之红衣之乱

    朝堂乱,恨!几代忠良。江湖路,难!侠义何堪。女儿心,怨!不话凄凉。手足残,负!锏断鞭弃。血洒昆仑,英雄削首!独活人世怎不死!龙门引祸,东都远赴!寻得父仇怎不报!画访施计,甘心痴情!独赴黄泉怎忍心!北邙山望,最毒诛心!尸骨不寒怎相守!战!为谁?死!又为谁?为她。为他。再回首,几多愁............!
  • 召唤魔宠

    召唤魔宠

    什么你是异能者,对不起我也是,什么你是S级的,我都超越S级了。现在终于让我穿越了,不过怎么感觉有点怪怪的。前天隔壁的老王在异界收了一头九阶黑暗龙还骑出来逛。我丫的竟然是在异世界被别人骑着出去逛,现在想想一把辛酸泪啊。且看唐逸拥有穿梭在俩个世界的能力与卡牌的特殊异能,给你一个新的世界!
  • 谁动了我的爱

    谁动了我的爱

    这是一部都市男女的爱情故事,虽然我们生活在现代都市,但并不是每段爱情都是我们想要的结局,在一个一个现实面前,都市里的男男女女们如何取舍,如何保卫自己的爱情。
  • 教子方法谈

    教子方法谈

    当今时代,没有哪位家长不期盼自己的子女早日成才,望子成龙、望女成凤就是这种强烈愿望的真实写照。军人家庭子女教育的成败得失,直接关系到军人家庭的稳固和谐,关系到官兵的思想稳定和家庭幸福,直接关系到部队凝聚力和战斗力的生成和提高。广大官兵渴望成为子女教育的成功者,使自己的子女早日成为建设国家的有用人才。然而在家庭教育中,家长究竟采取何种方法来教育子女,可大有学问。
  • 为你而策

    为你而策

    他,养她。他要她嫁入皇宫,杀了阻挡了他的那个人。计划失败,他亲手杀了她。她才知道他不爱她,只是把她当做和它们一样的棋子。她恨他。。。。。望着躺在血潭里的她,回想着她死前的眼神。他猛然惊醒。他爱她。。。再轮回,她步步为营,只为逃离他。而他却步步紧逼。。。“你恨我?”“有脑子的人都看得出来。”“我爱你。”“有脑子的人都看不出来。”
  • 卿本佳人,奈何宫廷深

    卿本佳人,奈何宫廷深

    “这一生,最怨与她相遇……”真的,只是太俗,只是想要“愿得一人心,白首不相离。”
  • 孝子不遗传

    孝子不遗传

    {人人皆知百善孝为先,可是又有几人能够称为孝子呢?‘外面的世界’真的那么的精彩吗?每个人都渴望幸福的无忧无虑的生活,所以他们不惜抛弃一切而纷纷离开农村选择了城市,直到不知不觉的忘记了自己在遥远的山里还有一个家和自己的爸爸妈妈……‘都说养儿为防老’更多人认为孩子才是爱情的结晶,才是生命的真谛!于是望子成龙、望女成凤便是人们生存的根本,所以他们纷纷抛弃了赡养老人选择了溺爱儿女,那你们有没有想过你的儿女将来会不会也是这样!这样的对待你们!孝!乃中国古文化文明之最,是每个人最该拥有的个人素质和义务,可是在现代人心目中似乎却早已经把它淡忘了,也许只会有少许的人还会记得它……落叶归根,不论儿女!家里的爸爸妈妈年纪大了,有空就常回家看看吧!孝子不遗传,孝,不是天生就具备的,而是在生活中遇见各种的人碰到各样的事儿而慢慢培养的……}……孝子不遗传:凯士
  • 傲笑修真

    傲笑修真

    万千世界,谁与争锋。不管是在凡人界,还是修真界,只要还活着,一切的困难就让我凌枫用微笑嘲笑它的无能。天大地大,谁主臣服?一个默默无闻的小子,他将怎样踏上修真之路。肝胆相照,他又将如何问鼎修真界,俯视群雄。爱恨离别,又将如何面对情劫,赢得美人归。
  • 从天而降:邪君你媳妇掉下来了

    从天而降:邪君你媳妇掉下来了

    不就穿越么,本姑凉很蛋定。但是。。。头次男扮女装就被采草是什么鬼。。。还有、、不就看了你洗澡么。。你这娇滴滴的样子是闹哪样??
  • 道士觉醒:命运

    道士觉醒:命运

    我,是名普通的高中生,自幼便霉运缠身。一出门就被狗咬!无限次掉进水坑!自从我捡到一本笔记后,一切都改变了!原来柳叶泡水可以见到鬼,灵异事件也接二连三找上门来,我该如何面对……