登陆注册
27054100000072

第72章 CHAPTER XVI AND LAST.(4)

From that time she recovered pretty steadily.Her great desire was to return to East Chester as soon as possible.The associations of grief,anxiety,and coming illness,connected with Hellingford,made her wish to be once again in the solemn,quiet,sunny close of East Chester.

Canon Livingstone came over to assist Miss Monro in managing the journey with her invalid.But he did not intrude himself upon Ellinor,any more than he had done in coming from home.

The morning after her return,Miss Monro said:

"Do you feel strong enough to see Dixon?""Is he here?""He is at the canon's house.He sent for him from Bromham,in order that he might be ready for you to see him when you wished.""Please let him come directly,"said Ellinor,flushing and trembling.

She went to the door to meet the tottering old man;she led him to the easy-chair that had been placed and arranged for herself;she knelt down before him,and put his hands on her head,he trembling and shaking all the while.

"Forgive me all the shame and misery,Dixon.Say you forgive me;and give me your blessing.And then let never a word of the terrible past be spoken between us.""It's not for me to forgive you,as never did harm to no one--""But say you do--it will ease my heart.""I forgive thee!"said he.And then he raised himself to his feet with effort,and,standing up above her,he blessed her solemnly.

After that he sat down,she by him,gazing at him.

"Yon's a good man,missy,"he said,at length,lifting his slow eyes and looking at her."Better nor t'other ever was.""He is a good man,"said Ellinor.

But no more was spoken on the subject.The next day,Canon Livingstone made his formal call.Ellinor would fain have kept Miss Monro in the room,but that worthy lady knew better than to stop.

They went on,forcing talk on indifferent subjects.At last he could speak no longer on everything but that which he had most at heart.

"Miss Wilkins!"(he had got up,and was standing by the mantelpiece,apparently examining the ornaments upon it)--"Miss Wilkins!is there any chance of your giving me a favourable answer now--you know what Imean--what we spoke about at the Great Western Hotel,that day?"Ellinor hung her head.

"You know that I was once engaged before?""Yes!I know;to Mr.Corbet--he that is now the judge;you cannot suppose that would make any difference,if that is all.I have loved you,and you only,ever since we met,eighteen years ago.Miss Wilkins--Ellinor--put me out of suspense.""I will!"said she,putting out her thin white hand for him to take and kiss,almost with tears of gratitude,but she seemed frightened at his impetuosity,and tried to check him."Wait--you have not heard all--my poor,poor father,in a fit of anger,irritated beyond his bearing,struck the blow that killed Mr.Dunster--Dixon and Iknew of it,just after the blow was struck--we helped to hide it--we kept the secret--my poor father died of sorrow and remorse--you now know all--can you still love me?It seems to me as if I had been an accomplice in such a terrible thing!""Poor,poor Ellinor!"said he,now taking her in his arms as a shelter."How I wish I had known of all this years and years ago:Icould have stood between you and so much!"Those who pass through the village of Bromham,and pause to look over the laurel-hedge that separates the rectory garden from the road,may often see,on summer days,an old,old man,sitting in a wicker-chair,out upon the lawn.He leans upon his stick,and seldom raises his bent head;but for all that his eyes are on a level with the two little fairy children who come to him in all their small joys and sorrows,and who learnt to lisp his name almost as soon as they did that of their father and mother.

Nor is Miss Monro often absent;and although she prefers to retain the old house in the Close for winter quarters,she generally makes her way across to Canon Livingstone's residence every evening.

SO ENDS "A DARK NIGHT'S WORK."

End

同类推荐
  • 台湾私法债权编

    台湾私法债权编

    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。
  • 痧疹辑要

    痧疹辑要

    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。
  • 清代台湾大租调查书

    清代台湾大租调查书

    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。
  • Satires of Circumstance

    Satires of Circumstance

    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。
  • 歙州砚谱

    歙州砚谱

    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。
热门推荐
  • 心肝传奇

    心肝传奇

    天地之间谁是英雄?四海之内谁是浪子?是兄弟情深?是义字为上?正义与邪恶的生死较量黑帮中的传奇故事在南青夏阳……两省十四个县市,黑道火拼中谁能笑到最后?心肝一生的传奇经历,精彩绝妙的新型网络小说……
  • 天才萌宝:妈咪华丽归来

    天才萌宝:妈咪华丽归来

    “老婆,听说,最近,你搞什么新花样?”某男不怀好意的看着他家呆妻一脸无辜:“你说什么?我装作听不懂的样子可以吗?“”你说呢?“”你好坏呀。“”可你不也爱了。“如果你某天看到一个在大街上吆喝买卖的人。不用说,请拨打夜少号码,他家呆妻又出来了。ps:不喜勿喷哦!
  • 班上只有我一个男生

    班上只有我一个男生

    在这个拥有着高度文明的科技世界中存在着一种神奇的异能力,奥义!每个人都有奥义,但也有例外。叶世,一个被上天遗弃的宠儿,一个喜欢搞笑吐槽的家伙,却有着一颗不服输的心!可为什么,班上却只有我一个男生?!全是女生的班级,真的存在吗?!
  • 开启人生正能量

    开启人生正能量

    《开启人生正能量》结合时下受人关注的话题——焦躁不安、恐惧忧虑、失眠愤怒、负罪忧郁、压力繁重、自卑消沉、效率低下、琐事缭绕以及人际混乱等,用切实可行的方法,佐以有效例证,引导读者用正能量塑造积极的思维方式和轻松愉悦的生活态度,从而达到一种和谐完满的人生境界。
  • 抗日小痞子

    抗日小痞子

    一个社会小痞子被兄弟陷害身死,穿越到了一个虚拟的时代,那里也被侵略,那里也有鬼子。幸运的小痞子居然被绑定了一个系统,完成系统的任务就可以复活,他的任务就是杀鬼子。伪军,杀!汉奸,杀!鬼子,杀!
  • 隐能者云落

    隐能者云落

    这是一个关于杨云的故事。好友巫迪将其拉入一个叫隐能者的组织后,突然离奇死亡。为了追查巫迪所拥有的“碎片”的下落,一系列的纷乱便开始彻底颠覆他的生活。与此同时,巫迪死亡的真相也逐渐浮出水面。而暗影者的争夺行动也使原本平和的局势逐步打破,暗影者、隐能者与处于中立的隐士的关系也在发生着微妙的变化。杨云在寻找巫迪的过程中,渐渐踏进了一个阴谋,他最终将何去何从?
  • 异世机遇记

    异世机遇记

    一个小白,踏入未知领域所发生的一些故事!
  • 三世惊情

    三世惊情

    高中女生宁若紫天生具有“一语成谶”的能力,为了避免牵连他人,她甘愿当一个开不了口的哑巴。不知何时起,她不断招致恶灵索命,在曾经是道士的化学老师的帮助下,她追寻前世,意图解开恶鬼缠身之谜。谁知那段邪恶残忍的恐怖之源,竟在比前世更远的远方。而在她抗争命运的过程中,刻骨铭心的爱人化身为冷血的恶魔,意在夺取她那颗比任何人都要强壮的心!不知从何时起,她屡遭恶鬼袭击,为了找出问题之症结,她开始追溯前世,却发现每一世的恋人竟都是夺命凶手!而这一世,看穿真相的她能否躲过命运的劫难?
  • EXO之许你安然

    EXO之许你安然

    最美的你不是生如夏花,而是在时间的长河里,波澜不惊。这一世,只为许你安然..许安然,奈何繁花落尽,阡陌无人,此生有你,足矣。
  • 王道美人之痞皇传

    王道美人之痞皇传

    此书换血大修,将以《云起无疆》重发凤凰涅槃,浴火重生,换血大修,云起无疆近日得一资深书友建议:提高代入感,精简累赘,早现金手指,提升矛盾冲突深以为然,于是重写,争取签约。洗碗碗对不起收藏的书友了,不过,希望喜欢的朋友继续支持。