登陆注册
5581000000169

第169章 CHAPTER XXXIV(4)

Cranworth would walk over the course!--Where's Mrs. Denbigh gone to? Ihope I've not frightened her away by reminding her of Hector O'Brien, and that awful night, when I do assure you she behaved like a heroine!" As Mr. Benson was showing Mr. Davis out, Ruth opened the study-door, and said, in a very calm, low voice-- "Mr. Benson! will you allow me to speak to Mr. Davis alone?" Mr. Benson immediately consented, thinking that, in all probability, she wished to ask some further questions about Leonard; but as Mr. Davis came into the room, and shut the door, he was struck by her pale, stern face of determination, and awaited her speaking first. "Mr. Davis! I must go and nurse Mr. Bellingham," said she at last, clenching her hands tight together; but no other part of her body moving from its intense stillness. "Mr. Bellingham?" asked he, astonished at the name. "Mr. Donne, I mean," said she hurriedly. "His name was Bellingham." "Oh! I remember hearing he had changed his name for some property. But you must not think of any more such work just now. You are not fit for it. You are looking as white as ashes." "I must go," she repeated. "Nonsense! Here's a man who can pay for the care of the first hospital nurses in London--and I doubt if his life is worth the risk of one of theirs even, much more of yours." "We have no right to weigh human lives against each other." "No! I know we have not. But it's a way we doctors are apt to get into;and, at any rate, it's ridiculous of you to think of such a thing. Just listen to reason." "I can't! I can't!" cried she, with a sharp pain in her voice. "You must let me go, dear Mr. Davis!" said she, now speaking with soft entreaty. "No!" said he, shaking his head authoritatively. "I'll do no such thing." "Listen!" said she, dropping her voice, and going all over the deepest scarlet; "he is Leonard's father! Now! you will let me go!" Mr. Davis was indeed staggered by what she said, and for a moment he did not speak. So she went on-- "You will not tell! You must not tell! No one knows, not even Mr. Benson, who it was. And now--it might do him so much harm to have it known. You will not tell!" "No! I will not tell," replied he. "But, Mrs. Denbigh, you must answer me this one question, which I ask you in all true respect, but which Imust ask, in order to guide both myself and you aright--of course I knew Leonard was illegitimate--in fact, I will give you secret for secret; it was being so myself that first made me sympathise with him, and desire to adopt him. I knew that much of your history; but tell me, do you now care for this man? Answer me truly--do you love him?" For a moment or two she did not speak; her head was bent down; then she raised it up, and looked with clear and honest eyes into his face. "I have been thinking--but I do not know--I cannot tell--I don't think I should love him, if he were well and happy--but you said he was ill--and alone--how can I help caring for him? How can I help caring for him?" repeated she, covering her face with her hands, and the quick hot tears stealing through her fingers. "He is Leonard's father," continued she, looking up at Mr. Davis suddenly. "He need not know--he shall not--that I have ever been near him. If he is like the others, he must be delirious--I will leave him before he comes to himself--but now let me go--I must go." "I wish my tongue had been bitten out before I had named him to you. He would do well enough without you; and, I dare say, if he recognises you, he will only be annoyed." "It is very likely," said Ruth heavily. "Annoyed--why! he may curse you for your unasked-for care of him. I have heard my poor mother--and she was as pretty and delicate a creature as you are--cursed for showing tenderness when it was not wanted. Now, be persuaded by an old man like me, who has seen enough of life to make his heart ache--leave this fine gentleman to his fate. I'll promise you to get him as good a nurse as can be had for money." "No!" said Ruth, with dull persistency--as if she had not attended to his dissuasions; "I must go. I will leave him before he recognises me." "Why, then," said the old surgeon, "if you're so bent upon it, I suppose I must let you. It is but what my mother would have done--poor, heart-broken thing! However, come along, and let us make the best of it. It saves me a deal of trouble, I know; for, if I have you for a right hand, I need not worry myself continually with wondering how he is taken care of. Go get your bonnet, you tender-hearted fool of a woman! Let us get you out of the house without any more scenes or explanations; I'll make all straight with the Bensons." "You will not tell my secret, Mr. Davis," she said abruptly. "No! not I! Does the woman think I had never to keep a secret of the kind before? I only hope he'll lose his election, and never come near the place again. After all," continued he, sighing, "I suppose it is but human nature!"He began recalling the circumstances of his own early life, and dreamily picturing scenes in the grey dying embers of the fire; and he was almost startled when she stood before him, ready equipped, grave, pale, and quiet. "Come along!" said he. "If you're to do any good at all, it must be in these next three days. After that, I'll ensure his life for this bout;and mind! I shall send you home then; for he might know you, and I'll have no excitement to throw him back again, and no sobbing and crying from you.

同类推荐
  • 新世说

    新世说

    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。
  • 唯识二十论

    唯识二十论

    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。
  • 般若波罗蜜多心经-利言

    般若波罗蜜多心经-利言

    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。
  • 钱农部请师本末

    钱农部请师本末

    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。
  • 履园丛话

    履园丛话

    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
  • 渡君劫

    渡君劫

    新书《异界神拳》
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 重生校园之逆袭千金

    重生校园之逆袭千金

    她意外重生到贵族小姐是身上,遇见他的同时,再次与号称醋坛子的师傅相遇,不过这次她师傅醋的不再是别人把她抢走而是醋她和他抢师娘,在看似平静的生活圈中生活着,但是她周边的生活却一点也不平静。这一世她终于要活出自己的人生,但再次出意外,她又重生了,她还是和他相遇了,她又到了另一个生活圈生活,同样是快走向人生巅峰的时候,意外出事了,她又又死了重生了。当她重生第N次,她意识到了有些不对劲……PS:双洁,打脸,女强男强,宠文,爽文,放心入坑,严禁转载,改写,违者必究!!!!
  • 九连环之画中猫

    九连环之画中猫

    长安城郊外,阳光明媚杨柳青青,新落成的芙蓉山庄内,本年度第五届文艺座谈会正在进行中。山庄主人叫李思训,乃皇室宗亲,曾任幽州大都督等要职,因武氏垂帘后风向不对,识趣地退隐赋闲,以吟诗作画为乐。尽管如此,他在朝野中的声望仍非同小可,这从今天到场的宾客可以看出来。中书舍人苏味道、长安府丞杜审言、崇文馆学士宋之问都赶来捧场,他们三人,是当今最著名的诗人。
  • 1966—1976的地下文学

    1966—1976的地下文学

    文学——社会思潮的风向标。“文革”十年,文艺界一片萧杀。但是在地表的高压和萧杀下,却生发和涌动着激情澎湃的思想岩浆。包括红卫兵文艺、新诗歌运动、知情歌曲、知青文学、手抄本、民间口头文学等,在城市的街道上,在农村的谷场上,甚至是干校和监狱里,到处都有地下文学的声音。本书对“文革”十年的地下文学进行全面的梳理,原汁原味地呈现大动乱年月的民间文学思潮。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 邓天炎

    邓天炎

    都市传说天蛾种的出现使得主角邓天炎具有了死亡轮回的能力。在奇怪的经历后,他被天启学院收录为学生,并被告知是救世主......
  • 修最肉的身,挨最毒的打

    修最肉的身,挨最毒的打

    “嗯?为什么我只能普攻敌人?”“噫?为什么我的技能栏里全是防御技能?”叮,你的星甲铸造完成,熟练度加5%。叮,恭喜宿主获得侍从礼包。“你...你这个魔鬼,别过来。”“哈哈...,我只是想打死各位,或者被各位打死。”青年人猖狂地笑了起来,对面一群羔羊无助地抱着同伴。
  • 秘笈古文网

    秘笈古文网

    你有祖传秘笈?我有秘笈中文网!你有独门绝学?我有秘笈中文网!你有绝世神功?我有秘笈中文网!“是否模拟修炼超阶秘笈《葵花宝鉴》?”“是!”在重启修行的年代,秘笈中文网上的秘笈数以亿计,浩瀚如烟,必能助我踏上人生巅峰。倒时我就能吃最好的泡面,坐最贵的公交线路,用最软的手纸,看最新的小片,打最厉害的小屁孩,踢最强壮的老太太!······一天后,一名少年口吐白沫,双眼泛白,人事不省地倒在地上,身边还有一段用鲜血写下的字:秘笈好毒!大家小心!绝不要纟······其实这只是一个不系统不套路不降智不CP不不不不的偏传统玄幻故事。正名《秘笈中文网》。
  • 好父母 教品德

    好父母 教品德

    所有的父母都希望自己的孩子成才,但究竟怎样才能让孩子真正成才呢?难道成才就是考高分,拿高学历吗?难道有了很高的学历就是成才了吗?未必呀!对孩子来说,一生最为重要的就是他的品德。儒家经典《大学》中说道:“德者,本也;财者,末也。”也就是说,对一个人来说,最重要的就是德行,财富是次要的。孔门四科(孔子门生必修的四门课程)分别是:德行、言语、政事和文学,也是把德行放在第一位,而文学,即知识的学习放在最后一位。