登陆注册
5654400000046

第46章

This disclosed her five long brown cable-like curls that hung down her shoulders, reaching below her waist in some forgotten fashion of girlhood. They were Cissy's peculiar adornment, remarkable for their length, thickness, and the extraordinary youthfulness imparted to a figure otherwise precociously matured. In some wavering doubt of her actual years and privileges, Brother Seabright offered to carry her cloak for her, but she declined it with a rustic and youthful pertinacity that seemed to settle the question. In fact, Cissy was as much embarrassed as she was flattered by the company of this distinguished stranger. However, it would be known to all West Woodland that he had walked home with her, while nobody but herself would know that they had scarcely exchanged a word. She noticed how he lounged on with a heavy, rolling gait, sometimes a little before or behind her as the path narrowed. At such times when they accidentally came in contact in passing, she felt a half uneasy, physical consciousness of him, which she referred to his size, the scars on his face, or some latent hardness of expression, but was relieved to see that he had not observed it. Yet this was the man that made grown women cry;she thought of old Mrs. Jackson fervently grasping the plodding ankles before her, and a hysteric desire to laugh, with the fear that he might see it on her face, overcame her. Then she wondered if he was going to walk all the way home without speaking, yet she knew she would be more embarrassed if he began to talk to her.

Suddenly he stopped, and she bumped up against him.

"Oh, excuse me!" she stammered hurriedly.

"Eh?" He evidently had not noticed the collision. "Did you speak?""No!--that is--it wasn't anything," returned the girl, coloring.

But he had quite forgotten her, and was looking intently before him. They had come to a break in the fringe of woodland, and upon a sudden view of the ocean. At this point the low line of coast-range which sheltered the valley of West Woodlands was abruptly cloven by a gorge that crumbled and fell away seaward to the shore of Horse Shoe Bay. On its northern trend stretched the settlement of Horse Shoe to the promontory of Whale Mouth Point, with its outlying reef of rocks curved inwards like the vast submerged jaw of some marine monster, through whose blunt, tooth-like projections the ship-long swell of the Pacific streamed and fell. On the southern shore the light yellow sands of Punta de las Concepcion glittered like sunshine all the way to the olive-gardens and white domes of the Mission. The two shores seemed to typify the two different climates and civilizations separated by the bay.

The heavy, woodland atmosphere was quickened by the salt breath of the sea. The stranger inhaled it meditatively.

"That's the reef where the Tamalpais struck," he said, "and more'n fifty miles out of her course--yes, more'n fifty miles from where she should have bin! It don't look nat'ral. No--it--don't--look--nat'ral!"

As he seemed to be speaking to himself, the young girl, who had been gazing with far greater interest at the foreign-looking southern shore, felt confused and did not reply. Then, as if recalling her presence, Brother Seabright turned to her and said:--"Yes, young lady; and when you hear the old bell of the Tamalpais, and think of how it came here, you may rejoice in the goodness of the Lord that made even those who strayed from the straight course and the true reckoning the means of testifying onto Him."But the young are quicker to detect attitudes and affectation than we are apt to imagine; and Cissy could distinguish a certain other straying in this afterthought or moral of the preacher called up by her presence, and knew that it was not the real interest which the view had evoked. She had heard that he had been a sailor, and, with the tact of her sex, answered with what she thought would entertain him:--"I was a little girl when it happened, and I heard that some sailors got ashore down there, and climbed up this gully from the rocks below. And they camped that night--for there were no houses at West Woodlands then--just in the woods where our chapel now stands. It was funny, wasn't it?--I mean," she corrected herself bashfully, "it was strange they chanced to come just there?"But she had evidently hit the point of interest.

"What became of them?" he said quickly. "They never came to Horse Shoe Settlement, where the others landed from the wreck. I never heard of that boat's crew or of ANY landing HERE.""No. They kept on over the range south to the Mission. I reckon they didn't know there was a way down on this side to Horse Shoe,"returned Cissy.

Brother Seabright moved on and continued his slow, plodding march.

But he kept a little nearer Cissy, and she was conscious that he occasionally looked at her. Presently he said:--"You have a heavenly gift, Miss Appleby."Cissy flushed, and her hand involuntarily went to one of her long, distinguishing curls. It might be THAT. The preacher continued:--"Yes; a voice like yours is a heavenly gift. And you have properly devoted it to His service. Have you been singing long?""About two years. But I've got to study a heap yet.""The little birds don't think it necessary to study to praise Him,"said the preacher sententiously.

It occurred to Cissy that this was very unfair argument. She said quickly:--"But the little birds don't have to follow words in the hymn-books.

You don't give out lines to larks and bobolinks," and blushed.

The preacher smiled. It was a very engaging smile, Cissy thought, that lightened his hard mouth. It enabled her to take heart of grace, and presently to chatter like the very birds she had disparaged. Oh yes; she knew she had to learn a great deal more.

同类推荐
  • Biographical Study of A. W. Kinglake

    Biographical Study of A. W. Kinglake

    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。
  • 剪灯余话

    剪灯余话

    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。
  • 经效产宝

    经效产宝

    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。
  • 普达王经

    普达王经

    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。
  • 山庵杂录

    山庵杂录

    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
  • 党员手册

    党员手册

    党的十九大报告指出:中国特色社会主义进入新时代,我们党一定要有新气象新作为。打铁必须自身硬。党要团结带领人民进行伟大斗争、推进伟大事业、实现伟大梦想,必须毫不动摇坚持和完善党的领导,毫不动摇把党建设得更加坚强有力。为帮助广大党员担负起新时代中国共产党的历史使命,本书从党员应该掌握的基本知识和党员如何以实际行动融入到党的建设新的伟大工程等方面的内容进行了讲解,并提出了要求,有助于广大党员始终保持同人民群众的血肉联系,不断推进党的建设科学化,在实际工作中校准航向、把握标准。
  • 复活 (龙人日志系列#9)

    复活 (龙人日志系列#9)

    在《复活》(《龙人日志》#9中),十六岁的斯嘉丽·潘恩发现自己发生了不可思议的变化。她变得对光敏感,可以读出他人的想法,并比任何时候都更迅速更强壮。她不明白自己发生了什么,并试着不去理会这些。但是她对这些的不加理会只能到此为止了。她的妈妈,凯特琳·潘恩,太了解自己的女儿发生了什么事情。多个世纪以前,她曾经遭遇过同样的转变为龙人的过程。但是,如今,作为一个纯粹的人类,她已经完全不记得了。她所有可以了解的来自于那本她在阁楼上发现的日记本——她神秘的龙人日记——讲述着她在另外的时代和地方里的经历,以及讲述着龙人种族被抹去的事实。但是规则之外是否有特例?她的女儿,斯嘉丽,可不可能是地球上最后一个幸存的龙人?当斯嘉丽竭力与自己正在发生的改变做斗争时,她也在极力与自己对布雷克——一个与她同级的她深深迷恋的人——的强烈情感做斗争。然而,她不肯定,他是不是也爱着她。而随着万圣节前夕大舞会的到来,紧张一触即发。她愿意为布雷克付出一切。但是,薇薇安——所有受欢迎的女孩中最可恶的一个,也喜欢布雷克,而且她会不择手段得到布雷克——这让斯嘉丽的生活犹如堕入地狱。幸运的是,斯嘉丽有自己的朋友圈子支持她,这包括她最好的朋友玛利亚和贾丝明。她们同样,面临着男朋友的问题,但是那是在赛奇出现之后的事——那是一个新来的神秘男孩,那个男孩让她的朋友们着迷。斯嘉丽发现自己也被他吸引了——而让她惊讶的是,在学校所有的女孩中,他唯一只关注她一个人。但是她的心意仍然在布雷克身上——至少目前仍是,并且她仍然希望他会邀请她一起跳舞。就在斯嘉丽觉得一切触手可及的时候,她的身体发生了变化。不久,她也许就不能再待在人类伙伴中间。不久,她就要在她活着的渴望和爱的渴望之间做出选择。《龙人日志》#10《渴望》,现在也已有售!
  • 刘局长的升迁之路(三)

    刘局长的升迁之路(三)

    余善贵和徐娜通奸的事,刘旭像吃一粒老鼠屎一样,把它深深地藏在了心底。余善贵以秘书科科长作为交换条件,刘旭一口回绝。余善贵始终不放心,终于还是安了个副科长的头衔在刘旭身上。不知哪里出了问题,王迪得到了他们通奸的消息。刘旭能吞下这粒老鼠屎,王迪却怎么也咽不下这口气,他提着刀冲到余善贵的办公室来找他算账了。刘旭本不想掺和这件事,但事到临头,他还是情不自禁地冲了上去,结果伤及手腕韧带,险些成为残废。在刘旭住院期间,白晓晴天天都去看他。
  • 一见钟情:高冷男神追上门

    一见钟情:高冷男神追上门

    她与他初识,他是光芒万丈的大众男神,她是见义勇为的仗义少女。他被她的特别所俘获,她被他的容貌所吸引,一步步陷于他的温柔、霸道之中,却被他一次次推远。死心的她留下“我走了,愿我们永不再相见。”便离开了。他勾唇邪魅一笑:“你逃不了的。”
  • 世界上最美的小说

    世界上最美的小说

    本书经过反复筛选,从世界最美小说里精选了最具有代表性的小说。以飨读者。那么,就让我们在风和日丽,或者斜风细雨的午后,捧一杯香茗,品味自然,品味生活,和心灵交流,与经典同行,感受最原始的欣喜与悸动吧!
  • 青少年培养语文兴趣的故事(启迪青少年的语文故事集)

    青少年培养语文兴趣的故事(启迪青少年的语文故事集)

    本丛书重视语文的基础知识训练,选编了常用词语、好词好句、古文名句解读,谚语、歇后语集萃,还有语文趣味故事、语文之谜以及语文大家的故事等等,目的是使中小学生在快乐的阅读中逐步提高语文知识,增加文学素养,为将来走出社会自立人生打下坚实的基础。
  • 难忘家乡的红叶

    难忘家乡的红叶

    今天是清明节,窗外下着毛毛细雨。苏凤叶已备了两束花,和一些冥纸准备偕丈夫林春旺及儿女们前往银华峰下的幽谷去奠祭亡人:她的结拜妹妹李月琴,还有她的前夫陈甘雨。话说苏凤叶、林春旺、陈甘雨和李月琴,他们尽是同伞不同柄,同人不同命。苏凤叶、林春旺、陈甘雨三个人从小就经常喜欢在一起,自然地组合。老师、家长、同学无不知道他们之间的情谊和爱情。从少小无猜,随着时间推移发展到爱情。他们之间形成了三角恋情。他们历经意乱情迷,孽海情天。李月琴后来揳入了他们之间的情迷,拨乱反正。
  • 寻灵逍遥录

    寻灵逍遥录

    平凡乡村小少年,机缘巧合下卷入一个奇幻世界,开启了寻找传说之旅。
  • 营销人员每日必修课

    营销人员每日必修课

    本书凭借着一个个隽永的,充满哲思的故事以及评述铺叙出一个缤纷的世界。它按照十二月份编排了不同的主题,分为劝学、竞争、智慧、谋略等篇章,每个主题又统领了近三十个哲理故事,并由专业人士予以恰切的评论。内容全面,通俗易懂,非常适合营销人员阅读。
  • 电影之邪典大师

    电影之邪典大师

    他被人称为邪典之王,节奏大师,人性之光,只要你打开他的电影,你就会发现,有一双无形的大手狠狠的揪住你的心脏,让你害怕,反思,赞叹!“他是操纵人心的魔鬼,他是群星闪耀时代的大师,每当你以为他已经达到顶峰,你会发现,你只是站在他的背影上。”--世界报