登陆注册
5427800000071

第71章 CHAPTER XVI(3)

"I know, but we both have others besides ourselves to consider. I have my uncles. They have done everything for me. And you have your father. Does he know--about me--about what you have just said to me?"

And now Crawford hesitated. Not long, but long enough for Mary to know what the answer would be before it was spoken.

"He doesn't know," she said. "I thought not. Do you think he will approve?"

"I hope he will. There is every reason why he should and absolutely none why he shouldn't. Of course he'll approve; he's sensible."

"Yes, but he may have plans of his own for you, and your marrying an Eastern girl may not be one of them. You have often told me how prejudiced he is against the East and Eastern people. He may disapprove strongly."

Crawford squared his shoulders. There was no hesitation or doubt in his next speech.

"If he does it will make no difference," he declared. "I care a whole lot for Dad and I'd do anything on earth for him--anything but the one thing, that is: I won't give you up--provided you care for me--for him or for anyone else. That's final."

He certainly looked as if it were. But Mary only shook her head.

In the new thoughts and new imaginings which had come to her during the past winter there had been a vague foreshadowing of a possible situation somewhat like this. She had her answer ready.

"Oh, no, it isn't," she said. "You are his son, his only child, Crawford. He cares so much for you. You have often told me that, and--and I know he must. And you and he have been so happy together. Do you think I would be the cause of breaking that relationship?"

He waved the question aside and asked one of his own.

"Do you love me, Mary?" he asked.

"You mustn't ask me, Crawford. Write your father. Tell him everything. Will you?"

"Yes, I will. I should have done it, anyway. If I go home, and I suppose I must, I shall tell him; it will be better than writing.

But I want your answer before I go. Won't you give it to me?"

He looked very handsome and very manly, as he stood there pleading.

But Mary had made up her mind.

"I can't, Crawford," she said. "Perhaps I don't know. I do know that it would not be right for me to say what you want me to say--now. Go home to your father; he needs you. Tell him everything and then--write me."

He looked at her, a long, long look. Then he nodded slowly.

"All right," he said; "I will. I will tell him that I mean to marry you. If he says yes--as he will, I'm sure--then I'll write you that. If he says no, I'll write you that. But in either case, Mary Lathrop, I shall marry you just the same. Your own no will be the only thing that can prevent it. And now may I come and see you tomorrow evening?"

"Not tomorrow, Crawford. When will you start for home?"

"Saturday, I think. May I come the day after tomorrow? Just to say good-by, you know."

Mary was troubled. She could not deny him and yet she was certain it would be better for them both if he did not come.

"Perhaps," she said doubtfully. "But only to say good-by. You must promise that."

There was a ring at the bell. Then Maggie, the maid, appeared to announce that the Howe motor car was waiting at the curb. A few moments later Mary was in her room adjusting her new hat before the mirror. Ordinarily, adjusting that hat would have been an absorbing and painstaking performance; just now it was done with scarcely a thought. How devoutly she wished that the Howe car and the Howe dinner were waiting for anyone in the wide world but her! She did not wish to meet strangers; she did not wish to go anywhere, above all she did not wish to eat. That evening, of all evenings in her life, she wished to be alone. However, accepted invitations are implied obligations and Mary, having adjusted the hat, gave her eyes a final dab with a handkerchief and cold water and hastened down to answer the call to social martyrdom.

It was not excruciating torture, that dinner in the Howe dining-room, even to a young lady who had just listened to a proposal of marriage and desired to think of nothing less important. Mr. Howe was big and jolly. Mrs. Howe was gray-haired and gracious and Barbara was--Barbara. Also, there was a friend of Mr. Howe's, an elderly gentleman named Green, who it seemed was one of a firm of wholesale grocers downtown, and who told funny stories and, by way of proving that they were funny, laughed heartiest of all at the ending of each. He sat next Mrs. Howe during dinner, but later, when they were all in the handsome drawing-room, he came over and seated himself upon the sofa next Mary and entered into conversation with her.

"You are not a born Bostonian, I understand, Miss Lathrop," he observed. "An importation, eh? Ho, ho! Yes. Well, how do you like us?"

Mary smiled. "Oh, I like Boston very much, Mr. Green," she answered. "I know it better than any other American city, perhaps that is why. It was the only city I had ever seen until quite recently. I am imported--as you call it--from not so far away. My home is on Cape Cod."

Mr. Green regarded her with interest.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 穿越次元的大筒木

    穿越次元的大筒木

    穿越到了异界,不仅要养自己,还要帮系统升级,这简直不给人活啊!幸好是到了熟悉的火影,成为了大筒木一族!身怀一堆杀招,却苦于查克拉少而慎用?于是他把目光看向月读之夜。“我要一统忍界!”在地底的斑打了个喷嚏。火影——约战——终结的炽天使——(待定)【主角性别后面变为女,至于前面的男,你们就当没有吧(づωど)】
  • 我家王妃超凶的

    我家王妃超凶的

    王爷,既然我们同是天涯被绿人,不如搭个伙,一起大干一场吧!
  • 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。
  • 著名企业求职面试指南

    著名企业求职面试指南

    本书以企业招聘为出发点,立足求职者能力素质的培养,从面试例题、面试技巧、面试经验等多个方面展开剖析,深入浅出地讲解了面试的诸多事项,对于刚刚步入社会准备踏上求职之路的应届毕业生和准备向不熟悉的行业领域跳槽的求职者都有很大的指导作用。书中不仅涉及了国内中小企业常见的面试案例,还对一些知名企业的经典案例进行了分析讲解,对金融类岗位、管理类岗位、销售类岗位等许多职位进行了重点剖析。全书案例生动、技巧实用、紧扣现实、着眼未来,用人力资源的现代化理念为求职者打开了一扇通往事业巅峰的大门。
  • 会打拳的皮皮猴(读故事学科学丛书)

    会打拳的皮皮猴(读故事学科学丛书)

    顽皮的皮皮猴上山拜猩猩迪克学了拳术,自恃会几招拳脚功夫,总是欺负人。他挑战大象、欺负小兔子、拳打乌龟、PK穿山甲等,当然吃了不少亏,后来成了斗眼镜蛇的英雄。书中介绍了一些医学小常识和简单的治疗方法。
  • 重返英纳瑞

    重返英纳瑞

    重生回20多年前,还意外得到了一个游戏百科全书系统,叶楚楚重新踏入了《英纳瑞》游戏世界。
  • 古鬼存录

    古鬼存录

    《古鬼存录》一本包罗成千上万鬼物的存录。专业除妖师和有着强大梦境能力的少女共同寻找古鬼,所有遇见的古鬼都以善恶分类被共同记载在古鬼存录中,善鬼被释放,恶鬼被捉拿关押,每个古鬼都有专属故事,爱别离,怨憎会,求不得,贪痴嗔怨,世人皆叹。书中或哀或乐,皆有因有果。世间万物皆在无形中明码标价,善恶之事,都有代价。
  • 天道燎原1

    天道燎原1

    末日降临,预言重现!!仙术魔法注定碰撞,幻界神界接连浮现,树妖精灵纵横战场,剑侠神佛气冲山河,战魔灵、斗恶魂,千万强敌能奈我何?精彩纷呈的超凡世界,神奇莫测的召唤绝技,空前绝后又包罗万象的征途即将启程,你,准备好没有?……
  • 希望在转角

    希望在转角

    人生最怕什么?没有希望当面对挫折、陷入目境时,些入总会心灰意冷,认为一切都没有了希望。于是郁郁寡欢,什么事都提不起兴趣,甚至自己跟自已作对。这样继续下去,便真的走入了绝路,迷失了方向,以为山重水复,没有出路。请不要灰心,不要绝望,你之所以认为没有有希望是目为你只看到眼前的一条路。拓展你的视野半径,认真用心寻访,你会发现在某个不起眼的地方有一条密径,轻轻走进去,拨开藤葛.你会柳暗花明,一条宽阔的大路正摆在面前,有鸟语、南花香、有欢愉、有喜悦。你会赫然明自 原来希望就在转角。
  • 我突然知道

    我突然知道

    乔叶在20世纪90年代初期开始就发表诗作,参加过《诗刊》的青春诗会,是一个隐匿的诗人。这本诗集是乔叶蛰伏多年的爆发。这些诗作,有着冷眼观世事,深入自我内心肌理的艺术勇气,既尖利敏锐,勇猛大胆,又朴素自然,真切迷人。她写情感,热烈而深邃,带着一种绝望的激情;写世相,直击生活中的痛与痒,挑开放大我们习焉不察的种种,给人以深入脊髓的阅读快意。这些诗彰显了一位用心体味生活、时刻在场的写作者斑斓而绵密的内心风景。