my lady caprice(我的无常夫人)-第25部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
imagination； of course； and yet it had sounded very real。
And she said； 〃0 Dick； I want you so！〃
The river lapped softly against the bank； and somewhere above my
head the leaves rustled dismally。
〃Dear little Imp； if it were only true！〃
Once again the sound came to me； low and restrained； but a sob
unmistakably。
On the other side of the giant tree I beheld a figure half sitting； half
lying。 The shadow was deep here； but as I stooped the kindly moon sent
down a shaft of silver light； and I saw a lovely； startled face； with great；
tear…dimmed eyes。
〃Lisbeth！〃 I exclaimed； then； prompted by a sudden thought； I glanced
hastily around。
〃I am alone；〃 she said； interpreting my thought aright。
〃But … here … and … and at such an hour！〃 I stammered foolishly。 She
seemed to be upon her feet in one movement； fronting me with flashing
eyes。
〃I came to look for the Imp。 I found this on his pillow。 Perhaps you
will explain？〃 and she handed me a crumpled paper。
DEAR AUNTIE LISBATH： （I read） Unkel dick is going away bekors
he is in luv with you and you are angry with the Blasted oke； where I hid
yore stokkings if you want to kiss me and be kind to me again； come to me
bekors I want someboddie to be nice to me now he is gone。
yore luving sorry IMP。
P。S。 He said he would like to hang himself in his sword…belt to the
105
… Page 106…
My Lady Caprice
arm of yonder tree and hurl himself from yon topmost pinnakel； so I no he
is in luv with you。
〃Oh； blessed Imp！〃
〃And now where is he？〃 she demanded。
〃Lisbeth； I don't know。〃
〃You don't know！ Then why are you here？〃
For answer I held out the letter I had found； and watched while she
read the words I could not believe。
Her hat was off； and the moon made wonderful lights in the coils of
her black hair。 She was wearing an indoor gown of some thin material
that clung； boldly revealing the gracious lines of her supple figure； and in
the magic of the moon she seemed some young goddess of the woods … tall
and fair and strong； yet infinitely womanly。
Now as she finished reading she turned suddenly away； yet not before
I had seen the tell…tale colour glowing in her cheeks … a slow wave which
surged over her from brow to chin； and chin to the round； white column of
her throat。
And she said； 〃0 Dick； I want you so！〃 I read aloud。
〃Oh；〃 Lisbeth murmured。
〃Lisbeth； is it true？〃
She stood with her face averted； twisting the letter in her fingers。
〃Lisbeth！〃 I said； and took a step nearer。 Still she did not speak； but
her hands came out to me with a swift； passionate gesture； and her eyes
looked into mine； and surely none were ever more sweet； with the new
shyness in their depths and the tears glistening on their lashes。
And in that moment Doubt and Fear were swallowed up in a great joy；
and I forgot all things save that Lisbeth was before me and that I loved her。
The moon； risen now； had made a broad path of silver across the shadowy
river to our very feet； and I remembered how the Imp had once told me
that it was there for the moon fairies to come down by when they bring us
happy dreams。 Surely； the air was full of moon fairies to…night。
〃0 Imp； thrice blessed Imp！〃
〃But … but Selwyn？〃 I groaned at last。
106
… Page 107…
My Lady Caprice
〃Well？〃
〃If you love him … 〃
〃But I don't！〃
〃But if you are to marry him … 〃
〃But I'm not！ I was going to tell you so in the orchard yesterday； but
you gave me no chance； you preferred to guess； and； of course； guessed
wrong altogether。 I knew it made you wretched； and I was glad of it and
meant to keep you so a long； long time； but when I looked up and saw you
standing there so very； very miserable； Dick； I couldn't keep it up any
longer； because I was so dreadfully wretched myself； you know。〃
〃Can you ever forgive me？〃
〃That depends； Dick。〃
〃On what？〃
Lisbeth stooped； and picking up her hat； began to put it on。
〃Depends on what？〃 I repeated。
Her hat was on now； but for a while she did not answer； her eyes upon
the 〃fairy path。〃 When at last she spoke her voice was very low and
tender。
〃'Not far from the village of Down； in Kent； there is a house；'〃 she
began； 〃'a very old ho use； with pointed gables and pannelled chambers；
but empty to…night and desolate。' You see I remember it all；〃 she broke
off。
〃Yes； you remember it all；〃 I repeated； wondering。
〃Dick … I … I want you to … take me there。 I've thought of it all so often。
Take me there； Dick。〃
〃Lisbeth； do you mean it？〃
〃It has been the dream of my life for a long time now … to work for you
there； to take care of you； Dick … you need such a deal； such a great deal of
taking care of … to walk with you in the old rose garden； but I'm a beggar
now； you know； though I sha'n't mind a bit if … if you want me； Dick。〃
〃Want you！〃 I cried； and with the words I drew her close and kissed
her。 Now； from somewhere in the tree above came a sudden crack and
mighty snapping of twigs。
107
… Page 108…
My Lady Caprice
〃All right； Uncle Dick！〃 cried a voice； 〃it's only the branch。 Don't
worry。〃
〃Imp！〃 I exclaimed。
〃I'm coming； Uncle Dick；〃 he answered； and with much exertion and
heavy breathing he presently emerged into view and squirmed himself
safely to earth。 For a moment he stood looking from one to the other of
us； then he turned to Lisbeth。
〃Won't you forgive me； too； Auntie Lisbeth； please？〃 he said。
〃Forgive you！〃 she cried； and falling on her knees； gathered him in her
arms。
〃I'm glad I didn't go to Persia； after all； Uncle Dick；〃 he said over her
shoulder。
〃Persia！〃 repeated Lisbeth； wonderingly。
〃Oh； yes； you were so angry with Uncle Dick an' me … so frightfull'
angry； you know； that I was going to try to find the 'wonderful lamp' so I
could wish everything all right again an' all of us 'live happy ever after'；
but the blasted oak did just as well； an' was nicer； somehow； wasn't it？〃
〃Infinitely nicer；〃 I answered。
〃An' you will never be angry with Uncle Dick or me any more； will
you； auntie … that is； not frightfull' angry； you know？〃
〃Never any more； dear。〃
〃On your honour？〃
〃On my honour！〃
〃So help you Sam？〃
〃So help me Sam！〃 she repeated； smiling； but there were tears in her
voice。
Very gravely the Imp drew his 〃trusty sword；〃 which she； following
his instructions； obediently kissed。
〃And now；〃 cried he； 〃we are all happy again； aren't we？〃
〃More happy than I ever hoped or dreamed to be；〃 answered Lisbeth；
still upon her knees； 〃and oh； Imp … dear little Imp； come and kiss me。〃
108
… Page 109…
My Lady Caprice
VIII
THE LAND OF HEART'S DELIGHT
Surely there never was and never could be such another morning as
this！ Ever since the first peep of dawn a blackbird had been singing to
me from the fragrant syringa…bush that blossomed just beneath my
window。 Each morning I had wakened to the joyous melody of his
golden song。 But to…day the order was reversed。 I had sat there at my
open casement； breathing the sweet purity of the morning； watching the
eastern sky turn slowly from pearl…grey to saffron and from saffron to
deepest crimson； until at last the new…risen sun had filled all the world
with his glory。 And then this blackbird of mine had begun … very hoarse
at first； trying a note now and then in a tentative sort of fashion； as though
still drowsy and not quite sure of himself； but little by little his notes had
grown longer； richer； mellower； until here he was pouring out his soul in
an ecstasy。
Ah！ surely there never was； there never could be； such another
morning as this！
Out of the green twilight of the woods a gentle wind was blowing；
laden with the scent of earth and hidden flowers。 Dewdrops twinkled in
the grass and hung glistening from every leaf and twig； and beyond all was
the sheen of the murmurous river。
The blackbird was in full song now； and by degrees others joined in …
thrush； and lark； and linnet； with the humbler voices of the farmyard … until
the sunny air was vibrant with the chorus。
Presently a man in a sleeved waistcoat crossed the paddock； whistling
lustily； and from somewhere below there rose a merry clatter of plates and
dishes； and thus the old inn； which had seen so many mornings； woke up
to yet another。 But there never was； there never could be； just such
another morning as this was！
And in a little while； having dressed with more than usual care； I went
downstairs to find my breakfast awaiting me in the 〃Sanded Parlour；〃
