my lady caprice(我的无常夫人)-第28部分
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disappointed old woman； who loved you much more than she thought； but
I won't！〃
〃Dear； dear Aunt Agatha； did you love me so much； and I never
guessed； you wouldn't let me； you see。 Ah！ do not think me ungrateful；
but when a woman comes to marry she must choose for herself as I have
done； and I am happy； dear； and proud of my choice … proud to have won
the true love of a true man； only do not think I am ungrateful。 And if this
must be good…bye； do not let us part like this … for my sake and your sake
and the sake of my … husband。〃
Lady Warburton had turned away； and there ensued a somewhat
embarrassing pause。
〃Elizabeth；〃 she said suddenly； 〃if I don't mistake； somebody is frying
bacon somewhere； and I'm ravenously hungry。〃
〃So am I；〃 cried the Imp。
〃And so am I；〃 Dorothy chimed in。
〃Then suppose we have breakfast；〃 I suggested； and in almost less
time than it takes to tell I was leading the way across the green with Lady
Warburton on my arm … actually leaning on my arm。 It all happened so
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quickly that Heaven and Lisbeth alone know how she got there。
And now who so surprised to see us as honest Amos Baggett； ushering
us with many bows and smiles into the Sanded Parlour； where breakfast
was soon ready； and who so quick and dexterous in attending to our wants
as the rosy…cheeked chambermaid？
And what a breakfast that was！ Never had the antique andirons on
the hearth； the pewter plates and dishes upon the walls； the brass…bound
blunderbuss above the mantel seemed so bright and polished before； and
surely never had they gleamed upon a merrier company。 To be sure； the
Imp's remarks were somewhat few and far between； but that was simply
on account of the blackberry jam。
〃I suppose you are both ridiculously happy；〃 said Lady Warburton；
eyeing us over her coffee cup。
〃Most absurdly！〃 answered Lisbeth； blushing all in a moment。
〃Preposterously！〃 I nodded。
〃Of course！〃 said Lady Warburton； and setting down her cup； she
sighed； while I wondered what memories her narrow life could hold。
〃Uncle Dick；〃 said the Imp suddenly； 〃do you s'pose Scarlet Sam ever
ate blackberry jam？〃
〃Undoubtedly； my Imp； when he could get it。〃 This appeared to
greatly relieve his mind； for he took another helping。
But all things must have an end； alas！…even such a breakfast as this；
and presently we were out in the sunshine again； standing beneath the
weather…beaten sign whereon three faded fishermen fished with faded rods
in a faded stream； while away down the road we could see Peter already
approaching with the carriage。
〃And now I suppose you are going？〃 said Lady Warburton。
〃There is a train at half…past ten；〃 I answered。
〃An' we are going； too ！〃 said Dorothy。
〃Yes； we're quite ready； Uncle Dick；〃 cried the Imp； thrusting his
pistols into his belt。
〃But you wouldn't leave me all alone； would you； children？〃 asked
Lady Warburton； and there was a certain wistfulness in her sharp face that
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seemed new to it。
〃'Course not；〃 sighed the Imp； 〃only … 〃
〃We must stay and take care of her； Reginald；〃 nodded Dorothy
decisively。
〃Yes； I'll take care of you； Aunt； with lance； battle…axe； an' sword； by
day an' night；〃 said the Imp； 〃only … I should have liked to see Uncle
Dick's wonderful house； with the real swords an' armour； in the Land of
Heart's Delight … some day； you know。〃
〃And so you shall；〃 cried Lady Warburton； and she actually stooped to
kiss him； and then Dorothy； rather 'pecky' kisses； perhaps； but very
genuine kisses notwithstanding。
〃Richard；〃 she said； giving me her hand； 〃we shall come down to your
wonderful house … all three of us next week； so be prepared … now be off …
both of you。〃
〃Then you forgive me； Aunt？〃 asked Lisbeth； hesitating。
〃Well； I don't quite know yet； Lisbeth； but； my dear； I'll tell you
something I have never mentioned to a living soul but you； if I had acted
forty years ago as you did to…day； I should have been a very different
creature to the cross…grained old woman you think me。 There … there's a
kiss； but as for forgiving you … that is quite another matter； I must have
time to think it all over。 Good…bye； my dear； and； Richard； fill her life
with happiness； to make up for mine； if you can。 Children； bid good…bye
to your Auntie … and Uncle Dick！〃
〃You won't forget the sword with the 'deadly point；' will you； Uncle
Dick？〃
〃I won't forget； my Imp！〃 Hereupon he tried to smile； but his
trembling lips refused； and snatching his band from mine he turned away；
as for Dorothy； she was sobbing into the fur of the fluffy kitten。
Then I helped Lisbeth aboard The Joyful Hope； loving her the more
for the tears that gleamed beneath her long lashes； and 'casting loose；' we
glided out into the stream。
There they stood； the two children； with the white…haired figure
between them； Dorothy holding up the round…eyed 〃Louise〃 for a parting
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glimpse； and the Imp flourishing his cutlass； until a bend of the river hid
them from view。
So Lisbeth and I sailed on together through the golden morning to
〃The Land of Heart's Delight。〃
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