FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97  
98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   >>   >|  
sed in the act of crossing the road; "they are looking back, and I do not want them just now," and here she waved her hand a little impatiently. "We must follow them through that gate into the woodland path that leads to Rotherwood. It is so pretty in daylight. The moon will soon be rising, and then you will see it better." Malcolm followed her meekly. When he stumbled over a concealed root, Elizabeth quietly put her hand on his arm to guide him. The firm, soft touch, the spontaneous kindness of the action, and her utter unconsciousness, gave him a positive thrill of pleasure. "When one's heart is full of gratitude to a person," went on Elizabeth in the same grave, low tone, "it is so difficult to find words. Mr. Herrick, I know all you did for our dear boy--I know everything." Malcolm started. "Cedric told me; but of course we kept it from my sister." "My dear Miss Templeton," began Malcolm in an embarrassed voice, for he was not prepared for this. But Elizabeth would not let him speak. "You must let me have my innings," she said, with a delicious laugh. "I have pent up my feelings for nearly two years, and they must find vent. Mr. Herrick, you have been our benefactor--Dinah's and mine as well as Cedric's. When you held out your generous hand to a stranger--when you saved our poor boy from disgrace and a ruined career, you did far more than you thought--" "Miss Templeton, for pity's sake--" "Please, please, let me finish," a pressure of his arm emphasised her words; "it is so difficult for a woman to hold her tongue. Dinah knows nothing of all this; we dare not tell her--it would break her heart. My sister is too good for this world; you know what I mean Mr. Herrick--she believes too much in other people's goodness, and then when they disappoint her she is quite crushed." "I should have thought Miss Templeton's nature an exceptionally happy one," returned Malcolm. "You are right," and Elizabeth spoke with evident feeling; "but these bright, sunshiny natures have their hours of eclipse. Cedric is her special darling, the object of her tenderest care; if she only knew--" but here she paused, as though her emotions were too strong. "My dear Miss Templeton"--Malcolm was determined to be heard now, he should not be suppressed and silenced any more--"you are making far too much of the trifling service I was able to render to your brother. What was a small loan?" "What was it?" here Elizabeth struck in
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97  
98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Malcolm
 

Elizabeth

 

Templeton

 

Cedric

 

Herrick

 
difficult
 
thought
 

sister

 
crushed
 

disappoint


goodness

 

crossing

 
people
 

believes

 
tongue
 

career

 
disgrace
 
ruined
 

Please

 

nature


emphasised

 

finish

 

pressure

 

returned

 

determined

 

suppressed

 

silenced

 

strong

 

paused

 

emotions


making

 
struck
 

brother

 

render

 

trifling

 
service
 

feeling

 
bright
 

sunshiny

 
evident

natures
 

tenderest

 
object
 
darling
 

eclipse

 

special

 
exceptionally
 

stumbled

 
meekly
 

concealed