Her hope had been sustained by a letter received from Ben at the time he and Bradley were on the point of starting for the Sierras, where they had information that Dewey was engaged in mining. Then weeks passed, and she heard nothing. She began to feel anxious for the safety of her two[Pg 175] agents, knowing that not alone wild beasts, but lawless men, were to be encountered among the mountains. Should Ben and his companion come to harm, she would be sincerely sorry for their fate, feeling in a measure responsible for it. Still more, Richard Dewey would then be left ignorant of her presence in California, and might return to the East in that ignorance, leaving her friendless and alone more than three thousand miles from her old home.
How would her heart have been cheered could she have known that at that moment Richard Dewey, with his two faithful friends, was but four days' journey from the city! So it happens that good fortune is often nearer to us than we imagine, even when our hearts are most anxious.
While she was trying to look on the bright side one morning, Mrs. Armstrong entered her room. "Miss Douglas," she said, "there is a gentleman in the parlor6 who wishes to see you."
Her heart gave a great bound. Who could it be but Richard Dewey who would call upon her?
"No; he said you would know him."
[Pg 176]"It must be Richard," she said to herself; and, controlling her agitation as well as she could, she descended8 to the parlor. She paused a moment before opening the door to regain9 her self-possession. Then, with an effort, she turned the knob, and entering the room, found herself face to face with Orton Campbell!
It was so unexpected and so bitter a disappointment that an expression of blank dismay overspread her face, and she sank into the nearest chair without venturing on a single word of greeting.
"You didn't expect to see me, Miss Douglas?" said Orton, enjoying the effect of his appearance, for he had never deceived himself with the thought that his father's ward4 would be glad to see him.
By this time Florence had regained10 her self-possession, and with it came back scorn for the man whose object in pursuing her she well understood to be love of her fortune, not of herself.
"You are entirely11 right, Mr. Campbell," she answered. "You are the last person I expected to see."
[Pg 177]"You don't appear very glad to see me," he continued.
"Why should I appear so? You know very well that I am not glad to see you," said the heiress, frankly12.
"That is complimentary," said Orton, rather provoked, though he knew very well in advance that such was her feeling.
"I suppose you didn't come here for compliments, Mr. Campbell?" said Florence, coldly.
"You are right: I didn't."
"May I ask if you are in San Francisco on business?"
"You take things very coolly, I must say, Miss Douglas. Certainly you cannot be ignorant of my motive13 in coming here at great personal inconvenience."
"I hope I have nothing to do with your reason."
"You are the sole reason."
"I am sorry to hear it."
"I came to remonstrate14 with you on the very unwise step you took in running away from your legal guardian15."
[Pg 178]"My legal guardian, as you call him, though I look upon him as such only as far as my property is concerned, rendered the step necessary."
"I don't see how."
"In plain terms, Mr. Orton Campbell, I believe that you and your father entered into a conspiracy16 to keep my fortune in the family by inducing me to become your wife."
"I certainly did ask you to become my wife, but it was not because of your fortune," answered the young man.
Florence's lip curled. She thoroughly17 disbelieved his statement. Though she said nothing, it was clear to him from her expression that she put no confidence in his words.
"You may believe me or not," he said, doggedly18; "but why should you think so poorly of yourself as to suppose you have nothing to attract lovers except your money?"
"I may not be so modest as you suppose, Mr. Campbell. I do believe that I have won the love of a true and noble man. My doubt only related to yourself."
"I do mean Richard Dewey," answered Florence, with composure.
"By the way, he came to California, I believe."
"Yes."
"And you came here in pursuit of him?" he added, with a sneer.
"I came here to find him, knowing that in him I had a true friend, while your father's persecution20 and your own made me feel the need of one."
"Have you found him? Do you know where he is?" asked Orton Campbell, eagerly.
"I only know he is somewhere at the mines. I have taken steps to find him, and hope eventually to succeed."
"Why don't you advertise?" asked the young man, with an angry sneer.
"Would you advise it?" asked Miss Douglas, coolly.
"No," muttered Orton, for he feared such a step might prove successful. "What steps have you taken?" he asked.
[Pg 180]"I prefer to keep them to myself."
"Miss Douglas," said Orton Campbell, after a pause, "all this is very foolish and humiliating. There is only one proper course for you to pursue."
"What is it?"
"Return to New York with me in the next steamer, and place yourself once more under the care of my father, whose protection you never ought to have left."
"'Protection'!" repeated Florence, with bitter emphasis. "What protection did he give me?"
"All that was required."
"'All that was required'? You know very well that you and he had conspired21 to put me in a mad-house if I would not agree to enrich you by giving you my hand."
"That is not true," said Orton Campbell, rather confused.
"'Not true'? He distinctly threatened to do it as a means of terrifying me into compliance22 with his and your wishes. It was not until then that I decided23 to leave your house and seek some place of refuge until time and the law should set me[Pg 181] completely free from your family and their machinations."
"It is evident, Miss Douglas, that you are under a delusion24. Your way of talking is sufficient to show that your mind is affected25. Any good physician would need no other proof."
Florence Douglas looked at him with distrust. Was this a threat, or how should she interpret it?
"It is convenient, Mr. Orton Campbell," she retorted with spirit, "to charge with madness those who oppose us. At home I felt afraid of your threats: here I am secure."
He thought that perhaps he had gone too far, since the young lady was independent of him, and it was not certain that he could gain possession of her.
"Miss Douglas," he said, "I have already told you that you have taken an unwise step. There is one way to remedy it, and I hope I may be able to induce you to take it. Let me assure you that I have called upon you as a friend, as a warm friend, as one who seeks to be something more than a friend."
[Pg 182]"Well, sir?"
"Let me urge you to consent to an immediate26 marriage with me, and to accompany me home on the next steamer. My father will receive you as a daughter, and never allude27 to your flight."
"I suppose I ought to thank you for your disinterested28 proposal, Mr. Campbell, but I can only tell you that you ask what is entirely out of the question. This is final. Allow me to wish you good-morning."
"But, Miss Douglas—"
He rose slowly from his seat, and an evil look came into his eyes. "She has not done with me yet," he muttered as he left the house.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
inmate
|
|
| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
buoyed
|
|
| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
straightforward
|
|
| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
illiterate
|
|
| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
parlor
|
|
| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
frankly
|
|
| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
remonstrate
|
|
| v.抗议，规劝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
conspiracy
|
|
| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
doggedly
|
|
| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sneer
|
|
| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
persecution
|
|
| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
conspired
|
|
| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
compliance
|
|
| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
delusion
|
|
| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
allude
|
|
| v.提及，暗指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
disinterested
|
|
| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |