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！
were swung back； 〃there's a considerable change in this place since I
was here last。 Well kept up indeed！ Not a dead leaf left under the
old walnuts； and the grass looks as smooth as if they had a dozen
gardeners rolling it every day。〃
〃And the drive；〃 said Norman； 〃more like a garden walk than a road！
But oh！ what a splendid cedar！〃
〃Isn't it！ I remember that as long as I remember anything。 All this
fine rolling of turf； and trimming up of the place； does not make
much difference to you； old fellow； does it？ You don't look altered
since I saw you last； when old Jervis was letting the place go to
rack and ruin。 So they have a new entrancevery handsome
conservatoryflowersthe banker does things in style。 There；〃 as
Norman helped him off with his plaid； 〃wrap yourself up well； don't
get cold。 The sun is gone in； and I should not wonder if the rain
were coming after all。 I'll not be longer than I can help。〃
Dr。 May disappeared from his son's sight through the conservatory；
where； through the plate…glass； the exotics looked so fresh and
perfumy； that Norman almost fancied that the scent reached him。 〃How
much poor Margaret would enjoy one of those camellias；〃 thought he；
〃and these people have bushels of them for mere show。 If I were
papa； I should be tempted to be like Beauty's father； and carry off
one。 How she would admire it！〃
Norman had plenty of time to meditate on the camellias； and then to
turn and speculate on the age of the cedar； whether it could have
been planted by the monks of Stoneborough Abbey； to whom the Grange
had belonged； brought from Lebanon by a pilgrim； perhaps； and then he
tried to guess at the longevity of cedars； and thought of asking
Margaret； the botanist of the family。 Then he yawned； moved the
horse a little about； opined that Mr。 Rivers must be very prosy； or
have some abstruse complaint； considered the sky； and augured rain；
buttoned another button of his rough coat； and thought of Miss
Cleveland's dinner。 Then he thought there was a very sharp wind； and
drove about till he found a sheltered place on the lee side of the
great cedar； looked up at it； and thought it would be a fine subject
for verses； if Mr。 Wilmot knew of it； and then proceeded to consider
what he should make of them。
In the midst he was suddenly roused by the deep…toned note of a dog；
and beheld a large black Newfoundland dog leaping about the horse in
great indignation。 〃Rollo！ Rollo！〃 called a clear young voice； and he
saw two ladles returning from a walk。 Rollo； at the first call；
galloped back to his mistress； and was evidently receiving an
admonition； and promising good behaviour。 The two ladies entered the
house； while he lay down on the step； with his lion…like paw hanging
down； watching Norman with a brilliant pair of hazel eyes。 Norman；
after a little more wondering when Mr。 Rivers would have done with
his father； betook himself to civil demonstrations to the creature；
who received them with dignity； and presently； after acknowledging
with his tail； various whispers of 〃Good old fellow；〃 and 〃Here； old
Rollo！〃 having apparently satisfied himself that the young gentleman
was respectable； he rose； and vouchsafed to stand up with his
forepaws in the gig； listening amiably to Norman's delicate
flatteries。 Norman even began to hope to allure him into jumping on
the seat： but a great bell rang； and Rollo immediately turned round；
and dashed off； at full speed； to some back region of the house。
〃So； old fellow； you know what the dinner…bell means；〃 thought
Norman。 〃I hope Mr。 Rivers is hungry too。 Miss Cleveland will have
eaten up her whole luncheon； if this old bore won't let my father go
soon！ I hope he is desperately ill'tis his only excuse！ Heigh ho！
I must jump out to warm my feet soon！ There； there's a drop of rain！
Well； there's no end to it！ I wonder what Ethel is doing about
Cocksmoor！ It is setting in for a wet afternoon！〃 and Norman
disconsolately put up his umbrella。
At last Dr。 May and another gentleman were seen in the conservatory；
and Norman gladly proceeded to clear the seat； but Dr。 May called
out； 〃Jump out； Norman； Mr。 Rivers is so kind as to ask us to stay to
luncheon。〃
With boyish shrinking from strangers； Norman privately wished Mr。
Rivers at Jericho； as he gave the reins to a servant； and entered the
conservatory； where a kindly hand was held out to him by a gentleman
of about fifty； with a bald smooth forehead； soft blue eyes； and
gentle pleasant face。 〃Is this your eldest son？〃 said he； turning to
Dr。 Mayand the manner of both was as if they were already well
acquainted。 〃No； this is my second。 The eldest is not quite such a
long…legged fellow；〃 said Dr。 May。 And then followed the question
addressed to Norman himself； where he was at school。
〃At Stoneborough；〃 said Norman； a little amused at the thought how
angry Ethel and Harry would be that the paragraph of the county
paper； where 〃N。 W。 May〃 was recorded as prizeman and foremost in the
examination； had not penetrated even to Abbotstoke Grange； or rather
to its owner's memory。
However； his father could not help adding； 〃He is the head of the
schoola thing we Stoneborough men think much of。〃
This； and Mr。 Rivers's civil answer； made Norman so hot； that he did
not notice much in passing through a hall full of beautiful vases；
stuffed birds； busts； etc。； tastefully arranged； and he did not look
up till they were entering a handsome dining…room； where a small
square table was laid out for luncheon near a noble fire。
The two ladies were there； and Mr。 Rivers introduced them as his
daughter and Mrs。 Larpent。 It was the most luxurious meal that
Norman had ever seen； the plate； the porcelain； and all the
appointments of the table so elegant； and the viands； all partaking
of the Christmas character； and of a recherche delicate description
quite new to him。 He had to serve as his father's right hand； and
was so anxious to put everything as Dr。 May liked it； and without
attracting notice； that he hardly saw or listened till Dr。 May began
to admire a fine Claude on the opposite wall； and embarked in a
picture discussion。 The doctor had much taste for art； and had made
the most of his opportunities of seeing paintings during his time of
study at Paris； and in a brief tour to Italy。 Since that time； few
good pictures had come in his way； and these were a great pleasure to
him； while Mr。 Rivers； a regular connoisseur； was delighted to meet
with one who could so well appreciate them。 Norman perceived how his
father was enjoying the conversation； and was much interested both by
the sight of the first fine paintings he had ever seen； and by the
talk about their merits； but the living things in the room had more
of his attention and observation； especially the young lady who sat
at the head of the table； a girl about his own age； she was on a very
small scale； and seemed to him like a fairy； in the airy lightness
and grace of her movements； and the blithe gladsomeness of her
gestures and countenance。 Form and features； though perfectly
healthful and brisk； had the peculiar finish and delicacy of a
miniature painting； and were enhanced by the sunny glance of her dark
soft smiling eyes。 Her hair was in black silky braids； and her
dress； with its gaiety of well…assorted colour； was positively
refreshing to his eye； so long accustomed to the deep mourning of his
sisters。 A little Italian greyhound； perfectly white； was at her
side； making infinite variations of the line of beauty and grace；
with its elegant outline； and S…like tail； as it raised its slender
nose in hopes of a fragment of bread which she from time to time
dispensed to it。
Luncheon over； Mr。 Rivers asked Dr。 May to step into his library； and
Norman guessed that they had been talking all this time； and had
never come to the medical opinion。 However； a good meal and a large
fire made a great difference in his toleration； and it was so new a
scene； that he had no objection to a prolonged waiting； especially
when Mrs。 Larpent said； in a very pleasant tone； 〃Will you come into
the drawing…room with us？〃
He felt somewhat as if he was walking in enchanted ground as he
followed her into the large room； the windows opening into the
conservatory； the whole air fragrant with flowers； the furniture and
ornaments so exquisite of their kind； and all such a fit scene for
the beautiful little damsel； who； with her slender dog by her side；
tripped on demurely； and rather shyly； but with a certain skipping
lightness in her step。 A very tall overgrown schoolboy did Norman
feel himself for one bashful moment； when he found himself alone with
the two ladies； but he was ready to be set at ease by Mrs。 Larpent's
good…natured manner； when she said something of Rollo's discourtesy。
He smiled； and answered that he had made great friends with the fine
old dog； and spoke of his running off to the dinner； at which little
Miss Rivers laughed； and looked delighted； and began to tell of
Rollo's perfections and intelligence。 Norman ventured to inquire the
name of the little Italian； and was told it was Nipen； because it had
once stolen a cake； much like