|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 30
"He asked if Aunt Rachel was in town," answered the child, putting out
his hand for the cup.
Madeleine did not exactly see what the others found so amusing, but she
joined in the laugh, because little Freddy was her darling.
"You are a dangerous woman," said George Delphin, as he took his leave;
"I must go and warn my friend Worse."
"Yes, you dare!" cried Fanny, holding up her taper finger threateningly
at him.
There was something which Madeleine could not exactly define, that she
did not quite like, about Fanny. She noticed it most when they were in
the society of men, but even when they were alone the same unpleasant
manner would sometimes appear. She was not accustomed to all these
questions, innuendoes, and allusions, which always seemed to take the
same direction; but at last she became so fascinated by her lively and
talkative friend, that she began to lose some of her self-possession,
and a feeling of anxiety which she could not comprehend, came over her
lest some fate was in store for her which she was unable to avert.
Fanny stood by the window, looking at Delphin as he left the house. He
was not such a little man, after all! He had a nice figure, and his
clothes fitted as if he had been melted into them. There was an air of
distinction about his black moustache and curly hair. He was, in fact, a
man that you would look twice at anywhere. It was wonderful she had
never remarked it before!
Fanny turned to Madeleine, who was clearing the table, and observed her
narrowly.
CHAPTER VIII.
"I notice, Mr. Johnsen," said Rachel, "that in almost all the
conversations we have had on serious subjects, we seem to come to some
point or another which all at once gives rise to a whole army of doubts
and questions in us both; or perhaps, to speak more correctly, in you
rather than in myself."
"The reason is that your extraordinary acuteness leads the conversation
into certain lines of thought," answered the inspector.
Rachel paused for a moment, and looked at him. At every turn of their
interesting acquaintance she had been on her guard against any word
which had the slightest resemblance to a compliment. But when she saw
before her the earnest and somewhat plain features of her friend, she
felt that her caution was unnecessary, and she answered, "It does not
require any extraordinary acuteness to perceive that when two people
make an attempt in common to thoroughly understand any subject, they are
more likely to be successful than if each were to work for himself. But
what appears to me most remarkable is really this, that you did not long
ago work out these problems for yourself."
"You have opened my eyes to many things which hitherto--"
"But hear what I have to say," broke in Rachel, with some impatience.
"We have been going backwards and forwards here certainly for half an
hour, talking about the many difficulties which must beset a clergyman,
who is at the same time the servant of both God and the State, and
continually, or at least several times, you have told me that I was
right, or that you had not thought of such and such things before, or
something of that sort." Rachel stopped in the broad path between the
hedges in front of the house, where they were walking, and, looking him
full in the face, said, "How is it possible, Mr. Johnsen, that you who
have studied theology, and intend in the course of time to take priest's
orders, have not already long ago made the subject clear to yourself,
and taken your line accordingly?"
Johnsen's eyes fell before her clear and penetrating glance as he
answered, "I have been quite enough troubled by doubts and anxieties,
which are things none of us can escape; but if it now appears to
you--and I must confess that it is the fact--that I have neglected
certain points, I must plead that this negligence has been caused by my
peculiar education. I come from a poor home, a very poor home"--he
seemed to regain his confidence as he spoke--"and I have raised myself,
without any special abilities, by sheer hard work. My time has,
therefore, been fully occupied during my studies, and, as far as my
opinion goes, a person who is working in real earnest has but little
time for speculation. Besides, there is something about the subject
itself, and about the men with whom one is brought into
contact--something, what shall I call it?--something soothing,
reassuring, which has the effect of making the doubts which from time to
time appear bring, as it were, their own solution with them. But life's
experience, and even more, my aquaintance with you, Miss Garman, has
caused me to waver on many points."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|