登陆注册
670800000026

第26章 The Love Letter (1)

·Melissa Nevels·

I was always a little in awe of great-aunt Stephina Roos. Indeed,as children we were all frankly terrified of her. The fact that she did not live with the family,preferring her tiny cottage and solitude to the comfortable but rather noisy household where we were brought up—added to the respectful fear in which she was held.

We used to take it in turn to carry small delicacies which my mother had made down from the big house to the little cottage where Aunt Stephia and an old colored maid spent their days. Old Tnate Sanna would open the door to the rather frightened little messenger and would usher him or her into the dark voor-kamer,where the shutters were always closed to keep out the heat and the flies. There we would wait,in trembling but not altogether unpleasant.

She was a tiny little woman to inspire so much veneration. She was always dressed in black,and her dark clothes melted into the shadows of the voor-kamer and made her look smaller than ever. But you felt,the moment she entered,that something vital and strong and somehow indestructible had come in with her,although she moved slowly,and her voice was sweet and soft.

She never embraced us. She would greet us and take out hot little hands in her own beautiful cool one,with blue veins standing out on the back of it,as though the white skin were almost too delicate to contain them.

Tnate Sanna would bring in dishes of sweet,sweet,sticky candy,or a great bowl of grapes or peaches,and great-aunt Stephina would converse gravely about happenings on the farm,and,more rarely,of the outer world.

When we had finished our sweetmeats or fruit she would accompany us to the stoep,bidding us thank our mother for her gift and sending quaint,old-fashioned messages to her and father. Then she would turn and enter the house,closing the door behind,so that it became once more a place of mystery.

As I grew older I found,rather to my surprise,that I had become genuinely fond of my aloof old great-aunt. But to this day I do not know what strange impulse made me take George to see her and to tell her,before I had confided in another living soul,of our engagement. To my astonishment,she was delighted.

“An Englishman” she exclaimed.“ But that is splendid,splendid. And you,”she turned to George” you are making your home in this country? You do not intend to return to England just yet?

She seemed relieved when she heard that George had bought a farm near our own farm and intended to settle in South Africa. She became quite animated,and chattered away to him.

After that I would often slip away to the little cottage by the mealie Lands. Once she was somewhat disappointed on hearing that we had decided to wait for two years before getting married,but when she learned that my father and mother were both pleased with the match she seemed reassured.

Still,she often appeared anxious ahout my love affair,and would ask questions that seemed to me strange,almost as though she feared that something would happen to destroy my romance. But I was quite unprepared for her outburst when I mentioned that George thought of paying a lightning visit to England before we were married.“ He must not do it’”she cried.“Ina,you must not let him go. Promise me you will prevent him.”she was trembling all over. I did what I could to console her,but she looked so tired and pale that I persuaded her to go to her room and rest,promising to return the next day.

When I arrived I found her sitting on the step. She looked lonely and pathetic,and for the first time I wondered why no man had ever taken her and looked after her and loved her. Mother had told me that great-aunt Stephina had been lovely as a young girl,and although no trace of that beauty remained,except perhaps in her brown eyes,yet she looked so small and appealing that any man,one felt,would have wanted to protect her. She paused,as though she did not quite know how to begin. Then she seemed to give herself,mentally,a litile shake.“ You must have wondered”,she said,“why I was so upset at the thought of young George’s going to England without you. I am an old woman,and perhaps I have the silly fancies of the old,but I should like to tell you my own love story,and then you can decide whether it is wise for your man to leave you before you are married.”

同类推荐
  • 灵魂也有一席之地(英文爱藏双语系列)

    灵魂也有一席之地(英文爱藏双语系列)

    拥有信心,所有的事情才有可能成功。缺乏信心,即便是最微小的挑战,都会显得无法逾越,难以克服。本书收录的百则经典哲理美文,其内容涉及人生的方方面面,它们有的睿智凝练,让心灵为之震撼;有的灵气十足,宛如一线罅隙中奔涌而出的清泉,悄然渗入心田。
  • 流行文化篇(老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题)

    流行文化篇(老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题)

    不流行的话不说,不地道的英语不讲!遇到老外开口就“哑火”?不知道从什么话题开始交流?没有关系,本书帮你告别难堪!阅读本书,让你了解当下最流行的欧美文化主题,使你能够轻松开始与老外的交流。本书精选全世界最热议的101个流行文化主题,内容覆盖音乐文化、影视文化、商业文化、体育文化、民族文化等多方面。每个话题都包括背景介绍、常用句子、重点词汇以及一段情景对话。对话涵盖生活的方方面面,有校园生活、日常生活和社会热点问题等。语言通俗易懂,话题生动而不失深刻。
  • 那些年,那些诗(每天读一点英文)

    那些年,那些诗(每天读一点英文)

    《每天读一点英文:那些年,那些诗(诗歌卷)(英汉对照)》精选《乡愁》、《面朝大海,春暖花开》、《西风颂》、《一见钟情》等中外名诗,让你在诵读名句中,感受隽永的情谊!
  • 英文爱藏:爱只有0.01的距离

    英文爱藏:爱只有0.01的距离

    为中英双 语对照版,《爱只有0.01的距离》既是英语学习爱好者、文学爱好者的必 备读物,也是忙碌现代人的一片憩息心灵的家园,让读者在欣赏原法原味 和凝练生动的英文时,还能多角度、深层次地品读语言特色与艺术之美, 再配合文章后附加的多功能、全方位巩固题型,更有助于……
  • 那些无法拒绝的名篇

    那些无法拒绝的名篇

    《每天读一点英文》是一套与美国人同步阅读的中英双语丛书,该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,内文篇目取自美国最经典、最权威、最流行的读本,适于诵读;“实战提升”部分,包括导读、单词注解、诵读名句,学习英语的同时提升演讲能力。
热门推荐
  • 纸孔雀

    纸孔雀

    吴文君,女,浙江海宁人,浙江省作家协会会员,上海首届作家研究生班学员,鲁迅文学院第十七届中青年作家高研班学员,作品发表在《北京文学》、《大家》、《收获》、《上海文学》、《中国作家》、《钟山》、《山花》等多家文学期刊。
  • 红楼之痴颦泪

    红楼之痴颦泪

    她质本洁来还洁去,一片冰心,无处惹尘埃,虽然风风雨雨早已瘦了朱颜,冷月的光华中她还可以坦然,还可以勇敢面对一世悲欢。她唯独无法面对的是缘尽的遗憾。如果上天不让她那么早走,她是否甘愿一次次泪洗红妆,甘愿让青丝变白发,只为了守住今生难忘的爱,相许的心,只为了纷乱的思绪中那太多的放不下。叹人间,琴断指伤,再燃尽那旧诗行,空留月影倚靠着一面孤单的墙。将来,谁还会走进一个寂静的黄昏,轻抚着竹上的斑斑泪痕,再忆起当年这葬花的凄惘?片段一:“玉儿,你不该威胁我的,尤其不该用性命来威胁,你明明知道我把你看的比一切都重。”“给我屠城,老人,小孩,一个都不放过,只要她没有点头,不许停止。”片段二:满朝文武百官立在城头,那里面有他的叔伯兄弟,有出生入追随他的生死弟兄,只要他不点头,他们一个个拿起刀,挥向自己的脖子,没有丝毫的犹豫,鲜血漫过自己的双脚。许久,“朕同意,立林家第三十二代后人林黛玉为帝王师……”还没说完,他口吐鲜血,晕倒在地。片段三:黑云压城,雷电交加,他抱着她跪倒在地上。“你们只管让她死,我水溶对天发誓,只要她离开我半步,从此三界之内再无宁日。”为以后的情节写了一些片段,做一下预告。请大家多多支持啊
  • 营养丰富的精品月子餐

    营养丰富的精品月子餐

    现在人们的生活水平已经有了质的提高,早已不再是从前那种因为经济状况不好或食物来源不充足而导致营养不良的时代了。在优越的社会物质环境中,随之而来的却是在营养知识没有完全普及的背景下,产生的诸多不懂营养、乱补营养和营养过剩的问题。《营养丰富的精品月子餐》介绍营养丰富的精品月子餐,运用科学的营养理论,结合精妙的烹饪加工,做出色、香、味、养俱全的美味佳肴。
  • 嫡女棣王妃

    嫡女棣王妃

    “姨娘,夫人似乎断气了~”“哼!这么一碗药都下去了,难道她还能活着不成?”“那这······”一个年纪稍长的人朝着这位称作姨娘的人示意了一下自己手中的婴儿,似乎有些犹豫,“这好歹是个男孩,现在夫人已经死了,如果姨娘把他占为己有,然后得了这府中的中馈······”“嬷嬷?!”女子也不等她的话说完,就打断了她,“你记住了,我恨死了这个女人,她的儿子,只能随着她去,我就是以后自己生不出儿子,抱养别人的,也不会要她的。把他给我扔马桶里面溺了,对外就说一出生就死了!”猩红的嘴唇,吐出来的话却是格外的渗人。嬷嬷还想说什么,动了动嘴,却是一句话也没有说,转身朝着后面放着马桶的地方走去。却是没有发现旁边地上一个穿着有些破旧的衣服的小女孩此刻正瞪大了眼睛看着她们两。这是什么情况?自己不是被炸死了吗?怎么会······于此同时,脑中不断有记忆闪现出来,她们是自己的母亲和刚出生的弟弟啊?!不行,先救人。转头看见旁边谁绣花留下的针线跟剪刀,想到自己前世的身手,拿起一根绣花针就朝着那个嬷嬷飞了过去,却在半路上掉落下来,暗骂一声,这人是什么破身体。却引得那两个人听见动静看了过来。女人阴狠的盯着她,“你居然没有死?”微微眯起眼睛,自己的前身也是被她们弄死的了,看样子她们谁也不会放过,抓起旁边的剪刀就冲了过去。随着几声惨叫声,从此以后,府中府外都传遍了她的“美名”——凤家大小姐心肠歹毒,刺伤了府中无数的人,宛如一个疯子。
  • 无敌大小姐

    无敌大小姐

    当现代阴狠毒辣,手段极多的火家大小姐火无情,穿越到一个好色如命,花痴草包大小姐身上,会发生怎样的化学反应?火无情一醒过来就发现,自己竟然在众目睽睽之下上演脱衣秀。周围还有一群围观者。这一发现,让她极为不爽。刚刚穿好衣服,便看到一个声称是自家老头的老不死气势汹汹的跑来问罪。刚上来,就要打她。这还得了?她火无情从生自死,都是王者。敢动她的人,都在和阎王喝茶。于是,她一怒之下,打了老爹。众人皆道:火家小姐阴狠毒辣,竟然连老爹都不放在眼里。就这样,她的罪名又多了一条。蛇蝎美人。穿越后,火无情的麻烦不断。第一天,打了爹。第二天,毁了姐姐的容。第三天,骂了二娘。第四天,当众轻薄了天下第一公子。第五天,火家贴出招亲启事:但凡愿意娶火家大小姐者,皆可去火府报名。来者不限。不怕死,不想活的,欢迎前来。警示:但凡来此,生死皆与火家无关。若有残病者火家一律不负法律责任。本以为无人敢到,岂料是桃花朵朵。美男个个很妖娆一号美人:火无炎。火家大少爷。为人不清楚,手段不清楚。容貌不清楚。唯一清楚的是,他有钱。有多多的钱。火无情语录:钱是好东西。娶了。(此美男,由美瞳掩饰不了你眼神的空洞领养。)火老爷一气之下,昏了过去。家门不幸,家门不幸啊。二号美人:竹清月。江湖人称天上神仙,地上无月。大国师一枚。美得惊天动地。火无情语录:美人好,尤其是自带嫁妆又会预测未来的美人,娶了。(此美男,由东de琳琳领养)三号美人:轩辕子玉。当朝七皇子,游历四国。一张可爱无敌的脸。单纯至极。火无情语录:可爱的孩子好,可爱又乖巧的孩子更好。可爱乖巧又不用给钱的孩子,娶了。(此美男,由刘千绮领养)皇帝听闻,两眼一抹黑。他的儿啊。怎么就这么不争气呢。四号美人:天下第一美男。性格不详,籍贯不详。火无情语录:谜一样的美人,她喜欢。每天都有新鲜感。娶了。(此美男,由告别的爱情li领养。)五号美人:天下第一名伶。火无情语录:解风情的美男,如果没钱花把他卖了都不用调教。娶了。(此美男由伊眸领养。)六号美男:解忧楼楼主。相貌不详,身世不详。爱好杀人。火无情语录:凶恶的美人,她喜欢。娶了。(此美男由陈铭铭领养)七号美男:琴圣。貌如谪仙,琴音杀人。冷清眸子中,百转千回,说尽风流。(此美男由伊眸领养)夜杀:天下第一杀手。(此美男由静寂之夜领养)
  • 速效说服术

    速效说服术

    说服高手绝不公开的心理秘笈,让人无法说NO的顶级攻心话术!人生就是一连串的说服,说话未必要口沫横飞,无需滔滔不绝,只要掌握对方的心理,一针见血便有办法说服他人,如何看时机说话?如何做好说话的心理建设?你知道吗?史上最强的说服术,尽在本书。
  • 尸心不改

    尸心不改

    控尸门的欢乐二缺弟子江篱炼了一具美得人神共愤引得天雷阵阵的男尸,以为好日子开始了,结果没想到门派惨遭灭门。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 妃常迷人:御赐王妃

    妃常迷人:御赐王妃

    夏苏苏,是将军府嫡女,京城人皆知的草包,丑女。被庶妹害死。眼眸再次睁开,她,是21世纪的百变杀手夏苏苏。身中剧毒红凌,解毒途中却意外得到逆天法宝,她,随身空间!这一世,绝色是她,腹黑是她,淡然是她。当绝色倾城的她回眸一笑,拨动了多少人的心弦!他,天昱国轩王,丰神俊朗,身份地位之尊贵,遇到她,一眼,从此便沦陷了一生!
  • 公关办事有心计

    公关办事有心计

    为了适应社会的发展变化和满足广大读者的需求,我们参考了众多有关公关办事的专业书籍,力求做到“取其精华,去其糟粕”,然后通过简单、客观的表现方式将各种抽象的内容具 体化,真心希望给读者提供尽可能多的实用性内容,为读者留下更为深刻的印象。本书全方位地介绍了公关办事的方法与技巧,比如:注重形象,别让仪表丢分;好事多磨,心急难成大事;因势利导,找准方法者赢;因人而异,根据性格沟通;打造关系,发挥人脉作用;交际应酬,恰到好处最佳;选择环境,把握办事时机;远离禁忌,坚守办事原则。读者心中的疑惑,几乎都能够在本书中找到答案。
  • 冰女宠夫(单身公害)

    冰女宠夫(单身公害)

    (本书为五折特价书)《冰女宠夫》穿越——一个女尊社会的男子穿越到了现代!现代——冰冷中散发着神秘气息的杀手救了从天而降的男子!然后一场名为爱情的盛宴就那么无声无息的开始了……她冰冷而神秘,喜欢刺激又毫无畏惧。冰冷的外表下是火一般炙热的心,神秘的气息里有着难以掩盖的性感。她不是冷酷无情的人,她只是有点冷,有点冰,有点像自动降温机。她的正业是法官,全国最年轻的法官,副业是杀手,杀手排行榜第一位的杀手。她是孟氏家族的继承人,父亲和母亲是政界的实权人物,有着呼风唤雨的能力,她是天之娇女。她占有欲强,属于自己的东西就绝对不会让别人染指,尤其是男人,这也是天蝎座的共性。………………………………………………………………………………《爆女驯夫》她是炙热的火,向往自由,无所顾忌。她是黑道的大姐大,铁拳无敌,枪扫四方。她最讨厌的就是麻烦,所以,她活的单纯而率直。只不过,有人说她很暴力,有人说她很恐怖,有人说,敢娶她的男人绝对是值得尊敬的勇士!不过,被她看上的男人也绝对是值得同情的英雄,这不,对面走过来的那个可爱的小男孩就是刚刚所说的“英雄”了。“你,你这是强……强……暴!”“你昨天不是也很享受的吗?”“不……不是的,你欺负我,你还揍我……我……”“哼,我就强要了你,怎么了,有本事你揍我啊,不然的话,就闭嘴,你一个大男人哭什么哭啊,想找揍是不是?”“我……我……你……呜!”………………………………………………《霸草女王爷》(女尊天下)典型女尊,古代,架空,一女N男。《邪恶女皇之男宠》典型女尊,一女N男,穿越,已完成。《霸爱》(单身公害)都市言情,女强,单身公害系列之狮子座,已完成。《毒爱纯男》(单身公害)都市言情,女强,纯爱,单身公害系列之双子座,已完成。《龙女傲情》架空现代,一女N男,非典型女尊,已完成。耽美极致系列文《魅夜帝国》(穿越,宫廷,父子,主奴,NP)(已完成)《帝王受》(现代,年上帝王受,一见钟情)