Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
It was, of course, impossible to decide whether the doctor would be able to relieve that doubt. I could only venture to suggest that the question might be guardedly put, in making the customary inquiries after the health of Miss Dunross. In those days of slow communication, I had to wait, not for days, but for weeks, before I could expect to receive Sir James's answer.
In common justice toward Miss Dunross I ought surely not to accept the conviction of her deformity on no better evidence than the evidence of a dream? Reasonable as it undoubtedly was, this view left certain doubts still lingering in my mind. The child's instinct soon discovered that her mother and I were playfellows who felt no genuine enjoyment of the game.
"Did Miss Dunross always keep her veil drawn in your presence, when there happened to be light in the room?" "Always." "She never even let you catch a momentary glance at her face?" "Never." "And the only reason she gave you was that the light caused her a painful sensation if it fell on her uncovered skin?" "You say that, mother, as if you doubt whether Miss Dunross told me the truth."
Acting heedlessly under my first grateful impulse, I lifted her hand to my lips before I released it. She started trembled and suddenly and silently passed out of the room. WHAT emotion had I thoughtlessly aroused in Miss Dunross? Had I offended or distressed her? Or had I, without meaning it, forced on her inner knowledge some deeply seated feeling which she had thus far resolutely ignored?
Once more, I had missed the discovery of the truth, and missed it by a hair-breadth! "I infinitely prefer your portrait of Mary," said Miss Dunross, "to your portrait of Mrs. Van Brandt. Mary realizes my idea of what a really attractive woman ought to be. I can't tell you how interested I am in Mary! I want to know more about her.
She dismissed her make-believe guests without ceremony, and went back with her doll to the favorite play-ground on which I had met her the landing outside the door. No persuasion on her mother's part or on mine succeeded in luring her back to us. We were left together, to face each other as best we might with the forbidden subject of Miss Dunross between us.
Concealing from her the very existence of Miss Dunross, I left her to suppose that the master of the house was the one person whom I had found to receive me during my sojourn under Mr. Dunross's roof. "That is strange!" she exclaimed, after she had heard me attentively to the end. "What is strange?" I asked. She hesitated, searching my face earnestly with her large grave eyes.
"If you have any regard for my mistress," she said sternly, "don't make her write to you again." She looked at me with a last lowering frown, and left the room. It is needless to say that the faithful servant's words only increased my anxiety to see Miss Dunross once more before we parted perhaps forever.
What discoveries has he made? whose is the house in which we are sheltered; and how is it that no member of the family appears to welcome us? My friend relates his discoveries. The guide listens as attentively to the second-hand narrative as if it were quite new to him. The house that shelters us belongs to a gentleman of ancient Northern lineage, whose name is Dunross.
The guide looks at me and my friend as if he had been honored with the highest distinction that an earthly being can receive. The Master's hand had touched him kindly! In a moment more, the gardener-groom appears at the door to answer the bell. "You will move the medicine-chest into this room, Peter," says Mr. Dunross.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking