United States or Malawi ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed and ran to her father. "It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to rally himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. Let me walk a while in the garden and I will soon be better."
De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was too wise to display anxiety.
Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search of poor De Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense number of narrow streets in the quarter known as the Old Town and at last halt at the door of an humble cobbler. This is the place. Pass through the shop, mount the staircase; another story yet; open that door, and here we are.
Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied, "What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes for nothing. He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that you are poor! I hope, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an opinion of my sense to imagine I have the least faith in such a story?" A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame.
In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of the world, on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he listened, with equal good manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now and then adroitly threw in such hints as allowed him to speak learnedly upon commercial matters.
During ten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid two thousand francs interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time the transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, Monsieur Vlierbeck, before the expiration of " "Only four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed tone; "only four months, and then oh, God!"
And then, turning to the lackey, "John," said he, "bring a bottle of Château-margaux: you will find it in the third cellar on the left-hand side." But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been addressed in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and mastering it rapidly, "Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear.
I ought probably to have asked your consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my soul and wore not displeased with my motives." Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but De Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other indication of his pleasure.
As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck called his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving the dishes with which she was not familiar.
They pay me good wages, and I think, from what they say, that in time there will be something better in store for me. But as yet that is only a hope, only a hope." De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his daughter, as he looked at her anxiously. "Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he. Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work.
Word Of The Day