\"Papa . . . do not say no! You must not! Twould be monstrous cruel of you,\" cried Kathleen Newbury. She was fourteen and at such an age, consents and de- nials take on a life and death quality. Her father s gentle smile soothed her troubled counte- nance and his white soft hands took her shoulders. \"Kath- leen, dearest, we have already been over the matter. I thought you understood.\" \"No. I do not understand!\" She was on the verge of tears. He put a hand through his graying soft brown locks and turned away from her. \"My dear child, you must consider the impracticalities of you accompanying me at such a time.\" \"But, Papa, I do think of practicalities. I do! It would be far more wise to have me with you, where you could keep a watchful eye upon me than to leave me to my own devices here!\" He laughed and glanced back at her earnest little face. \"Nell will guard you a sight better than I.\" She pouted, and her gray eyes pleaded. \"Papa, please take me to England with you. Please, tis my home as well as yours and I would be so good.\" \"No, Kate.\" His voice was grave and unyielding. \"You . . . you want to leave me here,\" she said, her voice catching in her throat. She was of the age where change is most be~vildedng, and now that her one re- maining parent was about to depart for England some three thousand miles away, Kate was miserable! \"Want to leave you?\" repeated Sir Horace, much struck by so unthinkable a notion. \"My sweet child~ you have been, will always be all the love, all the good that has
|
商品评论(0条)