The Adventures of Harry Richmond — CompleteMeredith, George
General
The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete
Meredith, George
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction
My father took her shoulder between finger and thumb, and slightly
shook her to each ejaculation of his emphatic 'No! no! no! no! What! a
young maiden nurse to a convalescent young gentleman! Why, goodness
gracious me! Eh?'
She looked at me softly, and I said I wished her to come.
My father appealed to the sagacity of the matron. So jealous was he of
a suggested partner in his task that he had refused my earnest requests
to have Mr. Peterborough to share the hours of watching by my side. The
visits of college friends and acquaintances were cut very short, he
soon reduced them to talk in a hush with thumbs and nods and eyebrows;
and if it had not been so annoying to me, I could have laughed at his
method of accustoming the regular visitors to make ready, immediately
after greeting, for his affectionate dismissal of them. Lieschen went
away with the mute blessing of his finger on one of her modest dimples;
but, to his amazement, she returned in the evening. He gave her a
lecture, to which she listened attentively, and came again in the
morning. He was petrified. 'Idiots, insects, women, and the salt sea
ocean!' said he, to indicate a list of the untameables, without
distressing the one present, and, acknowledging himself beaten, he
ruefully accepted his holiday.
The girl was like sweet Spring in my room. She spoke of Sarkeld
familiarly. She was born in that neighbourhood, she informed me, and
had been educated by a dear great lady. Her smile of pleasure on
entering the room one morning, and seeing me dressed and sitting in a
grand-fatherly chair by the breezy window, was like a salutation of
returning health. My father made another stand against the usurper of
his privileges; he refused to go out.
'Then must I go,' said Lieschen, 'for two are not allowed here.'
'No! don't leave me,' I begged of her, and stretched out my hands for
hers, while she gazed sadly from the doorway. He suspected some
foolishness or he was actually jealous. 'Hum-oh!' He went forth with a
murmured groan.
She deceived me by taking her seat in perfect repose.
After smoothing her apron, 'Now I must go,' she said.
'What! to leave me here alone?'
She looked at the clock, and leaned out of the window.
'Not alone; oh, not alone!' the girl exclaimed. 'And please, please do
not mention me—presently. Hark! do you hear wheels? Your heart must not
beat. Now farewell. You will not be alone: at least, so I think. See
what I wear, dear Mr. Patient!' She drew from her bosom, attached to a
piece of blue ribbon, the half of an English shilling, kissed it, and
blew a soft farewell to me:
She had not been long gone when the Princess Ottilia stood in her
place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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