the vision spendid(美景)-第61章
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surrender beyond words。
〃But your fatheryour people!〃
〃'Where thou lodgest; I will lodge: thy people shall be my people。〃'
She murmured it with a broken little laugh that was a sob。
Even then he did not take her in his arms。 The habit of reverence for
her was of many years' growth and not to be broken in an instant。
〃You are sure; dearquite sure?〃
〃I've been sure ever since the day of our first talk on the
_Bellingham。_〃
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THE VISION SPLENDID
Still he fought the joy that flooded him。 〃I must tell you the truth so
that you won't idealize me 。 。 。 and the situation。 I am enlisted in this fight
for life。 Where it will lead me I don't know。 But I must follow the road I
see。 You will lose your friends。 They will think me a crank; an enemy to
society; and they will think you demented。 But even for you I can't turn
back。〃
A tender glow was in her deep eyes。 〃If I did not know that do you
think I would marry you?〃
〃But you've always had the best things。 You've never known what it is
to be poor。〃
〃No; I've never had the best things; never till I knew you; dear。 I've
starved for them and did not know how to escape the prison I was in。 Then
you came 。 。 。 and you showed me。 The world is at my feet now。 Not the
world you meant; of idleness and luxury and ennui 。 。 。 but that better one
of the spirit where you and I shall walk together as comrades of all who
work and laugh and weep。〃
〃If I could be sure!〃
〃Of me; Jeff?〃
〃That I can make you happy。 After all it's a chance。〃
〃We all live on a chance。 I'll take mine beside the man I love。 There is
one way under heaven by which men may be saved。 I'm going to walk that
way with you; dear。〃
Jeff threw away the reins of a worldly wise prudence。
〃For ever and ever; Alice;〃 he cried softly; shaken to his soul。
As their lips met the lark throbbed a betrothal song。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
They went slowly through the wet ferns; hand in hand。 It was
amazingly true that he had won her; but Jeff could scarce believe the
miracle。 More than once he recurred to it。
〃You saw what no other young woman of your set in Verden did; the
human in me through my vagabondage。 But why? There's nothing in my
appearance to attract。〃
〃Valiant in velvet; light in ragged luck;〃 she laughed。 〃And I won't
have you questioning my taste; sir。 I've always thought you very good…
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looking; if you must have it。〃
〃If you're as far gone as that!〃 His low laughter rang out to meet hers;
for no reason except the best of reasonsthat they walked alone with love
through a world wonderful。
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