Aurora Floyd. Volume 2

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Braddon Mary Elizabeth. Aurora Floyd. Volume 2

CHAPTER I "LOVE TOOK UP THE GLASS OF TIME, AND TURNED IT IN HIS GLOWING HANDS."

CHAPTER II. MR. PASTERN'S LETTER

CHAPTER III. MR. JAMES CONYERS

CHAPTER IV. THE TRAINER'S MESSENGER

CHAPTER V. OUT IN THE RAIN

CHAPTER VI. MONEY MATTERS

CHAPTER VII. CAPTAIN PRODDER

CHAPTER VIII "HE ONLY SAID, I AM A-WEARY."

CHAPTER IX. STILL CONSTANT

CHAPTER X. ON THE THRESHOLD OF DARKER MISERIES

CHAPTER XI. CAPTAIN PRODDER CARRIES BAD NEWS TO HISNIECE'S HOUSE

CHAPTER XII. THE DEED THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN THE WOOD

Отрывок из книги

Mr. John Mellish reserved to himself one room upon the ground-floor of his house: a cheerful, airy apartment, with French windows opening upon the lawn; windows that were sheltered from the sun by a verandah overhung with jessamine and roses. It was altogether a pleasant room for the summer season, the floor being covered with an India matting instead of a carpet, and many of the chairs being made of light basket-work. Over the chimney-piece hung a portrait of John's father, and opposite to this work of art there was the likeness of the deceased gentleman's favourite hunter, surmounted by a pair of brightly polished spurs, the glistening rowels of which had often pierced the sides of that faithful steed. In this chamber Mr. Mellish kept his whips, canes, foils, single-sticks, boxing-gloves, spurs, guns, pistols, powder and shot flasks, fishing-tackle, boots, and tops; and many happy mornings were spent by the master of Mellish Park in the pleasing occupation of polishing, repairing, inspecting, and otherwise setting in order, these possessions. He had as many pairs of hunting-boots as would have supplied half Leicestershire – with tops to match. He had whips enough for all the Melton Hunt. Surrounded by these treasures, as it were in a temple sacred to the deities of the race-course and the hunting-field, Mr. John Mellish used to hold solemn audiences with his trainer and his head-groom upon the business of the stable.

It was Aurora's custom to peep into this chamber perpetually, very much to the delight and distraction of her adoring husband, who found the black eyes of his divinity a terrible hindrance to business; except, indeed, when he could induce Mrs. Mellish to join in the discussion upon hand, and lend the assistance of her powerful intellect to the little conclave. I believe that John thought she could have handicapped the horses for the Chester Cup as well as Mr. Topham himself. She was such a brilliant creature, that every little smattering of knowledge she possessed appeared to such good account as to make her seem an adept in any subject of which she spoke; and the simple Yorkshireman believed in her as the wisest as well as the noblest and fairest of women.

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"I had it five minutes before you came in, Aurora," he said, "and now there's not a sign of it – Oh, here it is!"

Mr. Mellish unfolded the letter, and, smoothing it out upon the table before him, cleared his throat preparatory to reading the epistle. Aurora still leaned against the window-frame, half in and half out of the room, singing a snatch of a popular song, and trying to gather an obstinate half-blown rose which grew provokingly out of reach.

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