Keith-WessingtonIpulledup，looked，rubbedmyeyes，and，I
believemusthavesaidsomethingThenextthingIknewwasthatIwaslyingfacedownwardontheroadwithKittykneelingabovemeintears。
“Hasitgone，childI“IgaspedKittyonlyweptmorebitterly。
“Haswhatgone，Jackdear？whatdoesitallmean？Theremustbeamistakesomewhere，JackAhideousmistake。”Herlastwordsbroughtmetomyfeet-mad-ravingforthetimebeing。
“Yes，thereisamistakesomewhere。”Irepeated，“ahideousmistakeComeandlookatIt。”
IhaveanindistinctideathatIdraggedKittybythewristalongtheroaduptowhereItstood，andimploredherforpity’ssaketospeaktoIt；totellItthatwewerebetrothed；thatneitherDeathnorHellcouldbreakthetiebetweenus；andKittyonlyknowshowmuchmoretothesameeffectNowandagainIappealedpassionatelytotheTerrorinthe’rickshawtobearwitnesstoallIhadsaid，andtoreleasemefromatorturethatwaskillingmeAsItalkedIsupposeImusthavetoldKittyofmyoldrelationswithMrsWessington，forIsawherlistenintentlywithwhitefaceandblazingeyes。
“Thankyou，MrPansay。”shesaid，“that’squiteenoughSyceghoralao。”
Thesyces，impassiveasOrientalsalwaysare，hadcomeupwiththerecapturedhorses；andasKittysprangintohersaddleIcaughtholdofthebridle，entreatinghertohearmeoutandforgiveMyanswerwasthecutofherriding-whipacrossmyfacefrommouthtoeye，andawordortwooffarewellthatevennowIcannotwritedownSoIjudged，andjudgedrightly，thatKittyknewall；andI
staggeredbacktothesideofthe’rickshawMyfacewascutandbleeding，andtheblowoftheriding-whiphadraisedalividbluewhealonitIhadnoself-respectJustthen，Heatherlegh，whomusthavebeenfollowingKittyandmeatadistance，canteredup。
“Doctor。”Isaid，pointingtomyface，“here’sMissMannering’ssignaturetomyorderofdismissalandI’llthankyouforthatlakhassoonasconvenient。”
Heatherlegh’sface，eveninmyabjectmisery，movedmetolaughter。
“I’llstakemyprofessionalreputation“-
hebegan“Don’tbeafool。”Iwhispered“I’velostmylife’shappinessandyou’dbettertakemehome。”
AsIspokethe’rickshawwasgoneThenIlostallknowledgeofwhatwaspassingThecrestofJakkoseemedtoheaveandrolllikethecrestofacloudandfallinuponme。
Sevendayslateronthe7thofMay，thatistosayIwasawarethatIwaslyinginHeatherlegh’sroomasweakasalittlechild。
Heatherleghwaswatchingmeintentlyfrombehindthepapersonhiswriting-tableHisfirstwordswerenotencouraging；butIwastoofarspenttobemuchmovedbythem。
“Here’sMissKittyhassentbackyourlettersYoucorrespondedagooddeal，youyoungpeopleHere’sapacketthatlookslikearing，andacheerfulsortofanotefromManneringPapa，whichI’vetakenthelibertyofreadingandburningTheoldgentleman’snotpleasedwithyou。”
“AndKitty？”Iasked，dully。
“RathermoredrawnthanherfatherfromwhatshesaysBythesametokenyoumusthavebeenlettingoutanynumberofqueerreminiscencesjustbeforeImetyou’SaysthatamanwhowouldhavebehavedtoawomanasyoudidtoMrsWessingtonoughttokillhimselfoutofsheerpityforhiskindShe’sahot-headedlittlevirago，yourmash’WillhaveittoothatyouweresufferingfromDTwhenthatrowontheJakkoroadturnedup’Saysshe’lldiebeforesheeverspeakstoyouagain。”
Igroanedandturnedovertotheotherside。
“Nowyou’vegotyourchoice，myfriendThisengagementhastobebrokenoff；andtheManneringsdon’twanttobetoohardonyouWasitbrokenthroughDTorepilepticfits？SorryIcan’tofferyouabetterexchangeunlessyou’dpreferhereditaryinsanity。
SaythewordandI’lltell’emit~sfitsAllSimlaknowsaboutthatsceneontheLadies’MileCome！I’llgiveyoufiveminutestothinkoverit。”
DuringthosefiveminutesIbelievethatIexploredthoroughlythelowestcirclesoftheInfernowhichitispermittedmantotreadonearthAndatthesametimeImyselfwaswatchingmyselffalteringthroughthedarklabyrinthsofdoubt，misery，andutterdespairI
wondered，asHeatherleghinhischairmighthavewondered，whichdreadfulalternativeIshouldadoptPresentlyIheardmyselfansweringinavoicethatIhardlyrecognized，-“They’reconfoundedlyparticularaboutmoralityinthesepartsGive’emfits，Heatherlegh，andmylov...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：