Letter of
The Letter of the Contract
作者：King, Basil, 1859-1928; Flagg, James Montgomery, 1877-1960 [Illustrator]
体例：题 章数：53
字数：173,236 来源：Project Gutenberg
版本与结构
- 来源版本
- 本站收录 1 个来源：Project Gutenberg（173,236 字）。
- 分章依据
- 按「题」标记切分为 53 题（Gutenberg 卷册标记）。
- 篇幅分布
- 平均每题 3,268 字。
- 原文溯源
cache/epub/20443/pg20443.txt（Project Gutenberg）
章节目录
共 53 题- THE LETTER OF THE CONTRACT
- ILLUSTRATED
- BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE INNER SHRINE"
- BASIL KING
- CONTENTS
- CHAP. PAGE
- ILLUSTRATIONS
- THE LETTER OF THE CONTRACT
- TRANSGRESSION
- He made an effort to be casual: "Well, I just thought I would."
- The woman stared, the tears wet on her cheeks. "Don't you--love him?"
- Edith was ready with her answer. It came firmly: "No."
- The woman dried her eyes. "I don't see how you can help it."
- The frightened look returned. "Oh, but he'd kill me!"
- He looked at her steadily. "Edith! What are you made of?"
- She shook her head. "Oh, I'm not asking for that."
- She was interrupted by a cry: "Hello, papa!"
- She shot him a reproachful glance. "Do _you_ say that?"
- II
- RESENTMENT
- She helped him out. "The divorce."
- He nodded and finished. "That they'd jib at. Even then--"
- She shook her head musingly. "No, I shouldn't."
- III
- REPROACH
- He was unable to keep the note of resentment out of his voice. "What?"
- He shook himself impatiently. "Ah, what kind of love is that?"
- He continued to mutter. "I said it to--to my wife."
- She repeated the words. "You won't forget your promise?"
- He raised his forlorn eyes. "Why did you want to tell me?"
- IV
- DANGER
- It was a safe subject. "How were the children when you left?"
- She smiled for the first time. "Oh, but _I_ think he looks like _you_."
- He allowed some minutes to pass before saying gently: "You're happy?"
- She answered hurriedly: "No, not at all."
- She took on an air of dignity. "That's something I can't talk about."
- She found voice to say: "It's my dressing-case. Mama gave it to me."
- She tried to catch his tone of casual reminiscence. "It's still broken."
- PENALTY
- She looked distressed. "He's a good man."
- She stirred her own coffee slowly. "N-no."
- She nodded. "Something like that."
- Her eyes became appealing. "Oh, what's the good of talking of it now?"
- She turned the query against himself: "Why did _you_?"
- But Chip was still on his guard. "Did I refer to a lady?"
- He looked puzzled. "More in what way?"
- She looked at him tearfully. "Well, _where_ is it?"
- She nodded. "Yes, more--oh, much more! And yet--"
- He shook his head sadly. "I don't know how to tell."
- She repeated it: "'The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.'"
- THE END
- End of Project Gutenberg's The Letter of the Contract, by Basil King