Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy
page 41 of 586 (06%)
page 41 of 586 (06%)
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architect of his sister as freely as to Cytherea of the young
architect. A conversation began, which was none the less interesting to the parties engaged because it consisted only of the most trivial and commonplace remarks. Then the band of harps and violins struck up a lively melody, and the deck was cleared for dancing; the sun dipping beneath the horizon during the proceeding, and the moon showing herself at their stern. The sea was so calm, that the soft hiss produced by the bursting of the innumerable bubbles of foam behind the paddles could be distinctly heard. The passengers who did not dance, including Cytherea and Springrove, lapsed into silence, leaning against the paddle-boxes, or standing aloof--noticing the trembling of the deck to the steps of the dance--watching the waves from the paddles as they slid thinly and easily under each other's edges. Night had quite closed in by the time they reached Budmouth harbour, sparkling with its white, red, and green lights in opposition to the shimmering path of the moon's reflection on the other side, which reached away to the horizon till the flecked ripples reduced themselves to sparkles as fine as gold dust. 'I will walk to the station and find out the exact time the train arrives,' said Springrove, rather eagerly, when they had landed. She thanked him much. 'Perhaps we might walk together,' he suggested hesitatingly. She looked as if she did not quite know, and he settled the question by |
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