Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
ThenLordSt.Simoncameto‘Frisco,andwecametoLondon,andamarriagewasarranged,andpawasverypleased,butIfeltallthetimethatnomanonthisearthwouldevertaketheplaceinmyheartthathadbeengiventomypoorFrank.
"Still,ifIhadmarriedLordSt.Simon,ofcourseI’dhavedonemydutybyhim. Wecan’tcommandourlove,butwecanouractions. Iwenttothealtarwithhimwiththeintentiontomakehimjustasgoodawifeasitwasinmetobe. ButyoumayimaginewhatIfeltwhen,justasIcametothealtarrails,IglancedbackandsawFrankstandingandlookingatmeoutofthefirstpew. Ithoughtitwashisghostatfirst;butwhenIlookedagaintherehewasstill,withakindofquestioninhiseyes,asiftoaskmewhetherIweregladorsorrytoseehim. IwonderIdidn’tdrop. Iknowthateverythingwasturninground,andthewordsoftheclergymanwerejustlikethebuzzofabeeinmyear. Ididn’tknowwhattodo. ShouldIstoptheserviceandmakeasceneinthechurch? Iglancedathimagain,andheseemedtoknowwhatIwasthinking,forheraisedhisfingertohislipstotellmetobestill. ThenIsawhimscribbleonapieceofpaper,andIknewthathewaswritingmeanote. AsIpassedhispewonthewayoutIdroppedmybouquetovertohim,andheslippedthenoteintomyhandwhenhereturnedmetheflowers. Itwasonlyalineaskingmetojoinhimwhenhemadethesigntometodoso. OfcourseIneverdoubtedforamomentthatmyfirstdutywasnowtohim,andIdeterminedtodojustwhateverhemightdirect.
"WhenIgotbackItoldmymaid,whohadknownhiminCalifornia,andhadalwaysbeenhisfriend. Iorderedhertosaynothing,buttogetafewthingspackedandmyulsterready. IknowIoughttohavespokentoLordSt.Simon,butitwasdreadfulhardbeforehismotherandallthosegreatpeople. Ijustmadeupmymindtorunawayandexplainafterwards.
