Read Books Online, for Free |
The Wheels of Chance | H. G. [Herbert George] Wells | |
XXIV. The Moonlight Ride |
Page 3 of 3 |
Mr. Hoopdriver felt flattered. But he had no adequate answer. "I'm thinking," he said, full of a rapture of protective responsibility, " what we had best be doing. You are tired, you know. And we can't wander all night--after the day we've had." "That was Chichester we were near?" she asked. "If," he meditated, with a tremble in his voice, "you would make ME your brother, MISS BEAUMONT." "Yes?" "We could stop there together--" She took a minute to answer. "I am going to light these lamps," said Hoopdriver. He bent down to his own, and struck a match on his shoe. She looked at his face in its light, grave and intent. How could she ever have thought him common or absurd? "But you must tell me your name--brother," she said, "Er--Carrington," said Mr. Hoopdriver, after a momentary pause. Who would be Hoopdriver on a night like this? "But the Christian name?" "Christian name? MY Christian name. Well--Chris." He snapped his lamp and stood up. "If you will hold my machine, I will light yours," he said. She came round obediently and took his machine, and for a moment they stood face to face. "My name, brother Chris," she said, "is Jessie." He looked into her eyes, and his excitement seemed arrested. "JESSIE," he repeated slowly. The mute emotion of his face affected her strangely. She had to speak. "It's not such a very wonderful name, is it?" she said, with a laugh to break the intensity. |
Who's On Your Reading List? Read Classic Books Online for Free at Page by Page Books.TM |
The Wheels of Chance H. G. [Herbert George] Wells |
Home | More Books | About Us | Copyright 2004