Good-looking, not allowed to farm

(One)

Earl Hudgins is an irresponsible old dandy.

But when he is a guest, he is a perfect guest.

He raved about everything—Lady Helena's looks, the simple refreshments on the table, the scribbled handwriting, and happily claimed that he had benefited from an adaptation of "Marianne" many.

On the contrary, Judian, who came here with his old father, was not used to such a simple environment in front of him.

He is more used to the magnificent and magnificent places arranged by Mrs. Lauris, and he likes to drink wine and exchange benefits with a bunch of powerful nobles...

Therefore, even though the tea party was not officially started because no one was present, he already regretted it: "Why did I come here? What's wrong with having this time?"

Mrs. Helena didn't notice Judian's dissatisfaction at all, and was happily talking about the process of script adaptation with Earl Hudgens.

Perhaps it was because Earl Hudgins didn't put on any aristocratic airs from the beginning to the end. She actually ignored the other party's aristocratic status, so she only regarded Judian as a young man who accompanied her father to join in the fun.

And Judian has some contempt for women in his bones.

It was only because of the presence of Earl Hudgins that he didn't reveal his truest thoughts, but he didn't have any desire to communicate with others.

Therefore, since he entered the house, he has been walking on his own, with a bunch of shady tricks in his mind.

And on the other side...

The conversation between Earl Hudgins and Lady Helena has changed from a statement by one party to a quarrel between the two.

"...This is really cruel to Simmons."

After hearing Helena's description of the new script, Earl Hudgins couldn't help protesting fiercely: "In your opinion, is Simmons that bad?"

"Has he not the least bit of truth for Marianne?"

"Do you think he...was just trying to play Marianne the whole time?"

"I have to tell you, it's not like that!"

"He may have made mistakes, but he's not that mean..."

Madam Helena was a little stunned, as if she was very surprised by the Earl's overly strong reaction at this moment.

She thought about it seriously, and explained as much as possible: "Sir, I understand your love and importance for the characters in your book. But let's not discuss the right and wrong of the character Simmons, just from Marian's point of view." , she was indeed ruined by this man. I don't think you should object to this, right?"

"...this accusation is too heavy."

"Do you deny that?"

"No... yes, yes, he is guilty."

"Then, isn't there nothing wrong with changing the script like this?"

Earl Hudgins opened his mouth, as if he wanted to justify something.

But Mrs. Helena continued to pursue the victory: "A bad person, whether he does bad things intentionally or unintentionally, he does bad things."

Earl Huggins was silent.

Mrs. Helena said again: "Of course, some people may think that bad things done unintentionally can be forgiven."

Earl Huggins immediately asked: "Isn't it?"

Mrs. Helena smiled: "But forgiveness should also be said by the victim, not by the bystanders."

Earl Hudgins was silent again.

Mrs. Helena was lost in thought again: "Or, you insist on keeping the plot where Simmons made an unintentional mistake, is it because... Do you think that the role of Simmons should be forgiven by the audience?"

Arrow through the heart!

Earl Hudgins was driven back by Lady Helena's offhand remarks.

He turned his head almost in embarrassment: "No, no, I'm just... I'm just... that's too cruel, no matter who it is... it's a trick and deceit from the beginning to the end, it's too cruel."

Helena couldn't help but also fell silent: "You are right."

She thought deeply: "This is too cruel."

"But only cruelty is real."

A voice sounded very abruptly.

Earl Hudgins and Lady Helena turned their heads at the same time, looking at the place where the voice came from.

only see...

Macomb stood at the door like a ghost, pale and silent, with one hand on the door, making a knocking gesture: "Sorry, I saw that the door was open, and I wanted to knock, but it didn't." hold back..."

Mrs. Helena stood up in surprise and greeted her: "Ah, it's nothing, it's my honor to have you here. But didn't you say you didn't have time?"

Malcolm smiled at her: "Yes, I didn't have time. But I love Marianne so much... I couldn't help but want to come over and take a look, and then, I just heard your discussion..."

Then, he repeated what he said just now: "Sorry, ma'am, I can't help it..."

Mrs. Helena waved her hands again and again, expressing that she didn't mind.

So Macomb turned and closed the door, and walked into the room.

He knew he shouldn't have come, and he knew it would be dangerous.

But he couldn't control his feet that wanted to walk, nor could he control his ears that wanted to listen.

Especially after hearing the phrase "You hope Simmons will be forgiven by the audience" analyzed by Mrs. Helena...

He couldn't even control his own mouth and let out a sound.

After doing those things...

Still hoping to be forgiven? !

An angry beast roared inside his body, scratching and biting him with fangs and sharp claws, it couldn't wait to break through this barrier...

He trembled all over because of this, but he had to use all his strength to tightly lock the beast in his body, and silently told himself: "Not now, at least not now..."

Earl Hudgins looked at Malcolm suspiciously.

He showed a look of trying to remember: "You, you...have I seen you somewhere?"

Malcolm couldn't help staring at him, staring intently at the man in front of him.

It's still the same glamorous appearance, nothing much has changed.

It's just that the body is slightly fatter, and there are fine wrinkles on the forehead and the corners of the eyes.

But the comfortable life brought by money and status obviously helped him a lot, making him not age as fast as ordinary people.

This is completely different from myself.

In just over ten years, his face was full of vicissitudes, his temples were gray, he was so old that he could no longer look a little bit younger, and he was almost a different person from his former self!

And what about the beast in front of him?

Even though he was old, he could still vaguely see some of the face... some of the suave face and posture when he was coaxing Marian back then.

But Macomb knew that everything was nothing more than gold and jade.

He stared at Earl Hudgins for a long time, and finally answered slowly and hard: "No, we haven't seen it."

Earl Hudgins thought and thought, but finally couldn't think of anything.

Maybe the memory is too long;

Maybe it was because he had never looked straight at the little brother next to Marianne;

Maybe it was too much alcohol, tobacco, and sex, which damaged his brain early and made his memory gradually decline.

In short, he just forgot about this person so naturally.

However, compared to the dullness of Earl Hudgens...

Judian was a little interested in observing this new guest.

He analyzed in his heart: "It doesn't look like a farmer, but it doesn't look like a nobleman either. It seems to have received a certain amount of education... Well, it's probably a small businessman! I don't know what kind of business it is. Is there anything that can be used in it? ?”

When he was thinking wildly...

Lady Helena had already introduced Lord Hudgins and Macomb.

The former, her introduction is the author of "Marian";

The latter, her introduction is a loyal reader of Marianne.

Because Macomb had changed his name and surname when he left many years ago.

Therefore, even after knowing the name, Earl Hudgens still failed to recognize the true identity of the person in front of him.

The two looked at each other.

Earl Hudgins smiled politely; Macomb's expression was stiff.

They shook hands.

Then, Earl Hudgins shuddered, and whispered in his heart: "Is this man still alive? Why are his hands so cold?"

But on the surface, it is still fun.

As for Judian...

He was very close to another answer.

But as we all know, he has never been responsible for the actual implementation work, that is Levin's job.

If Levin was here, he would definitely step forward to arrest the fugitive without saying a word...

But Levin wasn't there.

Judian's only feeling at the moment is probably: "This person is a little weird."

Inside the house, the discussion about "Marian" continued.

Earl Hudgins, out of some obscure idea, is still protesting that the adaptation version's description of the male protagonist is biased.

He thinks such a description has no practical meaning except to make the role of Marianne more miserable.

Since the other party is the original author, Mrs. Helena is still very face-saving in the conversation.

Therefore, when she expressed her opinion, she mostly used a more tactful tone: "I don't quite understand, what's wrong with making Marian miserable?" "Sorry, what do you actually mean?" "It makes sense, I'll think about it seriously."

Compared with her,

Some of Macomb's speeches were far more vitriolic.

"I appreciate your remarks very much, my lord."

He smiled like this: "When Marianne was slandered as a bitch, tossed and turned in pain, and was expelled and spurned by people, just because Simmons believed that he really had love for her in his heart, then all the experiences The misery of the world can be glorified as a test given by the great God of love. Wonderful, wonderful! What a wonderful idea!"

"I, I, I didn't mean that."

Earl Hudgins was a little confused for a moment, but he couldn't think of how to argue.

After a long time, he spoke again: "Stop! I don't want to talk to you guys any longer. You two seem to agree in some respects. I can't speak for you two alone."

"So, I have to find an ally too."

"By the way, where is the writer who adapted my novel? Why haven't you come over yet? I want to have a good chat with her, or him."

Mrs. Helena then looked at her watch: "He should be here soon. We originally made an appointment in the morning, but he told me that he wanted to pick up his sister and come with him, so he will be late..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Ah, here we come!" said Lady Helena happily.

Then, she went to open the door.

really……

Jamie stood outside the door with a little girl.

With a bright smile on his face, he took off his hat and saluted Madam Helena: "Good afternoon, ma'am, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

(two)

Earl Huggins' ally expectations failed again.

Because, after Jamie walked into the house, his surprised eyes directly stayed on Macomb.

And Macomb was equally surprised...

First he was relieved that Jamie was alive, and then he was genuinely delighted at this unexpected reunion.

At this time, Mrs. Helena, who was the initiator of the tea party, stood up again responsibly and introduced everyone in the room.

In this way, everyone finally knows each other on the surface.

As a result, Earl Hudgins, the original author of "Marian", could no longer get any respect and attention from the adapter Jamie and his so-called loyal readers.

On the contrary, after the adapter and his loyal readers exchanged glances, they got mixed up without warning.

Especially after Mrs. Helena relayed the discussion just now...

Jamie's first sentence was: "Ah, do you also think that the role of Simmons doesn't have to be so innocent?"

He looked at Macomb a little too excitedly.

People who don't know the inside story probably think that he attaches great importance to the novel "Marian".

But in fact, he just casually picked up a topic in order to cover up the truth that the two had known each other for a long time.

Macomb obviously understood.

He gave an affirmative answer without hesitation: "Yes, I think so too."

Then, as people with the same concept (with an excuse), they naturally got together.

What's more, the two of them also began to talk to each other and to each other in a tacit understanding:

"After the criminal feels guilty, can he not be sanctioned?"

"Before making a mistake, it's okay to stop in time; but after making a mistake, it's just crocodile tears."

"I cut you with a knife, and then said sorry to you with guilt."

"I don't forgive, I must cut it back!"

"Cruel, oh cruel!"

"Just, just!"

"In the name of love, to hurt others..."

"It's just a show of selfishness, cowardice and hypocrisy!"

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became extremely weird.

Earl Hudgins fidgeted on the sofa, feeling that every sentence of the two people's words seemed to stab his heart hard.

But he has no way to argue, let alone tell others that everything written in "Marian" is true, so...

He could only comfort himself silently in his heart: "Don't listen to them, they are just imagining, is there anyone who knows 'Simmons' and 'Marian' better than you, the client? It's not like that at all, they It's not like that at all, they're in love..."

Mrs. Helena, who knew nothing about it, was extremely excited to listen to the discussion between Jamie and Malcolm.

She took Suzanne's hand and praised happily, "Your brother is very talented and has unique ideas."

Susanna watched this scene with bright eyes.

She nodded heavily: "It's funny, I've never heard anyone say that before."

So, this wonderful tea party went on like this.

Among them, only one person did not invest.

Moreover, it was out of place from beginning to end.

That person is - Judian.

At the beginning, he didn't take this tea party seriously, he just thought of it as coaxing the old father at home.

But when Jamie arrives...

Things gradually became subtler, as if a catalyst had been thrown into it, making a certain chemical reaction in the room that was silently and silently changing suddenly become violent.

"The illegitimate son of the Dressel family seems to know the foreign businessman who claims to be my father's reader;"

"Well, that foreign businessman who claims to be my father's reader seems to be slightly hostile to my father;"

"Then, my unreliable father, after the discussion started, the mood became wrong..."

"According to past experience, he should like to talk loudly on such occasions, instead of being silent like this now... Something is wrong, something is wrong!"

Judian squinted, looking over and over at everyone in the room, trying to catch something.

"The two youngsters of the Dressel family, my unreliable father, a lowly actress, and an eccentric reader who may be an out-of-town businessman..."

"Interesting! Interesting! What secret connection do these people have that I don't know about?"

After a while, the tea party finally ended.

Mrs. Helena is very satisfied, and plans to hold another one when she is free.

But unfortunately...

Probably only Suzanne really agrees.

Judian continued to hide in the corner, watching everyone secretly.

Jamie and Macomb looked at each other, and they both felt: "Although they were pleasantly surprised, they were also frightened. This kind of scene should be as little as possible."

And Earl Hudgins has already regretted releasing the adaptation rights.

But for some unknown reason, although he was very unhappy, he did not regret it.

After that, everyone dispersed.

Early the next morning, Jamie miraculously appeared in front of Macomb and George.

Macomb's face was full of smiles, and George almost fainted with excitement.

Jamie walked over with a smile, put his arms around George's shoulders, and said cheerfully, "I'm glad you are all safe."

Then, they began to tell each other some things that happened after parting.

Macomb and George's experience was relatively simple.

At first they wanted to find Jamie, but they were worried that they were not strong enough to save people, so they went to a stronghold of the rebel army, hoping to call in more people to help, but they were encircled by the government, so they had to retreat with the stronghold personnel. Later, they couldn't be separated, and they kept moving around.

In contrast, Jamie's experience was bumpy and wonderful.

What's more, his eloquence is also very good.

So, listening to him talk all the way down...

Malcolm couldn't help but be amazed by it; George directly admired him: "How dare you pretend to be a nobleman...God, Jamie, you are too powerful."

"There are also many hidden dangers and dangers in this."

Jamie said without hesitation: "A while ago, someone saw through my identity. Do you remember the financial officer in the prison? That's right, it's him! I'm thinking about how to deal with it recently..."

Macomb couldn't help frowning: "My suggestion is that you'd better get away as soon as possible."

"But I'm not reconciled to running away in such a desperate way." Jamie replied.

Malcolm didn't say anything, just watched him quietly.

After a while, he said, "Jamie, you haven't been to that barber shop, and you didn't want to contact us."

"Well, yes...but there's a reason for that."

Jamie hurriedly defended: "I'm not sure if the stronghold you mentioned is still safe? You know, Macomb, it's been so long, and I'm afraid of encountering any danger again."

"But you didn't ask to be with us after seeing us." Macomb continued to speak calmly.

"Ah, you reminded me. Well, why did you two come to Wangcheng? Is there anything to do?" Jamie asked.

"Jamie, don't be like this..." Macomb sighed softly.

There was an understanding and tolerance on his face: "I know now, you don't want to join us."

Speaking of this, there is no way to escape.

Jamie pursed his lips and fell silent again.

George looked at Malcolm, then at Jamie, with a perplexed and bewildered look on Yuanyuan's face.

He asked the two of them in astonishment: "Macomb, what do you mean? What do you mean you don't want to join us? Jamie, aren't you on our side? What else are you joining? Aren't we together?"

After hearing such innocent words, Jamie couldn't help laughing even though he was in a complicated mood.

Then he spoke again in a relaxed voice: "No, I don't want to join either party. At least not now, Macomb, I just want to live a little quiet life. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with it, everyone has the right to choose their own life and I have nothing against that."

Macomb replied gently, "But, Jamie, are you sure you're safe? Are you sure you can really live a peaceful life?"

Jamie hesitated.

at the same time.

A mother and son appeared in Levin's mansion.

They were as thin as two skeletons, their clothes were outdated and outdated, and the expressions on their faces were anxious and troubled by waiting.

After a long time, Levine finally appeared.

The mother rushed over in one stride, as if she was pulling the hem of her skirt, trying to salute him.

But Levin looked at her ugly face that was so thin that her cheekbones were protruding, and couldn't help but wanted to avoid it, and didn't even want to accept the ceremony.

"Ah, it's an honor to meet you, Lord Viscount!"

The mother said flatteringly in a tone that was almost nasty to the point of nakedness: "As soon as my son and I heard that it was your call, we rushed over to serve you in a hurry."

"But please don't mind what we're wearing now."

She explained embarrassingly: "It's really a dilapidated place in the countryside. Except for the better air, everything else is too dilapidated. Moreover, I have been widowed for my husband, so it is really not worth wearing any good clothes. After that, I was afraid of you, my lord. I waited for a long time, I was too anxious to go out, so I didn't have time..."

Levin pushed his glasses, tried his best to suppress his irritability, and said lightly, "Oh, that's how it is."

The mother became even more enthusiastic: "Yes, yes, that's it. Although we haven't been to Wangcheng for a long time, maybe we can't keep up with the current fashion, but you must know that our Webster family is by no means an ordinary upstart. I'm usually very particular about..."

Levin didn't want to listen to this annoying old woman bragging, so he immediately interrupted her and asked directly: "You came in a hurry, haven't you arranged a place to live yet?"

"It's not too late, but we..."

"You can stay with me temporarily."

"Ah, what's the point of this?"

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's settled."

Levine quickly solved the problem.

Then, in order to avoid being entangled again, he turned around and left without hesitation. He just smiled gloatingly as he walked: "I can't think of it! I can't think of it! That cunning little bastard, it was because of such a damn old woman. In jail?"