按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was very simply and frugally dressed； not at all in the manner of Mr。
Ruck's companions； and she had an air of quiet distinction which was
an excellent defensive weapon。 She exhibited a polite disposition to
listen to what Mr。 Ruck might have to say； but her manner was
equivalent to an intimation that what she valued least in boarding…
house life was its social opportunities。 She had placed herself near
a lamp； after carefully screwing it and turning it up； and she had
opened in her lap； with the assistance of a large embroidered marker；
an octavo volume； which I perceived to be in German。 To Mrs。 Ruck
and her daughter she was evidently a puzzle； with her economical
attire and her expensive culture。 The two younger ladies； however；
had begun to fraternise very freely； and Miss Ruck presently went
wandering out of the room with her arm round the waist of Miss
Church。 It was a very warm evening； the long windows of the salon
stood wide open into the garden； and； inspired by the balmy darkness；
M。 Pigeonneau and Mademoiselle Beaurepas； a most obliging little
woman； who lisped and always wore a huge cravat； declared they would
organise a fete de nuit。 They engaged in this undertaking； and the
fete developed itself； consisting of half…a…dozen red paper lanterns；
hung about on the trees； and of several glasses of sirop； carried on
a tray by the stout…armed Celestine。 As the festival deepened to its
climax I went out into the garden； where M。 Pigeonneau was master of
ceremonies。
〃But where are those charming young ladies；〃 he cried； 〃Miss Ruck and
the new…comer； l'aimable transfuge？ Their absence has been remarked；
and they are wanting to the brilliancy of the occasion。 Voyez I have
selected a glass of syrupa generous glassfor Mademoiselle Ruck；
and I advise you； my young friend； if you wish to make a good
impression； to put aside one which you may offer to the other young
lady。 What is her name？ Miss Church。 I see； it's a singular name。
There is a church in which I would willingly worship！〃
Mr。 Ruck presently came out of the salon； having concluded his
interview with Mrs。 Church。 Through the open window I saw the latter
lady sitting under the lamp with her German octavo； while Mrs。 Ruck；
established； empty…handed； in an arm…chair near her； gazed at her
with an air of fascination。
〃Well； I told you she would know what I want；〃 said Mr。 Ruck。 〃She
says I want to go up to Appenzell； wherever that is； that I want to
drink whey and live in a high latitudewhat did she call it？a high
altitude。 She seemed to think we ought to leave for Appenzell to…
morrow； she'd got it all fixed。 She says this ain't a high enough
lata high enough altitude。 And she says I mustn't go too high
either； that would be just as bad； she seems to know just the right
figure。 She says she'll give me a list of the hotels where we must
stop； on the way to Appenzell。 I asked her if she didn't want to go
with as； but she says she'd rather sit still and read。 I expect
she's a big reader。〃
The daughter of this accomplished woman now reappeared； in company
with Miss Ruck； with whom she had been strolling through the outlying
parts of the garden。
〃Well；〃 said Miss Ruck； glancing at the red paper lanterns； 〃are they
trying to stick the flower…pots into the trees？〃
〃It's an illumination in honour of our arrival；〃 the other young girl
rejoined。 〃It's a triumph over Madame Chamousset。〃
〃Meanwhile； at the Pension Chamousset；〃 I ventured to suggest； 〃they
have put out their lights； they are sitting in darkness； lamenting
your departure。〃
She looked at me； smiling； she was standing in the light that came
from the house。 M。 Pigeonneau； meanwhile； who had been awaiting his
chance； advanced to Miss Ruck with his glass of syrup。 〃I have kept
it for you； Mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃I have jealously guarded it。 It
is very delicious！〃
Miss Ruck looked at him and his syrup； without any motion to take the
glass。 〃Well； I guess it's sour；〃 she said in a moment； and she gave
a little shake of her head。
M。 Pigeonneau stood staring with his syrup in his hand； then he
slowly turned away。 He looked about at the rest of us； as if to
appeal from Miss Ruck's insensibility； and went to deposit his
rejected tribute on a bench。
〃Won't you give it to me？〃 asked Miss Church； in faultless French。
〃J'adore le sirop； moi。〃
M。 Pigeonneau came back with alacrity； and presented the glass with a
very low bow。 〃I adore good manners；〃 murmured the old man。
This incident caused me to look at Miss Church with quickened
interest。 She was not strikingly pretty； but in her charming
irregular face there was something brilliant and ardent。 Like her
mother； she was very simply dressed。
〃She wants to go to America； and her mother won't let her；〃 said Miss
Sophy to me； explaining her companion's situation。
〃I am very sorryfor America；〃 I answered； laughing。
〃Well； I don't want to say anything against your mother； but I think
it's shameful；〃 Miss Ruck pursued。
〃Mamma has very good reasons； she will tell you them all。〃
〃Well； I'm sure I don't want to hear them；〃 said Miss Ruck。 〃You
have got a right to go to your own country； every one has a right to
go to their own country。〃
〃Mamma is not very patriotic；〃 said Aurora Church； smiling。
〃Well； I call that dreadful；〃 her companion declared。 〃I have heard
that there are some Americans like that； but I never believed it。〃
〃There are all sorts of Americans；〃 I said； laughing。
〃Aurora's one of the right sort；〃 rejoined Miss Ruck； who had
apparently become very intimate with her new friend。
〃Are you very patriotic？〃 I asked of the young girl。
〃She's right down homesick；〃 said Miss Sophy； 〃she's dying to go。 If
I were you my mother would have to take me。〃
〃Mamma is going to take me to Dresden。〃
〃Well； I declare I never heard of anything so dreadful！〃 cried Miss
Ruck。 〃It's like something in a story。〃
〃I never heard there was anything very dreadful in Dresden；〃 I
interposed。
Miss Ruck looked at me a moment。 〃Well； I don't believe YOU are a
good American；〃 she replied； 〃and I never supposed you were。 You had
better go in there and talk to Mrs。 Church。〃
〃Dresden is really very nice； isn't it？〃 I asked of her companion。
〃It isn't nice if you happen to prefer New York；〃 said Miss Sophy。
〃Miss Church prefers New York。 Tell him you are dying to see New
York； it will make him angry；〃 she went on。
〃I have no desire to make him angry；〃 said Aurora； smiling。
〃It is only Miss Ruck who can do that；〃 I rejoined。 〃Have you been a
long time in Europe？〃
〃Always。〃
〃I call that wicked！〃 Miss Sophy declared。
〃You might be in a worse place；〃 I continued。 〃I find Europe very
interesting。〃
Miss Ruck gave a little laugh。 〃I was saying that you wanted to pass
for a European。〃
〃Yes； I want to pass for a Dalmatian。〃
Miss Ruck looked at me a moment。 〃Well； you had better not come
home；〃 she said。 〃No one will speak to you。〃
〃Were you born in these countries？〃 I asked of her companion。
〃Oh； no； I came to Europe when I was a small child。 But I remember
America a little； and it seem