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！
pile of gold before her； but she drew from her pocket a double
napoleon； put it into his hand； and bade him place it on a number of
his own choosing。 He was evidently filled with a sort of delightful
trouble； he enjoyed the adventure； but he shrank from the hazard。 I
would have staked the coin on its being his companion's last； for
although she still smiled intently as she watched his hesitation；
there was anything but indifference in her pale； pretty face。
Suddenly； in desperation； he reached over and laid the piece on the
table。 My attention was diverted at this moment by my having to make
way for a lady with a great many flounces； before me； to give up her
chair to a rustling friend to whom she had promised it； when I again
looked across at the lady in white muslin； she was drawing in a very
goodly pile of gold with her little blue…gemmed claw。 Good luck and
bad； at the Homburg tables； were equally undemonstrative； and this
happy adventuress rewarded her young friend for the sacrifice of his
innocence with a single； rapid； upward smile。 He had innocence
enough left； however； to look round the table with a gleeful；
conscious laugh； in the midst of which his eyes encountered my own。
Then suddenly the familiar look which had vanished from his face
flickered up unmistakably； it was the boyish laugh of a boyhood's
friend。 Stupid fellow that I was； I had been looking at Eugene
Pickering！
Though I lingered on for some time longer he failed to recognise me。
Recognition； I think； had kindled a smile in my own face； but； less
fortunate than he； I suppose my smile had ceased to be boyish。 Now
that luck had faced about again； his companion played for herself
played and won； hand over hand。 At last she seemed disposed to rest
on her gains； and proceeded to bury them in the folds of her muslin。
Pickering had staked nothing for himself； but as he saw her prepare
to withdraw he offered her a double napoleon and begged her to place
it。 She shook her head with great decision； and seemed to bid him
put it up again； but he； still blushing a good deal； pressed her with
awkward ardour； and she at last took it from him； looked at him a
moment fixedly； and laid it on a number。 A moment later the croupier
was raking it in。 She gave the young man a little nod which seemed
to say； 〃I told you so；〃 he glanced round the table again and
laughed； she left her chair； and he made a way for her through the
crowd。 Before going home I took a turn on the terrace and looked
down on the esplanade。 The lamps were out； but the warm starlight
vaguely illumined a dozen figures scattered in couples。 One of these
figures； I thought； was a lady in a white dress。
I had no intention of letting Pickering go without reminding him of
our old acquaintance。 He had been a very singular boy； and I was
curious to see what had become of his singularity。 I looked for him
the next morning at two or three of the hotels； and at last I
discovered his whereabouts。 But he was out； the waiter said； he had
gone to walk an hour before。 I went my way； confident that I should
meet him in the evening。 It was the rule with the Homburg world to
spend its evenings at the Kursaal； and Pickering； apparently； had
already discovered a good reason for not being an exception。 One of
the charms of Homburg is the fact that of a hot day you may walk
about for a whole afternoon in unbroken shade。 The umbrageous
gardens of the Kursaal mingle with the charming Hardtwald； which in
turn melts away into the wooded slopes of the Taunus Mountains。 To
the Hardtwald I bent my steps； and strolled for an hour through mossy
glades and the still； perpendicular gloom of the fir…woods。
Suddenly； on the grassy margin of a by…path； I came upon a young man
stretched at his length in the sun…checkered shade； and kicking his
heels towards a patch of blue sky。 My step was so noiseless on the
turf that； before he saw me； I had time to recognise Pickering again。
He looked as if he had been lounging there for some time； his hair
was tossed about as if he had been sleeping； on the grass near him；
beside his hat and stick； lay a sealed letter。 When he perceived me
he jerked himself forward； and I stood looking at him without
introducing myselfpurposely； to give him a chance to recognise me。
He put on his glasses； being awkwardly near…sighted； and stared up at
me with an air of general trustfulness； but without a sign of knowing
me。 So at last I introduced myself。 Then he jumped up and grasped
my hands； and stared and blushed and laughed； and began a dozen
random questions； ending with a demand as to how in the world I had
known him。
〃Why； you are not changed so utterly；〃 I said； 〃and after all； it's
but fifteen years since you used to do my Latin exercises for me。〃
〃Not changed； eh？〃 he answered； still smiling； and yet speaking with
a sort of ingenuous dismay。
Then I remembered that poor Pickering had been； in those Latin days；
a victim of juvenile irony。 He used to bring a bottle of medicine to
school and take a dose in a glass of water before lunch； and every
day at two o'clock； half an hour before the rest of us were
liberated； an old nurse with bushy eyebrows came and fetched him away
in a carriage。 His extremely fair complexion； his nurse； and his
bottle of medicine； which suggested a vague analogy with the
sleeping…potion in the tragedy； caused him to be called Juliet。
Certainly Romeo's sweetheart hardly suffered more； she was not； at
least； a standing joke in Verona。 Remembering these things； I
hastened to say to Pickering that I hoped he was still the same good
fellow who used to do my Latin for me。 〃We were capital friends； you
know；〃 I went on； 〃then and afterwards。〃
〃Yes； we were very good friends；〃 he said； 〃and that makes it the
stranger I shouldn't have known you。 For you know； as a boy； I never
had many friends； nor as a man either。 You see；〃 he added； passing
his hand over his eyes； 〃I am rather dazed； rather bewildered at
finding myself for the first timealone。〃 And he jerked back his
shoulders nervously； and threw up his head； as if to settle himself
in an unwonted position。 I wondered whether the old nurse with the
bushy eyebrows had remained attached to his person up to a recent
period； and discovered presently that； virtually at least； she had。
We had the whole summer day before us； and we sat down on the grass
together and overhauled our old memories。 It was as if we had
stumbled upon an ancient cupboard in some dusky corner； and rummaged
out a heap of childish playthingstin soldiers and torn story…books；
jack…knives and Chinese puzzles。 This is what we remembered between
us。
He had made but a short stay at schoolnot because he was tormented；
for he thought it so fine to be at school at all that he held his
tongue at home about the sufferings incurred through the medicine…
bottle； but because his father thought he was learning bad manne