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！
quartered slippers； held on by the big toe； appear more
preposterous than ever。 Suddenly she seemed to realize that she
was standing there alone； but without fear or embarrassment。 She
drew back a little； glancing carelessly behind her as if missing
some previous companion； and then her eyes fell upon mine。 She
smiled an easy recognition； then a moment later； her glance rested
more curiously upon Enriquez； who was still by my side。 I
disengaged myself and instantly joined her； particularly as I
noticed that a few of the other bystanders were beginning to stare
at her with little reserve。
〃Isn't it the most extraordinary thing you ever saw？〃 she said
quietly。 Then； presently noticing the look of embarrassment on my
face； she went on； more by way of conversation than of explanation：
〃I just left uncle making a call on a parishioner next door； and
was going home with Jocasta （a peon servant of her uncle's）； when I
heard the music； and dropped in。 I don't know what has become of
her；〃 she added； glancing round the room again； 〃she seemed
perfectly wild when she saw that creature over there bounding about
with his handkerchiefs。 You were speaking to him just now。 Do
tell meis he real？〃
〃I should think there was little doubt of that；〃 I said with a
vague laugh。
〃You know what I mean；〃 she said simply。 〃Is he quite sane？ Does
he do that because he likes it； or is he paid for it？〃
This was too much。 I pointed out somewhat hurriedly that he was a
scion of one of the oldest Castilian families； that the performance
was a national gypsy dance which he had joined in as a patriot and
a patron； and that he was my dearest friend。 At the same time I
was conscious that I wished she hadn't seen his last performance。
〃You don't mean to say that all that he did was in the dance？〃 she
said。 〃I don't believe it。 It was only like him。〃 As I hesitated
over this palpable truth； she went on： 〃I do wish he'd do it again。
Don't you think you could make him？〃
〃Perhaps he might if YOU asked him；〃 I said a little maliciously。
〃Of course I shouldn't do that；〃 she returned quietly。 〃All the
same； I do believe he is really going to do itor something else。
Do look！〃
I looked； and to my horror saw that Enriquez； possibly incited by
the delicate gold eyeglasses of Miss Mannersley； had divested
himself of his coat； and was winding the four handkerchiefs； tied
together； picturesquely around his waist； preparatory to some new
performance。 I tried furtively to give him a warning look； but in
vain。
〃Isn't he really too absurd for anything？〃 said Miss Mannersley；
yet with a certain comfortable anticipation in her voice。 〃You
know； I never saw anything like this before。 I wouldn't have
believed such a creature could have existed。〃
Even had I succeeded in warning him； I doubt if it would have been
of any avail。 For； seizing a guitar from one of the musicians； he
struck a few chords； and suddenly began to zigzag into the center
of the floor； swaying his body languishingly from side to side in
time with the music and the pitch of a thin Spanish tenor。 It was
a gypsy love song。 Possibly Miss Mannersley's lingual
accomplishments did not include a knowledge of Castilian； but she
could not fail to see that the gestures and illustrative pantomime
were addressed to her。 Passionately assuring her that she was the
most favored daughter of the Virgin； that her eyes were like votive
tapers； and yet in the same breath accusing her of being a
〃brigand〃 and 〃assassin〃 in her attitude toward 〃his heart；〃 he
balanced with quivering timidity toward her； threw an imaginary
cloak in front of her neat boots as a carpet for her to tread on；
and with a final astonishing pirouette and a languishing twang of
his guitar； sank on one knee； and blew； with a rose； a kiss at her
feet。
If I had been seriously angry with him before for his grotesque
extravagance； I could have pitied him now for the young girl's
absolute unconsciousness of anything but his utter ludicrousness。
The applause of dancers and bystanders was instantaneous and
hearty； her only contribution to it was a slight parting of her
thin red lips in a half…incredulous smile。 In the silence that
followed the applause； as Enriquez walked pantingly away； I heard
her saying； half to herself； 〃Certainly a most extraordinary
creature！〃 In my indignation I could not help turning suddenly
upon her and looking straight into her eyes。 They were brown； with
that peculiar velvet opacity common to the pupils of nearsighted
persons； and seemed to defy internal scrutiny。 She only repeated
carelessly； 〃Isn't he？〃 and added： 〃Please see if you can find
Jocasta。 I suppose we ought to be going now； and I dare say he
won't be doing it again。 Ah！ there she is。 Good gracious； child！
what have you got there？〃
It was Enriquez' rose which Jocasta had picked up； and was timidly
holding out toward her mistress。
〃Heavens！ I don't want it。 Keep it yourself。〃
I walked with them to the door； as I did not fancy a certain
glitter in the black eyes of the Senoritas Manuela and Pepita； who
were watching her curiously。 But I think she was as oblivious of
this as she was of Enriquez' particular attentions。 As we reached
the street I felt that I ought to say something more。
〃You know；〃 I began casually； 〃that although those poor people meet
here in this public way； their gathering is really quite a homely
pastoral and a national custom； and these girls are all honest；
hardworking peons or servants enjoying themselves in quite the old
idyllic fashion。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the young girl； half…abstractedly。 〃Of course
it's a Moorish dance； originally brought over； I suppose； by those
old Andalusian immigrants two hundred years ago。 It's quite Arabic
in its suggestions。 I have got something like it in an old
CANCIONERO I picked up at a bookstall in Boston。 But；〃 she added；
with a gasp of reminiscent satisfaction； 〃that's not like HIM！ Oh；
no！ HE is decidedly original。 Heavens！ yes。〃
I turned away in some discomfiture to join Enriquez； who was calmly
awaiting me； with a cigarette in his mouth； outside the sala。 Yet
he looked so unconscious of any previous absurdity that I hesitated
in what I thought was a necessary warning。 He； however； quickly
precipitated it。 Glancing after the retreating figures of the two
women； he said： 〃Thees mees from Boston is return to her house。
You do not accompany her？ I shall。 Behold meI am there。〃 But I
linked my arm firmly in his。 Then I pointed out； first； that she
was already accompanied by a servant； secondly； that if I； who knew
her； had hesitated to offer myself as an escort； it was hardly
proper for him； a perfect stranger； to take that liberty； that Miss
Mannersley was very punctilious of etiquette； which he； as a
Castilian gentleman； ought to appreciate。
〃But will she not regard lofethe admi