confidence-第4章

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rown　corner　of　an　old　Italian　town？　The　lady　was　the　mother　of　his　inconsequent　model；　so　that　this　mysterious　personage　was　probably　herself　not　far　off。　Before　Longueville　had　time　to　verify　this　induction；　he　found　his　eyes　resting　upon　the　broad　back　of　a　gentleman　seated　close　to　the　old　lady；　and　who；　turning　away　from　her；　was　talking　to　a　young　girl。　　It　was　nothing　but　the　back　of　this　gentleman　that　he　saw；　but　nevertheless；　with　the　instinct　of　true　friendship；　he　recognized　in　this　featureless　expanse　the　robust　personality　of　Gordon　Wright。　In　a　moment　he　had　stepped　forward　and　laid　his　hand　upon　Wright's　shoulder。

His　friend　looked　round；　and　then　sprang　up　with　a　joyous　exclamation　and　grasp　of　the　hand。

〃My　dear　fellowmy　dear　Bernard！　　What　on　earthwhen　did　you　arrive？〃

While　Bernard　answered　and　explained　a　little；　he　glanced　from　his　friend's　good；　gratified　face　at　the　young　girl　with　whom　Wright　had　been　talking；　and　then　at　the　lady　on　the　other　side；　who　was　giving　him　a　bright　little　stare。　　He　raised　his　hat　to　her　and　to　the　young　girl；　and　he　became　conscious；　as　regards　the　latter；　of　a　certain　disappointment。　　She　was　very　pretty；　she　was　looking　at　him；　but　she　was　not　the　heroine　of　the　little　incident　of　the　terrace　at　Siena。

〃It　's　just　like　Longueville；　you　know；〃　Gordon　Wright　went　on；　〃he　always　comes　at　you　from　behind；　he　's　so　awfully　fond　of　surprises。〃　He　was　laughing；　he　was　greatly　pleased；　he　introduced　Bernard　to　the　two　ladies。　　〃You　must　know　Mrs。　Vivian；　you　must　know　Miss　Blanche　Evers。〃

Bernard　took　his　place　in　the　little　circle；　he　wondered　whether　he　ought　to　venture　upon　a　special　recognition　of　Mrs。　Vivian。　Then　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　should　leave　the　option　of　this　step　with　the　lady；　especially　as　he　had　detected　recognition　in　her　eye。　But　Mrs。　Vivian　ventured　upon　nothing　special；　she　contented　herself　with　soft　generalitieswith　remarking　that　she　always　liked　to　know　when　people　would　arrive；　that；　for　herself；　she　never　enjoyed　surprises。

〃And　yet　I　imagine　you　have　had　your　share；〃　said　Longueville；　with　a　smile。　He　thought　this　might　remind　her　of　the　moment　when　she　came　out　of　the　little　church　at　Siena　and　found　her　daughter　posturing　to　an　unknown　painter。

But　Mrs。　Vivian；　turning　her　benignant　head　about；　gave　but　a　superficial　reply。

〃Oh；　I　have　had　my　share　of　everything；　good　and　bad。　I　don't　complain　of　anything。〃　　And　she　gave　a　little　deprecating　laugh。

Gordon　Wright　shook　hands　with　Bernard　again；　he　seemed　really　very　glad　to　see　him。　　Longueville；　remembering　that

Gordon　had　written　to　him　that　he　had　been　〃making　love；〃　began　to　seek　in　his　countenance　for　the　ravages　of　passion。　For　the　moment；　however；　they　were　not　apparent；　the　excellent；　honest　fellow　looked　placid　and　contented。　　Gordon　Wright　had　a　clear　gray　eye；　short；　straight；　flaxen　hair；　and　a　healthy　diffusion　of　color。　　His　features　were　thick　and　rather　irregular；　but　his　countenancein　addition　to　the　merit　of　its　expression　derived　a　certain　grace　from　a　powerful　yellow　moustache；　to　which　its　wearer　occasionally　gave　a　martial　twist。　Gordon　Wright　was　not　tall；　but　he　was　strong；　and　in　his　whole　person　there　was　something　well…planted　and　sturdy。　He　almost　always　dressed　in　light…colored　garments；　and　he　wore　round　his　neck　an　eternal　blue　cravat。　　When　he　was　agitated　he　grew　very　red。　　While　he　questioned　Longueville　about　his　journey　and　his　health；　his　whereabouts　and　his　intentions；　the　latter；　among　his　own　replies；　endeavored　to　read　in　Wright's　eyes　some　account　of　his　present　situation。　Was　that　pretty　girl　at　his　side　the　ambiguous　object　of　his　adoration；　and；　in　that　case；　what　was　the　function　of　the　elder　lady；　and　what　had　become　of　her　argumentative　daughter？　Perhaps　this　was　another；　a　younger　daughter；　though；　indeed；　she　bore　no　resemblance　to　either　of　Longueville's　friends。　Gordon　Wright；　in　spite　of　Bernard's　interrogative　glances；　indulged　in　no　optical　confidences。　　He　had　too　much　to　tell。　He　would　keep　his　story　till　they　should　be　alone　together。　It　was　impossible　that　they　should　adjourn　just　yet　to　social　solitude；　the　two　ladies　were　under　Gordon's　protection。　Mrs。　VivianBernard　felt　a　satisfaction　in　learning　her　name；　it　was　as　if　a　curtain；　half　pulled　up　and　stopped　by　a　hitch；　had　suddenly　been　raised　altogetherMrs。　Vivian　sat　looking　up　and　down　the　terrace　at　the　crowd　of　loungers　and　talkers　with　an　air　of　tender　expectation。　　She　was　probably　looking　for　her　elder　daughter；　and　Longueville　could　not　help　wishing　also　that　this　young　lady　would　arrive。　　Meanwhile；　he　saw　that　the　young　girl　to　whom　Gordon　had　been　devoting　himself　was　extremely　pretty；　and　appeared　eminently　approachable。　Longueville　had　some　talk　with　her；　reflecting　that　if　she　were　the　person　concerning　whom　Gordon　had　written　him；　it　behooved　him　to　appear　to　take　an　interest　in　her。　This　view　of　the　case　was　confirmed　by　Gordon　Wright's　presently　turning　away　to　talk　with　Mrs。　Vivian；　so　that　his　friend　might　be　at　liberty　to　make　acquaintance　with　their　companion。

Though　she　had　not　been　with　the　others　at　Siena；　it　seemed　to　Longueville；　with　regard　to　her；　too；　that　this　was　not　the　first　time　he　had　seen　her。　She　was　simply　the　American　pretty　girl；　whom　he　had　seen　a　thousand　times。　It　was　a　numerous　sisterhood；　pervaded　by　a　strong　family　likeness。　This　young　lady　had　charming　eyes　（of　the　color　of　Gordon's　cravats）；　which　looked　everywhere　at　once　and　yet　found　time　to　linger　in　some　places；　where　Longueville's　own　eyes　frequently　met　them。　　She　had　soft　brown　hair；　with　a　silky…golden　thread　in　it；　beautifully　arranged　and　crowned　by　a　smart　little　hat　that　savoured　of　Paris。　　She　had　also　a　slender　little　figure；　neatly　rounded；　and　delicate；　narrow　hands；　prettily　gloved。　　She　moved　about　a　great　deal　in　her　place；　twisted　her　little　flexible　body　and　tossed　her　head；　fingered　her　hair　and　examined　the　ornaments　of　her　dress。　　She　had　a　great　deal　of　conversation；　Longueville　speedily　learned；　and　she　expressed　herself　with　extreme　frankness　and　decision。　　He　asked　her；　to　begin　with；　if　she　had　been　long　at　Baden；　but　the　impetus　of　this　question　was　all　she　required。　　Turning　her　charming；　conscious；　coquettish　little　face　upon　him；　she　instantly　began　to　chatter。

〃I　have　been　here　about　four　weeks。　　I　don't　know　whether　you　call　that　long。　It　does　n't　seem　long　to　me；　I　have　had　such　a　lovely　time。　　I　have　met　ever　so　many　people　here　I　knowevery　day　some　one　turns　up。　　Now　you　have　turned　up　to…day。〃

〃Ah；　but　you　don't　know　me；〃　said　Longueville；　laughing。

〃Well；　I　have　heard　a　great　deal　about　you！〃　cried　the　young　girl；　with　a　pretty　little　stare　of　contradiction。　　〃I　think　you　know　a　great　friend　of　mine；　Miss　Ella　Maclane；　of　Baltimore。　　She　's　travelling　in　Europe　now。〃　　Longueville's　memory　did　not　instantly　respond　to　this　signal；　but　he　expressed　that　rapturous　assent　which　the　occasion　demanded；　and　even　risked　the　observation　that　the　young　lady　from　Baltimore　was　very　pretty。　　〃She　's　far　too　lovely；〃　his　companion　went　on。　　〃I　have　often　heard　her　speak　of　you。　I　think　you　know　her　sister　rather　better　than　you　know　her。　She　has　not　been　out　very　long。　　She　is　just　as　interesting　as　she　can　be。　Her　hair　comes　down　to　her　feet。　　She　's　travelling　in　Norway。　She　has　been　everywhere　you　can　think　of；　and　she　's　going　to　finish　off　with　Finland。　　You　can't　go　any　further　than　that；　can　you？　That　's　one　comfort；　she　will　have　to　turn　round　and　come　back。　　I　want　her　dreadfully　to　come　to　Baden…Baden。〃

〃I　wish　she　would；〃　said　Longueville。　　〃Is　she　travelling　alone？〃

〃Oh；　no。　　They　've　got　some　Englishman。　　They　say　he　's　devoted　to　Ella。　　Every　one　seems　to　have　an　Englishman；　now。　We　've　got　one　here；　Captain　Lovelock；　the　Honourable　Augustus　Lovelock。　　Well；　they　're　awfully　handsome。　　Ella　Maclane　is　dying　to　come　to　Baden…Baden。　I　wish　you　'd　write　to　her。　Her　father　and　mother　have　got　some　idea　in　their　heads；　they　think　it　's　improperwhat　do　you　call　it？immoral。　　I　wish　you　would　write　to　her　and　tell　her　it　is　n't。　I　wonder　if　they　think　that　Mrs。　Vivian　would　come　to　a　place　that　's　immoral。　Mrs。　Vivian　says　she　would　take　her　in　a　moment；　she　does　n't　seem　to　care　how　many　she　has。　　I　declare；　she　's　only　too　kind。　You　know　I　'm　in　Mrs。　Vivian's　care。　　My　mother　's　gone　to　Marienbad。　She　would　let　me　go　with　Mrs。　Vivian　anywhere；　on　account　of　the　influenceshe　thinks　so　much　of　Mrs。　Vivian's　influence。　I　have　always　heard　a　great　deal　about　it；　have　n't　you？　I　must　say　it　's　lovely；　it　's　had　a　wonderful　effect　upon　me。　I　don't　want　to　praise　myself；　but　it　has。　　You　ask　Mrs。　Vivian　if　I　have　n't　been　good。　　I　have　been　just　as　good　as　I　can　be。　I　have　been　so　peaceful；　I　have　just　sat　here　this　way。　Do　you　call　this　immoral？　　You　're　not　obliged　to　gamble　if　you　don't　want　to。　　Ella　Maclane's　father　seems　to　think　you　get　drawn　in。　　I　'm　sure　I　have　n't　been　drawn　in。　I　know　what　you　're　going　to　sayyou　're　going　to　say　I　have　been　drawn　out。　　Well；　I　have；　to…night。　We　just　sit　here　so　quietly　there　's　nothing　to　do　but　to　talk。　　We　make　a　little　party　by　ourselvesare　you　going　to　belong　to　our　party？　Two　of　us　are　missingMiss　Vivian　and　Captain　Lovelock。　Captain　Lovelock　has　gone　with　her　into　the　rooms　to　explain　the　gamblingMiss　Vivian　always　wants　everything　explained。　I　am　sure　I　understood　it　the　first　time　I　looked　at　the　tables。　Have　you　ever　seen　Miss　Vivian？　　She　's　very　much　admired；　she　's　so　very　unusual。　　Black　hair　's　so　uncommonI　see　you　have　got　it　too　but　I　mean　for　young　ladies。　　I　am　sure　one　sees　everything　here。　There　's　a　woman　that　comes　to　the　tablesa　Portuguese　countess　who　has　hair　that　is　positively　blue。　　I　can't　say　I　admire　it　when　it　comes　to　that　shade。　　Blue　's　my　favorite　color；　but　I　prefer　it　in　the　eyes；〃　continued　Longueville's　companion；　resting　upon　him　her　own　two　brilliant　little　specimens　of　the　tint。

He　listened　with　that　expression　of　clear　amusement　which　is　not　always　an　indication　of　high　esteem；　but　which　even　pretty　chatterers；　who　are　not　the　reverse　of　estimable；　often　prefer　to　masculine　inattention；　and　while　he　listened　Bernard；　according　to　his　wont；　made　his　reflections。　He　said　to　himself　that　there　were　two　kinds　of　pretty　girls　the　acutely　conscious　and　the　finely　unconscious。　　Mrs。　Vivian's　protege　was　a　member　of　the　former　category；　she　belonged　to　the　genus　coquette。　We　all　have　our　conception　of　the　indispensable；　and　the　indispensable；　to　this　young　lady；　was　a　spectator；　almost　any　male　biped　would　serve　the　purpose。　　To　her　spectator　she　addressed；　for　the　moment；　the　whole　volume　of　her　beingaddressed　it　in　her　glances；　her　attitudes；　her　exclamations；　in　a　hundred　little　experiments　of　tone　and　gesture　and　position。　　And　these　rustling　artifices　were　so　innocent　and　obvious　that　the　directness　of　her　desire　to　be　well　with　her　observer　became　in　itself　a　grace；　it　led　Bernard　afterward　to　say　to　himself　that　the　natural　vocation　and　metier　of　little　girls　for　whom　existence　was　but　a　shimmering　surface；　was　to　prattle　and　ruffle　their　plumage；　their　view　of　life　and　its　duties　was　as　simple　and　superficial　as　that　of　an　Oriental　bayadere。