the pension beaurepas-第4章

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you　to…morrow　at　the　administration。　　Aurora；　you　will　find　a　pencil
in　the　outer　pocket　of　my　embroidered　satchel；　please　to　write　down
his　number；87；　do　you　see　it　distinctly？in　case　we　should　forget
it。〃

The　young　lady　addressed　as　〃Aurora〃a　slight；　fair　girl；　holding　a
large　parcel　of　umbrellasstood　at　hand　while　this　allocution　went
forward；　but　she　apparently　gave　no　heed　to　it。　　She　stood　looking
about　her；　in　a　listless　manner；　at　the　front　of　the　house；　at　the
corridor；　at　Celestine　tucking　up　her　apron　in　the　doorway；　at　me　as
I　passed　in　amid　the　disseminated　luggage；　her　mother's　parsimonious
attitude　seeming　to　produce　in　Miss　Aurora　neither　sympathy　nor
embarrassment。　　At　dinner　the　two　ladies　were　placed　on　the　same　side
of　the　table　as　myself；　below　Mrs。　Ruck　and　her　daughter；　my　own
position　being　on　the　right　of　Mr。　Ruck。　　I　had　therefore　little
observation　of　Mrs。　Churchsuch　I　learned　to　be　her　namebut　I
occasionally　heard　her　soft；　distinct　voice。

〃White　wine；　if　you　please；　we　prefer　white　wine。　　There　is　none　on
the　table？　　Then　you　will　please　to　get　some；　and　to　remember　to
place　a　bottle　of　it　always　here；　between　my　daughter　and　myself。〃

〃That　lady　seems　to　know　what　she　wants；〃　said　Mr。　Ruck；　〃and　she
speaks　so　I　can　understand　her。　　I　can't　understand　every　one；　over
here。　　I　should　like　to　make　that　lady's　acquaintance。　　Perhaps　she
knows　what　_I_　want；　too；　it　seems　hard　to　find　out。　　But　I　don't
want　any　of　their　sour　white　wine；　that's　one　of　the　things　I　don't
want。　　I　expect　she'll　be　an　addition　to　the　pension。〃

Mr。　Ruck　made　the　acquaintance　of　Mrs。　Church　that　evening　in　the
parlour；　being　presented　to　her　by　his　wife；　who　presumed　on　the
rights　conferred　upon　herself　by　the　mutual　proximity；　at　table；　of
the　two　ladies。　　I　suspected　that　in　Mrs。　Church's　view　Mrs。　Ruck
presumed　too　far。　　The　fugitive　from　the　Pension　Chamousset；　as　M。
Pigeonneau　called　her；　was　a　little　fresh；　plump；　comely　woman；
looking　less　than　her　age；　with　a　round；　bright；　serious　face。　　She
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　seems　delightful。〃

〃Wait　till　you　see　it　again。　　It's　just　too　lovely；〃　said　Miss　Sophy。

〃It's　the　grandest　country　in　the　world；〃　I　added。

Miss　Ruck　began　to　toss　her　head。　　〃Come　away；　my　dear；〃　she　said。
〃If　there's　a　creature　I　despise　it's　a　man　that　tries　to　say　funny
things　about　his　own　country。〃

〃Don't　you　think　one　can　be　tired　of　Europe？〃　Aurora　asked；
lingering。

〃Possiblyafter　many　years。〃

〃Father　was　tired　of　it　after　three　weeks；〃　said　Miss　Ruck。

〃I　have　been　here　sixteen　years；〃　her　friend　went　on；　looking　at　me
with　a　charming　intentness；　as　if　she　had　a　purpose　in　speaking。　　〃It
used　to　be　for　my　education。　　I　don't　know　what　it's　for　now。〃

〃She's　beautifully　educated；〃　said　Miss　Ruck。　　〃She　knows　four
languages。〃

〃I　am　not　very　sure　that　I　know　English。〃

〃You　should　go　to　Boston！〃　cried　Miss　Sophy。　　〃They　speak　splendidly
in　Boston。〃

〃C'est　mon　reve；〃　said　Aurora；　still　looking　at　me。

〃Have　you　been　all　over　Europe；〃　I　asked〃in　all　the　different
countries？〃

She　hesitated　a　moment。　　〃Everywhere　that　there's　a　pension。　　Mamma
is　devoted　to　pensions。　　We　have　lived；　at　one　time　or　another；　in
every　pension　in　Europe。〃

〃Well；　I　should　think　you　had　seen　about　enough；〃　said　Miss　Ruck。

〃It's　a　delightful　way　of　seeing　Europe；〃　Aurora　rejoined；　with　her
brilliant　smile。　　〃You　may　imagine　how　it　has　attached　me　to　the
different　countries。　　I　have　such　charming　souvenirs！　　There　is　a
pension　awaiting　us　now　at　Dresden；eight　francs　a　day；　without
wine。　　That's　rather　dear。　　Mamma　means　to　make　them　give　us　wine。
Mamma　is　a　great　authority　on　pensions；　she　is　known；　that　way；　all
over　Europe。　　Last　winter　we　were　in　Italy；　and　she　discovered　one　at
Piacenza；four　francs　a　day。　　We　made　economies。〃

〃Your　mother　doesn't　seem　to　mingle　much；〃　observed　Miss　Ruck；
glancing　through　the　window　at　the　scholastic　attitude　of　Mrs。
Church。

〃No；　she　doesn't　mingle；　except　in　the　native　society。　　Though　she
lives　in　pensions；