登陆注册
15328000000031

第31章 TWO AMERICANS(6)

All this was as yet free from either sentiment or passion, and was only the frank pride of friendship.But, oddly enough, their mere presence and companionship seemed to excite in others that tenderness they had not yet felt themselves.Family groups watched the handsome pair in their innocent confidences, and, with French exuberant recognition of sentiment, thought them the incarnation of Love.Something in their manifest equality of condition kept even the vainest and most susceptible of spectators from attempted rivalry or cynical interruption.And when at last they dropped side by side on a sun-warmed stone bench on the terrace, and Helen, inclining her brown head towards her companion, informed him of the difficulty she had experienced in getting gumbo soup, rice and chicken, corn cakes, or any of her favorite home dishes in Paris, an exhausted but gallant boulevardier rose from a contiguous bench, and, politely lifting his hat to the handsome couple, turned slowly away from what he believed were tender confidences he would not permit himself to hear.

But the shadow of the trees began to lengthen, casting broad bars across the alle, and the sun sank lower to the level of their eyes.

They were quite surprised, on looking around a few moments later, to discover that the gardens were quite deserted, and Ostrander, on consulting his watch, found that they had just lost a train which the other pleasure-seekers had evidently availed themselves of.No matter; there was another train an hour later; they could still linger for a few moments in the brief sunset and then dine at the local restaurant before they left.They both laughed at their forgetfulness, and then, without knowing why, suddenly lapsed into silence.A faint wind blew in their faces and trilled the thin leaves above their heads.Nothing else moved.The long windows of the palace in that sunset light seemed to glisten again with the incendiary fires of the Revolution, and then went out blankly and abruptly.The two companions felt that they possessed the terrace and all its memories as completely as the shadows who had lived and died there.

"I am so glad we have had this day together," said the painter, with a very conscious breaking of the silence, "for I am leaving Paris to-morrow."Helen raised her eyes quickly to his.

"For a few days only," he continued."My Russian customers--perhaps I ought to say my patrons--have given me a commission to make a study of an old chateau which the princess lately bought."A swift recollection of her fellow pupil's raillery regarding the princess's possible attitude towards the painter came over her and gave a strange artificiality to her response.

"I suppose you will enjoy it very much," she said dryly.

"No," he returned with the frankness that she had lacked."I'd much rather stay in Paris, but," he added with a faint smile, "it's a question of money, and that is not to be despised.Yet I--I--somehow feel that I am deserting you,--leaving you here all alone in Paris.""I've been all alone for four years," she said, with a bitterness she had never felt before, "and I suppose I'm accustomed to it."Nevertheless she leaned a little forward, with her fawn-colored lashes dropped over her eyes, which were bent upon the ground and the point of the parasol she was holding with her little gloved hands between her knees.He wondered why she did not look up; he did not know that it was partly because there were tears in her eyes and partly for another reason.As she had leaned forward his arm had quite unconsciously moved along the back of the bench where her shoulders had rested, and she could not have resumed her position except in his half embrace.

He had not thought of it.He was lost in a greater abstraction.

That infinite tenderness,--far above a woman's,--the tenderness of strength and manliness towards weakness and delicacy, the tenderness that looks down and not up, was already possessing him.

An instinct of protection drew him nearer this bowed but charming figure, and if he then noticed that the shoulders were pretty, and the curves of the slim waist symmetrical, it was rather with a feeling of timidity and a half-consciousness of unchivalrous thought.Yet why should he not try to keep the brave and honest girl near him always? Why should he not claim the right to protect her? Why should they not--they who were alone in a strange land--join their two lonely lives for mutual help and happiness?

A sudden perception of delicacy, the thought that he should have spoken before her failure at the Conservatoire had made her feel her helplessness, brought a slight color to his cheek.Would it not seem to her that he was taking an unfair advantage of her misfortune? Yet it would be so easy now to slip a loving arm around her waist, while he could work for her and protect her with the other.THE OTHER! His eye fell on his empty sleeve.Ah, he had forgotten that! He had but ONE arm!

He rose up abruptly,--so abruptly that Helen, rising too, almost touched the arm that was hurriedly withdrawn.Yet in that accidental contact, which sent a vague tremor through the young girl's frame, there was still time for him to have spoken.But he only said:--"Perhaps we had better dine."

She assented quickly,--she knew not why,--with a feeling of relief.

同类推荐
  • 西湖杂记

    西湖杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • THE SEA-WOLF

    THE SEA-WOLF

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 诗经

    诗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 与文征明书

    与文征明书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 银色女经

    银色女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 安徒生童话故事集
  • 绝色腹黑:医毒八小姐

    绝色腹黑:医毒八小姐

    她,一个丑颜废柴,她,一个医毒双绝的杀手,当她变成她,她会怎么样?白莲花,绿茶婊,通通跪下给姐唱征服!你说什么!丹药很珍贵吗?呃,不好意思,这只是我喂小宠的下酒菜而已。什么?你说你是天才?对啊,你确实是天才,天生的蠢才!你刚刚说什么?你说姐什么都不会?姐确实什么都不会,唯一会的就是打你们的脸!他,高冷神尊,传说他身边三丈之内没有女人的足迹,所以,外界传闻他不行,而且好男风~可是她却破口大骂:我擦,哪个孙子说他不行?死出来,姐去揍他!“不用你揍他,我怕脏了你的手”刚穿上衣服的某男温柔的说道,“暗卫!”某暗卫“……”『本文女强男更强,宠的不要不要的,:-*^o^,亲们快点儿跳进来吧:-D』
  • 道法宇宙

    道法宇宙

    何谓道?何谓法?道即为天法即为舟大道无不通万法无不行道通入非凡法行成神仙潜入深海为鬼蛟升腾云端即飞龙无所不在由为心生......道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物九星为下,九形为上,六道和之,阴阳顿生道由心生,法由心生,道法归一,大道即成一个带着殇穿越到异界大陆的人,在异地中会有怎样的传奇故事?不一样的道,终会一飞冲天!(新书求收藏,求推荐,谢谢大家)
  • 悍女为匪:王爷来侍寝

    悍女为匪:王爷来侍寝

    【他说:“我不管别人,只管你。你不准说脏话,不准生事斗殴,不准再上山当匪!”她说:“我护不了别人,只护你。用我手中的长枪,身上的拳脚,项上的人头。”】一次又一次被他利用,一次又一次身陷囹圄,尘埃落定时还要舔着脸问他要不要一起造娃?君攸宁觉得自己怂到了极限。好歹也是堂堂一女匪,能不能有点尊严?尊严!!
  • 万古星辰诀

    万古星辰诀

    一部《万古星辰诀》,让少年走上逆天之路,登顶宇内巅峰!
  • 黑道之王:龙隐

    黑道之王:龙隐

    两个生死相随的恋人;一群舍生忘死的汉子;江湖的险恶、疯狂的阴谋。且看昔日江湖大佬,今日如何重新为王!斩不断的江湖事,理不清的儿女情!——究竟龙隐于野,抑或傲翔九天?读者群45493815
  • 海忠介公全集

    海忠介公全集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 爱神情侣的赏赐

    爱神情侣的赏赐

    当爱神降临的时候,谁能主宰这一切?当某人成为爱神的时候,谁又能够主宰谁?四人变态坑爹的天赋,让他们成为当时的一代天骄,成为了两对爱神。爱神情侣的赏赐?赏赐了什么?……________________________________________________________________________________【喜欢这部小说的朋友们,就请多多支持小兮吧!这也算是小兮的处女作喽!】粉丝群:152996104(请备注:起点书友)谢谢合作。
  • 口才制胜

    口才制胜

    本书打破传统口才图书的写作方式,用拉家常的方式告诉你说话的艺术精髓,告诉你倾听与包容的智慧,与你促膝而谈,社交、公关、论辩、谈判、竞聘、演说面面俱到。
  • 狂风咒

    狂风咒

    这场战斗,必须赢,前世之辱,今世还,王将再次苏醒。