登陆注册
15518700000004

第4章

"Into some French family.That's the only way to do--to go to some place where you can talk.If you're after Art,you want to stick to the galleries;you want to go right through the Louvre,room by room;

you want to take a room a day,or something of that sort.But,if you want to acquire French,the thing is to look out for a family.

There are lots of French families here that take you to board and teach you.My second cousin--that young lady I told you about--she got in with a crowd like that,and they booked her right up in three months.They just took her right in and they talked to her.That's what they do to you;they set you right down and they talk AT you.

You've got to understand them;you can't help yourself.That family my cousin was with has moved away somewhere,or I should try and get in with them.They were very smart people,that family;after she left,my cousin corresponded with them in French.But I mean to find some other crowd,if it takes a lot of trouble!

I listened to all this with great interest,and when he spoke about his cousin I was on the point of turning around to ask him the address of the family that she was with;but the next moment he said they had moved away;so I sat still.The other gentleman,however,didn't seem to be affected in the same way as I was.

"Well,"he said,"you may follow up that if you like;I mean to follow up the pictures.I don't believe there is ever going to be any considerable demand in the United States for French;but I can promise you that in about ten years there'll be a big demand for Art!

And it won't be temporary either."

That remark may be very true,but I don't care anything about the demand;I want to know French for its own sake.I don't want to think I have been all this while without having gained an insight ...The very next day,I asked the lady who kept the books at the hotel whether she knew of any family that could take me to board and give me the benefit of their conversation.She instantly threw up her hands,with several little shrill cries (in their French way,you know),and told me that her dearest friend kept a regular place of that kind.If she had known I was looking out for such a place she would have told me before;she had not spoken of it herself,because she didn't wish to injure the hotel by being the cause of my going away.She told me this was a charming family,who had often received American ladies (and others as well)who wished to follow up the language,and she was sure I should be delighted with them.So she gave me their address,and offered to go with me to introduce me.

But I was in such a hurry that I went off by myself;and I had no trouble in finding these good people.They were delighted to receive me,and I was very much pleased with what I saw of them.They seemed to have plenty of conversation,and there will be no trouble about that.

I came here to stay about three days ago,and by this time I have seen a great deal of them.The price of board struck me as rather high;but I must remember that a quantity of conversation is thrown in.I have a very pretty little room--without any carpet,but with seven mirrors,two clocks,and five curtains.I was rather disappointed after I arrived to find that there are several other Americans here for the same purpose as myself.At least there are three Americans and two English people;and also a German gentleman.

I am afraid,therefore,our conversation will be rather mixed,but I have not yet time to judge.I try to talk with Madame de Maisonrouge all I can (she is the lady of the house,and the REAL family consists only of herself and her two daughters).They are all most elegant,interesting women,and I am sure we shall become intimate friends.I

will write you more about them in my next.Tell William Platt I don't care what he does.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 沉锋

    沉锋

    “武侠”,是蕴有灵魂的两个字。是我们独有的一种文学文化。有人斥为异类,有人斥为邪说,但这个“江湖”,实在承载了我们太多的青春。荒诞离奇、妙想天开的梦语,乃至痛哭流涕的深情。它用臆想的武功、侠客,将人生种种、悲欢离合落于纸间,畅快时令人直欲痛饮三碗老酒,悲情处则教人午夜梦回,犹自辗转难安。这样的虚无缥缈,成为了现实之外的一处世间妙境。大家去后,江湖之中,虽仍见侠气,终不复金古之时。穿越、玄幻、修仙诸类欣欣向荣,传统武侠则渐次衰微,令人叹惋。一部百年武学,一名孤城遗子,一名遁世村夫,在北宋末年,家国乱世里拉开一幅江湖画卷。
  • 妖尾之星灵女王

    妖尾之星灵女王

    魔导士公会——妖精的尾巴,是一个为魔导士们接受从寻物到讨伐魔物等各种委托起到中介性质作用的组织,公会成员由众多厉害的魔法师组成。立志成为优秀的魔导士并且梦想加入魔导士公会“妖精的尾巴”的少女露西,一次偶然之下遇见了火之灭龙魔导士纳兹,而纳兹竟然是露西所憧憬向往的“妖精的尾巴”中的一员!在纳兹的引导下,露西终于得偿所愿,加入了魔导士公会“妖精的尾巴”!随后,露西与纳兹、格雷、艾露莎和哈比组成了“妖尾最强(?!)队伍”,两男两女一猫的旅程就此展开......
  • 穿越帝王家

    穿越帝王家

    一场车祸,让杨云穿越到古代,重生在帝王之家!从此,杨云过上了锦衣玉食的奢华生活。心满意足的杨云准备安心的过着富二代败家子的生活,可是树欲静而风不止,世事弄人,时事造人!杨云一次又一次的被推上了风口浪尖...
  • 术之无极

    术之无极

    一腔男儿血,踏遍红尘;满腹激情志;洒然投身。喻世:风烟俱起难前途,逆流而上不服输。胸中豪情,油然而盛:诸天星辰,璀璨如昔;穹宇之下,舍我其谁。。
  • 熙日伶憬厢

    熙日伶憬厢

    彼岸花海,那么美,我这在这里看着渐远的你,不语,也不去追。对我们来说,分开也许是最好的结局,就像彼岸花,花与叶,生生世世,永不相见,才能够好好生活。
  • 怪你年少,怪我轻狂

    怪你年少,怪我轻狂

    “祎晨,祎晨,你说我们的名字是不是天生一对??”“凌大少,你不觉得你该看脑科了。”
  • 我是末世NPC

    我是末世NPC

    末世来临,各种次元空间与游戏世界融合,她,叶霜成了这个世界里的NPC,手握特权,却还要被雷劈,好好的一个游戏!她不玩了行吗?不好意思,一旦成为游戏NPC,就无法改变……然后叶霜悲催的发现,她也要战斗,否则就会被怪和BOSS打死……偶尔还要接受玩家PK……这系统制定简直丧心病狂啊~!!!
  • 冒险人生:迷之旅

    冒险人生:迷之旅

    他,带我进入了“冒险者”的世界....这是一个随时会丧命的世界....因为一个奇怪的胎记让我无法再走出“冒险者”的世界.....
  • 都市迷月

    都市迷月

    一人站在高峰,看着这片都市,林笑明流下一滴滴泪:“得到了一切,你却丢了,我不甘心!”
  • 电竞霸皇SEED传奇

    电竞霸皇SEED传奇

    饿殍满地,大地飘零。韩系魔王屠戮苍生,诸神陨落的刹那,养猪少年横空出世……总决赛上轻取飞科,连爆三塔,创下不朽诗篇。历史将在我的掌心展开,一代霸皇Samuel如是说道。