Above the spreading gauze, the tulle and glac? silks of the women, immense candelabra of glass pendants and candles shone and glittered; the rustle9 of crinoline, of light passing feet, sounded below the violins and blown comets, the rich husky voices calling the changes of the quadrille.
He was troubled by an obscure desire to be a center of interest, of importance, for the graceful10 feminine world about him. Sinnox, the man from New Orleans, was bowing profoundly to his partner; a figure broke up into a general boisterous11 gallopading—girls, with flushed cheeks, swinging curls, spun12 from masculine shoulder to shoulder. The dance ended, and the floating, perfumed skirts passed him in a soft flood toward the porch.
Without, the colonnade13 towered against a sky bright with stars; the night was warm and still. Alexander Hulings was lonely; he attempted to detain the acquaintance met in the bar, but the other, bearing a great bouquet14 of rosebuds15 in a lace-paper cone16, hurried importantly away. A subdued17 barytone was singing: "Our Way Across the Mountain, Ho!" The strains of a waltz, the Carlotta-Grisi, drifted out, and a number of couples answered its invitation.
A group at the iron railing across the foot of the colonnade attracted his attention by its excessive gayety. The center, he saw, was a young woman, with smooth bandeaux and loops of black hair, and a goya lily caught below her ear. She was not handsome, but her features were animated18, and her shoulders as finely white and sloping as an alabaster19 vase.
It was not this that held his attention, but a sense of familiarity, a feeling that he had seen her before. He walked past the group, without plan, and, meeting her gaze, bowed awkwardly in response to a hesitating but unmistakable smile of recognition. Alexander stopped, and she imperiously waved him to join the number about her. He was in a cold dread20 of the necessity of admitting, before so many, that he could not recall her name; but obviously all that she desired was to swell21 the circle of her admirers, for, beyond a second nod, she ignored him.
The Southerner was at her shoulder, maintaining a steady flow of repartee22, and Alexander envied him his assured presence, his dark, distinguished23 appearance. The man who had been indicated as Sinnox' companion stood by Hulings, and the latter conceived a violent prejudice for the other's meager24 yellow face and spiderlike hand, employed with a cheroot.
Alexander hoped that somebody would repeat the name of the girl who had spoken to him. A woman did, but only in the contracted, familiar form of Gisela.... Gisela—he had heard that too. Suddenly she affected25 to be annoyed; she arched her fine brows and glanced about, her gaze falling upon Alexander Hulings. Before he was aware of her movement a smooth white arm was thrust through his; he saw the curve of a powdered cheek, an elevated chin.
"Do take me out of this!" she demanded. "New Orleans molasses is—well, too thick."
Obeying the gentle pressure of her arm, he led her down the steps to the graveled expanse below. She stopped by a figure of the Goddess of Health, in filigree27 on mossy rocks, pouring water from an urn1. Her gown was glazed28 green muslin, with a mist of white tulle, shining with particles of silver. The goya lily exhaled29 a poignant30 scent31.
"I didn't really leave because of Mr. Sinnox," she admitted; "a pin was scratching, and I was devoured32 with curiosity to know who you were, where I had met——"
Suddenly, in a flash of remembered misery33, of bitter resentment34, he recognized her—Gisela, John Wooddrop's daughter. The knowledge pinched at his heart with malicious35 fingers; the starry36 night, the music and gala attire37, his loneliness had betrayed him into an unusual plasticity of being. He delayed for a long breath, and then said dryly: "I'm Alexander Hullings."
"Not——" she half cried, startled. She drew away from him, and her face grew cold. In the silence that followed he was conscious of the flower's perfume and the insistent38 drip of the water falling from the um. "But I haven't met you at all," she said; "I don't in the least know you." Her attitude was insolent39, and yet she unconsciously betrayed a faint curiosity. "I think you lacked delicacy40 to join my friends—to bring me out here!"
"I didn't," he reminded her; "you brought me." Instantly he cursed such clumsy stupidity. Her lower lip protruded41 disdainfully.
"Forgive me," she said, dropping a curtsy, "but I needn't keep you."
She swept away across the gravel26 and up the stairs to the veranda42. It was evident that the group had not separated; for almost immediately there rose a concerted laughter, a palpable mockery, drifting out to Alexander.
His face was hot, his hands clenched43 in angry resentment. More than anything else, he shrank from being an object of amusement, of gibes44. It was necessary to his self-esteem to be met with grave appreciation45.
This was his first experience of the keen assaults of social weapons, and it inflicted46 on him an extravagant47 suffering. His instinct was to retire farther into the night, only to return to his room when the hotel was dark, deserted48. But a second, stronger impulse sent him deliberately49 after Gisela Wooddrop, up the veranda stairs, and rigidly50 past the group gazing at him with curious mirth.
An oil flare51 fixed52 above them shone down on the lean, saturnine53 countenance54 of Partridge Sinnox. The latter, as he caught Alexander Hulings' gaze, smiled slightly.
That expression followed Alexander to his cramped55 room; it mocked him as he viciously pulled at the bell rope, desiring his servant; it was borne up to him on the faint strains of the violins. And in the morning it clouded his entire outlook. Sinnox' smile expressed a contempt that Alexander Hulings' spirit could not endure. From the first he had been resentful of the Southerner's cheap prestige. He added the qualifying word as he descended56 to breakfast.
Sinnox, as a dueller57, roused Hulings' impatience58; he had more than once faced impromptu59 death—iron bars in the hands of infuriated employees, and he had overborne them with a cold phrase. This theatrical60 playing with pistols—cheap! Later, in the crowded bar, he was pressed elbow to elbow with Sinnox and his companion; and he automatically and ruthlessly cleared sufficient space for his comfort. Sinnox' associate said, in remonstrance61: "Sir, there are others—perhaps more considerable."
"Perhaps!" Alexander Hulings carelessly agreed. Sinnox gazed down on him with narrowed eyes. "I see none about us," he remarked, "who would have to admit the qualification."
Alexander's bitterness increased, became aggressive. He met Sinnox' gaze with a stiff, dangerous scorn:
"In your case, at least, it needn't stand."
"Gentlemen," the third cried, "no more, I beg of you." He grasped Alexander Hulings' arm. "Withdraw!" he advised. "Mr. Sinnox' temper is fatal. Beyond a certain point it cannot be leashed. It has caused great grief. Gentlemen, I beg——"
"Do you mean——" Sinnox demanded, and his face was covered by an even, dark flush to the sweep of his hair.
"Cheap!" Alexander's voice was sudden and unpremeditated.
The other's temper rose in a black passion; he became so enraged62 that his words were mere63 unintelligible64 gasps65. His hand shook so that he dropped a glass of rock-and-rye splintering on the floor. "At once!" he finally articulated. "Scurvy——"
"This couldn't be helped," his companion proclaimed, agitated66. "I warned the other gentleman. Mr. Sinnox is not himself in a rage, his record is well known. He was elbowed aside by——"
"Alexander Hulings!" that individual pronounced.
He was aware of the gaze of the crowding men about him; already he was conscious of an admiration67 roused by the mere fact of his facing a notorious bully68. Cheap! The director joined him.
"By heavens, Hulings, you're in dangerous water. I understand you have no family."
"None!" Alexander stated curtly69.
Illogically he was conscious of the scent of a goya lily. Sinnox was propelled from the bar, and his friend reappeared and conferred with the director.
"At once!" Hulings heard the former announce. "Mr. Sinnox... unbearable70!"
"Have you a case of pistols?" the director asked. "Mr. Sinnox offers his. I believe there is a quiet opening back of the bathhouse. But my earnest advice to you is to withdraw; you will be very little blamed; this man is notorious, a professional fighter. You have only to say——"
Cheap! Alexander thought again, fretful at having been involved in such a ridiculous affair. He was even more deliberate than usual; but, though he was certain of his entire normality, the faces about him resembled small, bobbing balloons.
Alexander finished his drink—surprised to find himself still standing71 by the bar—and silently followed the director through the great hall of the hotel out on to the veranda, and across the grass to a spot hidden from the valley by the long, low bulk of the bathing house.
Sinnox and his companion, with a polished mahogany box, were already there; a small, curious group congregated72 in the distance. Sinnox' friend produced long pistols with silken-brown barrels and elegantly carved ivory stocks, into which he formally rammed73 powder and balls. Alexander Hulings was composed; but his fingers were cold, slightly numb2, and he rubbed them together angrily. Not for an instant did he think that he might be killed; other curious, faint emotions assailed74 him—long-forgotten memories of distant years; Veneada's kindly75 hand on his shoulder; the mule76 called Alexander because of its aptitude77 for hard labor78; John Wooddrop's daughter.
He saw that the pistols had been loaded; their manipulator stood with them, butts79 extended, in his grasp. He began a preamble80 of customary explanation, which he ended by demanding, for his principal, an apology from Alexander Hulings. The latter, making no reply, was attracted by Sin-nox' expression of deepening passion; the man's face, he thought, positively81 was black. Partridge Sinnox' entire body was twitching82 with rage.... Curious, for a seasoned, famous dueller!
Suddenly Sinnox, with a broken exclamation83, swung on his heel, grasped one of the pistols in his second's hands, and discharged it point-blank at Alexander Hulings.
An instant confused outcry rose. Alexander heard the term "Insane!" pronounced, as if in extenuation84, by Sinnox' friend. The latter held the remaining, undischarged pistol out of reach; the other lay on the ground before Partridge Sinnox. Alexander's face was as grey as granite85.
"That was the way he did it," he unconsciously pronounced aloud.
He wondered slowly at the fact that he had been unhit. Then, with his hand in a pocket, he walked stiffly up to within a few feet of Sinnox, and produced a small, ugly derringer, with one blunt barrel on top of the other.
At the stunning86 report that followed, the vicious, stinging cloud of smoke, he seemed to wake. He felt himself propelled away from the vicinity of the bathhouse; low, excited exclamations87 beat upon his ears: "Absolutely justified88!"
"Horrible attempt to murder!"
"Get his nigger and things. Best for the present." He impatiently shook himself free from his small following.
"Did I kill him?" he demanded.
There was an affirmative silence.
In his wagon89, driving rapidly toward Tubal Cain, a sudden sense of horror, weakness, overtook him; the roadside rocked beneath his vision.
"Mordecai," he said to his coachman, "I—I shot a man, derringered him."
The negro was unmoved.
"Man 'at fool round you, he's bound to be killed!" he asserted. "Yes, sir; he just throwed himself right away!"
Alexander Hulings wondered how John Wood-drop's daughter would be affected. At least, he thought grimly, once more self-possessed, he had put a stop to her laughter at his expense.
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1
urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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fiddles
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| n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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15
rosebuds
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| 蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 ) | |
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cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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23
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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filigree
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| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
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28
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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29
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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41
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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43
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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45
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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46
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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48
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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49
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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50
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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51
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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52
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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53
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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54
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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55
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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56
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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57
dueller
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58
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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59
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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60
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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61
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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62
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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63
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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64
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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65
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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66
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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67
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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68
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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69
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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70
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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71
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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72
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
rammed
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| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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74
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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75
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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76
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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77
aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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78
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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79
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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80
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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81
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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82
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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83
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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84
extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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85
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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86
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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87
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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88
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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89
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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