And here was his son—a youth in aspect fitting perfectly3 to Samuel's vision; a very prince of the blood, yet genial4 and free-hearted—noblesse oblige! To him had descended5 these virtues6 and excellences—and all the estates and powers as the sign and symbol thereof. And now had come a poor ignorant country boy, and it had fallen to his fortune to save the life of this extraordinary being. And he was to have a chance to be near him, and to serve him—to see how he lived, and to find out the secret of his superior excellence. There was no snobbery7 in Samuel's attitude; he felt precisely8 as another and far greater Samuel had felt when his sovereign had condescended9 to praise his dictionary, and the tears of gratitude10 had started into his eyes.
They drove up before the palace, and a groom11 came hurrying up. “Phillips,” said young Lockman, “look at that rein12!”
The groom stared aghast.
“Take it and show it to Sanderson,” the other continued. “Ask him if I don't pay enough for my harness that he gets me stuff like that.”
“Yes, sir,” said the groom.
They alighted and crossed the broad piazza13, which was covered with easy chairs and tables and rugs. In the entrance hall stood a man in livery.
“Peters,” said the young man, “this is Samuel Prescott. I had some trouble with my horse and he helped me. He hasn't had anything to eat today, and I want him to have a good meal.”
“Yes, sir,” said the man. “Where shall I serve it, sir?”
“In the morning room. We'll wait there. And mind you, bring him a plenty.”
“Yes, sir,” said Peters, and went off.
Meantime Samuel had time for a glance about him. Never had he heard or dreamed of such magnificence. It was appalling14, beyond belief! The great entrance hall went up to the roof; and there was a broad staircase of white marble, with galleries of marble, and below a marble fireplace, big enough to hold a section of a tree. Beyond this was a court with fountains splashing, and visions of palms and gorgeous flowers; and on each side were vistas15 of rooms with pictures and tapestries16 and furniture which Samuel thought must be of solid gold.
“Come,” said his companion, and they ascended17 the staircase.
Halfway18 up, however, Samuel stopped and caught his breath. Before him there was a painting. There is no need to describe it in detail—suffice it to say that it was a life-size painting of a woman, entirely19 naked; and that Samuel had never seen such a thing in his life before. He dropped his eyes as he came near to it.
They went along the gallery and entered a room, dazzlingly beautiful and bright. It was all done in white satin, the front being of glass, and opening upon a wide balcony. There were flowers and singing birds, and in the panels most beautiful paintings, representing wood nymphs dancing. These airy creatures, also, were innocent of anything save filmy veils; but they were all about the room, and so poor Samuel had no way to escape them. He sought for light within his mind; and suddenly he recollected20 the illustrated21 Bible at home. Perhaps the peerless beings who lived in such palaces had returned to a state of guiltlessness, such as had existed before the serpent came.
Young Lockman flung himself into an easy chair and proceeded to cross-question his companion. He wanted to know all about the interview with “Old Stew”; and afterwards, having managed to divine Samuel's attitude to himself, he led him to talk about that, which Samuel did with the utmost frankness. “Gee, but you're a queer duffer!” was Lockman's comment; but Samuel didn't mind that.
The butler came with the meal—carrying it on a big tray, and with another man to carry a folding table, and yet another to help. Such a display of silver and cut glass! Such snowy linen22, and such unimaginable viands23! There were piles of sandwiches, each one half a bite for a fairly hungry man. There was jellied game, and caviar, and a pate24 of something strange and spicy25. Nothing was what one would have expected—there were eggs inside of baked potatoes, and ice cream in some sort of crispy cake. The crackers26 looked like cakes, and the cakes like crackers, and the cheese was green and discouraging. But a bowl of strawberries and cream held out a rich promise at the end, and Samuel took heart.
“Fall to,” said the host; and then divining the other's state of mind, he remarked, “You needn't serve, Peters,” and the men went away, to Samuel's vast relief.
“Don't mind me,” added Lockman laughing. “And if there's any question you want to ask, all right.”
So Samuel tasted the food of the gods; a kind of food which human skill and ingenuity27 had labored28 for centuries to invent, and for days and even weeks to prepare. Samuel wondered vaguely29 where all these foods had come from, and how many people had had a hand in their preparation; also he wondered if all those who ate them would become as beautiful and as dazzling as his young friend.
The friend meanwhile was vastly diverted, and was bent30 upon making the most of his find. “I suppose you'd like to see the place?” he said.
“I should, indeed,” said Samuel.
“Come and I'll show it to you—that is, If you're able to walk after the meal.”
The meal did not trouble Samuel, and they went out and took a stroll. And so the boy met with yet another revelation of the possibilities of existence.
If there was anything in the world he would have supposed he understood, it was farming; but here at “Fairview” was farming as it was done by the methods of Science. At home they had had some lilac bushes and a row of peonies; here were acres of greeneries, filled with flowers of gorgeous and unimaginable splendor31, and rare plants from every part of the world. At home it had been Samuel's lot to milk the cow, and he had found it a trying job on cold and dark winter mornings; and here was a model dairy, with steam heat and electric light, and tiled walls and nickel plumbing32, and cows with pedigrees in frames, and attendants with white uniforms and rubber gloves. Then there was a row of henhouses, each for a fancy breed of fowl—some of them red and lean as herons, and others white as snow and as fat and ungainly as hogs33. And then out in front, at one corner of the lawn, was the aviary34, with houses for the peacocks and lyre birds, and for parrots and magpies35 and innumerable strange birds from the tropics. Also there were dog kennels36 with many dozens of strange breeds.
“Father got those for me,” said young Lockman. “He thought I'd be interested in agriculture.”
“Well, aren't you?” asked Samuel.
“Not very much,” said the other carelessly. “Here's Punch—what do you think of him?”
The occasion for this was a dog, the most hideously37 ugly object that Samuel had ever seen in his life. “I—I don't think I'd care for him,” he said hesitatingly.
“He's a Japanese bulldog,” observed the other. “He cost three thousand dollars.”
“Three thousand dollars!” gasped38 the boy in horror. “Why should anyone pay so much for a dog?”
“That's what he's worth,” said the other with a laugh.
They went to see the horses, which were housed in a palace of their own. There were innumerable rows of stalls, and a running track and endless acres of inclosures. “Why do you have so many horses?” asked Samuel.
“Father ran a stock farm,” said the other. “I don't have much time to give to it myself.”
“But who rides the horses?” asked Samuel.
“Well, I go in for sport,” replied Lockman. “I'm supposed to be quite a dab39 at polo.”
“I see,” said the boy—though to tell the truth he did not see at all, not having the least idea what polo was.
“If you're interested in horses, I'll have them find you something to do here,” Lockman went on.
“Oh, thank you,” said the boy with a thrill. “That will be fine!”
He could have spent all day in gazing at the marvels40 of this place, but his host was tired now and started back to the house. “It's lunch time,” he said. “Perhaps you are hungry again!”
They came out upon the piazza and sat down. And then suddenly they heard a clatter41 of hoofs42 and looked up. “Hello!” exclaimed the host. “Here's Glad!”
A horse was coming up the road at a lively pace. The rider was seated a-straddle, and so Samuel was slow to realize that it was a woman. It was only when he saw her wave her hand and call to them that he was sure.
She reined43 up her horse, and a groom who followed her took the rein, and she stepped off upon the piazza and stood looking at them. She was young and of extraordinary beauty. She was breathing fast, and her hair was blown about her forehead, and the glow of health was in her cheeks; and Samuel thought that she was the most beautiful object that he had ever beheld44 in all his life. He stared transfixed; he had never dreamed that anything so wonderful could exist in the world. He realized in a sudden glow of excitement what it was that confronted him. She was the female of this higher species; she was the superior and triumphant45 woman.
“Hello, Bertie!” she said.
“Hello!” the other replied, and then added. “This is my cousin, Miss Wygant. Glad, this is Samuel Prescott.”
The girl made a slight acknowledgment, and stared at Samuel with a look in which curiosity and hauteur46 were equally mingled47. She was a brunette with dark hair, and an almost Oriental richness of coloring. She was lithe48 and gracefully49 built, and quick in her motions. There was eager alertness in her whole aspect; her glance was swift and her voice imperious. One could read her at a glance for a person accustomed to command—impatient and adventurous50, passionate51 and proud.
“I've had an adventure,” said her cousin by way of explanation. “Samuel, here, saved my life.”
And Samuel thrilled to see the sudden look of interest which came into the girl's face.
“What!” she cried.
“Yes,” said the other. “Spitfire ran away with me.”
“You don't mean it, Bertie!”
“Yes. The rein broke. He started near the gate here and ran three or four miles with me.”
“Bertie!” cried the girl. “And what happened?”
“Samuel stopped him.”
“How?”
“It was splendid, Glad—the nerviest thing I ever saw. He just flung himself at the rein and caught it and hung on. He saved my life, beyond question.”
And now Samuel, burning up with embarrassment52, faced the full blaze of the girl's impetuous interest. “How perfectly fine!” she exclaimed; then, “Where do you come from?” she asked.
“He's just off a farm,” said Lockman. “He was on his way to New York to make his fortune. And think of it, Glad, he'd been robbed, and he'd been wandering about town begging for work, and he was nearly starving.”
“You don't say so!” gasped the girl.
She took a chair and indicated to Samuel to sit in front of her. “Tell me all about yourself,” she said; and proceeded to cross-question him about his life and his adventures.
Poor Samuel was like a witness in the hands of a prosecutor—he became hopelessly confused and frightened. But that made no difference to the girl, who poured a ceaseless fire of questions upon him, until she had laid his whole life bare. She even made him tell about Manning, the stockbroker53, and how the family had lost its money in the collapse54 of Glass Bottle Securities. And then her cousin put in a word about his adventure with “Old Stew,” and Samuel had to tell that all over again, and to set forth55 his sociological convictions—Miss Wygant and her cousin meantime exchanging glances of wonder and amusement.
At last, however, they tired of him and fell to talking of a dance they were to attend and a tennis tournament in which they were to play. And so Samuel had a chance to gaze at Miss Wygant and to feast his eyes upon her beauty. He could have dreamed of no greater joy in all this world than to watch her for hours—to study every detail of her features and her costume, and to see the play of laughter about her mouth and eyes.
But then came the butler announcing luncheon56; and Samuel rose in a panic. He had a sudden vision of himself being asked to the table, to sit under Miss Wygant's merciless survey. “I think I'd better go now,” he said.
“All right,” said young Lockman. “Will you come to-morrow morning, and we'll fix things up?”
“I'll come,” said Samuel.
“What are you going to do with him?” asked the girl.
“He likes to take care of horses,” said Lockman.
“No,” exclaimed the other promptly57, “that won't do.”
“Why not?” asked he.
“Because, Bertie, you don't want to make a stable boy out of him. He has too many possibilities. For one thing, he's good looking.”
Samuel flushed scarlet58 and dropped his eyes. He felt again that penetrating59 gaze.
“All right,” said Lockman. “What can you suggest?”
“I don't know, I'm sure. But something decent.”
“He doesn't know enough to be a house servant, Glad—”
“No—but something outside. Couldn't he learn gardening? Are you fond of flowers, Samuel?”
“Yes, ma'am,” said Samuel quickly.
“Well, then, make a gardener out of him,” said Miss Wygant; and that settled Samuel's destiny.
The boy took his departure and went home, almost running in his excitement. He was transported into a distant heaven of bliss60; he had been seated among the gods—he was to dwell there forever after!
His new patron had given him a five-dollar bill; and before he reached the Stedman home he stopped in a grocery store and loaded up his arms with bundles. And then, seized by a sudden thought, he went into a notion store and set down his bundles and purchased a clean, white linen collar, and a necktie of royal purple and brilliant green—already tied, so that it would always be perfect in shape.
Then he went into the Stedmans, and the widow and the youngest children sat round and listened open-eyed to his tale. And then came Sophie, and he had to tell it all over again.
The girl's eyes opened wide with excitement when he came to the end of his recital61. “Miss Wygant!” she exclaimed. “Miss Gladys Wygant?”
“Yes,” said Samuel. “You've heard of her?”
“I've seen her!” exclaimed Sophie eagerly. “Twice!”
“You don't mean it,” he said.
“Yes. Once she came to our church festival at Christmas.”
“Does she belong to your church?”
“It's the mission. Great folks like her wouldn't want us in the church with them. She goes to St. Matthew's, you know—up there on the hill. But she came to the festival at the mission and helped to give out the presents. And she was dressed all in red—something filmy and soft, like you'd see in a dream. And, oh, Samuel—she was so beautiful! She had a rose in her hair—and such a sweet perfume—you could hardly bear it! And she stood there and smiled at all the children and gave them the presents. She gave me mine, and it was like seeing a princess. I wanted to fall down and kiss her feet.”
“Yes,” said Samuel understandingly.
“And to think that you've met her!” cried Sophie in ecstasy62. “And talked with her! Oh, how could you do it?”
“I—I don't think I did it very well,” said Samuel.
“What did you say to her?”
“I don't remember much of it.”
“I never heard her voice,” said Sophie. “She was talking, the other time I saw her, but the machinery63 drowned it out. That was in the mill—she came there with some other people and walked about, looking at everything. We were all so excited. You know, her father owns the mill.”
“No, I didn't know it,” replied Samuel.
“He owns all sorts of things in Lockmanville. They're very, very rich. And she's his only daughter, and so beautiful—everybody worships her. I've got two pictures of her that were in the newspapers once. Come—you must see them.”
And so the two rushed upstairs; and over the bed were two faded newspaper clippings, one showing Miss Gladys in an evening gown, and the other in dimity en princesse, with a bunch of roses in her arms.
“Did you ever see anything so lovely?” asked the girl. “I made her my fairy godmother. And she used to say such lovely things to me. She must be very kind, you know—no one could be so beautiful who wasn't very, very good and kind.”
“No,” said Samuel. “She must be, I'm sure.”
And then a sudden idea came to him. “Sophie!” he exclaimed—“she said I was good looking! I wonder if I am.”
And Sophie shot a quick glance at him. “Why, of course you are!” she cried. “You stupid boy!”
Samuel went to the cracked mirror which hung upon the wall and looked at himself with new and wandering interest.
“Don't you see how fine and strong you are?” said Sophie. “And what a bright color you've got?”
“I never thought of it,” said he, and recollected the green and purple necktie.
“And to think that you've talked with her!” exclaimed Sophie, turning back to the pictures; and she added in a sudden burst of generosity64, “I tell you what I'll do, Samuel—I'll give you these, and you can put them in your room!”
“You mustn't do that!” he protested.
But the girl insisted. “No, no! I know them by heart, so it won't make any difference. And they'll mean so much more to you, because you've really met her!”
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1
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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snobbery
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| n. 充绅士气派, 俗不可耐的性格 | |
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8
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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13
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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vistas
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| 长条形景色( vista的名词复数 )； 回顾； 展望； （未来可能发生的）一系列情景 | |
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16
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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17
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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spicy
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| adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的 | |
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crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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plumbing
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| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
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hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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aviary
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| n.大鸟笼，鸟舍 | |
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magpies
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| 喜鹊（magpie的复数形式） | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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dab
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| v.轻触，轻拍，轻涂；n.(颜料等的)轻涂 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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44
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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45
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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50
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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51
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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52
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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53
stockbroker
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| n.股票（或证券），经纪人（或机构） | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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55
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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56
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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58
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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59
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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60
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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61
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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62
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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63
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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64
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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