In the filial relation, Andrea, I had before observed, particularly shone. His charming manner was never so charming as when he was addressing his father; and the presence of his younger son appeared to have a vitalizing, rejuvenating1 effect on the old Marchese.
And now, as I watched them pacing amicably2 in the delightful3 spring morning, the tears rose for a moment to my eyes; I remembered that it was Sunday, that a long way off in unromantic Islington my mother was making ready for the walk to church, while I, an exile, looked from my palace window with nothing better in prospect4 than a solitary5 journey to the Chiesa Inglese. Annunziata had not gone to[Pg 90] mass, and when I came downstairs ready dressed she explained that she had a headache, and was in need of a little company to cheer her up.
Of course I could not do less than offer to forego my walk and attendance at church, which I did with a wistful recollection of the beauty and sweetness of the day.
"Have you heard?" she said. "Costanza goes back to Florence to-night. She prefers not to miss the last two days of Carnival6, Monday and Tuesday. So she says," cried the Marchesina, with a frankness that astonished me, even from her; "so she says; but between ourselves, Andrea was very attentive7 last night to Emilia di Rossa. Costanza ought to understand what he is by now. She has known him all her life; she ought certainly to be aware that his one little weakness—Andrea is as good as gold—is the ladies."
I bent8 my head low over my work, with an indignant, shame-stricken consciousness that I was blushing. "He is evidently engaged to Costanza," I thought, and I wished the earth would open and swallow me.
"And a young girl, like Emilia," went on Annunziata; "who knows what construction she might put[Pg 91] upon his behaviour? It is not that he says so much, but he has a way with him which is open to misinterpretation. Poor little thing, she has no money to speak of, and, even if she had, who are the Di Rossas? Andrea, for all he is so free and easy, is as proud as the devil, and the very last man to make a mésalliance. A convent, say I, will be the end of the Di Rossa." And she sighed contentedly9.
Was it possible that she was insulting me? Was this a warning, a warning to me, Elsie Meredith? Did she think me an adventuress, setting traps for a rich and noble husband, or merely an eager fool liable to put a misconstruction on the simplest acts of kindliness10 and courtesy?
My blazing cheeks, no doubt, confirmed whichever suspicion she had been indulging in, but I was determined11 to show her that I was not afraid. Lifting my face—with its hateful crimson—boldly to hers, I said: "We in England regard marriage and—and love in another way. I know it is not so in Italy; but with us the reason for getting married is that you are fond of some one, and that some one is fond of you. Other sorts of marriages are not thought nice," with which bold and sweeping12 statement on behalf of my native land I returned with trembling fingers to my needlework.
[Pg 92]
To do me justice, I fully13 believed in my own words. That marriage which had not affection for its basis was shameful14 had been the simple creed15 of the little world at home.
"Indeed?" said Annunziata, with genuine interest; "but, as you say, it is not so with us."
My lips twitched16 in an irresistible17 smile. Her round eyes met mine so frankly18, her round face was so unruffled in its amiability19, that I could not but feel I had made a fool of myself. The guileless lady was prattling20 on, no doubt as usual, as a relief to her own feelings, and not with any underlying22 intention.
I felt more ashamed than before of my own self-consciousness.
"What is the matter with you, Elsie Meredith?" cried a voice within me. "I think your own mother wouldn't know you; your own sisters would pass you by in the street."
"Andrea ought to know," went on Annunziata, "that such freedom of manners is not permissible23 in Italy between a young man and young women. He seems to have forgotten this in America, where, I am told, the licence is something shocking."
I wished the good lady would be less confidential—what was all this to me?—and I was almost glad when[Pg 93] the ladies came sailing in from mass, all of them evidently in the worst possible tempers.
There was an air of constraint24 about the whole party at lunch that day. Wedged in between the Marchesa and Romeo I sat silent and glum25, having returned Andrea's cordial bow very coldly across the table. Every one deplored26 Costanza's approaching departure, rather mechanically, I thought, and that young lady herself repeatedly expressed her regret at leaving.
"Dear Marchesa," she cried, "I am at my wits' end with disappointment; but my mother's letter this morning admits of but one reply. She says she cannot spare me from the gaieties of the next two days."
"You might come back after Ash Wednesday," said Bianca, who sat with her arm round her friend between the courses, and whose friendship seemed to have been kindled27 into a blaze by the coming separation.
"Dearest Bianca, if I could only persuade you to return with me!"
"Bianca never makes visits," answered her mother, drily.
"Were you at church this morning, Miss [Pg 94]Meredith?" asked the old Marchese, kindly28, as the figs29 and chestnuts30 were put on the table.
It was the first time that any one had addressed me directly throughout the meal, and I blushed hotly as I gave my answer.
The departure of Costanza, her boxes and her maid, was of course the great event of the afternoon.
The three gentlemen and Annunziata drove with her to the station, and I was left behind with my pupil and her mother.
A stiff bow from Costanza, a glare through her double eyeglass, and a contemptuous "Good-bye, Miss," in English, had not tended to raise my spirits. To be an object of universal dislike was an experience as new as it was unpleasant, and I was losing confidence in myself with every hour.
Even Bianca had deserted31 me, and, ensconced close to her mother, shot glances at me of her early curiosity and criticism.
As for the Marchesa, that inscrutable person scarcely stopped talking all the afternoon, rattling21 on in her dry, colourless way about nothing at all. Speech was to her the shield and buckler which silence is to persons less gifted. Behind her own volubility she could withdraw as behind a bulwark,[Pg 95] whence she made observations safe from being herself observed.
I was quite worn out by eight o'clock, when the usual Sunday visitors began to arrive.
With my work in my hand, I sat on the outskirts32 of the throng33, not working indeed, but pondering deeply.
"Miss Meredith, you are very industrious34."
There before me stood Andrea, a very obstinate35 look on his face, unmindful of Annunziata's proximity36 and Romeo's scowls37.
"As it happens, I haven't put in a stitch for the last ten minutes," I answered quietly, though my heart beat.
He drew a chair close to mine.
"You are unfair, Andrea, you are unfair," I thought, "to make things worse for Miss Meredith by singling her out in this way, when you know it makes them all so cross. Things are bad enough for her as it is, and you might forego your little bit of amusement."
I began really to stitch with unnatural38 industry, bending an unresponsive face over the work in my hand.
"That is very pretty," said Andrea.
[Pg 96]
"No, no, Marchesino," I thought again, "you are as good as gold, any one could see that from your eyes; but you have a little weakness, only one—'the ladies'—and you must not be encouraged."
"Marchesina," I said aloud in Italian, "the Marchesino admires my work."
"I taught her how to do it," cried Annunziata, breaking into a smile. "See, it is not so easy to draw the fine gold thread through the leather, but she is an apt pupil."
"Miss Meredith, I am sorry to see you looking so pale." Andrea dropped his voice very low, adhering obstinately40 to English and fixing his eyes on mine.
"I haven't been out to-day."
"What, wasting this glorious weather indoors. Is it possible that you are falling into the worst of our Italian ways?"
"I generally go for a walk."
"Certainly, dear child."
Bowing to the assembled company I made my way deliberately42 to the door. Andrea was there before[Pg 97] me, holding it open, a look of unusual sternness on his face.
"Good-night, Miss Meredith," and then before them all he held out his hand.
Only for a moment did our fingers join in a firm eager clasp, only for a moment did his eyes meet mine in a strange, mysterious glance. Only for a moment, but as I fled softly, rapidly along the corridor I felt that in that one instant of time all my life's meaning had been changed. "As good as gold; as good as gold." These words went round and round in my head as I lay sobbing43 on the pillow.
Somehow that was the only part of Annunziata's warning which remained with me.
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1
rejuvenating
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| 使变得年轻，使恢复活力( rejuvenate的现在分词 ) | |
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2
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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8
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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12
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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13
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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16
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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17
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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20
prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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21
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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22
underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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permissible
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| adj.可允许的，许可的 | |
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constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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28
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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29
figs
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| figures 数字，图形，外形 | |
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30
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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31
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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32
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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33
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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34
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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35
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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36
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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37
scowls
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| 不悦之色，怒容( scowl的名词复数 ) | |
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38
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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39
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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40
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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41
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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42
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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43
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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