Nona and Barbara were seated on a wide window seat with Captain Castaigne beside them. A little further on Eugenia, in a carved, high-back chair, was watching the group but taking little part in the conversation. Mildred and the Countess Amélie were on the opposite side of the great room, still having their coffee and chatting amiably1, though in not an animated2 fashion. For the Countess would have scorned to speak any language but her beloved French, and while Mildred’s French was good it was not very rapid. Nevertheless, her manners were undeniably sweet and unaffected and the Countess plainly approved of her more than any one of the other girls.
Captain Castaigne smiled at Nona.
[140]
“Well, I had my suspicions,” he answered, with the faintest gleam of amusement in his dark eyes. “Moreover, I received a letter from Lieutenant3 Hume telling me that four American Red Cross girls had disappeared from Paris and were nursing somewhere in southern France.” The young officer bowed his head with a pretense4 of penitence5. “Also I must confess that I have asked a few questions of old Fran?ois. You see, I have only recently been transferred to a regiment6 near my own home, else I should have prayed for the privilege of calling upon you. But not having seen any one of you until this afternoon, I could not be sure my surmise7 was correct.”
In her throne-like chair Eugenia’s shoulders assumed a straighter pose, while her face turned unexpectedly scarlet8.
“Are you entirely9 convinced you have seen no one of us since our meeting in Paris?” she inquired so suddenly and in such a peculiar10 tone, even for Eugenia, that Nona and Barbara turned to glance toward her in surprise.
[141]
Not having spoken in the past ten minutes, her eyes were now fixed12 upon the young French officer with an expression which Barbara Meade at least recognized. It plainly expressed disapproval13.
Nevertheless, there was no reason why Captain Castaigne should instantly become embarrassed. Up to this time he had been a delightful14 host, gracious and gay. Certainly his manners were not like those of an American or an Englishman, but Nona and Barbara instinctively15 understood that his fashion of paying pretty compliments and his somewhat devoted16 air as he talked to one, were simply characteristics of a foreigner.
Now, however, he blushed and stammered17 like a school-boy. With Eugenia’s gaze upon him he crimsoned18 and cast down his eyes.
“If I have seen one of you before I am sure I have not recognized you,” he returned with unnecessary humility19. “I have been at work with my soldiers most of the time since receiving my new command. I only return to the chateau20 occasionally to see my mother.”
[142]
“Do you usually pay these visits in the daytime or in the evening?” she questioned, with what seemed to the other two girls rather too much curiosity. For these were war times when one was not supposed to ask questions that were not absolutely necessary.
Still the young officer showed no resentment22.
“I have no regular hour, Mademoiselle. Whenever I can be spared I desire to be with my mother. There are only the two of us and we have been much separated. First there were the years devoted to my training as a soldier and since has come the cruel fortune of war.”
From the opposite side of the room the Countess Amélie must at this moment have guessed that her son was speaking of her. She looked toward him with such a combination of pride and devotion that it was almost touching23. Her whole face softened24.
But Eugenia did not observe her.
[143]
“I am not so sure we have not met each other in this neighborhood quite recently,” she continued with extraordinary coldness. Nona and Barbara became more and more surprised. For although Eugenia was not cordial with strangers, she was usually civil. Vainly they were searching their minds for some remark with which to turn the current of the conversation when Eugenia went on:
“I was on my way home to our little farmhouse25 the other evening, after nursing at the field hospital until quite late. I met some one, an officer, I think. It was then too dark for me to see his face, but I have been wondering ever since——”
At this moment Eugenia’s speech was interrupted, but not by one of her companions. For the heavy door of the drawing room was pushed slowly open and a great dog walked majestically26 into the room.
He paused for an instant to gaze at his mistress. Then receiving her silent permission, he started a pilgrimage about the room.
[144]
Nona shrank behind the smaller Barbara, for in spite of her usual bravery she had a nervous fear of dogs. However, this great Dane was not to be feared by guests inside his own domain27. As he padded from one visitor to the other it was plain that he was greeting each one of them in turn. Mildred came first and was allowed to lay her hand on his head, then Nona and Barbara. Afterwards the dog moved toward Eugenia. Within a few feet of her he paused, his ears and tail visibly drooping28, and turned imploring29 eyes upon his young master.
Whatever the signal that passed between them, the next moment the splendid creature sank down at Eugenia’s feet, burying his head between his forepaws. His whole attitude indicated a prayer for pardon.
Immediately after Captain Castaigne got up and walked over toward Eugenia. He stood silent for half a moment, evidently hoping that she might relax from her severity.
Never in his life had he met such an extraordinary and difficult young woman![145] As he had been under the same impression five minutes after their introduction in Paris, why should Fate be so unkind as to cause them to see each other again? And then to place him in such an awkward position as he now found himself!
“I owe you ten thousand pardons, Mademoiselle. Ah, more than that, for I consider my own act unpardonable!” he exclaimed. “Until you spoke11 I had been hoping that I might be mistaken, and that it was not you whom I caused to suffer the other evening.”
The young Frenchman cast his eyes imploringly30 toward Eugenia, clasping his hands together in a dramatic fashion.
If only Eugenia had been able to smile at this moment, how much simpler the future would have been! But remember, Eugenia had a Puritan conscience, and a Puritan conscience often exacts its pound of flesh in payment for sins from other people as well as from itself. Moreover, Eugenia disliked Captain Castaigne’s manners and appearance intensely. To her he appeared theatrical31 and insincere. A simple, straightforward[146] American apology she believed she would have accepted at once. But this young aristocrat32 with his too perfect features and physique must suffer for his offense33. No doubt the other girls would have forgiven him. He looked like the type of man most women would deal gently with, so Eugenia felt it would undoubtedly34 be good for him to be snubbed by her.
As she now stared severely35 at the young Frenchman in answer to his pleading, she looked like all the Pilgrim fathers’ portraits that hang on old New England family walls melted together into one face. Of course, he did not understand her in the least. Lieutenant Hume had explained that the Miss Peabody he had met in Paris was an old maid from Boston. But this conveyed nothing to Captain Castaigne’s mind. Old maids in France were not in the least like this young woman and he had a very vague idea of where Boston was and of what the city could be like. However, he did know that he had offended against a Frenchman’s and an officer’s code of manners and was therefore willing to make any possible apology.
[147]
“You will understand that not only did I not know you: I did not realize that you were a woman or I should never have sent my dog to interrupt you. Why, why did you not halt when I called out to you? If only you had given one little sign, made the least sound! I thought I should have fainted when I beheld36 a figure upon the ground and in the uniform of a Red Cross nurse, the uniform I respect most in all the world.”
There could be no doubt of Captain Castaigne’s sincerity37 at this moment. Nona and Barbara, who were listening with intense interest to his plea, were deeply moved by the tribute he thus paid the Red Cross work. But if Eugenia felt this she did not reveal it.
“I prefer not to discuss the accident,” she returned, rising from her chair and preparing to leave. “Certainly I realize that you would not have desired to injure me personally had you known I was a Red Cross nurse. But I cannot see that you are justified38 in sending that great beast of a dog to attack wayfarers39, simply because you do not chance to know who they are.”
[148]
Barbara and Nona had also gotten up intending to withdraw with their friend. Actually at this moment Barbara had the temerity40 to giggle41, although no one but Nona was aware of it. It was so absurd to hear Eugenia lecturing a French officer with regard to his duties and privileges. It was even funnier to see the spirit in which he accepted his snubbing!
“But, Mademoiselle,” he continued, shrugging his slender shoulders, decorated with the gold braid of his rank, “surely you must appreciate that in these war times we have many dangerous visitors to our entrenchments. One cannot permit a wanderer to remain at large who refuses to give an account of himself? Besides, my dog would have injured no one. He had his orders merely to hold the prisoner until I could reach him.”
Captain Castaigne laid his boyish hand on the head of the great dog, who at once rose up clumsily and stood beside him. “Some day, Mademoiselle, I shall pray that my dog and I may do you a service to atone42 for our mistake. To many a wounded[149] soldier Le Duc has brought aid on the battlefield. In any case the offense was mine, while his only that of obedience43 to a stupid master. Say at least that you forgive my dog?”
The young officer spoke so winningly that even Eugenia was compelled to relent slightly. However, she still retained an uncomfortable vision of herself, face downward upon the ground with this young Captain Castaigne holding the light above her and gazing down on her prostrate44 form.
Nevertheless, she accepted the large paw that Duke stretched forth45 to her. As the eyes of Eugenia and the dog met, the ghost of an understanding passed between them.
The next instant, after saying farewell to their hostess, she departed, the other three Red Cross girls following her.
“What a very objectionable young woman,” the Countess Amélie remarked to her son in French, when speaking of their guests a short time afterwards. The young officer did not inquire which one of the four girls she meant.
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1
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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2
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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3
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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4
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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5
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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6
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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7
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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8
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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9
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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10
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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11
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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12
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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13
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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14
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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15
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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16
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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17
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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20
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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21
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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22
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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24
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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25
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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28
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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29
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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30
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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31
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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32
aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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33
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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34
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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35
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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36
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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37
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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38
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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39
wayfarers
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| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
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40
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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41
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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42
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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43
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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44
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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45
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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