There she sits, at the very opposite corner, just as far off as accident could put her from this handsome fellow, by whose side she ought, of course, to be sitting. One of the “positive” blondes, as my friend, you may remember, used to call them. Tawny-haired, amber-eyed, full-throated, skin as white as a blanched2 almond. Looks dreamy to me, not self-conscious, though a black ribbon round her neck sets it off as a Marie-Antoinette’s diamond-necklace could not do. So in her dress, there is a harmony of tints3 that looks as if an artist had run his eye over her and given a hint or two like the finishing touch to a picture. I can’t help being struck with her, for she is at once rounded and fine in feature, looks calm, as[8] blondes are apt to, and as if she might run wild, if she were trifled with.——It is just as I knew it would be,——and anybody can see that our young Marylander will be dead in love with her in a week.
Then if that little man would only turn out immensely rich and have the good-nature to die and leave them all his money, it would be as nice as a three-volume novel.
The Little Gentleman is in a flurry, I suspect, with the excitement of having such a charming neighbor next him. I judge so mainly by his silence and by a certain rapt and serious look on his face, as if he were thinking of something that had happened, or that might happen, or that ought to happen,——or how beautiful her young life looked, or how hardly Nature had dealt with him, or something which struck him silent, at any rate. I made several conversational4 openings for him, but he did not fire up as he often does. I even went so far as to indulge in a fling at the State House, which, as we all know, is in truth a very imposing5 structure, covering less ground than St. Peter’s, but of similar general effect. The little man looked up, but did not reply to my taunt6. He said to the young lady, however, that the State House was the Parthenon of our Acropolis, which seemed to please her, for she smiled, and he reddened a little,——so I thought. I don’t think it right to watch persons who are the subjects of special infirmity,——but we all do it.
I see that they have crowded the chairs a little at that end of the table, to make room for another new-comer of the lady sort. A well-mounted, middle-aged7 preparation, wearing her hair without a cap,——pretty wide in the[9] parting, though,——contours vaguely8 hinted,——features very quiet,——says little as yet, but seems to keep her eye on the young lady, as if having some responsibility for her.
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1
perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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2
blanched
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v.使变白( blanch的过去式 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
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3
tints
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色彩( tint的名词复数 ); 带白的颜色; (淡色)染发剂; 痕迹 | |
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4
conversational
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adj.对话的,会话的 | |
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5
imposing
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adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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6
taunt
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n.辱骂,嘲弄;v.嘲弄 | |
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7
middle-aged
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adj.中年的 | |
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8
vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
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