"No, uncle; but you can easily ask Hoffman," replied Helen.
"By the way, Karl, who was the Polish gentleman who came on with us?" asked the major a moment afterward1, as the courier came in with newspapers.
"Casimer Teblinski, sir."
"No, mademoiselle, but of a noble family, as the 'ski' denotes, for that is to Polish and Russian names what 'von' is to German and 'de' to French."
"I was rather interested in him. Where did you pick him up, Hoffman?" said the major.
"In Paris, where he was with fellow-exiles."
"He is what he seems, is he?—no impostor, or anything of that sort?
One is often deceived, you know."
"On my honor, sir, he is a gentleman, and as brave as he is accomplished4 and excellent."
"Will he die?" asked Amy, pathetically.
"With care he would recover, I think; but there is no one to nurse him, so the poor lad must take his chance and trust in heaven for help."
"How sad! I wish we were going his way, so that we might do something for him—at least give him the society of his friend."
Helen glanced at Hoffman, feeling that if he were not already engaged by them, he would devote himself to the invalid5 without any thought of payment.
"Perhaps we are. You want to see the Lake of Geneva, Chillon, and that neighborhood. Why not go now, instead of later?"
"Will you, uncle? That's capital! We need say nothing, but go on and help the poor boy, if we can."
Helen spoke6 like a matron of forty, and looked as full of maternal7 kindness as if the Pole were not out of his teens.
The courier bowed, the major laughed behind his paper, and Amy gave a sentimental8 sigh to the memory of the baron, in whom her interest was failing.
They only caught a glimpse of the Pole that evening at the Kursaal, but next morning they met, and he was invited to join their party for a little expedition.
The major was in fine spirits, and Helen assumed her maternal air toward both invalids9, for the sound of that hollow cough always brought a shadow over her face, recalling the brother she had lost.
Amy was particularly merry and charming, and kept the whole party laughing at her comical efforts to learn Polish and teach English as they drove up the mountainside to the old Schloss.
"I'm not equal to mounting all those steps for a view I've seen a dozen times; but pray take care of the child, Nell, or she'll get lost again, as at Heidelberg," said the major, when they had roamed about the lower part of the place; for a cool seat in the courtyard and a glass of beer were more tempting10 than turrets11 and prospects12 to the stout13 gentleman.
"She shall not be lost; I am her body-guard. It is steep—permit that I lead you, mademoiselle;" Casimer offered his hand to Amy, and they began their winding14 way. As she took the hand, the girl blushed and half smiled, remembering the vaults15 and the baron.
"I like this better," she said to herself, as they climbed step by step, often pausing to rest in the embrasures of the loopholes, where the sun glanced in, the balmy wind blew, and vines peeped from without, making a pretty picture of the girl, as she sat with rosy16 color on her usually pale cheeks, brown curls fluttering about her forehead, laughing lips, and bright eyes full of pleasant changes. Leaning opposite in the narrow stairway, Casimer had time to study the little tableau17 in many lights, and in spite of the dark glasses, to convey warm glances of admiration18, of which, however, the young coquette seemed utterly19 unconscious.
Helen came leisurely20 after, and Hoffman followed with a telescope, wishing, as he went, that his countrywomen possessed21 such dainty feet as those going on before him, for which masculine iniquity22 he will be pardoned by all who have seen the foot of a German Fraulein.
Sitting on a fallen block of stone, while Casimer held a sun-umbrella over her, Amy had raptures25 at her ease; while Helen sketched27 and asked questions of Hoffman, who stood beside her, watching her progress with interest. Once when, after repeated efforts to catch a curious effect of light and shade, she uttered an impatient little exclamation28, Karl made a gesture as if to take the pencil and show her, but seemed to recollect29 himself and drew back with a hasty "Pardon, mademoiselle." Helen glanced up and saw the expression of his face, which plainly betrayed that for a moment the gentleman had forgotten he was a courier. She was glad of it, for it was a daily trial to her to order this man about; and following the womanly impulse, she smiled and offered the pencil, saying simply,—
"I felt sure you understood it; please show me."
He did so, and a few masterly strokes gave the sketch26 what it needed. As he bent30 near her to do this Helen stole a glance at the grave, dark face, and suddenly a disturbed look dawned in the eyes fixed31 on the glossy32 black locks pushed off the courier's forehead, for he had removed his hat when she spoke to him. He seemed to feel that something was amiss, shot a quick glance at her, returned the pencil and rose erect33, with an almost defiant34 air, yet something of shame in his eye, as his lips moved as if to speak impetuously. But not a word did he utter, for Helen touched her forehead significantly, and said in a low tone,—
Hoffman looked over his shoulder at the other pair, but Amy was making an ivy36 wreath for her hat, and the Pole pulling sprays for the absorbing work. Speaking rapidly, Karl said, with a peculiar37 blending of merriment, humility38, and anxiety in his tone,—
"Mademoiselle, you are quick to discover my disguise; will you also be kind in concealing39? I have enemies as well as friends, whom I desire to escape: I would earn my bread unknown; Monsieur le Major keeps my foolish secret; may I hope for equal goodness from yourself?"
"You may, I do not forget that I owe my life to you, nor that you are a gentleman. Trust me, I never will betray you."
"Thanks, thanks! there will come a time when I may confess the truth and be myself, but not yet," and his regretful tone was emphasized by an impatient gesture, as if concealment40 was irksome.
"Nell, come down to lunch; uncle is signalling as if he'd gone mad. No, monsieur, it is quite impossible; you cannot reach the harebells without risking too much; come away and forget that I wanted them."
Amy led the way, and all went down more quietly than they came up, especially Helen and Hoffman. An excellent lunch waited on one of the tables in front of the old gateway41, and having done justice to it, the major made himself comfortable with a cigar, bidding the girls keep near, for they must be off in half an hour. Hoffman went to see to the horses, Casimer strolled away with him, and the young ladies went to gather wild flowers at the foot of the tower.
"Not a harebell here; isn't it provoking, when they grow in tufts up there, where one can't reach them. Mercy, what's that? Run, Nell, the old wall is coming down!"
Both had been grubbing in a damp nook, where ferns and mosses42 grew luxuriantly; the fall of a bit of stone and a rending43 sound above made them fly back to the path and look up.
Amy covered her eyes, and Helen grew pale, for part way down the crumbling44 tower, clinging like a bird to the thick ivy stems, hung Casimer, coolly gathering45 harebells from the clefts46 of the wall.
"Hush47; don't cry out or speak; it may startle him. Crazy boy! Let us see what he will do," whispered Helen.
"He can't go back, the vines are so torn and weak; and how will he get down the lower wall? for you see the ivy grows up from that ledge48, and there is nothing below. How could he do it? I was only joking when I lamented49 that there were no knights50 now, ready to leap into a lion's den3 for a lady's glove," returned Amy, half angry.
In breathless silence they watched the climber till his cap was full of flowers, and taking it between his teeth, he rapidly swung down to the wide ledge, from which there appeared to be no way of escape but a reckless leap of many feet on to the turf below.
The girls stood in the shadow of an old gateway, unperceived, and waited anxiously what should follow.
Lightly folding and fastening the cap together, he dropped it down, and, leaning forward, tried to catch the top of a young birch rustling51 close by the wall. Twice he missed it; the first time he frowned, but the second he uttered an emphatic52, "Deuce take it!"
"He knows some English, then!"
There was time for no more—a violent rustle54, a boyish laugh, and down swung the slender tree, with the young man clinging to the top.
As he landed safely, Helen cried, "Bravo!" and Amy rushed out, exclaiming reproachfully, yet admiringly,—
"How could you do it and frighten us so? I shall never express a wish before you again, for if I wanted the moon you'd rashly try to get it, I know."
"Certainement, mademoiselle," was the smiling reply. Casimer presented the flowers, as if the exploit was a mere55 trifle.
"Now I shall go and press them at once in uncle's guide-book. Come and help me, else you will be in mischief56 again." And Amy led the way to the major with her flowers and their giver.
Helen roamed into one of the ruined courts for a last look at a fountain which pleased her eye. A sort of cloister57 ran round the court, open on both sides, and standing58 in one of these arched nooks, she saw Hoffman and a young girl talking animatedly59. The girl was pretty, well dressed, and seemed refusing something for which the other pleaded eagerly. His arm was about her, and she leaned affectionately upon him, with a white hand now and then caressing60 his face, which was full of sparkle and vivacity61 now. They seemed about to part as Helen looked, for the maiden62 standing on tiptoe, laughingly offered her blooming cheek, and as Karl kissed it warmly, he said in German, so audibly Helen heard every word,—
"Farewell, my Ludmilla. Keep silent and I shall soon be with you.
Embrace the little one, and do not let him forget me."
Both left the place as they spoke, each going a different way, and Helen slowly returned to her party, saying to herself in a troubled tone,—
"'Ludmilla' and 'the little one' are his wife and child, doubtless. I wonder if uncle knows that."
When Hoffman next appeared she could not resist looking at him; but the accustomed gravity was resumed, and nothing remained of the glow and brightness he had worn when with Ludmilla in the cloister.
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1
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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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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7
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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30
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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39
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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41
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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42
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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43
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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45
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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46
clefts
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| n.裂缝( cleft的名词复数 )；裂口；cleave的过去式和过去分词；进退维谷 | |
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47
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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48
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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49
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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51
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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52
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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54
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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55
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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56
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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cloister
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| n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝 | |
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58
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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59
animatedly
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| adv.栩栩如生地，活跃地 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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