The Hotel du Lac may be approached in two ways. The ordinary, obvious way, which incoming tourists of necessity choose, is by the highroad and the gate. But the romantic way is by water. One sees only the garden then and the garden is the distinguished1 feature of the place; it was planned long before the hotel was built to adorn2 a marquis’s pleasure house. There are grottos3, arbors, fountains, a winding5 stream; and, stretching the length of the water front, a deep cool grove6 of interlaced plane trees. At the end of the grove, half a dozen broad stone steps dip down to a tiny harbor which is carpeted on the surface with lily pads. The steps are worn by the lapping waves of fifty years, and are grown over with slippery, slimy water weeds.
The world was just stirring from its afternoon siesta7, when the Farfalla dropped her yellow sails and floated into the shady little harbor. Giuseppe prodded8 and pushed along the fern-grown banks until the keel jolted9 against the water steps. He sprang ashore10 and steadied the boat while Constance alighted. She slipped on the mossy step—almost went under—and righted herself with a laugh that rang gaily11 through the grove.
She came up the steps still smiling, shook out her fluffy12 pink skirts, straightened her rose-trimmed hat, and glanced reconnoiteringly about the grove. One might reasonably expect, attacking the hotel as it were from the flank, to capture unawares any stray guest. But aside from a chaffinch or so and a brown-and-white spotted13 calf14 tied to a tree, the grove was empty—blatantly empty. There was a shade of disappointment in Constance’s glance. One naturally does not like to waste one’s best embroidered15 gown on a spotted calf.
Then her eye suddenly brightened as it lighted on a vivid splash of yellow under a tree. She crossed over and picked it up—a paper covered French novel; the title was Bijou, the author was Gyp. She turned to the first page. Any reasonably careful person might be expected to write his name in the front of a book—particularly a French book—before abandoning it to the mercies of a foreign hotel. But the several fly leaves were immaculately innocent of all sign of ownership.
So intent was she upon this examination, that she did not hear footsteps approaching down the long arbor4 that led from the house; so intent was the young man upon a frowning scrutiny16 of the path before him, that he did not see Constance until he had passed from the arbor into the grove. Then simultaneously17 they raised their heads and looked at each other. For a startled second they stared—rather guiltily—both with the air of having been caught. Constance recovered her poise18 first; she nodded—a nod which contained not the slightest hint of recognition—and laughed.
“Oh!” she said. “I suppose this is your book? And I am afraid you have caught me red-handed. You must excuse me for looking at it, but usually at this season only German Alpine-climbers stop at the Hotel du Lac, and I was surprised you know to find that German Alpine-climbers did anything so frivolous19 as reading Gyp.”
The man bowed with a gesture which made her free of the book, but he continued his silence. Constance glanced at him again, and this time she allowed a flash of recognition to appear in her face.'
“Oh!” she re-exclaimed with a note of interested politeness, “you are the young man who stumbled into Villa20 Rosa last Monday looking for the garden of the prince?”
He bowed a second time, an answering flash appearing in his face.
“And you are the young woman who was sitting on the wall beside a row of—of—“
“Stockings?” She nodded. “I trust you found the prince’s garden without difficulty?”
A slight pause followed, the young man waiting deferentially22 for her to take the lead.
“You find Valedolmo interesting?” she inquired.
“Interesting!” His tone was enthusiastic. “Aside from the prince’s garden which contains a cedar23 of Lebanon and an India rubber plant from South America, there is the Luini in the chapel24 of San Bartolomeo, and the statue of Garibaldi in the piazza25. And then—” he waved his hand toward the lake, “there is always the view.”
“Yes,” she agreed, “one can always look at the view.”
Her eyes wandered to the lake, and across the lake to Monte Maggiore with clouds drifting about its peak. And while she obligingly studied the mountain, he studied the effect of the pink gown and the rose-bud hat. She turned back suddenly and caught him; it was a disconcerting habit of Constance’s. He politely looked away and she—with frank interest—studied him. He was bareheaded and dressed in white flannels26; they were very becoming, she noted27 critically, and yet—they needed just a touch of color; a red sash, for example, and earrings28.
“The guests of the Hotel du Lac,” she remarked, “have a beautiful garden of their own. Just the mere29 pleasure of strolling about in it ought to keep them contented30 with Valedolmo.”
“Not necessarily,” he objected. “Think of the garden of Eden—the most beautiful garden there has ever been if report speaks true—and yet the mere pleasure of strolling about didn’t keep Adam contented. One gets lonely you know.”
“Are you the only guest?”
“Oh, no, there are four of us, but we’re not very companionable; there’s such a discrepancy31 in languages.”
“And you don’t speak Italian?”
He shook his head.
“Only English and—” he glanced at the book in her hand—“French indifferently well.”
“Yes?” he returned with polite indifference33. “I don’t remember ever to have heard it.”
She laughed and glanced about. Her eyes lighted on the arbor hung with grape-vines and wistaria, where, far at the other end, Gustavo’s figure was visible lounging in the yellow stucco doorway34. The sight appeared to recall an errand to her mind. She glanced down at a pink wicker-basket which hung on her arm, and gathered up her skirts with a movement of departure.
The young man hastily picked up the conversation.
“It is a jolly old garden,” he affirmed. “And there’s something pathetic about its appearing on souvenir post-cards as a mere adjunct to a blue and yellow hotel.”
She nodded sympathetically.
“Built for romance and abandoned to tourists—German tourists at that!”
“Oh, not entirely—we’ve a Russian countess just now.”
“A Russian countess?” Constance turned toward him with an air of reawakened interest. “Is she as young and beautiful and fascinating and wicked as they always are in novels?”
“Oh, dear no! Seventy, if she’s a day. A nice grandmotherly old soul who smokes cigarettes.”
“Ah!” Constance smiled; there was even a trace of relief in her manner as she nodded to the young man and turned away. His face reflected his disappointment; he plainly wished to detain her, but could think of no expedient35. The spotted calf came to his rescue. The calf had been watching them from the first, very much interested in the visitor; and now as she approached his tree, he stretched out his neck as far as the tether permitted and sniffed36 insistently37. She paused and patted him on the head. The calf acknowledged the caress38 with a grateful moo; there was a plaintive39 light in his liquid eyes.
“Poor thing—he’s lonely!” She turned to the young man and spoke with an accent of reproach. “The four guests of the Hotel du Lac don’t show him enough attention.”
“We’re tired of calves41. It’s only a matter of a day or so before he’ll be breaded and fried and served Milanese fashion with a sauce of tomato and garlic.”
Constance shook her head sympathetically; though whether her sympathy was for the calf or the partakers of table d’hote, was not quite clear.
“I know,” she agreed. “I’ve been a guest at the Hotel du Lac myself—it’s a tragedy to be born a calf in Italy!”
She nodded and turned; it was evident this time that she was really going. He took a hasty step forward.
“Oh, I say, please don’t go! Stay and talk to me—just a little while. That calf isn’t half so lonely as I am.”
“I should like to, but really I mustn’t. Elizabetta is waiting for me to bring her some eggs. We are planning a trip up the Maggiore tomorrow, and we have to have a cake to take with us. Elizabetta made one this morning but she forgot to put in the baking powder. Italian cooks are not used to making cakes; they are much better at—” her eyes fell on the calf—“veal and such things.”
He folded his arms with an air of desperation.
“I’m an American—one of your own countrymen; if you had a grain of charity in your nature you would let the cake go.”
She shook her head relentlessly42.
“Five days at Valedolmo! You would not believe the straits I’ve been driven to in search of amusement.”
“Yes?” There was a touch of curiosity in her tone. “What for example?”
“I am teaching Gustavo how to play tennis.”
“Oh!” she said. “How does he do?”
“Broken three windows and a flower pot and lost four balls.”
She laughed and turned away; and then as an idea occurred to her, she turned back and fixed43 her eyes sympathetically on his face.
“I suppose Valedolmo is stupid for a man; but why don’t you try mountain climbing? Everybody finds that diverting. There’s a guide here who speaks English—really comprehensible English. He’s engaged for tomorrow, but after that I dare say he’ll be free. Gustavo can tell you about him.”
She nodded and smiled and turned down the arbor.
The young man stood where she left him, with folded arms, watching her pink gown as it receded44 down the long sun-flecked alley45 hung with purple and green. He waited until it had been swallowed up in the yellow doorway; then he fetched a deep breath and strolled to the water-wall. After a few moments’ prophetic contemplation of the mountain across the lake, he threw back his head with a quick amused laugh, and got out a cigarette and lighted it.
该作者的其它作品
《DADDY-LONG-LEGS 长腿叔叔》
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
adorn
|
|
| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
grottos
|
|
| n.（吸引人的）岩洞，洞穴，（人挖的）洞室( grotto的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
arbor
|
|
| n.凉亭；树木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
siesta
|
|
| n.午睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
prodded
|
|
| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
jolted
|
|
| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fluffy
|
|
| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
calf
|
|
| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
villa
|
|
| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
explicit
|
|
| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
deferentially
|
|
| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
cedar
|
|
| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
chapel
|
|
| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
piazza
|
|
| n.广场；走廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
flannels
|
|
| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
earrings
|
|
| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
discrepancy
|
|
| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
expedient
|
|
| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
insistently
|
|
| ad.坚持地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
plaintive
|
|
| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
calves
|
|
| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
relentlessly
|
|
| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
receded
|
|
| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
alley
|
|
| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |