The tall, beautiful blonde, practicing a difficult sonata2 at the piano, pauses a moment and suffers her white hands to rest idly on the keys.
"Colonel Carlyle, did you say, madam?" she inquires calmly.
The dignified3 head of the Parisian school bows in assent4, and stands awaiting her pupil's pleasure. The latter rises slowly, folds her music together, restores it to the proper place and turns to leave the music-room.
"You will wish to make some changes in your dress, of course," the lady superior blandly5 asserts.
Madam Carlyle gives a glance downward at her dress of dark blue cashmere. It is made with almost nun-like simplicity6, and fits her rounded, graceful7 form to perfection. The neck and sleeves are finished with frills and fine lace, and there is not an ornament8 about her except the rings on her tapering9 fingers. She does not need ornament. She is rarely, peerlessly beautiful with her fair flower-face and luxuriant crown of golden hair.
"It is not necessary," she answers. "Colonel Carlyle is perhaps impatient."
There is a delicate-veiled sarcasm10 in the words barely perceptible to the trained hearing of the listener. With that simple speech she turns and glides11 from the room, leaving the lady superior gazing after her in some surprise.
"They say that we in France make mariages de convenance," she murmurs12 in French (which we will spare our readers); "but surely the Americans must do likewise. That old man and that fair young girl—surely it is the union of winter and summer. After two years' absence she goes to him as coolly as an iceberg13."
Meanwhile Mrs. Carlyle has glided14 down the long hall, opened the door of the reception-room with a steady hand, and stepped across the threshold.
"Bonnibel!" exclaims a voice, trembling with rapture15 and emotion—"my darling wife!"
His arms are about her, his lips touch hers.
After a moment she gently disengages herself and looks up in his face.
"Colonel Carlyle," she exclaims, involuntarily, "how changed you are!"
[Pg 81]
Ten years instead of two seem to have gone over his head.
A look of age and weakness has grown into his face, his erect16 form has acquired a perceptible stoop; yet a look of disappointment flashes into his eyes at her words.
"It is only the fatigue18 of travel," he answers, quickly. "I have been a great wanderer since we parted, my dear, and the weariness of travel is still upon me. But as soon as I get rested and recuperated19 I shall look quite like myself again."
"I hope so," she answers, politely. "Pray resume your seat sir."
He looks at her a little wistfully as she seats herself some distance from him.
"Bonnibel, are you glad to see me again?" he asks, gently.
She looks up, startled, and hesitating what to say to this point-blank question.
He sees the struggle in a moment, and adds, quickly and a little sadly:
"Never mind, my dear, you need not answer. I see you have not forgotten my harshness in the past, and you are not prepared with an answer that would make me happy. But, my darling, you must learn forgetfulness of those things that alienated20 you from me, for I shall bend every effort now to the one object of making you happy. I have come to take you away with me, Bonnibel."
A slight, almost impalpable, shiver runs through her at the words, and she smothers21 a faint sigh.
She will be very sorry to leave this haven22 of peace in which she has rested securely the last two years. She has grown fond of her quiet life among the "passionless, pale-cold" nuns23 of the convent, and is loth to break its repose24 by going back to the jar and fret25 of life with her jealous husband. She wishes that she might stay in the convent all her life.
"Do you intend to return at once to the United States, sir?" she inquires, being at a loss for something to say.
"Not yet, unless you particularly desire it. I want you to see something of life in the gay French Capital—'dear, delightful26 Paris,' as we Americans call it. I have rented an elegant chateau27 and furnished it in handsome style, according to what I fancied your taste would prefer; have engaged a retinue29 of servants; and there is a lovely garden of roses; in short, the home is ready, and only awaits its mistress. I have tried to arrange everything as you would like it."
"Thank you; you are very kind," she murmurs, almost inaudibly.
"The next thing," he goes on, "is to take you to Worth, where you may order an outfit30 as handsome as a queen's, if you choose. And jewels—well, you shall have as many and as costly31 ones as you like."
"I have enough jewels, I think," she answers. "There are the pearls Uncle Francis gave me; then my wedding-gift—the diamonds."
"Tut, tut; you will need many more when you are fairly launched on the tide of gay society here. You will see women[Pg 82] fairly loaded with jewels—you must not have less than they. Not but that you are beautiful enough to dispense32 with extraneous33 ornament, but I wish you to outshine all others in adornment34 as well as in beauty."
The long lashes17 droop35 over her cheeks a little sadly as he talks. So these are the things with which she is to fill her life—society, dress, jewels, fashion. A long life, too, perhaps, for she is barely twenty-one now. For other women there may be love and happiness—for her nothing but the gilded36 pleasures that wealth can purchase. Ah, well, and with a start she remembers Mrs. Arnold's threat and her weak subjugation37 by it—these are the things for which she sold herself to the old man sitting yonder. She made the bargain herself, and now she must abide38 by it. She is a fettered39 slave, but at least her bonds are golden ones.
"You are very kind," she answers, trying hard to be cordial and grateful for his generosity40. "I do not know how to thank you for your munificence41, sir."
"I will tell you," he answers, quickly. "Try to like me a little, Bonnibel. Once I dreamed of winning your love; but things went wrong and I—I—perhaps I was too harsh with the bonny bird I had caught—so I came near earning your hatred42 instead. But that was so long ago. You will try to forgive me and like me just a little now, my wife."
The pathos43 of his words, his aged28, weary looks touch a tender chord in her young heart, and thaw44 out a little of the icy crust of reserve that has been freezing around it these two years.
She rises impulsively45 and walks over to him, putting her delicate hand, warm with youth and health, into his cold, white, trembling one.
"Indeed, I will try," she says, earnestly. "Only be kind to me, and do not frighten me with your jealous fancies, and I will like you very much indeed!"
He kisses the little hand with the ardor46 of a boyish lover, feeling his heart beat warm and youthful still at her gently-spoken words.
"A thousand thanks, my angel!" he exclaims. "Your words have made me very happy. I will try to curb47 my jealous temper and merit your sweet regard. And now, my dearest, how soon can you accompany me? I do not want to go away without you."
"You wish me to go at once—to-day?" she stammers48, drawing back ever so slightly.
"To-day—at once," he answers. "I have wearied for a sight of you so long, my wife, that I cannot let you go again. I want you to put on a carriage costume at once, and I will take you to Worth's, and from thence to the chateau."
"But my maid—and my trunks," she urges, in dismay.
"Tell your maid to pack your trunks and we will send for them this evening, and her also. By the way, who is your maid? Have you a competent one?" he inquires.
"You remember Lucy—the girl who came over with me from New York?" she says.
He frowns slightly.
[Pg 83]
"Ah, yes; but she will not suit you now, dear. You must let her go, and secure a skillful French maid."
"Let Lucy go—the faithful creature!" For the first time her lip quivers. "Oh, no, I cannot part with Lucy. She has been my attendant ever since I was a child, and is the only link that is left to me out of my old life."
"Keep her with you still, then, but secure a French maid also, and let Lucy hold a sinecure49."
"It would break her heart, Colonel Carlyle, to depose50 her from her post as my chief helper. Besides, though she is rather illiterate51, the girl has real talent and taste in her vocation52. Pray do not ask me to give her up."
"As you please, my dear. But now go and make your adieux to the lady superior and your friends here, and prepare to accompany me to your new home," said the colonel, with slight impatience53, for he already felt his dominant54 passion, jealousy55, rising within him at Bonnibel's openly-expressed preference for her maid. Old or young, male or female, he could not feel contented56 that anyone but himself should hold a place in his young wife's heart.
She went away and remained what seemed a long time to the impatient old man. She came back with slightly-flushed cheeks and a mist in her sea-blue eyes, attended by the superior of the convent.
With a brief and gentle farewell to her, Bonnibel entered the carriage with her husband.
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1
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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sonata
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| n.奏鸣曲 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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6
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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8
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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11
glides
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| n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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12
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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13
iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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14
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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15
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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16
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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17
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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recuperated
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| v.恢复（健康、体力等），复原( recuperate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
alienated
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| adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等） | |
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21
smothers
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的第三人称单数 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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22
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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24
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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26
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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29
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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30
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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32
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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extraneous
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| adj.体外的；外来的；外部的 | |
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34
adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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35
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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37
subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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38
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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39
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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41
munificence
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| n.宽宏大量，慷慨给与 | |
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42
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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43
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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44
thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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45
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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46
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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47
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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48
stammers
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| n.口吃，结巴( stammer的名词复数 )v.结巴地说出( stammer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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50
depose
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| vt.免职；宣誓作证 | |
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51
illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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52
vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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53
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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54
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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55
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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56
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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