In those days New Orleans paved her favorite streets, when she paved them at all, with big blocks of granite11 two feet by one. They came from the North as ballast in those innumerable wide-armed ships whose cloud of masts and cordage inspiringly darkened the sky of that far-winding river-front where we lately saw Hilary Kincaid and Fred Greenleaf ride. Beginning at the great steamboat landing, half a mile of Canal Street had such a pavement on either side of its broad grassy13 "neutral ground." So had the main streets that led from it at right angles. Long afterward14, even as late as when the Nineteenth Century died, some of those streets were at the funeral, clad in those same old pavements, worn as smooth and ragged15 as a gentleman-beggar's coat. St. Charles Street was one. Another was the old Rue16 Royale, its squat17 ground-floor domiciles drooping18 their mossy eaves half across the pinched sidewalks and confusedly trying to alternate and align20 themselves with tall brick houses and shops whose ample two-and three-story balconies were upheld, balustraded, and overhung by slender garlandries of iron openwork as graceful21 and feminine as a lace mantilla. With here and there the flag of a foreign consul22 hanging out and down, such is the attire23 the old street was vain of in that golden time when a large square sign on every telegraph pole bade you get your shirts at S.N. Moody's, corner of Canal and Royal Streets.
At this corner, on the day after the serenade, there was a dense24, waiting crowd. On the other corner of Royal, where the show-windows of Hyde & Goodrich blazed with diamonds, and their loftily nested gold pelican25 forever fed her young from her bleeding breast, stood an equal throng3. Across Canal Street, where St. Charles opens narrowly southward, were similar masses, and midway between the four corners the rising circles of stone steps about the high bronze figure of Henry Clay were hidden by men and boys packed as close as they could sit or stand. A great procession had gone up-town and would by and by return. Near and far banners and pennons rose and fell on the luxurious26 air, and the ranks and ranks of broad and narrow balconies were so many gardens of dames28 and girls, parasols, and diaphanous29 gowns. Near the front of the lowest Hyde & Goodrich balcony, close by the gilded30 pelican, sat the Callenders, all gladness, holding mute dialogues with Flora31 and Madame Valcour here on the balcony of Moody's corner. It was the birthday of Washington.
Not of him, however, did Flora and her grandmother softly converse32 in Spanish amid the surrounding babel of English and French. Their theme was our battery drill of some ten days before, a subject urged upon Flora by the mosquito-like probings of Madame's musically whined33 queries34. Better to be bled of almost any information by the antique little dame27 than to have her light on it some other way, as she had an amazing knack35 of doing. Her acted part of things Flora kept untold36; but grandma's spirit of divination37 could unfailingly supply that, and her pencilled brows, stiff as they were, could tell the narrator she had done so.
Thus now, Flora gave no hint of the beautiful skill and quick success with which, on her homeward railway trip with Greenleaf that evening, she had bettered his impressions of her. By no more than a gentle play of light and shade in her smile and an undulating melody of voice--without a word that touched the wound itself, but with a timid glow of compassionate38 admiration--she had soothed39 the torture of a heart whose last hope Anna had that same hour put to death.
"But before he took the train with you," murmured the mosquito to the butterfly, "when he said the General was going to take Irby upon his staff and give the battery to Kincaid, what did you talk of?"
"Talk of? Charlie. He said I ought to make Charlie join the battery."
"Ah? For what? To secure Kincaid's protection of your dear little brother's health--character--morals--eh?"
"Yes, 'twas so he put it," replied Flora, while the old lady's eyebrows40 visibly cried:
"You sly bird! will you impute41 all your own words to that Yankee, and his to yourself?"
Which is just what Flora continued to do as the grandma tinkled42: "And you said--what?"
"I said if I couldn't keep him at home I ought to get him into the cavalry43. You know, dear, in the infantry44 the marches are so cruel, the camps so--"
"But in the artillery45," piped the small dame, "they ride, eh?" (It was a trap she was setting, but in vain was the net spread.)
"No," said the serene46 girl, "they, too, go afoot. Often they must help the horses drag the guns through the mire47. Only on parade they ride, or when rushing to and fro in battle, whips cracking, horses plunging48, the hills smoking and shaking!" The rare creature sparkled frankly49, seeing the battery whirling into action with its standard on the wind--this very flag she expected presently to bestow50.
"And with Kincaid at the head!" softly cried the antique.
The girl put on a fondness which suddenly became a withering51 droop19 of the eyes: "Don't mince52 your smile so, grannie dear, I can hear the paint crack."
The wee relic53 flashed, yet instantly was bland54 again: "You were about to say, however, that in the artillery--?"
"The risks are the deadliest of all."
"Ah, yes!" sang the mosquito, "and for a sister to push her boy brother into a battery under such a commander would be too much like murder!"
The maiden6 felt the same start as when Greenleaf had ventured almost those words. "Yes," she beamingly rejoined, "that's what I told the Lieutenant55."
"With a blush?"
"No," carelessly said the slender beauty, and exchanged happy signals with the Callenders.
"You tricksy wretch56!" muttered the grandmother to herself. For though Charlie was in the battery by his own choice, Hilary would have kept him out had not the sister begged to have him let in.
Suddenly there was a glad stoppage of all by-play in the swarming57 streets. Down St. Charles from LaFayette Square came the shock of saluting58 artillery, and up Royal from Jackson Square rolled back antiphonal thunders.
"Grandma!" softly cried Flora, as if sharing the general elation59, but had begun again to tell of Greenleaf, when from far over in Camp Street her subtle ear caught a faint stray sigh of saxhorns.
"Well? well? about the Yankee--?" urged Madame.
"Oh, a trifle! He was to go that night, and thinking he might some day return in very different fashion and we be glad to make use of him, I--" The speaker's lithe60 form straightened and her gaze went off to the left. "Here they come!" she said, and out where Camp Street emerges, a glint of steel, a gleam of brass61, a swarming of the people that way, and again a shimmer62 of brass and steel, affirmed her word that the long, plumed63, bristling64 column had got back to the arms of its darling Canal Street.
"Yes," cried many, "they're turning this way!"
"Well?--Well?" insisted the old lady amid the rising din12. "And so you--you?"
"Be more careful," murmured the girl. "I told him that our convictions--about this war--yours and mine--not Charlie's--are the same as his."
A charming sight she was, even in that moment of public enthusiasm and spectacle, holding the wondering stare of her companion with a gayety that seemed ready to break into laughter. The dainty Madame went limp, and in words as slow and soft as her smile, sighed, "You are a genius!"
"No, only the last thing you would suspect--a good housekeeper65. I have put him up in sugar."
The distant martial66 strains became more coherent. In remote balconies handkerchiefs fluttered wildly, and under nearer and nearer ones the people began to pack closer and choose their footing along the curb67. Presently from the approaching column came who but Hilary Kincaid, galloping68 easily over the slippery pavements. Anna saw his eyes sweep the bank of human flowers (with its occasional male caterpillar) on Moody's balcony and light upon Flora. He lifted his képi and halted. One could read his soft questions.
"All right? All ready? Where are the others?--Ah!" He sent an eager salutation to the Callenders, and two joyfully69 bowed, but Anna gave no sign. With great dignity her gaze was bent70 beyond him on the nearing host, and when Constance plucked her arm she tardily71 looked three wrong ways.
The rider could not wait. The police were pressing back the jubilant masses, swarms72 of ladies on the rear forms were standing73 up, and Flora, still seated, had leaned down beamingly and was using every resource of voice and fan to send him some word through the tumult74 of plaudits and drums. He spurred close. In a favoring hush--drum-corps inviting75 the band--she bent low and with an arch air of bafflement tried once more, but an outburst of brazen76 harmonies tore her speech to threads. Suddenly--
"Ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming--"
pealed77 the cornets, pumped the trombones, whipping it out, cracking it off, with a rigor78 of rhythm to shame all peace-time languishments--
"Thy gentle voice my spirit can cheer.
Thou art the star--"
What could the balconies do but wave more joyously79 than ever? The streets hurrahed80! The head of the procession was here! The lone81 horseman reined82 back, wheeled, cast another vain glance toward Anna, and with an alarming rataplan of slipping and recovering hoofs83 sped down the column.
But what new rapture84 was this? Some glorious luck had altered the route, and the whole business swung right into this old rue Royale! Now, now the merry clamor and rush of the crowd righting itself! And behold85! this blazing staff and its commanding general--general of division! He first, and then all they, bowed to Flora and her grandmother, bowed to the Callenders, and were bowed to in return. A mounted escort followed. And now--yea, verily! General Brodnax and his staff of brigade! Wave, Valcours, wave Callenders! Irby's bow to Flora was majestic86, and hers to him as gracious as the smell of flowers in the air. And here was Mandeville, most glittering in all the glitter. Flora beamed on him as well, Anna bowed with a gay fondness, Miranda's dainty nose crimped itself, and Constance, with a blitheness87 even more vivid, wished all these balconies could know that Captain--he was Lieutenant, but that was away back last week--Captain Etienne Aristide Rofignac de Mandeville was hers, whom, after their marriage, now so near at hand, she was going always to call Steve!
点击收听单词发音
1 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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2 thronged | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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4 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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5 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
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6 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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7 maidenly | |
adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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8 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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9 invader | |
n.侵略者,侵犯者,入侵者 | |
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10 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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11 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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12 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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13 grassy | |
adj.盖满草的;长满草的 | |
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14 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
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15 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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16 rue | |
n.懊悔,芸香,后悔;v.后悔,悲伤,懊悔 | |
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17 squat | |
v.蹲坐,蹲下;n.蹲下;adj.矮胖的,粗矮的 | |
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18 drooping | |
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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19 droop | |
v.低垂,下垂;凋萎,萎靡 | |
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20 align | |
vt.使成一线,结盟,调节;vi.成一线,结盟 | |
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21 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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22 consul | |
n.领事;执政官 | |
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23 attire | |
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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24 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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25 pelican | |
n.鹈鹕,伽蓝鸟 | |
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26 luxurious | |
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 | |
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27 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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28 dames | |
n.(在英国)夫人(一种封号),夫人(爵士妻子的称号)( dame的名词复数 );女人 | |
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29 diaphanous | |
adj.(布)精致的,半透明的 | |
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30 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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31 flora | |
n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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32 converse | |
vi.谈话,谈天,闲聊;adv.相反的,相反 | |
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33 whined | |
v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 );哀诉,诉怨 | |
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34 queries | |
n.问题( query的名词复数 );疑问;询问;问号v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 );询问 | |
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35 knack | |
n.诀窍,做事情的灵巧的,便利的方法 | |
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36 untold | |
adj.数不清的,无数的 | |
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37 divination | |
n.占卜,预测 | |
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38 compassionate | |
adj.有同情心的,表示同情的 | |
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39 soothed | |
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦 | |
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40 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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41 impute | |
v.归咎于 | |
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42 tinkled | |
(使)发出丁当声,(使)发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 ); 叮当响着发出,铃铃响着报出 | |
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43 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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44 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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45 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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46 serene | |
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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47 mire | |
n.泥沼,泥泞;v.使...陷于泥泞,使...陷入困境 | |
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48 plunging | |
adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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49 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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50 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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51 withering | |
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的 | |
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52 mince | |
n.切碎物;v.切碎,矫揉做作地说 | |
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53 relic | |
n.神圣的遗物,遗迹,纪念物 | |
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54 bland | |
adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的 | |
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55 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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56 wretch | |
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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57 swarming | |
密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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58 saluting | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的现在分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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59 elation | |
n.兴高采烈,洋洋得意 | |
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60 lithe | |
adj.(指人、身体)柔软的,易弯的 | |
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61 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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62 shimmer | |
v./n.发微光,发闪光;微光 | |
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63 plumed | |
饰有羽毛的 | |
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64 bristling | |
a.竖立的 | |
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65 housekeeper | |
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家 | |
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66 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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67 curb | |
n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制 | |
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68 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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69 joyfully | |
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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70 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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71 tardily | |
adv.缓慢 | |
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72 swarms | |
蜂群,一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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73 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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74 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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75 inviting | |
adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
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76 brazen | |
adj.厚脸皮的,无耻的,坚硬的 | |
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77 pealed | |
v.(使)(钟等)鸣响,(雷等)发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78 rigor | |
n.严酷,严格,严厉 | |
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79 joyously | |
ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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80 hurrahed | |
v.好哇( hurrah的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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82 reined | |
勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 | |
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83 hoofs | |
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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84 rapture | |
n.狂喜;全神贯注;着迷;v.使狂喜 | |
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85 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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86 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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87 blitheness | |
n.blithe(快乐的)的变形 | |
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