On this particular evening, Miss Trevennon and Louis Gaston were alone. Cousin Eugenia had gone to her room, and General Gaston was out. Margaret had observed that she quite often found herself alone with Mr. Gaston lately, and she even fancied sometimes that Cousin Eugenia contrived4 to have it so. She smiled to think of the multiplicity of Cousin Eugenia’s little manœuvres, and the book she had been reading fell to her lap. She glanced toward Louis, sitting some little distance off at the other side of the fire-place; but he was quite lost to view behind the opened sheet of the Evening Star. So Miss Trevennon fixed her eyes on the fire, and fell into a fit of musing.
She was looking her best to-night. There had been guests at dinner, and she was dressed accordingly. Black suited her better than anything else, and the costume of black silk and lace which she wore now was exquisitely5 becoming. Her rounded, slender arms were bare, and a snowy patch of her lovely neck was visible above the lace of her square corsage. Her long black draperies fell richly away to one side, over the Turkey rug, and as she rested lightly on the angle of her little high heel, with one foot, in its dainty casing of black silk stocking and low-cut slipper6, lightly laid across the other, her graceful7, easy attitude and elegant toilet made her a striking figure, apart from the distinguished8 beauty of her face. Louis Gaston, who had noiselessly lowered his paper, took in every detail of face, figure, attitude and costume, with a sense of keen appreciation9, and, as he continued to look, a sudden smile of merriment curved his lips. Miss Trevennon, looking up, met this smile, and smiled in answer to it.
“What is it?” she said. “What were you thinking of?”
“May I tell you?” he asked, still smiling.
“Yes; please do.”
“I was recalling the fact that, when you first arrived—before I had seen you—I used to speak of you to Eugenia as ‘The Importation.’ It is no wonder that I smile now at the remembrance.”
“It was very impertinent, undoubtedly,” said Margaret; “but I won’t refuse to forgive you, if you, in your turn, will agree to forgive me my impertinences, which have been many.”
“It would be necessary to recall them first,” he said, “and that I am unable to do.”
“I have been dictatorial10 and critical and aggressive, and I have had no right to be any of these. I have magnified my own people persistently11, in talking to you, and depreciated12 yours. You mustn’t take me as a specimen13 of Southern courtesy. Wait till you see my father. I’m a degenerate14 daughter.”
“I hope I may see him some time. Knowing you has made me wish to know your people better. If I ask you, some day, to let me come and make their acquaintance, what will you say?”
“Come, and welcome,” said Margaret, heartily15; and then, as a consciousness of the warmth of her tone dawned upon her, she added: “We are a hospitable16 race, you know, and hold it a sacred duty to entertain strangers. But I fear you would find us disappointing in a great many ways. In so many points, and these very essential ones, we are inferior to you. If only we could both get rid of our prejudices! Just think what a people we might be, if we were kneaded together, each willing to assimilate what is best in the other! But I suppose that is a Utopian dream. As far as my small observation goes, it seems to me that we in the South see things on a broader basis, and that a gentleman’s claim to meet another gentleman on equal terms rests upon something higher and stronger than trifling17 technicalities such as using printed visiting-cards, or calling a dress-coat ‘a swallow-tail,’ for instance!” she said, with twinkling eyes. “I know you’ve had those two scores against my compatriots on your mind. Now, haven’t you?”
“I will wipe them off instantly, if I have,” he said, laughing. “I feel amiably18 disposed to-night. I think it is the prospect19 of your departure that has softened20 me. I hope you are one little bit sorry to leave us. It would be but a small return for the colossal21 regret we feel at parting from you.”
“I am sorry,” she said, with her eyes fixed on the fire—“very, very sorry.”
“Really?” he said quickly, not daring to give voice to the delight with which her fervently22 uttered admission filled him.
“Yes, really. You have all been so good to me. I think General Gaston has even decided24 to forgive me for being a Southerner, since I could not possibly help it, which is a higher tribute than the regard of Cousin Eugenia and yourself, perhaps, as you had no prejudices to overcome.”
“You have paid me the greatest possible compliment,” said Louis. “I would rather you should say that than anything, almost. You must admit, however, that at one time you would not have said it.”
“No, I don’t think you did. It was true at one time that I was very prejudiced, and to a certain extent it is true yet; but you’ve worked wonders with me, Miss Trevennon. I do think I see things more fairly than I did. I had a great deal of hereditary26 and inherent prejudice to overcome, and I think I have got rid of a good portion of it, thanks to you! Who knows but, if you could have kept me near you, you might have reformed me yet? Of course, I should not venture to criticise27 a decision of yours, but when Eugenia urged you so, the other day, to stay a month longer, do you know, I almost held my breath to hear what you would say? And your positive refusal quite cut me. It’s rather hard on a man, to learn that his education is to be cut short at one fell blow like that; and I am in horrible fear of retrogression.”
“Oh, don’t laugh at me, Mr. Gaston,” said Margaret, rather confusedly. “I am afraid I must often have seemed to you conceited28 and pert. I believe I am, a little. Even my dear father tells me so, now and then.”
“How you love your home and your parents!” said Louis, looking at her very gently. “I have so often observed it. Is it a provincial29 trait? I never saw a stronger feeling than the one you have for your household gods.”
“Yes, I do love them,” Margaret said; “and I can give no stronger proof of it than that Cousin Eugenia’s invitation does not tempt30 me to remain longer away from them.”
“And do they love you very much—or not?” he asked, looking into her face and smiling brightly.
“Oh yes,” she answered, smiling too; “as if I were perfection.”
“I almost think you are,” he replied. “I said to myself, from the first, ‘She is well-named Margaret, for she’s just a pearl.’”
Simply and quietly as he said it, there was something in his tone that thrilled her with a sudden emotion. She dared not raise her eyes to his, and so she turned away her flushed face as she answered, with an effort to speak as usual:
“I am named for my mother. Papa calls me Daisy, to distinguish us.”
“I think that suits you almost as well,” he said. “Your feelings are so fresh—not a whiff of their perfume brushed away yet. What a thing it would be for one of the careworn31, weary worldlings one meets every day, to have your heart in her bosom32 for just one hour! And oh, what a revelation of falseness and hollowness and envy it would be to you to see into a heart like that! God protect you from it, Margaret! I am almost glad that you are going back to that quiet old country-place. It gives me a pang33 merely to think of the possibility of your being contaminated by the world. I could not bear to face the thought that the pearl might lose its pureness and the daisy wither34. I have tried that no one shall suspect the fact, but you don’t know how I have watched over you. It was presumptuous35 of me, perhaps, but now that you know it, do you forgive me?”
Poor Margaret! She made a brave struggle for self-mastery, but it was only half successful. Apart from his words, there was something in his looks and tones that made what he had said a revelation to her. There could be but one meaning in those fervent23, tender eyes, and the sound of the caressing37 voice.
“You once refused to shake hands with me,” Louis went on, presently. “Do you remember? I was in disgrace then, but I can’t help hoping I’m restored. Will you give me your hand now, in token of full pardon for the past?”
He had taken a seat very near to her, and when he extended his hand she laid hers in it, without moving from her place. He held it close, for an instant, and then, stooping, laid his lips upon it.
Margaret suffered the caress36 in silence. She felt nerveless and irresponsible, but her whole nature responded to these signs of tenderness from him. She knew his heart was seeking hers, which was ready to answer, at a touch. She felt confused and tremulous, but very happy and contented38 and safe, and when she presently withdrew her hand from Louis’, she gave him, in its stead, a look of the deepest confidence and kindness.
“There is something I want to tell you, Margaret——” he began, and while she was almost holding her breath to listen, the sound of General Gaston’s key was heard in the lock, and, with a quick motion, they moved apart.
As Louis stood up and turned to meet his brother, Margaret sank back in her seat with a quick sigh. The interruption was almost a relief. The sharp strain of this new-born hope and doubt and wonder was a pain to her, and she was glad to wait. The joy that had been thus held out to her was still to be secured, and she felt a happy safety in the bright future before her.
As for Louis, his pulses thrilled with triumphant39 hope. All his doubts and misgivings40 melted like snow beneath the sweet, confiding41 looks and tones that Margaret had vouchsafed42 to him this evening. He forgot Charley Somers and all his old mistrust concerning him, and felt happy in the present and almost secure of the future. His ardent43 blood was stirred as it had never been before. If Mrs. Gaston could have looked into his heart to-night, she could never again have called him cold and unemotional!
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1
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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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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3
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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4
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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5
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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7
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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8
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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9
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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10
dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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12
depreciated
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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13
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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15
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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16
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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17
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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18
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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20
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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21
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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22
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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23
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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24
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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28
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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29
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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30
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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32
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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33
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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34
wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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35
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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36
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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37
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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38
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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39
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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40
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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41
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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42
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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43
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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