Gay lackeys8 also, in blue and red, passed among the crowd, looking like poppies and cornflowers blown about by the wind.
Now and then a cry of admiration9 burst from the crowd, as St. George, the celebrated10 skater, executed some circle so perfect, that a mathematician11 could scarcely have found a fault in it.
While the banks of the lake were thus crowded, the ice itself presented a scene not less gay, and still more animated12: sledges flew about in all directions. Several dogs, clothed in embroidered13 velvet14, and with plumes15 of feathers on their heads, looking like fabulous16 animals, drew a sledge4 in which sat M. de Lauzun, who was wrapped up in a tiger skin. Here you might see a lady masked, doubtless on account of the cold, in some sledge of a quieter character, while a handsome skater, in a velvet riding-coat, hangs over the back, to assist and direct her progress; whatever they may be saying to each other is quite inaudible, amidst this busy hum of voices; but who can blame a rendezvous17 which takes place in the open air, and under the eyes of all Versailles? and whatever they may be saying matters to no one else: it is evident that in the midst of this crowd their life is an isolated18 one; they think only of each other.
All at once a general movement in the crowd announces that they have recognized the queen, who is approaching the lake. A general cry of “Vive la reine!” is heard, and all endeavor to approach as nearly as possible to the place where she has stationed herself. One person alone does not appear to share this feeling, for on her approach he disappears with all his suite19 as fast as possible in the opposite direction.
“Do you see,” said the Comte d’Artois to the queen, whom he had hastened to join, “how my brother Provence flies from you?”
“He fears that I should reproach him.”
“Oh, no; it is not that that makes him fly.”
“It is his conscience, then.”
“Not even that, sister.”
“What then?”
“I will tell you. He had just heard that M. de Suffren, our glorious commander, will arrive this evening; and as the news is important, he wishes to leave you in ignorance of it.”
“Ah, mon Dieu, sister, have you not learned enough of ministers, during the fourteen years you have passed here, as dauphiness and queen, to know that they are always ignorant of precisely21 what they ought to know? However, I have told him about this, and he is deeply grateful.”
“I should think so,” said the queen.
“Oh,” cried the queen, laughing, “how disinterested23 you are.”
“Sister,” said he, “you must want money; I offer you half of what I am going to receive.”
“Oh no, brother, keep it for yourself; I thank you, but I want nothing just now.”
“Diable! do not wait too long to claim my promise, because if you do, I may not be in a condition to fulfil it.”
“In that case I must endeavor to find out some state secret for myself.”
“Sister, you begin to look cold.”
“Well, here is M. de Taverney returning with my sledge.”
“Then you do not want me any longer?”
“No.”
“Then send me away, I beg.”
“Why? do you imagine you will be in my way?”
“No; it is I who want my liberty.”
“Adieu, then.”
“Au revoir, dear sister.”
“Till when?”
“Till this evening.”
“Is there anything to take place to-night, then?”
“Yes; this evening the minister will bring M. de Suffren to the jeu du roi.”
“Very well, then, till this evening.”
Old Taverney, who was one of the nearest spectators of all this, had been watching his son eagerly, and felt almost chagrined26 at this conversation between the queen and her brother-in-law, as it interrupted the familiar intercourse27 which his son had before been enjoying; therefore, when the young man returned with the queen’s sledge, and, seeing his father, whom he had not met for ten years, advanced towards him, he motioned him away, saying, “We will talk afterwards, when you have left the queen.”
Philippe, therefore, returned to the queen, who was getting into the sledge with Andrée. Two attendants approached to push it, but she said, “No; I do not wish to go like that; you skate, M. de Taverney? Does he not, Andrée?”
“Philippe used to skate remarkably28 well,” replied she.
“And now I dare say he rivals St. George,” said the queen.
“I will do my best to justify29 your majesty30’s opinion,” said he; and putting on his skates, he placed himself behind her sledge, and they commenced their course.
St. George, seeing the queen on the ice, began to execute his most skilful31 maneuvers32, and finished off by going in circles round her sledge, making the most elegant bows each time he passed her.
Then Philippe, moved to emulation33, began to push along the sledge with such wonderful rapidity that St. George found no little difficulty in keeping pace with it.
Several people, however, seeing the queen move at this marvelous rate, uttered cries of terror.
“If your majesty desires,” said Philippe, “I will stop, or go slower.”
“Oh no!” said she, with that enthusiasm which she carried into everything; “oh no! I am not at all afraid; quicker still, chevalier, if you can.”
“Oh yes, madame, and you are quite safe; you may trust to me;” and his vigorous arm propelled them at a still increased pace. He emulated34 the circles of St. George, and flew round as fast with the sledge as could even that experienced skater without it.
Then, leaving these evolutions, he pushed the sledge straight before him, and with such force that he himself remained behind.
St. George, seeing this, made a tremendous effort to gain the sledge before him, but was distanced by Philippe, who once more seized it, turned it, and flew in a new direction.
The air now rang with such acclamations, that Philippe began to feel ashamed.
Then the queen, who had joined the applause with her hands, turned round and said to him, “And now, M. de Taverney, that you have gained the victory, stop, I beg, or you will kill me.”
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收听单词发音
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1
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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3
sledges
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| n.雪橇，雪车( sledge的名词复数 )v.乘雪橇( sledge的第三人称单数 )；用雪橇运载 | |
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4
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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5
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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6
mantles
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| vt.&vi.覆盖（mantle的第三人称单数形式） | |
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7
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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8
lackeys
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| n.听差( lackey的名词复数 )；男仆（通常穿制服）；卑躬屈膝的人；被待为奴仆的人 | |
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9
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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10
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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mathematician
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| n.数学家 | |
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12
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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13
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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14
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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15
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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16
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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18
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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21
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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22
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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26
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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28
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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29
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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30
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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31
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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32
maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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33
emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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34
emulated
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的过去式和过去分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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