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II A BUTTERFLY SPREADS ITS WINGS
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 It happened, on a Wednesday in May that Madame Lewandowska was ill. So ill that when Betty Harris, with her demure1 music-roll in her hand, tapped at the door of Madame Lewandowska’s studio, she found no one within.
 
On ordinary days this would not have mattered, for the governess, Miss Stone, would have been with her, and they would have gone shopping or sightseeing until the hour was up and James returned. But to-day Miss Stone, too, was ill, James had departed with the carriage, and Betty Harris found herself standing2, music-roll in hand, at the door of Madame Lewandowska’s studio—alone in the heart of Chicago for the first time in the twelve years of her life.
 
It had been a very carefully guarded life, with nurses and servants and instructors3. No little princess was ever more sternly and conscientiously4 reared than little Betty Harris, of Chicago. For her tiny sake, herds5 of cattle were slaughtered6 every day; and all over the land hoofs7 and hides and by-products and soap-factories lifted themselves to heaven for Betty Harris. If anything were to happen to her, the business of a dozen States would quiver to the core.
 
She tapped the marble floor softly with her foot and pondered. She might sit here in the hall and wait for James—a whole hour. There was a bench by the wall. She looked at it doubtfully.... It was not seemly that a princess should sit waiting for a servant—not even in marble halls. She glanced about her again. There was probably a telephone somewhere—perhaps on the ground floor. She could telephone home and they would send another carriage. Yes, that would be best. She rang the elevator bell and descended8 in stately silence. When she stepped out of the great door of the building she saw, straight before her, the sign she sought—“Pay Station.”
 
But then something happened to Betty Harris. The spirit of the spring day caught her and lifted her out of herself. Men were hurrying by with light step. Little children laughed as they ran. Betty skipped a few steps and laughed softly with them.... She would walk home. It was not far. She had often walked as far in the country, and she knew the way quite well.... And when she looked up again, she stood in front of the glowing fruit-stall, and Achilles Alexandrakis was regarding her with deep, sad eyes.
 
Achilles had been dreaming down the street when the little figure came in sight. His heart all day had been full of sadness—for the spring in the air. And all day Athens had haunted his steps—the Athens of dreams. Once when he had retired9 into the dark, cool shop, he brushed his sleeve across his eyes, and then he had stood looking down in surprise at something that glistened10 on its worn surface.
 
Betty Harris looked at him and smiled. She had been so carefully brought up that she had not learned that some people were her inferiors and must not be smiled at. She gave him the straight, sweet smile that those who had cared for her all her life loved so well. Then she gave a little nod. “I’m walking home,” she said.
 
Achilles leaned forward a little, almost holding his breath lest she float from him. It was the very spirit of Athens—democratic, cultured, naive11. He gave her the salute12 of his country. She smiled again. Then her eye fell on the tray of pomegranates near the edge of the stall—round and pink. She reached out a hand. “I have never seen these,” she said, slowly. “What are they?”
 
“Pomegranates—Yes—you like some? I give you.”
 
He disappeared into the shop and Betty followed him, looking about with clear, interested eyes. It was like no place she had ever seen—this cool, dark room, with its tiers on tiers of fruit, and the fragrant13, spicy14 smell, and the man with the sad, kind face. Her quick eye paused—arrested by the word printed on a box on the shelf to the right.... Ah, that was it! She knew now quite well. He was a Greek man. She knew the letters; She had studied Greek for six months; but she did not know this word. She was still spelling it out when Achilles returned with the small box of pomegranates in his hand.
 
She looked up slowly. “I can’t quite make it out,” she said.
 
“That?” Achilles’s face was alight. “That is Greek.”
 
She nodded. “I know. I study it; but what is it—the word?”
 
“The word!—Ah, yes, it is—How you say? You shall see.”
 
He reached out a hand to the box. But the child stopped him. A quick thought had come to her. “You have been in Athens, haven’t you? I want to ask you something, please.”
 
The hand dropped from the box. The man turned about, waiting. If heaven were to open to him now—!
 
“I’ve always wanted to see a Greek man,” said the child, slowly, “a real Greek man. I’ve wanted to ask him something he would know about. Have you ever seen the Parthenon?” She put the question with quaint15 seriousness.
 
A light came into the eyes of Achilles Alexandrakis. It flooded the room.
 
“You ask me—the Parthenon?” he said, solemnly. “You wish me—tell that?” It was wistful—almost a cry of longing16.
 
Betty Harris nodded practically. “I’ve always wanted to know about it—the Parthenon. They tell you how long it is, and how wide, and what it is made of, and who began it, and who finished it, and who destroyed it, but they never, never”—she raised her small hand impressively—“they never tell you how it looks!”
 
Achilles brought a chair and placed it near the open door. “Will it—kindly17—you sit?” he said, gravely.
 
She seated herself, folding her hands above the music-roll, and lifting her eyes to the dark face looking down at her. “Thank you.”
 
Achilles leaned back against the counter, thinking a little. He sighed gently. “I tell you many things,” he said at last.
 
“About the Parthenon, please,” said Betty Harris.
 
“You like Athens?” He said it like a child.
 
“I should like it—if they would tell me real things. I don’t seem to make them understand. But when they say how beautiful it is—I feel it here.” She laid her small hand to her side.
 
The smile of Achilles held the glory in its depths. “I tell you,” he said.
 
The clear face reflected the smile. A breath of waiting held the lips. “Yes.”
 
Achilles leaned again upon his counter. His face was rapt, and he spread his finger-tips a little, as if something within them stirred to be free.
 
“It stands so high and lifts itself”—Achilles raised his dark hands—“ruined there—so great—and far beneath, the city lies, drawing near and near, and yet it cannot reach... And all around is light—and light—and light. Here it is a cellar”—his hands closed in with crushing touch—“but there—!” He flung the words from him like a chant of music, and a sky stretched about them from side to side, blue as sapphire18 and shedding radiant light upon the city in its midst—a city of fluted19 column and curving cornice and temple and arch and tomb. The words rolled on, fierce and eager. It was a song of triumph, with war and sorrow and mystery running beneath the sound of joy. And the child, listening with grave, clear eyes, smiled a little, holding her breath. “I see it—I see it!” She half whispered the words.
 
Achilles barely looked at her. “You see—ah, yes—you see. But I—I have not words!” It was almost a cry.... “The air, so clear—like wine—and the pillars straight and high and big—but light—light—reaching....” His soul was among them, soaring high. Then it returned to earth and he remembered the child.
 
“And there is an olive-tree,” he said, kindly, “and a well where Poseidon—”
 
“I’ve heard about the well and the olive-tree,” said the child; “I don’t care so much about them. But all the rest—” She drew a quick breath. “It is very beautiful. I knew it would be. I knew it would be!”
 
There was silence in the room.
 
“Thank you for telling me,” said Betty Harris. “Now I must go.” She slipped from the chair with a little sigh. She stood looking about the dim shop. “Now I must go,” she repeated, wistfully.
 
Achilles moved a step toward the shelf. “Yes—but wait—I will show you.” He reached up to the box and took it down lightly. “I show you.” He was removing the cover.
 
The child leaned forward with shining eyes.
 
A smile came into the dark, grave face looking into the box. “Ah, he has blossomed—for you.” He held it out to her.
 
She took it in shy fingers, bending to it. “It is beautiful,” she said, softly. “Yes—beautiful!”
 
The dark wings, with shadings of gold and tender blue, lifted themselves a little, waiting.
 
The child looked up. “May I touch it?” she asked.
 
“Yes—But why not?”
 
The dark head was bent20 close to hers, watching the wonderful wings.
 
Slowly Betty Harris put out a finger and stroked the wings.
 
They fluttered a little—opened wide and rose—in their first flutter of light.
 
“Oh!” It was a cry of delight from the child.
 
The great creature had settled on the bunch of bananas and hung swaying. The gold and blue wings opened and closed slowly.
 
Achilles drew near and put out a finger.
 
The butterfly was on it.
 
He held it toward her, smiling gently, and she reached up, her very breath on tiptoe. A little smile curved her lips, quick and wondering, as the transfer was made, thread by thread, till the gorgeous thing rested on her own palm.
 
She looked up. “What shall I do with it?” It was a shining whisper.
 
Achilles’s eyes sought the door.
 
They moved toward it slowly, light as breath.
 
In the open doorway21 they paused. Above the tall buildings the grey rim22 of sky lifted itself. The child looked up to it. Her eyes returned to Achilles.
 
He nodded gravely.
 
She raised her hand with a little “p-f-f”—it was half a quick laugh and half a sigh.
 
The wings fluttered free, and rose and faltered23, and rose again—high and higher, between the dark walls—up to the sky, into the grey—and through.
 
The eyes that had followed it came back to earth. They looked at each other and smiled gravely—two children who had seen a happy thing.
 
The child stood still with half-lifted hand.... A carriage drove quickly into the street. The little hand was lifted higher. It was a regal gesture—the return of the princess to earth.
 
James touched his hat—a look of dismay and relief battling in his face as he turned the horses sharply to the right. They paused in front of the stall, their hoofs beating dainty time to the coursing of their blood.
 
Achilles eyed them lovingly. The spirit of Athens dwelt in their arching necks.
 
He opened the door for the child with the quiet face and shining eyes. Gravely he salaamed24 as she entered the carriage.
 
Through the open window she held out a tiny hand. “I hope you will come and see me,” she said.
 
“Yes, I come,” said Achilles, simply. “I like to come.”
 
James dropped a waiting eye.
 
“Home, James.”
 
The horses sprang away. Achilles Alexandrakis, bareheaded in the spring sunshine, watched the carriage till it was out of sight. Then he turned once more to the stall and rearranged the fruit. The swift fingers laughed a little as they worked, and the eyes of Achilles were filled with light.
 
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 demure 3mNzb     
adj.严肃的;端庄的
参考例句:
  • She's very demure and sweet.她非常娴静可爱。
  • The luscious Miss Wharton gave me a demure but knowing smile.性感迷人的沃顿小姐对我羞涩地会心一笑。
2 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
3 instructors 5ea75ff41aa7350c0e6ef0bd07031aa4     
指导者,教师( instructor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
  • He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份,被邀请到主席台上。
4 conscientiously 3vBzrQ     
adv.凭良心地;认真地,负责尽职地;老老实实
参考例句:
  • He kept silent,eating just as conscientiously but as though everything tasted alike. 他一声不吭,闷头吃着,仿佛桌上的饭菜都一个味儿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She discharged all the responsibilities of a minister conscientiously. 她自觉地履行部长的一切职责。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 herds 0a162615f6eafc3312659a54a8cdac0f     
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众
参考例句:
  • Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
  • There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。
6 slaughtered 59ed88f0d23c16f58790fb11c4a5055d     
v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 hoofs ffcc3c14b1369cfeb4617ce36882c891     
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 )
参考例句:
  • The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句
  • The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句
8 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
9 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
10 glistened 17ff939f38e2a303f5df0353cf21b300     
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
11 naive yFVxO     
adj.幼稚的,轻信的;天真的
参考例句:
  • It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致,你未免太单纯了。
  • Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。
12 salute rYzx4     
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮
参考例句:
  • Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
  • The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。
13 fragrant z6Yym     
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的
参考例句:
  • The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
  • The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
14 spicy zhvzrC     
adj.加香料的;辛辣的,有风味的
参考例句:
  • The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
  • Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。
15 quaint 7tqy2     
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的
参考例句:
  • There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里,有很多小巷。
  • They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
16 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
17 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
18 sapphire ETFzw     
n.青玉,蓝宝石;adj.天蓝色的
参考例句:
  • Now let us consider crystals such as diamond or sapphire.现在让我们考虑象钻石和蓝宝石这样的晶体。
  • He left a sapphire ring to her.他留给她一枚蓝宝石戒指。
19 fluted ds9zqF     
a.有凹槽的
参考例句:
  • The Taylor house is that white one with the tall fluted column on Polyock Street. 泰勒家的住宅在波洛克街上,就是那幢有高大的雕花柱子的白色屋子。
  • Single chimera light pink two-tone fluted star. Plain, pointed. Large. 单瓣深浅不一的亮粉红色星形缟花,花瓣端有凹痕。平坦尖型叶。大型。
20 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
21 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
22 rim RXSxl     
n.(圆物的)边,轮缘;边界
参考例句:
  • The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
  • She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。
23 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
24 salaamed e42b1dd9586f0237ba2cf511a33d4e22     
行额手礼( salaam的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He looked from one to the other of them, then salaamed and left. 他扫了他们每个人一眼,行了个额手礼就离开了。 来自柯林斯例句


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