Within a week from the day of his departure the Señor Zuniga returned to Paris.
They were, indeed, often closeted together in long interviews that set Aunt Sophie and Lilith to speculating.
“I think it is something about you, honey. Indeed, I feel sure of it!” said the old lady to her young favorite; and in fact she was right, as the event proved.
Aunt Sophie herself had grown to be more and more of a favorite with every member of the family.
The baroness, without consulting her companion, had put the old lady in possession of much of Lilith’s history that had hitherto been kept from her.
Madame Von Bruyin had also explained to Mrs. Downie that she should remain at the house as companion and protectress to Lilith while the soon-to-be-wedded couple should be on their wedding tour.
And Aunt Sophie, with many deprecating sighs and self-disparaging disclaimers, had finally consented to do so.
“And while we are gone, Monsieur Le Grange and 234Lilith can show you all the wonders of Paris and its environs,” Madame Von Bruyin added, as an inducement or a consolation2.
“I am sure I have already seen more than I ever expected to see in all the days of my life,” said the old lady, with simple candor3.
Paris was beginning to fill with fashionables, returning from the sea shore or mountain height. The wedding cards were out. Some of the most unique jewels and costumes prepared for the occasion were on exhibition in the show-cases of the most recherché bazaars5.
The public journals were sparkling with descriptions of the costly6 presents in course of preparation.
The Prince Gherardini had arrived in town and taken apartments at the Grand Hotel du Louvre.
The princely wedding was to be the opening event of the season.
The two sisters of the prince, the Princesses Bianca and Julietta, were to be the first and second bridesmaids, and six young ladies, selected from the most noble families of the French capital, were to complete the bridal retinue7.
On Monday of the last week in November, a small party collected in the little salon8 of the maison to witness the signing of the marriage contract.
This party consisted of the Baroness Von Bruyin, Monsieur Le Grange, Lilith Hereward, Señor Zuniga and Mrs. Downie, on the part of the bride elect, and Prince Gherardini, the Princesses Bianca and Julietta, and the Marquis Orsini, on the part of the bridegroom.
On this occasion the baroness was richly dressed 235in a Mazarin blue velvet11, trained, and trimmed with ermine, and ornaments12 of pearls and sapphire13.
Aunt Sophie, black satin, with white lace shawl and white lace cap—all presents from the baroness.
The gentlemen wore the conventional black swallow-tail coat, black vest and black trousers, with white neck-tie and white gloves.
When the contract was signed the whole party adjourned17 to the dining-salon, where a rich and rare repast was spread for their refreshment18.
The next day, Tuesday, the same party met at the Mairie, where the civil ceremony, which the French law requires, was duly observed.
But the grand pageant20 of the ecclesiastical rites21 came off at the Church of St. Genevieve about noon on Thursday.
At an early hour of the forenoon the church was crowded with the nobility, fashion and beauty of Paris.
The Archbishop of ——, attended by two bishops22, all in their sacred vestments, were in readiness to officiate.
At half-past eleven the bridal train entered the church.
First came the bride, leaning on the arm of her old friend, the Duc de L——. She was, of course, the observed of all observers. She wore a trained dress of white Genoa velvet, richly embroidered with seed pearls and trimmed with marabout feathers. Being a widow, she wore no orange blossoms; but her golden tresses were crowned with a diadem23 of pearls and diamonds in three bands, while down on the graceful24 236neck floated a tuft of marabout feathers and over all the sumptuous25 costume flowed a rich old cardinal26 point lace vail. Pearl and diamond necklace in a dozen graded festoons encircled her fair neck and lay upon her white bosom27. Pearl and diamond bracelets28 clasped the lovely arms. Kid gloves, embroidered with small pearls, and trimmed with point lace, covered the slender yet plump hands. White boots to match the gloves encased the shapely feet. In her hand she carried a bouquet29 of rare white exotics.
Behind her followed eight bridesmaids, in thread lace dresses, looped with rosebuds, over white silk skirts; white gloves, wreaths and bouquets30 of white rosebuds.
Lilith wore a trained dress of ivory white brocade satin, trimmed with duchess lace; pearl necklace and bracelets on her pretty neck and arms, and a pearl bandeau in her dark hair.
Aunt Sophie was very grand in a black flowered satin, a black velvet dolman, and a black plush bonnet—all the gifts forced upon her acceptance by the baroness. The bridegroom, with his attendants, came out of the vestry as the bride’s party filed up the aisle31 to the music of Mendelssohn’s wedding march.
The two parties met at the altar and kneeled upon the hassocks prepared for them.
The music ceased, and the ceremony began. It was rather more lengthy32, stately and solemn than such rites usually are. But at last it was over; the benediction33 was pronounced; the register was signed and witnessed; intimate friends crowded around the newly married pair with congratulations more or less sincere.
It was one o’clock before the bridal cortège and the wedding congregation entered their carriages and dispersed34, to meet again at four o’clock at the reception to be held at the home of the bride.
237At the hour fixed35 the guests began to arrive, and soon all the reception-rooms were filled with one of the most brilliant crowds that had ever assembled in Paris salons36.
One room of the suite38 was given up to the exhibition of the wedding presents; tables arranged around the walls and set here and there through the room, were laden39 with the richest, rarest and most beautiful products of modern art and science in manufactures. Jewels that seemed poems; watches that seemed vital; India shawls that were perfect studies of finest workmanship; services of gold, pearl, porcelain40 of wonderful grace and elegance41 in form; laces and embroideries42 of marvelous pattern and design; dress fabrics43 of velvet, satin, silk, crêpe, gauze, and so forth44, that seemed woven for the wearing of goddesses and fairies rather than for clothing any woman of mere45 flesh and blood.
This room possessed46 a great charm for lady guests, who crowded it during the whole two hours of the reception.
Another room was elegantly fitted up for refreshments47, that were laid upon many small tables, with services of pure gold and fine porcelain, and attended by servants out of livery who wore the evening dress of gentlemen, varied48 only by white satin vests, kid gloves and fragrant49 boutonnières.
Here the greatest skill of the best caterer50 in Paris had been expended51 in the many tempting52 delicacies53 of the table; and the rarest wines of the southern vineyards added their serpent charm to the feast.
This room found greatest favor from the elder ladies and the gentlemen.
But, after all, the most charming apartment of the many that were thrown open was that in which the 238bride and groom9, the Prince and Princess Gherardini, received their guests.
They stood together near the door. Behind the princess were grouped her eight lovely bridesmaids, and near them sat Aunt Sophie, trying to keep herself out of sight, but enjoying the scene with all the zest54 of the youngest girl there. On the left of the princess stood Lilith, looking, every one said, the loveliest woman present. She still wore the rich but simple dress of ivory white brocade, and the ornaments of pearl on her bosom, on her arms and in her black hair; and now her cheeks and lips were flushed, and her eyes were brilliant with sympathetic excitement. Lilith, however, had acquired all the ease and grace of the bon ton, so that her animation55 only added glow and sparkle to her lovely face, and left her form and manner in perfect repose56.
The baroness—I beg her pardon—the newly-wedded princess took care to present every one who approached the group to her friend, “Mrs. Wyvil.” And every one went away to talk of the beautiful creature. Some to ask others who this lovely Mrs. Wyvil could be; and to be told that she was a very wealthy young American widow, who had made a great sensation during the last season, but who was understood to be on the eve of marriage with some distinguished57 American statesman, whose name had escaped the memory of the latter, and so forth.
The princess perceived and enjoyed the triumph of her young protégée, even in the midst of her own bridal ovation58; and occasionally a humorous smile curled her beautiful lips and lighted her blue eyes, as if she was enjoying in anticipation59 some rare, good jest; and semi-occasionally, as it were, she slightly craned her graceful neck and tried to look through the nearer crowd and beyond towards the approaching one.
239“For whom are you watching, madame?” inquired the prince, in a low voice, as soon as he got an opportunity to speak to his bride.
“Oh, for an old friend of mine whom I particularly pressed to come to us to-day,” replied the princess. “And there he is, slowly working his way through this human thicket,” she added, as her eyes lighted up with animation.
The prince looked, but there were so many gentlemen approaching from the same direction that he could not distinguish the especial person of whom the lady spoke60.
Meanwhile the stranger in question came on, not pushing his way, but rather tacking61, like a craft sailing against wind and tide, and suffering himself to be driven this way and that, but always slowly nearing “port.”
As he came on, the topic of the hour, the praises of the new beauty—the lovely Mrs. Wyvil—met his ears from all sides—her grace, her wit, her genius, her elegance, her accomplishments62 were the theme of the salon.
“Wyvil!” he said to himself—“Wyvil! the name is certainly not a common one! Who can she be, I wonder? An American, too! I must see this belle63.”
The princess, still watching the approach of the stranger, turned to Lilith for an instant and said:
“My love, I wish you would speak to dear Aunt Sophie. There she sits, hiding behind you, quite neglected.”
Lilith at once turned around and opened a conversation with the good old lady by asking:
“What do you think of all this?”
“Oh, honey, I’m half scared and half delighted, you know. ’Pears to me I don’t know whether I’m in a dream of heaven!” replied the dazed and delighted old lady.
240Meanwhile the stranger came up to the bridal group, bowed low before the princess, bowed to the prince, and then spoke the required words of congratulation, and was about to pass on and give place to others who were pressing forward to pay their respects when the princess, laying a light, detaining hand upon his arm, said:
“Pardon. One moment, if you please. I wish to introduce you to a fair compatriot of yours.”
“I thank your highness. I shall be most happy,” replied the new-comer.
“Lilith, my love,” said the princess, in a low voice, to the young lady behind her.
Lilith turned at once.
“Mrs. Wyvil, my dear, permit me to present to you Mr. Tudor Hereward, American Chargé d’Affaires to our Court.”
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1
baroness
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| n.男爵夫人，女男爵 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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10
notaries
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| n.公证人，公证员( notary的名词复数 ) | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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rosebuds
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| 蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 ) | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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27
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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28
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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29
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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bouquets
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| n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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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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salons
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| n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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40
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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42
embroideries
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| 刺绣( embroidery的名词复数 )； 刺绣品； 刺绣法 | |
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fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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50
caterer
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| n. 备办食物者，备办宴席者 | |
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51
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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52
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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53
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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55
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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56
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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61
tacking
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| （帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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