下载辰思小说免费APP
“Iftherewerenotdinneraftersuchexperiencesasthese，“saidIsabel，astheysatattablethatevening，“Idon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofone。Butdinnerunitestheideaofpleasureandduty，andbringsyougentlybacktoearth。Youmusteat，don’tyousee，andthere’snothingdisgracefulaboutwhatyou’reobligedtodo；andso——it’sallright。“
“Isabel，Isabel，“criedherhusband，“youhaveawonderfulmind，anditsworkingsalwaysamazeme。Butbecareful，mydear；becareful。Don’tworkittoohard。Thehumanbrain，youknow:delicateorgan。“
“Well，youunderstandwhatImean；andIthinkit’soneofthegreatcharmsofahusband，thatyou’renotforcedtoexpressyourselftohim。
Ahusband，“continuedIsabel，sententiously，poisingabitofmeringuebetweenherthumbandfinger，——fortheyhadreachedthatpointintherepast，“ahusbandisalmostasgoodasanotherwoman！“
IntheparlortheyfoundtheEllisons，andexchangedthehistoryofthedaywiththem。
“Certainly，“saidMrs。Ellison，attheend，“it’sbeenapleasantdayenough，butwhatofthenight？You’vebeenturnedout，too，bythosepeoplewhocameonthesteamer，andwhomightaswellhavestayedonboardto-night；haveyougotanotherroom？“
“Notprecisely，“saidIsabel；“wehaveacoopinthefifthstory，rightundertheroof。“
Mrs。Ellisonturnedenergeticallyuponherhusbandandcriedintonesofreproach，“Richard，Mrs。Marchhasaroom！“
“Acoop，shesaid，“retortedthatamiableColonel，“andwe’retoogoodforthat。Theclerkiskeepingusinsuspenseaboutaroom，becausehemeanstosurpriseuswithsomethingpalatialattheend。It’shisjokingway。“
“Nonsense！“saidMrs。Ellison。“Haveyouseenhimsincedinner？“
“Ihavemadelifeaburdentohimforthelasthalf-hour，“returnedtheColonel，withthekindliestsmile。
“ORichard，“criedhiswife，indespairofhisamendment，“youwouldn’tmakelifeaburdentoamouse！“Andhavingnothingelseforit，shelaughed，halfinsorrow，halfinfondness。
“Well，Fanny，“theColonelirrelevantlyanswered，putonyourhatandthings，andlet’sallgouptoDurhamTerraceforapromenade。Iknowourfriendswanttogo。It’ssomethingworthseeing；andbythetimewegetback，theclerkwillhaveusaperfectlysumptuousapartment。“
Nothing，Ithink，moreenforcestheillusionofSouthernEuropeinQuebecthantheSunday-nightpromenadingonDurhamTerrace。Thisistheamplespaceonthebrowoftheclifftotheleftofthecitadel，thenoblestandmostcommandingpositioninthewholecity，whichwasformerlyoccupiedbytheoldcastleofSaintLouis，wheredweltthebraveCountFrontenacandhissplendidsuccessorsoftheFrenchregime。ThecastlewentthewayofQuebecbyfiresomefortyyearsago，andLordDurhamleveledthesiteandmadeitapublicpromenade。Astatelyarcadeofsolidmasonrysupportsitonthebrinkoftherock，andanironparapetinclosesit；thereareafewseatstoloungeupon，andsomeidleoldgunsforthechildrentoclamberoverandplaywith。Asofttwilighthadfollowedtheday，andtherewasjustenoughobscuritytohidefromawillingeyetheNorthernandNewWorldfactsofthescene，andtobringintomoreromanticreliefthecitadeldarkagainstthemellowevening，andthepeoplegossipingfromwindowtowindowacrossthenarrowstreetsoftheLowerTown。TheTerraceitselfwasdenselythronged，andtherewasaconstantc
