第58章

Atthreeo’clockintheafternoon，allthefashionableworldatNicemaybeseenonthePromenadedesAnglais——acharmingplace，forthewidewalk，borderedwithpalms，flowers，andtropicalshrubs，isboundedononesidebythesea，ontheotherbythegranddrive，linedwithhotelsandvillas，whilebeyondlieorangeorchardsandthehills。Manynationsarerepresented，manylanguagesspoken，manycostumesworn，andonasunnydaythespectacleisasgayandbrilliantasacarnival。HaughtyEnglish，livelyFrench，soberGermans，handsomeSpaniards，uglyRussians，meekJews，free-and-easyAmericans，alldrive，sit，orsaunterhere，chattingoverthenews，andcriticzingthelatestcelebritywhohasarrived——RistoriorDickens，VictorEmmanuelortheQueenoftheSandwichIslands。Theequipagesareasvariedasthecompanyandattractasmuchattention，especiallythelowbasketbarouchesinwhichladiesdrivethemselves，withapairofdashingponies，gaynetstokeeptheirvoluminousflouncesfromoverflowingthediminutivevehicles，andlittlegroomsontheperchbehind。

Alongthiswalk，onChristmasDay，atallyoungmanwalkedslowly，withhishandsbehindhim，andasomewhatabsentexpressionofcountenance。HelookedlikeanItalian，wasdressedlikeanEnglishman，andhadtheindependentairofanAmerican——acombinationwhichcausedsundrypairsoffeminineeyestolookapprovinglyafterhim，andsundrydandiesinblackvelvetsuits，withrose-coloredneckties，buffgloves，andorangeflowersintheirbuttonholes，toshrugtheirshoulders，andthenenvyhimhisinches。

Therewereplentyofprettyfacestoadmire，buttheyoungmantooklittlenoticeofthem，excepttoglancenowandthenatsomeblondegirlinblue。Presentlyhestrolledoutofthepromenadeandstoodamomentatthecrossing，asifundecidedwhethertogoandlistentothebandintheJardinPublique，ortowanderalongthebeachtowardCastleHill。Thequicktrotofponiesfeetmadehimlookup，asoneofthelittlecarriages，containingasingleyounglady，camerapidlydownthestreet。Theladywasyoung，blonde，anddressedinblue。Hestaredaminute，thenhiswholefacewokeup，and，wavinghishatlikeaboy，hehurriedforwardtomeether。

“Oh，Laurie，isitreallyyou？Ithoughtyou’dnevercome!“

criedAmy，droppingthereinsandholdingoutbothhands，tothegreatscandalizationofaFrenchmamma，whohastenedherdaughter’ssteps，lestsheshouldbedemoralizedbybeholdingthefreemannersofthese`madEnglish’。

“Iwasdetainedbytheway，butIpromisedtospendChristmaswithyou，andhereIam。“

“Howisyourgrandfather？Whendidyoucome？Whereareyoustaying？“

“Verywell——lastnight——attheChauvain。Icalledatyourhotel，butyouwereout。“

“Ihavesomuchtosay，Idon’tknowwheretobegin!Getinandwecantalkatourease。Iwasgoingforadriveandlongingforcompany。Flo’ssavingupfortonight。“

“Whathappensthen，aball？“

“AChristmaspartyatouthotel。TherearemanyAmericansthere，andtheygiveitinhonoroftheday。You’llgowithus，ofcourse？Auntwillbecharmed。“

“Thankyou。Wherenow？“askedLaurie，leaningbackandfoldinghisarms，aproceedingwhichsuitedAmy，whopreferredtodrive，forherparasolwhipandbluereinsoverthewhiteponiesbacksaffordedherinfinitesatisfaction。

“I’mgoingtothebankersfirstforletters，andthentoCastleHill。Theviewissolovely，andIliketofeedthepeacocks。

Haveyoueverbeenthere？“

“Often，yearsago，butIdon’tmindhavingalookatit。“

“Nowtellmeallaboutyourself。ThelastIheardofyou，yourgrandfatherwrotethatheexpectedyoufromBerlin。“

“Yes，IspentamonththereandthenjoinedhiminParis，wherehehassettledforthewinter。Hehasfriendsthereandfindsplentytoamusehim，soIgoandcome，andwegotoncapitally。“

“That’sasociablearrangement，“saidAmy，missingsomethinginLaurie’smanner，thoughshecouldn’ttellwhat。

“Why，yousee，hehatestotravel，andIhatetokeepstill，soweeachsuitourselves，andthereisnotrouble。Iamoftenwithhim，andheenjoysmyadventures，whileIliketofeelthatsomeoneisgladtoseemewhenIgetbackfrommywanderings。

Dirtyoldhole，isn’tit？“headded，withalookofdisgustastheydrovealongtheboulevardtothePlaceNapoleonintheoldcity。

“Thedirtispicturesque，soIdon’tmind。Theriverandthehillsaredelicious，andtheseglimpsesofthenarrowcrossstreetsarem