第59章

“Hereareyourflowers。Iarrangedthemmyself，rememberingthatyoudidn’tlikewhatHannahcallsa`sot-bookay’，saidLaurie，handingheradelicatenosegay，inaholderthatshehadlongcovetedasshedailypasseditinCardiglia’swindow。

“Howkindyouare!“sheexclaimedgratefully。“IfI’dknownyouwerecomingI’dhavehadsomethingreadyforyoutoday，thoughnotasprettyasthis，I’mafraid。“

“Thankyou。Itisn’twhatitshouldbe，butyouhaveimprovedit，“

headded，asshesnappedthesilverbraceletonherwrist。

“Pleasedon’t。“

“Ithoughtyoulikedthatsortofthing。“

“Notfromyou，itdoesn’tsoundnatural，andIlikeyouroldbluntnessbetter。“

“I’mgladofit，“heanswered，withalookofrelief，thenbuttonedherglovesforher，andaskedifhistiewasstraight，justasheusedtodowhentheywenttopartiestogetherathome。

ThecompanyassembledinthelongsalleamangerthateveningwassuchasoneseesnowherebutontheContinent。ThehospitableAmericanshadinvitedeveryacquaintancetheyhadinNice，andhavingnoprejudiceagainsttitles，securedafewtoaddlustertotheirChristmasball。

ARussianprincecondescendedtositinacornerforanhourandtalkwithamassivelady，dressedlikeHamlet’smotherinblackvelvetwithapearlbridleunderherchin。APolishcount，agedeighteen，devotedhimselftotheladies，whopronouncedhim，`afascinatingdear’，andaGermanSereneSomething，havingcometosupperalone，roamedvaguelyabout，seekingwhathemightdevour。BaronRothschild’sprivatesecretary，alargenosedJewintightboots，affablybeamedupontheworld，asifhismaster’snamecrownedhimwithagoldenhalo。AstoutFrenchman，whoknewtheEmperor，cametoindulgehismaniafordancing，andLadydeJones，aBritishmatron，adornedthescenewithherlittlefamilyofeight。Ofcourse，thereweremanylight-footed，shrill-voicedAmericangirls，handsome，lifeless-lookingEnglishditto，andafewplainbutpiquanteFrenchdemoiselles，likewisetheusualsetoftravelingyounggentlemenwhodisportedthemselvesgaily，whilemammasofallnationslinedthewallsandsmileduponthembenignlywhentheydancedwiththeirdaughters。

AnyyounggirlcanimagineAmy’sstateofmindwhenshe`tookthestage’thatnight，leaningonLaurie’sarm。Sheknewshelookedwell，shelovedtodance，shefeltthatherfootwasonhernativeheathinaballroom，andenjoyedthedelightfulsenseofpowerwhichcomeswhenyounggirlsfirstdiscoverthenewandlovelykingdomtheyareborntorulebyvirtueofbeauty，youth，andwomanhood。ShedidpitytheDavisgirls，whowereawkward，plain，anddestituteofescort，exceptagrimpapaandthreegrimmermaidenaunts，andshebowedtotheminherfriendliestmannerasshepassed，whichwasgoodofher，asitpermittedthemtoseeherdress，andburnwithcuriositytoknowwhoherdistinguished-lookingfriendmightbe。Withthefirstburstoftheband，Amy’scolorrose，hereyesbegantosparkle，andherfeettotapthefloorimpatiently，forshedancedwellandwantedLaurietoknowit。Thereforetheshockshereceivedcanbetterbeimaginedthandescribed，whenhesaidinaperfectlytranquiltone，“Doyoucaretodance？“

“Oneusuallydoesataball。“

HeramazedlookandquickanswercausedLaurietorepairhiserrorasfastaspossible。

“Imeantthefirstdance。MayIhavethehonor？“

“IcangiveyouoneifIputofftheCount。Hedancesdevinely，buthewillexcuseme，asyouareanoldfriend，“saidAmy，hopingthatthenamewouldhaveagoodeffect，andshowLauriethatshewasnottobetrifledwith。

“Nicelittleboy，butratherashortPoletosupport……

Adaughterofthegods，Devinelytall，andmostdevinelyfair，“

wasallthesatisfactionshegot，however。

ThesetinwhichtheyfoundthemselveswascomposedofEnglish，andAmywascompelledtowalkdecorouslythroughacotillion，feelingallthewhileasifshecoulddancethetarantellawithrelish。Laurieresignedhertothe`nicelittleboy’，andwenttodohisdutytoFlo，withoutsecuringAmyforthejoystocome，whichreprehensiblewantofforethoughtwasproperlypunished，forsheimmediatelyengagedherselftillsupper，meaningtorelentifhethengaveanysignspenitence。

Sheshowedhimherballbookwithdemuresatisfactionwhenhestrolledinsteadofrusheduptoclaimherforthenext，agloriouspolkaredowa。Buthispoliteregretsdidn’timposeu