stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第11节
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post…haste for the latter place； where； indeed； he would have arrived a day
too late had not Albrecht's colonel seen fit to postpone his leave。 In this
latter circumstance also the hand of Johann seemed discernible。 As for the
marchese； I suppose he must have returned rather sooner than had been
expected from Padua； and finding his daughter gone； must have extorted
the truth from his housekeeper。 He did not volunteer any explanation of
his presence； nor were any of us bold enough to question him。
As I have said before； I have no very clear recollection of how an
understanding was arrived at and bloodshed averted and the padrona and
her satellites hustled downstairs again。 Perhaps I may have had some share
in the work of pacification。 Be that as it may； when once the exasperated
parents had discovered that they both really wanted the same thing；
namely； to recover possession of their respective offspring； to go home；
and never meet each other again；a species of truce was soon agreed upon
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between them for the purpose of separating the two lovers； who all this
time were locked in each other's arms； in the prettiest attitude in the world；
vowing loudly that nothing should ever part them。
How often since the world began have such vows been made and
broken broken； not willingly； but of necessitybroken and mourned over；
and； in due course of time； forgotten！ I looked at the Marchese di San
Silvestro the other night； as she sailed up the room in her lace and
diamonds； with her fat little husband toddling after her； and wondered
whether； in these days of her magnificence； she ever gave a thought to her
lost AlbertoAlberto； who has been married himself this many a long day；
and has succeeded to his father's estates； and has numerous family； I am
told。 At all events； she was unhappy enough over parting with him at the
time。 The two old gentlemen； who； as holders of the purse…strings； knew
that they were completely masters of the situation； and could afford to be
generous； showed some kindliness of feeing at the last。 They allowed the
poor lovers an uninterrupted half…hour in which to bid each other adieu
forever； and abstained from any needless harshness in making their
decision known。 When the time was up； two travelling…carriages were seen
waiting at the door。 Count von Rosenau pushed his son before him into the
first； the marchese assisted the half…fainting Bianca into the second； the
vetturini cracked their whips； and presently both vehicles were rolling
away； the one toward the north； the other toward the south。 I suppose the
young people had been promising to remain faithful to each other until
some happier future time should permit of their union； for at the last
moment Albrecht thrust his head out of the carriage window； and； waving
his hand； cried； 〃/A rivederci！/〃 I don't know whether they ever met again。
The whole scene； I confess； had affected me a good deal； in spite of
some of the absurdities by which it had been marked； and it was not until I
had been alone for some time； and silence had once more fallen upon the
Longarone /osteria/； that I awoke to the fact that it was /my/ carriage
which the Marchese Marinelli had calmly appropriated to his own use； and
that there was no visible means of my getting back to Venice that day。
Great was my anger and great my dismay when the ostler announced this
news to me； with a broad grin； in reply to my order to put the horses to
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without delay。
〃But the marchese himselfhow did he get here？〃 I inquired。
〃Oh； he came by the diligence。〃
〃And the countthe young gentleman？〃
〃On horseback； signore； but you cannot have his horse。 The poor beast
is half dead as it is。〃
〃Then will you tell me how I am to escape from your infernal town？
For nothing shall induce me to pass another night here。〃
〃Eh！ there is the diligence which goes through at two o'clock in the
morning！〃
There was no help for it。 I sat up for that diligence； and returned by it
to Mestre； seated between a Capuchin monk and a peasant farmer whose
whole system appeared to be saturated with garlic。 I could scarcely have
fared worse in my bed at Longarone。
And so that was my reward for an act of disinterested kindness。 It is
only experience that can teach a man to appreciate the ingrained
thanklessness of the human race。 I was obliged to make a clean breast of it
to my sister； who of course did not keep the secret long； and for some time
afterward I had to submit to a good deal of mild chaff upon the subject
from my friends。 But it is an old story now； and two of the actors in it are
dead； and of the remaining three I dare say I am the only one who cares to
recall it。 Even to me it is a somewhat painful reminiscence。
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GONERIL
BY A。 MARY F。 ROBINSON
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CHAPTER I
THE TWO OLD LADIES
On one of the pleasant hills round Florence； a little beyond Camerata；
there stands a house so small that an Englishman would probably take it
for a lodge of the great villa behind； whose garden trees at sunset cast their
shadow over the cottage and its terrace on to the steep white road。 But any
of the country people could tell him that this； too； is a /casa signorile/；
despite its smallness。 It stands somewhat high above the road； a square
white house with a projecting roof； and with four green…shuttered windows
overlooking the gay but narrow terrace。 The beds under the windows
would have fulfilled the fancy of that French poet who desired that in his
garden one might； in gathering a nosegay； cull a salad； for they boasted
little else than sweet basil； small and white； and some tall gray rosemary
bushes。 Nearer to the door an unusually large oleander faced a strong and
sturdy magnolia…tree； and these； with their profusion of red and white
sweetness； made amends for the dearth of garden flowers。 At either end of
the terrace flourished a thicket of gum…cistus； syringa； stephanotis； and
geranium bushes； and the wall itself； dropping sheer down to the road； was
bordered with the customary Florentine hedge of China roses and irises；
now out of bloom。 Great terra…cotta flower… pots； covered with devices；
were placed at intervals along the wall； as it was summer； the oranges and
lemons； full of wonderfully sweet white blossoms and young green fruit；
were set there in the sun to ripen。
It was the 17th of June。 Although it was after four o'clock； the olives
on the steep hill that went down to Florence looked blindingly white；
shadeless； and sharp。 The air trembled round the bright green cypresses
behind the house。 The roof steamed。 All the windows were shut； all the
jalousies shut； yet it was so hot that no one could stir within。 The maid
slept in the kitchen； the two elderly mistresses of the house dozed upon
their beds。 Not a movement； not a sound。
Gradually along the steep road from Camerata there came a roll of
distant carriage…wheels。 The sound came nearer and nearer； till one could
see the carriage； and see the driver leading the tired； thin； cab…horse； his
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bones starting under the shaggy hide。 Inside the carriage reclined a
handsome； middle…aged lady； with a stern profile turned toward the road； a
young girl in pale pink cotton and a broad hat trudged up the hill at the
side。
〃Goneril；〃 said Miss Hamelyn； 〃let me beg you again to come inside
the carriage。〃
〃Oh no； Aunt Margaret； I'm not a bit tired。〃
〃But I have asked you； that is reason enou
