stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第15节
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think even thirty too much。
〃Not at that age；〃 said Goneril； blandly。
Signor Graziano could think of no reply。
But from that day one might have dated a certain assumption of
youthfulness in his manners。 At cards it was always the signorino and
Goneril against the two elder ladies； in his conversation； too； it was to the
young girl that he constantly appealed； as if she were his natural
companionshe； and not his friends of thirty years。 Madame Petrucci；
always serene and kind； took no notice of these little changes； but they
were particularly irritating to Miss Prunty； who was； after all； only four
years older than the signorino。
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That lady had； indeed； become more than usually sharp and foreboding。
She received the signorino's gay effusions in ominous silence； and would
frown darkly while Madame Petrucci petted her 〃little bird；〃 as she called
Goneril。 Once； indeed； Miss Prunty was heard to remark that it was
tempting Providence to have dealings with a creature whose very name
was a synonym for ingratitude。 But the elder lady only smiled and
declared that her Gonerilla was charming； delicious； a real sunshine in the
house。
〃Now I call on you to support me； signorino；〃 she cried one evening；
when the three elders sat together in the room； while Goneril watered the
roses on the terrace。 〃Is not my Gonerilla a charming little /bebe/？〃
Signor Graziano withdrew his eyes from the window。
〃Most charming； certainly； but scarcely such a child。 She is seventeen；
you know； my dear signora。〃
〃Seventeen！ /Santo Dio！/ And what is one at seventeen but an innocent；
playful； charming little kitten？〃
〃You are always right； madame；〃 agreed the signorino； but he looked
as if he thought she were very wrong。
〃Of course I am right；〃 laughed the little lady。 〃Come here； my
Gonerilla； and hold my skein for me。 Signor Graziano is going to charm us
with one of his delightful airs。〃
〃I hoped she would sing；〃 faltered the signorino。
〃Who？ Gonerilla？ Nonsense； my friend。 She winds silk much better
than she sings。〃
Goneril laughed； she was not at all offended。 But Signor Graziano
made several mistakes in his playing。 At last he left the piano。 〃I cannot
play to…night；〃 he cried。 〃I am not in the humour。 Goneril； will you come
and walk with me on the terrace？〃
Before the girl could reply Miss Prunty had darted an angry glance at
Signor Graziano。
〃Good Lord； what fools men are！〃 she ejaculated。 〃And do you think；
now； I'm going to let that girl； who's just getting rid of her malaria； go star…
gazing with any old idiot while all the mists are curling out of the
valleys？〃
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〃Brigida； my love； you forget yourself；〃 said Madame Petrucci。
〃Bah！〃 cried the signorino。 He was evidently out of temper。
The little lady hastened to smooth the troubled waters。 〃Talking of
malaria；〃 she began； in her serenest manner； 〃I always remember what my
dearest Madame Lilli told me。 It was at one of Prince Teano's concerts。
You remember； signorino？〃
〃/Che！/ How should I remember？〃 he exclaimed。 〃It was a lifetime ago；
dead and forgotten。〃
The old lady shrank； as if a glass of water had been rudely thrown in
her face。 She said nothing； staring blindly。
〃Go to bed； Goneril！〃 cried Miss Prunty； in a voice of thunder。
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CHAPTER IV
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
A few mornings after these events the postman brought a letter for
Goneril。 This was such a rare occurrence that she blushed rose red at the
very sight of it and had to walk up and down the terrace several times
before she felt calm enough to read it。 Then she went upstairs and knocked
at the door of Madame Petrucci's room。〃
〃Come in； little bird。〃
The old lady； in pink merino and curl…papers； opened the door。 Goneril
held up her letter。
〃My cousin Jack is coming to Florence； and he is going to walk over
to see me this afternoon。 And may he stay to dinner； /cara/ signora？〃
〃Why； of course； Gonerilla。 I am charmed！〃
Goneril kissed the old lady； and danced downstairs brimming over
with delight。
Later in the morning Signor Graziano called。
〃Will you come out with me； Mees Goneril？〃 he said。 〃On my land the
earliest vintage begins to…day。〃
〃Oh； how nice！〃 she cried。
〃Come； then；〃 said the signorino； smiling。
〃Oh； I can't come to…day； because of Jack。〃
〃Jack？〃
〃My cousin； he may come at any time。〃
〃Your cousin！〃 The signorino frowned a little。 〃Ah； you English；〃 he
said； 〃you consider all your cousins brothers and sisters！〃
Goneril laughed。
〃Is it not so？〃 he asked； a little anxiously。
〃Jack is much nicer than my brothers；〃 said the young girl。
〃And who is he； this Jack？〃
〃He's a dear boy；〃 said Goneril； 〃and very clever； he is going home for
the Indian civil…service exam； he has been out to Calcutta to see my
father。〃
The signorino did not pay any attention to the latter part of this
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description； but he appeared to find the beginning very satisfactory。
〃So he is only a boy；〃 he muttered to himself； and went away
comparatively satisfied。
Goneril spent most of the day watching the road from Florence。 She
might not walk on the highway； but a steep short cut that joined the main
road at the bottom of the hill was quite at her disposal。 She walked up and
down for more than an hour。 At last she saw some one on the Florence
road。 She walked on quickly。 It was the telegraph…boy。
She tore open the envelope and read： 〃Venice。Exam。 on Wednesday。
Start at once。 /Arivederci/。〃
It was with very red eyes that Goneril went in to dinner。
〃So the cousin hasn't come？〃 said Miss Prunty； kindly。
〃No； he had to go home at once for his examination。〃
〃I dare say he'll come over again soon； my dear；〃 said that
discriminating lady。 She had quite taken Goneril back into her good
graces。
They all sat together in the little parlor after dinner。 At eight o'clock
the door…bell rang。 It was now seven weeks since Goneril had blushed with
excitement when first she heard that ring； and now she did not blush。
The signorino entered。 He walked very straight and his lips were set。
He came in with the air of one prepared to encounter opposition。
〃Mees Goneril；〃 he said； 〃will you come out on the terrace？before it
is too late；〃 he added； with a savage glance at Miss Prunty。
〃Yes；〃 said Goneril； and they went out together。
〃So the cousin did not come？〃 said the signorino。
〃No。〃
They went on a little way in silence together。 The night was moon…lit
and clear； not a wind stirred the leaves； the sky was like a sapphire；
containing but not shedding light。 The late oleanders smelled very sweet；
the moon was so full that one could distinguish the peculiar grayish…pink
of the blossoms。
〃It is a lovely night！〃 said Goneril。
〃And a lovely place。〃
〃Yes。〃
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Then a bird sang。
〃You have been here just eight weeks；〃 said the signorino。
〃I have been very happy。〃
He did not speak for a minute or two； and then he said：
〃Would you like to live here always？〃
〃Ah； yes！ but that is impossible。〃
He took her hand and turned her gently； so that her face was in the
light。
〃Dear Mees Goneril； why is it impossible？〃
For a moment the young girl did not answer。 She blushed very red； and
looked brave。
〃Because of Jack！〃 she said。
〃Ah！〃
〃Nothing is settled；〃 added the young g
