the angel and the author-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃It's　awfully　good　of　you；　but　don't　you　fuss　yourself。　　I'm　looking　
after　my　old　people。　　That's　my　department。　　What　I　want　you　to　do　is　
just　to　listen　to　what　I　am　saying　and　then　hustle　around。　　I　can　
fill　up　your　time　all　right　by　myself。〃

Her　father　may　be　a　soap…boiler；　her　grandmother　may　have　gone　out　
charing。

〃That's　all　right；〃　she　says　to　her　Ambassador：　　〃They're　not　coming。　　
You　just　take　my　card　and　tell　the　King　that　when　he's　got　a　few　
minutes　to　spare　I'll　be　pleased　to　see　him。〃

And　the　extraordinary　thing　is　that；　a　day　or　two　afterwards；　the　
invitation　arrives。

A　modern　writer　has　said　that　〃I'm　Murrican〃　is　the　Civis　Romanus　sum　
of　the　present…day　woman's　world。　　The　late　King　of　Saxony；　did；　I　
believe；　on　one　occasion　make　a　feeble　protest　at　being　asked　to　
receive　the　daughter　of　a　retail　bootmaker。　　The　young　lady；　
nonplussed　for　the　moment；　telegraphed　to　her　father　in　Detroit。　　The　
answer　came　back　next　morning：　　〃Can't　call　it　sellingpractically　
giving　them　away。　　See　Advertisement。〃　　The　lady　was　presented　as　the　
daughter　of　an　eminent　philanthropist。

It　is　due　to　her　to　admit　that；　taking　her　as　a　class；　the　American　
girl　is　a　distinct　gain　to　European　Society。　　Her　influence　is　
against　convention　and　in　favour　of　simplicity。　　One　of　her　greatest　
charms；　in　the　eyes　of　the　European　man；　is　that　she　listens　to　him。　　
I　cannot　say　whether　it　does　her　any　good。　　Maybe　she　does　not　
remember　it　all；　but　while　you　are　talking　she　does　give　you　her　
attention。　　The　English　woman　does　not　always。　　She　greets　you　
pleasantly　enough：

〃I've　so　often　wanted　to　meet　you；〃　she　says；　〃must　you　really　go？〃

It　strikes　you　as　sudden：　　you　had　no　intention　of　going　for　hours。　　
But　the　hint　is　too　plain　to　be　ignored。　　You　are　preparing　to　agree　
that　you　really　must　when；　looking　round；　you　gather　that　the　last　
remark　was　not　addressed　to　you；　but　to　another　gentleman　who　is　
shaking　hands　with　her：

〃Now；　perhaps　we　shall　be　able　to　talk　for　five　minutes；〃　she　says。　　
〃I've　so　often　wanted　to　say　that　I　shall　never　forgive　you。　　You　
have　been　simply　horrid。〃

Again　you　are　confused；　until　you　jump　to　the　conclusion　that　the　
latter　portion　of　the　speech　is　probably　intended　for　quite　another　
party　with　whom；　at　the　moment；　her　back　towards　you；　she　is　engaged　
in　a　whispered　conversation。　　When　he　is　gone　she　turns　again　to　you。　　
But　the　varied　expressions　that　pass　across　her　face　while　you　are　
discussing　with　her　the　disadvantages　of　Protection；　bewilder　you。　　
When；　explaining　your　own　difficulty　in　arriving　at　a　conclusion；　you　
remark　that　Great　Britain　is　an　island；　she　roguishly　shakes　her　
head。　　It　is　not　that　she　has　forgotten　her　geography；　it　is　that　she　
is　conducting　a　conversation　by　signs　with　a　lady　at　the　other　end　of　
the　room。　　When　you　observe　that　the　working　classes　must　be　fed；　she　
smiles　archly　while　murmuring：

〃Oh；　do　you　really　think　so？〃

You　are　about　to　say　something　strong　on　the　subject　of　dumping。　　
Apparently　she　has　disappeared。　　You　find　that　she　is　reaching　round　
behind　you　to　tap　a　new　arrival　with　her　fan。

＇She　has　the　Art　of　Listening。＇

Now；　the　American　girl　looks　at　you；　and　just　listens　to　you　with　her　
eyes　fixed　on　you　all　the　time。　　You　gather　that；　as　far　as　she　is　
concerned；　the　rest　of　the　company　are　passing　shadows。　　She　wants　to　
hear　what　you　have　to　say　about　Bi…metallism：　　her　trouble　is　lest　
she　may　miss　a　word　of　it。　　From　a　talk　with　an　American　girl　one　
comes　away　with　the　conviction　that　one　is　a　brilliant　
conversationalist；　who　can　hold　a　charming　woman　spell…bound。　　This　
may　not　be　good　for　one：　　but　while　it　lasts；　the　sensation　is　
pleasant。

Even　the　American　girl　cannot；　on　all　occasions；　sweep　from　her　path　
the　cobwebs　of　old…world　etiquette。　　Two　American　ladies　told　me　a　
sad　tale　of　things　that　had　happened　to　them　not　long　ago　in　Dresden。　　
An　officer　of　rank　and　standing　invited　them　to　breakfast　with　him　on　
the　ice。　　Dames　and　nobles　of　the　plus　haut　ton　would　be　there。　　It　
is　a　social　function　that　occurs　every　Sunday　morning　in　Dresden　
during　the　skating　season。　　The　great　lake　in　the　Grosser　Garten　is　
covered　with　all　sorts　and　conditions　of　people。　　Prince　and　commoner　
circle　and　recircle　round　one　another。　　But　they　do　not　mix。　　The　
girls　were　pleased。　　They　secured　the　services　of　an　elderly　lady；　
the　widow　of　an　analytical　chemist：　　unfortunately；　she　could　not　
skate。　　They　wrapped　her　up　and　put　her　in　a　sledge。　　While　they　were　
in　the　garde　robe　putting　on　their　skates；　a　German　gentleman　came　up　
and　bowed　to　them。

He　was　a　nice　young　man　of　prepossessing　appearance　and　amiable　
manners。　　They　could　not　call　to　mind　his　name；　but　remembered　having　
met　him；　somewhere；　and　on　more　than　one　occasion。　　The　American　girl　
is　always　sociable：　　they　bowed　and　smiled；　and　said　it　was　a　fine　
day。　　He　replied　with　volubility；　and　helped　them　down　on　to　the　ice。　　
He　was　really　most　attentive。　　They　saw　their　friend；　the　officer　of　
noble　family；　and；　with　the　assistance　of　the　German　gentleman；　
skated　towards　him。　　He　glided　past　them。　　They　thought　that　maybe　he　
did　not　know　enough　to　stop；　so　they　turned　and　skated　after　him。　　
They　chased　him　three　times　round　the　pond　and　then；　feeling　tired；　
eased　up　and　took　counsel　together。

〃I'm　sure　he　must　have　seen　us；〃　said　the　younger　girl。　　〃What　does　
he　mean　by　it？〃

〃Well；　I　have　not　come　down　here　to　play　forfeits；〃　said　the　other；　
〃added　to　which　I　want　my　breakfast。　　You　wait　here　a　minute；　I'll　go　
and　have　it　out　with　him。〃

He　was　standing　only　a　dozen　yards　away。　　Alone；　though　not　a　good　
performer　on　the　ice；　she　contrived　to　cover　half　the　distance　
dividing　them。　　The　officer；　perceiving　her；　came　to　her　assistance　
and　greeted　her　with　effusion。

＇The　Republican　Idea　in　practice。＇

〃Oh；〃　said　the　lady；　who　was　feeling　indignant；　〃I　thought　maybe　you　
had　left　your　glasses　at　home。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　the　officer；　〃but　it　is　impossible。〃

〃What's　impossible？〃　demanded　the　lady。

〃That　I　can　be　seen　speaking　to　you；〃　declared　the　officer；　〃while　
you　are　in　company　with　thatthat　person。〃

〃What　person？〃　　She　thought　maybe　he　was　alluding　to　the　lady　in　the　
sledge。　　The　chaperon　was　not　showy；　but；　what　is　better；　she　was　
good。　　And；　anyhow；　it　was　the　best　the　girls　had　been　able　to　do。　　
So　far　as　they　were　concerned；　they　had　no　use　for　a　chaperon。　　The　
idea　had　been　a　thoughtful　concession　to　European　prejudice。

〃The　person　in　knickerbockers；〃　explained　the　officer。

〃Oh；　THAT；〃　exclaimed　the　lady；　relieved：　　〃he　just　came　up　and　made　
himself　agreeable　while　we　were　putting　on　our　skates。　　We　have　met　
him　somewhere；　but　I　can't　exactly　fix　him　for　the　moment。〃

〃You　have　met　him　possibly　at　Wiesman's；　in　the　Pragerstrasse：　　he　is　
one　of　the　attendants　there；〃　said　the　officer。

The　American　girl　is　Republican　in　her　ideas；　but　she　draws　the　line　
at　hairdressers。　　In　theory　it　is　absurd：　　the　hairdresser　is　a　man　
and　a　brother：　　but　we　are　none　of　us　logical　all　the　way。　　It　made　
her　mad；　the　thought　that　she　had　been　seen　by　all　Dresden　Society　
skating　with　a　hairdresser。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　do　call　that　impudence。　　Why；　they　wouldn't　do　
that　even　in　Chicago。〃

And　she　returned　to　where　the　hairdresser　was　illustrating　to　her　
friend　the　Dutch　roll；　determined　to　explain　to　him；　as　politely　as　
possible；　that　although　the　free　and　enlightened　Westerner　has　
abolished　social　distinctions；　he　has　not　yet　abolished　them　to　that　
extent。

Had　he　been　a　commonplace　German　hairdresser　he　would　have　understood　
English；　and　all　might　have　been　easy。　　But　to　the　〃classy〃　German　
hairdresser；　English　is　not　so　necessary；　and　the　American　ladies　had　
reached；　as　regards　their　German；　only　the　〃improving〃　stage。　　In　her　
excitement　she　confused　the　subjunctive　and　the　imperative；　and　told　
him　that　he　〃might〃　go。　　He　had　no　wish　to　go；　he　assured　themso　
they　gatheredthat　his　intention　was　to　devote　the　morning　to　their　
service。　　He　must　have　been　a　stupid　man；　but　it　is　a　type　
occasionally　encountered。　　Two　pretty　women　had　greeted　his　advances　
with　apparent　delight。　　They　were　Americans；　and　the　American　girl　
was　notoriously　unconventional。　　He　knew　himself　to　be　a　good…looking　
young　fellow。　　It　did　not　occur　to　him　that　in　expressing　willingness　
to　dispense　with　his　attendance　they　could　be　in　earnest。

There　was　nothing　for　it；　so　it　seemed　to　the　girls；　but　to　request　
the　assistance　of　the　officer；　who　continued　to　skate　round　and　round　
them　at　a　distance　of　about　ten　yards。　　So　again　the　elder　young　
lady；　seizing　her　opportunity；　made　appeal。

＇What　the　Soldier　dared　not　do。＇

〃I　cannot；〃　persisted　the　officer；　who；　having　been　looking　forward　
to　a　morning　with　two　of　the　prettiest　girls　in　Dresden；　was　also　
feeling　mad。　　〃I　dare　not　be　seen　speaking　to　a　hairdresser。　　You　
must　get　rid　of　him。〃

〃But　we　can't；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃We　do　not　know　enough　German；　and　he　
can't；　or　he　won't；　understand　us。　　For　goodness　sake　come　and　help　
us。　　We'll　be　spending　the　whole　morning　with　him　if　you　don't。〃

The　German　officer　said　he　was　desolate。　　Steps　would　be　takenlater　
in　the　weekthe　result　of　which　would　probably　be　to　render　that　
young　hairdresser　prematurely　bald。　　But；　meanwhile；　beyond　skating　
round　and　round　them；　for　which　they　did　not　even　feel　they　wanted　to　
thank　him；　the　German　officer　could　do　nothing　for　them。　　They　tried　
being　rude　to　the　hairdresser：　　he　mistook　it　for　American　chic。　　
They　tried　joining　hands　and　running　away　from　him；　but　they　were　not　
good　skaters；　and　he　thought　they　were　trying　to　show　him　the　cake　
walk。　　They　both　fell　down　and　hurt　themselves；　and　it　is　difficult　
to　be　angry　with　a　man；　even　a　hairdresser；　when　he　is　doing　his　best　
to　pick　you　up　and　comfort　you。

The　chaperon　was　worse　than　useless。　　She　was　very　old。　　She　had　been　
promised　her　breakfast；　but　saw　no　signs　of　it。　　She　could　not　speak　
German；　and　remembered　somewhat　late　in　the　day　that　two　young　ladies　
had　no　business　to　accept　breakfast　at　the　hands　of　German　officers：　　
and；　if　they　did；　at　least　they　might　see　that　they　got　it。　　She　
appeared　to　be　willing　to　talk　about　decadence　of　modern　manners　to　
almost　any　extent；　but　the　subject　of　the　hairdresser；　and　how　to　get　
rid　of　him；　only　bored　her。

Their　first　stroke　of　luck　occurred　when　the　hairdresser；　showing　
them　the　〃dropped　three；〃　fell　down　and　temporarily　stunned　himself。　　
It　was　not　kind　of　them；　but　they　were　desperate。　　They　flew　for　the　
bank　just　anyhow；　and；　scrambling　over　the　grass；　gained　the　
restaurant。　　The　officer；　overtaking　them　at　the　door；　led　them　to　
the　table　that　had　been　reserved　for　them；　then　hastened　back　to　hunt　
for　the　chaperon。　　The　girls　thought　their　trouble　was　over。　　Had　
they　glanced　behind　them　their　joy　would　have　been　shorter…lived　than　
even　was　the　case。　　The　hairdresser　had　recovered　consciousness　in　
time　to　see　them　waddling　over　the　grass。　　He　thought　they　were　
running　to　fetch　him　brand