their silver wedding journey v3-第3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！


think　of　that；　I　have　no　patience　with　Burnamy。〃

〃I　am　going　to　ask　the　landlord　about　him；　now　he's　got　rid　of　his
highhotes；〃　said　Mrs。　March。




XLIX。

They　went　home　to　their　hotel　for　their　midday　dinner；　and　to　the　comfort
of　having　it　nearly　all　to　themselves。　　Prince　Leopold　had　risen　early；
like　all　the　hard…working　potentates　of　the　continent；　and　got　away　to
the　manoeuvres　somewhere　at　six　o'clock；　the　decorations　had　been
removed；　and　the　court…yard　where　the　hired　coach　and　pair　of　the　prince
had　rolled　in　the　evening　before　had　only　a　few　majestic　ducks　waddling
about　in　it　and　quacking　together；　indifferent　to　the　presence　of　a
yellow　mail…wagon；　on　which　the　driver　had　been　apparently　dozing　till
the　hour　of　noon　should　sound。　　He　sat　there　immovable；　but　at　the　last
stroke　of　the　clock　he　woke　up　and　drove　vigorously　away　to　the　station。

The　dining…room　which　they　had　been　kept　out　of　by　the　prince　the　night
before　was　not　such　as　to　embitter　the　sense　of　their　wrong　by　its
splendor。　　After　all；　the　tastes　of　royalty　must　be　simple；　if　the　prince
might　have　gone　to　the　Schloss　and　had　chosen　rather　to　stay　at　this
modest　hotel；　but　perhaps　the　Schloss　was　reserved　for　more　immediate
royalty　than　the　brothers　of　prince…regents；　and　in　that　case　he　could
not　have　done　better　than　dine　at　the　Golden　Star。　　If　he　paid　no　more
than　two　marks；　he　dined　as　cheaply　as　a　prince　could　wish；　and　as
abundantly。　　The　wine　at　Ansbach　was　rather　thin　and　sour；　but　the　bread；
March　declared；　was　the　best　bread　in　the　whole　world；　not　excepting　the
bread　of　Carlsbad。

After　dinner　the　Marches　had　some　of　the　local　pastry；　not　so
incomparable　as　the　bread；　with　their　coffee；　which　they　had　served　them
in　a　pavilion　of　the　beautiful　garden　remaining　to　the　hotel　from　the
time　when　it　was　a　patrician　mansion。　　The　garden　had　roses　in　it　and
several　sorts　of　late　summer　flowers；　as　well　as　ripe　cherries；　currants；
grapes；　and　a　Virginia…creeper　red　with　autumn；　all　harmoniously
contemporaneous；　as　they　might　easily　be　in　a　climate　where　no　one　of　the
seasons　can　very　well　know　itself　from　the　others。　　It　had　not　been
raining　for　half　an　hour；　and　the　sun　was　scalding　hot；　so　that　the
shelter　of　their　roof　was　very　grateful；　and　the　puddles　of　the　paths
were　drying　up　with　the　haste　which　puddles　have　to　make　in　Germany；
between　rains；　if　they　are　ever　going　to　dry　up　at　all。

The　landlord　came　out　to　see　if　they　were　well　served；　and　he　was
sincerely　obliging　in　the　English　he　had　learned　as　a　waiter　in　London。
Mrs。　March　made　haste　to　ask　him　if　a　young　American　of　the　name　of
Burnamy　had　been　staying　with　him　a　few　weeks　before；　and　she　described
Burnamy's　beauty　and　amiability　so　vividly　that　the　landlord；　if　he　had
been　a　woman；　could　not　have　failed　to　remember　him。　　But　he　failed；　with
a　real　grief；　apparently；　and　certainly　a　real　politeness；　to　recall
either　his　name　or　his　person。　　The　landlord　was　an　intelligent；　good…
looking　young　fellow；　he　told　them　that　he　was　lately　married；　and　they
liked　him　so　much　that　they　were　sorry　to　see　him　afterwards　privately
boxing　the　ears　of　the　piccolo；　the　waiter's　little　understudy。　　Perhaps
the　piccolo　deserved　it；　but　they　would　rather　not　have　witnessed　his
punishment；　his　being　in　a　dress…coat　seemed　to　make　it　also　an
indignity。

In　the　late　afternoon　they　went　to　the　caf？in　the　old　Orangery　of　the
Schloss　for　a　cup　of　tea；　and　found　themselves　in　the　company　of　several
Ansbach　ladies　who　had　brought　their　work；　in　the　evident　habit　of　coming
there　every　afternoon　for　their　coffee　and　for　a　dish　of　gossip。　　They
were　kind；　uncomely；　motherly…looking　bodies；　one　of　them　combed　her　hair
at　the　table；　and　they　all　sat　outside　of　the　caf？with　their　feet　on　the
borders　of　the　puddles　which　had　not　dried　up　there　in　the　shade　of　the
building。

A　deep　lawn；　darkened　at　its　farther　edge　by　the　long　shadows　of　trees；
stretched　before　them　with　the　sunset　light　on　it；　and　it　was　all　very
quiet　and　friendly。　　The　tea　brought　to　the　Marches　was　brewed　from　some
herb　apparently　of　native　growth；　with　bits　of　what　looked　like　willow
leaves　in　it；　but　it　was　flavored　with　a　clove　in　each　cup；　and　they　sat
contentedly　over　it　and　tried　to　make　out　what　the　Ansbach　ladies　were；
talking　about。　　These　had　recognized　the　strangers　for　Americans；　and　one
of　them　explained　that　Americans　spoke　the　same　language　as　the　English
and　yet　were　not　quite　the　same　people。

〃She　differs　from　the　girl　in　the　book…store；〃　said　March；　translating　to
his　wife。　　〃Let　us　get　away　before　she　says　that　we　are　not　so　nice　as
the　English；〃　and　they　made　off　toward　the　avenue　of　trees　beyond　the
lawn。

There　were　a　few　people　walking　up　and　down　in　the　alley；　making　the　most
of　the　moment　of　dry　weather。　　They　saluted　one　another　like
acquaintances；　and　three　clean…shaven；　walnut…faced　old　peasants　bowed　in
response　to　March's　stare；　with　a　self…respectful　civility。　　They　were
yeomen　of　the　region　of　Ansbach；　where　the　country　round　about　is　dotted
with　their　cottages；　and　not　held　in　vast　homeless　tracts　by　the　nobles
as　in　North　Germany。

The　Bavarian　who　had　imparted　this　fact　to　March　at　breakfast；　not
without　a　certain　tacit　pride　in　it　to　the　disadvantage　of　the　Prussians；
was　at　the　supper　table；　and　was　disposed　to　more　talk；　which　he　managed
in　a　stout；　slow　English　of　his　own。　　He　said　he　had　never　really　spoken
English　with　an　English…speaking　person　before；　or　at　all　since　he
studied　it　in　school　at　Munich。

〃I　should　be　afraid　to　put　my　school…boy　German　against　your　English；〃
March　said；　and；　when　he　had　understood；　the　other　laughed　for　pleasure；
and　reported　the　compliment　to　his　wife　in　their　own　parlance。　　〃You
Germans　certainly　beat　us　in　languages。〃

〃Oh；　well；〃　he　retaliated；　〃the　Americans　beat　us　in　some　other　things；〃
and　Mrs。　March　felt　that　this　was　but　just；　she　would　have　liked　to
mention　a　few；　but　not　ungraciously；　she　and　the　German　lady　kept　smiling
across　the　table；　and　trying　detached　vocables　of　their　respective
tongues　upon　each　other。

The　Bavarian　said　he　lived　in　Munich　still；　but　was　in　Ansbach　on　an
affair　of　business；　he　asked　March　if　he　were　not　going　to　see　the
manoeuvres　somewhere。　　Till　now　the　manoeuvres　had　merely　been　the
interesting　background　of　their　travel；　but　now；　hearing　that　the　Emperor
of　Germany；　the　King　of　Saxony；　the　Regent　of　Bavaria；　and　the　King　of
Wurtemberg；　the　Grand…Dukes　of　Weimar　and　Baden；　with　visiting　potentates
of　all　sorts；　and　innumerable　lesser　highhotes；　foreign　and　domestic；
were　to　be　present；　Mrs。　March　resolved　that　they　must　go　to　at　least　one
of　the　reviews。

〃If　you　go　to　Frankfort；　you　can　see　the　King　of　Italy　too；〃　said　the
Bavarian；　but　he　owned　that　they　probably　could　not　get　into　a　hotel
there；　and　he　asked　why　they　should　not　go　to　Wurzburg；　where　they　could
see　all　the　sovereigns　except　the　King　of　Italy。

〃Wurzburg？　　Wurzburg？〃　March　queried　of　his　wife。　　〃Where　did　we　hear　of
that　place？〃

〃Isn't　it　where　Burnamy　said　Mr。　Stoller　had　left　his　daughters　at
school？〃

〃So　it　is！　And　is　that　on　the　way　to　the　Rhine？〃　he　asked　the　Bavarian。

〃No；　no！　　Wurzburg　is　on　the　Main；　about　five　hours　from　Ansbach。　　And　it
is　a　very　interesting　place。　　It　is　where　the　good　wine　comes　from。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　March；　and　in　their　rooms　his　wife　got　out　all　their
guides　and　maps　and　began　to　inform　herself　and　to　inform　him　about
Wurzburg。　　But　first　she　said　it　was　very　cold　and　he　must　order　some
fire　made　in　the　tall　German　stove　in　their　parlor。　　The　maid　who　came
said　〃Gleich；〃　but　she　did　not　come　back；　and　about　the　time　they　were
getting　furious　at　her　neglect；　they　began　getting　warm。　　He　put　his　hand
on　the　stove　and　found　it　hot；　then　he　looked　down　for　a　door　in　the
stove　where　he　might　shut　a　damper；　there　was　no　door。

〃Good　heavens！〃　he　shouted。　　〃It's　like　something　in　a　dream；〃　and　he　ran
to　pull　the　bell　for　help。

〃No；　no！　Don't　ring！　　It　will　make　us　ridiculous。　　They'll　think
Americans　don't　know　anything。　　There　must　be　some　way　of　dampening　the
stove；　and　if　there　isn't；　I'd　rather　suffocate　than　give　myself　away。〃
Mrs。　March　ran　and　opened　the　window；　while　her　husband　carefully
examined　the　stove　at　every　point；　and　explored　the　pipe　for　the　damper
in　vain。　　〃Can't　you　find　it？〃　　The　night　wind　came　in　raw　and　damp；　and
threatened　to　blow　their　lamp　out；　and　she　was　obliged　to　shut　the
window。

〃Not　a　sign　of　it。　　I　will　go　down　and　ask　the　landlord　in　strict
confidence　how　they　dampen　their　stoves　in　Ansbach。〃

〃Well；　if　you　must。　　It's　getting　hotter　every　moment。〃　　She　followed　him
timorously　into　the　corridor；　lit　by　a　hanging　lamp；　turned　low　for　the
night。

He　looked　at　his　watch；　it　was　eleven　o'clock。　　〃I'm　afraid　they're　all
in　bed。〃

〃Yes；　you　mustn't　go！　　We　must　try　to　find　out　for　ourselves。　　What　can
that　door　be　for？〃

It　was　a　low　iron　door；　half　the　height　of　a　man；　in　the　wall　near　their
room；　and　it　yielded　to　his　pull。　　〃Get　a　candle；〃　he　whispered；　and　when
she　brought　it；　he　stooped　to　enter　the　doorway。

〃Oh；　do　you　think　you'd　better？〃　she　hesitated。

〃You　can　come；　too；　if　you're　afraid。　　You've　always　said　you　wanted　to
die　with　me。〃

〃Well。　　But　you　go　first。〃

He　disappeared　within；　and　then　came　back　to　the　doorway。　　〃Just　come　in
here；　a　moment。〃　　She　found　herself　in　a　sort　of　antechamber；　half　the
height　of　her　own　room；　and　following　his　gesture　she　looked　down　where
in　one　corner　some　crouching　monster　seemed　showing　its　fiery　teeth　in　a
grin　of　derision。　　This　grin　was　the　damper　of　their　stove；　and　this　was
where　the　maid　had　kindled　the　fire　which　had　been　roasting　them　alive；
and　was　still　joyously　chuckling　to　itself。　　〃I　think　that　Munich　man　was
wrong。　　I　don't　believe　we　beat　the　Germans　in　anything。　　There　isn't　a
hotel　in　the　United　States　where　the　stoves　have　no　front　doors；　and
every　one　of　them　has　the　space　of　a　good…sized　flat　given　up　to　the
convenience　of　kindling　a　fire　in　it。〃




L。

After　a　red　sunset　of　shameless　duplicity　March　was　awakened　to　a　rainy
morning　by　the　clinking　of　cavalry　hoofs　on　the　pavement　of　the　long…
irregular　square　before　the　hotel；　and　he　hurried　out　to　see　the　passing
of　the　soldiers　on　their　way　to　the　manoeuvres。　　They　were　troops　of　all
arms；　but　mainly　infantry；　and　as　they　stumped　heavily　through　the　groups
of　apathetic　citizens　in　their　mud…splashed　boots；　they　took　the　steady
downpour　on　their　dripping　helmets。　　Some　of　them　were　smoking；　but　none
smiling；　except　one　gay　fellow　who　made　a　joke　to　a　serving…maid　on　the
sidewalk。　　An　old　officer　halted　his　staff　to　scold　a　citizen　who　had
given　him　a　mistaken　direction。　　The　shame　of　the　erring　man　was　great；
and　the　pride　of　a　fellow…citizen　who　corrected　him　was　not　less；　though
the　arrogant　brute　before　whom　they　both　cringed　used　them　with　equal
scorn；　the　younger　officers　listened　indifferently　round　on　horseback
behind　the　glitter　of　their　eyeglasses；　and　one　of　them　amused　himself　by
turning　the　silver　bangles　on　his　wrist。

Then　the　files　of　soldier　slaves　passed　on；　and　March