the indiscretion of elsbeth-第2章

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after　breakfast　set　out　to　visit　the　model　farm　and　dairy。

Dismissing　his　driver；　as　he　had　been　instructed；　Hoffman　entered

the　gateway　with　a　mingling　of　expectancy　and　a　certain　amusement

over　the　〃boldness〃　which　the　porter　had　suggested　should

characterize　his　entrance。　　Before　him　was　a　beautifully　kept　lane

bordered　by　arbored　and　trellised　roses；　which　seemed　to　sink　into

the　distance。　　He　was　instinctively　following　it　when　he　became

aware　that　he　was　mysteriously　accompanied　by　a　man　in　the　livery

of　a　chasseur；　who　was　walking　among　the　trees　almost　abreast　of

him；　keeping　pace　with　his　step；　and　after　the　first　introductory

military　salute　preserving　a　ceremonious　silence。　　There　was

something　so　ludicrous　in　this　solemn　procession　toward　a　peaceful；

rural　industry　that　by　the　time　they　had　reached　the　bottom　of　the

lane　the　American　had　quite　recovered　his　good　humor。　　But　here　a

new　astonishment　awaited　him。　　Nestling　before　him　in　a　green

amphitheater　lay　a　little　wooden　farm…yard　and　outbuildings；　which

irresistibly　suggested　that　it　had　been　recently　unpacked　and　set

up　from　a　box　of　Nuremberg　toys。　　The　symmetrical　trees；　the

galleried　houses　with　preternaturally　glazed　windows；　even　the

spotty；　disproportionately　sized　cows　in　the　white…fenced　barnyards

were　all　unreal；　wooden　and　toylike。



Crossing　a　miniature　bridge　over　a　little　stream；　from　which　he　was

quite　prepared　to　hook　metallic　fish　with　a　magnet　their　own　size；

he　looked　about　him　for　some　real　being　to　dispel　the　illusion。

The　mysterious　chasseur　had　disappeared。　　But　under　the　arch　of　an

arbor；　which　seemed　to　be　composed　of　silk　ribbons；　green　glass；

and　pink　tissue　paper；　stood　a　quaint　but　delightful　figure。



At　first　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　only　dispelled　one　illusion　for

another。　　For　the　figure　before　him　might　have　been　made　of　Dresden

chinaso　daintily　delicate　and　unique　it　was　in　color　and

arrangement。　　It　was　that　of　a　young　girl　dressed　in　some　forgotten

medieval　peasant　garb　of　velvet　braids；　silver…staylaced　corsage；

lace　sleeves；　and　helmeted　metallic　comb。　　But；　after　the　Dresden

method；　the　pale　yellow　of　her　hair　was　repeated　in　her　bodice；　the

pink　of　her　cheeks　was　in　the　roses　of　her　chintz　overskirt。　　The

blue　of　her　eyes　was　the　blue　of　her　petticoat；　the　dazzling

whiteness　of　her　neck　shone　again　in　the　sleeves　and　stockings。

Nevertheless　she　was　real　and　human；　for　the　pink　deepened　in　her

cheeks　as　Hoffman's　hat　flew　from　his　head；　and　she　recognized　the

civility　with　a　grave　little　curtsy。



〃You　have　come　to　see　the　dairy；〃　she　said　in　quaintly　accurate

English；　〃I　will　show　you　the　way。〃



〃If　you　please；〃　said　Hoffman；　gaily；　〃but〃



〃But　what？〃　she　said；　facing　him　suddenly　with　absolutely

astonished　eyes。



Hoffman　looked　into　them　so　long　that　their　frank　wonder　presently

contracted　into　an　ominous　mingling　of　restraint　and　resentment。

Nothing　daunted；　however；　he　went　on：



〃Couldn't　we　shake　all　that？〃



The　look　of　wonder　returned。　　〃Shake　all　that？〃　she　repeated。　　〃I

do　not　understand。〃



〃Well！　I'm　not　positively　aching　to　see　cows；　and　you　must　be　sick

of　showing　them。　　I　think；　too；　I've　about　sized　the　whole　show。

Wouldn't　it　be　better　if　we　sat　down　in　that　arborsupposing　it

won't　fall　downand　you　told　me　all　about　the　lot？　　It　would　save

you　a　heap　of　trouble　and　keep　your　pretty　frock　cleaner　than

trapesing　round。　　Of　course；〃　he　said；　with　a　quick　transition　to

the　gentlest　courtesy；　〃if　you're　conscientious　about　this　thing

we'll　go　on　and　not　spare　a　cow。　　Consider　me　in　it　with　you　for

the　whole　morning。〃



She　looked　at　him　again；　and　then　suddenly　broke　into　a　charming

laugh。　　It　revealed　a　set　of　strong　white　teeth；　as　well　as　a

certain　barbaric　trace　in　its　cadence　which　civilized　restraint　had

not　entirely　overlaid。



〃I　suppose　she　really　is　a　peasant；　in　spite　of　that　pretty　frock；〃

he　said　to　himself　as　he　laughed　too。



But　her　face　presently　took　a　shade　of　reserve；　and　with　a　gentle

but　singular　significance　she　said：



〃I　think　you　must　see　the　dairy。〃



Hoffman's　hat　was　in　his　hand　with　a　vivacity　that　tumbled　the

brown　curls　on　his　forehead。　　〃By　all　means；〃　he　said　instantly；

and　began　walking　by　her　side　in　modest　but　easy　silence。　　Now　that

he　thought　her　a　conscientious　peasant　he　was　quiet　and　respectful。



Presently　she　lifted　her　eyes；　which；　despite　her　gravity；　had　not

entirely　lost　their　previous　mirthfulness；　and　said：



〃But　you　Americansin　your　rich　and　prosperous　country；　with　your

large　lands　and　your　great　harvestsyou　must　know　all　about

farming。〃



〃Never　was　in　a　dairy　in　my　life；〃　said　Hoffman　gravely。　　〃I'm　from

the　city　of　New　York；　where　the　cows　give　swill　milk；　and　are　kept

in　cellars。〃



Her　eyebrows　contracted　prettily　in　an　effort　to　understand。　　Then

she　apparently　gave　it　up；　and　said　with　a　slanting　glint　of

mischief　in　her　eyes：



〃Then　you　come　here　like　the　other　Americans　in　hope　to　see　the

Grand　Duke　and　Duchess　and　the　Princesses？〃



〃No。　　The　fact　is　I　almost　tumbled　into　a　lot　of　'emstanding　like

wax　figuresthe　other　side　of　the　park　lodge；　the　other　dayand

got　away　as　soon　as　I　could。　　I　think　I　prefer　the　cows。〃



Her　head　was　slightly　turned　away。　　He　had　to　content　himself　with

looking　down　upon　the　strong　feet　in　their　serviceable　but　smartly

buckled　shoes　that　uplifted　her　upright　figure　as　she　moved　beside

him。



〃Of　course；〃　he　added　with　boyish　but　unmistakable　courtesy；　〃if

it's　part　of　your　show　to　trot　out　the　family；　why　I'm　in　that；

too。　　I　dare　say　you　could　make　them　interesting。〃



〃But　why；〃　she　said　with　her　head　still　slightly　turned　away　toward

a　figurea　sturdy…looking　woman；　which；　for　the　first　time；

Hoffman　perceived　was　walking　in　a　line　with　them　as　the　chasseur

had　done〃why　did　you　come　here　at　all？〃



〃The　first　time　was　a　fool　accident；〃　he　returned　frankly。　　〃I　was

making　a　short　cut　through　what　I　thought　was　a　public　park。　　The

second　time　was　because　I　had　been　rude　to　a　Police　Inspector　whom

I　found　going　through　my　things；　but　who　apologizedas　I　suppose

by　getting　me　an　invitation　from　the　Grand　Duke　to　come　here；　and　I

thought　it　only　the　square　thing　to　both　of　'em　to　accept　it。　　But

I'm　mighty　glad　I　came；　I　wouldn't　have　missed　YOU　for　a　thousand

dollars。　　You　see　I　haven't　struck　anyone　I　cared　to　talk　to

since。〃　　Here　he　suddenly　remarked　that　she　hadn't　looked　at　him；

and　that　the　delicate　whiteness　of　her　neck　was　quite　suffused　with

pink；　and　stopped　instantly。　　Presently　he　said　quite　easily：



〃Who's　the　chorus？〃



〃The　lady？〃



〃Yes。　　She's　watching　us　as　if　she　didn't　quite　approve；　you　know

just　as　if　she　didn't　catch　on。〃



〃She's　the　head　housekeeper　of　the　farm。　　Perhaps　you　would　prefer

to　have　her　show　you　the　dairy；　shall　I　call　her？〃



The　figure　in　question　was　very　short　and　stout；　with　voluminous

petticoats。



〃Please　don't；　I'll　stay　without　your　setting　that　paperweight　on

me。　　But　here's　the　dairy。　　Don't　let　her　come　inside　among　those

pans　of　fresh　milk　with　that　smile；　or　there'll　be　trouble。〃



The　young　girl　paused　too；　made　a　slight　gesture　with　her　hand；　and

the　figure　passed　on　as　they　entered　the　dairy。　　It　was　beautifully

clean　and　fresh。　　With　a　persistence　that　he　quickly　recognized　as

mischievous　and　ironical；　and　with　his　characteristic　adaptability

accepted　with　even　greater　gravity　and　assumption　of　interest；　she

showed　him　all　the　details。　　From　thence　they　passed　to　the

farmyard；　where　he　hung　with　breathless　attention　over　the　names　of

the　cows　and　made　her　repeat　them。　　Although　she　was　evidently

familiar　with　the　subject；　he　could　see　that　her　zeal　was　fitful

and　impatient。



〃Suppose　we　sit　down；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　an　ostentatious　rustic

seat　in　the　center　of　the　green。



〃Sir　down？〃　she　repeated　wonderingly。　　〃What　for？〃




〃To　talk。　　We'll　knock　off　and　call　it　half　a　day。〃



〃But　if　you　are　not　looking　at　the　farm　you　are；　of　course；　going；〃

she　said　quickly。



〃Am　I？　　I　don't　think　these　particulars　were　in　my　invitation。〃



She　again　broke　into　a　fit　of　laughter；　and　at　the　same　time　cast　a

bright　eye　around　the　field。



〃Come；〃　he　said　gently；　〃there　are　no　other　sightseers　waiting；　and

your　conscience　is　clear；〃　and　he　moved　toward　the　rustic　seat。



〃Certainly　notthere；〃　she　added　in　a　low　voice。



They　moved　on　slowly　together　to　a　copse　of　willows　which　overhung

the　miniature　stream。



〃You　are　not　staying　long　in　Alstadt？〃　she　said。



〃No；　I　only　came　to　see　the　old　town　that　my　ancestors　came　from。〃



They　were　walking　so　close　together　that　her　skirt　brushed　his

trousers；　but　she　suddenly　drew　away　from　him；　and　looking　him

fixedly　in　the　eye　said：



〃Ah；　you　have　relations　here？〃



〃Yes；　but　they　are　dead　two　hundred　years。〃



She　laughed　again　with　a　slight　expression　of　relief。　　They　had

entered　the　copse　and　were　walking　in　dense　shadow　when　she

suddenly　stopped　and　sat　down　upon　a　rustic　bench。　　To　his　surprise

he　found　that　they　were　quite　alone。



〃Tell　me　about　these　relatives；〃　she　said；　slightly　drawing　aside

her　skirt　to　make　room　for　him　on　the　seat。



He　did　not　require　a　second　invitation。　　He　not　only　told　her　all

about　his　ancestral　progenitors；　but；　I　fear；　even　about　those　more

recent　and　more　nearly　related　to　him；　about　his　own　life；　his

vocationhe　was　a　clever　newspaper　correspondent　with　a　roving

commissionhis　ambitions；　his　beliefs　and　his　romance。



〃And　then；　perhaps；　of　this　visityou　will　also　make　'copy'？〃



He　smiled　at　her　quick　adaptation　of　his　professional　slang；　but

shook　his　head。



〃No；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃Nothis　is　YOU。　　The　CHICAGO　INTERVIEWER

is　big　pay　and　is　rich；　but　it　hasn't　capital　enough　to　buy　you

from　me。



He　gently　slid　his　hand　toward　hers　and　slipped　his　fingers　softly

around　it。　　She　made　a　slight　movement　of　withdrawal；　but　even

thenas　if　in　forgetfulness　or　indifferencepermitted　her　hand　to

rest　unresponsively　in　his。　　It　was　scarcely　an　encouragement　to

gallantry；　neither　was　it　a　rejection　of　an　unconscious

familiarity。



〃But　you　haven't　told　me　about　yourself；〃　he　said。



〃Oh；　I〃she　returned；　with　her　first　approach　to　coquetry　in　a

laugh　and　a　sidelong　glance；　〃of　what　importance　is　that　to　you？

It　is　the　Grand　Duchess　and　Her　Highness　the　Princess　that　you

Americans　seek　to　know。　　I　amwhat　I　amas　you　see。〃



〃You　bet；〃　said　Hoffman　with　charming　decision。



〃I　WHAT？〃



〃You　ARE；　you　know；　and　that's　good　enough　for　me；　but　I　don't　even

know　your　name。〃



She　laughed　again；　and　after　a　pause；　said：　〃Elsbeth。〃



〃But　I　couldn't　call　you　by　your　first　name　on　our　first　meeting；

you　know。〃



〃Then　you　Americans　are　really　so　very　formaleh