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！
series of fresh…looking villas embosomed in shrubs and flowers
and enclosed in an ingenious variety of wooden palings。
The morning was brilliant and cool； the villas were smart and snug；
and the walk of the young travelers was very entertaining。
Everything looked as if it had received a coat of fresh paint
the day beforethe red roofs； the green shutters； the clean；
bright browns and buffs of the housefronts。 The flower beds
on the little lawns seemed to sparkle in the radiant air；
and the gravel in the short carriage sweeps to flash and twinkle。
Along the road came a hundred little basket phaetons； in which；
almost always； a couple of ladies were sittingladies in white
dresses and long white gloves； holding the reins and looking
at the two Englishmen； whose nationality was not elusive；
through thick blue veils tied tightly about their faces as if
to guard their complexions。 At last the young men came within
sight of the sea again； and then； having interrogated a gardener
over the paling of a villa； they turned into an open gate。
Here they found themselves face to face with the ocean and with
a very picturesque structure； resembling a magnified chalet；
which was perched upon a green embankment just above it。
The house had a veranda of extraordinary width all around it
and a great many doors and windows standing open to the veranda。
These various apertures had； in common； such an accessible；
hospitable air； such a breezy flutter within of light curtains；
such expansive thresholds and reassuring interiors； that our friends
hardly knew which was the regular entrance； and； after hesitating
a moment； presented themselves at one of the windows。
The room within was dark； but in a moment a graceful figure
vaguely shaped itself in the rich…looking gloom； and a lady
came to meet them。 Then they saw that she had been seated at
a table writing； and that she had heard them and had got up。
She stepped out into the light； she wore a frank； charming smile；
with which she held out her hand to Percy Beaumont。
〃Oh； you must be Lord Lambeth and Mr。 Beaumont；〃 she said。
〃I have heard from my husband that you would come。 I am extremely
glad to see you。〃 And she shook hands with each of her visitors。
Her visitors were a little shy； but they had very good manners；
they responded with smiles and exclamations； and they apologized
for not knowing the front door。 The lady rejoined； with vivacity；
that when she wanted to see people very much she did not insist
upon those distinctions； and that Mr。 Westgate had written to her
of his English friends in terms that made her really anxious。
〃He said you were so terribly prostrated；〃 said Mrs。 Westgate。
〃Oh； you mean by the heat？〃 replied Percy Beaumont。
〃We were rather knocked up； but we feel wonderfully better。
We had such a jollya voyage down here。 It's so very good
of you to mind。〃
〃Yes； it's so very kind of you；〃 murmured Lord Lambeth。
Mrs。 Westgate stood smiling； she was extremely pretty。 〃Well； I did mind；〃
she said； 〃and I thought of sending for you this morning to the Ocean House。
I am very glad you are better； and I am charmed you have arrived。
You must come round to the other side of the piazza。〃 And she led the way；
with a light； smooth step； looking back at the young men and smiling。
The other side of the piazza was； as Lord Lambeth presently remarked；
a very jolly place。 It was of the most liberal proportions；
and with its awnings； its fanciful chairs； its cushions and rugs；
its view of the ocean； close at hand； tumbling along the base of the low
cliffs whose level tops intervened in lawnlike smoothness； it formed
a charming complement to the drawing room。 As such it was in course
of use at the present moment； it was occupied by a social circle。
There were several ladies and two or three gentlemen； to whom
Mrs。 Westgate proceeded to introduce the distinguished strangers。
She mentioned a great many names very freely and distinctly；
the young Englishmen； shuffling about and bowing； were rather bewildered。
But at last they were provided with chairslow； wicker chairs；
gilded； and tied with a great many ribbonsand one of the ladies
（a very young person； with a little snub nose and several dimples）
offered Percy Beaumont a fan。 The fan was also adorned with pink
love knots； but Percy Beaumont declined it； although he was very hot。
Presently； however； it became cooler； the breeze from the sea
was delicious； the view was charming； and the people sitting there
looked exceedingly fresh and comfortable。 Several of the ladies
seemed to be young girls； and the gentlemen were slim； fair youths；
such as our friends had seen the day before in New York。
The ladies were working upon bands of tapestry； and one of the young
men had an open book in his lap。 Beaumont afterward learned
from one of the ladies that this young man had been reading aloud；
that he was from Boston and was very fond of reading aloud。
Beaumont said it was a great pity that they had interrupted him；
he should like so much （from all he had heard） to hear a Bostonian read。
Couldn't the young man be induced to go on？
〃Oh no；〃 said his informant very freely； 〃he wouldn't be able
to get the young ladies to attend to him now。〃
There was something very friendly； Beaumont perceived；
in the attitude of the company； they looked at the young Englishmen
with an air of animated sympathy and interest； they smiled；
brightly and unanimously； at everything either of the visitors said。
Lord Lambeth and his companion felt that they were being made
very welcome。 Mrs。 Westgate seated herself between them； and；
talking a great deal to each； they had occasion to observe
that she was as pretty as their friend Littledale had promised。
She was thirty years old； with the eyes and the smile of a girl
of seventeen； and she was extremely light and graceful；
elegant； exquisite。 Mrs。 Westgate was extremely spontaneous。
She was very frank and demonstrative and appeared always
while she looked at you delightedly with her beautiful
young eyesto be making sudden confessions and concessions；
after momentary hesitations。
〃We shall expect to see a great deal of you；〃 she said to Lord
Lambeth with a kind of joyous earnestness。 〃We are very fond
of Englishmen here； that is； there are a great many we have been
fond of。 After a day or two you must come and stay with us；
we hope you will stay a long time。 Newport's a very nice place
when you come really to know it； when you know plenty of people。
Of course you and Mr。 Beaumont will have no difficulty about that。
Englishmen are very well received here； there are almost always
two or three of them about。 I think they always like it；
and I must say I should think they would。 They receive ever
so much attention。 I must say I think they sometimes get spoiled；
but I am sure you and Mr。 Beaumont are proof against that。
My husband tells me you are a friend of Captain Littl