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！
excursion。
I myself think Saratoga one of the most delightful spectacles in the
world； and Mrs。 March is of the same mind about it。 We like all the
waters； and drink them without regard to their different properties；
but we rather prefer the Congress spring； because it is such a
pleasant place to listen to the Troy military band in the afternoon；
and the more or less vocal concert in the evening。 All the Saratoga
world comes and goes before us； as we sit there by day and by night；
and we find a perpetual interest in it。 We go and look at the deer
（a herd of two； I think） behind their wire netting in the southward
valley of the park； and we would feed the trout in their blue tank
if we did not see them suffering with surfeit； and hanging in
motionless misery amid the clear water under a cloud of bread
crumbs。 We are such devotees of the special attractions offered
from time to time that we do not miss a single balloon ascension or
pyrotechnic display。 In fact； it happened to me one summer that I
studied so earnestly and so closely the countenance of the lady who
went up （in trunk…hose）； in order to make out just what were the
emotions of a lady who went up every afternoon in a balloon； that
when we met near the end of the season in Broadway I thought I must
have seen her somewhere in society； and took off my hat to her （she
was not at the moment in trunk…hose）。 We like going about to the
great hotels； and sponging on them for the music in the forenoon； we
like the gaudy shops of modes kept by artists whose addresses are
French and whose surnames are Irish； and the bazaars of the
Armenians and Japanese； whose rugs and bric…a…brac are not such
bargains as you would think。 We even go to the races sometimes； we
are not sure it is quite right； but as we do not bet； and are never
decided as to which horse has won； it is perhaps not so wrong as it
might be。
Somehow I could not predicate these simple joys of the people I have
been talking of； for the very reason； that they were themselves so
simple。 It was our sophistication which enabled us to taste
pleasures which would have been insipidities to them。 Their palates
would have demanded other flavourssocial excitements； balls；
flirtations； almost escapades。 I speak of the two women； the man；
doubtless； like most other Americans of his age； wanted nothing but
to get back to business in the small town where he was important；
and still more I speak of the young girl； for the young wife I
fancied very willing to go back to her house…keeping； and to be
staying on in Saratoga only on her friend's account。
CHAPTER II
I had already made up my mind that they had been the closest
friends before one of them married； and that the young wife still
thought the young girl worthy of the most splendid fate that
marriage could have in store for any of her sex。 Women often make
each other the idols of such worship； but I could not have justified
this lady's adoration so far as it concerned the mental and moral
qualities of her friend； though I fully shared it in regard to her
beauty。 To me she looked a little dull and a little selfish； and I
chose to think the husband modestly found her selfish； if he were
too modest to find her dull。
Yet； after all； I tacitly argued with him； why should we call her
selfish？ It was perfectly right and fit that； as a young girl with
such great personal advantages； she should wish to see the world
even to show herself to the world；and find in it some agreeable
youth who should admire her； and desire to make her his own for
ever。 Compare this simple and natural longing with the insatiate
greed and ambition of one of our own sex； I urged him； and then talk
to me； if you can； of this poor girl's selfishness！ A young man has
more egoism in an hour than a young girl has in her whole life。 She
thinks she wishes some one to be devoted to her； but she really
wishes some one to let her be devoted to him； and how passively； how
negatively； she must manage to accomplish her self…sacrifice！ He；
on the contrary； means to go conquering and enslaving forward； to be
in and out of love right and left； and to end； after many years of
triumph； in the possession of the best and wisest and fairest of her
sex。 I know the breed； my dear sir； I have been a young man myself。
We men have liberty； we have initiative； we are not chaperoned； we
can go to this one and that one freely and fearlessly。 But women
must sit still； and be come to or shied off from。 They cannot cast
the bold eye of interest； they can at most bridle under it； and
furtively respond from the corner of the eye of weak hope and gentle
deprecation。 Be patient； then； with this poor child if she darkles
a little under the disappointment of not finding Saratoga so
personally gay as she supposed it would be； and takes it out of you
and your wife； as if you were to blame for it； in something like
sulks。
He remained silent under these tacit appeals； but at the end he
heaved a deep sigh； as he might if he were acknowledging their
justice； and were promising to do his very best in the
circumstances。 His wife looked round at him； but did not speak。 In
fact； they none of them spoke after the first words of greeting to
the girl； as I can very well testify； for I sat eavesdropping with
all my might； resolved not to lose a syllable； and I am sure I lost
none。
The young girl did not look round at that deep…drawn sigh of the
man's； she did not lift her head even when he cleared his throat：
but I was intent upon him； for I thought that these sounds preluded
an overture （I am not sure of the figure） to my acquaintance； and in
fact he actually asked； 〃Do you know just when the concert begins？〃
I was overjoyed at his question； for I was poignantly interested in
the little situation I had created； and I made haste to answer：
〃Well； nominally at eight o'clock； but the first half…hour is
usually taken up in tuning the instruments。 If you get into the
pavilion at a quarter to nine you won't lose much。 It isn't so bad
when it really begins。〃
The man permitted himself a smile of the pleasure we Americans all
feel at having a thing understated in that way。 His wife asked
timidly； 〃Do we have to engage our seats in thepavilion？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 I laughed； 〃there's no such rush as that。 Haven't you
been at the concerts before？〃
The man answered for her： 〃We haven't been here but a few days。 I
should think；〃 he added to her； 〃it would be about as comfortable
outside of the house。〃 I perceived that he maintained his
independence of my superior knowledge by refusing to say 〃pavilion〃；
and in fact I do not know whether that is the right name for the
building myself。
〃It will be hot enough anywhere；〃 I assented； as if the remark had
been made to me； but here I drew the line out of self…respect； and
resolved that he should make the next advances。
The young girl looked up at the first sound of my voice； and
verified me as the elderly man whom she had seen before； and then
she looked down at the water again。 I understood； and I freely
forgave her。 If my beard had been brown instead of grey I should