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！
flushed a little as she added tremulously； 〃And I should never； never
blame you for it； after that； it's only trying to wriggle out of things
which I despise； and you've never done that。 And he simply had to come
back；〃 she turned to her father； 〃and tell me himself just how it was。
And you said yourself； papaor the same as saidthat he had no right to
suppose I was interested in his affairs unless heunless And I should
never have forgiven him； if he hadn't told me then that he that he had
come back because hefelt the way he did。 I consider that that
exonerated him for breaking his word； completely。 If he hadn't broken
his word I should have thought he had acted very cruelly andand
strangely。 And ever since then； he has behaved so nobly； so honorably；
so delicately； that I don't believe he would ever have said anything
againif I hadn't fairly forced him。 Yes！ Yes； I did！ 〃 she cried at a
movement of remonstrance from Burnamy。 〃And I shall always be proud of
you for it。〃 Her father stared steadfastly at her； and he only lifted
his eyebrows； for change of expression； when she went over to where
Burnamy stood； and put her hand in his with a certain childlike
impetuosity。 〃And as for the rest；〃 she declared； 〃everything I have is
his； just as everything of his would be mine if I had nothing。 Or if he
wishes to take me without anything； then he can have me so； and I sha'n't
be afraid but we can get along somehow。〃 She added； 〃I have managed
without a maid； ever since I left home； and poverty has no terrors for
me！〃
LXVIII。
General Triscoe submitted to defeat with the patience which soldiers
learn。 He did not submit amiably； that would have been out of character；
and perhaps out of reason； but Burnamy and Agatha were both so amiable
that they supplied good…humor for all。 They flaunted their rapture in
her father's face as little as they could； but he may have found their
serene satisfaction； their settled confidence in their fate； as hard to
bear as a more boisterous happiness would have been。
It was agreed among them all that they were to return soon to America；
and Burnamy was to find some sort of literary or journalistic employment
in New York。 She was much surer than he that this could be done with
perfect ease； but they were of an equal mind that General Triscoe was not
to be disturbed in any of his habits； or vexed in the tenor of his
living； and until Burnamy was at least self…supporting there must be no
talk of their being married。
The talk of their being engaged was quite enough for the time。 It
included complete and minute auto…biographies on both sides； reciprocal
analyses of character； a scientifically exhaustive comparison of tastes；
ideas and opinions； a profound study of their respective chins； noses；
eyes； hands； heights； complexions； moles and freckles； with some account
of their several friends。
In this occupation； which was profitably varied by the confession of what
they had each thought and felt and dreamt concerning the other at every
instant since they met； they passed rapidly the days which the persistent
anxiety of General Triscoe interposed before the date of their leaving
Weimar for Paris； where it was arranged that they should spend a month
before sailing for New York。 Burnamy had a notion； which Agatha
approved； of trying for something there on the New York…Paris Chronicle；
and if he got it they might not go home at once。 His gains from that
paper had eked out his copyright from his book； and had almost paid his
expenses in getting the material which he had contributed to it。 They
were not so great； however； but that his gold reserve was reduced to less
than a hundred dollars； counting the silver coinages which had remained
to him in crossing and recrossing frontiers。 He was at times dimly
conscious of his finances； but he buoyantly disregarded the facts； as
incompatible with his status as Agatha's betrothed； if not unworthy of
his character as a lover in the abstract。
The afternoon before they were to leave Weimar； they spent mostly in the
garden before the Grand…Ducal Museum； in a conference so important that
when it came on to rain； at one moment； they put up Burnamy's umbrella；
and continued to sit under it rather than interrupt the proceedings even
to let Agatha go back to the hotel and look after her father's packing。
Her own had been finished before dinner； so as to leave her the whole
afternoon for their conference； and to allow her father to remain in
undisturbed possession of his room as long as possible。
What chiefly remained to be put into the general's trunk were his coats
and trousers； hanging in the closet； and August took these down； and
carefully folded and packed them。 Then； to make sure that nothing had
been forgotten； Agatha put a chair into the closet when she came in； and
stood on it to examine the shelf which stretched above the hooks。
There seemed at first to be nothing on it； and then there seemed to be
something in the further corner； which when it was tiptoed for； proved to
be a bouquet of flowers； not so faded as to seem very old； the blue satin
ribbon which they were tied up with； and which hung down half a yard； was
of entire freshness except far the dust of the shelf where it had lain。
Agatha backed out into the room with her find in her hand； and examined
it near to； and then at arm's length。 August stood by with a pair of the
general's trousers lying across his outstretched hands； and as Agatha
absently looked round at him； she caught a light of intelligence in his
eyes which changed her whole psychological relation to the withered
bouquet。 Till then it had been a lifeless； meaningless bunch of flowers；
which some one； for no motive； had tossed up on that dusty shelf in the
closet。 At August's smile it became something else。 Still she asked
lightly enough； 〃Was ist loss； August？〃
His smile deepened and broadened。 〃Fur die Andere；〃 he explained。
Agatha demanded in English； 〃What do you mean by feardy ondery？〃
〃Oddaw lehdy。〃
〃Other lady？〃 August nodded； rejoicing in big success； and Agatha closed
the door into her own room； where the general had been put for the time
so as to be spared the annoyance of the packing； then she sat down with
her hands in her lap； and the bouquet in her hands。 〃Now； August；〃 she
said very calmly； 〃I want you to tell me…ich wunsche Sie zu mir sagen
what other ladywass andere Damethese flowers belonged todiese
Blumen gehorte zu。 Verstehen Sie？〃
August nodded brightly； and with German carefully adjusted to Agatha's
capacity； and with now and then a word or phrase of English； he conveyed
that before she and her Herr Father had appeared； there had been in
Weimar another American Fraulein with her Frau Mother； they had not
indeed staid in that hotel； but had several times supped there with the
young Herr Bornahmee； who was occupying that room before her Herr Father。
The young Herr had been much about with these American Damen； driving and
walking with them； and sometimes dining or supping with them at their
hotel； The Elephant。 August had sometimes carried notes to them from the
young Herr；