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| 2017/03/14 17:58:58瀏覽44｜回應0｜推薦0 | |
| Meanwhile I explored a system of flower-houses and vineries that ran out from the conservatory in a continuous chain — each link with its own temperature and its individual scent — and not a pane but rattled and streamed beneath the timely torrent. It was in a fernery where a playing fountain added its tuneful drop to the noisy deluge that the voices of the drawing-room sounded suddenly at my elbow, and I was introduced to Miss Belsize before I could recover from my surprise. My foolish face must have made her smile in spite of herself, for I did not see quite the same smile again all day; but it made me her admirer on the spot, and I really think she warmed to me for amusing her even for a moment. So we began rather well; and that was a mercy in the light of poor Mr. Garland’s cynically prompt departure; but we did not go on quite as well as we had begun. I do not say that Miss Belsize was in a bad temper, but emphatically she was not pleased, and I for one had the utmost sympathy with her displeasure. She was simply but exquisitely dressed, with unostentatious touches of Cambridge blue and a picture hat that really was a picture. Yet on a perfect stranger in a humid rockery she was wasting what had been meant for mankind at Lord’s. The only consolation I could suggest was that by this time Lord’s would be more humid still. And so there’s something to be said for being bored to tears under shelter, Miss Belsize.” Miss Belsize did not deny that she was bored. But there’s plenty of shelter there,” said she. Packed with draggled dresses and squelching shoes! You might swim for it before they admitted you to that Pavilion, you know.” But if the ground’s under water, how can they play today?” They can’t, Miss Belsize, I don’t mind betting.” That was a rash remark. Then why doesn’t Teddy come back?” Oh, well, you know,” I hedged, you can never be quite absolutely sure. It might clear up. They’re bound to give it a chance until the afternoon. And the players can’t leave till stumps are drawn.” I should have thought Teddy could have come home to lunch,” said Miss Belsize, even if he had to go back afterwards.” I shouldn’t wonder if he did come,” said I, conceiving the bare possibility: and A.J. with him.” Do you mean Mr. Raffles?” Yes, Miss Belsize; he’s the only A.J. that counts!” Camilla Belsize turned slightly in the basket-chair to which she had confided her delicate frock, and our eyes met almost for the first time. Certainly we had not exchanged so long a look before, for she had been watching the torpid goldfish in the rockery pool, and I admiring her bold profile and the querulous poise of a fine head as I tried to argue her out of all desire for Lord’s. Suddenly our eyes met, as I say, and hers dazzled me; they were soft and yet brilliant, tender and yet cynical, calmly reckless, audaciously sentimental — all that and more as I see them now on looking back; but at the time I was merely dazzled. |
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| ( 心情隨筆｜心情日記 ) |
