E.?"
"None,--her mother died long ago; and her father has not been here, so I
can't tell you anything about him. There: do you see that
elegant-looking lady talking with Professor Hale? that is her aunt, Mrs.
Lancaster. She is English, and is here only on a visit. She wants to
take Francesca home with her in the spring, but I hope she won't."
"Why, what is it to you?"
"I am afraid she will stay, and then I shall never see her any more."
"And why stay? do you fancy England so very fascinating?"
"No, it is not that; but Francesca don't like America; she's forever
saying something witty and sharp about our 'democratic institutions,' as
she calls them; and, if you had looked this morning, you'd have seen
that she didn't sing The Star-Spangled Banner with the rest of us. Her
voice is splendid, and Professor Hale wanted her to lead, as she often
does, but she wouldn't sing that, she said,--no, not for anything; and
though we all begged, she refused,--flat."
"Shocking! what total depravity! I wonder is she converting Surrey to
her heresies."
No, she wasn't; not unless silence is more potent than words; for after
they had danced together Surrey brought her to one of the great windows
facing towards the sea, and, leaning over her chair, there was stillness
between them as their eyes went out into the night.
A wild night! great clouds drifted across the moon, which shone out
anon, with light intensified, defining the stripped trees and desolate
landscape, and then the beach, and
"Marked with spray
The sunken reefs, and far away
The unquiet, bright Atlantic plain,"
while through all sounded incessantly the mournful roar of buffeting
wind and surging tide; and whether it was the scene, or the solemn
undertone of the sea, the dance music, which a little while before had
been so gay, sounded like a wail.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48