第35部分(第1/7 页)

ornament；　the　pearl　brooch；　soon　assumed。　We　descended。

Fortunately　there　was　another　entrance　to　the　drawing…room　than　that　through　the　saloon　where　they　were　all　seated　at　dinner。　We　found　the　apartment　vacant；　a　large　fire　burning　silently　on　the　marble　hearth；　and　wax　candles　shining　in　bright　solitude；　amid　the　exquisite　flowers　with　which　the　tables　were　adorned。　The　crimson　curtain　hung　before　the　arch：　slight　as　was　the　separation　this　drapery　formed　from　the　party　in　the　adjoining　saloon；　they　spoke　in　so　low　a　key　that　nothing　of　their　conversation　could　be　distinguished　beyond　a　soothing　murmur。

Adèle；　who　appeared　to　be　still　under　the　influence　of　a　most　solemnising　impression；　sat　down；　without　a　word；　on　the　footstool　I　pointed　out　to　her。　I　retired　to　a　window…seat；　and　taking　a　book　from　a　table　near；　endeavoured　to　read。　Adèle　brought　her　stool　to　my　feet；　ere　long　she　touched　my　knee。

“What　is　it；　Adèle？”

“Est…ce　que　je　ne　puis　pas　prendrie　une　seule　de　ces　fleurs　magnifiques；　mademoiselle？　Seulement　pour　pleter　ma　toilette。”

“You　think　too　much　of　your　‘toilette；’　Adèle：　but　you　may　have　a　flower。”　And　I　took　a　rose　from　a　vase　and　fastened　it　in　her　sash。　She　sighed　a　sigh　of　ineffable　satisfaction；　as　if　her　cup　of　happiness　were　now　full。　I　turned　my　face　away　to　conceal　a　smile　I　could　not　suppress：　there　was　something　ludicrous　as　well　as　painful　in　the　little　Parisienne’s　earnest　and　innate　devotion　to　matters　of　dress。

A　soft　sound　of　rising　now　became　audible；　the　curtain　was　swept　back　from　the　arch；　through　it　appeared　the　dining…room；　with　its　lit　lustre　pouring　down　light　on　the　silver　and　glass　of　a　magnificent　dessert…service　covering　a　long　table；　a　band　of　ladies　stood　in　the　opening；　they