the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第28部分
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trimmings for her hair。 Monsieur Ratignolle brought himself and his wife's
excuses。 Victor Lebrun； who happened to be in the city； bent upon
relaxation； had accepted with alacrity。 There was a Miss Mayblunt； no
longer in her teens； who looked at the world through lorgnettes and with
the keenest interest。 It was thought and said that she was intellectual； it
was suspected of her that she wrote under a nom de guerre。 She had
come with a gentleman by the name of Gouvernail； connected with one of
the daily papers； of whom nothing special could be said； except that he
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was observant and seemed quiet and inoffensive。 Edna herself made
the tenth； and at half…past eight they seated themselves at table； Arobin and
Monsieur Ratignolle on either side of their hostess。
Mrs。 Highcamp sat between Arobin and Victor Lebrun。 Then came
Mrs。 Merriman； Mr。 Gouvernail； Miss Mayblunt； Mr。 Merriman； and
Mademoiselle Reisz next to Monsieur Ratignolle。
There was something extremely gorgeous about the appearance of the
table； an effect of splendor conveyed by a cover of pale yellow satin under
strips of lace…work。 There were wax candles； in massive brass
candelabra； burning softly under yellow silk shades； full； fragrant roses；
yellow and red； abounded。 There were silver and gold； as she had said
there would be； and crystal which glittered like the gems which the
women wore。
The ordinary stiff dining chairs had been discarded for the occasion
and replaced by the most commodious and luxurious which could be
collected throughout the house。 Mademoiselle Reisz； being exceedingly
diminutive； was elevated upon cushions； as small children are sometimes
hoisted at table upon bulky volumes。
〃Something new； Edna？〃 exclaimed Miss Mayblunt； with lorgnette
directed toward a magnificent cluster of diamonds that sparkled； that
almost sputtered； in Edna's hair； just over the center of her forehead。
〃Quite new； ‘brand' new； in fact； a present from my husband。 It arrived
this morning from New York。 I may as well admit that this is my
birthday； and that I am twenty…nine。 In good time I expect you to drink
my health。 Meanwhile； I shall ask you to begin with this cocktail；
composedwould you say ‘composed？'〃 with an appeal to Miss
Mayblunt〃composed by my father in honor of Sister Janet's wedding。〃
Before each guest stood a tiny glass that looked and sparkled like a
garnet gem。
〃Then； all things considered；〃 spoke Arobin； 〃it might not be amiss to
start out by drinking the Colonel's health in the cocktail which he
composed； on the birthday of the most charming of womenthe daughter
whom he invented。〃
Mr。 Merriman's laugh at this sally was such a genuine outburst and so
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contagious that it started the dinner with an agreeable swing that never
slackened。
Miss Mayblunt begged to be allowed to keep her cocktail untouched
before her； just to look at。 The color was marvelous！ She could compare
it to nothing she had ever seen； and the garnet lights which it emitted were
unspeakably rare。 She pronounced the Colonel an artist； and stuck to it。
Monsieur Ratignolle was prepared to take things seriously； the mets；
the entre…mets； the service； the decorations； even the people。 He looked
up from his pompano and inquired of Arobin if he were related to the
gentleman of that name who formed one of the firm of Laitner and Arobin；
lawyers。 The young man admitted that Laitner was a warm personal
friend； who permitted Arobin's name to decorate the firm's letterheads and
to appear upon a shingle that graced Perdido Street。
〃There are so many inquisitive people and institutions abounding；〃
said Arobin； 〃that one is really forced as a matter of convenience these
days to assume the virtue of an occupation if he has it not。〃 Monsieur
Ratignolle stared a little； and turned to ask Mademoiselle Reisz if she
considered the symphony concerts up to the standard which had been set
the previous winter。 Mademoiselle Reisz answered Monsieur Ratignolle
in French； which Edna thought a little rude； under the circumstances； but
characteristic。 Mademoiselle had only disagreeable things to say of the
symphony concerts； and insulting remarks to make of all the musicians of
New Orleans； singly and collectively。 All her interest seemed to be
centered upon the delicacies placed before her。
Mr。 Merriman said that Mr。 Arobin's remark about inquisitive people
reminded him of a man from Waco the other day at the St。 Charles Hotel
but as Mr。 Merriman's stories were always lame and lacking point； his
wife seldom permitted him to complete them。 She interrupted him to ask
if he remembered the name of the author whose book she had bought the
week before to send to a friend in Geneva。 She was talking 〃books〃 with
Mr。 Gouvernail and trying to draw from him his opinion upon current
literary topics。 Her husband told the story of the Waco man privately to
Miss Mayblunt； who pretended to be greatly amused and to think it
extremely clever。
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Mrs。 Highcamp hung with languid but unaffected interest upon the
warm and impetuous volubility of her left…hand neighbor； Victor Lebrun。
Her attention was never for a moment withdrawn from him after seating
herself at table； and when he turned to Mrs。 Merriman； who was prettier
and more vivacious than Mrs。 Highcamp； she waited with easy
indifference for an opportunity to reclaim his attention。 There was the
occasional sound of music； of mandolins； sufficiently removed to be an
agreeable accompaniment rather than an interruption to the conversation。
Outside the soft； monotonous splash of a fountain could be heard； the
sound penetrated into the room with the heavy odor of jessamine that
came through the open windows。
The golden shimmer of Edna's satin gown spread in rich folds on
either side of her。 There was a soft fall of lace encircling her shoulders。
It was the color of her skin； without the glow； the myriad living tints that
one may sometimes discover in vibrant flesh。 There was something in
her attitude； in her whole appearance when she leaned her head against the
high…backed chair and spread her arms； which suggested the regal woman；
the one who rules； who looks on； who stands alone。
But as she sat there amid her guests； she felt the old ennui overtaking
her； the hopelessness which so often assailed her； which came upon her
like an obsession； like something extraneous； independent of volition。 It
was something which announced itself； a chill breath that seemed to issue
from some vast cavern wherein discords waited。 There came over her
the acute longing which always summoned into her spiritual vision the
presence of the beloved one； overpowering her at once with a sense of the
unattainable。
The moments glided on； while a feeling of good fellowship passed
around the circle like a mystic cord； holding and binding these people
together with jest and laughter。 Monsieur Ratignolle was the first to
break the pleasant charm。 At ten o'clock he excused himself。 Madame
Ratignolle was waiting for him at home。 She was bien souffrante； and she
was filled with vague dread； which only her husband's presence could
allay。
Mademoiselle Reisz arose with Monsieur Ratignolle； who offered to
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escort her to the car。 She had eaten well； she had tasted the good； rich
wines； and they must have turned her head； for she bowed pleasantly to all
as she withdrew from table。 She kissed Edna upon the shoulder； and
whispered： 〃Bonne nuit； ma reine； soyez sage。〃 She had been a little
bewildered upon rising； or rather； descending from her cushions； and
Monsieur Ratignolle gallantly took her arm and led her away。
Mrs。 Highcamp was weaving a garland of roses； yellow and red。 When
she had finished the garland； she laid it lightly upon Victor's black curls。
He was reclining far back in the luxurious chair； holding a glass of
champagne to the light。
As if a magician's wand had touched
