|
"I was detained by the way, but I promised to spend Christmas with you, and here I am
"How is your grandfather? When did you come? Where are you staying?"
"Very well--last night--at the ChauvainI called at your hotel, but you were out
"I have so much to say, I don't know where to begin! Get in and we can talk at our easeI was going for a drive and longing for companyFlo's saving up for tonight
"What happens then, a ball?"
"A Christmas party at out hotelThere are many Americans there, and they give it in honor of the dayYou'll go with us, of course? Aunt will be charmedWhere now?" asked Laurie, leaning back and folding his arms, a proceeding which suited Amy, who preferred to drive, for her parasol whip and blue reins over the white ponies backs afforded her infinite satisfaction
"I'm going to the bankers first for letters, and then to Castle HillThe view is so lovely, and I like to feed the peacocksHave you ever been there?"
"Often, years ago, but I don't mind having a look at it
"Now tell me all about yourselfThe last I heard of you, your grandfather wrote that he expected you from Berlin "Yes, I spent a month there and then joined him in Paris, where he has settled for the winterHe has friends there and finds plenty to amuse him, so I go and come, and we got on capitally
"That's a sociable arrangement," said Amy, missing prada bag with metal handle something in Laurie's manner, though she couldn't tell what
"Why, you see, he hates to travel, and I hate to keep still, so we each suit ourselves, and there is no troubleI am often with him, and he enjoys my adventures, while I like to feel that someone is glad to see me when I get back from my wanderingsDirty old hole, isn't it?" he added, with a look of disgust as they drove along the boulevard to the Place Napoleon in the old city
"The dirt is picturesque, so I don't mindThe river and the hills are delicious, and these glimpses of the narrow cross streets are my delightNow we shall have to wait for that procession to passIt's going to the Church of St
While Laurie listlessly watched the procession of priests under their canopies, white-veiled nuns bearing lighted tapers, and some brotherhood in blue chanting as they walked, Amy watched him, and felt a new sort of shyness steal over her, for he was changed, and she could not find the merry-faced boy she left in the moody-looking man beside herHe was handsomer than ever and greatly improved, she thought, but now that the flush of pleasure at meeting her was over, he looked tired and spiritless--not sick, nor exactly unhappy, but older and graver than a year or two of prosperous life should have made himShe couldn't understand it and did not venture to ask questions, so she shook her head and cheap chanel jewelry touched up her ponies, as the procession wound away across the arches of the Paglioni bridge and vanished in the church
"Que pensez-vous?" she said, airing her French, which had improved in quantity, if not in quality, since she came abroad
"That mademoiselle has made good use of her time, and the result is charming," replied Laurie, bowing with his hand on his heart and an admiring look
She blushed with pleasure, but somehow the compliment did not satisfy her like the blunt praises he used to give her at home, when he promenaded round her on festival occasions, and tole her she was `altogether jolly', with a hearty smile and an approving pat on the headShe didn't like the new tone, for though not blase, it sounded indifferent in spite of the look
"If that's the way he's going to grow up, I wish he's stay a boy," she thought, with a curious sense of disappointment and discomfort, trying meantime to seem quite easy and gay
At Avigdor's she found the precious home letters and, giving the reins to Laurie, read them luxuriously as they wound up the shady road between green hedges, where tea roses bloomed as freshly as in June
"Beth is very poorly, Mother saysI often think I ought to go home, but they all say `stay'So I do, for I shall never have another chance like this," said Amy, looking sober over one page
"I think you are right, thereYou imitation gucci wallets could do nothing at home, and it is a great comfort to them to know that you are well and happy, and enjoying so much, my dear
He drew a little nearer, and looked more like his old self as he said that, and the fear that sometimes weighed on Amy's heart was lightened, for the look, the act, the brotherly `my dear', seemed to assure her that if any trouble did come, she would not be alone in a strange landPresently she laughed and showed him a small sketch of Jo in her scribbling suit, with the bow rampantly erect upon her cap, and issuing from her mouth the words, `Genius burns!'
Laurie smiled, took it, put it in his vest pocket `to keep it from blowing away', and listened with interest to the lively letter Amy read him
"This will be a regularly merry Christmas to me, with presents in the morning, you and letters in the afternoon, and a party at night," said Amy, as they alighted among the ruins of the old fort, and a flock of splendid peacocks came trooping about them, tamely waiting to be fedWhile Amy stood laughing on the bank above him as she scattered crumbs to the brilliant birds, Laurie looked at her as she had looked at him, with a natural curiosity to see what changes time and absence had wroughtHe found nothing to perplex or disappoint, much to admire and approve, for overlooking a few little affectations of speech and manner, she was chloe bags as sprightly and graceful as ever, with the addition of that indescribable something in dress and bearing which we call eleganceAlways mature for her age, she had gained a certain aplomb in both carriage and conversation, which made her seem more of a woman of the world than she was, but her old petulance now and then showed itself, her strong will still held its own, and her native frankness was unspoiled by foreign polish
Laurie did not read all this while he watched her feed the peacocks, but he saw enough to satisfy and interest him, and carried away a pretty little picture of a bright-faced girl standing in the sunshine, which brought out the soft hue of her dress, the fresh color of her cheeks, the golden gloss of her hair, and made her a prominent figure in the pleasant scene
As they came up onto the stone plateau that crowns the hill, Amy waved her hand as if welcoming him to her favorite haunt, and said, pointing here and there, "Do you remember the Cathedral and the Corso, the fishermen dragging their nets in the bay, and the lovely road to Villa Franca, Schubert's Tower, just below, and best of all, that speck far out to sea which they say ils Corsica?"
"I rememberIt's not much changed," he answered without enthusiasm
"What Jo would give for a sight of that famous speck!" said Amy, feeling in good spirits and anxious to see him so rolex replica supplies a |
| 