Хорошие жёны / Good wives. Уровень 3

Dear girls,

In my last letter I told you about our London visit, how kind the Vaughns were, and what pleasant parties they made for us. I enjoyed the trips to Hampton Court and the Kensington Museum more than anything else. At Hampton I saw Raphael’s works, and at the Museum, rooms full of pictures by Turner, Lawrence, Reynolds, Hogarth, and the other great people. The day in Richmond Park was charming. We had an English picnic. The Vaughns hope to meet us in Rome next winter. I shall be dreadfully disappointed if they don’t. Grace and I are great friends, and the boys very nice fellows, especially Fred.

Well, he said that he was going to Switzerland. Aunt looked sober at first, but he was so cool about it she couldn’t say a word. He speaks French like a Frenchman, and I don’t know what we will do without him. Uncle doesn’t know ten words, and insists on talking English very loud. Aunt’s pronunciation is old-fashioned. Flo and I find we don’t know French at all, and are very grateful to have Fred to do the ‘parley vooing’[21 - to do the ‘parley vooing’ – «парлевукать» (зд.: говорить по-французски)], as Uncle calls it.

We have such delightful times! Sightseeing from morning till night, stopping for nice lunches in the cafeterias. Rainy days I spend in the Louvre.

The Palais Royale is a heavenly place, so full of bijouterie and lovely things that I’m nearly distracted because I can’t buy them. Fred wanted to buy me some, but of course I didn’t allow it. Then the Bois and Champs Elysees are wonderful. I’ve seen the imperial family several times, the emperor an ugly, hard-looking man, the empress pale and pretty, but dressed in bad taste, I thought. Purple dress, green hat, and yellow gloves.

We often walk in the Tuileries Gardens, for they are lovely, though the antique Luxembourg Gardens suit me better. Pere la Chaise cemetery is very curious. Many of the tombs are like small rooms. One sees a table, with images or pictures of the dead, and chairs for the mourners to sit in when they come to lament. That is so Frenchy[22 - That is so Frenchy. – Это так по-французски.].

Our rooms are on the Rue de Rivoli. Sitting on the balcony, we look up and down the long, brilliant street. It is so pleasant that we spend our evenings talking there when too tired. Fred is very entertaining, and is altogether the most agreeable young man I ever knew-except Laurie, whose manners are more charming. I wish Fred was dark, for I don’t like light men, however, the Vaughns are very rich and come of an excellent family, so I won’t find fault with their yellow hair.

Next week we are going to Germany and Switzerland. I try to ‘remember correctly and describe clearly all that I see and admire’, as Father advised. It is good practice for me.

Adieu, I embrace you tenderly.

Votre Amie[23 - Votre Amie – Ваша Эмми (франц.)].

Heidelberg

My dear Mamma,

I’ll try to tell you what happened. Some of it is very important, as you will see. The sail up the Rhine was perfect. I just sat and enjoyed it with all my might. At Coblentz we had a lovely time, for some students from Bonn, with whom Fred got acquainted on the boat, gave us a serenade. It was a moonlight night. About one o’clock Flo and I were waked by the most delicious music under our windows. We got up, and hid behind the curtains, but sly peeps showed us Fred and the students singing away down below. It was the most romantic thing I ever saw-the river, the bridge of boats, the great fortress opposite, moonlight everywhere, and music!

Then we threw down some flowers, and saw them scramble for them, kiss their hands to the invisible ladies, and go away, to smoke and drink beer, I suppose. Next morning Fred showed me one of the crumpled flowers in his vest pocket, and looked very sentimental. I laughed at him, and said I didn’t throw it, but Flo. It seemed to disgust him, for he tossed it out of the window. I’m afraid I’m going to have trouble with that boy.

In Baden-Baden Fred lost a lot of money, and I scolded him. He needs someone to look after him when Frank is not with him. Kate hopes he’ll marry soon, and I quite agree with her that it will be well for him.

Frankfurt was delightful. I saw Goethe’s house, Schiller’s statue, and Dannecker’s famous ‘Ariadne.’ It was very lovely.

Now comes the serious part, for it happened here, and Fred has just gone. He is very kind and jolly. I never thought of anything but a traveling friendship till the serenade night. But I see that the moonlight walks, balcony talks, and daily adventures are something more to him than fun. I haven’t flirted, Mother, truly, I remember what you said to me. But people like me, what to do? Anyway, I decided something. If Fred gives me a proposal, I shall accept it, though I’m not madly in love. I like him. He is handsome, young, clever enough, and very rich-ever richer than the Laurences. I don’t think his family will object, and I shall be very happy, for they are all kind, generous people, and they like me. Fred, as the eldest twin, will have the estate, I suppose, and such a splendid one it is! A city house in a fashionable street, not so showy as our big houses, but twice as comfortable and full of solid luxury. I like it. I’ve seen the plate, the family jewels, the old servants, and pictures of the country place, with its park, great house, lovely grounds, and fine horses. I may be mercenary, but I hate poverty. One of us must marry well. Meg didn’t, Jo won’t, Beth can’t. So I shall. I won’t marry a man I hate or despise. You may be sure of that. Though Fred is not my model hero, he is not bad. In time I will love him, too. It is impossible not to see that Fred likes me. He says nothing, but little things show it. He looks sentimental when we are alone, and frowns at anyone else who speaks to me.

Yesterday at dinner, when an Austrian officer stared at us and then said something to his friend, a baron, about ‘ein wonderschönes Blondchen[24 - ein wonderschönes Blondchen – прекрасная блондинка (нем.)]’, Fred looked as fierce as a lion. He has Scotch blood in him.

Well, last evening we went up to the castle, at least all of us but Fred, who was to meet us there after going to the Post Office for letters. We had a charming time. The ruins, the vaults, and the beautiful gardens…I liked the great terrace best, for the view was divine. I sat there trying to sketch the gray stone lion’s head on the wall. I was cool and only a little excited.

Then I heard Fred’s voice, and then he came through the great arch to me. He looked so troubled that I forgot all about myself, and asked what the matter was. He got a letter begging him to come home, for Frank was very ill. So he was going at once on the night train and only had time to say good-bye. I was very sorry for him, and disappointed for myself. He shook hands, and said, “I shall soon come back, you won’t forget me, Amy?”

I didn’t promise, but I looked at him, and he was satisfied. I know he wanted to speak. We shall soon meet in Rome, and then I’ll say “Yes, thank you,” when he says “Will you, please?”

Of course this is all very private. Don’t be anxious about me, remember I am your ‘prudent Amy’. Be sure I will do nothing rashly. Love and trust me.

Ever your Amy

Tender Troubles

“Jo, I’m anxious about Beth.”

“Why, Mother, she seems unusually well.”

“It’s not her health that troubles me now, it’s her spirits.”

“What makes you think so, Mother?”

“She sits alone a good deal, and doesn’t talk to her father. I found her crying over the babies the other day. This isn’t like Beth, and it worries me.”

“Have you asked her about it?”

“I have tried once or twice, but she evaded my questions.”

“I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes. Why, Mother, Beth is eighteen, but we don’t realize it, and treat her like a child. We forget she’s a woman.”

“So she is. Dear heart, how fast you grow up,” returned her mother with a sigh and a smile.

“Can’t be helped, Mama.”

“I leave Beth to your hands, then, for she will open her tender little heart to her Jo sooner than to anyone else. Be very kind, and don’t let her think anyone watches or talks about her.”

“I’ll settle Bethy’s troubles, and then I’ll tell you mine. They are not very wearing, so they’ll keep.”

And Jo stitched away, with a wise nod which set her mother’s heart at rest about her for the present at least.

Jo watched Beth. Sitting at the window, Beth leaned her head upon her hand, while her eyes rested on the dull, autumn landscape. Suddenly someone passed below, and a voice called out, “All right! I’ll come in tonight.”

Beth started, leaned forward, smiled and nodded, then said softly as if to herself,

“How strong and well and happy that dear boy looks.”

“Hum!” said Jo, still intent upon her sister’s face, for the bright color faded as quickly as it came, the smile vanished, and presently a tear lay shining on the window ledge. Beth whisked it off, and walked out of the room.

“Mercy on me, Beth loves Laurie!” she said, sitting down in her own room, pale with the shock of the discovery.

Jo turned scarlet with a sudden thought.

“If he doesn’t love her, how dreadful it will be! He must. I’ll make him! Oh dear, we are growing up. Here’s Meg married, Amy is flourishing away at Paris, and Beth is in love. I’m the only one that has sense here.”

Though Laurie flirted with Amy and joked with Jo, his manner to Beth had always been peculiarly kind and gentle. Indeed, a general impression was that he liked Jo, who, however, did not want to hear a word upon the subject.

When Laurie first went to college, he fell in love about once a month, but these small flames were brief. But later he avoided the tender subject altogether. Things were in this state when the grand discovery was made. Jo watched Laurie that night as she never did before.

As usual Beth lay on the sofa and Laurie sat in a low chair close by, amusing her with all sorts of gossip. But that evening Jo fancied that Beth’s eyes rested on the lively, dark face beside her with peculiar pleasure, and that she listened with intense interest to an account of some exciting cricket match.

“Who knows? Stranger things have happened,” thought Jo. “She will make quite an angel of him, and he will make life delightfully easy and pleasant for the dear, if they only love each other. I don’t see how he can help it.”

As everyone was out of the way but herself, Jo began to feel that she ought to go away. But where to go? And she sat down on the sofa.

Soon a form appeared beside her, and with both arms spread over the sofa back, both long legs stretched out before him, Laurie exclaimed, with a sigh of satisfaction…