CHAPTER I.
關燈
小
中
大
uredbynothingclumsierthanthemoment-hand.“Faitesvotrejeu,mesdamesetmessieurs,”saidtheautomaticvoiceofdestinyfrombetweenthemustacheandimperialofthecroupier:andGwendolen’sarmwasstretchedtodepositherlastpoorheapofnapoleons.“Lejeunevaplus,”saiddestiny.AndinfivesecondsGwendolenturnedfromthetable,butturnedresolutelywithherfacetowardDerondaandlookedathim.Therewasasmileofironyinhiseyesastheirglancesmetbutitwasatleastbetterthatheshouldhavekepthisattentionfixedonherthanthathedisregardedherasoneofaninsectswarmwhohadnoindividualphysiognomy.Besides,inspiteofhissuperciliousnessandirony,itwasdifficulttobelievethathedidnotadmireherspiritaswellasherperson:hewasyoung,handsome,distinguishedinappearance—notoneoftheseridiculousanddowdyPhilistineswhothoughtitincumbentonthemtoblightthegaming-tablewithasourlookofprotestastheypassedbyit.ThegeneralconvictionthatweareadmirabledoesnoteasilygivewaybeforeasinglenegativeratherwhenanyofVanity’slargefamily,maleorfemale,findtheirperformancereceivedcoldly,theyareapttobelievethatalittlemoreofitwillwinovertheunaccountabledissident.InGwendolen’shabitsofmindithadbeentakenforgrantedthatsheknewwhatwasadmirableandthatsheherselfwasadmired.Thisbasisofherthinkinghadreceivedadisagreeableconcussion,andreeledalittle,butwasnoteasilytobeoverthrown.
Intheeveningthesameroomwasmorestiflinglyheated,wasbrilliantwithgasandwiththecostumesofladieswhofloatedtheirtrainsalongitorwereseatedontheottomans.
TheNereidinsea-greenrobesandsilverornaments,withapalesea-greenfeatherfastenedinsilverfallingbackwardoverhergreenhatandlightbrownhair,wasGwendolenHarleth.Shewasunderthewing,orrathersoaredbytheshoulder,oftheladywhohadsatbyherattheroulette-tableandwiththemwasagentlemanwithawhitemustacheandclippedhair:solid-browed,stiffandGerman.Theywerewalkingaboutorstandingtochatwithacquaintances,andGwendolenwasmuchobservedbytheseatedgroups.
“Astrikinggirl—thatMissHarleth—unlikeothers.”
“Yes,shehasgotherselfupasasortofserpentnow—allgreenandsilver,andwindsherneckaboutalittlemorethanusual.”
“Oh,shemustalwaysbedoingsomethingextraordinary.Sheisthatkindofgirl,Ifancy.Doyouthinkherpretty,Mr.Vandernoodt?”
“Very.Amanmightriskhangingforher—Imeanafoolmight.”
“Youlikeanezretroussé,then,andlongnarroweyes?”
“Whentheygowithsuchanensemble.”
“Theensembleduserpent?”
“Ifyouwill.Womanwastemptedbyaserpentwhynotman?”
“Sheiscertainlyverygracefulbutshewantsatingeofcolorinhercheeks.ItisasortofLamiabeautyshehas.”
“Onthecontrary,Ithinkhercomplexiononeofherchiefcharms.Itisawarmpalenessitlooksthoroughlyhealthy.Andthatdelicatenosewithitsgraduallittleupwardcurveisdistracting.Andthenhermouth—thereneverwasaprettiermouth,thelipscurledbackwardsofinely,eh,Mackworth?”
“Thinkso?Icannotendurethatsortofmouth.Itlookssoself-complacent,asifitknewitsownbeauty—thecurvesaretooimmovable.Ilikeamouththattremblesmore.”
“Formypart,Ithinkherodious,”saidadowager
