Part 46 (2/2)
M. Pigeonneau came back with alacrity and presented the gla.s.s with a very low bow. ”I adore good manners.”
This incident caused me to look at Miss Church with quickened interest.
She was not strikingly pretty, but in her charming irregular face was a light of ardour. Like her mother, though in a less degree, she was simply dressed.
”She wants to go to America, and her mother won't let her”-Miss Sophy explained to me her friend's situation.
”I'm very sorry-for America,” I responsively laughed.
”Well, I don't want to say anything against your mother, but I think it's shameful,” Miss Ruck pursued.
”Mamma has very good reasons. She'll tell you them all.”
”Well, I'm sure I don't want to hear them,” said Miss Ruck. ”You've got a right to your own country; every one has a right to their own country.”
”Mamma's not very patriotic,” Aurora was at any rate not too spiritless to mention.
”Well, I call that dreadful,” her companion declared. ”I've heard there are some Americans like that, but I never believed it.”
”Oh there are all sorts of Americans.”
”Aurora's one of the right sort,” cried Miss Ruck, ready, it seemed, for the closest comrades.h.i.+p.
”Are you very patriotic,” I asked of the attractive exile.
Miss Ruck, however, promptly answered for her. ”She's right down homesick-she's dying to go. If you were me,” she went on to her friend, ”I guess your mother would _have_ to take me.”
”Mamma's going to take me to Dresden.”
”Well, I never heard of anything so cold-blooded!” said Miss Ruck. ”It's like something in a weird story.”
”I never heard Dresden was so awful a fate,” I ventured to interpose.
Miss Ruck's eyes made light of me. ”Well, I don't believe _you_'re a good American,” she smartly said, ”and I never supposed you were. You'd better go right in there and talk to Mrs. Church.”
”Dresden's really very nice, isn't it?” I asked of her companion.
”It isn't nice if you happen to prefer New York,” Miss Ruck at once returned. ”Miss Church prefers New York. Tell him you're dying to see New York; it will make him mad,” she went on.
”I've no desire to make him mad,” Aurora smiled.
”It's only Miss Ruck who can do that,” I hastened to state. ”Have you been a long time in Europe?” I added.
”As long as I can remember.”
”I call that wicked!” Miss Ruck declared.
”You might be in a worse place,” I continued. ”I find Europe very interesting.”
Miss Ruck fairly snorted. ”I was just _saying_ that you wanted to pa.s.s for a European.”
Well, I saw my way to admit it. ”Yes, I want to pa.s.s for a Dalmatian.”
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