登陆注册
4280200000015

第15章

SERGIUS. That shews that you are an abominable little clod of common clay, with the soul of a servant. (He lets her go as if she were an unclean thing, and turns away, dusting his hands of her, to the bench by the wall, where he sits down with averted head, meditating gloomily.)LOUKA (whimpering angrily with her hands up her sleeves, feeling her bruised arms). You know how to hurt with your tongue as well as with your hands. But I don't care, now I've found out that whatever clay I'm made of, you're made of the same. As for her, she's a liar; and her fine airs are a cheat; and I'm worth six of her. (She shakes the pain off hardily; tosses her head;and sets to work to put the things on the tray. He looks doubtfully at her once or twice. She finishes packing the tray, and laps the cloth over the edges, so as to carry all out together. As she stoops to lift it, he rises.)SERGIUS. Louka! (She stops and looks defiantly at him with the tray in her hands.) A gentleman has no right to hurt a woman under any circumstances. (With profound humility, uncovering his bead.) I beg your pardon.

LOUKA. That sort of apology may satisfy a lady. Of what use is it to a servant?

SERGIUS (thus rudely crossed in his chivalry, throws it off with a bitter laugh and says slightingly). Oh, you wish to be paid for the hurt? (He puts on his shako, and takes some money from his pocket.)LOUKA (her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself). No, Iwant my hurt made well.

SERGIUS (sobered by her tone). How?

(She rolls up her left sleeve; clasps her arm with the thumb and fingers of her right hand; and looks down at the bruise. Then she raises her head and looks straight at him. Finally, with a superb gesture she presents her arm to be kissed. Amazed, he looks at her; at the arm; at her again;hesitates; and then, with shuddering intensity, exclaims)SERGIUS. Never! (and gets away as far as possible from her.)(Her arm drops. Without a word, and with unaffected dignity, she takes her tray, and is approaching the house when Raina returns wearing a hat and jacket in the height of the Vienna fashion of the previous year, 1885. Louka makes way proudly for her, and then goes into the house.)RAINA. I'm ready! What's the matter? (Gaily.) Have you been flirting with Louka?

SERGIUS (hastily). No, no. How can you think such a thing?

RAINA (ashamed of herself). Forgive me, dear: it was only a jest. I am so happy to-day.

(He goes quickly to her, and kisses her hand remorsefully. Catherine comes out and calls to them from the top of the steps.)CATHERINE (coming down to them). I am sorry to disturb you, children; but Paul is distracted over those three regiments. He does not know how to get them to Phillipopolis; and he objects to every suggestion of mine. You must go and help him, Sergius.

He is in the library.

RAINA (disappointed). But we are just going out for a walk.

SERGIUS. I shall not be long. Wait for me just five minutes. (He runs up the steps to the door.)RAINA (following him to the foot of the steps and looking up at him with timid coquetry). I shall go round and wait in full view of the library windows. Be sure you draw father's attention to me. If you are a moment longer than five minutes, I shall go in and fetch you, regiments or no regiments.

SERGIUS (laughing). Very well. (He goes in. Raina watches him until he is out of her right. Then, with a perceptible relaxation of manner, she begins to pace up and down about the garden in a brown study.)CATHERINE. Imagine their meeting that Swiss and hearing the whole story! The very first thing your father asked for was the old coat we sent him off in. A nice mess you have got us into!

RAINA (gazing thoughtfully at the gravel as she walks). The little beast!

CATHERINE. Little beast! What little beast?

RAINA. To go and tell! Oh, if I had him here, I'd stuff him with chocolate creams till he couldn't ever speak again!

CATHERINE. Don't talk nonsense. Tell me the truth, Raina. How long was he in your room before you came to me?

RAINA (whisking round and recommencing her march in the opposite direction). Oh, I forget.

CATHERINE. You cannot forget! Did he really climb up after the soldiers were gone, or was he there when that officer searched the room?

RAINA. No. Yes, I think he must have been there then.

CATHERINE. You think! Oh, Raina, Raina! Will anything ever make you straightforward? If Sergius finds out, it is all over between you.

RAINA (with cool impertinence). Oh, I know Sergius is your pet.

I sometimes wish you could marry him instead of me. You would just suit him. You would pet him, and spoil him, and mother him to perfection.

CATHERINE (opening her eyes very widely indeed). Well, upon my word!

RAINA (capriciously--half to herself). I always feel a longing to do or say something dreadful to him--to shock his propriety--to scandalize the five senses out of him! (To Catherine perversely.) I don't care whether he finds out about the chocolate cream soldier or not. I half hope he may. (She again turns flippantly away and strolls up the path to the corner of the house.)CATHERINE. And what should I be able to say to your father, pray?

RAINA (over her shoulder, from the top of the two steps). Oh, poor father! As if he could help himself! (She turns the corner and passes out of sight.)CATHERINE (looking after her, her fingers itching). Oh, if you were only ten years younger! (Louka comes from the house with a salver, which she carries hanging down by her side.) Well?

LOUKA. There's a gentleman just called, madam--a Servian officer--CATHERINE (flaming). A Servian! How dare he--(Checking herself bitterly.) Oh, I forgot. We are at peace now. I suppose we shall have them calling every day to pay their compliments. Well, if he is an officer why don't you tell your master? He is in the library with Major Saranoff. Why do you come to me?

同类推荐
  • 青龙寺求法目录

    青龙寺求法目录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Wrong Box

    The Wrong Box

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven

    Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 淮海词

    淮海词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 资治通鉴

    资治通鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 侯官县乡土志

    侯官县乡土志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 让我记了一个青春的男孩

    让我记了一个青春的男孩

    一时糊涂.今生今世.注定无缘.这算是个自传吧,这个一个很短很短的文。
  • Further Adventures of Lad

    Further Adventures of Lad

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 快穿虐渣:BOSS,轻点撩

    快穿虐渣:BOSS,轻点撩

    苏青青死的时候有太多的不甘心,她漂浮在空中八十年,看着狗男女白头到老,她恨。。。没想到百年后,她竟然直接被boss看中,穿梭在一个个位面拯救好人,这不是搞事情嘛?好人没好报,【谁说的,站出来,保准不爆头。她来了,这个世界就她说了算,那就】有仇报仇有怨报怨吧!只是,boss,哎,不是,你是不是脑壳瓦特了?本来可以爽快的给坏人添堵打脸的,但是看到可怜兮兮缺爱的某人……她能怎么办?她也很绝望啊,只能大把大把的爱拿出来啦!真正的阴谋渐渐显现,谁怕谁,那就见招拆招吧!反正这个男人是自己的,谁敢觊觎他,就别怪自己不客气了。1v1,爱与被爱,暖暖的治愈。
  • 合租情事

    合租情事

    因一场雨中的车祸认识蓝珊。她的出现打乱了他平静的生活,原本对生活早就看淡、对爱情早已死心的他,内心又泛起异样的情绪。在二人合租分开的时候,她说他欠自己五个字的承诺,他疯狂的寻找着,为了她、为了生活宁愿和这个虚伪的社会斗争到底!
  • 你我的诗歌

    你我的诗歌

    与诸君共享,非凡非仙非神,日常慢述而已。
  • 电竞凶猛:这个法鸡有点萌

    电竞凶猛:这个法鸡有点萌

    不务正业SQ,组团出道SQ,颜值爆表SQ……电竞圈和娱乐圈两个完全不相干的圈子里都是SQ的神话,而缔造神话的那个人就是女主徐梦妮。众人对梦妮又爱又恨,爱她让大家看到了不一样的SQ,又恨她让大家爱SQ的资本要付出两倍多。
  • 太子弃妃

    太子弃妃

    前世,她是个小三的女儿,在去往教堂的路上死在婚车里。“青青,你怎么那么傻?为什么要替太子档剑?你要是……让娘可怎么活啊?”什么!?身上的伤竟然是替男人挡剑弄来的?“那你就等着瞧吧,明天,本殿退婚的消息就会天下皆知,今日本殿来看你,就是还你替本殿挡剑的恩情,虽然本殿不需要你的自作多情,不过,看在元帅的份上,本殿给你这个脸面,但是以后,休想本殿再多看你一眼。”这就是这副身子舍命救下的未婚夫!见过不要脸,还没有见过这么不要脸的!救命之恩得不到他一句感谢,竟换来他绝情的退婚!只是,他不知,她再不是那个疯狂痴迷他的她!*“三皇弟久病缠身你嫁给他是没有幸福的!”“我愿意。”“他活不过二十五岁你就要守活寡!”“我愿意。”“你!”他愤怒,失控!她淡然,平静!他用尽一切努力想要挽回,她简简单单三个字“我愿意”就将他打入地狱!【推荐区】自己的完结文:坏皇后四月的新文:鬼王的血族宠妃
  • 名门医仙女:惹上腹黑妖孽男

    名门医仙女:惹上腹黑妖孽男

    她是无名孤女,师承名门,医术冠绝当世,却从不救人性命。....可是身后那些桃花是怎么回事?“大爷,你能放过我么?”蹲在美男的床头,梦琉璃可怜兮兮的望着床上的人。他抬眸展颜冷笑:“你在开玩笑吗?”梦琉璃仰天痛哭,她错了!大错特错了!早知道当初就不该救人!如今被这妖孽缠身,无法离去!某男抱着怀中女子笑的风华绝代,“你以后就死了这条心吧。”从此一场已脱离苦海为目的的逃离行动就此展开。。。
  • 金多多开店记:小会计的服装生意经

    金多多开店记:小会计的服装生意经

    《小会计的服装生意经:金多多开店记》讲述了一名名叫金多多的女孩,告别朝九晚五的稳定工作,用10万元开了一家童装店,从一个开店小老板的视角,借用老会计小苏多年积累的经验告诉你开店需要用到的财务知识,结合开店的实际情况讲述了现金流量表、利润表等会计工作入门要素及其工作技巧。全面展现了从选择店铺、进货巧妙地将一间童装店店化作微型制造业,从费用、利润等多角度出发进行一系列有趣的数据分析,深入浅出、妙趣横生,有借鉴意义。