登陆注册
5292300000004

第4章

"Into some French family.That's the only way to do--to go to some place where you can talk.If you're after Art,you want to stick to the galleries;you want to go right through the Louvre,room by room;

you want to take a room a day,or something of that sort.But,if you want to acquire French,the thing is to look out for a family.

There are lots of French families here that take you to board and teach you.My second cousin--that young lady I told you about--she got in with a crowd like that,and they booked her right up in three months.They just took her right in and they talked to her.That's what they do to you;they set you right down and they talk AT you.

You've got to understand them;you can't help yourself.That family my cousin was with has moved away somewhere,or I should try and get in with them.They were very smart people,that family;after she left,my cousin corresponded with them in French.But I mean to find some other crowd,if it takes a lot of trouble!

I listened to all this with great interest,and when he spoke about his cousin I was on the point of turning around to ask him the address of the family that she was with;but the next moment he said they had moved away;so I sat still.The other gentleman,however,didn't seem to be affected in the same way as I was.

"Well,"he said,"you may follow up that if you like;I mean to follow up the pictures.I don't believe there is ever going to be any considerable demand in the United States for French;but I can promise you that in about ten years there'll be a big demand for Art!

And it won't be temporary either."

That remark may be very true,but I don't care anything about the demand;I want to know French for its own sake.I don't want to think I have been all this while without having gained an insight ...The very next day,I asked the lady who kept the books at the hotel whether she knew of any family that could take me to board and give me the benefit of their conversation.She instantly threw up her hands,with several little shrill cries (in their French way,you know),and told me that her dearest friend kept a regular place of that kind.If she had known I was looking out for such a place she would have told me before;she had not spoken of it herself,because she didn't wish to injure the hotel by being the cause of my going away.She told me this was a charming family,who had often received American ladies (and others as well)who wished to follow up the language,and she was sure I should be delighted with them.So she gave me their address,and offered to go with me to introduce me.

But I was in such a hurry that I went off by myself;and I had no trouble in finding these good people.They were delighted to receive me,and I was very much pleased with what I saw of them.They seemed to have plenty of conversation,and there will be no trouble about that.

I came here to stay about three days ago,and by this time I have seen a great deal of them.The price of board struck me as rather high;but I must remember that a quantity of conversation is thrown in.I have a very pretty little room--without any carpet,but with seven mirrors,two clocks,and five curtains.I was rather disappointed after I arrived to find that there are several other Americans here for the same purpose as myself.At least there are three Americans and two English people;and also a German gentleman.

I am afraid,therefore,our conversation will be rather mixed,but I have not yet time to judge.I try to talk with Madame de Maisonrouge all I can (she is the lady of the house,and the REAL family consists only of herself and her two daughters).They are all most elegant,interesting women,and I am sure we shall become intimate friends.I

will write you more about them in my next.Tell William Platt I don't care what he does.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 重生之废柴逆天幻术师

    重生之废柴逆天幻术师

    那一日,她在曾经地未婚夫和妹妹的逼迫下自爆重生,曾经的大陆第一幻术师沦为废柴女孩,灵脉破损,被人嘲笑。没关系,她还拥有随身空间,至高凤凰天赋!无上神器,顶级魔宠!她翻手为云覆手雨,把所有欺凌她的人都踩在脚下!唯独他……今生重逢,他已是至尊兽帝,一双紫瞳魅烬苍生,万众臣服。他挟复仇烈焰,踏破九重魔狱,遍寻三千九百八十界,只为她一人……
  • 再吹次晚风

    再吹次晚风

    只要让我找到你,哪怕转换时空兜转千回都好。即使总是分不清现实梦境,那就依稀想起你同我讲过的话:耘纤,一起吹过晚风的人,应该会记得更久一点。
  • 毕业了,怎么闯

    毕业了,怎么闯

    初涉职场的阶段,是决定你人生未来的关键阶段。为此,作者经过长期的努力,结合了一些当代大学毕业生成功的案例,为初涉职场的大学毕业生开拓了一条成功之路。本书是从以下几个方面启发读者的:如何制订长远的职业规划;改变形象,在大学毕业后如何打造自己的形象;教你如何面试,以及应聘的技巧;在大学毕业后如何获取更优秀的工作能力,因为在职场中学历不是最重要的,工作能力才是决定你未来的关键;如何积累你的人脉,让你充分理解为人处世的哲学。此外,本书还有许多小细节和小建议,给需要达到此方面目标的人们一些行动指引,帮助他们早日踏入成功的殿堂。
  • 浮光那年

    浮光那年

    当红偶像易烊千玺私下居然如此软萌?惊人的性格反差,大佬你确定自己没有人格分裂?红毯上徐步走过,面部棱角完美而坚毅,笑容温暖却疏离。在家里卖萌撒娇,样样精通,怼天怼地宠媳妇。表白前温和谦逊,翩翩君子,如邻家哥哥一般温暖。表白后霸道总裁,软萌正太随机切换,收缩自如。被最萌反差萌出一脸血的白毓小仙女表示,给我来一斤红枣补血!!!(友情提示:看本文之前,请自备红枣等补血产品,否则后果自负。)请勿上升真人!!!学生党,更文随心,接受温柔催更。不喜勿喷,谢谢。本文高甜会虐,小虐怡情,大虐伤身。
  • 黑翅膀的哥特范天使

    黑翅膀的哥特范天使

    旧事带来的痛苦像幽灵纠缠着永不消失。因为在平安夜被男友甩了,卡茜驾车撞向一颗老山毛榉树,想以此结束自己的痛苦。但此时,一个有着华丽黑色翅膀的天使出现了,并告诉她“你这不是那些烂大街的超自然浪漫小说,孩子”,卡茜意识到死亡没能解决她的问题。大天使耶利米尔能帮助她摆脱问题的纠缠并找到终结之法吗?本书写给那些曾经期待问题可以自动消失的人们,希望这个发生在圣诞之夜里的超自然故事可以让人们具备希望和勇气,战胜过去发生悲剧所带来幽灵般的痛苦阴影。
  • 快穿女帝的成神之路

    快穿女帝的成神之路

    一代女帝姑苏晓带着系统前去各个位面去修行,从此,开启更加传奇的人生。“我会用一生来陪伴你。”“我不求你能独属于我,但我也不想你属于他。”“之前我的世界是灰暗的,是你让我看到了不一样的色彩。”……她总是一人独来独往,身上的气质和无数的迷使她充满魅力,但又有谁能拿下她,又或者她一人足以。精彩内容:“师傅……我想你了。”姑苏晓轻轻说,原本明亮的眼睛此刻充满了孤独与寂寞,她的头埋在手臂里,周围的一切都好像暗淡下来,给她一个安静的环境,此刻时间停下来,一个身影慢慢显现。“晓晓,乖,师傅来了。”温润又慵懒的声音响起,闻声而去,只见男子穿着一身白衣,袖口缝有茶叶枝叶,腰间别着一枚白玉佩,一双桃花眼正看着她。……【咳咳,看本文须知,请注意她师傅对她没有特殊感情!!!只有师徒情和亲情!!】
  • 修罗主宰系统

    修罗主宰系统

    作者君在这本书上付出了太多的心血,可惜却只有八百多的收藏,彻底凉凉了,以后只能不定期更新。新书《六道佩恩重临末世》,希望大家继续支持,先行加入收藏,谢谢
  • 美女总裁的特种高手

    美女总裁的特种高手

    各路高手被打爆,美女权财我都要!龙王回都市,世界无宁日!这是一个修真妖孽的传奇故事。欢迎阅读洪七完本精品书《超级兵王在校园》,校园畅销神作
  • 温家千金

    温家千金

    温玉婉是温家唯一的女儿,从小就深受父亲精心的教导。身为中盟国际传媒唯一的继承人,身份尊贵的她,却迷恋上冷酷严肃的冷莲。她如愿地与他走向了订婚的殿堂,对他痴心一片,至真至诚,极力地维持着这段感情,沉溺在编制的梦境当中。但是,一个阴谋,一场黑暗的布局,狠狠地打碎了她的梦、她的幸福。未婚夫的抛弃,家族的巨变,使她成为上流社会的笑柄,心灰意冷的她离开了自己的故乡。安冬阳,一个温润如玉,成熟稳重,拥有阳光般笑容的男子,一直在背后默默地守护着他的公主。在她处于绝境时,宛若寒冷冬日中一抹温暖的阳光给予她温暖和希望。她遭未婚夫抛弃,他陪着她,她的家族倒闭,不再是高高在上的千金小姐,却永远是他的公主。到最后他会如愿以偿地得到自己的幸福吗?简介很无力,请亲们看文吧。偶初次写现代文,经验尚浅,若有不足,多多包涵。
  • 雪球专刊第038期:阿里帝国上市记

    雪球专刊第038期:阿里帝国上市记

    今日阿里IPO进程已进入倒计时,IPO时间可能在19日左右。IPO融资规模预计在200亿美元左右,或成有史以来最大的IPO。上期财说对阿里的财报已作了详尽的360度全解读,投资者看了阿里巴巴(BABA)靓丽的二季度财报一定振奋不已,那么阿里究竟是怎样取得如此靓丽业绩的呢?这期财说就带你到阿里帝国各业务板块一探究竟,深入了解其盈利模式。