第 2 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-10-16 18:45      字数:9322
  already gone。       We rushed away to put on some shawls; and put off any
  shred of   black   we   might   have   about   us   (as   the   people   would   have   been
  quite annoyed   if   we   had   appeared   on such   an occasion   with   any  black);
  and we started。       When we reached the farmer's; which is a stone's throw
  above     our   house;   we    were   received    with   great   enthusiasm;     the   only
  drawback   being;   that   no   one   spoke   French;   and   we   did   not   yet   speak
  Piedmontese。       We     were   placed    on   a  bench   against   the   wall;  and   the
  people   went   on   dancing。   The   room   was   a   large   whitewashed   kitchen   (I
  suppose); with several large pictures in black frames; and very smoky。                    I
  distinguished the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian; and the others appeared
  equally lively and appropriate subjects。            Whether they were Old Masters
  or not; and if so; by whom; I could not ascertain。              The band were seated
  opposite   us。    Five   men;   with   wind   instruments;   part   of   the   band   of   the
  National   Guard;   to   which   the   farmer's   sons   belong。   They   played   really
  admirably; and I began to be afraid that some idea of our dignity would
  prevent me getting a partner; so; by Madame B。's advice; I went up to the
  bride; and offered to   dance with   her。        Such a handsome   young   woman!
  Like one of Uwins's pictures。           Very dark; with a quantity of black hair;
  and on an immense scale。           The children were already dancing; as well as
  the maids。      After we came to an end of our dance; which was what they
  called a Polka…Mazourka; I saw the bride trying to screw up the courage of
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  her fiance to ask me to dance; which after a little hesitation he did。                 And
  admirably he danced; as indeed they all didin excellent time; and with a
  little more spirit than one sees in a ball…room。           In fact; they were very like
  one's ordinary partners; except that they wore earrings and were in their
  shirt… sleeves; and truth compels me to state that they decidedly smelt of
  garlic。    Some   of   them   had   been   smoking;   but   threw   away   their   cigars
  when we came in。         The only thing that did not look cheerful was; that the
  room was only lighted by two or three oil…lamps; and that there seemed to
  be no preparation for refreshments。             Madame B。; seeing this; whispered
  to her maid; who disengaged herself from her partner; and ran off to the
  house;     she   and   the  kitchenmaid      presently    returning    with   a  large   tray
  covered   with   all   kinds   of   cakes   (of   which   we   are   great   consumers   and
  always   have   a   stock);   and   a   large   hamper   full   of   bottles   of   wine;   with
  coffee    and   sugar。   This   seemed     all  very   acceptable。     The    fiancee    was
  requested to distribute the eatables; and a bucket of water being produced
  to wash the glasses in; the wine disappeared very quicklyas fast as they
  could   open   the   bottles。    But;   elated;   I   suppose;   by   this;   the   floor   was
  sprinkled with water; and the musicians played a Monferrino; which is a
  Piedmontese dance。          Madame B。 danced with the farmer's son; and Emily
  with     another    distinguished     member       of  the   company。       It   was    very
  fatiguingsomething like a Scotch reel。 My partner was a little man; like
  Perrot; and very proud of his dancing。            He cut in the air and twisted about;
  until I was out of breath; though my attempts to imitate him were feeble in
  the   extreme。     At   last;   after   seven   or   eight   dances;   I   was   obliged   to   sit
  down。      We stayed till nine; and I was   so dead beat with the heat that   I
  could hardly crawl about the house; and in an agony with the cramp; it is
  so long since I have danced。〃
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  A MARRIAGE
  The    wedding     of  the  farmer's    daughter    has   taken   place。    We    had
  hoped it   would have  been in the  little chapel of  our  house; but   it   seems
  some   special   permission   was   necessary;   and   they  applied   for   it   too   late。
  They   all    said;  〃This   is  the  Constitution。      There     would    have   been    no
  difficulty   before!〃   the   lower   classes   making   the   poor   Constitution        the
  scapegoat for everything they don't like。            So as it was impossible for us to
  climb     up   to  the  church    where    the   wedding     was   to  be;   we   contented
  ourselves with seeing the procession pass。               It was not a very large one;
  for;   it   requiring   some   activity   to   go   up;   all   the   old   people   remained   at
  home。      It is not etiquette for the bride's mother to go; and no unmarried
  woman       can   go   to  a  weddingI      suppose     for  fear   of  its  making     her
  discontented with her own position。             The procession stopped at our door;
  for   the bride to   receive our   congratulations。        She   was   dressed   in   a   shot
  silk; with a yellow handkerchief; and rows of a large gold chain。                     In the
  afternoon   they  sent   to   request   us   to   go there。  On   our  arrival   we   found
  them dancing out of doors; and a most melancholy affair it was。                     All the
  bride's sisters were not to be recognised; they had cried so。                 The mother
  sat in the house; and could not appear。           And the bride was sobbing so; she
  could   hardly  stand!      The   most   melancholy  spectacle   of   all   to   my   mind
  was;     that  the   bridegroom       was    decidedly     tipsy。    He    seemed      rather
  affronted     at  all  the   distress。    We     danced     a  Monferrino;      I  with   the
  bridegroom; and the bride crying the whole time。                The company did their
  utmost to enliven her by firing pistols; but without success; and at last they
  began a series of yells; which reminded me of a set of savages。                   But even
  this   delicate   method     of   consolation     failed;  and   the   wishing    good…bye
  began。      It   was   altogether     so  melancholy      an   affair   that  Madame       B。
  dropped   a   few   tears;   and   I   was   very   near   it;   particularly   when   the   poor
  mother came out to see the last of her daughter; who was finally dragged
  off between her brother and uncle; with a   last explosion   of pistols。                 As
  she lives quite near; makes an excellent match; and is one of nine children;
  it really was a most desirable marriage; in spite of all the show of distress。
  Albert was so discomfited by it; that he forgot to kiss the bride as he had
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  intended to do; and therefore went to call upon her yesterday; and found
  her very smiling in her new house; and supplied the omission。                     The cook
  came   home   from   the   wedding;   declaring   she   was   cured   of   any   wish   to
  marrybut I   would not   recommend any  man to   act upon that threat   and
  make her an offer。 In a couple of days we had some rolls of the bride's first
  baking; which they call Madonnas。               The musicians; it seems; were in the
  same state as the bridegroom; for; in escorting her home; they all fell down
  in   the   mud。   My   wrath   against   the   bridegroom   is   somewhat   calmed   by
  finding     that  it  is  considered    bad   luck   if  he  does    not  get   tipsy   at  his
  wedding。〃
  Those   readers   of   Miss   Procter's   poems   who   should   suppose   from
  their   tone   that   her   mind   was   of   a   gloomy  or   despondent   cast;   would   be
  curiously   mistaken。        She   was   exceedingly   humorous;   and   had   a   great
  delight   in   humour。      Cheerfulness   was   habitual   with   her;   she   was   very
  ready at a sally or a reply; and in her laugh (as I remember well) there was
  an unusual vivacity; enjoyment; and sense of drollery。                 She was perfectly
  unconstrained and unaffected:            as modestly silent about her productions;
  as she was generous with their pecuniary results。                 She was a friend who
  inspired the strongest attachments; she was a finely sympathetic woman;
  with a grea