English
London
DearestPeople,HereIreallysitatafrontwindowoftheBathHotel,Piccadilly.
It'snotafashionableplace,butUnclestoppedhereyearsago,andwon'tgoanywhereelse.
However,wedon'tmeantostaylong,soit'snogreatmatter.
Oh,Ican'tbegintotellyouhowIenjoyitall!
Inevercan,soI'llonlygiveyoubitsoutofmynotebook,forI'vedonenothingbutsketchandscribblesinceIstarted.
IsentalinefromHalifax,whenIfeltprettymiserable,butafterthatIgotondelightfully,seldomill,ondeckallday,withplentyofpleasantpeopletoamuseme.
Everyonewasverykindtome,especiallytheofficers.
Don'tlaugh,Jo,gentlemenreallyareverynecessaryaboardship,toholdonto,ortowaituponone,andastheyhavenothingtodo,it'samercytomakethemuseful,otherwisetheywouldsmokethemselvestodeath,I'mafraid.
AuntandFlowerepoorlyalltheway,andlikedtobeletalone,sowhenIhaddonewhatIcouldforthem,Iwentandenjoyedmyself.
Suchwalksondeck,suchsunsets,suchsplendidairandwaves!
Itwasalmostasexcitingasridingafasthorse,whenwewentrushingonsograndly.
IwishBethcouldhavecome,itwouldhavedonehersomuchgood.
AsforJo,shewouldhavegoneupandsatonthemaintopjib,orwhateverthehighthingiscalled,madefriendswiththeengineers,andtootedonthecaptain'sspeakingtrumpet,she'dhavebeeninsuchastateofrapture.
Itwasallheavenly,butIwasgladtoseetheIrishcoast,andfounditverylovely,sogreenandsunny,withbrowncabinshereandthere,ruinsonsomeofthehills,andgentlemen'scountryseatsinthevalleys,withdeerfeedingintheparks.
Itwasearlyinthemorning,butIdidn'tregretgettinguptoseeit,forthebaywasfulloflittleboats,theshoresopicturesque,andarosyskyoverhead.Inevershallforgetit.
AtQueenstownoneofmynewacquaintancesleftus,Mr.Lennox,andwhenIsaidsomethingabouttheLakesofKillarney,hesighed,andsung,withalookatme...
"Oh,haveyoue'erheardofKateKearney?
ShelivesonthebanksofKillarney;
Fromtheglanceofhereye,
Shundangerandfly,
Forfatal'stheglanceofKateKearney."
Wasn'tthatnonsensical?
WeonlystoppedatLiverpoolafewhours.
It'sadirty,noisyplace,andIwasgladtoleaveit.
Unclerushedoutandboughtapairofdogskingloves,someugly,thickshoes,andanumbrella,andgotshaved�lamuttonchop,thefirstthing.
ThenheflatteredhimselfthathelookedlikeatrueBriton,butthefirsttimehehadthemudcleanedoffhisshoes,thelittlebootblackknewthatanAmericanstoodinthem,andsaid,withagrin,"Thereyerhar,sir.
I'vegiven'emthelatestYankeeshine."ItamusedUncleimmensely.
Oh,ImusttellyouwhatthatabsurdLennoxdid!
HegothisfriendWard,whocameonwithus,toorderabouquetforme,andthefirstthingIsawinmyroomwasalovelyone,with"RobertLennox'scompliments,"onthecard.Wasn'tthatfun,girls?Iliketraveling.
InevershallgettoLondonifIdon'thurry.
Thetripwaslikeridingthroughalongpicturegallery,fulloflovelylandscapes.
Thefarmhousesweremydelight,withthatchedroofs,ivyuptotheeaves,latticedwindows,andstoutwomenwithrosychildrenatthedoors.
Theverycattlelookedmoretranquilthanours,astheystoodknee–deepinclover,andthehenshadacontentedcluck,asiftheynevergotnervouslikeYankeebiddies.
SuchperfectcolorIneversaw,thegrasssogreen,skysoblue,grainsoyellow,woodssodark,Iwasinarapturealltheway.
SowasFlo,andwekeptbouncingfromonesidetotheother,tryingtoseeeverythingwhilewewerewhiskingalongattherateofsixtymilesanhour.
Auntwastiredandwenttosleep,butUnclereadhisguidebook,andwouldn'tbeastonishedatanything.Thisisthewaywewenton.
Amy,flyingup––"Oh,thatmustbeKenilworth,thatgrayplaceamongthetrees!"Flo,dartingtomywindow––"Howsweet!
Wemustgotheresometime,won'twePapa?"
Uncle,calmlyadmiringhisboots––"No,mydear,notunlessyouwantbeer,that'sabrewery."
Apause––thenFlocriedout,"Blessme,there'sagallowsandamangoingup.""Where,where?"
shrieksAmy,staringoutattwotallpostswithacrossbeamandsomedanglingchains.
"Acolliery,"remarksUncle,withatwinkleoftheeye.
"Here'salovelyflockoflambsalllyingdown,"saysAmy."See,Papa,aren'ttheypretty?"addedFlosentimentally.
"Geese,youngladies,"returnsUncle,inatonethatkeepsusquiettillFlosettlesdowntoenjoytheFlirtationsofCaptainCavendish,andIhavethesceneryalltomyself.
OfcourseitrainedwhenwegottoLondon,andtherewasnothingtobeseenbutfogandumbrellas.
Werested,unpacked,andshoppedalittlebetweentheshowers.
AuntMarygotmesomenewthings,forIcameoffinsuchahurryIwasn'thalfready.
Awhitehatandbluefeather,amuslindresstomatch,andtheloveliestmantleyoueversaw.
ShoppinginRegentStreetisperfectlysplendid.
Thingsseemsocheap,niceribbonsonlysixpenceayard.
Ilaidinastock,butshallgetmyglovesinParis.
Doesn'tthatsoundsortofelegantandrich?
FloandI,forthefunofit,orderedahansomcab,whileAuntandUnclewereout,andwentforadrive,thoughwelearnedafterwardthatitwasn'tthethingforyoungladiestorideinthemalone.Itwassodroll!
Forwhenwewereshutinbythewoodenapron,themandrovesofastthatFlowasfrightened,andtoldmetostophim,buthewasupoutsidebehindsomewhere,andIcouldn'tgetathim.
Hedidn'thearmecall,norseemeflapmyparasolinfront,andtherewewere,quitehelpless,rattlingaway,andwhirlingaroundcornersatabreakneckpace.
Atlast,inmydespair,Isawalittledoorintheroof,andonpokingitopen,aredeyeappeared,andabeeryvoicesaid...
"Now,then,mum?"
IgavemyorderassoberlyasIcould,andslammingdownthedoor,withan"Aye,aye,mum,"themanmadehishorsewalk,asifgoingtoafuneral.
Ipokedagainandsaid,"Alittlefaster,"thenoffhewent,helter–skelterasbefore,andweresignedourselvestoourfate.
Todaywasfair,andwewenttoHydePark,closeby,forwearemorearistocraticthanwelook.TheDukeofDevonshirelivesnear.
Ioftenseehisfootmenloungingatthebackgate,andtheDukeofWellington'shouseisnotfaroff.SuchsightsasIsaw,mydear!
ItwasasgoodasPunch,fortherewerefatdowagersrollingaboutintheirredandyellowcoaches,withgorgeousJeamesesinsilkstockingsandvelvetcoats,upbehind,andpowderedcoachmeninfront.
Smartmaids,withtherosiestchildrenIeversaw,handsomegirls,lookinghalfasleep,dandiesinqueerEnglishhatsandlavenderkidsloungingabout,andtallsoldiers,inshortredjacketsandmuffincapsstuckononeside,lookingsofunnyIlongedtosketchthem.
RottenRowmeans'RoutedeRoi',ortheking'sway,butnowit'smorelikearidingschoolthananythingelse.
Thehorsesaresplendid,andthemen,especiallythegrooms,ridewell,butthewomenarestiff,andbounce,whichisn'taccordingtoourrules.
IlongedtoshowthematearingAmericangallop,fortheytrottedsolemnlyupanddown,intheirscanthabitsandhighhats,lookinglikethewomeninatoyNoah'sArk.
Everyonerides––oldmen,stoutladies,littlechildren––andtheyoungfolksdoadealofflirtinghere,Isawapairexchangerosebuds,forit'sthethingtowearoneinthebutton–hole,andIthoughtitratheranicelittleidea.
IntheP.M.toWestminsterAbbey,butdon'texpectmetodescribeit,that'simpossible,soI'llonlysayitwassublime!
ThiseveningwearegoingtoseeFechter,whichwillbeanappropriateendtothehappiestdayofmylife.
It'sverylate,butIcan'tletmylettergointhemorningwithouttellingyouwhathappenedlastevening.
Whodoyouthinkcamein,aswewereattea?
Laurie'sEnglishfriends,FredandFrankVaughn!
Iwassosurprised,forIshouldn'thaveknownthembutforthecards.
Botharetallfellowswithwhiskers,FredhandsomeintheEnglishstyle,andFrankmuchbetter,forheonlylimpsslightly,andusesnocrutches.
TheyhadheardfromLauriewhereweweretobe,andcametoaskustotheirhouse,butUnclewon'tgo,soweshallreturnthecall,andseethemaswecan.
Theywenttothetheaterwithus,andwedidhavesuchagoodtime,forFrankdevotedhimselftoFlo,andFredandItalkedoverpast,present,andfuturefunasifwehadknowneachotherallourdays.
TellBethFrankaskedforher,andwassorrytohearofherillhealth.
FredlaughedwhenIspokeofJo,andsenthis'respectfulcomplimentstothebighat'.
NeitherofthemhadforgottenCampLaurence,orthefunwehadthere.Whatagesagoitseems,doesn'tit?
Auntistappingonthewallforthethirdtime,soImuststop.
IreallyfeellikeadissipatedLondonfinelady,writingheresolate,withmyroomfullofprettythings,andmyheadajumbleofparks,theaters,newgowns,andgallantcreatureswhosay"Ah!"
andtwirltheirblondmustacheswiththetrueEnglishlordliness.
Ilongtoseeyouall,andinspiteofmynonsenseam,asever,yourloving...
AMY
PARIS
Deargirls,
InmylastItoldyouaboutourLondonvisit,howkindtheVaughnswere,andwhatpleasantpartiestheymadeforus.
IenjoyedthetripstoHamptonCourtandtheKensingtonMuseummorethananythingelse,foratHamptonIsawRaphael'scartoons,andattheMuseum,roomsfullofpicturesbyTurner,Lawrence,Reynolds,Hogarth,andtheothergreatcreatures.
ThedayinRichmondParkwascharming,forwehadaregularEnglishpicnic,andIhadmoresplendidoaksandgroupsofdeerthanIcouldcopy,alsoheardanightingale,andsawlarksgoup.
We'did'Londontoourheart'scontent,thankstoFredandFrank,andweresorrytogoaway,forthoughEnglishpeopleareslowtotakeyouin,whentheyoncemakeuptheirmindstodoittheycannotbeoutdoneinhospitality,Ithink.
TheVaughnshopetomeetusinRomenextwinter,andIshallbedreadfullydisappointediftheydon't,forGraceandIaregreatfriends,andtheboysverynicefellows,especiallyFred.
Well,wewerehardlysettledhere,whenheturnedupagain,sayinghehadcomeforaholiday,andwasgoingtoSwitzerland.
Auntlookedsoberatfirst,buthewassocoolaboutitshecouldn'tsayaword.
Andnowwegetonnicely,andareverygladhecame,forhespeaksFrenchlikeanative,andIdon'tknowwhatweshoulddowithouthim.
Uncledoesn'tknowtenwords,andinsistsontalkingEnglishveryloud,asifitwouldmakepeopleunderstandhim.
Aunt'spronunciationisold–fashioned,andFloandI,thoughweflatteredourselvesthatweknewagooddeal,findwedon't,andareverygratefultohaveFreddothe'_parleyvooing_',asUnclecallsit.
Suchdelightfultimesaswearehaving!Sight–seeingfrommorningtillnight,stoppingfornicelunchesinthegaycafes,andmeetingwithallsortsofdrolladventures.
RainydaysIspendintheLouvre,revellinginpictures.
Jowouldturnuphernaughtynoseatsomeofthefinest,becauseshehasnosoulforart,butIhave,andI'mcultivatingeyeandtasteasfastasIcan.
Shewouldliketherelicsofgreatpeoplebetter,forI'veseenherNapoleon'scockedhatandgraycoat,hisbaby'scradleandhisoldtoothbrush,alsoMarieAntoinette'slittleshoe,theringofSaintDenis,Charlemagne'ssword,andmanyotherinterestingthings.
I'lltalkforhoursaboutthemwhenIcome,buthaven'ttimetowrite.
ThePalaisRoyaleisaheavenlyplace,sofullofbijouterieandlovelythingsthatI'mnearlydistractedbecauseIcan'tbuythem.
Fredwantedtogetmesome,butofcourseIdidn'tallowit.
ThentheBoisandChampsElyseesaretresmagnifique.
I'veseentheimperialfamilyseveraltimes,theemperoranugly,hard–lookingman,theempresspaleandpretty,butdressedinbadtaste,Ithought––purpledress,greenhat,andyellowgloves.
LittleNapisahandsomeboy,whositschattingtohistutor,andkisseshishandtothepeopleashepassesinhisfour–horsebarouche,withpostilionsinredsatinjacketsandamountedguardbeforeandbehind.
WeoftenwalkintheTuileriesGardens,fortheyarelovely,thoughtheantiqueLuxembourgGardenssuitmebetter.
PerelaChaiseisverycurious,formanyofthetombsarelikesmallrooms,andlookingin,oneseesatable,withimagesorpicturesofthedead,andchairsforthemournerstositinwhentheycometolament.ThatissoFrenchy.
OurroomsareontheRuedeRivoli,andsittingonthebalcony,welookupanddownthelong,brilliantstreet.
Itissopleasantthatwespendoureveningstalkingtherewhentootiredwithourday'sworktogoout.
Fredisveryentertaining,andisaltogetherthemostagreeableyoungmanIeverknew––exceptLaurie,whosemannersaremorecharming.
IwishFredwasdark,forIdon'tfancylightmen,however,theVaughnsareveryrichandcomeofanexcellentfamily,soIwon'tfindfaultwiththeiryellowhair,asmyownisyellower.
NextweekweareofftoGermanyandSwitzerland,andasweshalltravelfast,Ishallonlybeabletogiveyouhastyletters.
Ikeepmydiary,andtryto'remembercorrectlyanddescribeclearlyallthatIseeandadmire',asFatheradvised.
Itisgoodpracticeforme,andwithmysketchbookwillgiveyouabetterideaofmytourthanthesescribbles.
Adieu,Iembraceyoutenderly."VotreAmie."
HEIDELBERG
MydearMamma,
HavingaquiethourbeforeweleaveforBerne,I'lltrytotellyouwhathashappened,forsomeofitisveryimportant,asyouwillsee.
ThesailuptheRhinewasperfect,andIjustsatandenjoyeditwithallmymight.
GetFather'soldguidebooksandreadaboutit.
Ihaven'twordsbeautifulenoughtodescribeit.
AtCoblentzwehadalovelytime,forsomestudentsfromBonn,withwhomFredgotacquaintedontheboat,gaveusaserenade.
Itwasamoonlightnight,andaboutoneo'clockFloandIwerewakedbythemostdeliciousmusicunderourwindows.
Weflewup,andhidbehindthecurtains,butslypeepsshowedusFredandthestudentssingingawaydownbelow.
ItwasthemostromanticthingIeversaw––theriver,thebridgeofboats,thegreatfortressopposite,moonlighteverywhere,andmusicfittomeltaheartofstone.
Whentheyweredonewethrewdownsomeflowers,andsawthemscrambleforthem,kisstheirhandstotheinvisibleladies,andgolaughingaway,tosmokeanddrinkbeer,Isuppose.
NextmorningFredshowedmeoneofthecrumpledflowersinhisvestpocket,andlookedverysentimental.
Ilaughedathim,andsaidIdidn'tthrowit,butFlo,whichseemedtodisgusthim,forhetosseditoutofthewindow,andturnedsensibleagain.
I'mafraidI'mgoingtohavetroublewiththatboy,itbeginstolooklikeit.
ThebathsatNassauwereverygay,sowasBaden–Baden,whereFredlostsomemoney,andIscoldedhim.
HeneedssomeonetolookafterhimwhenFrankisnotwithhim.
Katesaidonceshehopedhe'dmarrysoon,andIquiteagreewithherthatitwouldbewellforhim.Frankfurtwasdelightful.
IsawGoethe'shouse,Schiller'sstatue,andDannecker'sfamous'Ariadne.'
Itwasverylovely,butIshouldhaveenjoyeditmoreifIhadknownthestorybetter.
Ididn'tliketoask,aseveryoneknewitorpretendedtheydid.IwishJowouldtellmeallaboutit.
Ioughttohavereadmore,forIfindIdon'tknowanything,anditmortifiesme.
Nowcomestheseriouspart,forithappenedhere,andFredhasjustgone.
Hehasbeensokindandjollythatweallgotquitefondofhim.
Ineverthoughtofanythingbutatravelingfriendshiptilltheserenadenight.
SincethenI'vebeguntofeelthatthemoonlightwalks,balconytalks,anddailyadventuresweresomethingmoretohimthanfun.
Ihaven'tflirted,Mother,truly,butrememberedwhatyousaidtome,andhavedonemyverybest.Ican'thelpitifpeoplelikeme.
Idon'ttrytomakethem,anditworriesmeifIdon'tcareforthem,thoughJosaysIhaven'tgotanyheart.
NowIknowMotherwillshakeherhead,andthegirlssay,"Oh,themercenarylittlewretch!"
,butI'vemadeupmymind,andifFredasksme,Ishallaccepthim,thoughI'mnotmadlyinlove.
Ilikehim,andwegetoncomfortablytogether.
Heishandsome,young,cleverenough,andveryrich––eversomuchricherthantheLaurences.
Idon'tthinkhisfamilywouldobject,andIshouldbeveryhappy,fortheyareallkind,well–bred,generouspeople,andtheylikeme.
Fred,astheeldesttwin,willhavetheestate,Isuppose,andsuchasplendidoneitis!
Acityhouseinafashionablestreet,notsoshowyasourbighouses,buttwiceascomfortableandfullofsolidluxury,suchasEnglishpeoplebelievein.Ilikeit,forit'sgenuine.
I'veseentheplate,thefamilyjewels,theoldservants,andpicturesofthecountryplace,withitspark,greathouse,lovelygrounds,andfinehorses.Oh,itwouldbeallIshouldask!
AndI'dratherhaveitthananytitlesuchasgirlssnapupsoreadily,andfindnothingbehind.
Imaybemercenary,butIhatepoverty,anddon'tmeantobearitaminutelongerthanIcanhelp.Oneofusmustmarrywell.
Megdidn't,Jowon't,Bethcan'tyet,soIshall,andmakeeverythingokayallround.
Iwouldn'tmarryamanIhatedordespised.
Youmaybesureofthat,andthoughFredisnotmymodelhero,hedoesverywell,andintimeIshouldgetfondenoughofhimifhewasveryfondofme,andletmedojustasIliked.
SoI'vebeenturningthematteroverinmymindthelastweek,foritwasimpossibletohelpseeingthatFredlikedme.
Hesaidnothing,butlittlethingsshowedit.
HenevergoeswithFlo,alwaysgetsonmysideofthecarriage,table,orpromenade,lookssentimentalwhenwearealone,andfrownsatanyoneelsewhoventurestospeaktome.
Yesterdayatdinner,whenanAustrianofficerstaredatusandthensaidsomethingtohisfriend,arakish–lookingbaron,about'_einwonderschonesBlondchen',Fredlookedasfierceasalion,andcuthismeatsosavagelyitnearlyflewoffhisplate.
Heisn'toneofthecool,stiffEnglishmen,butisratherpeppery,forhehasScotchbloodinhim,asonemightguessfromhisbonnieblueeyes.
Well,lasteveningwewentuptothecastleaboutsunset,atleastallofusbutFred,whowastomeetusthereaftergoingtothePostRestanteforletters.
Wehadacharmingtimepokingabouttheruins,thevaultswherethemonstertunis,andthebeautifulgardensmadebytheelectorlongagoforhisEnglishwife.
Ilikedthegreatterracebest,fortheviewwasdivine,sowhiletherestwenttoseetheroomsinside,Isattheretryingtosketchthegraystonelion'sheadonthewall,withscarletwoodbinesprayshangingroundit.
IfeltasifI'dgotintoaromance,sittingthere,watchingtheNeckarrollingthroughthevalley,listeningtothemusicoftheAustrianbandbelow,andwaitingformylover,likearealstorybookgirl.
IhadafeelingthatsomethingwasgoingtohappenandIwasreadyforit.
Ididn'tfeelblushyorquakey,butquitecoolandonlyalittleexcited.
By–and–byIheardFred'svoice,andthenhecamehurryingthroughthegreatarchtofindme.
HelookedsotroubledthatIforgotallaboutmyself,andaskedwhatthematterwas.
Hesaidhe'djustgotaletterbegginghimtocomehome,forFrankwasveryill.
Sohewasgoingatonceonthenighttrainandonlyhadtimetosaygood–by.
Iwasverysorryforhim,anddisappointedformyself,butonlyforaminutebecausehesaid,asheshookhands,andsaiditinawaythatIcouldnotmistake,"Ishallsooncomeback,youwon'tforgetme,Amy?"
Ididn'tpromise,butIlookedathim,andheseemedsatisfied,andtherewasnotimeforanythingbutmessagesandgood–byes,forhewasoffinanhour,andweallmisshimverymuch.
Iknowhewantedtospeak,butIthink,fromsomethingheoncehinted,thathehadpromisedhisfathernottodoanythingofthesortyetawhile,forheisarashboy,andtheoldgentlemandreadsaforeigndaughter–in–law.
WeshallsoonmeetinRome,andthen,ifIdon'tchangemymind,I'llsay"Yes,thankyou,"whenhesays"Willyou,please?"
Ofcoursethisisallveryprivate,butIwishedyoutoknowwhatwasgoingon.
Don'tbeanxiousaboutme,rememberIamyour'prudentAmy',andbesureIwilldonothingrashly.Sendmeasmuchadviceasyoulike.I'lluseitifIcan.
IwishIcouldseeyouforagoodtalk,Marmee.Loveandtrustme.
EveryourAMY
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