第59章 ZENOBIA'S DRAWING-ROOM(2)

"Ah, Mr.Coverdale," said she, still smiling, but, as I thought, with a good deal of scornful anger underneath, "it has gratified me to see the interest which you continue to take in my affairs! I have long recognized you as a sort of transcendental Yankee, with all the native propensity of your countrymen to investigate matters that come within their range, but rendered almost poetical, in your case, by the refined methods which you adopt for its gratification.After all, it was an unjustifiable stroke, on my part,--was it not?--to let down the window curtain!""I cannot call it a very wise one," returned I, with a secret bitterness, which, no doubt, Zenobia appreciated."It is really impossible to hide anything in this world, to say nothing of the next.All that we ought to ask, therefore, is, that the witnesses of our conduct, and the speculators on our motives, should be capable of taking the highest view which the circumstances of the case may admit.So much being secured, I, for one, would be most happy in feeling myself followed everywhere by an indefatigable human sympathy.""We must trust for intelligent sympathy to our guardian angels, if any there be," said Zenobia."As long as the only spectator of my poor tragedy is a young man at the window of his hotel, I must still claim the liberty to drop the curtain."While this passed, as Zenobia's hand was extended, I had applied the very slightest touch of my fingers to her own.In spite of an external freedom, her manner made me sensible that we stood upon no real terms of confidence.The thought came sadly across me, how great was the contrast betwixt this interview and our first meeting.Then, in the warm light of the country fireside, Zenobia had greeted me cheerily and hopefully, with a full sisterly grasp of the hand, conveying as much kindness in it as other women could have evinced by the pressure of both arms around my neck, or by yielding a cheek to the brotherly salute.The difference was as complete as between her appearance at that time--so simply attired, and with only the one superb flower in her hair--and now, when her beauty was set off by all that dress and ornament could do for it.And they did much.Not, indeed, that they created or added anything to what Nature had lavishly done for Zenobia.But, those costly robes which she had on, those flaming jewels on her neck, served as lamps to display the personal advantages which required nothing less than such an illumination to be fully seen.Even her characteristic flower, though it seemed to be still there, had undergone a cold and bright transfiguration; it was a flower exquisitely imitated in jeweller's work, and imparting the last touch that transformed Zenobia into a work of art.