Ethel Mildmays Follies

Author : Katharine King
Publisher : Forgotten Books
ISBN 13 : 9781330177624
Total Pages : 184 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (776 download)

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Download or read book Ethel Mildmay's Follies written by Katharine King and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2015-06-25 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Ethel Mildmay's Follies: A Story A Deep cloudless sky, and a shining sea beneath; bold mountains all around, deluged in a wonderful glow, with here and there a snowy peak glistening in the distance; a white town sparkling like a jewel in the case; brightness everywhere, shadow nowhere; sunshine, warmth, and intense color; the song of birds, and the perfume of flowers. And yet it is mid-winter, but winter in Nice, with the Mediterranean breaking in opal waves upon the beach, and the southern sun laughing January to scorn, and the great Alps calmly looking on. It was the afternoon; and all the world had breakfasted, and dressed itself, and was now sauntering up and down the celebrated "Promenade des Anglais," - a gayly-colored, joyous procession, chattering noisily in various tongues; and looking on, and gayly commenting upon the lively panorama, were two men, sitting a little apart, and shading themselves from the scorching sun with the friendly assistance of an enormous white umbrella lined with green. They were Frenchmen; and, of course, they were diverting themselves at their neighbors' expense, - diverting themselves with redoubled vigor and enjoyment when the victim of the moment happened to be an Englishman, the Frenchman's legitimate butt. Nothing, indeed, escaped this sharp-eyed, keen-witted pair; not the burly paterfamilias with his hands clasping his pockets, as though scenting thieves in the sunny air, and with irascible curses about his mouth, and suspicious gleams in his eyes, - sure tokens of daily tussles with swindling hotel-keepers and dishonest couriers; not the irreproachably "got up" swell tourist, calmly stalking along with a serene, ineffable expression of self-content and superiority; not even the British matron, with her virtuous, solid air; nor the British virgin, with her sealskin jacket and "Grenadier" march, so different from the dainty pitter-patter of her French sister; nobody was allowed to pass unscathed. A running fire of light, delightful raillery, such as the French nation, and the French nation alone, thoroughly understands, was skilfully levelled at each new, unconscious passer-by, to the apparent intense enjoyment of our friends. "And yet, mon cher" presently observed the elder of the two, - a white-headed, parchment-complexioned, soldier-like looking man, checking himself in the midst of a gay thrust at some British "eccentricity," as he chose to consider it, which had just passed them, - "and yet there are no women like the English in the world, laugh at them as you will. Even I, a Frenchman, confess it. They are well-grown, clear-skinned, fair as lilies; a little stiff and awkward, I grant you, and with manners rigid and cold to an excess; nevertheless, there is a 'something' distingue and digne about them, which I, for one, cannot help admiring in spite of myself." "Bravo, baron! I declare that the subject makes you eloquent. What would madame la baronne say to your unpatriotic rhapsodies, I wonder," said his companion, a young man with a brand-new suit of remarkably tight clothes, and dainty lavender gloves. "Bah! the baronne is a sensible woman, and does not trouble her head on such matters," said the gay old gentleman, with a laugh. "Besides, she is devote now, and has buried jealousy and all other bad passions long ago." "And has given up the task of reforming you, you hoary old reprobate, I suppose! About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com