Pauline's Passion and Punishment - Chapter 3

For several days the Cubans were almost invisible, appearing only for a daily drive, a twilight ¹ saunter on the beach, or a brief visit to the ballroom ², there to enjoy the excitement of the pastime in which they both excelled. Their apartments were in the quietest wing of the hotel, and from the moment of their occupancy seemed to acquire all the charms of home. The few guests admitted felt the atmosphere of poetry and peace that pervaded ³ the nest which Love, the worker of miracles, had built himself even under that tumultuous roof. Strollers in the halls or along the breezy verandas ⁴ often paused to listen to the music of instrument or voice which came floating out from these sequestered ⁵ rooms. Frequent laughter and the murmur ⁶ of conversation proved that ennui ⁷ was unknown, and a touch of romance inevitably ⁸ enhanced the interest wakened by the beautiful young pair, always together, always happy, never weary of the dolce far niente of this summer life., ,In a balcony like a hanging garden, sheltered from the sun by blossoming shrubs ⁹ and vines that curtained the green nook with odorous shade, Pauline lay indolently swinging in a gaily ¹⁰ fringed hammock as she had been wont ¹¹ to do in Cuba, then finding only pleasure in the luxury of motion which now failed to quiet her unrest. Manuel had put down the book to which she no longer listened and, leaning his head upon his hand, sat watching her as she swayed to and fro with thoughtful eyes intent upon the sea, whose murmurous ¹² voice possessed ¹³ a charm more powerful than his own. Suddenly he spoke ¹⁴:, ,"Pauline, I cannot understand you! For three weeks we hurried east and west to find this man, yet when found you shun ¹⁵ him and seem content to make my life a heaven upon earth. I sometimes fancy that you have resolved to let the past sleep, but the hope dies as soon as born, for in moments like this I see that, though you devote yourself to me, the old purpose is unchanged, and I marvel ¹⁷ why you pause.", , ,"None. You are more mysterious than ever, and I shall, in truth, believe you are the enchantress I have so often called you if your spells work invisibly.", ,"They do not, and I use no supernatural arts, as I will prove to you. Take my lorgnette that lies behind you, part the leaves where the green grapes hang thickest, look up at the little window in the shadowy angle of the low roof opposite, and tell me what you see.", ,Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。,The boss of the ballroom excused them the fee.舞厅老板给他们免费 。