Королі та капуста
The Lotus and the Bottle
ShehadattendedaconventschoolinNewOrleansfortwoyears;andwhenshechosetodisplayheraccomplishmentsnoonecoulddetectanydifferencebetweenherandthegirlsofNorfolkandManhattan.Butitwasdelicioustoseeherathomedressed,asshesometimeswas,inthenativecostume,withbareshouldersandflowingsleeves.
BernardBranniganwasthegreatmerchantofCoralio.Besideshisstore,hemaintainedatrainofpackmules,andcarriedonalivelytradewiththeinteriortownsandvillages.HehadmarriedanativeladyofhighCastiliandescent,butwithatingeofIndianbrownshowingthroughherolivecheek.TheunionoftheIrishandtheSpanishhadproduced,asitsooftenhas,anoffshootofrarebeautyandvariety.Theywereveryexcellentpeopleindeed,andtheupperstoryoftheirhousewasreadytobeplacedattheserviceofGeddieandPaulaassoonasheshouldmakeuphismindtospeakaboutit.
Bythetimetwohourswerewhiledawaytheconsultiredofreading.Thepaperslayscatteredabouthimonthegallery.Recliningthere,hegazeddreamilyoutuponanEden.Aclumpofbananaplantsinterposedtheirbroadshieldsbetweenhimandthesun.Thegentleslopefromtheconsulatetotheseawascoveredwiththedark-greenfoliageoflemon-treesandorange-treesjustburstingintobloom.Alagoonpiercedthelandlikeadark,jaggedcrystal,andaboveitapaleceiba-treerosealmosttotheclouds.Thewavingcocoanutpalmsonthebeachflaredtheirdecorativegreenleavesagainsttheslateofanalmostquiescentsea.
