Summer Evening's Dream

Edward Bellamy

Description

In this charming short story from Edward Bellamy, a young couple makes the most of the magic of a summer's night when they get an unexpected opportunity to perform an impromptu vignette -- and in the process, they help to rekindle a long-dormant romance.

Sujets

• Romance

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776596591
• Langue: English

Extrait

A SUMMER EVENING'S DREAM
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EDWARD BELLAMY
 
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A Summer Evening's Dream First published in 1898 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-659-1 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-660-7 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
A Summer Evening's Dream
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It is a village street, with great elms on either side, while along themiddle stands another row set in a narrow strip of grassy common, sothat the street and roadway are in reality double. The dwellings oneither side are not only widely parted by the broad street, but arestill further isolated, each in its large garden of ancient fruittrees. It is four o'clock of a sunny August afternoon, and a quiet,Sabbath-like but for its lazy voluptuousness, broods over the scene.No carriage, or even pedestrian, has passed for an hour. The occasionalvoices of children at play in some garden, the latching of a gate fardown the street, the dying fall of a drowsy chanticleer, are but thepunctuation of the poem of summer silence that has been flowing on allthe afternoon. Upon the tree-tops the sun blazes brightly, and betweentheir stems are glimpses of outlying meadows, which simmer in the heatas if about to come to a boil. But the shadowed street offers a cooland refreshing vista to the eye, and a veritable valley of refuge to theparched and dusty traveler along the highway.
On the broad piazza of one of the quaint old-fashioned houses, behinda needless screen of climbing woodbine, two girls are whiling away theafternoon. One of them is lounging in a lassy rocking-chair, while theother sits more primly and is industriously sewing.
"I suppose you 'll be glad enough to see George when he comes to-nightto take you back to the city? I'm afraid you find it pretty dullhere," said the latter, with an intonation of uneasy responsibilitysufficiently attesting that the brilliant-looking girl opposite was aguest.
That young lady, when addressed, was indulging in a luxurious countryyawn, an operation by no means to be hurried, but to be fully and lazilyenjoyed in all its several and long-drawn stages, and as thus practiceda wonderfully calming and soporific relaxation wholly unknown to thefretted denizens of cities, whose yawn is one of irritation and not ofrest. "I do so enjoy your Plainfield yawns, Lucy," she said when shehad quite finished. "Were you saying that it was a little dull? Well,perhaps it is, but then the trees and things seem to be' enjoyingthemselves so hugely that it would be selfish to make a fuss, even if itis n't exactly my kind of fun."
"Your kind of fun is due by the six-o'clock stage, I believe."
The other laughed and said, "I wish you would n't make another allusionto George. I think of him so much that I 'm ashamed, as it is.I 'm sure this is a very aggravating place for an engaged girl to beat. One gets so dreadfully sentimental with nothing to take up themind, especially with such monstrous moons as you have.