返回

8

首頁
    tfromaFriend'—thesewereproductsofalater,butnotlessartisticage.Theinterveningspacesweretakenupwithlittlejarsandcupsandsaucers—goldinside,withaviewofatownoutside,andsurroundingthem,'APresentfromClacton-on-Sea,'or,alliteratively,'AMementoofMargate.'Ofthesemanywerebroken,buttheyhadbeenmendedwithglue,anditiswellknownthatpotteryintheeyesoftheconnoisseurlosesnoneofitsvaluebyacrackortwo.Thentherewereportraitsinnumerable—littleyellowcartes-de-visiteinvelvetframes,someofwhichweredecoratedwithshellstheyshowedstrangepeoplewithold-fashionedclothes,thewomenwithbodicesandsleevesfittingclosetothefigure,stern-featuredfemaleswithhaircarefullypartedinthemiddleandplastereddownoneachside,firmchinsandmouths,withsmall,pig-likeeyesandwrinkledfaces,andthemenwereuncomfortablycladinSundaygarments,verystiffanduneasyintheirawkwardpostures,withlargewhiskersandshavedchinsandupperlipsandageneralairofhorny-handedtoil.Thentherewereoneortwodaguerreotypes,littlefull-lengthfiguresframedingoldpaper.TherewasoneofMrs.Kemp'sfatherandoneofhermother,andtherewereseveralphotographsofbetrothedornewly-marriedcouples,theladysittingdownandthemanstandingbehindherwithhishandonthechair,orthemansittingandthewomanwithherhandonhisshoulder.Andfromallsidesoftheroom,standingonthemantelpiece,hangingaboveit,onthewallandoverthebed,theystaredfull-faceintotheroom,self-consciouslyfixedforeverintheirstiffdiscomfort. Thewallswerecoveredwithdingy,antiquatedpaper,andornamentedwithcolouredsupplementsfromChristmasNumbers—therewasaverypatrioticpictureofasoldiershakingthehandofafallencomradeandwavinghisarmindefianceofabandofadvancingArabstherewasa'CherryRipe,'almostblackwithageanddirtthereweretwoalmanacksseveralyearsold,onewithacolouredportraitoftheMarquessofLorne,veryhandsomeandelegantlydressed,theobjectofMrs.Kemp'sadorationsinceherhusband'sdemisetheotheraJubileeportraitoftheQueen,somewhatlosingindignitybyamoustachewhichLizainanirreverentmomenthadsmearedonwithcharcoal. Thefurnitureconsistedofawash-hand
上一頁 章節目錄 下一頁
推薦內容