Atthreeo’clockintheafternoon，allthefashionableworldatNicemaybeseenonthePromenadedesAnglais——acharmingplace，forthewidewalk，borderedwithpalms，flowers，andtropicalshrubs，isboundedononesidebythesea，ontheotherbythegranddrive，linedwithhotelsandvillas，whilebeyondlieorangeorchardsandthehills。Manynationsarerepresented，manylanguagesspoken，manycostumesworn，andonasunnydaythespectacleisasgayandbrilliantasacarnival。HaughtyEnglish，livelyFrench，soberGermans，handsomeSpaniards，uglyRussians，meekJews，free-and-easyAmericans，alldrive，sit，orsaunterhere，chattingoverthenews，andcriticzingthelatestcelebritywhohasarrived——RistoriorDickens，VictorEmmanuelortheQueenoftheSandwichIslands。Theequipagesareasvariedasthecompanyandattractasmuchattention，especiallythelowbasketbarouchesinwhichladiesdrivethemselves，withapairofdashingponies，gaynetstokeeptheirvoluminousflouncesfromoverflowingthediminutivevehicles，andlittlegroomsontheperchbehind。
Alongthiswalk，onChristmasDay，atallyoungmanwalkedslowly，withhishandsbehindhim，andasomewhatabsentexpressionofcountenance。HelookedlikeanItalian，wasdressedlikeanEnglishman，andhadtheindependentairofanAmerican——acombinationwhichcausedsundrypairsoffeminineeyestolookapprovinglyafterhim，andsundrydandiesinblackvelvetsuits，withrose-coloredneckties，buffgloves，andorangeflowersintheirbuttonholes，toshrugtheirshoulders，andthenenvyhimhisinches。
Therewereplentyofprettyfacestoadmire，buttheyoungmantooklittlenoticeofthem，excepttoglancenowandthenatsomeblondegirlinblue。Presentlyhestrolledoutofthepromenadeandstoodamomentatthecrossing，asifundecidedwhethertogoandlistentothebandintheJardinPublique，ortowanderalongthebeachtowardCastleHill。Thequicktrotofponiesfeetmadehimlookup，asoneofthelittlecarriages，containingasingleyounglady，camerapidlydownthestreet。Theladywasyoung，blonde，anddressedinblue。Hestaredaminute，thenhiswholefacewokeup，and，wavinghishatlikeaboy，hehurriedforwardtomeether。
“Oh，Laurie，isitreallyyou？Ithoughtyou’dnevercome!“
criedAmy，droppingthereinsandholdingoutbothhands，tothegreatscandalizationofaFrenchmamma，whohastenedherdaughter’ssteps，lestsheshouldbedemoralizedbybeholdingthefreemannersofthese`madEnglish’。
“Iwasdetainedbytheway，butIpromisedtospendChristmaswithyou，andhereIam。“
“Howisyourgrandfather？Whendidyoucome？Whereareyoustaying？“
“Verywell——lastnight——attheChauvain。Icalledatyourhotel，butyouwereout。“
“Ihavesomuchtosay，Idon’tknowwheretobegin!Getinandwecantalkatourease。Iwasgoingforadriveandlongingforcompany。Flo’ssavingupfortonight。“
“Whathappensthen，aball？“
“AChristmaspartyatouthotel。TherearemanyAmericansthere，andtheygiveitinhonoroftheday。You’llgowithus，ofcourse？Auntwillbecharmed。“
“Thankyou。Wherenow？“askedLaurie，leaningbackandfoldinghisarms，aproceedingwhichsuitedAmy，whopreferredtodrive，forherparasolwhipandbluereinsoverthewhiteponiesbacksaffordedherinfinitesatisfaction。
“I’mgoingtothebankersfirstforletters，andthentoCastleHill。Theviewissolovely，andIliketofeedthepeacocks。
Haveyoueverbeenthere？“
“Often，yearsago，butIdon’tmindhavingalookatit。“
“Nowtellmeallaboutyourself。ThelastIheardofyou，yourgrandfatherwrotethatheexpectedyoufromBerlin。“
“Yes，IspentamonththereandthenjoinedhiminParis，wherehehassettledforthewinter。Hehasfriendsthereandfindsplentytoamusehim，soIgoandcome，andwegotoncapitally。“
“That’sasociablearrangement，“saidAmy，missingsomethinginLaurie’smanner，thoughshecouldn’ttellwhat。
“Why，yousee，hehatestotravel，andIhatetokeepstill，soweeachsuitourselves，andthereisnotrouble。Iamoftenwithhim，andheenjoysmyadventures，whileIliketofeelthatsomeoneisgladtoseemewhenIgetbackfrommywanderings。
Dirtyoldhole，isn’tit？“headded，withalookofdisgustastheydrovealongtheboulevardtothePlaceNapoleonintheoldcity。
“Thedirtispicturesque，soIdon’tmind。Theriverandthehillsaredelicious，andtheseglimpsesofthenarrowcrossstreetsaremydelight。Nowweshallhavetowaitforthatprocessiontopass。It’sgoingtotheChurchofSt。John。“
WhileLaurielistlesslywatchedtheprocessionofpriestsundertheircanopies，white-veilednunsbearinglightedtapers，andsomebrotherhoodinbluechantingastheywalked，Amywatchedhim，andfeltanewsortofshynessstealoverher，forhewaschanged，andshecouldnotfindthemerry-facedboysheleftinthemoody-lookingmanbesideher。Hewashandsomerthaneverandgreatlyimproved，shethought，butnowthattheflushofpleasureatmeetingherwasover，helookedtiredandspiritless——notsick，norexactlyunhappy，butolderandgraverthanayearortwoofprosperouslifeshouldhavemadehim。Shecouldn’tunderstanditanddidnotventuretoaskquestions，sosheshookherheadandtouchedupherponies，astheprocessionwoundawayacrossthearchesofthePaglionibridgeandvanishedinthechurch。
“Quepensez-vous？“shesaid，airingherFrench，whichhadimprovedinquantity，ifnotinquality，sinceshecameabroad。
“Thatmademoisellehasmadegooduseofhertime，andtheresultischarming，“repliedLaurie，bowingwithhishandonhisheartandanadmiringlook。
Sheblushedwithpleasure，butsomehowthecomplimentdidnotsatisfyherlikethebluntpraisesheusedtogiveherathome，whenhepromenadedroundheronfestivaloccasions，andtolehershewas`altogetherjolly’，withaheartysmileandanapprovingpatonthehead。Shedidn’tlikethenewtone，forthoughnotblase，itsoundedindifferentinspiteofthelook。
“Ifthat’sthewayhe’sgoingtogrowup，Iwishhe’sstayaboy，“shethought，withacurioussenseofdisappointmentanddiscomfort，tryingmeantimetoseemquiteeasyandgay。
AtAvigdor’sshefoundtheprecioushomelettersand，givingthereinstoLaurie，readthemluxuriouslyastheywounduptheshadyroadbetweengreenhedges，wheretearosesbloomedasfreshlyasinJune。
“Bethisverypoorly，Mothersays。IoftenthinkIoughttogohome，buttheyallsay`stay’。SoIdo，forIshallneverhaveanotherchancelikethis，“saidAmy，lookingsoberoveronepage。
“Ithinkyouareright，there。Youcoulddonothingathome，anditisagreatcomforttothemtoknowthatyouarewellandhappy，andenjoyingsomuch，mydear。“
Hedrewalittlenearer，andlookedmorelikehisoldselfashesaidthat，andthefearthatsometimesweighedonAmy’sheartwaslightened，forthelook，theact，thebrotherly`mydear’，seemedtoassureherthatifanytroubledidcome，shewouldnotbealoneinastrangeland。PresentlyshelaughedandshowedhimasmallsketchofJoinherscribblingsuit，withthebowrampantlyerectuponhercap，andissuingfromhermouththewords，`Geniusburns!’。
Lauriesmiled，tookit，putitinhisvestpocket`tokeepitfromblowingaway’，andlistenedwithinteresttothelivelyletterAmyreadhim。
“ThiswillbearegularlymerryChristmastome，withpresentsinthemorning，youandlettersintheafternoon，andapartyatnight，“saidAmy，astheyalightedamongtheruinsoftheoldfort，andaflockofsplendidpeacockscametroopingaboutthem，tamelywaitingtobefed。WhileAmystoodlaughingonthebankabovehimasshescatteredcrumbstothebrilliantbirds，Laurielookedatherasshehadlookedathim，withanaturalcuriositytoseewhatchangestimeandabsencehadwrought。Hefoundnothingtoperplexordisappoint，muchtoadmireandapprove，foroverlookingafewlittleaffectationsofspeechandmanner，shewasassprightlyandgracefulasever，withtheadditionofthatindescribablesomethingindressandbearingwhichwecallelegance。Alwaysmatureforherage，shehadgainedacertainaplombinbothcarriageandconversation，whichmadeherseemmoreofawomanoftheworldthanshewas，butheroldpetulancenowandthenshoweditself，herstrongwillstillhelditsown，andhernativefranknesswasunspoiledbyforeignpolish。
Lauriedidnotreadallthiswhilehewatchedherfeedthepeacocks，buthesawenoughtosatisfyandinteresthim，andcarriedawayaprettylittlepictureofabright-facedgirlstandinginthesunshine，whichbroughtoutthesofthueofherdress，thefreshcolorofhercheeks，thegoldenglossofherhair，andmadeheraprominentfigureinthepleasantscene。
Astheycameupontothestoneplateauthatcrownsthehill，Amywavedherhandasifwelcominghimtoherfavoritehaunt，andsaid，pointinghereandthere，“DoyouremembertheCathedralandtheCorso，thefishermendraggingtheirnetsinthebay，andthelovelyroadtoVillaFranca，Schubert’sTower，justbelow，andbestofall，thatspeckfarouttoseawhichtheysayilsCorsica？“
“Iremember。It’snotmuchchanged，“heansweredwithoutenthusiasm。
“WhatJowouldgiveforasightofthatfamousspeck!“saidAmy，feelingingoodspiritsandanxioustoseehimsoalso。
“Yes，“wasallhesaid，butheturnedandstrainedhiseyestoseetheislandwhichagreaterusurperthanevenNapoleonnowmadeinterestinginhissight。
“Takeagoodlookatitforhersake，andthencomeandtellmewhatyouhavebeendoingwithyourselfallthiswhile，“saidAmy，seatingherself，readyforagoodtalk。
Butshedidnotgetit，forthoughhejoinedherandansweredallherquestionsfreely，shecouldonlylearnthathehadrovedabouttheContinentandbeentoGreece。Soafteridlingawayanhour，theydrovehomeagain，andhavingpaidhisrespectstoMrs。
Carrol，Laurieleftthem，promisingtoreturnintheevening。
ItmustberecordedofAmythatshedeliberatelyprinkedthatnight。Timeandabsencehaddoneitsworkonboththeyoungpeople。
Shehadseenheroldfriendinanewlight，notas`ourboy’，butasahandsomeandagreeableman，andshewasconsciousofaverynaturaldesiretofindfavorinhissight。Amyknewhergoodpoints，andmadethemostofthemwiththetasteandskillwhichisafortunetoapoorandprettywoman。
TarlatanandtullewerecheapatNice，sosheenvelopedherselfinthemonsuchoccasions，andfollowingthesensibleEnglishfashionofsimpledressforyounggirls，gotupcharminglittletoiletteswithfreshflowers，afewtrinkets，andallmannerofdaintydevices，whichwerebothinexpensiveandeffective。Itmustbeconfessedthattheartistsometimesgotpossessionofthewoman，andindulgedinantiquecoiffures，statuesqueattitudes，andclassicdraperies。
But，dearheart，weallhaveoutlittleweaknesses，andfinditeasytopardonsuchintheyoung，whosatisfyoureyeswiththeircomeliness，andkeepourheartsmerrywiththeirartlessvanities。
“IdowanthimtothinkIlookwell，andtellthemsoathome，“
saidAmytoherself，assheputonFlo’soldwhitesilkballdress，andcovereditwithacloudoffreshillusion，outofwhichherwhiteshouldersandgoldenheademergedwithamostartisticeffect。
Herhairshehadthesensetoletalone，aftergatheringupthethickwavesandcurlsintoaHebe-likeknotatthebackofherhead。
“It’snotthefashion，butit’sbecoming，andIcan’taffordtomakeafrightofmyself，“sheusedtosay，whenadvisedtofrizzle，puff，orbraid，asthelateststylecommanded。
Havingnoornamentsfineenoughforthisimportantoccasion，Amyloopedherfleecyskirtswithrosyclustersofazalea，andframedthewhiteshouldersindelicategreenvines。Rememberingthepaintedboots，shesurveyedherwhitesatinslipperswithgirlishsatisfaction，andchasseddowntheroom，admiringheraristocraticfeetallbyherself。
“Mynewfanjustmatchesmyflowers，myglovesfittoacharm，andthereallaceonAunt’smouchoirgivesanairtomywholedress。
IfIonlyhadaclassicalnoseandmouthIshouldbeperfectlyhappy，“
shesaid，surveyingherselfwithacriticaleyeandacandleineachhand。
Inspiteofthisaffliction，shelookedunusuallygayandgracefulassheglidedaway。Sheseldomran——itdidnotsuitherstyle，shethought，forbeingtall，thestatelyandJunoesquewasmoreappropriatethanthesportiveorpiquante。ShewalkedupanddownthelongsaloonwhilewaitingforLaurie，andoncearrangedherselfunderthechandelier，whichhadagoodeffectuponherhair，thenshethoughtbetterofit，andwentawaytotheotherendoftheroom，asifashamedofthegirlishdesiretohavethefirstviewapropitiousone。Itsohappenedthatshecouldnothavedoneabetterthing，forLauriecameinsoquietlyshedidnothearhim，andasshestoodatthedistantwindow，withherheadhalfturnedandonehandgatheringupherdress，theslender，whitefigureagainsttheredcurtainswasaseffectiveasawell-placedstatue。
“Goodevening，Diana!“saidLaurie，withthelookofsatisfactionshelikedtoseeinhiseyeswhentheyrestedonher。
“Goodevening，Apollo!“sheanswered，smilingbackathim，forhetoolookedunusuallydebonair，andthethoughtofenteringtheballroomonthearmofsuchapersonablemancausedAmytopitythefourplainMissesDavisfromthebottomofherheart。