Heart Traps
It was a pleasant afternoon in Dalton, everyone was enjoying the sunny and hot day, spread out over the Vila's gardens.
Jeff, was in one of the most remote gardens, talking to himself as he paced back and forth. "I am very surprised that a man who saw how other men turn into fools, when under the influence of love and who ridiculed the follies of others, can become the object of his own contempt, becoming passionate. Kurt is an individual in these conditions. I met him at a time when there was only music for him; however, now, the poems and vows of love. I still remember the time when he was able to walk ten miles to appreciate good armor; now you can stay up ten nights in a row, just thinking about the smile of a young boy. Before, he spoke with sense and naturalness, as a good man he was, and a good soldier; now it only uses elaborate expressions; his speech is a fantastic banquet where weird dishes abound. "
Suddenly, stopping in the middle of the courtyard, Jeff, hands on hips and questioning tone, continues. "... Could it be that I too will transform myself to the point of seeing things that way? Who knows?" ... and gesturing as if in a lecture, he explained to a non-existent audience "... I cannot swear that, from one moment to the next, love does not turn me into an oyster; but what I say is that, until he turns me into an oyster, he will not make me a fool of that mark. Such a boy is beautiful; little is given to me. That other is wise; what do I have to do with this? That other is virtuous; I'm still doing very well. But as long as all the graces are not united in one person, no individual will be grateful to me. You will have to be rich, without a doubt; intelligent, or I will not give it importance; virtuous, without which I will not discuss its price; handsome, without which I will not look at him; of good genius, an indispensable condition for him to fall in love with me; noble, without which neither as an angel would serve me; pleasant conversation, excellent in music and hair ... um ... the color that God wants and eyes, that have fire in them, but the color does not matter ... "
Pausing in his daydreams, Jeff realizes that Don David is approaching accompanied by Mr. Leonard and Kurt, followed by Trent and a few more musicians, and decides to hide. "Oh! Here is Prince and Monsieur Amoroso. I will try to hide behind these bushes ... "
...
Arriving at the center of the courtyard, Don David excitedly asks his friends "What are we going to do now? Do we hear music? ". With a smile on his face, Kurt replies to the prince "Yes, my lord. Let's enjoy this delicious afternoon with the harmony and melody!
Approaching his young friend, Don David, in a kind of whisper he says to Kurt "Didn't you see Jeff? It's hidden around here in some bush. " And he looks in disguise with his eyes for the talking friend. Kurt, in turn, in a conspiratorial tone, replies to Prince Vi, my lord; and for sure, after the serenade is over, our friend will have his surprise. " Ending with a sly smile on his face.
Dom Davis, then, waving to the young Trent, asks the boy for distraction "Repeat, Trent, that inspiring song." Which was answered with great humility, but at the same time with a touch of play "Oh, my lord! I do not believe that the lord wants me to spoil, once again, with my voice, such a sweet melody. "
Smiling, and taking the opportunity to settle down next to the water fountain, Don David continued, "It is a sure sign of great ability to defect people in their talents. Please my friend, sing and don't make me beg for music! "
With a shy smile on his face, Trent humbly replies to the prince "Since you mentioned begging for music, I resolve to sing with immense pleasure!" and starts with the melody.
While the musician takes care of the garden, Jeff, who kept himself hidden (at least that's what he thought, because the Prince, Kurt and Mr. Leonard knew of his presence.) Was restless, saying to himself divine music! The singer is ecstatic. It is not extraordinary how a small melody can bewitch even the toughest soldier "
Trent continues to sing harmoniously, at the top of his lungs "Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,... men were deceiver ever,... one foot in sea, and one on shore...To one thing constante never!...Then sight not so...but let them go...And be you blithe and bonny...Converting all...Your sounds of woe... Into hey nonny nonny!... Sing no more, ditties sing no more...Of dumps so dull and heavy... The fraud of men was ever so... Since summer first was leafy... Then sigh not so but let them go... And be you blithe and bonny ... Converting all ... Your sounds of woe ... Into hey nonny nonny.!"
Happy with the presentation of the young Trent, Don David praises him "Word of honor, it is an excellent song." "... And a terrible singer, my lord." Shy Tren replied, who nodded negatively at the attention he was receiving.
Hearing the conversation between Don David and young Trent, Jeff, still behind the Bush, gestured excitedly and continued talking to himself "If my dog had howled like that, they would have hanged the poor fellow! God willing that squeaky voice does not portend any misfortune. I would find more pleasure in listening to the nocturnal crow, due to the greater calamities that followed it.
Dom David, noticing Jeff's voice, turned to his friend Kurt "Good idea. Are you listening, Trent? Get ready to have a serenade tomorrow night, under young Blaine's window. ", Who readily agreed" I will do my best, my lord. " With that, Trent and the musicians said goodbye and left the garden, leaving only Don David, Kurt and Mr. Leonard talking.
The three approached the bush where Jeff was still hiding, and pretending to be totally unaware of the boy's presence there, Dom David initiates the conversation, which would change Jeff's life once and for all. "Come here, Leonard. What did you say to me days ago? That your nephew Nick was in love with Mr. Jeff? " asked Don David in a serious tone, but hiding his laughter.
Also holding back his laughter, and whispering so that Jeff wouldn't hear, Kurt spoke to the prince "Oh! There! Caution, caution, that our prey has already taken the bait! " and raising his voice, so that yes, Jeff could hear "It would never occur to me that he might come to love someone."
Also participating in the plot against or in favor of young Jeff, Mr. Leonard says "Neither do I, either. And what is more to be admired is that he fell in love with Mr. Jeff, whom, if we judge by appearances, until today he seemed to loathe. "
As the conversation took place in the garden, behind the bush, shocked by what he was hearing, Jeff holds his breath, puts his hands on his head in confusion "Is it possible? Does the wind come from that direction? "
"I give you my word, my lord, that I don't know what to make of the case; what is certain is that he desperately loves him, much more than we could imagine. " Leonard says pretending to be worried about the situation.
Don David, wanting to make poor Jeff even more confused by everything he had been hearing, asked Mr. Leonard "Who knows, he's not pretending?" what was reinforced by young Kurt "It is also what I think.", and the two covered their faces to hold the laughter that was forming, with the sounds of reproach behind the bush.
As in a well-rehearsed theater, Mr. Leonard raised his tone a little to emphasize what he said "Pretending? Oh God! In that case, never has a pretended passion looked so much like a real one, like his right now. "
With the intention of increasing young Jeff's despair even further, Don David asks Mr. Leonard: "But how does this passion manifest itself? Does he show any signs of these feelings? " signaling with the hand to the friend, to continue the conversation.
Kurt, for his part, once again whispered to the two presenters pointing to Jeff's hiding bush "Put your best bait on the hook, which is sure to see the fish bite." Mr. Leonard, understanding what the young man was referring to, continued to speak in a tone of concern "How do I know ... What signs, my lord? He sits pensively ... "and turning to Kurt, trying to get rid of the situation, since he didn't know what else to say, Leonard continues" My son already told you in what state, didn't he, Kurt? " "Really." Kurt replied with a start.
Dissatisfied with the answer, Don David insisted "In what state? Please, you surprised me with that statement. I always thought that this boy's heart was proof of the assaults of love. ", Earning a tired sigh from Mr. Leonard who gathered his strength and creativity to answer" It is what I could have sworn, my lord, especially when it comes to of Jeff. "
At the same time that the conversation was going on in the garden, the young Jeff, increasingly nervous, could not contain himself "I would think that none of this was a trap, if I were not hearing the news from my own uncle's mouth" and started walking back and forth the short distance behind the huge bush.
With a mischievous look, Kurt, who was very close to the bush that hid Jeff whispers to the comrades in the plot "Our man is already infected. Proceed! Proceed! " and signals Don David and Mr. Leonard to continue making up stories to spark young Jeff's interest.
Dom David, understanding Kurt's intention, asks "Has he made Jeff's feelings known yet?" Leonard responds with a tone that could be sad for his nephew "No, and he swears he will never do it. That is what your torment is about. " Kurt then, to further increase the despair of the hidden youth, adds "That's right! Your son told me that every day, Nick finds himself wondering if it is possible that after making fun of him so many times, he would write to tell him that I love him? "
"It is always what he says, when he takes the pen to write to him. Yes, that he gets up twenty times a night, wandering around like a ghost, and sits at the desk until he fills a sheet of paper, but he crumples it up and throws it away with a painful sigh. My son tells us everything that goes on. " Reinforced Mr. Leonard.
Thinking that it was still not enough, and wanting to brush even more colors on the story already invented, Kurt says in a light tone "And speaking of a sheet of paper, I remember a joke told by your son ..." which is completed by Leonard "I know: when you folded the letter you had just written, you found that the names Jeff and Nick met. Wasn't that it? " "Precisely." Kurt replied.
Mr. Leonard, making the story even more intriguing, continues "So he tore the letter in a thousand pieces and reproached himself for taking the illusion to the point of writing to whom he knew in advance that he would mock his feelings." And he continued to narrate, as if it were the words of his nephew "And quite rightly," said Nick desperately, "because I would make fun of him if he ever wrote to me. Yes, it is what I would do, despite all the love I dedicate to you ".
Kurt, taken by the story that Don Leonard had described, continues as with the description of what Nick's actions would be "After that, fall on your knees, cry, sob, hit your chest, pull your hair out, start praying and despairing if "Oh, my dear Jeff! God give me patience!"
He can hardly bear to be serious anymore, Leonard, emphasizes "This is how he does it; my son has told me all these scenes. And to such an extent he lets himself be dominated by passion, that my son is sometimes afraid that he will practice any foolishness against himself. It is the pure truth."
"It would be good for Jeff to be informed of this by someone, since he doesn't resolve to reveal it to him." Don David said seriously, being promptly answered by Kurt "What for? Such a revelation would make a subject of only mockery, thus increasing the poor boy's suffering "
Accepting the young friend's response as a way of provoking Jeff's feelings, Don David continues, "If he did this, it would be a worthwhile action to hang him: Nick is an excellent boy, of reputation above suspicion." And Kurt adds, "About having enlightened intelligence." "In all respects, except for the passion for Jeff." Don David teases, knowing that the young man would be indignant to hear such a statement.
Leonard then continues with his worried uncle tone "Oh my lord! When passion and understanding come into battle in a body as delicate as his, there are ten odds against one of winning the passion. I feel very sorry for him, and I have many reasons for that, because besides being an uncle, I am his tutor. "
Thinking about finishing the plot that was unfolding in the garden, and instigating the heart of young Jeff who was still hidden, Don David says "Please, the right thing to do is to tell Jeff what's going on, to hear what he's doing says. " What is asked by Leonard "Do you believe that such a revelation can have good consequences?"
Kurt, wanting to intensify Jeff's agony, says "Blaine is convinced that Nick will die anyway! And he is very worried about his cousin! Because Nick swears that he will die if he is not reciprocated ... or that he will die before he reveals his love to her, and if he confesses any feelings to her, he will rather die than yielding a line that is in his usual spirit of contradiction. "
Slapping Kurt on the shoulder, and seriously, but looking towards the bush where Jeff is, Don David says "And you're right, because if he revealed his feelings to him, he would be able to laugh at him, because as well as you know, our man is a joking genius. "
Meanwhile, behind the bush, Jeff was agonized over the situation and how the things they talked about affected him. Suddenly, Jeff hears Kurt claiming that he, Jeff, was a correct boy. "Finally someone to defend me," said Jeff, disappointed. But he continued to pay attention to the conversation that continued.
"Really, from a very happy exterior," said Don David. "And in my opinion, also very intelligent." completed Kurt, which was answered by Don David again "Indeed; some revealing sparks of spirit are discovered in him. " "I have it to me that he is a brave individual." Leonard said.
The three cronies (Leonard, Kurt and the prince) continued to praise Jeff for easing the boy's nervousness, while Jeff heard everything, still behind the bush.
Dom David said, "Jeff, despite the playful image, is cautious in the way of resolving disputes, either avoiding them wisely or accepting them with genuinely Christian fear." "If you are a God-fearing person, you must necessarily become a friend of peace, forcing you to get into fights shaky and afraid." Leonard continued.
"It is really what happens with our friend, who reveals in a high degree the fear of God, even though his usual games do not show such a disposition. I feel very sorry for your nephew. Isn't it better to look for Jeff to tell him what's going on? Don David questioned again.
Kurt, with a tone of voice like indignation, refutes vehemently "Never, my lord! Let us solve the case only with good advice. " And Leonard adds, "Not even that will be possible, that, before we solve it, it will have ceased to exist."
With a resigned sigh, Don David says, "Okay; your son will let us know what is going on. In the meantime, let the thing cool down. As a friend of Jeff's, I wished he had enough immodesty to examine himself and make sure he isn't worthy of someone like Nick. " What was heard by Jeff, who gave a disapproving sigh.
Hearing the little slip of the hidden boy, Don Leonard, with a smile on his face, ends the false conversation with an invitation to dinner. "Well, gentlemen, it is getting late and dinner should be ready. Shall we enter, my lord?
Kurt in turn, in a conspiratorial tone, so that Jeff wouldn't be able to hear him: "If after this, he doesn't fall in love with Nick, I don't know what else will be needed." and agreeing with the situation, Don Pedro says in the same tone as his friend "Let's set up the same network for Nick. That will be in the care of your son and young Sam. The fun of the case will consist of being convinced of each other's passion, when, in fact, nothing exists yet. "
Already moving away from the garden, towards the house, Don David has one more idea to spice up the plot "Let's ask Nick to come and call Jeff for dinner.", And Leonard and Kurt, no longer able to contain their laughter, agree