“We’ll soon be back to the old Glen, Doro,” she said, “and I know you’ll be glad. As for me, I count this my last hour of freedom, and feel as if I were going to——”
“Now, Tavia, you know perfectly4 well that you are just as fond of Glenwood as I am,” replied Dorothy, with something akin5 to a smile. “But of course, you have to get your fun out of growling6. Really, I think this time you won’t be able to get it out of me. I am—glum7!”
2 “That will be the best fun ever. To have you glum! Have you been to a fortune teller8, or anything like that, Doro?”
Dorothy looked harder than ever out of the window, and did not bother to reply.
“Because, Doro,” went on Tavia, “if she told you a friend is going to be married it’s me. If she said you would get a letter, asking for money, that’s from me. If she said a very dear friend was going to get in some new kind of trouble, that will also be me, and last, if she said you were going to cross water, it will be on account of my health. I love fortune tellers9, they pick out such good news,” and Tavia glanced across the aisle10 at a rather good-looking young man, who was reading a theatrical11 paper.
Dorothy touched Tavia’s hand. “There,” she said, “I am not going to have any more blues12. I can’t manage well with them, and I have to manage you, Tavia.”
“Now, have you only just discovered that? Well, all I can say is that I am glad the other girls did not get these seats. They are—ahem—so convenient!”
“But there is one vacant place just back of the young man whom you are watching,” said Dorothy, teasingly.
“And there comes one of our girls,” exclaimed Tavia. “I wager13 she flops15 into it.”
3 The prediction was correct. A new girl, with very up-to-date apparel, and very flashy jewelry16, had taken the vacant seat. The book she carried showed its title plainly, and was, of course, one of “the best sellers.”
“Next she’ll drop the book under his seat, and he’ll have to speak to her in returning it,” said Tavia. “Now, why didn’t I think of trying that? Such a chance!”
Dorothy was interested in the new girl and paid little attention to the talk that Tavia was making for her benefit, for, though Tavia always loved to do absurd things, she would not have spoken to the stranger.
“She is the young lady we were introduced to on the depot18 platform,” Dorothy remarked. “Her name is Jean Faval.”
“Ought to be Bean Flavor,” said Tavia, trying to pun on the name. “She looks sort of—canned.”
“I think her very stylish19, but that skirt is tight. I wouldn’t wear one like it myself,” Dorothy replied.
“And a Dutch neck on the train,” continued Tavia, looking at the very white neck of the new girl, who wore no collar. “I believe she wears slippers20, and the very thinnest silk hose.”
“It’s warm enough for both, and I shouldn’t4 mind having forgotten my heavy walking shoes,” Dorothy said.
Just then the book dropped. Tavia almost jumped out of her seat. She actually gasped21. The young lady across moved her foot, and the book came out in the aisle.
In an instant Tavia had it in her hands, and was passing it back.
“Oh, thank you so much!” spoke17 the owner, in a suspicious tone. “I could have gotten it.”
“It was not the least bit of trouble,” and Tavia uttered a false note that caused the young man to turn and observe her.
“Anything I can do?” he asked, politely. “Have you lost anything?”
Both girls answered in the same words.
“Oh, no; thank you.”
He glanced over at Dorothy, then resumed his paper. Miss Faval found her place in her book, and Tavia turned to her chum.
“Didn’t I tell you? Am I not a prophet? But I spoiled it, and I am dying laughing from head to foot.”
“She will think you rude,” cautioned Dorothy.
“I hope she thinks me the entire conjugation, and the worse ones on the last page. I can see some fun with her at Glen.”
“Please, Tavia,” begged Dorothy, “don’t try to get into trouble before we arrive there. You5 have plenty of time during the term,” and she looked bored—quite unlike the real Dorothy.
“Say, Doro,” exclaimed Tavia, “I actually believe you want to get rid of me. I’ll run off and leave you to your dismals. I know Dick and Ned have a brand of chocolates I am particularly fond of, and your own Cologne always tips the porter for ice water. So be good, and,” she added in a whisper, “don’t miss any of the circus,” nodding her head toward the other side of the aisle. “Be sure to render me a satisfactory and full report.”
Tavia flaunted22 off, and Dorothy again pressed her pale face to the window pane23. The hills and vales were rolling away, and of course the fast train seemed to be standing24 still. The wonderful changes of scenery, that had never failed before to interest her, she now scarcely saw.
In the rear of the car were a number of her companions, but she was really glad to be alone. There was Rose-Mary Markin, known as Cologne; Edna Black, called Ned Ebony; Molly Richards, titled just Dick, and others picked up along the route to Glenwood School, in the mountains of New England.
Dorothy was not sick. She was gloomy, and whatever caused this gloom had occurred just before the girls left for school, for up to that time she had been the same vivacious25, sprightly26 girl6 who had ever been a favorite with her acquaintances and companions. The change in her manner was, therefore, so marked that even the reckless Tavia noticed it instantly, as did the other girls, who were wise enough (on advice of Cologne, Dorothy’s most intimate friend after Tavia) to let Dorothy alone, and not bother her.
The sun was fading into shadows, and soon the train would pull into the familiar little Glenwood station. Then what a time there would be! Dorothy thought of it, and again determined27 to be cheerful. Tavia would be, as Tavia herself had declared, “on top of the heap,” for while there was no hazing28 allowed, something that made a splendid imitation was ever practiced on the first night, the “fun” not being confined to new scholars, either.
The car attendant came through the train, and turned on the lights. The strange gentleman with the paper across the aisle asked him if they would get in on schedule and he replied they had lost a little time, but were making it up now.
“Thought you had an extra clip on,” commented the stranger.
Scarcely were the words uttered than Dorothy and everyone else was thrown from their seats, and then there was a terrific crash.
Instantly there followed screams and commotion29. The lights went out, and many passengers7 rushed for the doors. Dorothy realized she was not hurt. Next, the other girls from the rear of the car were hanging around her, displaying very little of the common sense that had been drilled into them at Glenwood.
“Oh, Dorothy, what is it?”
“Oh, Dorothy, my arm is broken!”
“Oh, Dorothy, I am sure we will all be killed!”
“Doro, are you all right?”
This last was from Tavia, while the other gasps30 came from various girls, too intermixed to separate.
It seemed a long time, but was, in reality, only a few seconds, until the conductor and porter made their way to the girls’ car, and assured them that nothing at all had happened, more than the rather too sudden stopping of the train, made necessary by a special and unexpected signal. The lights were again turned on, and everyone might see that there really had been no accident. The seats were as straight and as smooth as ever, and most of the frightened passengers were gathering31 up their trinkets from the floor, and replacing them in the holders32 and seats.
Edna Black was rubbing her arm, and wincing33.
“Is your hand hurt?” Dorothy asked.
“I’m afraid it is. I got quite a jolt34 against the8 seat arm. But I guess it isn’t much,” Edna replied.
Tavia gazed across the aisle. The young man was looking at Edna. The new girl was groaning35 dramatically. She was also trying to get back into her skirt, that had, in the excitement sprung up like a deep girdle around her waist.
“Can’t flop14 nicely in a skirt tight as that!” Tavia whispered to Molly Richards. “I wish it had all ripped to pieces. Wouldn’t it be sport for her to have to get out in a buttoned raincoat?”
“She’s pretty,” Mollie said, simply.
“That’s why I hate her,” replied Tavia. “I always hate what I can’t have—even beauty.”
“Strange you get along so well with—well, with some people,” answered Molly, casting an appreciative36 glance at Tavia, with the hazel eyes, and the shade of hair every one loves—no color in particular but all combined in one glow. “Every one envies you, Tavia.”
Dorothy was examining Edna’s wrist.
Meanwhile the new girl kept exclaiming, “Oh, my!” Finally the young man turned to her.
“Are you hurt?” he asked kindly37.
Tavia gripped Molly’s arm.
“Oh, I don’t know,” whimpered Miss Faval, “but I am so—nervous.”
It was the greatest wonder in the world that9 Tavia did not shout “hurrah” or something equally absurd.
“You are shaken up,” said the stranger, “but nerves soon adjust themselves, when there is not any real injury. I see some one else has trouble.” He crossed to Dorothy and Edna. “Can I help you?” he asked. “I know something of medicine.”
“And he was reading a theatrical paper!” Tavia managed to get in line with Molly’s ear. “I’ll wager he turns out to be a baseball player.”
“My friend has hurt her arm,” Dorothy told the young man, who had already taken the trembling hand of Edna in his own firm grasp. “She fell against the arm of the seat.”
All eyes were upon them. Of course Tavia was whispering: “Wouldn’t be my luck! Just like Ned! Do you suppose he will need help to set it? I’ll get a glass of water—that’s safe,” and off she raced, making jolly remarks to the frightened ones, as she made her way to the water cooler.
“I’m afraid it is sprained,” said the man, holding Edna’s hand, “but I have some bandages in my grip.”
Tavia had returned with the glass of water before he found the bandages.
“I’m so sorry, Ned dear,” said Tavia truthfully.10 “I’m so sorry it is not my arm. Isn’t he handsome!”
Edna smiled, and Dorothy held the water to her lips. As the young man with the antiseptic cloth crossed the aisle Dorothy motioned Tavia to stand back and make room for the work to be done. Tavia stepped back, and just then the train gave one, single jerk.
The contents of Tavia’s glass of water went over the “Dutch neck” of Jean Faval.
“Oh, mercy!” screamed the girl.
Tavia recovered herself from the jerk and was just about to apologize when Amy Brooks38 rushed up to them.
“Whatever do you think, girls?” she blurted39 out. “The railroad bridge is down, and we can’t leave this spot to-night!”
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1
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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2
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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3
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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4
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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6
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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7
glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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8
teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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9
tellers
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| n.（银行）出纳员( teller的名词复数 )；（投票时的）计票员；讲故事等的人；讲述者 | |
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10
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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11
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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12
blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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13
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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14
flop
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| n.失败(者)，扑通一声；vi.笨重地行动，沉重地落下 | |
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15
flops
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| n.失败( flop的名词复数 )v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的第三人称单数 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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16
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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17
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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18
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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19
stylish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的 | |
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20
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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21
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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22
flaunted
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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23
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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24
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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25
vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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27
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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28
hazing
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| n.受辱，被欺侮v.（使）笼罩在薄雾中( haze的现在分词 )；戏弄，欺凌（新生等，有时作为加入美国大学生联谊会的条件） | |
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29
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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30
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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31
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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32
holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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33
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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34
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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35
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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36
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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37
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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38
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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39
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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