The corridors seemed alive with whispers, the rooms fairly quaked with secrets, and if there was one girl not on a committee, she must have been the manager of one.
The “T’s” were all new members, and Jean Faval was their leader. The “Glens” depended upon Cologne, or more properly speaking for this important occasion, she was Miss Rose-Mary Markin.
Dorothy had overcome her embarrassment3 and was, as usual, helping4 Tavia, who, instead of remaining in during the afternoon, to arrange her things, had found more pleasure and mischief5 in training for the boat race in her canoe.
81 At seven o’clock the big gong sounded in the hall, and the lights were turned on in the recreation room. Everybody got in there, although just how, it would have been hard to tell, for there seemed to be no confusion, nor excitement.
Mrs. Pangborn opened the ceremonies with a greeting to her pupils, and her kindest wishes for a happy and successful term at Glenwood.
Then came the school chorus. Somewhere there were mandolins, banjos, and other stringed instruments, and their chords came sweetly from various corners and nooks, while the girls sang the tribute to their school. After that two new teachers were introduced, Miss Cummings and Miss Denton.
“Now, young ladies,” said Mrs. Pangborn, “we leave you to your merry-making, and we trust you will be as discreet6 and thoughtful to one another’s feelings as you have always been. Remember, we have some young strangers with us, and there may be a great difference in their ideas of fun, and ours.”
When the applause died out the lights went with it. Only a flickering7 gas jet over the “throne” gave the location of the room, so that while figures moved around, and voices buzzed, the programme could not be guessed at.
Five minutes of suspense8 passed, then the lights were flashed on again.
82 The “throne,” a big couch covered with umbrellas and parasols supporting all sorts of colored divan9 covers, gave the effect of an ancient chair of state, or royal seat.
Cologne reclined there as if she had been wafted10 from Greece, all the way through these common centuries. She seemed made to be a queen. Her costume was as wonderful as it was gorgeous, the most prominent feature being the beaded portiers from Edna’s room, and they fell so gracefully11 over the robe of cheese cloth, donated by Molly Richards. Her crown was golden, real, good paper-of-gold, and this was studded with as many gem12 hatpins as could be purloined13, or borrowed.
It was at once suspected that the very dark “slave,” who waved a feather duster over the queen’s head was Tavia, because there were no sleeves in her wrappings, and she wore on her feet a pair of grass slippers14, taken from the wall of a stranger. This costume, indicating comfort, betrayed Tavia, while, on the other side of the royal seat, Ned could be discerned, because her brown grease paint, or salve, was carelessly left off over one eye.
The chief slave was tall and masterful. In “his” hands he held the numbers of the “victims,” written on slips of paper, ready to call them off to the queen. “His” costume was another83 of those draperies, the absence of which from windows and doors, left rooms drafty that night, and “his” helmet was a rubber hat, of the rain order, that went down under the chin, and covered the ears and which, incidentally, belonged to the bell boy.
To describe all the “get-ups” and “make-ups” would bring the affairs far into the night, whereas the fun should be over by ten sharp, according to school rules, so we proceed.
“Enter!” called the slave, and then the vestal virgins15 trouped16 in, doing their best not to trip up in the bed sheets they trailed.
The waving feather dusters rested. The queen lolled effectively.
A “classic” speech was made that didn’t mean anything, then “number one” was called. The first vestal stepped up to the throne.
“Prostrate thyself!” ordered she, who did not dare to turn, lest the beaded portiers should scatter17.
The aspirant18 did as she was commanded, but alas19! she was heard to giggle20.
This was a real offense21, and it is a wonder she did not at once turn into a cyclops, or a goat, for the queen was really displeased22.
“Take thyself to the rocks, and join the maids there who sing forever. See that thy song shall bring riches to my kingdom or——”
84 The queen paused, but was taken up by one of the feather duster girls. “Make it crabs,” she said. “Crabs are getting scarce, and the other fishermen wear smelly clothes. Our Lorelei always go for the crabbers, or lobster23 men.”
The absurd comparison brought forth24 applause. But the stage folks did not smile.
The next called was plainly little Zada Hillis, for even the long trailing sheet could not disguise her. She was nervous, and tripped as she stepped on the platform.
“Child of the sea,” spoke25 the queen, “we shall show you the wonders of our land-home. Tell me what lights the depths?”
Zada hesitated. Then she ventured. “The gleam of our mermaids’ eyes—the light of purity, and the glow cleanliness.”
This was applauded, for indeed it was not a bad speech for a frightened novice26.
“Thou shalt sit near my throne,” spoke the queen, “and thou shalt be my handmaid!”
This was an honor, and was interpreted to mean that the little stranger would be taken into the “Glens” with open arms. Some of the others awaiting their sentence moved uneasily, but one slave (Tavia of course) asked if the handmaid knew where the spring was, as she would like a good drink of real water.
Truly the brown coffee on her face was running85 down, looking for cups, and sugar, and the evening was not so cool but that the hangings over the throne caused air congestion27.
There was no mistaking the next number called. Only Jean Faval walked that way—with the fashionable stride—and only Jean held her head so high.
“Circe,” called the queen, “mix thy cup.”
The slave fetched a bowl, with a whole bunch of lighted Chinese “punks” smoldering28 into incense29.
Jean looked at it disdainfully. Evidently she did not enjoy this form of initiation, and made no move to comply. Her manner caused surprise, as the “haze” was most innocent, and in no way stronger than that given the others.
“Dost not comply?” called the queen.
Jean put a whistle to her lips and blew it. Immediately all her club, some ten or twelve, rushed to the throne, tore down the hangings, and paraded off with the paraphernalia30, singing something about “T’s and turn-outs, the real Glenwood scouts31!”
For some moments a panic threatened. The senior “Glens,” who by rule and right, had always conducted this little affair, were indignant to the point of battle.
A teacher on guard in the outer hall heard the confusion and entered. She called to the “mutineers”86 to stop, but they sang and yelled, as if it were a victory to break up the night’s entertainment.
Suddenly one of the raised paper parasols touched an open gas light. It was carried by a stranger, named Cecilia Reynolds. Seeing it blaze she frantically32 tossed it away, and it fell on the prompter’s chair where Dorothy still sat waiting for the trouble to be over.
Everyone screamed! Dorothy jumped up, and grasping the blazing thing, threw it out of an open window.
In her costume, of prompter, Dorothy affected33 the pure white robes of Clio, and in her hand she held the scroll34 of history. It was this open paper that caught a spark, and in stamping it out Dorothy knew the risk to her thin white dress.
Tavia and Edna, besides the teacher and Cologne, rushed to her, while the others, filled with terror at the thought of fire, fled from the room.
It all happened so quickly—Dorothy’s skirt was torn from her and that, with the piece of parchment, were soon on the ground below the open window, where the burning paper umbrella still smoldered35.
“Are you burned, Dorothy?” Tavia asked, anxiously.
“Oh, no. I don’t think so, but my head—feels87 queer. I guess I was—frightened,” Dorothy said, haltingly.
“You must go to your room at once,” advised the teacher, who happened to be Miss Cummings. “If you keep very quiet you may not feel the shock so much. It was most unfortunate,” and she, in leading Dorothy away, motioned to her companions that they were not to follow.
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1
initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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2
ordeals
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| n.严峻的考验，苦难的经历( ordeal的名词复数 ) | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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6
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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7
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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8
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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9
divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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10
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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12
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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purloined
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| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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15
virgins
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| 处女，童男( virgin的名词复数 )； 童贞玛利亚（耶稣之母） | |
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16
trouped
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| 巡回演出（troupe的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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17
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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18
aspirant
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| n.热望者；adj.渴望的 | |
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19
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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20
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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21
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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22
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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23
lobster
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| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
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24
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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25
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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26
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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27
congestion
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| n.阻塞，消化不良 | |
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28
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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29
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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30
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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31
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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32
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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33
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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34
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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35
smoldered
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的过去式 ) | |
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