Meanwhile Jean Faval became morose2. All her defiance3 seemed to have turned into sulkiness, and except for Cecilia Reynolds, who was her very close friend, she scarcely noticed any of the girls.
Tavia she absolutely refused to speak to, much to the delight of the Dalton pupil, who said that was a positive evidence of guilt4.
One afternoon, when Winter first showed its power, Jean again made her way to the post-office. She was thinking of what Mrs. Pangborn had said about the contents of the torn letter.209 She was thinking that, after all, it might have been as well for her to have paid no attention to that fortune teller5, and to have told what she knew about the troubles of the Dales.
But the threat hung about her. She was somewhat superstitious6, and, although she had only told it to Cecilia (who was so much a part of herself, that Jean denied to Mrs. Pangborn that she had told “anyone”), still now, that she had been blamed, and realizing that Dorothy still held her high place, a spirit of jealousy7 again made itself felt within Jean’s heart.
“If I could only find out how that old witch knew all she told me—if I could only induce her to tell,” Jean was thinking.
As was her custom, the fortune teller did not miss sight of anyone going to or from the post-office, and when she espied8 Jean she smiled sardonically9.
“Now,” she muttered, “we will look for trade.”
Jean did not see her, as the fortune teller pulled her scarf over her head, and got into a position in the roadway where she might startle the girl as she passed along.
Two letters were in Jean’s hand—one of which she was reading with wrapt attention.
As she reached the white rock, the woman spoke10, and as she expected, Jean gave a start.
210 “My dear,” began the imposter, “I have news for you. I have been waiting to see you for a whole week.”
“News for me?” repeated Jean.
“Yes. The other night, at the full of the moon, I took my crystal out, and asked the moon to tell who your enemies were. A flash came from the sky, and almost blinded me.” Here she stopped for effect. “But I can not give in to the planets. So I again asked.”
“What answer did you get?” inquired Jean.
“I saw the letters ‘T. T.,’” replied the woman.
“Tavia Travers!” exclaimed the foolish Jean aloud.
“And she is rather dark, roguish, full of mischief11, but a dangerous enemy!” This last was said in the most dramatic way, and had the desired effect upon Jean.
“How could she do me harm?” asked the startled girl.
“In many ways. Already she has done you harm by——”
“By what?”
“I cannot tell you all this for nothing. Shebad has to live.”
So interested was the girl that she took out her purse, and handed the woman a silver quarter. The latter fingered it gleefully, and then looked deep into the girl’s dark eyes.
211 “You are anxious about something.” What news that is to any mortal! “But do not worry. Shebad will watch the ball, and when a danger comes she will let you know in time. The other girl—your best friend—she has short, thick hair” (this was Cecilia). “Why does she not come?”
“We are not allowed to visit your place,” replied Jean. “We would be expelled from school.”
“Bah!” sneered12 the woman. “That’s all because the white-haired woman wants all your money. She does not want an honest truth-seeker to live. For years she has threatened her girls. But they come, for they know Shebad tells the truth.”
“I must go,” exclaimed Jean, realizing that the time was not waiting for fortunes. “I thank you, and will remember your kindness.”
“You are a good girl—one who will be famous some day,” and, with these flattering words, the fortune teller bowed as Jean hurried off.
“So my enemy was Tavia,” thought Jean. “Well, I have always known that Tavia spilled that glass of water down my neck purposely. I’ll show her, however, that I’m no coward, and won’t be interfered13 with by a giggling14 country girl.”
So deep in thought was Jean that she did not notice, in the thicket15 that lined the path, a villainous212 looking man. As she reached him he stepped out in front of her.
“Oh!” she screamed. “What do you want?”
“Your purse,” he replied calmly, placing a dirty hand on her arm.
“My purse? There is nothing in it! I have no money!”
“Gave it all to the old woman?” he sneered. “Well, I’ll be satisfied with the purse, and the money order you have in that letter. I need it all.”
“You cannot have it,” cried the girl. “Let me go or——”
“Take it easy,” he said in that mocking way. “I might tell your fortune too. You—you won’t always get checks from—the investment company!”
At this Jean shrank back. Did every one know about that? As he tightened16 his hold on her she pulled the purse from her belt, and held it out to him.
“Here, take it,” she said. “It is solid gold, and worth a lot of money.”
“Then that check?” he demanded.
“What check?”
“The one you took out of the yellow envelope. Can’t let that go. It’s too handy,” and he attempted to snatch the letter from her free hand.
“OH!” SHE SCREAMED. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
Dorothy Dale’s School Rivals Page 212
213 With a scream the girl flung the letter into the roadway, and, as she did so, the man, still sneering17, allowed her to go free.
Almost too frightened to move, Jean forced herself to run, but when she reached the hill—Glenwood hill, she could go no farther. Feeling a sudden faintness, she managed to reach a spot where a roadside bench was constructed. Here she threw herself down, moaning and sobbing18.
“Oh, my letter,” she cried, “he has all—my letter!”
How long she lay there seemed of no importance to one so weak. At that moment she did not care whether she lived or died. She hated Glenwood! She hated the girls! She hated everything as she sobbed19 hysterically20.
Jake came out to gather up some leaves. He saw the girl lying there. At first he thought it was only some prank21, but, as he looked into her face, he knew something was wrong.
“What is it, miss?” he asked kindly22.
“I have been robbed—robbed of my purse, of my check, of my letter!” she moaned.
“And who did it?” inquired the man in astonishment23.
“A ruffian in the woods. Oh, this horrible place!” and again she burst into tears.
“’Taint horrible at all,” objected Jake. “The young ladies have been going that path for years,214 and have never even been spoken to. Could it be any one who knew—you had money?”
“How would any one know?” Jean asked, and now she sat up. “Can’t you go and catch him? He’s in a thicket by the elm. Oh, I shall die!”
“Just you come right up to the hall with me, miss, and they’ll attend to you. Then, I look after the fellow. No tramps around here. Never saw one yet, but never mind. Come,” and he got her on her feet.
Staggering and leaning on Jake’s arm she managed to reach the school—a very much frightened girl.
Jake had his suspicions as to who her assailant might be, but he was too cautious to make them known just yet.
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1
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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2
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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3
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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4
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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5
teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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6
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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7
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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8
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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10
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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11
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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12
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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14
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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15
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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16
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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17
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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18
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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19
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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20
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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21
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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22
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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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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