It was six o'clock by all the watches and clocks at Stonecliff, and the girls at Miss Bray1's dressmaking establishment hastily put up their work and were starting for home, chattering2 like a flock of magpies3, when their employer called after them testily4:
"Say, girls, one of you will have to take this bundle up to Cliffdene. Miss Clarke wanted it very particularly to wear to-night. Liane Lester, she lives nearer to you than any of the others. You take it."
Liane Lester would have liked to protest, but she did not dare. With a decided5 pout6 of her rosy7 lips, she took the box with Miss Clarke's new silk cape8 and hurried to overtake Dolly Dorr, the only girl who was going her way.
"What a shame to have to carry boxes along the village street late in the afternoon when every one is out walking! I think Miss Bray ought to keep a servant to fetch and carry!" cried Dolly indignantly. "Oh, look, Liane! There's that[Pg 11] handsome Jesse Devereaux standing9 on the post-office steps! Shouldn't you like to flirt10 with him? Let's saunter slowly past so that he may notice us!"
"I don't want him to notice me! Granny says that harm always comes of rich men noticing poor girls. Come, Dolly, let us avoid him by crossing the street."
Suiting the action to the word, Liane Lester turned quickly from her friend and sped toward the crossing.
But, alas11, fate is above us all!
Her haste precipitated12 what she strove to avoid.
Drawing the veil down quickly over her rosy face, the frolicsome13 wind caught the bit of blue gossamer14 and whirled it back toward the sidewalk. Jesse Devereaux gave chase, captured the veil, and flew after the girl.
She had gained the pavement, and was hurrying on, when she heard him at her side, panting, as he said:
"I beg pardon—your veil!"
A white hand was thrust in front of her, holding the bit of blue gauze, and she had to stop.
"I thank you," she murmured, taking it from his hand and raising her eyes shyly to his face—the[Pg 12] brilliant, handsome face that had haunted many a young girl's dreams.
The dazzling dark eyes were fixed15 eagerly on her lovely face, and his red lips parted in a smile that showed pearly-white teeth as he exclaimed gayly:
"Old Boreas was jealous of your hiding such a face, and whisked your veil away, but out of mercy to mankind I concluded to return it."
"Thank you, very much!" she answered again, and was turning away when Dolly Dorr rushed across the street, breathless with eagerness.
"How do you do, Mr. Devereaux?" she cried gayly, having been introduced to him at a church festival the evening before.
"Ah, Miss——" he hesitated, as he lifted his hat, and she twittered:
"Miss Dorr; we met at the festival last night, you know. And this is my chum, Liane Lester."
"Charmed," he exclaimed, while his radiant black eyes beamed on Liane's face, and he stepped along by Dolly's side as she placed herself between them, intent on a flirtation16.
"May I share your walk?" he asked, and Dolly gave an eager assent17, secretly wishing her girl friend a mile away.
[Pg 13]
But as she could not manage this, she proceeded to monopolize18 the conversation—an easy task, for Liane walked along silent and ill at ease, "for all the world," thought the lively Dolly to herself, "like a tongue-tied little schoolgirl."
No wonder Liane was demure19 and frightened, dreading21 to get a scolding from granny if Jesse Devereaux walked with them as far as her home.
Liane lived alone, in pinching poverty, with a feeble old grandmother, who was too old to work for herself, and needed Liane's wages to keep life in her old bones; so she was always dreading that the girl's beauty would win her a husband who would pack the old woman off to the poorhouse as an incumbrance.
She kept Liane illy dressed and hard worked, and never permitted her to have a beau. Marriage was a failure, she said.
"What was the use of marrying a poor man, to work your fingers to the bone for him?" she exclaimed scornfully.
"But one might marry rich," suggested innocent Liane.
"Rich men marry rich girls, and if they ever notice a poor girl, she mostly comes to grief by it. Don't never let me catch you flirting22 with any[Pg 14] young man, or I'll make you sorry!" granny answered viciously.
She had not made her sorry yet, for the girl had obeyed her orders, although her beauty would have brought her a score of lovers had she smiled on their advances, but Liane had not seen any man yet for whom she would have risked one of granny's beatings.
How would it be now, when her young heart was beating violently at the glances of a pair of thrilling dark eyes, and the tones of a rich, musical voice, when her face burned and her hands trembled with exquisite23 ecstasy24?
Old Boreas, why did you whisk her veil away and show Jesse Devereaux that enchanting25 young face, so rosy and dimpled, with large, shy eyes like purple pansies, golden-hearted, with rims26 of jet, so dark the arched brows and fringed lashes27, while the little head was covered with silky waves of thick, shining chestnut28 hair? What would be the outcome of this fateful meeting?
Sure enough, as they came in sight of Liane's humble29 home, there was granny's grizzled head peeping from the window, and, with an incoherent good evening to her companions, Liane darted30 inside the gate, hurrying into the house.
[Pg 15]
But at the very threshold the old woman met her with a snarl31 of rage, slapping her in the face with a skinny, clawlike hand as she vociferated:
"Take that for disobeying me, girl! Walking out with that handsome dude, after all my warnings!"
"Oh, granny, please don't be so cruel, striking me for nothing! I'm too big a girl to be beaten now!" pleaded Liane, sinking into a chair, the crimson33 lines standing out vividly34 on her white cheeks, while indignant tears started into her large, pathetic eyes.
But her humility35 did not placate36 the cruel old hag, who continued to glare at her victim, snarling37 irascibly.
"Too big, eh?" she cried; "well, I'll show you, miss, the next time I see you galivanting along the street with a young man! Now, who is he, anyhow?"
"Just a friend of Dolly Dorr's, granny. I—I—never saw him till just now, when he asked Dolly if he might share her walk."
"Um-hum! A frisky38 little piece, that Dolly Dorr, with her yellow head and doll-baby face! I don't want you to walk with her no more when[Pg 16] he goes along, do you hear me, Liane? Two's company, and three a crowd."
"Yes, ma'am"—wearily.
"Now, what have you got in that pasteboard box, I say? If you've been buying finery, take it back this minute. I won't pay a cent for it!"
"It's finery, granny, but not mine. Miss Bray sent me to carry it to the rich young lady up at Cliffdene, and I just stopped in to see if you will make your own tea while I do my errand, for I shouldn't like to come back alone after dark."
"Better come alone than walking with a man, Liane Lester!" grunted39 the old woman, adding more amicably40: "Go along, then, and hurry back, and I'll keep some tea warm for you."
"Thank you, granny," the poor girl answered dejectedly, going out with her bundle again, her face shrouded41 in the blue veil, lest she should meet some one who would notice the marks of the cruel blow on her fair cheek.
Her way led along the seashore, and the brisk breeze of September blew across the waves and cooled her burning face, and dried the bitter tears in her beautiful eyes, though her heart beat heavily and slow in her breast as she thought:
"What a cruel life for a young girl to lead—beaten[Pg 17] and abused by an old hag whom one must try to respect because she is old, and poor, and is one's grandmother, though I am ashamed of the relationship! I fear her, instead of loving her, and it is more than likely she will kill me some day in one of her brutal42 rages. Sometimes I almost resolve to run away and find work in the great city; but, then, she has such a horror of the poorhouse, I have not the heart to desert her to her fate. But I could not help being ashamed of her when Mr. Devereaux saw her uncombed head and angry face leering at us out of the window. Never did I feel the misery43 of my condition, the poverty of my dress and my home, so keenly as in his presence. I do not suppose he would stoop to marry a poor girl like me, especially with such a dreadful relation as granny," she ended, with a bursting sigh of pain from the bottom of her sore heart.
The tide swept in almost to her feet, and the sea's voice had a hollow tone of sympathy with her sorrow.
"Oh, I wish that I were dead," she cried with a sudden passionate44 despair, almost wishing that the great waves would rush in and sweep her off[Pg 18] her feet and away out upon the billows, away, from her weary, toilsome life into oblivion.
But here she was at the gates of beautiful Cliffdene, the home of the Clarkes, a handsome stone mansion45 set in spacious46 ground on a high bluff47, washed at its base by the murmuring sea.
She opened the gate, and went through the beautiful grounds, gay with flowers, thinking, what a paradise Cliffdene was and what a contrast to the tumble-down, three-roomed shanty48 she called home.
"How happy Miss Clarke must be; so beautiful and rich, with fine dresses, and jewels, and scores of handsome lovers! I wonder if Mr. Devereaux knows her, and if he admires her like all the rest? He would not mind marrying her, I suppose. She does not live in a shanty, and have a spiteful old grandmother to make her weary of her life," thought poor, pretty Liane, as she paused in the setting sunlight before the broad, open door.
At that moment a superb figure swept down the grand staircase toward the trembling girl—a stately figure, gowned in rustling49 silk, whose rich golden tints50, softened51 by trimmings of creamy lace, suited well with the handsome face, lighted by spirited eyes of reddish brown, while the thick[Pg 19] waves of shining, copper-colored hair shone in the sunset rays like a glory. Liane knew it was Miss Clarke, the beauty and heiress; she had seen her often riding through the streets of Stonecliff.
"What do you want, girl?" cried a proud, haughty52 voice to Liane as they stood face to face on the threshold, the heiress and the little working girl.
"Miss Bray has sent home your silk cape, Miss Clarke."
"Ah? Then bring it upstairs, and let me see if it is all right. I have very little confidence in these village dressmakers, though Miss Bray has very high recommendations from the judge's wife," cried haughty Roma Clarke, motioning the girl to follow her upstairs, adding cruelly: "You should have gone round to the servants' entrance, girl. No one brings bundles to the front door."
Liane's cheeks flamed and her throat swelled53 with resentful words that she strove to keep back, for she knew she must not anger Miss Bray's rich customer. But she hated her toilsome life more than ever as she followed Roma along the richly carpeted halls to a splendid dressing54 room, where the beauty sank into a cushioned chair, haughtily55 ordering the box to be opened.
[Pg 20]
Liane's trembling white fingers could scarcely undo56 the strings57, but at last she held up the exquisite evening cape of brocaded cream silk, lined with peach blossom and cascaded58 with billows of rare lace.
It was daintily chic59, and had been the admiration60 of the workroom. All the girls had coveted61 it, and Dolly Dorr had draped it over Liane's shoulders, crying:
"It just suits you, you dainty princess."
The princess stood trembling now, for Roma flew into a rage the instant her wonderful red-brown eyes fell on the cape.
"Just as I feared! It is ruined in the arrangement of the cascades62 of lace. Who did it—you?" she demanded sharply.
"Oh, no, Miss Bray arranged it herself, I assure you," faltered63 Liane.
"It must be altered at once, for I need it walking out in the grounds with my guests to-night. You're one of the dressmaker's girls, aren't you? Yes? Well, you shall change it for me at once, under my directions. Hurry and rip the lace off carefully."
Liane's heart fluttered into her throat, but she protested.
[Pg 21]
"I—I cannot stay. I should be afraid to go home after dark. I am sure Miss Bray will alter it to-morrow."
"To-morrow! when I want it to-night? You must be crazy, girl! Do as I bid you, or I'll report you to your employer to-morrow and have you discharged."
Liane's throat choked with a frightened sob32, and she dared not disobey and risk dismissal from Miss Bray and a beating from granny.
"I will do it, but I am terribly afraid to go home alone," she faltered, taking up the scissors and the garment.
"Nonsense! Nothing will hurt you. Here, this is the way I want it, and be sure you do not botch it, or you will have to do it all over again! Now, I am going down to dinner. I'll be back in an hour and a half, and you ought to have it done by that time!" cried the imperious beauty, sweeping64 from the room, though Liane heard her tell the maid in the hall to keep an eye on that girl from the dressmaker's, that she did not slip anything in her pocket.
The clever maid sidled curiously65 into the lighted dressing room, and, as soon as she saw the tears in the eyes of Liane and the crimson print[Pg 22] on her fair cheek, she jumped to her own conclusions.
"You poor, pretty little thing, did Miss Roma fly in a rage and slap your face, too?" she exclaimed compassionately66.
"Certainly not!" the girl answered, cresting67 her graceful68 chestnut-brown head with sudden pride. "Do you think I would allow your mistress to insult me so?"
"She would insult you whether you liked it or not," the maid replied tartly69. "She has slapped my face several times in her tantrums since I came here, and I would have quit right off, but her mother is an angel, and when I complained to her, the sweet lady gave me some handsome presents and begged me to overlook it, because her daughter was somewhat spoiled by being an only child and an heiress. So I stayed for the kind mother's sake, and if Miss Roma really did strike you in her rage over the cape, let me tell Mrs. Clarke, and she will reward you handsomely to keep silence!"
"But I assure you Miss Clarke did not strike me!" Liane protested.
"There's the print of her fingers on your face to speak for itself, poor child!"
[Pg 23]
"That mark was on my face when I came," Liane answered, almost inaudibly, out of her keen humiliation70.
"Oh, I see. What is your name?"
"Miss Lester—Liane Lester."
"A pretty-sounding name! I've heard of you before, Miss Lester—the lovely sewing girl whose grandmother beats her. All the village knows it and pities you. Why do you stand it? Why don't you run away and get married? You are so lovely that any man might be glad to get you for his bride."
The color flamed hotly into Liane's cheek. She was proud, in spite of her poverty, and it chafed71 her to have her private affairs so freely discussed by Miss Clarke's servant.
"Please do not talk to me while I'm sewing," she said firmly, but so gently that the pert maid did not take offense72, but slipped away, returning when the cape was nearly done, with a dainty repast on a silver waiter.
"Mrs. Clarke sent this with her compliments. She heard about your being up here sewing, and felt so sorry for you."
Liane had not tasted food since her meager[Pg 24] midday luncheon73, but she was too proud to own that she was faint from fasting.
"She was very kind, but I—I really am not hungry," she faltered.
"But you have not had your tea yet, and one is apt to have a headache without it," urged the tactful maid, and she presently persuaded Liane to eat, although not before the cape was done, so great was her dread20 of Miss Clarke's coarse anger.
The maid had adroitly74 let Mrs. Clarke know all about Liane, and now she slipped a crisp banknote into her hand, whispering:
"Mrs. Clarke sent you this for altering the cape for her daughter."
Liane was almost frightened at the new rustling five-dollar bill in her hand. She had never seen more than three dollars at a time before—the amount of her weekly wages from Miss Bray.
"Oh, dear, I can't take this. It's too much! Miss Bray only gets five dollars for the making of the whole cape," she exclaimed.
"Never mind about that, if Mrs. Clarke chooses to pay you that for altering it, my dear miss. She is rich and can afford to be liberal to one who[Pg 25] needs it. So just take what she gives you, and say nothing—not even to her daughter, who has a miserly heart and might scold her for her kindness," cautioned the maid, who pitied Liane with all her heart.
Liane cried eagerly:
"Oh, please thank the generous lady a hundred times for me! I love her for her kindness to a poor orphan75 girl. Now, do you think Miss Roma would come and look at the cape? For I must be going. Granny will be angry at my coming back so late."
"Here she comes now, the vixen!" and, sure enough, a silken gown rustled76 over the threshold, and Roma caught the cape up eagerly, crying:
"Ten to one you have botched it worse than before! Well, really, you have followed my directions exactly, for a wonder! That will do very well. You may go now, and if you think you ought to be paid anything for these few minutes' extra work, you can collect it off Miss Bray, as she was responsible for the alterations77. Sophie, you can show the girl out," and, throwing the cape over her arm, the proud beauty trailed her rustling silk over the threshold and downstairs again.
[Pg 26]
"The heartless thing! I'd like to shake her!" muttered Sophie angrily, as she led the way out of the beautiful house down upon the moonlight lawn, adding:
"I'll go to the gates with you, so you won't get frightened at Mr. Clarke's big St. Bernard."
"What a beautiful night, and how sweet the flowers smell!" murmured Liane, lifting her heated brow to the cool night breeze, and the pitying stars that seemed to beam on her like tender eyes.
"Would you like some to take home with you? You will be welcome, I know, for the frosts will be getting them soon, anyhow," cried Sophie, loading her up with a huge bunch of late autumn roses, "and now good night, my dear young lady," opening the gate "you have a long walk before you, but I hope you will get home safely."
Liane opened her lips to tell the woman how frightened she was of the lonely walk home, but she was ashamed of her cowardice78, and the words remained unsaid. With a faltering79 "I thank you for your kindness; good night," she clasped the roses to her bosom80 and sped away like a frightened fawn81 in the moonlight, down the road along the beach, a silent prayer in her heart that granny[Pg 27] would not be angry again over her long stay, and accuse her of "galivanting around with beaus."
Sophie leaned over the gate, watching her a minute, with pity and admiration in her clear eyes.
"What a beautiful creature!—a thousand times lovelier than Miss Roma!" she thought. "But what a cruel lot in life. It is enough to make the very angels weep."
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收听单词发音
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1
bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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magpies
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| 喜鹊（magpie的复数形式） | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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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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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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12
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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frolicsome
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| adj.嬉戏的，闹着玩的 | |
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gossamer
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| n.薄纱，游丝 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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45
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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cascaded
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| 级联的 | |
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chic
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| n./adj.别致(的)，时髦(的)，讲究的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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compassionately
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| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
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cresting
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| n.顶饰v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的现在分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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