Daisy was beginning to learn, that to please God, is not always to seek one's own gratification or that of the world. She looked steadily2 at the words of that Friend in heaven whom she loved and wished to obey; and then it seemed to Daisy that she cared nothing at all about anything but pleasing him.
"Miss Daisy—" said June,—"Miss Nora is come."
Away went Daisy, with a bound, to the dressing-room; and carried Nora off, as soon as she was unwrapped from her mufflings, to see the preparations in the library.
"What is all that for?" said Nora.
"O, that is to shew the pictures nicely. They will look a great deal better than if all the room and the books could be seen behind them."
"Why?"
"I suppose they will look more like pictures. By and by all those lights on the stand will be lighted. And we shall dress in the library, you know,—nobody will be in it,—and in the room on the other side of the hall. All the things are brought down there."
"Daisy," said Nora looking at the imposing3 green baize screen, "aren't you afraid?"
"Are you?" said Daisy.
"Yes—I am afraid I shall not do something right, or laugh, or something."
"O, but you must not laugh. That would spoil the picture. And Mrs. Sandford and Preston will make everything else right. Come and see the crown for Ahasuerus!"
So they ran across the hall to the room of fancy dresses. Here Ella presently joined them with her sister, and indeed so many others of the performers that Preston ordered them all out. He was afraid of mischief4, he said. They trooped back to the library.
"When are they going to begin?" said Nora.
"I don't know. O, by and by. I suppose we shall have tea and coffee first. People at a party must get through that."
To await this proceeding5, and indeed to share in it, the little company adjourned6 to the drawing-room. It was filling fast. All the neighbourhood had been asked, and all the neighbourhood were very glad to come, and here they were, pouring in. Now the neighbourhood meant all the nice people within ten miles south and within ten miles north; and all that could be found short of some seven or eight miles east. There was one family that had even come from the other side of the river. And all these people made Melbourne House pretty full. Happily it was a very fine night.
Daisy was standing8 by the table, for the little folks had tea at a table, looking with a face of innocent pleasure at the scene and the gathering9 groups of people, when a hand laid gentle hold of her and she found herself drawn10 within the doctor's arm and brought up to his side. Her face brightened.
"What is going on, Daisy?"
"Preston has been getting up some tableaux12, Dr. Sandford, to be done by the young people."
"Are you one of the young people?"
"They have got me in," said Daisy.
"Misled by your appearance? What are you going to play, Daisy?"
Daisy ran off to a table and brought him a little bill of the performances. The doctor ran his eye over it.
"I shall know what it means, I suppose, when I see the pictures. What is this 'Game of Life?'"
"It is Retsch's engraving," Daisy answered, as sedately13 as if she had been forty years old.
"Retsch! yes, I know him—but what does the thing mean?"
"It is supposed to be the devil playing with a young man—for his soul,"
Daisy said very gravely.
"Who plays the devil?"
"Preston does."
"And who is to be the angel?"
"I am to be the angel," said Daisy.
"Very judicious14. How do you like this new play, Daisy?"
"It is very amusing. I like to see the pictures."
"Not to be in them?"
"I think not, Dr. Sandford."
"Daisy, what else are you doing, besides playing tableaux, all these days?"
"I drive about a good deal," said Daisy. Then looking up at her friend with an entirely15 new expression, a light shining in her eye and a subdued16 sweetness coming into her smile, she added—
"Molly is learning to read, Dr. Sandford."
"Molly!" said the doctor.
"Yes. You advised me to ask leave to go to see her, and I did, and I got it."
Daisy's words were a little undertone; the look that went with them the doctor never forgot as long as he lived. His questions about the festivities she had answered with a placid17, pleased face; pleased that he should ask her; but a soft irradiation of joy had beamed upon the fact that the poor cripple was making a great step upwards18 in the scale of human life. The doctor had not forgotten his share in the permission Daisy had received, which he thought he saw she suspected. Unconsciously his arm closed upon the little figure it held and brought her nearer to him; but his questions were somehow stopped. And Daisy offered no more; she stood quite still, till a movement at the table seemed to call for her. She put her hand upon the doctor's arm, as a sign that it must hold her no longer, and sprang away.
And soon now all the young people went back again to the library. Mrs.
Sandford came with them to serve in her arduous19 capacity of dresser.
June attended to give her help.
"Now what are we going to do?" whispered Nora in breathless excitement. "What is to be the first picture? O Daisy, I wish you would get them to have my picture last of all."
"Why, Nora?"
"O because. I think it ought to come last. Aren't you afraid? Whew! lam."
"No, I don't think I am."
"But won't you want to laugh?"
"Why?" Daisy. "No, I do not think I shall want to laugh."
"I shall be too frightened to laugh," said Jane Linwood.
"I don't see, Daisy, how you will manage those queer wings of yours,"
Nora resumed.
"I have not got to manage them at all. I have only to keep still."
"I can't think how they will look," said Nora. "They don't seem to me much like wings. I think they will look very funny."
"Hush20, children—run away; you are not wanted here. Go into the drawing-room—and I will ring this hand bell when I want you."
"What comes first, aunt Sandford?"
"Run away! you will see."
So the younger ones repaired to the drawing-room, for what seemed a weary time of waiting. Nora expressed her entire disapprobation of being shut out from all the fun of the dressing; she wanted to see that. She then declared that it would be impossible to shew all the twelve pictures that evening, if it took so long to get ready for one. However, the time was past at length; the signal was given; the lights in the drawing-room were put down, till the room was very shadowy indeed; and then, amid the breathless hush of expectation, the curtain that hung over the doorway21 of the library was drawn back.
The children thought it was fairy-land.
Frederica Fish sat there facing the company, quaintly22 dressed in antique costume; and before her knelt on one knee two grand-looking personages, very richly attired23, presenting a gilt24 crown upon a satin cushion. Lady Jane Grey and the lords who came to offer her the kingdom The draperies were exceedingly well executed and did Mrs. Sandford great credit. They were the picture.
"Isn't she beau-tiful!" Nora exclaimed under her breath.
"Isn't it like a picture!" said Daisy.
"How funnily those boys kneel and twist themselves round!" said Jane.
"Who are they?"
"Daisy, wouldn't you like to be dressed every day like that?" said Nora.
"I don't think it would be convenient," said Daisy. "I think a white frock is nicer."
"O but it makes people look so handsome! Frederica looks like—she is a real beauty! I should like to be dressed so. Daisy, don't you suppose queens and ladies, like those in the pictures, are always dressed so?"
"I suppose they put on nightgowns when they go to bed," said Ella
Stanfield soberly. "They can't always be dressed so."
"O but, I mean, when they are up. And I dare say they wear beautiful nightgowns—Daisy, don't you think they do? I dare say they have splendid lace and ribands; and you can make a white dress very handsome, if you put plenty of lace and ribands."
"O it's gone!" exclaimed Jane and Ella. The curtain had fallen. The company clapped their hands and cheered.
"What's that for?" said Nora.
"That means that they like it, I suppose," said Daisy. "You will have to go now, Nora, I know. Little Red Riding-Hood7 comes next. Come—we'll all go."
"Horrid25 Little Red Riding-Hood!" said Nora. "I hate that picture!"
"Why do you hate it?"
"Because!—It is nothing but a red hood."
Mrs. Sandford's bell sounded.
"O Daisy!" said Nora as they went, "won't you get them to leave Esther to the last? They will do whatever you ask them. Do!"
"Why, Nora?"
"O because!—"
What Nora's "because" meant, Daisy did not know; that it had reference to some supposed advantage of place, was pretty certain. Daisy stood thinking about it while she saw Nora dressed, and then ran into the drawing-room to take the effect of the tableau11. The curtain was withdrawn26; Daisy was astonished; she had no idea that Nora could be so changed by a little arrangement of lights and dress. The picture was exceeding pretty. Nora's black hair and bright cheeks peeped out from under the shadowing red cardinal27, which draped her arms also—Mrs. Sandford had mysteriously managed it. She had got over her hatred28 of the part, for she looked pleased and pleasant; and the little basket in her hand and the short petticoat and neat little feet completed a tidy Red Riding-Hood. The applause was loud. "Lovely!" the ladies said. "What a sweet little thing! how beautiful she looks!" Nora did not smile, for that would have hurt her picture; but she stood with swelling29 complacency and unchanging red cheeks as long as the company were pleased to look at her.
"Who is that, Daisy?" asked her father, near whom Daisy had stationed herself.
"It is Nora Dinwiddie, papa."
"She is a pretty little girl. When does your turn come?"
"I do not know, papa."
"Not know! Why I thought all this was your affair."
"O no, papa; it is Preston's affair."
Off ran Daisy however when the curtain fell, or rather when it was drawn, to see the getting ready of the next tableau. There was something of a tableau on hand already. June stood holding up a small featherbed, and two little figures in white nightgowns were flying round, looking and laughing at two exceedingly fierce, bearded, moustached, black-browed individuals, on whose heads Mrs. Sandford was setting some odd-looking hats.
"Who are those, Nora?" said Daisy to Little Red Riding-Hood.
"Daisy, did you like it? did I stand well?"
"Yes, I liked it very much; it was nice. Nora, who are those two?"
"Why one of 'em is Preston—I don't know who the other is. Daisy, did you ask about Esther?"
Could it be possible that Preston had so transformed himself? Daisy could hardly see that it was he. His fellow she did not recognize at all. It was big George Linwood.
"Now are the little princes ready?" said Preston. "Because we will finish up this business."
"O you won't let the featherbed come down on us?" cried Jane Linwood.
"If you don't be quiet and keep still, I will," said Preston. "Let only your eye wink30 or your mouth move to smile—and you are an unlucky prince! I am a man without mercy."
"And I am another," said George. "I say, old fellow, I suppose I'm all right for that French pikeman now, hey? After this smothering31 business is attended to."
"You think the trade is the thing, and the costume a matter of indifference32?" said Preston. "In the matter of morals I dare say you are right;—in tableaux before spectators it's not exactly so. Here June—hand on your big pillow there—"
Mrs. Sandford was laughing at him, and in fact there was a good deal of hilarity33 and some romping34 before the actors in the tableau could be settled in their places.
"Don't keep us long," said Preston. "I never knew before what an uninteresting thing a featherbed is—when you are obliged to hold it in your arms. Everything in its place, I find. I used to have a good opinion of them."
Daisy ran back to the drawing-room, and was utterly35 struck with wonder at the picture over which all this fun had been held. It was beautiful, she thought. The two children lay so naturally asleep, one little bare foot peeping out from under the coverings; and the grim faces that scowled36 at them over the featherbed with those strange hats overshadowing, made such a contrast; and they were all so breathlessly still, and the lights and shadows were so good; Daisy was disposed to give her verdict that there never was a play like this play. The "Princes in the Tower" was greatly applauded.
"Have you asked about my picture?" said Nora, who stood beside Daisy.
"No, I have not had a chance."
"Do, Daisy! I want that to be the last."
Daisy thought she was unreasonable37. Why should Nora have the best place, if it was the best. She was not pleased with her.
The next picture was Marie Antoinette; and that drew down the house. Frederica Fish had nothing to do but to stand as she was put, and Mrs. Sandford had seen to it that she stood right; another person might have done more in the picture, but that was all that could be got from Frederica. Her face was coldly impassive; she could come no nearer to the expression of the indignant queen. But Preston's old woman, and Theresa's pretty young French girl; one looking as he had said, with eyes of coarse fury, the other all melting with tenderness and reverent38 sympathy; they were so excellent that the company were delighted. Frederica's handkerchief, it is true, hung daintily in her fingers, shewing all the four embroidered39 corners; Mrs. Sandford had not seen it till it was just too late; and Preston declared afterwards the "fury" in his face was real and not feigned40 as he glared at her. But the company overlooked the handkerchief in favour of the other parts of the picture; and its success was perfect.
"Alfred in the neat-herd's cottage" followed next, and would have been as good; only that Nora, whose business it was to blow her cheeks into a full moon condition over the burnt cakes, would not keep her gravity; but the full cheeks gave way every now and then in a broad grin which quite destroyed the effect. Preston could not see this, but Daisy took her friend to task after it was over. Nora declared she could not help it.
"You don't know how it felt, Daisy, to keep my cheeks puffed41 out in that way. I couldn't do it; and whenever I let them go, then I couldn't help laughing. O, Daisy! is my picture to be the last?"
"I will see, as soon as I can, Nora." Daisy said gravely. It was her own turn now, and while Mrs. Sandford was dressing her she had no very good chance to speak of Esther. How wonderfully Mrs. Sandford arranged the folds of one or two long scarfs, to imitate Sir Joshua Reynolds' draperies. Preston declared it was beautiful, and so did Hamilton Rush; and when the little helmet with its plumes42 was set on Daisy's head, Mrs. Sandford smiled and Preston clapped his hands. They had still a little trouble to get Dolce into position. Dolce was to enact43 the lion, emblem44 of courage and strength, lying at Fortitude45's feet. He was a sensible dog, but knowing nothing about playing pictures, naturally, did not immediately understand why it should be required of him to lie down there, on that platform of green baize, with his nose on his paws. However, more sensible than some animals of higher order are apt to be, he submitted patiently to the duty of obedience46 where he did not understand; and laid down accordingly his shaggy length at Daisy's feet.
The curtain was drawn aside, and the company shouted with delight. No picture had been so good yet as this one. The little grave figure, the helmet with its nodding plumes in mock stateliness; the attitude, one finger just resting on the pedestal of the broken column, (an ottoman did duty for it) as if to shew that Fortitude stood alone, and the shaggy St. Bernard at her feet, all made in truth an extremely pretty spectacle. You could see the faintest tinge47 of a smile of pleasure on the lips of both Mr. and Mrs. Randolph; they were silent, but all the rest of the people cheered and openly declared their delight. Daisy stood like a rock. Her mouth never gave way; not even when Dolce, conceiving that all this cheering called upon him to do something, rose up and looking right into Daisy's face wagged his tail in the blandest48 manner of congratulation. Daisy did not wince49; and an energetic "Down, Dolce, down!"—brought the St. Bernard to his position again, in the very meekness50 of strength; and then the people clapped for Daisy and the dog together. At last the curtain fell.
[Illustration]
"Well, that will do," said Mrs. Sandford.
"Dolce—you rascal52!" said Preston, as the great creature was now wagging his tail in honour of his master,—"how came you to forget your business in that style, sir?"
"I do not think it really hindered the effect at all, Preston," said
Mrs. Sandford. "Daisy kept her countenance53 so well."
"Yes,—if Fortitude had smiled!—" said Theresa, "Mrs. Sandford, is it out of character for Fortitude to smile?"
"It would be out of character for Portia, just at this crisis—so take care of her."
"What made them make such a great noise, Daisy?" said Nora while Daisy was getting undressed.
"I suppose they liked the picture," said Daisy.
"But they made a great deal more noise than they did for anybody else," said Nora.
"I suppose they liked the picture better than they liked any of the others," said Ella Stanfield. "I know they did, for I was in the other room. Come, let's go see this picture!"
"Not you, Daisy," said Mrs. Sandford as the children were running off—"I want you. Priscilla comes next."
So Daisy had to stay and be dressed for Priscilla. She missed Portia and Bassanio. It was not much missed, for her little heart began to be beating with excitement; and she wished very much that Priscilla might be as much liked as Fortitude. The dressing was an easy matter, for the costume had been prepared for her and a gown and vandyke made on purpose. Would Alexander dare to wink this time, she wondered? And then she remembered, to her great joy, that he could not; because his face would be in full view of the people behind the scenes in the library. The little brown spinning-wheel was brought on the platform; a heap of flax at which Priscilla is supposed to have been working, was piled together in front of it; and she and Alexander took their places. The curtain was drawn aside, and a cry of pleasure from the company testified to the picturesque54 prettiness of the representation. It was according to the fact, that Priscilla should be looking in John Alden's face; it was just at the moment when she is supposed to be rebuking55 him for bringing to her his friend's suit and petition. Thinking herself safe, and wishing to have the picture as good as possible, Daisy had ventured to direct her eyes upon the face of Alexander Fish, who personified the Puritan suitor. To her horror, Alexander, wholly untouched by the poetry of the occasion and unawed by its hazards, dared to execute a succession of most barefaced57 and disagreeable winks58 right at Priscilla's eyes. Poor Daisy could not stand this. Forgetting her character and the picture and everything, her eyes went down; her eyelids59 drooped60 over them; and the expression of grave displeasure would have done for a yet more dissatisfied mood of mind than Priscilla is supposed to have known at the time. The company could not stand this, either; and there burst out a hearty61 chorus of laughter and cheers together, which greatly mortified62 Daisy. The curtain was drawn, and she had to face the laughing comments of the people in the library. They were unmerciful, she thought. Daisy grew very pink in the face.
Cinderella was the next picture, in which she had also to play. Dresses were changed in haste; but meanwhile Daisy began to think about herself. Was she all right? Mortified at the breaking of her picture; angry at Alexander; eager to get back praise enough to make amends63 for this loss;—whom was little Daisy trying to please? Where was the ornament64 of a meek51 and quiet spirit now? was it on?
They had after all given her place in the Cinderella tableau; she was one of the two wicked sisters; and she looked dissatisfied enough for the character. She wanted to get away to be alone for two minutes; but she had this part to fill first. It is very hard to play when one's heart is heavy. Daisy could not go on so. She could not bear it. Without waiting till June could undress her, she slipped away, the moment the curtain was drawn, and ran across the hall to the dressing room. People were coming and going everywhere; and Daisy went out upon the piazza65. There, in a dark spot, she kneeled down and prayed; that this terrible spirit of pleasing herself might be put away from her. She had but a minute; she knew she must be back again immediately; but she knew too it takes but a minute for ever so little a prayer to go all the way to heaven; and the answer does not take any longer to come, if it pleases God. Daisy was very much in earnest, and quite well knew all that. She went back to the library feeling humbled66 and ashamed, but quiet. The library was all in commotion67.
Nora was begging that Esther might be put off till the last. Mrs.
Sandford and Preston objected. They chose that it should come next.
"Here is Priscilla," said Hamilton Rush,—"I beg pardon! it is Cinderella's wicked sister—I don't know what her name was. Let us have your vote, my angel; I will address you in your prospective68 character; will you put on your wings at once? Or shall we get done with the terrestrial first? What do you say?—I hope you are going to make Miss Stanfield the queen, Mrs. Sandford; she has done one part so well that I should like to see her in another."
"Why, you are going to be Ahasuerus yourself!" said the lady.
"Am I?" said Hamilton; who it must be noticed had not met for the
practisings as often as the other people, being held not to need them.
"Then I must respectfully be allowed to choose my own queen. I vote for
Miss Theresa."
"It is a capital idea," said Preston.
"I think so too," said Mrs. Sandford. "Theresa, my dear, I wonder we did not think before of something so much to our advantage; but these children seemed to have got the picture into their own hands. You will do it far better. Come! let me robe you."
"I would rather be Vashti," murmured Theresa. "I don't like submissive characters. Mrs. Sandford, Vashti is far more in my line. Go off, boys, and get ready! What a pity we didn't think of having Vashti, Mrs. Sandford."
However, Theresa made no objection to be dressed for Esther.
"Who will be your supporters? Ella is too short. Jane and Nora?—Where is Nora!"
Nora was in the furthest corner of the room, seated in gloom.
"Nora!—"
"I am not going to play any more—" said Nora.
"You must come and be one of the queen's women—I want you for that."
"I am not going to play—" repeated Nora; but nobody heard except Daisy. "I am Esther myself! nobody else has any right to be it. I have practised it, and I know how to do it; and I am Esther myself. Nobody else has any right to be Esther!"
Daisy stood by in dismay. She did not know what comfort to bring to this distress69.
"I won't play at all!" said Nora. "If I can't be Esther I won't be anything. You have all the good things, Daisy! you have all the prettiest pictures; and I might have had just this one. Just Esther. I just wanted to be Esther! It's mean."
"Why you've been plenty of things I think," said Jane Linwood, coming near this corner of gloom.
"I haven't! I have been that hateful prince in the tower and
Cinderella's ugly sister—only hateful things."
"But you were Little Red Riding-Hood."
"Red Riding-Hood!" exclaimed Nora in unspeakable disdain70. "Red Riding-Hood was nothing at all but a red cloak! and Daisy wore feathers, and had the dog—"
And the vision of Queen Esther's jewels and satin gown and mantle71 here overcame Nora's dignity if not her wrath72: she began to cry.
"But won't you come and be one of the queen's maids? they will be very nicely dressed too," Daisy ventured gently.
"No!—I won't be anybody's maid, I tell you," sobbed73 the disconsolate74 child.
"Bring her along, Daisy," Mrs. Sandford called from the other side of the room.—"I am almost ready for her."
Daisy made another vain effort to bring Nora to reason, and then went sorrowfully to Mrs. Sandford. She thought tableaux were on the whole a somewhat troublesome amusement.
"Will I do, Mrs. Sandford?" she said. "Nora does not want to play."
"In dudgeon, hey?" said the lady. "I expected as much. Well Daisy—I will take you. I might perch75 you up on a foot-cushion to give you a little more altitude. However—I don't know but it will do. Theresa will be letting down her own height."
"I think I am letting myself down altogether, Mrs. Sandford, in allowing Ahasuerus to pick me out in that lordly style. But never mind—I shan't touch his sceptre any way. Boys, boys!—are you ready?"
"Splendid, Theresa!" said Preston as he came in. "Splendid! You are the very thing."
"I am diamonds and satin, you mean. I thank you. I know that is what I am at present."
"You look the character," said Hamilton.
Theresa made him a mock little courtesy. It was admirably done. It was the slightest gesture of supercilious76 disdain—excellent pantomime. The boys laughed and shouted, for Theresa's satin and diamonds gave effect to her acting77, and she was a good actor.
This picture had been delayed so long, that at last hearing the shout of applause behind the scenes, the audience began to call for their share. In haste, but not the less effectively, Theresa and the rest threw themselves into attitude and the curtain was pulled aside. Daisy wished she could have been in the drawing-room, to see the picture; she knew it must be beautiful; but she was supporting one jewelled arm of Queen Esther and obliged by her duty to look only at the Queen's face. Daisy thought even that was a good deal to look at, it was so magnificently surrounded with decoration: but at the same time she was troubled about Nora and sorry for her own foolishness, so that her own face was abundantly in character for the grave concern that sat upon it. This picture met with, great favour. The people in the library were in much glee after it was over; all but Daisy and Nora.
"It is all spoiled!" said the latter. "The evening has been hateful. I wish I hadn't come."
"O Nora! don't say that," Daisy urged. "The pictures are almost over now; and then we shall have supper."
"I don't want supper! I only wanted to be Queen Esther and you said I might. It was the prettiest picture of the whole lot."
"But I couldn't help it, Nora."
"I could have done it just as well as Theresa! She didn't look handsome a bit."
"O Nora, I think she did—for a picture."
"She didn't a bit; the things she had on looked handsome."
Daisy was called away. Her last dressing was to be done now, and the one of which Daisy was most doubtful. She was to stand for the angel in the "Game of Life." Other people had no doubt about it. Mrs. Sandford was sure that the angel's wings would make a good representation, which Daisy was slow to believe; near by, they looked so very like gauze and pasteboard! They were arranged, at any rate, to appear as if they grew out of her shoulders; she was arrayed in flowing white draperies over her own little cambrick frock; and then she was ready. Hamilton came in. He was to be the young man in the picture. Daisy liked his appearance well. But when Preston followed him, she felt unspeakably shocked. Preston was well got up, in one respect; he looked frightful78. He wore a black mask, ugly but not grotesque79; and his whole figure was more like the devil in the picture than Daisy had imagined it could be. She did not like the whole business at all. There was no getting out of it now; the picture must be given; so the performers were placed.
Hamilton and Preston sat on two sides of a chess-board, and behind them the little angel stood watching the game. Mrs. Sandford was right. By a skilful80 placing and shielding of the lamps, the lights were thrown broadly where they ought to be, on faces and draperies, leaving the gauze wings of the angel in such obscurity that they just shewed as it was desired they should. The effect was extremely good, and even artistic81. The little angel herself was not in full light; it was through a shade of gloom that her grave face of concern looked down upon the game on the chess-board. Truly Daisy looked concerned and grave. She thought she did not like to play such things as this. One of the figures below her was so very wicked and devilish in its look; and Hamilton leaned over the pieces on the board with so well-given an expression of doubt and perplexity,—his adversary's watch was so intent,—and the meaning of the whole was so sorrowfully deep; that Daisy gazed unconsciously most like a guardian82 angel who might see with sorrow the evil one getting the better over a soul of his care. For it was real to Daisy. She knew that the devil does in truth try to bewitch and wile83 people out of doing right into doing wrong. She knew that he tries to get the mastery of them; that he rejoices every time to sees them make a "false move;" that he is a great cunning enemy, all the worse because we cannot see him, striving to draw people to their ruin; and she thought that it was far too serious and dreadful a thing to be made a play of. She wondered if guardian angels did really watch over poor tempted84 souls and try to help them. And all this brought upon Daisy's face a shade of awe56, and sorrow, and fear, which was strangely in keeping with her character as an angel, and very singular in its effect on the picture. The expressions of pleasure and admiration85 which had burst from the company in the drawing-room at the first sight of it, gradually stilled and ceased; and it was amid a profound and curious silence and hush that the curtain was at length drawn upon the picture. There were some people among the spectators not altogether satisfied in their minds.
"How remarkable86!" was the first word that came from anybody's lips in the darkened drawing-room.
"Very remarkable!" somebody else said. "Did you ever see such acting?"
"It has all been good," said a gentleman, Mr. Sandford; "but this was remarkable."
"Thanks, I suppose you know to whose management," said the soft voice of the lady of the house.
"Management is a good thing," said the gentleman; "but there was more than management here, Mrs. Randolph. It was uncommon87, upon my word! I suppose my wife came in for the wings, but where did the face come from?"
"Daisy," said Mr. Randolph as he found his little daughter by his side again,—"are you here?"
"Yes, papa."
Her father put his arm round her, as if to assure himself there were no wings in the case.
"How do you like playing pictures?"
"I think I do not like them very much—" Daisy said sedately, nestling up to her father's side.
"Not? How is that? Your performance has been much approved."
Daisy said nothing. Mr. Randolph thought he felt a slight tremor88 in the little frame.
"Do you understand the allegory of this last tableau, Daisy?" Dr.
Sandford asked.
"I do not know what an allegory is, Dr. Sandford."
"What is the meaning of the representation, then, as you think of it?"
"This last picture?"
"Yes."
"It is a trial of skill, Dr. Sandford."
The room was still darkened, and the glance of intelligence and amusement that passed between her friend and her father, their own eyes could scarcely catch. Daisy did not see it. But she had spoken diplomatically. She did not want to come any nearer the subject of the picture in talking with Dr. Sandford. His mind was different, and he went on.
"What is the trial of skill about, Daisy?"
The child hesitated, and then said, speaking low and most unchildlike—
"It is about a human soul."
"And what do you understand are the powers at work—or at play?"
"It is not play," said Daisy.
"Answer Dr. Sandford, Daisy," said her father.
"Papa," said the child, "it isn't play. The devil tries to make people do wrong—and if they try to do right, then there is a—"
"A what?"
"I don't know—a fight, papa."
Mr. Randolph again felt a tremor, a nervous trembling, pass over Daisy.
"You do not suppose, my darling," he said softly, "that such a fight goes on with anything like this horrible figure that your cousin Preston has made himself?"
"I do not suppose he looks like that, papa."
"I do not think there is such a personage at all, Daisy. I am sure you need not trouble your little head with thinking about it."
Daisy made no answer.
"There is a struggle always going on, no doubt, between good and evil; but we cannot paint good and evil without imagining shapes for them."
"But papa,—" said Daisy, and stopped. It was no place or time for talking about the matter, though her father spoke89 low. She did not want even Dr. Sandford to hear.
"What is it, Daisy?"
"Yes," said the doctor, "I should like to know what the argument is."
"Papa," said Daisy, awesomely,—"there is a place prepared for the devil and his angels."
Mr. Randolph was silent now. But he felt again that Daisy was nervously90 excited, by the quiver that passed over her little frame.
"So you think, Daisy," said the doctor leaning towards her,—"that the white and the black spirits have a fight over the people of this world?"
Daisy hesitated, struggled, quivered, with the feeling and the excitement which were upon her, tried for self-command and words to answer. Mr. Randolph saw it all and did not hurry her, though she hesitated a good deal.
"You think they have a quarrel for us?" repeated the doctor.
"I don't know, Dr. Sandford—" Daisy answered in a strangely tender and sober voice. It was strange to her two hearers.
"But you believe in the white spirits, I suppose, as well as in the other branch of the connection?"
"Papa," said Daisy, her feeling breaking a little through her composure so much as to bring a sort of cry into her voice—"there is joy among the angels of heaven whenever anybody grows good!—"
She had turned to her father as she spoke and threw her arms round his neck, hiding her face, with a clinging action that told somewhat of that which was at work in her mind. Mr. Randolph perhaps guessed at it. He said nothing; he held her close to his breast; and the curtain drew at that moment for the last tableau. Daisy did not see it, and Mr. Randolph did not think of it; though people said it was very good, it was only the head and shoulders of Theresa Stanfield as an old country schoolmistress, seen behind a picture frame, with her uplifted finger and a bundle of rods. Theresa was so transformed that nobody would have known her; and while the company laughed and applauded, Daisy came back to her usual self; and slid out of her father's arms when the show was over, all ready for supper and Nora Dinwiddie.
There was a grand supper, and everybody was full of pleasure and complimentary91 speeches and discussion and praise of the tableaux. That was among the elder portion of the company. The four or five children were not disposed to such absolute harmony. Grapes and ices and numberless other good things were well enjoyed, no doubt; but amidst them all a spirit of criticism was rife92.
"Daisy, your wings didn't look a bit like real wings—" said Jane
Linwood.
"No," echoed Nora, "I guess they didn't. They were like—let me see what they were like! They were like the wings of a windmill."
"No, they weren't!" said Ella. "I was in the drawing-room—and they didn't look like a windmill a bit. They looked queer, but pretty."
"Queer, but pretty!" repeated Nora.
"Yes, they did," said Ella. "And you laughed when you were Red
Riding-hood, Nora Dinwiddie."
"I didn't laugh a bit!"
"It is no matter if you did laugh, Nora," said Daisy;—"you got grave again, and the picture was very nice."
"I didn't laugh!" said Nora; "and if I did, everybody else did. I don't think the pictures I saw were at all like pictures—they were just like a parcel of people dressed up."
Some gay paper mottoes made a diversion and stopped the little mouths for a time; and then the people went away.
"Well Daisy," said Mrs. Gary,—"how do you like this new entertainment?"
"The pictures? I think they were very pretty, aunt Gary."
"How happened it that somebody else wore my diamonds?" said her mother,—"and not you. I thought you were to be dressed for Queen Esther?"
"Yes, mamma, so I was at first; and then it was thought best—"
"Not by me," said Preston. "It was no doing of mine. Daisy was to have been Esther, and she herself declared off—backed out of it, and left me to do as best I could."
"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Gary. "You would have made an excellent Esther."
"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Randolph. "Did you not like to be
Esther?"
"Yes, mamma—I liked it at one time."
"And why not at another time?"
"I found out that somebody else would like it too, mamma; and I thought——"
Mrs. Randolph broke out with a contemptuous expression of displeasure.
"You thought you would put yourself in a corner! You were not manager, Daisy; and you must remember something is due to the one that is. You have no right to please yourself."
"Come here, Daisy," said her father, "and bid me good night. I dare say you were trying to please somebody else. Tell mamma she must remember the old fable93, and excuse you."
"What fable, Mr. Randolph?" the lady inquired, as Daisy left the room.
"The one in which the old Grecian told the difficulty of pleasing more people than one or two at once."
"Daisy is ruined!" said Mrs. Randolph.
"I do not see how it appears."
"She has not entered into this thing at all as we hoped she would—not at all as a child should."
"She looked a hundred years old, in the Game of Life," said Mrs. Gary. "I never saw such a representation in my life. You would have said she was a real guardian angel of somebody, who was playing his game not to please her."
"I am glad it is over!" said Mrs. Randolph. "I am tired of it all." And she walked off. So did Mr. Randolph, but as he went he was thinking of Daisy's voice and her words—"There is joy among the angels of heaven whenever anybody grows good."
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1
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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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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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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8
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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9
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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10
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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11
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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tableaux
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| n.舞台造型，（由活人扮演的）静态画面、场面；人构成的画面或场景( tableau的名词复数 )；舞台造型；戏剧性的场面；绚丽的场景 | |
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13
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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14
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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15
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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16
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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17
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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18
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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19
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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20
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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21
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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23
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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25
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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26
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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27
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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28
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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29
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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30
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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31
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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32
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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33
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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34
romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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35
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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36
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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38
reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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39
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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40
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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41
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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42
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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43
enact
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| vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演 | |
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44
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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45
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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46
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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47
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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48
blandest
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| adj.（食物）淡而无味的( bland的最高级 )；平和的；温和的；无动于衷的 | |
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49
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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50
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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51
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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52
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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53
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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54
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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55
rebuking
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 ) | |
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56
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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57
barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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58
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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59
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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60
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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62
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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63
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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64
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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65
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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66
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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67
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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68
prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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69
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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70
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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71
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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72
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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73
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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74
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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75
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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76
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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77
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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78
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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79
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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80
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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81
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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82
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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83
wile
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| v.诡计，引诱；n.欺骗，欺诈 | |
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84
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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85
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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86
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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87
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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88
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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89
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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90
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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91
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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92
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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93
fable
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| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
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