The girls started off early in the afternoon, and a train ride of three hours brought them to the pretty little New England village of Fern Falls.
Jim Kenerley met them with a motor.
“We hoped for snow,” he said, as he cordially greeted the befurred young women who stepped off the train at the little station. “So much more Christmassy, you know. But, at any rate, we have cold, clear weather, and that’s something. Hop1 in, now. Adèle didn’t come to meet you,—sent all kinds of excuses, which I’ve forgotten, but she can tell you herself, when we 142 reach the house. Here, I’ll sit between you, and keep you from shaking around and perhaps spilling out.”
Cheery Jim Kenerley bustled2 them into the tonneau, looked after their luggage, and then, taking his own place, drew up the fur robes snugly3, and the chauffeur4 started off. It was a four-mile spin to the house, for the village itself was distant from the station, and the Kenerleys’ house a mile or so beyond.
It was cold, but the girls were warmly wrapped up and didn’t a bit mind the clear, frosty air, though in an open car. “Didn’t bring the limousine,” Mr. Kenerley rattled5 on. “Can’t abide6 to be shut up in a stuffy7 glass house, and then, you know, people who ride in glass houses mustn’t throw stones.”
“But, you see, we girls couldn’t hit anything if we did throw a stone,” said Patty. “At least, women have that reputation.”
“That’s so,” agreed Jim. “Can’t even hit the side of a barn, so they say. But I expect you girls that grow up with athletics8 and basket ball, and such things, put the old proverbs to rout9.”
“How’s Daisy?” asked Mona. “Same as ever?” 143
“Yep; same as ever. Daisy’s all right, you know, if things go her way. But if not——”
“If not, she makes them go her way,” said Mona, and Jim laughed and agreed, “She sure does!”
At last they reached the house, which Jim informed them they had dubbed10 the Kenerley Kennel11, for no particular reason, except that it sounded well.
“But you have dogs?” asked Patty, as they rolled up the driveway.
“Yes, but we didn’t exactly name it after them. Hello, here are the girls!”
Adèle and Daisy appeared in the doorway12, and greeted the visitors in truly feminine fashion, which included much laughter and exclamation13.
“Where do I come in?” said a laughing voice, and a big, laughing man left his seat by the fireplace and came toward them.
“This is my brother,” said Adèle, “by name, Mr. Harold Ferris,—but commonly called Chub.”
The name was not inapt, for Mr. Ferris showed a round, chubby14 face, with big, dancing black eyes and ringlets of dark hair clustered on 144 his brow. Only his enormous size prevented his appearance being positively15 infantile, and his round, dimpled face was as good-natured as that of a laughing baby.
“And so you’re the two girls who are to spend Christmas with us,” he said, beaming down on them from his great height. “Well, you’ll do!”
He looked approvingly from Patty’s flower face to Mona’s glowing beauty, and truly it would have been hard to find two more attractive looking girls. The sudden transition from the cold out-of-doors to the warmth of the blazing fire had flushed their cheeks and brightened their eyes, and the hearty16 welcome they received brought smiles of delight to their faces.
“Now, come away with me,” said Adèle, “and get off your furs and wraps, and make yourselves pretty for tea.”
“Oh, I know what you’ll do,” said Chub, in an aggrieved17 tone. “You’ll just go upstairs and hob-nob and talk and gossip and chatter18 and babble19, and never get down here again! I know girls! Why, first thing I know, you’ll be having your tea sent up there!”
“Great idea!” exclaimed Patty, twinkling her eyes at him. “Let’s do that, Adèle; kimono 145 party, you know. We’ll see you at dinner time, Mr. Ferris.”
“Dinner time, nothing! If you’re not back here in fifteen minutes, the whole crowd of you, I’ll—I’ll——”
“Well, what will you do?” laughed Mona.
“Never you mind,—you’ll find out all too soon. Now, skip, and remember, tea will be served in just fifteen minutes.”
The girls had really no intention of not returning, and it was not much more than the allotted20 time before Patty and Mona were arrayed in soft, pretty house-dresses and reappeared in the great hall, where tea was already being placed for them.
The big fireplace had cosy21 seats on either side, and the crackling logs and flickering22 blaze made all the light that was needed save for a pair of tall cathedral candles in their antique standards.
“What a duck of a house!” exclaimed Patty, as she came down the broad staircase, her soft, rose-coloured chiffon gown shimmering23 in the firelight. She cuddled up in a corner near the fire, and Hal Ferris brought a cushion to put behind her.
“It ought to be a rose-coloured one,” he said, apologetically; “but I didn’t see one handy to 146 grab, and really this old blue isn’t half bad for a background.”
“Much obliged for your kind colour-scheme,” said Patty, smiling at him, “and I’ll have one lump, please, and a bit of lemon.”
Big Mr. Ferris proved himself tactful as well as kind, for he divided his attentions impartially24 among the four ladies.
“A little shy of men; aren’t we, Adèle?” he said to his sister. “Even Jim seems to have disappeared. Not that I mind being the only pebble25 on the beach,—far from it,—but I’m afraid I can’t prove entertaining enough for four.”
“You’re doing nobly so far,” said Patty, cuddling into her cushion, for she loved luxurious26 warmth, like a kitten.
“Two more men are coming to dinner, girls,” said their hostess; “and to-morrow, you know, we’ll have two more house-party guests. Don’t worry, Chub, you shan’t be overworked, I promise you.”
After a pleasant tea hour, the girls went again to their rooms, ostensibly to rest before dinner, but really to have what Patty called a kimono party.
All in their pretty négligées, they gathered in 147 Adèle’s room and talked as rapidly and interruptingly as any four girls can.
“Do you hear from Bill Farnsworth often?” asked Daisy of Patty, apropos27 of nothing but her own curiosity.
“Not often, Daisy,” returned Patty, of no mind to pursue the subject.
“But don’t you ever hear from him?” persisted the other.
“Oh, sometimes,” said Patty, carelessly. “He sent me flowers for my coming-out party.”
“I hear from Bill sometimes,” said Adèle. “I asked him to come to this party, but he couldn’t possibly leave just now. He’s awfully28 busy.”
“What’s he doing?” asked Mona.
“I don’t know exactly,” answered Adèle. “Jim can tell you, but it has something to do with prospecting29 of mines. Say, girls, do you want to see the baby before she’s put to bed?”
Of course they did, and they all trooped into the nursery to admire the tiny mite30 of humanity, who looked a picture, with her tumbled curls and her laughing face, just ready for bed.
She remembered Patty and Mona, and greeted them without shyness, clinging to Patty’s neck and begging her to stay and sing her to sleep. 148
This Patty would have done, but Adèle wouldn’t allow it, and ordered the girls back to their rooms to dress for dinner.
“Eight o’clock sharp,” she warned them, “and don’t put on your prettiest gowns; save those for to-morrow night.”
Patty wandered around her room, singing softly, as she dressed. Looking over her dinner gowns, she decided31 upon her second best, a white marquisette with a garniture of pearl beads32 and knots of pale blue velvet33. When the maid came to assist her she was nearly dressed, and ten minutes before the dinner hour she was quite ready to go downstairs. “I may as well go on down,” she thought to herself. “I can explore the house a little.”
She looked in at Mona’s door as she passed, but as that young woman was just having her gown put over her head, she didn’t see Patty, and so Patty went on downstairs.
There was no one about, so she strolled through the various rooms, admiring the big, pleasant living-room, the cosy library, and then drifted back to the great hall, which was very large, even for a modern country house. It was wainscoted in dark wood, and contained many antique bits of furniture and some fine 149 specimens34 of old armour35 and other curios. Jim Kenerley’s father had been rather a noted36 collector, and had left his treasures to his only son. They had chosen this house as being roomy and well-fitted for their belongings37.
Patty came back to the great fireplace, and stood there, leaning her golden head against one of the massive uprights.
“Adèle told me you were a peach,” exclaimed a laughing voice, “but she didn’t half tell me how much of a one you are!”
Patty turned her head slowly, and looked at Mr. Hal Ferris.
“And I thought you were a mannerly boy!” she said, in a tone of grave reproach.
“I beg your pardon,” he exclaimed. “I do indeed! I’m almost a stranger to you, I know; I ought to have waited until I know you better to say anything of that sort to you! May I take it back, and then say it to you again after I do know you better?”
Patty couldn’t help smiling at his mock dismay.
“And how well shall I have to know you,” he went on, “before I can say it to you properly?”
“I can’t answer that question at once,” said 150 Patty. “We’ll have to let our acquaintance proceed, and see——”
“And see how the cat jumps,” he suggested.
“Yes,” agreed Patty. “And, by the way, what a jumper that cat must be.”
“Small wonder, with everybody waiting to see how she jumps! Oh, pshaw! here comes a horde38 of people, and our pleasant tête-à-tête is spoiled!”
“Never mind; we’ll have another some time,” and Patty gave him a dimpled smile that quite completed the undoing39 of Mr. Harold Ferris.
The “horde” proved to be two young men from nearby country houses, Mr. Collins and Mr. Hoyt. And then the other members of the household appeared, and soon dinner was announced.
“We haven’t any especial guest of honour,” said Mrs. Kenerley, “for you’re all so very honourable40. So pair off just as you like.”
Hal Ferris jumped a low chair and two footstools to reach Patty before any one else could. “Come in with me,” he said. “I know the way to the dining-room.”
“I’m glad to be shown,” said Patty. “You see, I’ve never been here before.”
“I know it; that’s why I’m being so kind to 151 you. To-morrow I’ll take you up in the tower—it’s great.”
“Why, is this place a castle?”
“Not exactly, but it’s modelled after an old chateau41. Really, it’s a most interesting house.”
“All right. To-morrow we’ll explore it thoroughly42.”
And then they took their seats at the table, and as the party was small, conversation became general.
Suddenly Patty became aware that Mr. Collins, who sat on the other side of her, was trying to attract her attention. He was a mild-mannered young man, and he looked at her reproachfully.
“I’ve asked you a question three times, Miss Fairfield,” he said, “and you never even heard it.”
“Then you certainly can’t expect me to answer it, Mr. Collins,” and Patty laughed gaily43. “Won’t you repeat it for me, please? I’ll promise to hear it this time.”
“I said, did you ever make a lemon pig?”
“A lemon pig! No, I never did. How do you make it?”
“Oh, they’re the maddest fun! I say, Mrs. Kenerley, mayn’t we have a lemon?” 152
“Certainly, Mr. Collins.”
“And, oh, I say, Mrs. Kenerley, if it isn’t too much trouble, mayn’t we have a box of matches, and two black pins, and a bit of paper?”
“And a colander44 and a tack45 hammer and a bar of soap?” asked Ferris, but Mr. Collins said, gravely: “No, we don’t want those.”
The articles he had asked for were soon provided, and in the slow, grave way in which he did everything, Mr. Collins began to make the strange animal of which he had spoken. The lemon formed the whole pig, with four matches for his legs, two black pins for his eyes, and a narrow strip of paper, first curled round a match, for his tail. It was neither artistic46 nor realistic, but it was an exceedingly comical pig, and soon it began to squeak47 in an astonishingly pig-like voice. Then a tap at the window was heard, and a farmer’s gruff voice shouted: “Have you my pig in there? My little Lemmy pig?”
“Yes,” responded Mr. Collins, “we have; and we mean to keep him, too.”
“I’ll have the law of ye,” shouted the farmer. “Me pig escaped from the sty, and I call upon ye to give him up!” 153
“We won’t do it!” shouted several of the men in chorus.
“Then, kape him!” returned the voice of the farmer, and they heard his heavy tramp as he strode away.
Patty looked puzzled. She couldn’t understand what it all meant, until Hal Ferris whispered, “It was only Collins; he’s a ventriloquist.”
“Oh,” said Patty, turning to Mr. Collins, delightedly, “was it really you? Oh, how do you do it? I’ve always wanted to hear a ventriloquist, and I never did before.”
“Oh, yes, you did!” said a voice from the other end of the table, and Patty looked up, saying earnestly, “No, I didn’t!” when she realised that the accusation48 had really come from Mr. Collins.
“Oh, what fun!” she cried, clapping her hands. “Do some more!”
“I’d rather he wouldn’t,” said Adèle, and Patty looked at her in surprise. “Why not, Adèle?” she asked.
Everybody laughed, and Adèle said: “You’re too easily fooled, Patty. That was Mr. Collins speaking like me. He knows my voice so well he can imitate it.” 154
“He’d better stop it!” came in a deep growl49 from Jim Kenerley’s end of the table, and Patty was surprised at such a speech from her urbane50 host. Then she realised that that, too, was Mr. Collins speaking.
“I just love it!” she exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to know how to do it. Won’t you teach me?”
“You couldn’t learn,” said Mr. Collins, smiling at her.
And then Patty heard herself say: “I could so! I think you’re real mean!”
Her bewildered look changed to admiration51 at his wonderful imitation of her voice, and the natural, petulant52 tone of the remark.
“It’s too wonderful!” she said. “Some other time, Mr. Collins, after dinner, maybe, will you teach me just a little about it?”
“I’ll try,” he said, kindly53; “but I warn you, Miss Fairfield, it isn’t easy to learn, unless one has a natural gift for it, and a peculiar54 throat formation.”
“Don’t teach her,” begged Daisy Dow. “She’ll be keeping us awake all night with her practising.”
It was like Daisy to say something unpleasant; but Patty only smiled at her, and said, “I’ll 155 practise being an angel, and sing you to sleep, Daisy.”
“You sing like an angel without any practice,” said Mona, who was always irritated when Daisy was what Patty called snippy.
“Oh, do you sing, Miss Fairfield?” said Mr. Hoyt, from across the table. “You must join our Christmas choir55, then. We’re going to have a glorious old carolling time to-morrow night.”
“I’ll be glad to,” replied Patty, “if I know your music.”
But after dinner, when they tried some of the music, they discovered that Patty could sing readily at sight, and she was gladly welcomed to the musical circle of Fern Falls.
“How long are you staying here?” asked Mr. Hoyt.
“A month, at least,” Adèle answered for Patty.
“Oh, no, not so long as that,” Patty protested. “A fortnight, at most.”
But Adèle only smiled, and said, “We’ll see about that, my dear.”
After a time, Hal Ferris came to Patty, and tried to draw her away from the group around the piano. 156
“You’re neglecting me shamefully,” he said; “and I’m the brother of your hostess! Guests should always be especially kind to the Brother of a Hostess.”
“What can I do for you?” asked Patty, smiling, as she walked out to the hall with him.
“Quit talking to the other people, and devote yourself to me,” was the prompt response.
“Do all your sister’s guests do that?”
“I don’t want ’em all to; I only want you to.”
“And what about my wants?”
“Yes; what about them? You want to talk to me, don’t you?”
His tone and smile were so roguishly eager that Patty felt a strong liking56 for this big, boyish chap.
“I’ll talk for ten minutes,” she said, “and then we’re going to dance, I believe.”
“Oh, and then they’ll all be after you! I say,” and he drew her toward a window, from where the moonlight could be plainly seen, “Let’s go out and skate. The ice is fine!”
“Skate! You must be crazy!”
“Yes; I supposed you’d say so! But to-morrow more people are coming, and I’ll never see anything of you. Say, how about this? Are you game to get up and go for an early 157 morning skate, just with me, and not let anybody else know?”
“I’d like that!” and Patty’s eyes sparkled, for she dearly loved early morning fresh air. “Of course, we’ll tell Adèle.”
“Yes; so she’ll have some breakfast made for us. But nobody else. How about eight o’clock? Regular breakfast will be at nine-thirty.”
“Good! I’ll be ready at eight.”
“Meet me in the breakfast-room at eight, then. Do you know where it is? Just off the big dining-room.”
“What are you two hob-nobbing about?” asked Daisy, curiously57, as she strolled over toward them.
“I’m just telling Miss Fairfield about the plan of the house,” said Ferris, innocently. “It’s well planned, isn’t it?”
“Very,” said Patty.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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3
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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athletics
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| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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19
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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impartially
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| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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prospecting
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| n.探矿 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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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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32
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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33
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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41
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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42
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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43
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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44
colander
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| n.滤器，漏勺 | |
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45
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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46
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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47
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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48
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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49
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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50
urbane
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| adj.温文尔雅的，懂礼的 | |
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51
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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52
petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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53
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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54
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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55
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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56
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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57
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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