But the long-contested victory finally went against Patty, and she laughingly accepted defeat.
"Only because Patty's not quite back on her game yet," Roger defended; "this child has been on the sick list, you know, Sam, and she isn't up to her own mark."
"Well, I like that!" cried Patty; "suppose you bear half the blame, Roger. You see, Mr. Blaney, he is so absorbed in his own Love Game, he can't play with his old-time skill."
"All right, Patsy, let it go at that. And it's so, too. I suddenly remembered something Mona told me to tell you, and it affected2 my service."
"What is it?" asked Elise. "Anything of importance?"
"Yes; it's this: Mona has decided3 to sell Red Chimneys, and Philip Van
Reypen thinks it a good plan to buy it for the Children's Home."
"For gracious' sake!" exclaimed Patty. "That is news! Why doesn't
Phil tell me about it?"
"That's just it. He's coming down here tomorrow to talk it over with you. Mona's coming too, you know, and you can all have a powwow."
"All right," and Patty wagged her head, sagaciously. "It's not a bad idea at all. I knew Mr. Galbraith was thinking of selling the Spring Beach place, and it would be a fine house for the kiddies."
"And are you running a Children's Home?" asked Sam Blaney, as they all strolled back to the house, and paused on the wide veranda4.
"Too cool for you out here, Patty?" asked Elise.
"Not a bit of it. I love the outdoors. Somebody find me a sweater and a rug, and I'll be as happy as a clam5."
Roger brought a red silk sweater from the hall, and a big, soft steamer rug, and proceeded to tuck Patty up, snugly6.
"Yes," she said, turning to Blaney, and answering his inquiry7, "I am supposed to be organising a Children's Home, but all the hard work is done for me, and I only say yes or no, to easy questions. You see, a dear old friend of mine left me a sum of money for the purpose, and I want to prove a trustworthy steward8. But we're not going to do anything definite until Spring, unless, as Red Chimneys is in the market, it seems advisable to secure it while we can."
"Goodness, Patty," said Elise; "you talk like a Board of Managers!"
"That's what I am; or, rather, I'm Manager of the Board. Is Philip coming tonight, Roger?"
"Yes, he'll be here for dinner. And Mona, too. I say, Blaney, we'll bring 'em along to your party, eh?"
"Of course. Alla will be delighted to have them. No matter if we're crowded. You see, Miss Fairfield, our place is small, but our welcome is vurry, vurry large——" Blaney waved his long arms, as if including the whole world in his capacious welcome.
"You're vurry, vurry kind," returned Patty, unconsciously imitating his peculiar9 pronunciation. "I'm just crazy to see your studio. It seemed as if the time would never come. And I want to meet your sister, too. I know it will be a lovely party. I've never been to a real Bohemian Studio party."
"Oh, we don't call it Bohemian, because, you see, it is Bohemian. Only make-believe Bohemians call themselves so. You'll learn to distinguish the difference."
"I hope so. I've always wanted to know what Bohemianism really is."
"We'll show you tonight. What are you going to wear?"
"My goodness, I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. Also, I've never been asked a question like that before."
"Ah, but it means so much! If your gown should be out of key——" Blaney rolled up his eyes and spread his hands, as if the thought were too appalling10 for words.
Patty giggled11. "I hope it won't be," she said. "But, tell me, what is the key? Maybe I can strike it."
"The key," and the poet looked thoughtful, "ah, yes, I have it! The key will be saffron and ultramarine."
Patty gasped12. "Oh, I haven't a frock to my name in those colours!"
"But you can harmonise,—yes, harmonise. You will, won't you? If you didn't, I couldn't bear it."
"Oh, then I'll harmonise, yes, I promise you I will. I'll find something that won't make a discord13. But can you dictate14 to all your guests like this?"
"Alas15, no! Would that I might! And now I must go. Alla will be wanting me."
"What is he, anyway?" said Patty, as after his adieux, the poet swung away, with his queer, loping gait.
"Bats in his belfry," returned Roger, laughing. "He's the real thing in high-art souls,—if you get what I mean."
"Oh, I don't know," demurred16 Patty; "I think he's sincere."
"You do! Well, he may be, for all of me. But if he is, give me base deception17, every time! Don't you fall in love with him, Patty, Van Reypen wouldn't stand for it."
"I don't know what Mr. Van Reypen has to say about it," returned Patty, with a heightened colour. "And remember, Roger, not everybody is so absorbed in loving and being loved as you are!"
Patty's roguish smile was affectionate as well, for she was fond of Roger, and also of Mona, and she was deeply interested in their love affair. Their engagement had been a short one, and now that the wedding day was so near, the whole Farrington family could think or talk of little else. And as a house guest and a dear friend, Patty, too, was enthusiastic and excited about the preparations.
And then Roger went off to the train to meet Mona, and Philip, who came down at the same time, and Elise disappeared and Patty sat alone, in the falling dusk, snugly tucked in her rugs, and feeling very lazy and comfortable and happy.
Her thoughts drifted idly from one subject to another, and presently she heard a step beside her, and felt her hand taken in somebody's warm clasp.
"Philip!" she cried, starting up.
"Yes, my girl, and so glad to see you again. How are you?"
"Fine. This splendid air and luxurious18 living has made me all well again."
"That's good. But it's too late for you to be out here. Come on in the house."
"Yes, I will. Did Mona come?"
"Yes, we came down together. How that girl is improving!"
"What do you mean? She always was a fine character."
"Yes, but she has so much more—er—sweetness and light."
"That's so. I've noticed it ever since she's been engaged."
"Well, don't you put on any more sweetness and light when you get engaged. I simply couldn't stand it! You're chock-a-block full of it now!"
"Don't worry. Besides, I've no intention of being engaged. What's the use, if I'm sweet and light enough now?"
"You're going to announce your engagement in just fifteen days from now, my lady. Why, that will be Farrington's wedding day! By Jove, what an idea! We'll announce it at their wedding!"
"We'll do nothing of the sort. You take too much for granted."
"Well, you promised——"
"I know what I promised. But the fifteenth is a long way off yet."
"That may be, but it's bound to get here. Come in the house now. It's too damp for you out here."
They went in, and found Mona and Elise chattering19 like two magpies20, with Roger trying to get in a word edgeways.
"Hello, Patty," cried Mona, springing up to greet her. "My, how fine you're looking! Lakewood agrees with you all right. And Patty, the bridesmaids are going to sing, after all. Will you be home in time for one or two rehearsals21?"
"Yes, indeed. I'll come up whenever you want me, Mona."
"Good girl. Now I must go and dress for dinner. I'd no idea we'd get here so late; and Roger says there's a party on for tonight."
"Yes," laughed Patty; "and it's a party you have to get keyed up to,—I mean your gown."
"What are you talking about?"
"Come along and I'll tell you."
The two girls went off together, and half an hour later Elise found them in Patty's room, still talking and no beginning made in the matter of dressing22.
But later, when the young people left the house to go to the Studio party, they were resplendent of costume. Patty had told the other girls what Mr. Blaney had said, and though they scoffed23 at it, they agreed not to wear anything that might be too desperately24 inharmonious.
Mona was in white, declaring that that could offend nobody. Elise wore pale yellow, for the same logical reason. Patty had on a gown of soft chiffon, of old-gold colour, which, she said, was the nearest to saffron she had ever had or ever hoped to have.
"I don't like the word saffron," she declared; "somehow it makes me think of camomile tea."
"Naturally," said Roger; "I believe they're both yarbs. Blaney might call this affair a Saffron Tea, and have done with it."
But the gown was most becoming to Patty. The dull old-gold tints25 sets off her fair skin, and her bright gold hair, piled high, was topped with a gold and amber26 comb. Round her throat was an old-fashioned necklace of topazes, lent her by Mrs. Farrington. Altogether, she looked, Philip declared, positively27 Burne-Jonesey, and he called her the Blessed Damosel.
When at last they entered the Studio of the Blaney brother and sister, Patty blinked several times, before she could collect her senses. It was very dimly lighted, and a strange, almost stifling28 sense of oppression came over her. This was caused by the burning of various incense29 sticks and pastilles which gave out a sweet, spicy30 odour, and which made a slight haze31 of smoke. Becoming a little accustomed to the gloom, Patty discerned her host, amazingly garbed32 in an Oriental burnoose and a voluminous silk turban. He took her hand, made a deep salaam33, and kissed her finger-tips with exaggerated ceremony.
"My sister, Alla," he said, "Miss Fairfield."
Patty looked up to see a tall, gaunt woman smiling at her. Miss Blaney, like her brother, was long, lanky34 and loose-jointed, and seemed to desire to accentuate35 these effects. Her ash-coloured hair was parted and drawn36 loosely down to a huge knot at the back of her neck. A band of gilt37 filigree38 was round her head at the temples, and was set with a huge green stone which rested in the middle of her forehead. Long barbaric earrings39 dangled40 and shook with every movement of her head, and round her somewhat scrawny neck was coiled an ugly greenish serpent of some flexible metal formation. For the rest, Miss Blaney wore a flowing robe of saffron yellow, a most sickly shade, and the material was frayed41 and worn as if it had been many times made over. It hung from her shoulders in billowy folds, and the wearer was evidently proud of it, for she continually switched its draperies about and gazed admiringly at them.
"Frightfully glad to see you," this weird42 creature was saying, and Patty caught her breath, and murmured, "Oh, thank you. So kind of you to ask me."
"I feel sure I shall adore you," Miss Blaney went on; "you are simpatica,—yes, absolutely simpatica."
"Am I?" and Patty smiled. "And is it nice to be simpatica? It doesn't mean a simpleton, does it?"
"Oh, how droll43! My dear, how droll!" and Miss Blaney went off in contortions44 of silent laughter. "Just for that, you must call me Alla. I always want droll people to call me by my first name. And your name is——"
"Patty."
"Impossible! You can't be named that! Incredible! Ooh!"
Alla ended with a half-breathed shriek45.
"Oh, well," said Patty, hastily, "my name is really Patricia, though no one ever calls me that."
"I shall call you that. Patricia! Perfect! You couldn't have been better dubbed46. No, not possibly better dubbed. Patricia, ah, Patricia!"
Patty edged away a little. She began to think her hostess was crazy.
But Alla went on:
"And my brother, Patricia, do you not adore him?"
"Well, you see, I've only seen him a few times. I can't quite agree that I adore him, yet."
"But you will. As soon as you have heard his poems, you will put him on a pedestal, yes, on a high pedestal. And tonight you will hear him read his wonderful lines. What a treat you have in store!"
And then new arrivals claimed Miss Blaney's attention, and Patty turned aside. She found Philip waiting for her, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"What is it all?" he whispered; "a bear garden?"
"Hush47, Phil, don't make me laugh. Did you ever see anything like it?"
"Well, I've been to Studio jinks, but they were to this as moonlight unto sunlight and as water unto wine! Shall I take you home?"
"No, indeed! I want to see the fun. I've never been to a Studio jinks,—or whatever you call it, and I want to live and learn."
"All right, Patty. You shall stay as long as you like, but I'll wager48 that inside of an hour you'll be begging me to get you out of it."
"All right, if I do, I shall expect you to take me away. Let's look at the room."
They sauntered about, and finally sat down on a Turkish divan49, which proved much lower than they had anticipated.
"What an uncomfortable thing!" said Patty, "but sit here a minute, while I look round."
From the ceiling hung Moorish-looking lamps, which gave almost no light, and, were of rather dilapidated appearance. The furniture, too, was not only antique, but wabbly-legged and here and there tied up with strings50 or leather thongs51. Statuettes were about, broken and dusty; jugs52 and bowls of dull brass53 and copper54; rickety screens; enormous unframed photographs, warped55 and faded, but bearing splashing and unintelligible56 autographs; and draperies of all sorts, from old shawls to tattered57 ecclesiastical robes.
"I see what Mr. Blaney meant by the key of saffron," said Patty, sagely58. "Everything is that colour because of the accumulation of dust and dirt! I don't believe this place has ever had a good house-cleaning!"
"Oh, Patty, my dear child! Don't thus expose your ignorance! Bohemia never cleans house! The very thought is sacrilege!"
"Why is it? Some of this old brass stuff would be lovely if it were cleaned up. And look at that copper kettle! It's positively blue!"
"But that's what they want, dear," said Van Reypen, smiling at her.
"Howsumever, I'm glad you don't like it. We won't model our home on a
Bohemian plan."
"And look at the people," went on Patty, in an awe-struck whisper. "Some of them are decent, like our crowd,—but look at that girl in orange!"
The girl in question wore a costume of flame-coloured woolen59 material that was indeed striking. Her black hair was in two long braids, and she was carrying a small musical instrument that Philip said was a zithern.
"I don't know," he went on, "but I fancy she will play a sort of accompaniment to our host's poems. They generally work it that way."
"Stop making fun, Phil," reproved Patty; "perhaps the poems will be lovely,—with musical setting."
"Perhaps," said Philip.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
vestige
|
|
| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
clam
|
|
| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
snugly
|
|
| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
steward
|
|
| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
giggled
|
|
| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
discord
|
|
| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
dictate
|
|
| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
demurred
|
|
| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
deception
|
|
| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
chattering
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
magpies
|
|
| 喜鹊（magpie的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
rehearsals
|
|
| n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
scoffed
|
|
| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
tints
|
|
| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
amber
|
|
| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
incense
|
|
| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spicy
|
|
| adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
haze
|
|
| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
garbed
|
|
| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
salaam
|
|
| n.额手之礼，问安，敬礼；v.行额手礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
lanky
|
|
| adj.瘦长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
accentuate
|
|
| v.着重，强调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
gilt
|
|
| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
filigree
|
|
| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
earrings
|
|
| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
dangled
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
frayed
|
|
| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
droll
|
|
| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
contortions
|
|
| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
dubbed
|
|
| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
divan
|
|
| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
thongs
|
|
| 的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
jugs
|
|
| （有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
warped
|
|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
unintelligible
|
|
| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
sagely
|
|
| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
woolen
|
|
| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |