"I've come to carry you off," Blaney said to her; "you must mingle2 with the crowd, if you want to become one of us."
"I'd like to mingle a little," Patty replied, "but I can't hope to become one of such a talented bunch as this."
"They're not all so talented," Blaney assured her, as he led her away, leaving Philip a bit moody3 and disapproving4.
"It's their clothes that astound5 me," said Patty. "Why do they wear such queer rigs? Almost like a masquerade or fancy-dress ball. You, for instance; why do you wear this Oriental robe and turban?"
"Now that you ask me, I don't believe I know! But it's habit, I think. Yes, that's it, it's just habit. We who possess higher intellect than our fellows must differentiate6 ourselves in some way from them, and how else but by a difference of raiment?"
"Well, that does explain it, but why such queer raiment? Why not beautiful garments instead of eccentric ones?"
"Ah, that's just it! They are beautiful, only you're not of sufficient intelligence to appreciate their beauty."
"What!" cried Patty, scarcely able to believe she had heard aright,
"I'm not intelligent enough——"
"Oh, don't get miffed. Your natural intelligence is all right, you've plenty of it. But it needs education,—bending in the right direction, you know. And I'm going to educate you. You're the most promising7 subject I've ever seen. I'll make a priestess of you,—a shining light,—a prophetess——"
Patty giggled8. "If I'm a priestess I may as well be a prophetess, I suppose. When do these lessons begin?"
"Now. They have begun. You are unconsciously absorbing this atmosphere. You are involuntarily becoming more and more of our cult,—of our inspirations. You are evolving,—you don't realise it, but you are evolving——"
"I shall be revolving10, if I don't get some fresh air! Why must you have these incense11 things smoking, not to mention some of the guests smoking also, and, incidentally, that Moorish12 lamp is smoking badly! I am absorbing your atmosphere, and it is choking me!"
Patty was in earnest, though she spoke13 lightly. The unpleasant air filled her lungs, and she wanted pure oxygen.
"Oh, all right," and Blaney laughed, indulgently. "You can't expect to achieve all at once. Come, we'll step out on the veranda14 for a whiff of outdoors, and then come back for the program."
"There's to be a program?"
"Oh, yes. Most wonderful work, by genius itself. Now, please, Miss
Fairfield, don't resist the influence."
They were out on the tiny veranda that graced the Blaney's dwelling15. The stars shone down through the pure winter air, and Patty felt as if she had been rescued from a malarial16 swamp. But Blaney was impressive. His deep, soft voice persuaded her against her will that she was pettish17 and crude to rebel at the unwholesome atmosphere inside. "You don't understand," he said gently. "Give us a fair trial. That's all I ask. I know your inner nature will respond, if you give it its freedom. Ah, freedom! That's all we aim for,—all we desire."
Through the window, Patty heard the sound of weird18 strains of music.
"Come on," she cried, "I do want to see this thing through. If that's the program beginning, take me in. I want to hear it."
They returned to the Studio, and Blaney found two seats which commanded a view of the platform. The seats were uncomfortable, being small wooden stools, and the air was still clouded with smoke of various sorts. But, determinedly19, Patty prepared to listen to the revelations that awaited her. She had long had a curiosity to know what "Bohemia" meant, and now she expected to find out. They were nowhere near their own crowd. In fact, she couldn't see Elise or Mona, though Philip was visible between some rickety armour20 and a tattered21 curtain. Very handsome he looked, too, his dark, and just now gloomy, face thrown into relief by the "artistic22" background.
"Apparently23, Mr. Van Reypen is not enjoying himself," Blaney commented, with a quiet chuckle24. "He's not our sort."
This remark jarred upon Patty, and she was about to make a spirited retort, when the music began.
A girl was at the piano. Her gown, of burlaps, made Patty think it had been made from an old coffee sack. But it had a marvelous sash of flaming vermilion velvet25, edged with gold fringe, and in her black hair was stuck a long, bright red quill26 feather, that gave her an Indian effect.
"I think her gown is out of key," Patty whispered, "and I am sure her music is!"
Blaney smiled. "She is a law unto herself," he replied, "that is an arbitrary minor27 scale, played in sixths and with a contrary motion."
Patty stared. This was a new departure in music and was interesting.
"Note the cynicism in the discords," Blaney urged, and Patty began to wonder if she could be losing her mind or just finding it.
The performance concluded and a rapt silence followed. It seemed applause was undesired by these geniuses.
Philip stirred, restlessly, and looked over at Patty. She looked away, fearing he would silently express to her his desire to go home, and she wanted to stay to see more.
The girl who had played glided28 to a side seat, and her place was taken by another young woman, who presented an even more astonishing appearance. This time, the costume was of a sort of tapestry29, heavily embroidered30 in brilliant hued31 silks. It was not unbeautiful, but it seemed to Patty more appropriate for upholstery purposes than for a dress.
The lady recited what may have been poems, and were, according to Blaney's whispered information, but as they were in some queer foreign language, they were utterly32 unintelligible33.
"What was it all about?" Patty asked, as the recitations were at last over.
"My dear child, couldn't you gather it all,—all, from the marvellous attitudinising,—the wonderful intoning——"
"'Deed I couldn't! I've no idea what she was getting at, and I don't believe you have, either."
"Oh, yes, it was the glory of a soul on fire,—an immolation34 of genius on the altar of victory——"
"That sounds to me like rubbish," and Patty smiled frankly35 into the eyes of the man addressing her.
"Not rubbish, Miss Fairfield. Oh, what a pleasure it will be to enlighten your ignorance! To teach the eyes of your soul to see, the heart of your soul to beat——"
Again, it was the voice of the man that commanded her attention. The tones of Sam Blaney's speaking voice were of such a luring36, persuasive37 quality that Patty felt herself agreeing and assenting38 to what she knew was nonsense.
But now Van Reypen was striding toward them. Patty saw at a glance that Phil was at the end of his rope. No more of this nonsense for him.
She was right. As Blaney's attention was diverted for a moment, Phil said, "Patty, you're going right straight out of this. It's no place for you! I'm ashamed to have you here. Get your wraps, and we'll go, whether the Farringtons are ready or not. We can walk over to Pine Laurel,—it isn't far. Come."
"I won't do it!" Patty returned, crisply. "The idea, Phil, of your ordering me around like that! I want to stay, and I'm going to stay. You can go, if you like; I'll come home with Roger and the girls."
"But I don't like it, Patty, and I don't like to have you here.
It's—it's——"
"Well, what is it? I think it's great fun, and I'm going to see it out."
"Even if I ask you not to? Even if I beg you to go——"
"Even if you beg me on your bended knees! You're silly, Phil. It can't be wrong if the Farringtons stand for it."
"It isn't exactly wrong,—not wrong, you know,—but, well,—it's cheap."
"Oh, fiddlesticks! I like it. I don't mind it's being cheap, I'm tired of expensive things and glad of a change."
"Oh, I don't mean that way," and Van Reypen looked genuinely distressed39. "I wouldn't care how poor people were, if they were——"
"Respectable?"
"No, not that, these people are respectable, of course. But,—sincere, that's what I mean. This bunch are fakirs, they pretend to brains and knowledge and wisdom that they don't possess."
"And I suppose you do! Have you got all the knowledge and wisdom in the world?"
"At least I don't pretend to have the knowledge that I haven't!"
"But you pretend to have a whole lot of authority over me that you haven't! I tell you, Phil, I'm not going to be ordered about by you! I came to this party because I wanted to see it, and I'm going to stay till it's over, and you can do what you like."
"All right, then," and Phil looked grave. "I'll go away for a time, and I'll return and escort you home. What time shall I come back?"
"You needn't come back at all. I'll go home with Elise, or if not, I daresay Mr. Blaney will see that I get home safely. Won't you?" she added, turning to the resplendent figure nearby.
"Won't I what?" he asked gaily40. "But the answer is yes, to anything you may ask. Even to the half of my kingdom, and then the other half. To be sure, my kingdom is small, and half of it is my sister's, but you can command it all."
"Oh, no, nothing so great as that! Merely to see me back to my rooftree in safety, if I outstay my escort."
"You're going to outstay everybody. Why, the fun hasn't begun yet.
Don't dream of going home now!"
"I won't," and Patty turned deliberately42 away from Philip and began to chat with a group of guests to whom she had previously43 been introduced.
"Join our ranks," said one vivacious44 young girl. "We're the intelligent idiots, perhaps the wisest sages45 of our time. We're having a symposium46 of souls——"
"Miss Fairfield isn't interested in souls yet," interrupted Blaney, "she's not unnaturally47 starving to death. The feast is unusually delayed tonight."
"It's coming now," announced Alla. "To the food, all!"
Philip was nowhere to be seen, nor did Patty see the Farringtons near her, but feeling glad of the hint of refreshments48, she followed where Blaney led. Soon, she found herself ensconced on a divan, heaped with pillows, and many people were offering her strange-looking dishes.
"Chili49 con9 carne?" said one, "or common or garden Welsh Rabbit?"
"I never tasted the Chili stuff," laughed Patty, "but I love Welsh
Rabbit. I'll take that, please."
But, alas50, the Welsh Rabbit Patty had in mind was a golden, delectable51 confection, light and dainty of character. She was served with a goodly portion of a darkish, tough substance, of rubbery tendencies and strong cohesive52 powers.
In vain she essayed to eat it; it was unmanageable, and, to her taste, positively53 inedible54. Yet the others were apparently enjoying it, so she made valiant55 efforts to consume her own.
"Fine, isn't it?" said Alla, with enthusiasm, "why, you're not eating any! You don't like it! Take this away, Sam, and bring Miss Fairfield some of the Tamale stuff."
And then, the Rabbit was succeeded by a concoction56 so much worse, that
Patty was appalled57 at the mere41 sight and odour of it.
"Oh, please," she said, hastily, "if I might be excused from eating anything tonight. You see, the perfume of the incense burning is so unusual for me, that it makes me a little—er, headachy. Don't think me a silly, will you?"
Patty's wheedlesome air won them all, and they took away the highly-spiced, and strongly-flavoured dish. Then Blaney came with a small cup of thick, muddy-looking coffee.
"Just the thing for you," he declared, "set you up in a jiffy! Real
Egyptian, no Turkish business. Just the thing for you!"
Patty gratefully accepted the coffee, but one taste was enough! It was thick with pulverized58 coffee grounds, it was sickishly sweet, and it was strong and black enough to please the blackest Egyptian who ever desired that brand.
"Thank you," she said, hastily handing the cup back. "It is so—so powerful, a little is quite enough. I'm sure that is all I want."
The others sipped59 the muddy fluid with apparent relish60, and Patty began to wonder if she wished she had gone home with Philip. At any rate she was glad he would return for her, and she hoped it would be soon.
She asked where the Farringtons were.
"In the other room, I think," said Alla. "We'll find them after supper. Here are the sweetmeats now. You must try these."
The sweetmeats were Oriental, of course. There was Turkish Delight and other sticky, fruity, queer-looking bits, that seemed to Patty just about the most unappetising candies she had ever seen.
She refused them, a little positively, for she dreaded61 being persuaded to taste them, and it was hard to refuse the insistence62 of the guests who offered them.
"You'll learn," said Miss Norton, the pianist of the program. "It took me a long time to acquire the taste. But I've got it now," she added, as she helped herself bountifully to the saccharine63 bits.
Supper over, it was rumoured64 about that now Blaney would himself read from his own poems. A rustle65 of enthusiasm spread through the rooms, and Patty could easily see that this was the great event of the evening. She was glad now that she had stayed, for surely these poems would be a revelation of beauty and genius.
There was a zithern accompaniment by the girl in orange, but it was soft and unobtrusive, that the lines themselves might not be obscured.
Standing66 on the little platform, Blaney, in robes and turban, made a profound salaam67, and then in his melodious68 voice breathed softly the following "Love Song ":
"Thy beauty is a star—
A star
Afar—
Ay,—far and far,
Ay, far.
And yet, a bar,—
A bar
Is between thee and me!
Thee and me——
Thee and me!"
The voice was so lovely that Patty scarcely sensed the words. With the haunting accompaniment, the whole was like a bit of music, and the words were negligible.
But in the hush69 which followed, Patty began to think that after all the words didn't amount to much. However, everybody was raving70 over the performance, and begging for more.
"Did you care for it?" Blaney asked of Patty, with what seemed to be a great longing71 in his eyes.
Unwilling72 to seem disappointed, she replied, "Oh, yes, it was most significant."
"I thank you," he said, his eyes alight with pleasure, "you have used the right word!"
As Patty had spoken the first noncommittal word that came into her head, she was thankful it proved acceptable!
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收听单词发音
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1
divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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astound
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| v.使震惊，使大吃一惊 | |
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differentiate
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| vi.(between)区分；vt.区别；使不同 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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con
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| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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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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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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malarial
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| 患疟疾的，毒气的 | |
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pettish
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| adj.易怒的，使性子的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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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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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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hued
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| 有某种色调的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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immolation
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| n.牺牲品 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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luring
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式） | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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assenting
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| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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46
symposium
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| n.讨论会，专题报告会；专题论文集 | |
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unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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48
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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49
chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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50
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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51
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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52
cohesive
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| adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的 | |
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53
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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54
inedible
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| adj.不能吃的，不宜食用的 | |
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55
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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56
concoction
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| n.调配(物)；谎言 | |
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57
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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58
pulverized
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| adj.[医]雾化的，粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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59
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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61
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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saccharine
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| adj.奉承的，讨好的 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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66
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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salaam
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| n.额手之礼，问安，敬礼；v.行额手礼 | |
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68
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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69
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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70
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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71
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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72
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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