"Me and the two companies is three," said Patty, making up her party, "and you and Dad are five. Who'd make a good sixth?"
"Only six?" asked Nan. "Why not a big dinner?"
"No; I don't think so. You see, the Blaneys don't fit in with everybody, and I want them to have a good time."
"Oh, I mean ask their own sort of people."
Patty looked up, quickly. "Now, Nan, don't be unpleasant. You're implying that their kind of people are not as nice as our kind, and that hurts my feelinks, and you know it. I want you wid me on this,—not agin me."
"I am, Patty. I don't mean to be horrid1. Well, have six, if you like.
Who else?"
"Chick Channing, I think. He's so adaptable2 and all-round nice with everybody. Phil hates the Blaneys, and——"
"Mr. Farnsworth?"
"I don't think he'd like them, either. And,—too,—Bill isn't very chummy with me lately."
"Why not?"
"Dunno."
"Did you quarrel?"
"Now, Nan, don't ask such leading questions. We didn't exactly quarrel, and yet again, I suppose we did quarrel,—at least, I did,—he didn't. I sort of snubbed him, and he took it more seriously than I meant, if you call that a quarrel. But anyway, he wouldn't stand for the Blaney crowd, I'm sure of that."
"All right, ask Chick. As you say, he'll chum with anybody. He's a splendid dinner guest."
Channing accepted the invitation with pleasure, and the party was made up.
"I don't want anything eccentric or foolish," Patty said to Nan, regarding the appointments, "but I do want it aesthetic3 and artistic4."
"You can arrange it as you like, dear," Nan said, kindly5, and Patty did.
The dining-room was dimly lighted, and the table decoration consisted of an enormous bronze placque, which Patty took down from the hall wall. This held a small amount of water, and on it floated three pansies. The table candles wore deep purple shades, and Nan privately6 thought the whole effect dull and gloomy enough, but she said no word of criticism.
Patty appeared, in a flowing, robe-like costume of pale violet chiffon, and wore pansies in her hair over each ear.
"Well!" exclaimed her father, as he saw her, "I thought you could wear any colour, but take my advice, Kiddie, and never brave lavender again! It makes you look old and sallow."
"Nothing of the sort!" denied Patty. "You're unaccustomed to seeing me in it, that's all."
Then Channing came, and Patty had to bear his disapproving7 glances.
"You're an angel in anything," he said, "but you're least angelic in that mawkish8 mauve. You look like a member of the Art Students' union."
Patty didn't mind their chaff9, and only smiled good-naturedly, and then the Blaneys came.
Patty was used to their aesthetic effects, but the others weren't, and though the greetings were cordial and courteous10, the elder Fairfields needed a moment to recover their poise11. But Chick Channing was always to be depended upon, and he plunged12 into gay conversation that broke the ice and did away with all self-consciousness.
Nor was it surprising that the appearance of the brother and sister should strike an observer as startling. Alla was swathed in yellowish-brown stuff. Her gown seemed to have no shape or design, just draperies that wrapped her about in mummy fashion. Long sleeves came well down over her hands, a high collar rose over her ears, and the long skirt twined itself round her feet, till she could scarcely walk. The material was a woolly serge, and no bit of colour or trimming relieved the severity. She wore no ornament13 save a hideous14 necklace of great, ugly stones, that fell down as far as her knees, and carried a dilapidated old fan of peacock feathers. Patty had never seen her look so unattractive, for even in her eccentric garb15, she was usually picturesque16. But in this brown thing she was utterly17 without charm.
Sam Blaney, too, looked ill-dressed and out of place. He had bowed to convention to the extent of wearing evening clothes, but they were not of correct cut, and did not fit well, and he wore an absurd tie of soft silk, of his favourite light green hue18, which gave him the appearance of a caricature.
However, the two were most affable and agreeable, and their soft, low voices murmured pleasantries suitable to the occasion.
At dinner the conversation turned on the approaching Christmas celebration of the Cosmic Centre.
"What a funny name," said Channing. "Sounds like a small village in
New England."
"So it does," returned Sam Blaney, taking the jest in good part. "But we call our club that modest little name because we think ourselves the centre of the Universe."
"I always admire self-respect," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling; "I hold that a man or a club with full appreciation19 of self-merit can't go far wrong."
"And Cosmic Centre is so very expressive," said Channing. "I don't see how you could have well found anything more inclusive."
"Mrs. Fairfield calls you the Cosmickers," put in Patty, smiling at Nan.
"And a very good name," agreed Alla. "Cosmickers sounds a bit like picknickers, and often that's what we are."
"What is your real end and aim?" asked Mr. Fairfield, seriously.
"Advancement20 of beauty and appreciation of art," replied Alla, looking thoughtful and a little affected21.
"Interpretation22 of beauty," amended23 her brother. "We endeavour to imbue24 our souls with the highest and best emotions and to discard and disown all that is merely conventional and formal in life or in thought."
"Meaning the outward and ordinary signs of clothes and manners?" said
Chick.
Patty detected the chaffing note in his voice, but his tone was grave and respectful, and after a quick glance at him, Blaney replied, "Yes, and the inner graces of poesy and music of the soul."
"In fact, you use your soul instead of your mind or brain," Chick continued, and now Patty gave him an imploring25 glance, meant to beg him not to guy the Cosmic principles.
But Alla had no thought of Chick's insincerity. "That is it," she said. "We use our souls for everything, even physical processes. One of our geniuses is inventing a dance for Miss Fairfield. Appreciating her genius for dancing, he is making a masterpiece in which she can dance with her soul——"
"Put her whole sole in her dancing," said Chick, with enough emphasis to point his jest.
"Yes," went on Alla, unmoved, though Mr. Fairfield nearly choked as he watched her intent face, "just that. Unless one does use one's soul it becomes rusted26 and useless."
Her face was drawn28 with intensity29, her lifted hand shook a long slender forefinger30 at Chick, and that urbane31 young man had just about all he could do to preserve his gravity.
But he went calmly on. "Do you know," he said, "I sometimes think my soul is a bit rusty32."
"Very likely," said Sam Blaney, who didn't like to be long out of the conversation. "Suppose you join our coterie33 and get the rust27 removed. Nor am I joking, Mr. Channing. Many there be who laugh at our earnestness, but only because of their own ignorance."
"I dare say that is so," put in Fred Fairfield, in sincere tones; "that's why I'm specially34 interested in knowing just what you do to tinker up a rusty soul. Pardon my rude diction, but I am not aesthetic myself. However, I am deeply interested."
"I feel sure you are, Mr. Fairfield," and Alla gave him a soulful glance; "and though it is not easy I will try to give you a hint of our methods."
"Let me tell him, Alla," insisted Sam, and he waved her to silence with a gesture of his long, white hand. "You see, sir, it is not often we meet such a receptive nature as you kindly show, and I am but too glad to gratify your most justifiable35 curiosity and Interest."
"Me, too," cried Chick. "Pray don't leave me out. I truly want to know what will clean the rust off my soul."
Again Patty besought36 him by urgent glances to beware of offending her guests, but Chick shook his head, indicating there was no danger. Nor was there. Though Mr. Fairfield and Channing both were consumed with merriment at the idea of their rusty souls, the Blaneys were quite in earnest and proceeded to dilate37 on their favourite subjects.
"Once under the influence of our atmosphere and our beliefs," avowed38
Blaney, "your soul expands and flowers out like a star!"
"Oh, how beautiful!" breathed Chick, with such a rapt expression, that
Patty had to put up her napkin quickly to hide her smile.
"Yes," said Alla, "my brother says wonderful things. His own soul is ineffably39 sweet."
"It must be!" and Chick looked at Blaney with an adoring gaze that nearly sent Nan into convulsions.
Patty was scared, for if Chick kept this up the Blaneys must realise his intent and would be mortally offended.
"How near Christmas is getting," she interrupted, blithely40, determined41 to change the subject. "Have you all your gifts ready, Alla?"
"Patty," said Chick, reprovingly, "how can you introduce commonplace subjects just now? I'm learning to remove rust stains from my dingy42 old soul. By the way, how would it do to scour43 one's soul with the sands of time?"
"Beautiful!" cried Sam. "Wonderful! What imagery! I wish I had said that!"
"You may, as often as you like," granted Chick, politely. "I'll be proud if you'll accept it. Among unrusted souls, there should be no give and take. My thoughts are yours. I am honoured."
"You are a delight," said Alla, calmly, looking at Chick, who blushed at this unexpected compliment. "I have never met any one so quickly responsive, so immediately simpatica."
"Except me," cried Patty. "You said I was that. Simp—what—d'ye call it? Now there are two of us, Chick."
"We are all simpatica," said Nan, who, like Patty, began to fear Chick's chaff would yet offend the guests. And then, she determinedly44 led the conversation away from soulful matters and talked of current events and casual subjects that had no aesthetic significance.
But it was difficult to keep the Blaneys off their favourite themes and hard to quell45 the fun of the irrepressible Chick.
And so, Nan was rather relieved when at a surprisingly early hour the two aesthetes46 took their leave.
"Oh, Piccalilli blossoms!" cried Chick, when they were fairly out of hearing, "did you ever see anything like that! Where did you unearth47 them, Patty? The lady one, especially! Wow, but she's a five-reel scream!"
"Stop that, Chick; I think you're real mean! You made me enough trouble at the dinner table, and you needn't make fun of my friends behind their backs."
"But Patty, such backs! I mean, such friends! Oh, I didn't think I could restrain my laughter till they went away from here,—but I managed to do so. Souls! Rusty souls! Wowly-wow-wow!"
"Chick, stop it. I tell you, I won't have it!"
"I'll stop in a minute, Patty. Let me laugh a minute, or I'll explode.
I say, Mrs. Fairfield, did you ever see anything like the lady's robe!
I don't often notice costumes of the fair sex, but that was a hummer
from Humville."
"Don't, Chick," said Nan, noticing Patty's quivering lip; "they're
Patty's friends, and I'd rather you wouldn't ridicule48 them."
"I'd rather not myself, honest, Mrs. Fairfield, I'd rather not, but what can you do when they come running up, begging to be ridiculed49?"
"They didn't," declared Patty. "Nobody would have thought of ridiculing50 them, Chick, if you hadn't. They talked a lot of wisdom that you couldn't assimilate, and you're envious51 of their superior minds, that's what ails52 you."
"Patty, Patty," said her father, laughing outright53 at this, "my dear child, are you really so infatuated with those people that you believe what you're saying?"
"Of course, I am. I don't expect you to understand them, Father, you're older, and belong to another generation."
"Good gracious, Patty," cried Nan, gasping54, "do you think your father is too old to understand that drivel?"
"I do," said Patty, calmly, "and you are too, Nan. It takes the modern viewpoint, the young soulsight to apprehend55 the beauty of vision, the vast—vast——"
"Horizon," suggested Chick, kindly.
"Yes, horizon," said Patty; "how did you know, Chick?"
"Oh, horizons are always vast. Deeps are vasty. Nothing much else is vast, except once in a while a distance. So I felt safe in chancing the horizon."
"Oh, Chick, you are the funniest thing!" said Nan, who was shaking with laughter at Patty's chagrin56. "But," and her voice suddenly became serious, "I won't stand for your nonsense. I range myself on Patty's side. These people were our guests. I forbid any slighting allusions57 to them. Their ways may not be our ways, but if they are Patty's friends they are my friends."
The warm, sincere ring of Nan's voice went to Patty's heart, and she smiled again.
"Good for you, you old trump58!" she exclaimed, looking gratefully at
Nan. "Now, Dad, you come over, and I can manage Chick, myself."
Patty was in gay good humour again, and she perched on the arm of her father's chair, as she proceeded to win him over.
"You know I can't resist your blandishments, my angel child," he said, as Patty caressed59 his handsome iron-grey hair, "but I must admit your Cosmickers have no message for me."
"That's just it," cried Patty, triumphantly60. "I knew it! They have no message for you, because you don't understand their language, you're—Dad, I hate to say it,—but, you're too old!"
And with a kiss on his frowning forehead, Patty ran to the piano, and began to play "Silver Threads Among the Gold," to a rag-time improvisation61 of her own.
"Oh, Pattibelle," cried Chick, "what would your vast-horizoned friends say if they could hear you playing ragtime62! I'm sure a lemon-coloured nocturne or a flaming fugue would be nearer their idea of melody."
"Play us a fox-trot, Nan," said Patty, jumping up, and in another minute, as Nan obligingly acquiesced63, Patty and Chick were dancing gaily64 up and down the room.
"Forgive me, Patty," said Chick, as they danced out into the hall, "I wouldn't offend you or your friends for worlds, but they—well, they struck me funny, you see."
"They're not funny, Chick. They're the real thing. You can't see it,
I know, and neither can Dad or Nan, but I do."
"All right, Patty. Go into it if you like. I don't believe it will hurt you. And like the measles65, the harder you have it, the sooner you'll get over it, and you'll never have it but once. By the way, they invited me to their Christmas racket,—and I'm going!"
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1
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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adaptable
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| adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的 | |
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aesthetic
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| adj.美学的，审美的，有美感 | |
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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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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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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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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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8
mawkish
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| adj.多愁善感的的；无味的 | |
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chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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12
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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13
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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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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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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20
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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imbue
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| v.灌输(某种强烈的情感或意见)，感染 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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28
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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31
urbane
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| adj.温文尔雅的，懂礼的 | |
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32
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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coterie
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| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
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34
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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35
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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36
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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37
dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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38
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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39
ineffably
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| adv.难以言喻地，因神圣而不容称呼地 | |
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blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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43
scour
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| v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷 | |
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determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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45
quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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46
aesthetes
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| n.审美家，唯美主义者( aesthete的名词复数 ) | |
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47
unearth
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| v.发掘，掘出，从洞中赶出 | |
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48
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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49
ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
ridiculing
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的现在分词 ) | |
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51
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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52
ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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53
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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54
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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55
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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56
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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57
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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58
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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59
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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61
improvisation
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| n.即席演奏(或演唱)；即兴创作 | |
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62
ragtime
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| n.拉格泰姆音乐 | |
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63
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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65
measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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