"Why, Elise, you dear little, sweet, 'bused child! Am I as bad as all that? You do su'prise me! Well, well, I must mend my ways. I've always had a reputation for good nature, but it seems to be slipping awa' Jean, like snow in the thaw1, Jean,—as the song book says. Now, my friend and pardner, here's my ultimatum2. But smile on me, first, or I can't talk to you at all. You look like a thunder cloud,—a very pretty thunder cloud, to be sure,—but still, lowering and threatening. Brace3 up, idol4 of my heart,—shine out, little face, sunning over with raven5 black curls,—I seem to be poetically6 inclined, don't I?"
Elise laughed in spite of herself. The two girls had been discussing plans, and as Patty stuck to her determination to spend Christmas Eve at the Blaneys', Elise was angry, because she was to have her own Christmas tree that night, and, of course, wanted Patty with her.
They were in the Farringtons' library. It was nearly dusk, and Patty was just about to get her hat to go home, when they began the controversy7 afresh.
"I can't help laughing, because you're so silly, but I'm angry at you all the same," Elise averred8, with a shake of her dark, curly head. "You're so wrapped up in the Blaneys and their idiotic9 old crowd, that you have no time or attention for your old friends."
"It does seem so," mused10 Patty; "of course, it might be, because the idiotic crowd are nice and pleasant to me, while my old friends, one of them, at least, is as cross as a bear with a bumped head."
"Well, you're enough to make me cross. Here I'm going to have a big
Christmas tree, and a lovely Christmas party, and you won't come to it.
That makes me cross, but to have you throw me over for those ridiculous
Blaneys makes me crosser yet."
"You can't get much crosser, you're about at the limit."
"No, I'm not, either. It makes me still crosser that you won't have the House Sale."
"Oh, Elise, it's such a nuisance! Turn the whole place upside down and inside out, for a few dollars! Let's get the money by subscription11. Everybody would be glad to give something for the girls' library."
"No, they won't. Everybody has been asked for money for charity all winter, and they're tired of it. But a novel sale would bring in a lot."
Patty and Elise were greatly interested in getting a library for the working girls' club, which they helped support. Patty was usually most enthusiastic and energetic in furnishing any project for helping12 this work along, and Elise was greatly surprised at her present unwillingness13 to hold a sale they had been considering.
"And it's only because you're crazy over that Cosmic Club that you can't bother with the things that used to interest you. Phil Van Reypen thinks they're a horrid14 lot, and so does Chick Channing, and I do, too."
"You forget that it was down at your house in Lakewood that I first met them."
"No, I don't; but that's no reason you should go over to them so entirely15, and forsake16 all of your old set. I never liked the Blaneys; I only wanted you to meet them, to see how queer and eccentric they were. But I never supposed you'd join their ranks, and become so infatuated with Sam Blaney——"
"I'm not infatuated with Sam Blaney!"
"You are so! You think he's a genius and a poet and a little tin god on wheels!"
"Well, all right, Elise, then I do think so. And I've got a right to think so, if I want to. Now, listen, and stop your foolishness. I said I'd give you my decision, and this is it. I'll come round here Christmas Eve after the party at the Blaneys'. I've got to go to that, for I'm going to dance, and I'm going to be in some 'Living Pictures,' but I can get away by eleven, or soon after, and that will be in time for your dance."
"Well, half a loaf is better than no bread,—I'll have the tree late, then. After you get here."
"Oh, no, don't put off your tree! I might not be able to get here much before midnight."
"Yes, you will. You've promised me for eleven, and you always keep a promise,—I know that. I'll send for you, and you must come."
"All right, I will. Truly, Elise, I want to be at the tree here,—but
I couldn't help the two engagements clashing. Now, also, to show you
that I haven't lost interest in the Girls' Club, I'll have the House
Sale after the holidays are over."
"Oh, will you, Patty? You're a dear old thing!"
"And amn't I mean and horrid, and a deserter?"
"Well, you're a bit of a deserter, and I suppose you'll rush off to a
Cosmic meeting the night of the Sale, and leave me to run it!"
"You're mean, now, Elise. You know I wouldn't do such a thing,—unless——"
"Unless what?"
"Unless it happened to be on a night of a special meeting of the Cosmic
Centre. In that case, I'd have to go for a little while."
Just then Van Reypen came in.
"You here, Patty?" he said. "I've been looking you up. How are you,
Elise? What are you girls confabbing about?"
"I'm scolding Patty for her desertion of us and her infatuation for those Blaney people."
"Confound those Blaney people! I wish they were in Timbuctoo!"
"Why, Philip, how unkind!" and Patty smiled at him in an exasperating17 way. "You know you admire Sam Blaney immensely,—only you're jealous of him."
"Admire him! Jealous of him!" Van Reypen fairly glowered18 with indignation. "That nincompoop! with long hair and a green neck-tie! He's a half-witted farmer!"
Patty's laugh rang out. "Oh, Phil," she cried, "don't be a silly, yourself! His worst enemy couldn't call Sam a farmer! And I can assure you, he's far from half-witted."
"Yes, far less than half," growled19 Van Reypen. "Oh, Patty, drop 'em, cut 'em out, give 'em the go-by, won't you?"
"Thank you, no. I still reserve the right to choose my friends, and I confess to a liking20 for those who are kindly21 disposed toward me."
"Oh, I'm kindly disposed toward you, very much so," declared Phil, "but your new friends are not included in my kindly disposition22."
"So I gathered," and Patty laughed again. "But, do you know, they feel that they can struggle along without your admiration23 and affection."
"Don't be sarcastic24, Patty," and Van Reypen smiled at the haughty25 little face turned toward his.
"No, I won't, Phil. I hate it. And I'm sorry I let myself go like that. But you do stir me up,—you and Elise."
"Glad of it," said Elise, "you ought to be stirred up once in a while. But don't go, Patty. Here comes Daisy,—and, well, if it isn't Bill Farnsworth with her! I didn't know he was in town. He's in and out so much, it's hard to keep track of him. Come in, Daisy, take off your furs. Glad to see you, Bill. Here's Patty Fairfield."
"So I see," laughed Farnsworth, as he held out his hand. "Going? Why go yet? Hello, Van Reypen."
"Hello, Bill. Thought you were on your way to or from Arizona. How do you know where to vote, anyhow?"
"Guess at it. But I'm not going to live on the road so much as formerly26. I've cleaned things up a bit, and shall sort of settle in New York from now on."
"Good! Glad to give you the freedom of our city. And you, Daisy? Are you going to live East, also?"
"Haven't decided27 yet," and Daisy glanced coquettishly at Farnsworth.
"Maybe so."
"Don't you go yet, Patty," begged Elise. "Stay a while longer, and we'll have tea,—chocolate, too, which I know you like better."
"'Course I'll stay," said Patty; "your chocolate is always the best ever. Order it up. What beautiful violets, Daisy."
"Yes, Bill bought them for me as we passed a florist's shop. I adore violets."
"What girl doesn't?" laughed Patty. "At least she adores having them bought for her."
"I don't," said Elise. "I'd rather have one rose than all the violets that ever bloomed in the spring, tra-la."
"What's your favourite flower, Patty?" asked Farnsworth.
"Sunflowers, but nobody ever sends me any. I just get old orchids28 and things."
"Poor kiddy! I wish I could get a sunflower or two for you. But I fancy, at this season of the year, they're about as scarce as blue roses."
"'It is but an idle quest, Roses red and white are best,'"
sang Patty, with a smile at Big Bill.
"Do you know that?" he asked, interestedly. "I never heard you sing it."
"Oh, it's one of her best songs," cried Elise; "sing it now,
Patty,—you'll have time before the chocolate comes."
"Too much bother," said Patty; "we'd have to go in the music room and all. I'll sing it for you some other time, Little Billee."
"All right," he responded, carelessly, and again Patty felt a slight chagrin29 that he cared so little about the matter.
Other people drifted in, as the young folks were apt to do at tea time, and then the chocolate arrived, and Patty found herself provided with a welcome cup of her favourite beverage30.
It was Farnsworth who brought it to her, and he deliberately31 took a seat at her side, a seat that Van Reypen had just vacated.
"You can't sit there," said Patty, quickly; "Phil will be back in a minute."
"Will he?" said Big Bill, as he settled himself comfortably in the chair. "Do you think he can put me out?"
"Not unless you want him to," and Patty smiled at the big man, who looked so strong and powerful.
"Somehow, I don't. I like it here."
"Why?"
"Because I like to look at you. You're looking uncommonly32 well today. If I were to guess, I should say you have been having a rumpus with somebody."
"What is a rumpus?" inquired Patty, looking innocent.
"A rumpus, my child, is a tiff33, a squabble, a set-to, a racket, a general scrimmage."
"I haven't exactly had those things, but, well, I may say I have been drawn34 into a somewhat spirited discussion."
"Ah, I thought so."
"How did you know? I mean, why did you think so?"
"By your heightened colour and your generally wrought-up condition.
Why, your heart isn't beating normally yet."
Patty looked up at him, indignantly, but his blue eyes were very kind and his smile gentle and even concerned.
"What was it about, Patty? Who has been tormenting35 you?"
"Nobody tormented36 me, exactly, but they criticise37 me and they say mean things about my friends——"
"Never let them do that! Your friends must be sacred to you,—I mean from adverse38 criticism of others."
"That's what I think, Little Billee. What shall I do, when everybody ridicules39 them and calls them names?"
"Just what I am sure you did do. Flare40 up like a wrathy kitten and helplessly paw the air."
"Of course that's what I did," and Patty laughed at the graphic41 description, "but it didn't seem to do much good."
"Of course it didn't. Standing42 up for one's friends rarely does much good, except to satisfy one's own sense of loyalty43."
"Why, what do you mean? Why doesn't it do any good to defend our friends?"
"Because if they need our defence, they're probably at fault."
"But they weren't in this case. It was the Blaneys,—do you know them?"
"Those mercerised personages I met at Mona's wedding? I haven't the pleasure of their intimate acquaintance, and something tells me I never shall have."
"You mean you don't want it!"
"Mind reader! Patty, you're positively44 clairvoyant45!"
"Now, Little Billee, don't you go back on me, too."
"Go back on you? Never! While this machine is to me! Why, Patty, I'd defend you to the last ditch, and then fill in the ditch!"
"Be serious, Billee. You don't know those people, but can't you take my word for it that they're splendidly worth while? They're geniuses, and artists."
"Patty, I'd take your word for anything you know about. But, for instance, I couldn't take your word that there are blue roses."
"But there are! That's just what the Cosmic Centre people are,—they're blue roses! I never thought of it before, but they are."
"Then beware of them. Blue roses are freaks——"
"Yes, I know it. But there are worse things in this world than freaks.
I'd rather a man would be a freak than a—a mud turtle!"
"Are many of your friends mud turtles?"
"Yes, they are. They stick their heads in the sand——"
"Look out for your Natural History! You're thinking of ostriches46."
"All the same. Now, Sam Blaney——"
"Patty! You don't mean to say that chap is Sam Blaney! I thought he looked a bit familiar! Sam! old Sam Blaney! Well!"
"What's the matter, Billee? Do you know him?"
"I used to, when we were boys. Fifteen or more years ago. I doubt if he'd even remember my name. We went to a public school together. Sam Blaney! Well!"
"You exasperating thing! Don't sit there saying 'Well!' and 'Sam
Blaney!' but tell me what you know of him."
"Nothing, child, nothing. I haven't seen or heard of him for—since we were fourteen years old or so. Where did you pick him up?"
Patty told of her meeting the Blaneys at Lakewood, and of her continuing their acquaintance in New York. But suddenly Farnsworth seemed to lose interest in her story.
"Never mind the Blaneys," he said. "I want to talk to you. What do you think, my girl? I've won out in that matter of business I've been at so long."
"Have you? I'm very glad. I don't know what it was all about, Little Billee, but if you've succeeded in what you wanted to do, I'm very glad."
"Yes, I have. And it means,—it means, Patty, that I shall live in New
York now, all the time."
"Yes?"
"Yes. And it means, too, if this interests you, that I'm a rich man,—a very rich man."
"That's nice, Bill; I congratulate you."
"Oh, thank you." Farnsworth's voice had grown suddenly cold, and the eager light had faded from his blue eyes. He looked at Patty, and quickly looked away.
"I thought you might care," he said.
A strange thought came to Patty. Could he possibly mean that since he was a rich man, she would smile on his suit? Could he think that she would accept his attentions more gladly because of his newly acquired wealth? The idea made her furiously angry. If Farnsworth thought her that mercenary—if he deemed her so utterly47 sordid—well, her respect for him was decidedly lessened48!
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收听单词发音
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1
thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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6
poetically
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| adv.有诗意地，用韵文 | |
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7
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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8
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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9
idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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14
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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15
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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16
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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17
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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18
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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20
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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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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22
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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24
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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26
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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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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28
orchids
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| n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 ) | |
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29
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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30
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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31
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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32
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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33
tiff
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| n.小争吵，生气 | |
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34
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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35
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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37
criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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38
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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39
ridicules
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| n.嘲笑( ridicule的名词复数 )；奚落；嘲弄；戏弄v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的第三人称单数 ) | |
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40
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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41
graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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42
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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43
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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44
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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45
clairvoyant
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| adj.有预见的；n.有预见的人 | |
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46
ostriches
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| n.鸵鸟( ostrich的名词复数 )；逃避现实的人，不愿正视现实者 | |
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47
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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48
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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