"A little lame5 on that top note, old chap. S'pose you try it over—ah, that's better!"
Patty sat next to Sam Blaney. Chick had expected to come, but Elise had persuaded him to attend her party instead. This rather pleased Patty, for she feared Chick's gay banter6 and she knew he didn't care for the Cosmic Centre Club and their ways.
"You are so wonderful!" Blaney was saying, as he looked at her. "I never cared for Christmas before."
Patty's gown was a long, sweeping7 robe of poinsettia red velvet8. It would not have been becoming to most blondes, but Patty's fairness triumphed over all colour schemes. She wore a girdle of red velvet poinsettia blossoms and a wreath of small ones encircled her head.
"You are so beautiful——" Blaney's soft, purring voice went on.
"Don't make me blush," Patty laughed back. "Pink cheeks spoil the effect of this red gown. I must stay pale to suit it."
"Pink or pale, you are perfect! I adore you."
Embarrassed by the fervour of his tones, Patty turned to talk to the man at her other side. But he was engrossed9 in conversation with an aesthetic10 damsel, and so she gaily11 changed the subject.
"How splendid the rooms look," she said, glancing about. "That grove12 of green trees is wonderfully picturesque14."
"That's where you're to dance," Blaney returned. "I looked after it myself. It's carpeted with pine needles, but they're soft, fresh ones, not dried ones. I'm sure they'll be comfy."
"I dunno about dancing on 'em barefoot. I believe I'll wear sandals, after all."
"Oh, no, you mustn't. Grantham has designed every detail so exquisitely15, don't fail to follow his directions accurately17. Your number will be the best of all. That's why we put it last. It will be an enormous hit,—a revelation!"
"I hope they will like it. I've never danced before these people before. I've pleased ordinary audiences, but the Cosmos18 are so critical—it would break my heart if they didn't approve."
"Of course they'll approve! They'll go crazy over you. But you must throw yourself utterly19 into the spirit of it. We know at once if you're afraid or over-reserved. Abandon must be your keynote. Real interpretation20 of Grantham's wonderful ideas."
"They are wonderful," agreed Patty. "Mr. Grantham is a true poet. He sees Nature at her best and with an intuition almost divine."
Her blue eyes shone with earnestness and Blaney gazed at her in adoration21.
"You perfect thing!" he murmured; "you have found your right environment among us. You are wasted on the ordinary, unthinking masses of society. You are Nature's child. What a pity you must live a conventional life. Patty, can't you break loose? Can't you give up your present hampering22 existence and come and throw in your lot with ours? Live here. Alla would warmly welcome you as a sister——"
"And will you be my brother, Sam? I've never had a brother."
"No, I refuse to be your brother! I'll be—well, say, your guardian23.
How'd you like to be my ward24?"
"I didn't know girls ever were wards25 except in old-fashioned novels.
And there, they always marry their guardians26."
"Well?"
"Oh, my gracious, is this a proposal!" Something in Blaney's tone had warned Patty that light banter was the best course, and she rattled27 on; "if so, postpone28 it, please. I really must go very soon and dress for my dance."
"I know it. I will wait for a more fitting time and place. You ought to be wooed in a sylvan29 glade——"
"Oh, I'd rather a bosky dell! I've always been crazy to be wooed in a bosky dell. A leafy bower30 is the nearest I've come to it."
"Who wooed you there?"
"Can't remember exactly. But it was the third from the last,—I think."
"You little witch! Do you know how fascinating you are?"
"No; tell me." Patty was in mischievous31 mood, and looked up demurely32 at Blaney.
"By Jove, I will! As soon as I can get you alone. Run away, now, and do your dance. And, listen; I command you to think of me at every step."
"Can't promise that. It's all I can do to remember Mr. Grantham's steps; they're fearfully complicated. So—you think of me,—instead."
With a saucy33 smile at Blaney, Patty slipped from her place, and went around to the dressing34 room.
"Oh, here you are," cried Alla, who was waiting to help her dress; "I was just going to send for you. Now, off with your frock."
Some fifteen or twenty minutes later, the audience sat in breathless anticipation35 of Patty's dance.
Howard Grantham was a great artist, and never before had he been known to devise a dance for any one. But he had recognised Patty's skill in the art, and had requested that he be allowed to design a picture dance for her. The result was to be a surprise to all present, except the Blaneys, for rehearsals36 had been jealously kept secret.
The lights in the room were low, and the stage, which was a small grove of evergreen37 trees, was dark. Then, through the trees, appeared slowly a faint, pink light, as of breaking dawn. Some unseen violins breathed almost inaudible strains of Spring-song music.
Two trees at the back were slowly drawn38 apart as two small, white hands appeared among their branches. In the opening showed Patty's lovely face, eyes upturned, scarlet39 lips parted in a smile that was a joyous40 expression of youth and gladness. Still further she drew apart the lissome41 trees, and stepped through, a vision of spring itself. Clouds of chiffon swirled42 about her, softest dawn-rose in colour, changing of tints43 of heliotrope44 and primrose45, as she swayed in graceful46, pliant47 rhythm. Her slim white arms waved slowly, as the hidden melodies came faintly from the depth of the grove. Her pretty bare feet shone whitely among the soft pine needles and the steps of her dance were the very essence of poetry itself.
The audience watched in silence, spellbound by the fair sight. Slowly she moved and swayed; then, as the music quickened, her steps grew more animated48, her smile more bright, the lights were stronger, and the dance ended in a whirl of graceful pirouette and tossing, fluttering draperies. With no pause or intermission, Patty was changed to an impersonation of summer. It was done by the lights. Her robe was really of white chiffon, and as pink lights had made it appear in rosy49 tints, so now a deep yellow light gave the effect of sultry sunlight.
The music, and likewise the rhythm of the dance, were soft and languorous50 as a July noon. Limply hung the draperies, slowly waved the graceful arms, and at the end, Patty sank slowly, gently, down on a mound51 beneath the trees, and, her head pillowed on her arm, closed her eyes, while the violin notes faded to silence.
Knowing better than to applaud her, the spectators watched in silence. A moment, and then a clear bugle-like note sounded. Patty started up, passed her hand across her brow, opened her eyes, smiled slowly, and more and more merrily, then sprang up, and as the lights made her costume appear to be of the gold and russet red of autumn, she burst into a wild woodland dance such as a veritable Dryad might have performed. The music was rich, triumphant52, and the whole atmosphere was filled with the glory of the crown of the year. By a clever contrivance, autumn leaves came fluttering down and Patty's bare feet nestled in them with childish enjoyment53. Her smile was roguish, she was a witch, an eerie54 thing. The orange light glowed and shone, and at the height of a tumultuous burst of music, there was a sudden pause. Patty stopped still, her smile faded, and the colours changed from autumn glows to a cold wintry blue. Her gown became white, with blue shadows, the music was sharp and frosty. Patty danced with staccato steps, with little shivers of cold. The ground now appeared to be covered with frost, and her feet recoiled55 as they touched it. The music whistled like winter blasts. A fine snow seemed to fall, the blue shadows faded, all was white, and Patty, whirling, faster and faster, was like a white fairy, white robes, white arms, white feet, and a sparkling white veil, that grew more and more voluminous as she shook out its hidden folds. Faster she went, whirling, twirling, swirling56, like a leaf in the wind, until, completely swathed in the great white veil, she vanished between the parted trees at the back of the stage.
The music ceased, the lights blazed up, the dance was over. A moment passed as the audience came back to earth, and then the applause was tremendous. Hands clapped, sonorously57, voices shouted "Bravo!" and other words of plaudit; and "Encore!" was repeatedly demanded.
But Mr. Grantham had forbidden Patty to return to the stage, even to acknowledge the laudation. He believed in the better effect of an unspoiled remembrance of her last tableau58.
So, shaking with excitement and weariness, Patty sank into a chair in the dressing-room, and Alla began to draw on her stockings.
"You must rest quietly, dear Patricia, for a half hour at least," she said, solicitously59. "You are quite exhausted60. But it was wonderful! I have never seen anything so beautiful! You will be fêted and praised to death. I've sent for a cup of coffee, to brace61 you up."
"Oh, please not, Alla!" cried Patty, knowing the kind of coffee it would be. "I don't want it, truly. Just give me a glass of water, and let me sit still a minute without seeing anybody. It is exhausting to dance like that."
"Yes, dear, it is. Now rest quietly, and I'll keep everybody away, until you feel like seeing them."
But Patty was keyed up with the excitement of the occasion and unwilling62 to rest for very long. So, with Alla's help, she was soon rearrayed in her red velvet and ready to return to the Studio.
"I'm ashamed of myself," she said to Alla, "but I'm so vain, I really want to go out there and hear people tell me that I did well!"
"That isn't vanity," Alla returned. "That's proper pride. If any one can do a thing as well as you did that dance, it would be idiocy63 not to enjoy hearing appreciative64 praise."
"Do you think so?" and Patty looked relieved; "I don't want to be conceited65, but I'm glad if I did well."
"Wait till you hear what Sam says! He's wild about you, anyway, and after that dance he'll be crazier over you than ever."
Patty smiled, happily, and with a final adjustment of her freshly done-up hair, she declared herself ready to return to the party.
As hers had been the last number on the program, she was not surprised to find the audience standing66 about in groups, or picturesquely67 posed on divans68, and her appearance was the signal for a new hubbub69 of excitement.
But before she could hear a definite word from any one, a tall, powerful figure came striding up to her, and big Bill Farnsworth's unsmiling blue eyes looked straight into her own merry ones.
Her merriment died away before the sternness of his expression.
"Get your wraps, Patty," he said, in low but distinct tones. "At once."
"What for?" and Patty stared at him in amazement70. "What has happened?"
But she had no fear that any untoward71 accident had befallen, for Farnsworth showed no sympathy or gentleness in his face, merely a determined72 authority.
"Go at once," Farnsworth repeated, "and get your cloak."
"I won't do it," she replied, giving him an angry glance. "I don't want to go home; why should I get my cloak?"
"Then I'll take you without it," and picking her up in his arms, Big Bill strode through the throng73 of people, with as little embarrassment74 as if he were walking along the street. Many turned to look at him with curiosity, some smiled, but the Cosmic souls rarely allowed themselves to be surprised at anything, however peculiar75.
As they passed Sam Blaney, Patty noticed that he stood, leaning against the wall, his arms folded, and a strange expression on his face,—half defiant76, half afraid.
Farnsworth carried Patty down the stairs and out of the house, and placed her with care, but a bit unceremoniously, in the tonneau of a waiting motor-car. He jumped in beside her, and pulled the lap robe over her. The car started at once, and was well under way by the time Patty found voice enough to express her indignation.
"You—perfectly—horrid77—old—thing!" she gasped78, almost crying from sheer surprise and anger.
"Yes?" he said, and she detected laughter in his tone, which made her angrier than ever.
"I hate you!" she burst forth79.
"Do you, dear?" and Farnsworth rearranged the rug to protect her more fully13.
There was such gentleness in his touch, such tenderness in his voice, that Patty's anger melted to plain curiosity.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded. "Why did you bring me away in such—such caveman fashion?"
Farnsworth smiled. "It was a caveman performance, wasn't it? But you wouldn't come willingly."
"Of course I wouldn't! Why should I?"
"For three very good reasons." Farnsworth spoke2, gravely. "First, you were in a place where you didn't belong. I couldn't let you remain there."
"It is not your business to say where I belong!"
"I wouldn't want any one I care for to be in that place."
"Not even Daisy Dow?"
"Certainly not Daisy."
"Oh, not Daisy—of all people! Oh, certainly not!"
"Next, you were doing what you ought not to do."
"What!"
"Yes, you were. You danced barefoot before those—those unspeakable fools!"
Patty felt uncomfortable. She hadn't herself exactly liked the idea of that barefoot dance, and hadn't told any one she was going to do it. She had insisted to Mr. Grantham that she preferred to wear sandals. But he had talked so beautifully of the naturalness of the whole conception, the exquisite16 appropriateness of unshod feet, and the necessity of her carrying out his design as a whole, that she had yielded.
And now that Bill Farnsworth spoke of it in this rude way, it seemed to divest80 the dance of all its aesthetic beauty, and make of it a horrid, silly performance.
She tried to speak, tried to reply in indignant or angry vein81, but she couldn't articulate at all. A lump came into her throat, big tears formed in her eyes, and a sob82 that she tried in vain to suppress shook her whole body.
She felt Farnsworth's arm go protectingly round her. Not caressingly83, but with an assurance of care and assumption of responsibility.
Then, he pulled off the glove from his other hand with his teeth, and after a dive into a pocket, produced and shook out a big, white, comforting square of soft linen84, and Patty gratefully buried her face in it.
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收听单词发音
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1
monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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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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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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7
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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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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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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aesthetic
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| adj.美学的，审美的，有美感 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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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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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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hampering
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的现在分词 ) | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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rehearsals
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| n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复 | |
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evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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lissome
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| adj.柔软的；敏捷的 | |
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42
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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heliotrope
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| n.天芥菜；淡紫色 | |
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primrose
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| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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51
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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52
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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54
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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55
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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sonorously
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| adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；堂皇地；朗朗地 | |
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58
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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61
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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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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idiocy
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| n.愚蠢 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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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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picturesquely
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68
divans
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| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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69
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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70
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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73
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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75
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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76
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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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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78
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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79
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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80
divest
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| v.脱去，剥除 | |
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81
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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82
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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83
caressingly
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| 爱抚地，亲切地 | |
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84
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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