Yet is so rich in all that's girlhood’s praise,
Did Job himself upon her goodness gaze,
A little better she would surely make him.”
M
ISS Billy was an early riser. She opened her eyes to the sunshine and pure morning air as naturally as a flower. So it came about that at six o'clock of a May morning she was skipping downstairs before any other member of the family had stirred, with a quick springing step that was peculiarly her own. Miss Billy's sprightly4 locomotion5 was a constant source of amusement to her family, and of mortification-9- to Miss Billy herself. "It is my misfortune, not my fault," she was wont6 to say when her brother Theodore described her gait as "galumphing," and her sister Beatrice pleaded with her to study physical culture; "and it's like struggling against Fate to attempt to walk with discretion7. I suppose it is merely an 'evening-up' of things, and that Providence8 gave it to me to offset9 my lovely disposition10."
But upon this Spring morning Miss Billy's unfortunate step did not seem to be weighing upon her mind. The glow and thrill of the golden day opening before her sent the warm blood coursing quickly through her veins11, and the world seemed made for youth and beauty and happiness. Miss Billy sang softly to herself as she opened the side door and stepped out into the garden.
"The garden" was a small shady spot on the north side of the tall city house. It was not a promising12 place for flowers, but Miss Billy's love for growing things was great, and-10- by dint13 of much urging and encouragement on her part, a few spring flowers eked14 out a precarious15 existence in the barren soil. Above the flower plot was an open bedroom window. Miss Billy's eyes twinkled wickedly, and her soft song changed into the whistled notes of a schoolboy's call. There was a sound as of two bare feet coming down with a thud in the room above her, and in a moment a tall form in gay scarlet16 pajamas17, with a towsled head atop, appeared at the window.
"That you, Tom?" whispered a sleepy voice.
Miss Billy looked up from the flowers. The violets themselves were not more demure18 than her own face.
"Well, who is?"
"No one but me."
"But I heard some one whistle."
-11-
"Well, I must say that your joke—I suppose you intended it for a joke—is extremely crude," replied her brother crossly.
"You said last night that I couldn't get you out of bed," jeered21 Miss Billy. "Beside, I wanted you to see the sun rise. I have seen two myself, this morning."
"Well you may now have the pleasure of seeing one go back to bed," said Theodore. He left the window abruptly22, and Miss Billy heard him thump23 his pillow impatiently as she turned again to the garden.
"Ted never has much sense of humour at six o'clock in the morning," she said, passing her loving hands under the tender green leaves. "Six blossoms! These are the most modest violets I ever saw in my life. They're afraid to show their heads above the ground. At this rate it won't take me long to prepare my floral creation for the breakfast table."
There was still no sign of life about the house when she came back with the flowers, and Miss Billy wondered, as she put the purple-12- blossoms in a clear green glass bowl, what she should do next.
"I might practise half an hour," she said to herself, looking in at the piano as she stood in the hall door,—
“‘Practicing’s good for a good little girl,
It makes her nose straight and it makes her hair curl,’
"—but my hair is too curly now, and if my nose was straight, people would expect more of me. Beside, I hate to waste this lovely morning on scaly24 exercises. I believe I'll write a letter to Margaret. I feel in the right mood to talk to her."
The same peculiar3 quick-step carried Miss Billy to her desk, where, dipping a battered-looking pen into the ink, she began:—
"1902 Ashurst Place.
"Dearly Beloved:
"I suppose you're just going to bed over in Cologne, with your hair done up in those funny little curl papers of yours. Or don't they wear curl papers in 'furrin' countries?-13- What kind of a place is Cologne, anyway? Do they make Lundborg's Extract there, and are the exports 'grain, grapes and beet25 sugar,' as the geography used to say?
"Over here in America I am waiting for Maggie to arise and prepare our frugal26 repast, which, from sundry27 soaked articles I saw last night, I suspect will mainly consist of fish-balls. Maggie feels that she has not lived in vain when she succeeds in getting Theodore to refuse codfish-balls. It is the only article of food that he does not fall upon with fork and glee.
"Speaking of balls, I went to one last night, only to look on, however. Beatrice's dancing class gave one of their monthly parties, and I was one of the smaller fry (notice the connection between fry and codfish-balls) whom they deigned28 to invite. Those pale-drab Blanchard girls were conducting the services—(it's well that father doesn't inspect my correspondence)—so it's a wonder that I 'got in' at all, for they detest29 me. I might add that the tender sentiment is entirely30 reciprocated31 on my part! I wore my old grey crêpe, and looked superbly magnificent, as of course you know, Peggy dear. Tom Furnis, who was there, also occupying a modest and retiring-14- seat in the rear, mentioned to me during the evening that as soon as you came home we would have a dancing class of our own. So you see how everything hangs on your return.
"Nothing has happened at 'Miss Peabody's select School for Young Ladies' since you left except that I have received numerous invitations to select little functions in the office, and a choice assortment32 of demerit marks, and carried home the following report last month:
'Her instructor34 and sincere friend,
'Loutilda Amesbury Peabody.'
"I did rather dread35 to take it home, for my report last month was not exactly suggestive of propriety36 and discretion, and I hate to have my people disappointed in me. But when I showed it to father he said, 'Some improvement this month, I see, little daughter.' Wasn't that just like him?
"Myrtle Blanchard has organised a new school club. It is composed of the select Six, who devote themselves to French conversation and marshmallows once a week, and call themselves the Salon37. Not to be outdone, Madge Freer and I have started a rival organisation-15- for ping-pong and fun. We call ourselves the Saloon. We'll have to change the name, though, as soon as Miss Loutilda discovers its existence. Can't you imagine her horror!
"Your description of your Paris gowns did not make me at all envious38, my dear. For Miss Edwards has been making me three new dresses and revising several old editions. I have a new brown suit, a scarlet foulard, and a fearful and wonderful creation of purple lawn embroidered39 with pale yellow celery leaves, which I shall wear to every church supper this year. And I shall come to the station to meet you next September arrayed like Solomon in all his glory, in all three of the gowns, in order that you may be properly impressed, and not outshine me in splendour.
"I am afraid you won't find, in this frivolous40 and dressy letter, the things you most want to know. As usual, my pen has run to nonsense. But if you were looking for food for reflection and nourishment41 of the soul, you would have come to father for it, instead of me. Sometimes, Peggy dear, I am ashamed of my aimless, careless existence of eating, sleeping and skylarking, as Theodore would say. There are moments of temporary aberration42 in my life when I wish I could help-16- some one else. If I were like you, now, who carry sweetness and serenity43 with you, I wouldn't mourn, but alas44, I am only
"Your unregenerate but loyal friend,
"Miss Billy.
"P.S.
"My suspicions about the codfish were well founded. A strong and influential45 odour of breakfast has pushed the door open for me, and I know it is time for me to descend46 into the lower regions. Good-by, dear."
Miss Billy laid down her pen with a sigh of relief, and wiped her ink-stained fingers. She had just lighted her little candle and produced a stick of wax to seal the letter, when a deafening47 noise filled the hall below. At the foot of the stairs stood her brother Theodore, armed with a Chinese gong, upon which he was performing with great vigour48. His boyish tenor49 rang out clearly:
Come to me and codfish-balls.
-17-
"Breakfast waits, Miss Billy. Did you go back to bed again?"
The family had assembled at breakfast when the younger daughter entered the dining room, smiling over Theodore's improvised53 poetry. "Mother looks more sober than usual," she thought, as she drew the sweet face to her own.
"Morning, motherie."
"Good-morning, little daughter. You left your footprints behind you. The violets are lovely."
There was an unsealed letter at Miss Billy's plate, and similar envelopes for Beatrice and Theodore. Miss Billy opened hers first. It ran:
"You are requested to be present at a family meeting to be held in the study this morning at eight o'clock. Important matters to be discussed. By order of
"Father."
The letters excited no comment. They were an every-day occurrence in the Lee fam-18-ily. If Theodore's unruly tongue caused mischief54, or his love of a joke was carried too far, a delicate reminder55 at his plate was sure to call attention to the fact. If Beatrice stopped for a moment to exchange compliments with her old enemy, Personal Vanity, or did she pursue an uneven56 tenor of fault-finding for a time, a letter was the means of bringing her to order. But upon Miss Billy,—energetic, wideawake Miss Billy,—who was always doing things, and doing them hard, the missives descended57 like flocks of white doves. These letters did not all contain censure58. Some of them were so full of praise as to make their owner blush with an embarrassment59 of happiness, but one could never be sure beforehand of the contents.
Theodore was already in the study when Miss Billy entered. He was stretched out on the floor with two sofa pillows under his head and four under his feet.
"Yes," assented61 Miss Billy, "and that-19- something had better come down. Take the pillows from under your feet, Ted."
"Well, I hope the bank hasn't gone busted62, or father's colt been killed, or anything happened to our government bonds, or Maggie given warning, or Beatrice plighted63 her troth to a peanut man. Billy, what a savage64 you are! What are pillows for, I'd like to know. I should think you'd be afraid to treat me as you do. Some day the worm will turn, and when a belted earl comes to seek your hand I'll expose your tyranny."
"Theodore," said Miss Billy, standing65 very tall and straight, and with a serious expression on her usually merry face,—"stop joking and listen. Something is up, really. I've been waiting for it to come out for a month. Of course I don't know exactly what it is, but I have my suspicions, and every time I have looked at mother's sober face I have felt guilty to be happy. Now Ted, if what I think turns out to be true, I have some plans to propose, and you must stand by me in them."
-20-
"What do you mean?" asked Theodore, with a boy's disgust for mystery. "You're talking in parables66, Miss Billy."
"I mean that I'm sure father's lost some money," answered his sister hurriedly. "I haven't time to explain now; the whole family will be here in a minute. But when the rest come in, I want you to say exactly what I say, and uphold me in every way."
"Well, I like that," gasped67 Theodore, raising himself on one elbow. "Say exactly what you say! What do you intend to say, and why should I play follow-my-leader? No ma'am, I sign no paper before reading it."
"But you must," insisted Miss Billy hurriedly. "You'll understand why later. You've got to pull with me. I know how Beatrice will act, and I'll need an ally the minute her tears begin to flow. I depend upon you to stand by me, as you always do. Come Ted, promise. Quick, they're coming."
"Your blandishments have the usual telling effect," groaned68 Theodore. "I promise,—I-21- suppose I've got to. But you're responsible for all the evil that may come from my yielding to temptation." He collapsed69 among the pillows, and had just succeeded in covering his tall form with a slumber70 robe when the rest of the family entered.
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1
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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3
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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7
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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8
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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9
offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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10
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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11
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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12
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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14
eked
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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15
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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16
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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17
pajamas
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| n.睡衣裤 | |
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18
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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19
ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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20
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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21
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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23
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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24
scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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25
beet
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| n.甜菜；甜菜根 | |
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26
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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27
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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28
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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30
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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31
reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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32
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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33
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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34
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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35
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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36
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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37
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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38
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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39
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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40
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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41
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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42
aberration
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| n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差 | |
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43
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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44
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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45
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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46
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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47
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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48
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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49
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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50
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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51
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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52
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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53
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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54
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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55
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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56
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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57
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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58
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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59
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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60
sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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61
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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63
plighted
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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64
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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65
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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66
parables
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| n.（圣经中的）寓言故事( parable的名词复数 ) | |
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67
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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68
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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69
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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70
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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