With a heigh-ho and a lily gay:
There came a lord among them all,—
I
T was hot, very hot, in Cherry Street. Miss Billy's garden bloomed as Paradise, but up and down the alley2 household garbage bubbled and boiled in the sun. The sweet peas on the fence were a marvellous cloud of pink, violet, crimson3, purple and white. They rioted over the Hennesy pickets5, and spread their fairy wings as if to descend6 on the other side;—but across the street Mr. Schultzsky's weeds flaunted7 in all the rank arrogance8 of a second crop.
-201-
Miss Billy was disheartened, but not defeated. "Of course I can't accomplish it all by myself," she thought, "and John Thomas is too tired at night to help and Theodore is working, too. But every child in the street that can handle a hoe shall be enlisted9 in the cause if I can accomplish it."
She went over to Mrs. Canary's to talk the matter over, and found Holly10 Belle11 in a kitchen that easily registered 110 degrees. Mrs. Canary was in bed with one of her "attacks," the twins, unwashed and sticky, were playing with a basket of potatoes on the floor: Ginevra, the little sister, was grumblingly12 washing the breakfast dishes, while Holly Belle, with signs of recent tears around her eyelashes, was binding13 up a badly burned arm.
"You see, there's bread-baking to-day," she said, as Miss Billy's deft14 fingers bound up the burn, "and maw's sick, and paw goes onto his beat at noon, and must have his dinner, and the twins are restless with the heat, and won't stay satisfied five minutes at a time with anything.-202- The boys are off somewhere, and no good to anybody, and my own head aches so I can't hardly see. It aches all the time, now, anyway."
"I should think it would," said Miss Billy sympathetically. "Can't you let that fire go out? It's simply unbearable15 in here."
"No," said Holly Belle, "the bread's in the oven, an' there's pork an' cabbage cooking. I've got to get the potatoes peeled right away, or dinner'll be late."
Miss Billy reached for a kitchen apron16 that hung on a nail. "Well, I'll bathe the babies," she said: "I think that will make them feel better. Then I'll sweep up for you, and help with the dinner."
"You're awful good," said Holly Belle simply. Her eyes looked heavy, and her shoulders had a pathetic droop17. "Jinny, if yer through with the dishpan, give it to Miss Billy to wash the twins in, and then go down to the store and fetch a pound of butter."
Miss Billy bathed the babies in a tiny pantry,-203- away from the scorching18 blast of the cook stove, and clad them in clean, dark calico slips. Ginevra came with the butter, and was despatched with the twins in their carriage to the shady north side of the Lee house. Order slowly evolved from chaos19. The kitchen was swept, the pantry put to rights, and Miss Billy, crimson in the face, and with her collar quite wilted20, was preparing to set the table.
"Don't you think—Holly Belle," she suggested, "that it might be better to move the table into the other room? It's much cooler in there."
"Well, we'll try it this time, anyway,—and if your mother objects we'll not do it again. It's so hot in here, Holly Belle, it's positively22 dangerous! And as you can't take the stove out, it seems as though you would have to take yourselves out, that's all."
"I've been thinking," she went on, as she went back and forth23 from the table to the pan-204-try, "that instead of having the children in the neighbourhood spend every Saturday morning with me, as they have been doing, I shall have them come every morning for two hours. That would help you, wouldn't it, Holly Belle? And I can just as well do it through the vacation. You could send the babies before nine, and I'd bathe them and be ready for the rest at nine o'clock.
"This child-garden, Holly Belle, is going to resolve itself into an Improvement Club. Every member who is old enough must pledge himself to one half-hour's service a day in keeping clean his own yard and alley, and the street in front of his house. The weeds must be kept down, the cesspools disinfected, and the garbage disposed of. Then another half hour might be pledged to household duties,—such as washing and wiping dishes, bringing in wood, carrying water, and making beds. They'll all subscribe24 to the conditions, I know, for the sake of sharing in the pleasures of the child-garden."
-205-
"Launkelot and Fridoline couldn't never wash and wipe dishes," said Holly Belle hopelessly. "They'd break them all up."
"Indeed they can, if they try," returned Miss Billy stoutly25. "My brother Theodore can wash and wipe dishes as deftly26 as a girl,—and he could do it at their age, too."
"'Twould be an awful help," mused27 Holly Belle, "and our yard an' alley is a sight to behold28, but I ain't got no time to clean it."
"Of course you haven't. But you are doing noble work in this kitchen every day,—and taking care of those babies beside. It's noble work, Holly Belle."
Holly Belle's lips quivered, and her tears fell. "I ain't like other girls," she sobbed29. "I used to go to bed of nights an' dream I had a piano an' could play on it. An' when I'd wake up I'd be so disappointed it seemed to me I couldn't stand it. An' I used to go on hopin' and hopin' that I'd get one, an' learn, but I know it's too late now. I'm growin' on fourteen, already."
-206-
Miss Billy, taking in all the pathos30 of the starved little life, found no words to reply. "But the thing that hurts worst," went on Holly Belle, wiping her tears on her apron, "is that I can't go to school. I had to stop when Mikey was a baby, and then just as I got started again the twins came, and I guess I'll never go back. The teacher came to see maw, an' told her how quick I learned,—but it didn't do no good, an' I'll have to stay right here in this kitchen all the rest of my life."
Miss Billy crossed over to the drooping31 little figure, and put her arm about her. "Keep hoping, Holly Belle," she counselled: "Keep hoping, and keep on trying. I'm sure it will all come out right. I have a solemn conviction that when one wishes hard enough for a thing, it comes to pass. And so I am sure the school days will come again, and the piano and the lessons, too."
Holly Belle dried her tears. "You've made me feel almost sure of it, too," she said, with a smile. "I'm thankful for the help you've-207- been to me with the work, Miss Billy,—and I'll send the children over in the morning."
It was that evening that Theodore, freshly arrayed in the glory of blue serge and starched32 linen33, drew Miss Billy into a secluded34 corner. His neck, even as Mr. Hennesy had predicted, was burned to a deep red, and the blisters35 on his hands were hardening into calloused36 spots,—but there was no self pity in his manner as he handed his sister a five dollar gold piece.
"My first week's pay," he announced, proudly: "and thank you very much for the accommodation."
"No indeed," said Theodore proudly. "Next week I shall pay father for my shoes, and after that, every cent of my money goes into the bank. Take it now, or never, Miss Billy."
"Well, I'll take it if I must, but I don't want-208- to," grumbled38 his sister. "Say Ted, Beatrice and I are going over to call on Mr. Schultzsky's niece, Frances Lindsay, this evening. Mother saw her trunk arrive to-day, and thought we ought to. Won't you go with us?"
"No, I thank you," said Theodore. "To tell the truth, I've soured on the society of ladies. But if she's handsome, and wealthy, and under thirty, I may relent and call upon her some other evening."
"For my part, I think the idea of our going over there is ridiculous," scolded Beatrice. "I wouldn't, if mother didn't insist upon it. It's more than likely she can speak only Bohemian, as that other little niece does, and will run and hide upon our arrival."
"Well, we'll go, anyway," said Miss Billy. "Mother is right. The girl will feel very strange and lonely in that old house, and if she can't speak English we can at least shake hands and then sit and smile at her."
They took their way across the street, Beatrice very dainty in her white dress with a rose-209- low in her hair,—Miss Billy in a black dress skirt and white shirt-waist, with a severely39 masculine collar and tie. The front door stood ajar, and after tapping several times Miss Billy ushered40 herself in. "It's the only way," she declared, in reply to Beatrice's horrified41 exclamation42. "Mr. Schultzsky can't let us in, that little Bohemian girl won't let us in, and under the circumstances, I suppose the new niece can't make up her mind what to do."
There was the sound of a well-modulated masculine voice reading in Mr. Schultzsky's room. Miss Billy tapped gently, and the door was opened by a young man. In one swift glance she knew he was tall, with dark eyes and a ruddy skin, and wore glasses.
"I beg your pardon," she faltered43. "We have called to inquire for Mr. Schultzsky, and to call upon his niece, Miss Frances Lindsay."
In the next instant, too, she was sure the young man was well bred. He gave Beatrice a chair, and turned on the student lamp without-210- manifesting any embarrassment44, while Miss Billy crossed to the old man's bedside, and extended her hand.
"I hope you are better, Mr. Schultzsky," she said. "Sister Beatrice and I have come to call upon——" For some undefined reason the words died away, and she stood with glowing cheeks and paralysed tongue.
"Sit down," said Mr. Schultzsky, pointing to a chair at the bedside. The young man was regarding Miss Billy with open humour shining in his dark eyes.
"I feel already acquainted with you, Miss Lee," he said, "as a good friend of my uncle's, and as a young lady who insists upon spelling my name 'ces.' I am Francis Lindsay!"
He was looking at Beatrice now, whose face was the picture of shocked propriety45 and haughtiness46. Miss Billy's wits returned.
"It would be very funny," she thought, "if Bea didn't take it so tragically47. But he is not at all to blame. He has tact48, and is kind. I am the stupid one." Then she introduced-211- Beatrice with a mischievous49 ring in her voice. "My sister Beatrice,—Mr. Francis Lindsay."
Mr. Schultzsky was feebly wagging his head and chuckling50. "She iss a smart girl," he said,—"but she wass fooled dot time."
With a person less polished, the situation might have been deeply embarrassing,—but Mr. Schultzsky's great-nephew conversed51 entertainingly, with his arm resting easily on the table. He spoke52 of his native city of New York, of existing social relations, of his uncle's illness. He addressed his remarks to Miss Billy, but he glanced often at Beatrice, who sat cold and silent across the room.
"I trust you will give me permission to return the call," he said pleasantly, as at the end of ten minutes they rose to go. "I assure you I know what it is to be lonely, though I am not a girl."
"Do come," said Miss Billy cordially,—but Beatrice remained silent.
"Now with your usual propensity53 for doing stupid things, you have drawn54 us into a fine-212- entanglement," scolded Beatrice, as they reached the sidewalk. "I never heard of anything so arrogant55 in my life as his asking if he might return the call. And it was not your place to give him permission, either. You quite forget you are my younger sister."
"I think him extremely courteous56 and high-bred," returned Miss Billy with spirit, "and his asking to call upon us was a delicate and kind thing to do, under the circumstances. But don't let us quarrel about him, Bea. How old do you suppose he is? I think he can't be over twenty-one,—but his grave manners make him appear older."
"I have no suppositions whatever upon such a subject," said Beatrice loftily.
"But at least, you cannot deny he is a gentleman?"
Beatrice raised her pretty eyebrows57. "Into that I shall not inquire. It is enough for me that he is a relative of Mr. Schultzsky's."
点击收听单词发音
1 primrose | |
n.樱草,最佳部分, | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 alley | |
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 ted | |
vt.翻晒,撒,撒开 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 pickets | |
罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 flaunted | |
v.炫耀,夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 );有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 enlisted | |
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 holly | |
n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 belle | |
n.靓女 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 grumblingly | |
喃喃报怨着,发牢骚着 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 binding | |
有约束力的,有效的,应遵守的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 deft | |
adj.灵巧的,熟练的(a deft hand 能手) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 unbearable | |
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 apron | |
n.围裙;工作裙 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 droop | |
v.低垂,下垂;凋萎,萎靡 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 scorching | |
adj. 灼热的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 wilted | |
(使)凋谢,枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 dubiously | |
adv.可疑地,怀疑地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 positively | |
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 subscribe | |
vi.(to)订阅,订购;同意;vt.捐助,赞助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 stoutly | |
adv.牢固地,粗壮的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 deftly | |
adv.灵巧地,熟练地,敏捷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 mused | |
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 sobbed | |
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 pathos | |
n.哀婉,悲怆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 drooping | |
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 starched | |
adj.浆硬的,硬挺的,拘泥刻板的v.把(衣服、床单等)浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 blisters | |
n.水疱( blister的名词复数 );水肿;气泡 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 calloused | |
adj.粗糙的,粗硬的,起老茧的v.(使)硬结,(使)起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 );(使)冷酷无情 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 demurred | |
v.表示异议,反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 grumbled | |
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 ushered | |
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 horrified | |
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 faltered | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 embarrassment | |
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 haughtiness | |
n.傲慢;傲气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 tragically | |
adv. 悲剧地,悲惨地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 chuckling | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 conversed | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 spoke | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 propensity | |
n.倾向;习性 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 arrogant | |
adj.傲慢的,自大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |