"Where is Boris?" asked Hester, addressing herself to Molly when they had driven about half of the distance.
"Isn't he in the pony-carriage?" she asked.
"Who is Boris?" interrupted Annie Forest. "Is he the pretty little round-faced boy in the sailor suit?"
"Yes," said Nora, joining in the conversation.
"Then he's not in the pony-trap," replied Annie. "I don't think he left the schoolroom."
"Cute little beggar," laughed Nora. "He wants to come in the donkey-cart."
Annie raised her brows in inquiry10; the mystery of the donkey-cart was explained to her, and no further questions were asked with regard to Boris.
Elinor had not yet been missed.
Friar's Wood was a perfect place for a picnic, and in due course of time the happy cavalcade11 arrived there. The younger children and Miss Macalister began to make preparations for the first meal. The Lorrimers always had two hearty12 ones whenever they went on a picnic. Kitty, Nora, and Annie Forest went off to explore the Fairies' Glen, a lovely spot about a quarter of a mile away. Mrs. Lorrimer took out her knitting and sat with her back against a great beech13 tree, and Molly and Hester found themselves thrown together.
"That's right," exclaimed Molly. "I wanted to have a talk with you, Hetty. Will you come to the top of the knoll14 with me? We can sit there and cool ourselves. There is not the faintest chance of dinner being ready for quite an hour."
[Pg 44]
The girls set off at once. Molly was not yet sixteen, Hester was past seventeen, nevertheless they had been intimate friends for a long time.
"Why have you got that little frown between your brows, Molly?" asked Hester.
"I surely ought not to have a frown to-day," retorted Molly. "The weather is glorious, we are all in perfect health, we are out for a picnic, you are here, you have brought your friend, Annie, about whom we have always heard so much, and Nan is home from school. Yes, I certainly ought not to frown; but let me retort on you, Hester. Why have you those grave lines round your lips?"
"Because I'm a goose," answered Hester. "Sit down here, Molly. You have not got me up to the top of this knoll just to make me recount my grievances16. Out with yours; you know you have one at least."
"Well, yes, I have one," said Molly. "A horrid17 little cankering jade—a sort of black imp18. I thought I had tucked him up snug19 in bed until the evening, and there, you have loosened the sheets, and he has sprung up again to confront me."
Molly's honest face was undoubtedly20 troubled now, and there was a suspicion of tears in the blue eyes, which were nearly as frank and round as Boris's.
"I don't think I know them," said Hester.
"Well, you must imagine them. They are not broken-in yet. They were born at the Towers, and we used to feed them when they were foals. Then one day Robin got rather wild, and kicked Boris [Pg 45]severely, and father said we were to leave them alone; but Nell somehow managed to evade22 the order; she never could be got to fear any four-footed creature. She spent almost all her leisure time with the colts, and I believe she used to ride them bare-backed. Well, they were sold this morning, and Nell will fret23 awfully24. Fretting25 is very bad for her, for she is not at all strong, you know. That is one thing that troubles me," continued Molly, after a brief pause. "I am sorry the colts are sold, on account of Nell, for I know, although she won't pretend to fret a bit, how she will secretly grieve and grieve; and the other reason is, that I know father would not have sold them if he had not been hard up for money again. Oh, I wish, I wish," continued Molly, her face turning crimson26, "that there was no such thing as money in the world."
"I think you must be wrong," she said slowly. "I mean, of course, that I know you're not rich as my father is rich, for you are such a large family, and father has only Nan and me; but still, it cannot be true that your father wants money to the extent of having to sell the colts to get it, Molly."
"I'm afraid it is true," said Molly, in a sad voice. "I wish it were only my imagination. You would never take me for a fanciful girl, would you, Hester? I am always called matter-of-fact, and I think I am. I really don't care a bit for poetry, and not much for music, and even story-books don't amuse me unless they're the downright sort, like 'Little Women,' or unless they tell all about housekeeping and that sort of thing. I love cooking, and [Pg 46]I rather like accounts, and I delight in overhauling28 the linen29 cupboard, and I am not a bad hand at darning the linen. I'm just a commonplace, matter-of-fact sort of girl; it isn't in me to imagine things."
"Well?" said Hester, for she saw that Molly was intensely in earnest.
"I know I'm right about the money," said Molly. "You cannot think how troubled father looks sometimes; and mother told me only yesterday that we were not to go to the seaside this year, and she thinks our shabby old hats will do quite well for church. You don't suppose I care about shabby hats, or even about the seaside, but I do care when I see father looking troubled. Once a stranger came to see him, and they were shut up together in the library for a long time, and when he went away I noticed that father looked quite old. Oh, I know there are money troubles, and I am sure things will get worse. I know what father dreads30, and dreads and dreads. Oh, Hester, if it happens it will kill him!"
"Molly, dear, how white you are. If what happens?"
"To sell the Towers!" echoed Hester. "I should think so, indeed; but——"
"What are you two doing up there?" shouted the voice of Nora from below. "Come down at once and make yourselves useful. The donkey-cart has come, and so have Guy and Harry, and we are washing the potatoes and want you to rub them, Molly. Come along down and help, you lazy good-for-nothings."
The girls hastened to obey. As if by magic all [Pg 47]trace of a cloud left Molly's face. It became radiant, smiling, and dimpled. She was once more matter-of-fact, charming, capable Molly, who could work with a will and never once think of herself. Molly was so generally self-forgetful, that her happiness was not put on. Good-nature shone from her eyes. She was not a particularly brilliant or witty32 girl, but she was a strong rock to rely upon, as all the other Lorrimers knew well.
Nora, who was very pretty and very gay, gave herself up to heedless enjoyment33 as soon as Molly appeared upon the scene. The potatoes would certainly be done to a turn now. The table-cloth would be laid in that part of the wood where the midges were least troublesome. Jane Macalister would not have to complain of no one helping34 her. Guy, who was very like Molly, and nearly as good-natured, would also do his best to make the picnic lively, and Nora, one year Molly's junior, could give herself up to the fascinations35 of Annie Forest's society.
Nora had never before found herself in the company of such a completely grown-up and such a very pretty girl. Nora could give herself little airs when occasion required. She could put on rather a killing37 grown-up sort of would-be society manner. She never dared adopt it when Guy and Harry were near, but she contrived38 to get Annie away by herself, and then indulged in what the other children called her "high-falutin" talk.
It was nipped in the bud, however, by Annie herself. Annie Forest was nothing if she was not frank and fearlessly matter-of-fact. She quickly discovered how hollow and insufficient39 poor Nora's attempts to maintain a worldly conversation really [Pg 48]were. She crushed her by telling her that she had never been in society herself in the whole course of her life, that she knew nothing whatever of it or its ways, that she had just left school, and that in all probability she would have to earn her bread in the future.
"But, look here, Nora!" she exclaimed, suddenly, "why should we two stand here chattering40? I'm sure we ought to help the others."
"Oh, no; there's nothing really to be done," replied Nora, in a languid voice. "I like picnics, but I hate the fuss of preparing the meals, and as all the others adore it, I generally leave it for them to do. Won't you sit here? There is a charming little peep between those two oak trees. You can just see the Towers from there, and I think the Grange also. Don't you think the Grange a very beautiful place?"
"Yes; but not half as beautiful as the Towers."
"Don't you, really? Well, I am surprised! Of course, the Towers is very old. We are quite one of the very oldest of the county families round here, but my father likes us to live quietly just at present. Molly and I will have to be presented by-and-by. It is a pity father and mother don't think more about society, but they'll have to when we are grown up, and Molly is sixteen now. Hester will be very rich, and so will Nan. I'm surprised that you prefer the Towers to the Grange."
"I beg your pardon," said Annie, "but did not the donkey-cart arrive about half an hour ago?"
"Yes, of course."
"And two of your brothers with it?"
"Yes," replied Nora, suppressing a yawn, "Guy [Pg 49]and Harry. How hot it is to-day—the heat makes one dreadfully languid, does it not?"
"I must go and tell Hester that Boris has not come," exclaimed Annie.
She put wings to her feet as she spoke, and left the astonished and indignant Nora to her own reflections.
Annie ran quickly through the wood. The sound of many voices floated on the summer breeze to greet her. She had almost reached the party when she suddenly came upon Kitty, who was standing41 alone. Kitty had just had a furious quarrel with Nan, and was in consequence feeling considerably42 out in the cold. Kitty knew that Boris was not of the party. She had known this from the beginning, but in the excitement and fun of having Nan Thornton to herself had been too selfish to mention the fact. Kitty guessed why Boris had remained behind. She remembered the severe punishment which Jane Macalister had inflicted43 upon him—a punishment which Jane had doubtless forgotten, but which Boris himself remembered.
Kitty thought of Boris now as she stood by a blackberry-bush, and pricked44 her finger on purpose against one of the thorns. Nan had been very snubbing and very disagreeable, and Kitty cordially hated her for the time being, and wished with all her heart that Boris was there. She could snub Boris, who would never retort, but now there was no one for her to play with.
"What is your name?" asked Annie, stopping and looking at her kindly46; "you are one of the Lorrimers, of course, but I have not caught your name yet. Do you mind telling it to me?"
[Pg 50]
"I'm Kitty," answered the little girl; she raised her brown eyes and looked full at Annie. She had never seen anyone so lovely as Annie before. She had never even imagined that the world could contain anyone so sparkling and so gay.
"You're Kitty; that is capital," replied Annie. "Then, Kitty, I am sure you will do just as well as Hester. Can you tell me why your dear little brother Boris has not come to the picnic?"
"I was thinking of him," said Kitty. Tears slowly welled up into her eyes; her heart began to ache; she tried to prick45 her finger again to relieve the pain inside.
"Boris has not come," she replied. "I'll tell you why. He spilt some ink, and Jane Macalister said he must be punished by staying indoors for a whole hour after lessons were over. I expect she forgot all about Boris when we got a holiday so suddenly, but Boris didn't forget, and he stayed behind."
"Dear little Boris!" exclaimed Annie; "dear, good, plucky47 little Boris! The moment I looked at him I knew I should adore him. But see here, Kitty, the hour is up now, isn't it?"
"Oh, yes, of course; some time ago."
"Then he'll follow us, won't he?"
"How can he? He can't come alone; it's nearly an hour's drive to Friar's Wood."
"Of course he cannot walk," said Annie, impatiently; "but haven't you got a trap or carriage, or horse, or something?"
"No, I'm afraid we haven't," said Kitty, looking very sorrowful. "There's only old Rover, who draws the waggonette, and Dobbin the pony, and Jacko the donkey. Of course, there's father's mare48, she's quite [Pg 51]a beauty; but we are none of us allowed to have anything to do with her."
"Then we are not to have dear little Boris at the picnic?" said Annie; "I declare I shan't enjoy it a bit. I want him to be my own special knight49."
"What do you want a knight for?" asked Kitty, looking up with interest.
"You are a very fair lady," said Kitty. "At least, I mean you're a very lovely lady—very, very lovely; but can't you do with Guy or Harry for a knight?"
"No; I have fallen in love with Boris, and I won't have anyone else. Kitty, can't we manage to get him to the picnic?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. He could ride Harry's bicycle, but I don't think it would once enter into his head."
"It would if I went back and told him to."
"How can you go back? You can't walk."
"Yes, I am a splendid walker. Besides, I am sure the road is longer than by the fields, and you could take me part of the way and show me the short cuts."
"It would take a long, long time," said Kitty, "and when you came back dinner would be over, and you'd have lost quite half the fun."
"No, you dear little thing, I wouldn't. I mean to go and fetch Boris; virtue51 shall be rewarded, and the knight shall be rescued by the lady. Now, come with me part of the way and show me the short cuts. Why, I'm as strong as a lion. You don't suppose a walk of a few miles tires me? Come along, Kit4, we are wasting time."
[Pg 52]
In reality, Kitty was charmed beyond words with any move which was to bring Boris on the scene. The moment Boris seemed at all unattainable, he became wonderfully precious in Kitty's eyes. She would, of course, snub him in five minutes after he did arrive, but that really did not matter. The fascination36 of Annie's secret mission also delighted her much, and she skipped along now by the side of this beautiful lady in a state of high good-humour.
"I'll show you a lovely short cut," she said. "It will take two miles off the distance. There's a bog52, and a sunken ditch, and a wire fence; but you won't mind them, will you?"
"Not a bit," said Annie, laughter in her eyes.
"And there's farmer Granger's bull-dog, and perhaps the bull himself may be in the four acre field; but you won't mind," continued Kitty.
"Not a bit, not a bit."
"Well, let's run down into this little dell. I'll start you from the wicket gate at the end of the dell."
"It sounds quite Pilgrim's Progressy," said Annie.
"Annie," said Kitty, in an ecstatic whisper, "is it to be a secret?"
"Well, see you keep this one faithfully. Now we have come to the wicket gate. How shall I go? Can I see the bull from here?"
"No."
"Can I hear the bull-dog bark?"
"No."
"Kitty, you little wretch55, you've been trying to [Pg 53]frighten me with imaginary dangers. Yes, I see my road. I follow the winding56 path wherever it leads. Keep a bit of dinner for me, Kitty. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
Kitty stood at the stile and watched her. Suddenly she raised a cry.
"Annie."
Annie turned.
"You'll find Nell at home, too, Annie."
"Is Nell another Lorrimer?"
"Yes; the ugly one of the family; the duckling, we call her most times."
"Well, the duckling shall come, too," shouted heedless Annie; and Kitty, with the full weight and delirious58 importance of her secret radiating all over her stout59 little person, slowly returned to the other members of the picnic party.
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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10
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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11
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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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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16
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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17
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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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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19
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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21
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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27
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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28
overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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29
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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30
dreads
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| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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32
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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33
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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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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35
fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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38
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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39
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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40
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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41
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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42
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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43
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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45
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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46
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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47
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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48
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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49
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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50
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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51
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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52
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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53
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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54
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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55
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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56
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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57
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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