Annie entered the Towers by a side entrance, and, skirting a pretty, shady lawn, approached the house by the nearest way. As she did so, she was attracted by voices which seemed to proceed from out of a clump9 of trees. She stepped close to the spot from where the sound proceeded, and, craning her neck, looked over the thick laurustinus bushes, which enclosed a very tiny lawn or plot of grass.
Seated here, in the utmost peace and apparent contentment, were the poor victims for whom she had exerted herself so terribly. Nell was lying full length on her back on the grass. Boris was seated tailorwise on the ground a little way off. Nell had a white rat curled up in her hair and another nestling in her neck. Boris was feeding some white hares and some [Pg 55]pet rabbits. The children were eagerly talking to their animals, and Annie had to own to herself that there was nothing in the least unhappy or even morbid10 in the sound of either of the voices.
For a moment the children's perfect happiness almost vexed11 her. It seemed provoking to have taken that long, exhausting walk for nothing, and oh! how hungry and thirsty, how very hungry and thirsty she felt.
The next instant, however, her good-nature asserted itself. She said "Hullo!" pushed her way through the laurustinus hedge, and stood in the midst of the group.
Nell started into a sitting position, tumbling the white rats on to her lap. She looked up at Annie. What a tumbled, dishevelled, hot, but oh, what a pretty strange lady was this! Nell worshipped beauty with the passion of a very hot and fervent12 little soul. She had scarcely noticed Annie in the schoolroom, but now her heart went out to her with a great throb13.
"Who are you?" she said. "Where do you come from? What is your name?"
"Oh, I'm not a fairy, my good child!" said Annie. "I'm a poor, exhausted14 girl, who thought she was performing a very heroic feat15 and finds herself mistaken."
"Pray come in and take a seat," said Boris, who was always the soul of gentlemanly politeness. He stood up as he spoke16, tumbling his rabbits and hares helter skelter in all directions, and tried to push back the laurustinus hedge for Annie. She squeezed through, tearing her cotton dress as she did so.
"Oh, dear, dear, your sweet dress is spoiled!" said Nell, in a tender voice.
[Pg 56]
"Won't you seat yourself?" said Boris.
"How hot you are," said Nell. "What can we do for you? Would it soothe19 you to stroke one of the rats? This darling, for instance. His name is Crinklety."
Annie took the rat on her lap and looked at it reflectively.
"It's a darling," she said, "and so are the rabbits, and so are the hares; but oh, I'm so hot and so thirsty! and oh, children, don't you know what I've come about, and don't you know who I am?"
"No, I'm sure we don't," answered Boris. Nell stared solemnly; she did not speak.
"Well," said Annie, "I see I must introduce myself. I am Annie Forest. I'm Hester Thornton's friend, and I came here this morning with Hetty and Nan, and we all started on a picnic, and when we came to Friar's Wood, I found that you, Boris—you see I know your name—and you, Nell, were left behind, and I could not stand it somehow; it seemed too cruel and unfair, so I—I came back for you."
"How did you come?" asked Boris. "Did you drive back with Dobbin or Jacko?"
"No; they will have plenty to do this evening, and why should I give them double work, poor dears? No; I came back with these," she pushed out her dainty, but very dusty, feet as she spoke.
"You mean that you walked?" said Nell. "You walked all that long way just because of us two children that you knew nothing about. I didn't [Pg 57]believe it was true. I never believed anything so perfectly20 splendid could be true out of a story book. Boris, do you hear? She walked from Friar's Wood all by herself."
"Are you awfully21 dead beat?" asked Boris, standing22 in his sturdy attitude in front of Annie and looking at her with immense attention.
"Yes; I never was hotter in my life, and I don't think I ever felt more tired. It is such a blazing day."
"Then you don't want to walk back again?"
"Well, I suppose I must, only I think I'll rest a little bit first, and perhaps one of you can bring me a glass of water. I consulted Kitty about it, and Kitty said you could ride your brother's bicycle, Boris. She only told me about Nell just when I was starting, but perhaps Nell can get on the bicycle sometimes, too. I'm not quite sure how it can be managed."
"You need not trouble about me," said Nell, "for I'm not going to the picnic. I don't wish to."
"And I don't wish to either," said Boris; "there's nothing to go for now, for dinner will be over. I always think the fun of a picnic is washing the potatoes and lighting23 the bonfire, and they'll be all over long ago."
"Well, then," said Annie, "I see that I have made myself a martyr24 in an unnecessary cause. You bad children, you are not a bit unhappy at staying at home, and I pictured you both such miserable25 little victims."
"Would you rather have seen us miserable?" asked Boris.
"Of course I'd much rather have seen you miserable, you little wretch26. How dare you look at me [Pg 58]with those smiling, bright blue eyes? If I had seen you and Nell pale and wretched, and a little bit withered27 up, I'd have felt that my walk had been taken for a good purpose; but now——"
"Perhaps you think," said Nell, looking at Annie with great earnestness, "that you did nothing when you took that walk and when you made the story books come true. You did a great deal for me. We are Lorrimers, Boris and I, and it isn't the fashion for a Lorrimer ever to fret28 when things can't be helped. Boris would have liked to go to the picnic, and I'd have liked it, too, if it had happened on another day, but as we couldn't go, we meant to have a picnic at home. Will you stay with us and help us to make up a jolly picnic at home?"
"Of course I will, only too gladly."
"Then, Boris," said Nell, "we had best fetch the food while the story book lady is resting."
The children disappeared, and Annie lay back on the grass and laughed to herself. She was absorbed as usual with the fascination29 of the moment, and forgot all about Kitty, who would be carefully guarding her secret far away in Friar's Wood.
The picnic, which was partaken of by Annie, Nell, and Boris on the tiny lawn, surrounded by the laurustinus hedge, was a truly gay affair. The white hares, the rabbits, the rats, joined the company of diners, and Annie became her gayest and wildest self. When dinner was over, Boris reluctantly took his pets back to the out-house where they were kept, and then returned once more to the fascination of strawberries, cream, and Annie Forest's society.
Meanwhile, in Friar's Wood, Kitty was keeping an eager look-out. It was almost time for Annie to [Pg 59]come back, and all the other members of the party who did not know where she had gone were becoming anxious about her. They would have been much more so but for Hester and Nan. But Hester and Nan were both well accustomed to Annie's many vagaries30.
"If it were anyone else, I should fret about her," said Hester, answering Nora's eager inquiry31 for about the twentieth time. "She has wandered away in the wood by herself and will come back when she pleases, or perhaps she may have gone straight back to the Towers or to the Grange. Annie is grown up now, and she can take care of herself. There is no manner of use in fretting32 about her."
"If you only knew Annie at school!" exclaimed Nan. "Why there is quite a proverb about Annie at school. Let me see, this is it: 'The only thing to be expected of Annie Forest is the unexpected.' Now don't let's talk of her any more. She is a dear old Annie; but why should she spoil this lovely, perfect day, the first of my holidays? Guy, I wish you'd come and sit next me. Let us get up a jolly game of hide and seek."
"No," said Guy, "It's too hot at present. We will presently, when the sun gets a bit lower."
"Then tell me a story, there's a darling Guy."
Guy complied rather lazily. Nan moved a little apart with him, and the two began an eager, whispered conversation. Molly and Hester once more joined forces and resumed the interrupted talk of the morning. The others wandered away in different directions, and Nora and Kitty found themselves together. Nora felt rather discontented. She missed Annie Forest, not because she particularly liked her just now, but because Annie's conduct during their morning walk [Pg 60]had rather piqued33 her. Nora was quite sharp enough to read Kitty's secret in her troubled, demure34, watchful35 and impatient eyes. She thought it would be rather good fun to bully36 Kitty a little.
"What are you staring through that long line of trees for?" she said. "Come here, and out with it at once. You know you're bursting with a secret. If you don't tell soon you'll explode, and there'll be nothing left of you. Come here, I say, and out with it."
Nora thought it quite unnecessary to put on her society manners for Kitty's benefit.
"I needn't come if I don't like," answered Kitty. "I'm not obliged to obey you, so don't you think it."
"Highty tighty. Do you suppose I'm going to take impertinence from a little chit like you? You know perfectly well where Annie Forest has gone, and it is your duty to tell."
"I won't tell. There!"
"Ah!" laughed Nora, now thoroughly37 exasperated38. "I guessed you had a secret. I knew it when I saw you shutting up your lips so straightly, and putting on that little demure expression whenever Annie's name was mentioned. Now you have confessed it."
"I have confessed nothing," said Kitty in alarm.
"Yes, you have; you said you wouldn't tell. How could you say you wouldn't tell if you had nothing to tell? I know mother is uneasy about Annie, and I know Jane Macalister is uneasy, and you know where she is and you dare to keep them in suspense39. Come along to mother at once. She'll soon get this secret out of you."
[Pg 61]
"I won't go, Nora—I won't. I'll climb up into this tree, where you can't catch me. Here," continued Kitty, suiting the action to the word, "you can't catch me up here; you can't. I won't go to mother—no, I won't."
"You will if I make you," said Nora. "You think I can't climb."
"You wouldn't dare to climb!" exclaimed Kitty, shouting down from the foliage40 of the tree into which she had hastily swung herself. "You'll get your frock all torn, and Molly and Jane will be just mad. You daren't climb, Nora—you daren't. You can't catch me Nora—you can't."
Nora had a quick temper, and Kitty's manner was most exasperating41. Under ordinary circumstances the ladylike Nora would have hated climbing trees, but now all was forgotten in her fierce desire to lay hold of the daring, exasperating little Kitty and to force her secret out of her. How dared Annie Forest snub Nora and then confide42 in a baby like Kitty?
"Unless you come down this minute, I'll follow you into the tree and drag you down," said Nora. "Now you know what I mean to do, so come down this instant."
"Not I, not I," laughed Kitty. She had been rather frightened while Nora was taunting43 her on the ground, but now she felt so secure that she could afford to laugh, and even in her turn to use taunting words.
"I knew you were too much of a coward, fine, ladylike Miss Nora, to climb up here," she said; "and I'm going to stay here just as long as I please."
"Oh, are you?" said Nora. "There'll be two people to decide that point." She was in a blind [Pg 62]fury now, and, before Kitty could say another word, began to swarm44 up the tree. She managed to catch the branch where Kitty had planted herself, and in another instant would have caught hold of the little girl's dress; but Kitty and Boris could both climb like monkeys, and it did not take the little girl an instant to swing herself on to a higher branch. Nora's mettle45 was now up. She was resolved that Kitty should not conquer her. The spirit of defiance46 in Kitty made her resolve to die rather than be taken.
"You shan't catch me—you shan't," screamed the child. "I'm lighter47 than you. I'm going to creep on to the end of this bough48; it will bear my weight, but it won't bear yours, Nora. Don't attempt to get on it, Nora; if you do the bough will break."
Kitty, as good as her word, crept on to a dead branch of the forest beech49 tree; it was high above the ground and nearly bare of leaves. It looked what it was, thoroughly rotten; but it bore Kitty's light weight without strain. She reached almost the end, and turned her flushed, laughing, defiant50 face towards Nora. Nora had reached the bough, but hesitated a moment before trusting herself on it.
"I will catch you!" exclaimed Nora. "You horrid52, sneaking53 little cheat. This bough looks firm enough. It will hold me as well as you; anyhow, I'm going to try."
"Don't, don't!" screamed Kitty. She was really frightened now, for she saw the danger from the position where she was sitting far more plainly than Nora did. "Don't do it, Nora," she shrieked55. "I'd rather come back to you. I would really, really. [Pg 63]You'll be killed—we'll both be killed if you get upon this rotten bough. Oh, dear! oh, dear! Nora, are you mad? Are you mad?"
Blind passion had made Nora almost mad. She did not believe Kitty's words. The bare bough looked safe enough from her position. She stretched out one cautious hand, then another, and propelled herself slowly along. Her whole weight was now upon the bough. It was thoroughly rotten and very brittle56. Kitty gave a shriek54 of terror, and, with a wild leap, managed to throw her arms over the bough just above. She was not a minute too soon. The rotten branch cracked and broke with a loud report, and poor Nora was hurled57 with great violence to the ground.
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1
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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3
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6
eradicated
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| 画着根的 | |
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7
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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10
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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11
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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12
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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13
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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14
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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15
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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16
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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17
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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18
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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19
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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20
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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21
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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22
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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23
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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24
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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25
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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26
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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27
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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28
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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29
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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30
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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31
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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32
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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33
piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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34
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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36
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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37
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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38
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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39
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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40
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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41
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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42
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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43
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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44
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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45
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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46
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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47
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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48
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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49
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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50
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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51
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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52
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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53
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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54
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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55
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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57
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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