Dr. George found Mrs. Oliver too ill to be anything but reasonable. After a long talk about her own condition and Polly's future, she gave a somewhat tearful assent1 to all his plans for their welfare, and agreed to make the change when a suitable tenant2 was found for the house.
So Polly eased the anxiety that gnawed3 at her heart by incredible energy in the direction of house-cleaning; superintending all sorts of scrubbings, polishings, and renovating4 of carpets with the aid of an extra Chinaman, who was fresh from his native rice-fields and stupid enough to occupy any one's mind to the exclusion5 of other matters.
Each boarder in turn was asked to make a trip to the country on a certain day, and on his return found his room in spotless order; while all this time the tired mother lay quietly in her bed, knowing little or nothing of her daughter's superhuman efforts to be "good." But a month of rest worked wonders, and Mrs. Oliver finally became so like her usual delicate but energetic self that Polly almost forgot her fears, although she remitted6 none of her nursing and fond but rigid7 discipline.
At length something happened; and one glorious Saturday morning in October, Polly saddled Blanquita, the white mare8 which Bell Winship had left in Polly's care during her European trip, and galloped9 over to the Nobles' ranch10 in a breathless state of excitement.
Blanquita was happy too, for Polly had a light hand on the rein11 and a light seat in the saddle. She knew there would be a long rest at the journey's end, and that, too, under a particularly shady pepper-tree; so both horse and rider were in a golden humor as they loped over the dusty road, the blue Pacific on the one hand, and the brown hills, thirsty for rain, on the other.
Polly tied Blanquita to the pepper-tree, caught her habit in one hand, and ran up the walnut-tree avenue to the Nobles' house. There was no one in; but that was nothing unusual, since a house is chiefly useful for sleeping purposes in that lovely climate. No one on the verandas12, no one in the hammocks; after seeking for some little time she came upon Margery and her mother at work in their orange-tree sitting-room13, Mrs. Noble with her mending-basket, Margery painting as usual.
The orange-tree sitting-room was merely a platform built under the trees, which in the season of blossoms shed a heavy fragrance14 in the warm air, and later on hung their branches of golden fruit almost into your very lap.
"Here you are!" cried Polly, plunging15 through the trees as she caught sight of Margery's pink dress. "You have n't any hats to swing, so please give three rousing cheers! The house is rented and a lease signed for a year!"
"That is good news, indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Noble, laying down her needle. "And who is the tenant?"
"Whom do you suppose? Mrs. Chadwick herself! She has been getting on very nicely with the housekeeping (part of the credit belongs to me, but no one would ever believe it), and the boarders have been gradually weaned from mamma and accustomed to the new order of things, so they are tolerably content. Ah Foy also has agreed to stay, and that makes matters still more serene16, since he is the best cook in Santa Barbara. Mrs. Chadwick will pay eighty-five dollars a month. Dr. George thinks we ought to get more, but mamma is so glad to have somebody whom she knows, and so relieved to feel that there will be no general breaking up of the 'sweet, sweet home,' that she is glad to accept the eighty-five dollars; and I am sure that we can live in modest penury17 on that sum. Of course Mrs. Chadwick may weary in well-doing; or she may die; or she may even get married,--though that's very unlikely, unless one of the boarders can't pay his board and wants to make it up to her in some way. Heigho! I feel like a princess, like a capitalist, like a gilded18 society lady!" sighed Polly, fanning herself with her hat.
"And now you and your mother will come to us for a week or two, as you promised, won't you?" asked Mrs. Noble. "That will give you time to make your preparations comfortably."
Polly took a note from her pocket and handed it to Mrs. Noble: "Mrs. Oliver presents her compliments to Mrs. Noble, and says in this letter that we accept with pleasure Mrs. Noble's kind invitation to visit her. Said letter was not to be delivered, in case Mrs. Noble omitted to renew the invitation; but as all is right, I don't mind announcing that we are coming the day after to-morrow."
"Oh, Polly, Polly! How am I ever to live without you!" sighed Margery. "First Elsie, then Bell, now you!"
"Live for your Art with a big A, Peggy, but it's not forever. By and by, when you are a successful artist and I am a successful something, in short, when we are both 'careering,' which is my verb to express earning one's living by the exercise of some splendid talent, we will 'career' together in some great metropolis19. Our mothers shall dress in Lyons velvet20 and point-lace. Their delicate fingers, no longer sullied by the vulgar dishcloth and duster, shall glitter with priceless gems21, while you and I, the humble22 authors of their greatness, will heap dimes23 on dimes until we satisfy ambition."
Mrs. Noble smiled. "I hope your 'career,' as you call it, will be one in which imagination will be of use, Polly."
"I don't really imagine all the imaginations you imagine I imagine," said Polly soberly, as she gave Mrs. Noble's hand an affectionate squeeze. "A good deal of it is 'whistling to keep my courage up.' But everything looks hopeful just now. Mamma is so much better, everybody is so kind, and do you know, I don't loathe24 the boarders half so much since we have rented them with the house?
"They grow in beauty side by side,
They fill our home with glee.
"Now that I can look upon them as personal property, part of our goods and chattels25, they have ceased to be disagreeable. Even Mr. Greenwood--you remember him, Margery?"
"The fat old man who calls you sprightly26?"
"The very same; but he has done worse since that. To be called sprightly is bad enough, but yesterday he said that he shouldn't be surprised _if I married well--in--course--of--time_!"
Nothing but italics would convey the biting sarcasm27 of Polly's inflections, and no capitals in a printer's case could picture her flashing eyes, or the vigor28 with which she prodded29 the earth with her riding-whip.
"I agree with him, that it is not impossible," said Mrs. Noble teasingly, after a moment of silence.
"Now, dearest aunty Meg, don't take sides with that odious30 man! If, in the distant years, you ever see me on the point of marrying well, simply mention Mr. Greenwood's name to me, and I 'll draw back even if I am walking up the middle aisle31 with an ivory prayer-book in my hand!"
"Just to spite Mr. Greenwood; that would be sensible," said Margery.
"You could n't be so calm if you had to sit at the same table with him day after day. He belongs at the second table by--by every law of his nature! But, as I was saying, now that we have rented him to Mrs. Chadwick with the rest of the furniture, and will have a percentage on him just as we do on the piano which is far more valuable, I have been able to look at him pleasantly."
"You ought to be glad that the boarders like you," said Margery reprovingly.
"They don't, as a rule; only the horrors and the elderly gentlemen approve of me. But good-by for to-day, aunty Meg. Come to the gate, Peggy dear!"
The two friends walked through the orange-grove, their arms wound about each other, girl-fashion. They were silent, for each was sorry to lose the other, and a remembrance of the dear old times, the unbroken circle, the peaceful schooldays and merry vacations, stole into their young hearts, together with visions of the unknown future.
As Polly untied32 Blanquita and gave a heroic cinch to the saddle, she gave a last searching look at Margery, and said finally, "Peggy dear, I am very sure you are blue this morning; tell your faithful old Pollykins all about it."
One word was enough for Margery in her present mood, and she burst into tears on Polly's shoulder.
"Is it Edgar again?" whispered Polly.
"Yes," she sobbed33. "Father has given him three months more to stay in the university, and unless he does better he is to come home and live on the cattle-ranch. Mother is heart-broken over it; for you know, Polly, that Edgar will never endure such a life; and yet, dearly as he loves books, he is n't doing well with his studies. The president has written father that he is very indolent this term and often absent from recitations; and one of the Santa Barbara boys, a senior, writes Philip that he is not choosing good friends, nor taking any rank in his class. Mother has written him such a letter this morning! If he can read it without turning his back upon his temptations, whatever they may he, I shall never have any pride in him again; and oh, Polly, I have been so proud of him, my brilliant, handsome, charming brother!"
"Poor Edgar! I can't believe it is anything that will last. He is so bright and lovable; every one thought he would take the highest honors. Why, Margery, he is, or was, the most ambitious boy I ever knew, and surely, surely he cannot have changed altogether! Surely he will come to himself when he knows he may have to leave college unless he does his best. I 'm so sorry, dear old Peggy! It seems heartless that my brighter times should begin just when you are in trouble. Perhaps mamma and I can do something for Edgar; we will try, you may lie sure. Good-by, dearest; I shall see you again very soon."
Ten days later, Polly stood on the deck of the Orizaba just at dusk, looking back on lovely Santa Barbara as it lay in the lap of the foothills freshened by the first rains. The dull, red-tiled roofs of the old Spanish adobes34 gleamed through the green of the pepper-trees, the tips of the tall, straggling blue-gums stood out sharply against the sky, and the twin towers of the old Mission rose in dazzling whiteness above a wilderness35 of verdure. The friendly faces on the wharf36 first merged37 themselves into a blurred38 mass of moving atoms, then sank into nothingness.
Polly glanced into her stateroom. Mrs. Oliver was a good sailor, and was lying snug39 and warm under her blankets. So Polly took a camp-chair just outside the door, wrapped herself in her fur cape40, crowded her tam-o'-shanter tightly on, and sat there alone as the sunset glow paled in the western sky and darkness fell upon the face of the deep.
The mesa faded from sight; and then the lighthouse, where she had passed so many happy hours in her childhood. The bright disk of flame shone clear and steady across the quiet ocean, seeming to say, _Let your light so shine! Let your light so shine! Good luck, Polly! Keep your own lamp filled and trimmed, like a wise little virgin41!_ And her heart answered, "Good-by, dear light! I am leaving my little-girl days on the shore with you, and I am out on the open sea of life. I shall know that you are shining, though I cannot see you. Good-by! Shine on, dear light! I am going to seek my fortune!"
收听单词发音 |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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renovating
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| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 ) | |
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exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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remitted
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| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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verandas
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| 阳台，走廊( veranda的名词复数 ) | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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penury
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| n.贫穷，拮据 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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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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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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dimes
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| n.（美国、加拿大的）10分铸币( dime的名词复数 ) | |
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loathe
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| v.厌恶，嫌恶 | |
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chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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adobes
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| n.风干土坯( adobe的名词复数 )；风干砖坯；（制风干砖用的）灰质粘土；泥砖砌成的房屋 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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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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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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