At this moment a soft, plump little hand was slipped into hers and the sweetest of voices said:
"I am so sorry anything has seemed unkind to you. Believe me, we are not what you imagine. We have our fun and our prejudices, of course, but we are not what you think we are."
Priscilla could not help smiling, nor could she resist slightly squeezing the fingers which touched hers.
"You are not unkind, I know," she answered; and she ate the rest of her dinner in a comforted frame of mind.
After dinner one of the lecturers who resided at Heath Hall, a pleasant, bright girl of two- or three-and-twenty, came and introduced herself, and presently took Priscilla with her to her own room, to talk over the line of study which the young girl proposed to take up. This conference lasted some little time, and then Priscilla, in the lecturer's company, returned to the hall for tea.
A great many girls kept coming in and out. Some stayed to have tea, but most helped themselves to tea and bread and butter and took them away to partake of in their own private rooms.
Maggie Oliphant and Nancy Banister presently rushed in for this purpose. Maggie, seeing Priscilla, ran up to her.
"How are you getting on?" she asked brightly. "Oh, by-the-by, will you cocoa with me to-night at half-past ten?"
"I don't know what you mean," answered Priscilla. "But I'll do it," she added, her eyes brightening.
"All right, I'll explain the simple ceremony when you come. My room is next to yours, so you'll have no difficulty in finding me out. I don't expect to have any one present except Miss Banister," nodding her head in Nancy's direction, "and perhaps one other girl. By-by, I'll see you at half-past ten."
Maggie turned to leave the hall, but Nancy lingered for a moment by Priscilla's side.
"Wouldn't you like to take your tea up to your room?" she asked. "We most of us do it. You may, you know."
"I don't think I wish to," answered Priscilla in an uncertain voice.
Nancy half turned to go, then came back.
"You are going to unpack4 by and by, aren't you?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, when I get back to my room."
"Perhaps you ought to know beforehand; the girls will be coming to call."
Priscilla raised her eyes.
"What girls?" she asked, alarm in her tone.
"Oh, most of the students in your corridor. They always call on a fresher the first night in her room. You need not bother yourself about them; they'll just talk for a little while and then go away. What is the matter, Miss Peel? Maggie has told me your name, you see."
"What you tell me sounds so very— very formal."
"But it isn't— not really. Shall I come and help you to entertain them?"
"I wish——" began Priscilla. She hesitated; the words seemed to stick in her throat.
"What did you say?" Nancy bent forward a little impatiently.
"I wish— yes, do come," with a violent effort.
"All right, you may expect me."
Nancy flew after Maggie Oliphant, and Priscilla went slowly up the wide, luxurious5 stairs. She turned down the corridor which led to her own room. There were doors leading out of this corridor at both sides, and Priscilla caught glimpses of luxurious rooms bright with flowers and electric light. Girls were laughing and chatting in them; she saw pictures on the walls and lounges and chairs scattered6 about. Her own room was at the far end of the corridor. The electric light was also brightening it, but the fire was unlit, and the presence of the unpacked7 trunk, taking up a position of prominence8 on the floor, gave it a very unhomelike feel. In itself the room was particularly picturesque9. It had two charming lattice windows, set in deep square bays. One window faced the fireplace, the other the door. The effect was slightly irregular, but for that very reason all the more charming. The walls of the room were painted light blue; there was a looking-glass over the mantel-piece set in a frame of the palest, most delicate blue. A picture-rail ran round the room about six feet from the ground, and the high frieze10 above had a scroll11 of wild roses painted on it in bold, free relief.
The panels of the doors were also decorated with sprays of wild flowers in picturesque confusion. Both the flowers and the scroll were boldly designed, but were unfinished, the final and completing touches remaining yet to be given.
Priscilla looked hungrily at these unexpected trophies12 of art. She could have shouted with glee as she recognized some of her dear, wild Devonshire flowers, among the groups on the door panels. She wondered if all the rest of the students were treated to these artistic13 decorations and grew a little happier and less homesick at the thought.
Priscilla could have been an artist herself had the opportunity arisen, but she was one of those girls all alive with aspiration14 and longing15 who never up to the present had come in the way of special culture in any style.
She stood for some time gazing at the groups of wild flowers, then remembering with horror that she was to receive visitors that night, she looked round the room to see if she could do anything to make it appear homelike and inviting16.
It was a nice room, certainly. Priscilla had never before in her whole life occupied such a luxurious apartment, and yet it had a cold, dreary17, uninhabited feel. She had an intuition that none of the other students' rooms looked like hers. She rushed to light the fire, but could not find the matches, which had been removed from their place on the mantel-piece, and felt far too shy to ring the electric bell. It was Priscilla's fashion to clasp her hands together when she felt a sense of dismay, and she did so now as she looked around the pretty room, which yet with all its luxuries looked to her cold and dreary.
The furniture was excellent of its kind. A Turkey carpet covered the center of the floor, the boards round the edge were stained and brightly polished. In one corner of the room was a little bed, made to look like a sofa by day, with a Liberty cretonne covering. A curtain of the same shut away the wardrobe and washing apparatus18. Just under one of the bay windows stood a writing-table, so contrived19 as to form a writing-table, and a bookcase at the top, and a chest of drawers to hold linen20 below. Besides this there was a small square table for tea in the room and a couple of chairs. The whole effect was undoubtedly21 bare.
Priscilla was hesitating whether to begin to unpack her trunk or not when a light knock was heard at her door. She said "Come in," and two girls burst rather noisily into the apartment.
"How do you do?" they said, favoring the fresh girl with a brief nod. "You came to-day, didn't you? What are you going to study? Are you clever?"
These queries22 issued rapidly from the lips of the tallest of the girls. She had red hair, tousled and tossed about her head. Her face was essentially23 commonplace; her small restless eyes now glanced at Priscilla, now wandered over the room. She did not wait for a reply to any of her queries, but turned rapidly to her companion.
"I told you so, Polly," she said. "I was quite sure that she was going to be put into Miss Lee's room. You see, I'm right; this is Annabel Lee's old room; it has never been occupied since."
"Hush24!" said the other girl.
The two walked across the apartment and seated themselves on Priscilla's bed.
There came a fresh knock at the door, and this time three students entered. They barely nodded to Priscilla and then rushed across the room with cries of rapture25 to greet the girls who were seated on the bed.
"How do you do, Miss Atkins? How do you do, Miss Jones?"
Miss Jones and Miss Atkins exchanged kisses with Miss Phillips, Miss Marsh26 and Miss Day. The babel of tongues rose high, and every one had something to say with regard to the room which had been assigned to Priscilla.
"Look," said Miss Day, "it was in that corner she had her rocking-chair. Girls, do you remember Annabel's rocking-chair, and how she used to sway herself backward and forward in it and half-shut her lovely eyes?"
"Oh, and don't I just seem to see that little red tea-table of hers near the fire," burst from Miss Marsh. "That Japanese table, with the Japanese tea-set— oh dear, oh dear! those cups of tea— those cakes! Well, the room was luxurious, was worth coming to see in Annabel's time."
"It's more than it is now," laughed Miss Jones in a harsh voice. "How bare the walls look without her pictures. It was in that recess27 the large figure of Hope by Burne-Jones used to hang, and there, that queer, wild, wonderful head looking out of clouds. You know she never would tell us the artist's name. Yes, she had pretty things everywhere! How the room is altered! I don't think I care for it a bit now."
"Could any one who knew Annabel Lee care for the room without her?" asked one of the girls. She had a common, not to say vulgar, face, but it wore a wistful expression as she uttered these words.
All this time Priscilla was standing28, feeling utterly29 shy and miserable30. From time to time other girls came in; they nodded to her and then rushed upon their companions. The eager talk began afresh, and always there were looks of regret and allusions31, accompanied by sighs, to the girl who had lived in the room last.
"Well," said one merry little girl, who was spoken to by the others as Ada Hardy33, "I have no doubt that by and by, when Miss——" She glanced toward Priscilla.
"Peel," faltered34 Priscilla.
"When Miss Peel unpacks35 her trunk, she'll make the room look very pretty, too."
"She can't," said Miss Day in a tragic36 voice; "she never could make the room look at it used to— not if she was to live till the age of Methuselah. Of course you'll improve it, Miss Peel; you couldn't possibly exist in it as it is now."
"I can tell you of a capital shop in Kingsdene, Miss Peel," said Miss Marsh, "where you can buy tables and chairs, and pretty artistic cloths, and little whatnots of all descriptions. I'd advise you to go to Rigg's. He's in the High Street, No. 48."
"But Spilman has much the most recherche37' articles, you know, Lucy," interposed Miss Day. "I'll walk over to Spilman's to-morrow with you, if you like, Miss Peel."
Before Priscilla had time to reply there was again a knock at the door, and this time Nancy Banister, looking flushed and pretty, came in.
She took in the scene at a glance; numbers of girls making themselves at home in Priscilla's room, some seated on her trunk, some on her bureau, several curled up in comfortable attitudes on her bed and she herself standing, meek38, awkward, depressed39, near one of the windows.
"How tired you look, Miss Peel!" said Nancy Banister.
Priscilla smiled gratefully at her.
"And your trunk is not unpacked yet?"
"Oh! there is time enough," faltered Priscilla.
"Are we in your way?" suddenly spoke32 Miss Marsh, springing to her feet. "Good night. My name is Marsh, my room is thirty-eight."
She swung herself lazily and carelessly out of the room, followed, at longer or shorter intervals40, by the other girls, who all nodded to Priscilla, told her their names and one or two the numbers of their rooms. At last she was left alone with Nancy Banister.
"Poor thing! How tired and white you look!" said Nancy. "But now that dreadful martyrdom is over, you shall have a real cozy41 time. Don't you want a nice hot cup of cocoa? It will be ready in a minute or two. And please may I help you to unpack?"
"Thank you," said Priscilla; her teeth were chattering42. "If I might have a fire?" she asked suddenly.
"Oh, you poor, shivering darling! Of course. Are there no matches here? There were some on the mantel-piece before dinner. No, I declare they have vanished. How careless of the maid. I'll run into Maggie's room and fetch some."
Miss Banister was not a minute away. She returned with a box of matches, and, stooping down, set a light to the wood, and a pleasant fire was soon blazing and crackling merrily.
"Now, isn't that better?" said Nancy. "Please sit down on your bed and give me the key of your trunk. I'll soon have the things out and put all to rights for you. I'm a splendid unpacker43."
But Priscilla had no desire to have her small and meager44 wardrobe overhauled45 even by the kindest of St. Benet's girls.
"I will unpack presently myself, if you don't mind," she said. She felt full of gratitude46, but she could not help an almost surly tone coming into her voice.
Nancy drew back, repulsed47 and distressed48.
"Perhaps you would like me to go away?" she said. "I will go into Maggie's room and let you know when cocoa is ready."
"Thank you," said Prissie. Miss Banister disappeared, and Priscilla sat on by the fire, unconscious that she had given any pain or annoyance49, thinking with gratitude of Nancy, and with feelings of love of Maggie Oliphant, and wondering what her little sisters were doing without her at home to-night.
By and by there came a tap at her door. Priscilla ran to open it. Miss Oliphant stood outside.
"Won't you come in?" said Priscilla, throwing the door wide open and smiling with joy. It was already delightful50 to her to look at Maggie. "Please come in," she added in a tone almost of entreaty51.
Maggie Oliphant started and turned pale. "Into that room? No, no, I can't," she said in a queer voice. She rushed back to her own, leaving Priscilla standing in amazement52 by her open door.
There was a moment's silence. Then Miss Oliphant's voice, rich, soft and lazy, was heard within the shelter of her own apartment.
"Please come in, Miss Peel; cocoa awaits you. Do not stand on ceremony."
Priscilla went timidly across the landing, and the instant found herself in one of the prettiest of the students' rooms at St. Benet's. A few rare prints and some beautiful photogravures of well-known pictures adorned53 the walls. The room was crowded with knick-knacks and rendered gay and sweet by many tall flowers in pots. A piano stood open by one of the walls and a violin lay carelessly on a chair not far off. There were piles of new music and some tempting54, small, neatly55 bound books lying about. A fire glowed on the hearth56 and a little brass57 kettle sang merrily on the hob. The cocoa-table was drawn58 up in front of the fire and on a quaintly59 shaped tray stood the bright little cocoa-pot and the oddly devised cups and saucers.
"Welcome to St. Benet's!" said Maggie, going up and taking Priscilla's hand cordially within her own. "Now you'll have to get into this low chair and make yourself quite at home and happy."
"How snug60 you are here," said Prissie, her eyes brightening and a pink color mounting into her cheeks. She was glad that Maggie was alone; she felt more at ease with her than with any one, but the next moment she said with a look of apparent regret:
"I thought Miss Banister was in your room?"
"No; Nancy has gone to her own room at the end of the corridor to do some work for an hour. She will come back to say good night. She always does. Are you sorry to have me by myself?"
"Indeed I am not," said Priscilla. The smile, which made her rather plain face attractive, crept slowly back to it. Maggie poured out a cup of cocoa and brought it to her. Then, drawing another chair forward, she seated herself in it, sipped61 her own cocoa and began to talk.
Long afterward62 Priscilla remembered that talk. It was not what Maggie said, for her conversation in itself was not at all brilliant, but it was the sound of her rich, calm, rather lazy voice, the different lights which glanced and gleamed in her eyes, the dimples about her mouth, the attitude she put herself in. Maggie had a way of changing color, too, which added to her fascination63. Sometimes the beautiful oval of her face would he almost ivory white, but then again a rosy64 cloud would well up and up the cheeks and even slightly suffuse65 the broad, low forehead. Her face was never long the same, never more than a moment in repose66; eyes, mouth, brow, even the very waves of her hair seemed to Priscilla, this first night as she sat by her hearth, to be all speech.
The girls grew cozy and confidential67 together. Priscilla told Maggie about her home, a little also about her past history and her motive68 in coming to St. Benet's. Maggie sympathized with all the expression she was capable of. At last Priscilla bade her new friend good night, and, rising from her luxurious chair, prepared to go back to her own room.
She had just reached the door of Maggie's room, and was about to turn the handle, when a sudden thought arrested her. She came back a few steps.
"May I ask you a question?" she said.
"Certainly," replied Miss Oliphant.
"Who is the girl who used to live in my room? Annabel Lee, the other girls call her. Who is she? What is there remarkable69 about her?"
To Priscilla's astonishment70, Maggie started a step forward, her eyes blazed with an expression which was half frightened— half angry. She interlocked one soft hand inside the other, her face grew white, hard and strained.
"You must not ask me about Annabel Lee," she said in a whisper, "for I— I can tell you nothing about her. I can never tell you about her— never."
Then she rushed to her sofa-bed, flung herself upon it face downward, and burst into queer, silent, distressful71 tears.
Some one touched Priscilla softly an her shoulder.
"Let me take you to your room, Miss Peel," said Nancy Banister. "Don't take any notice of Maggie; she will be all right by and by."
Nancy took Priscilla's hand and walked with her across the corridor.
"I am so sorry I said anything to hurt Miss Oliphant," said Priscilla.
"Oh, you were not to blame. You could not know any better. Of course, now that you do know, you will never do it again."
"But I don't know anything now. Please will you tell me who Annabel Lee is?"
"Hush! don't speak so loud. Annabel Lee" Nancy's eyes filled with tears— "no girl in the college was so popular."
"Why do you say was? and why do you cry?"
"I did not know that I cried. Annabel Lee is dead."
"Oh!"
Priscilla walked into her room and Nancy went back to Maggie Oliphant.
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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3
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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4
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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6
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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7
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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12
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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13
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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14
aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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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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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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22
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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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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26
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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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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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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32
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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33
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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35
unpacks
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的第三人称单数 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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36
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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recherche
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| adj.精选的；罕有的 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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40
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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41
cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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42
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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43
unpacker
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| n.解包器，拆包器，出箱机 | |
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44
meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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45
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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46
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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47
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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48
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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49
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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50
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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51
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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52
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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53
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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58
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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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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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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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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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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suffuse
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| v.(色彩等)弥漫，染遍 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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distressful
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| adj.苦难重重的，不幸的，使苦恼的 | |
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