Notwithstanding all their obstinacy3, and their determination to have their own way, quite a bevy4 of friends accompanied them to the railway station—Miss Martineau was there, looking prim5 and starched6, but with red rims7 round her eyes, and her lips only stern because they were so firmly shut, and because she was so determined8 not to show any emotion—Mrs. Jenkins, Poppy's mother, was also present; she was sending up a great bouquet9 of wild flowers and some eggs and butter to Poppy; and a lame10 boy, whom Jasmine had always been kind to, came hobbling on to the platform to bid the young ladies good-bye; and Mr. Danesfield drove up on his trap at the last moment in a violent hurry, and pushed an envelope, which he said contained a business communication, into Primrose11's hand. Last of all, just at the very end, Mrs. Ellsworthy arrived panting on the scene; a footman followed her, also hurrying and panting, and he put into the railway carriage a great basket containing hot-house flowers, and grapes, and peaches, and then Mrs. Ellsworthy kissed the girls, giving Primrose and Daisy a hurried salute12, but letting her lips linger for a moment on Jasmine's round cheek. During that brief moment two tears dropped from the kind little lady's eyes.
It was in this manner that the girls went away.
They arrived in London in the evening, and after a surprisingly successful search for their luggage at Waterloo, managing not to lose anything, got into a cab, and drove to Penelope Mansion13.
Poppy's aunt boasted of the pleasing name of Flint, and when the girls drove up with their cab piled with luggage to the door of the mansion, Mrs. Flint herself came out to welcome them.
Jasmine, whose excitable temperament14 had been going through many changes during the journey to town, had now worked herself up into an ardent15 desire to see Poppy—she jumped out of the cab first of all, and, running up the steps of Penelope Mansion, said eagerly—
"Oh, if you please, Mrs. Flint—I know, of course, you are Mrs. Flint—may I run down to the kitchen, and find Poppy?"
"My niece will come to you presently, Miss Mainwaring," answered Mrs. Flint.
Somehow Mrs. Flint's calm and carefully modulated16 voice had an instant effect in subduing17 Jasmine. The mistress of Penelope Mansion resembled perhaps more a cushion than a flint—she was fat, round, and short, had a good-humored and unruffled face, and a voice which was always pitched in one key.
"We call my niece Sarah in these premises," she said; "Poppy signifies nothing whatever but a weed, untidy, straggling, the worry of the farmers. Sarah will see to your comforts presently, young ladies. At the present moment tea is on the table. We tea at six o'clock precisely—we sup at nine. Will you like to go upstairs and wash your hands, or will you come at once with me, and partake with the other inmates18 of the meal which is now going forward?"
"I don't like her, but she seems to speak very correct English," whispered Jasmine to her sister: "I wonder, does everybody in the great city speak like that? I suppose she'll do as a study in style. I must study style, mustn't I, if I'm to make money by writing?"
This speech was tumbled into Primrose's ear with wonderful rapidity, while Mrs. Flint stood gently by, looking most contented19 and uninterested.
"Hush20, Jasmine!" whispered Primrose. "Daisy darling, hold my hand. Thank you very much, Mrs. Flint; we will have some tea now, if you please, and then go at once to our room."
"Does Poppy—I mean Sarah—wait at the tea-table?" inquired Jasmine, as their hostess led the way up a flight of stairs, and down a passage. "I hope she does—I want to see her so badly."
"Sarah's duties at the present moment are in the kitchen," responded Mrs. Flint, with some graciousness. "Now, young ladies, let me precede you, and introduce you to my guests. Miss Mainwaring, Miss Jasmine and Miss Daisy Mainwaring—Mrs. Mortlock, Mrs. Dredge, Miss Slowcum. Young ladies, will you seat yourselves at the table?"
Mrs. Flint moved to her place at the head of the board; the three girls dropped into seats, and were stared broadly at by Miss Slowcum and Mrs. Mortlock. Mrs. Dredge, however, did not stare, but stretching out one rather plump white hand, took Daisy's within her own and gave it a little squeeze.
"Tired, pretty little dear!" she said; "tired and cold. Ah, I know all about it."
"No, she's not cold, she's hot," responded Jasmine; "this is the hottest, closest room I've ever been in. You are Mrs. Dredge, are you not? Please, Mrs. Dredge, can you tell me how near we are to the real glories of the city from here?"
"I don't know, my dear—I fancy a very long way," answered Mrs. Dredge, with a sigh—this sigh was instantly taken up by Mrs. Mortlock and Miss Slowcum, and Miss Slowcum remarked that the situation might certainly be considered the worst in London.
"Ha, ha!" said Mrs. Mortlock, "you will have to come down in your prices after that, Mrs. Flint. Ha, ha! your question was a very leading one, Miss Jasmine Mainwaring."
Poor Jasmine began to feel quite alarmed, and instantly resolved not to open her lips again during tea.
The meal proceeded, and very dull it was; nor was the fare appetizing, for the tea was weak and the bread was stale. The three young faces, so fresh from the country and from home, began to reflect the general dulness. Mrs. Flint always made it a rule never to speak except when obliged—Daisy was nearly asleep, Primrose felt a dreadful lump in her throat, and Jasmine's dark curly head was bent21 low, and her bright eyes were not seen under their long lashes22, for she was very well aware that they were full of tears.
She was a most impulsive23 creature, however, quick and variable in her moods, unselfish in her character. Suddenly it dawned upon her that it was not fair to the rest of the party that she should be so dull. She had always been considered the sunbeam at home; why should she not try to become the sunbeam of Penelope Mansion?
"I know what will do it," she exclaimed, jumping from her seat, and nearly upsetting her own tea and Daisy's. "Of course, how silly of me!—I know what will alter things directly." Then she flew out of the room, returning the next moment with Mrs. Ellsworthy's great basket of fruit and flowers.
"Primrose," she said, "mightn't we share these with the ladies? They are all quite fresh from the country. Oh yes, of course we may share them. Mrs. Flint, which will you have, some flowers, a bunch of grapes, or a peach?"
Mrs. Flint selected a good-sized bunch of grapes with a placid24 smile, and a "Thank you, Miss Jasmine"—Mrs. Mortlock also took grapes, Miss Slowcum selected flowers, and Mrs. Dredge partook of a peach with great relish25, calling it, as she did so, a "sweet reminiscence of the blooming country."
After this little incident the ladies of Penelope Mansion and the Mainwaring girls became quite friendly; nevertheless the three cried themselves to sleep that night.
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1
carnations
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| n.麝香石竹，康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 ) | |
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2
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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3
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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4
bevy
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| n.一群 | |
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5
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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6
starched
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| 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 ) | |
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7
rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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8
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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10
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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11
primrose
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| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
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12
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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13
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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14
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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15
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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16
modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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17
subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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18
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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19
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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20
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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21
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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22
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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23
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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24
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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25
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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