"I believe it's as I thought," said Elspeth Frazer to Charlotte Perry; "Gwen Gascoyne's quite off with Netta. Now, if she can only get into a better set she may be a different girl. I want to find out what she's really like, so I'm going to be nice to her to-morrow when we go the geological excursion."
"Perhaps we have been rather horrid3 to her," returned Charlotte thoughtfully.
[180]
"It was mostly her own fault for putting on airs when she first came up, and then making such friends with Netta. She couldn't expect any of us to have anything to say to her after that."
"Probably she didn't know Netta."
"I dare say not; but it shows she's a bad judge of character. All the same I've got Gwen a little on my conscience, and I'm going to try what I can do. She may improve now."
Elspeth spoke4 the truth when she said that she had Gwen on her conscience. It had occurred to her several times lately that perhaps she had misunderstood her schoolfellow, and that she might have done more to help her. "Am I my brother's keeper?" rose uneasily to her mind. She had an uncomfortable feeling that in happier circumstances Gwen might have made a better impression on the Form, and that she and Hilda and Edith and Louise were partly responsible for her ill reception.
"I'm very sorry if we've been Pharisees!" she thought. "Of course one wanted to keep to one's own set, and not have anything to do with the tag-end of the Form—but—Well, I mean to give Gwen Gascoyne a chance now, anyhow."
The geological excursion was rather an event of the term. The Form had been learning geology with Miss Roberts, who promised to take the girls for an afternoon to Riggness, a place a few miles away on the coast, greatly noted5 for its fossils, where they could have a practical demonstration6 to supplement the information in their textbooks. On the Friday afternoon chosen for the ramble7 everybody started
[181]
armed with hammers of all varieties, from Miss Roberts's beautiful geological pick to stout8 tack9 hammers and even toffee hammers.
"One never knows—one might find an ichthyosaurus embedded10 in the cliffs!" declared Charlotte Perry, brandishing11 a wooden mallet12 and an iron wedge, as if she were prepared to clear away tons of rock in the pursuit of her researches.
"Don't I wish we could!" said Miss Roberts. "But I'm afraid a few ammonites and belemnites will have to content us; those are quite difficult enough to get out intact. We shall do very well if we can only bring back some really perfect specimens13 for the school museum."
Riggness was on the other side of Stedburgh from Skelwick, and Gwen had never been there before, so the excursion was new to her. It was great fun going with the whole Form; the girls had come well prepared to enjoy themselves, and Miss Roberts also was in a jolly frame of mind, and had even brought with her a box of chocolates, which she handed round impartially15 till the contents vanished. Three compartments16 seemed to overflow17 with Rodenhurst hats. Gwen had just been following Millicent Cooper and Minna Jennings when Elspeth Frazer gripped her by the arm.
"Come in here with us, Gwen," she said, and Gwen, too much astonished for words, complied. Why she should be invited into a carriage with Hilda Browne, Charlotte Perry, Iris18 Watson, Louise Mawson, and Edith Arnold, the most elect set in the Form, was beyond her comprehension, but it was a very pleasant
[182]
circumstance all the same. To be sure, they did not take much notice of her, but they were not disagreeable, and Elspeth spoke to her more than once in quite a friendly fashion. It was so utterly19 different from their former attitude towards her that Gwen almost believed she was dreaming. Perhaps it was only because they were on a holiday this afternoon, she thought, and to-morrow they would be as usual again. Well, at any rate, she would take advantage of to-day, and make the most of her opportunities, so she chatted a little with Elspeth, and sat ruminating20 over this amazing change of front on the part of those girls whom Netta, in mockery, had nicknamed "The Saints". Riggness was reached in twenty minutes, the train stopped at the small wayside station, and the Rodenhurst party got out in a hurry. They were to descend21 to the beach, and walk along the shore to Linkthwaite Bay, a distance of about three miles, geologizing as they went. A steep zigzag22 path led down the side of the cliff to the sands, and when once her flock was all collected at the bottom, Miss Roberts improved the occasion by giving a short lecture on the formation of the rocks which formed the headland, then, leading the way, she showed them how to hunt about for the ammonites embedded in the face of the cliffs, or the long belemnites that could be seen in flat terraces of rocks at the water's edge.
"Miss Roberts is right—they're uncommonly23 difficult to get out whole," said Elspeth, tapping gingerly round a particularly fine specimen14; "just when you think you've done it, they go smash."
"It's most aggravating," agreed Gwen, whose heavy
[183]
hammer, borrowed from Winnie's hen-yard, had been rather too forcible in its effects. "I'd almost got the loveliest, biggest belemnite, and it broke into three pieces like a slate24 pencil."
"I like my toffee hammer best," said Charlotte, tenderly fingering one or two good specimens which she had managed to secure. "I mean to save up and buy a real geological one like Miss Roberts's."
Tapping the rocks was a fascinating occupation, and a fairly profitable one, for this part of the coast was rich in fossils. By the time the girls had walked a mile along the shore they had all been able to procure25 some souvenirs, though as yet nothing of very special importance. Miss Roberts looked about with a practised eye, and the pick end of her hammer would withdraw a specimen neatly26, where clumsier blows worked havoc27.
"We'll hurry on a little farther now," she said. "Those cliffs in the middle of the bay are a particularly good hunting ground, and if there's anything interesting to be found, we ought to find it there."
At the place in question the rocks were intersected by a narrow gorge28, where a small stream trickled29 its way from the moorlands above. The shelving platforms of the cliff were here comparatively easy to climb, and the action of water and weather combined had carried down a mass of stones and debris30 that would be worth investigation31. Miss Roberts was as active and enthusiastic as any of the girls; she jumped lightly from stone to stone, tapping likely spots with her hammer, and finally, seeing something protruding32 from a rock above, began to scale the face of the cliff.
[184]
"I believe I've got something here at last!" she called.
"Oh! what is it?" cried the eager girls.
"I can't tell yet till I've cleared it a little."
"Oh! Is it an ichthyosaurus, do you think?" cried Charlotte Perry.
"I'm going to send down a shower of stones—stand out of the way!" commanded Miss Roberts, and balancing herself nimbly on a narrow ledge33, she swung her hammer vigorously.
Then exactly what happened nobody quite knew. Down came the stones, rattling34 like an avalanche35, and down with them came Miss Roberts, falling with a heavy thud upon a piece of rock below. It was so utterly sudden and unexpected that the girls stood for a moment in speechless consternation36, then Hilda, Elspeth, and one or two others ran to the teacher's assistance. Miss Roberts lay at first as if she were almost stunned37, then she tried to rise, and fell back with a groan38.
"Do you know," she said quite calmly, "I'm very much afraid I've broken my leg." And then she closed her eyes, and turned very white.
The girls stared at one another in helpless dismay. Miss Roberts, the leader and head of the expedition, who was accustomed to give orders which they promptly39 obeyed, to be lying there injured and half fainting! The situation was unparalleled. Hilda Browne looked at Elspeth Frazer for inspiration, and Elspeth shook her head and looked at Charlotte Perry, but Charlotte only began to cry, while Iris Watson, Louise Mawson, Edith Arnold, and Rachel Hunter
[185]
stood in utter indecision. Not one of them had the least idea what to do.
Then Gwen stepped forward. Seeing the elder and more influential40 members of the party collected round the governess, she, the youngest girl in the Form, and the one whose opinion had been hitherto scouted41, had not ventured to interfere42, but as nobody seemed to be doing anything at all, she felt licensed43 to come to the front.
"I took the St. John's Ambulance Course last winter, and passed the examination," she said quietly. "I know how to give first aid. Perhaps I'd better try and find out where Miss Roberts is hurt. Can't any of you get some water?" and she knelt down by the mistress's side, and began very gently to feel for the extent of the injuries.
The girls were so relieved that anybody had a knowledge of what ought to be done, that they readily allowed Gwen to assume the responsibility. Louise Mawson flew to the stream, and fetched some water in her hat, while Iris helped to unbutton Miss Roberts's boot. The unfortunate teacher revived a little with the water.
"It's my left leg, below the knee—I felt it crack as I fell," she gasped44 painfully.
"I'm afraid it's rather a bad fracture, too," said Gwen, when she had finished examining her patient.
"Oh! what are we to do?" moaned Louise.
"Can we carry her back to Riggness?" suggested Hilda.
"We mustn't move her an inch till we've put her leg in splints," said Gwen. "I believe it's only a simple
[186]
fracture, but it might become compound with the least jolt45. Elspeth, will you take hold of her foot—yes, the left one, of course—and pull it very gently."
"I—I daren't touch her!" shivered Elspeth, who had turned almost as white as Miss Roberts.
"I will—I don't mind!" said Charlotte, and she did what was required under Gwen's directions.
"Now you must hold it like that till we get some splints," continued Gwen. "You see, if the muscles contract, the rough ends of the broken bone might pierce a blood vessel46, or do dreadful damage. Some of you bring some sand and make a pillow under her head, then she'll be more comfortable. What we want next are the splints."
Many willing hands obeyed Gwen's orders. In less than a few minutes the sand was heaped under Miss Roberts's head and shoulders, while Louise constantly wetted her forehead and lips with water. Gwen, with a few assistants, had gone in quest of splints. She had spied some hazel bushes farther up the gorge, which she thought might suffice for her purpose. Up the steep bed of the stream the girls climbed, splashing recklessly in and out of the water, to save time being their main object.
"They'll have to be thick pieces, and long too," said Gwen. "They ought to go from above the knee to below the foot. Whose penknife is sharpest?"
Nobody's was very sharp, and the girls had to hack47 and hew48 away slowly and painfully before they could make the least impression on the tough hazel boughs49. At last Gwen secured several lengths which satisfied her, and she returned to her patient.
[187]
"Now, I want all your handkerchiefs to make bandages. Thanks! Charlotte, pull her foot just a trifle more, no—her toes should be up—so! That's better. I'm sorry to hurt you so dreadfully, Miss Roberts! I shall very soon have finished. There! I think those bandages are right. Give her some more water, Louise, quick!"
Poor Miss Roberts had indeed nearly fainted again with pain, but she recovered herself, and even smiled as she thanked her helpers.
"I've spoilt the excursion!" she murmured.
"What's to be done next? Can we carry her?" asked Hilda.
"Better not try. The quieter that leg is kept the better. She ought to be lifted on a stretcher."
"There isn't even a farm near here."
"I know. I think for the present she's best where she is, while some of you go to the station at Riggness for help. Possibly they may have a railway ambulance, or at any rate they could bring a door."
"Is there a doctor there?"
"I'm afraid not, it's only a tiny village, but the stationmaster would telegraph to Stedburgh for one. Perhaps he could come by motor, if there's no train."
It was amazing what thoughtfulness and self-reliance had come to Gwen with the emergency. She made her plans and arrangements as calmly as if she were accustomed to deal every day with accidents. No one questioned her authority, and all were willing to do what she told them. Iris Watson and two others who were judged the quickest walkers volunteered to go to the station for help, and they listened
[188]
attentively50 while Gwen gave instructions as to what they were to ask the stationmaster to send.
"It's such a comfort you know!" said Hilda. "I wish I'd learnt ambulance."
It seemed an interminable age to poor Miss Roberts and the girls before a railway porter and two labourers who had been working on the line, arrived with a stretcher, which fortunately was kept in the inspector's office at Riggness. It was a tedious slow journey along the shore, and up to the station. The patient was nearly worn out by the time they placed her in the waiting-room, and was thankful to have the cup of tea which the stationmaster's wife brought her. A doctor arrived from Stedburgh half an hour afterwards, armed with proper splints and bandages, and he carefully examined and reset51 the broken limb.
"I must thoroughly52 congratulate the young lady who contributed first aid," he said. "She managed most skilfully53. This would have been a serious thing but for her prompt measures. If the bone had been jolted54 about before it was put in splints, the consequences might have been permanent lameness55 or even loss of life. I wish it were obligatory56 for everybody to study ambulance."
The doctor took Miss Roberts back to her home in Stedburgh in his own car, and the girls followed by the next train, all equally anxious to get away from Riggness. They were much distressed57 about their teacher; the excursion had been a fiasco, and the whole party felt limp and out of spirits, like sheep without a shepherd.
"I'm thankful to get the whole crew packed off
[189]
safe," said the stationmaster to his wife. "My word! It was a nasty accident to happen, down there on the shore. Good thing one of those lassies had a head on her shoulders!"
"An ordinary enough looking girl, too," remarked his wife. "I wouldn't have guessed she'd be the one to come forward. But there, one never can tell!"
"There must be more in her than shows on the outside," agreed the stationmaster.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
apprehensive
|
|
| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ramble
|
|
| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tack
|
|
| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
embedded
|
|
| a.扎牢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
brandishing
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mallet
|
|
| n.槌棒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
specimens
|
|
| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
impartially
|
|
| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
compartments
|
|
| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
overflow
|
|
| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
iris
|
|
| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ruminating
|
|
| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
zigzag
|
|
| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
uncommonly
|
|
| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
slate
|
|
| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
havoc
|
|
| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
gorge
|
|
| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
trickled
|
|
| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
debris
|
|
| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
avalanche
|
|
| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
influential
|
|
| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
scouted
|
|
| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
licensed
|
|
| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
jolt
|
|
| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
hack
|
|
| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hew
|
|
| v.砍；伐；削 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
reset
|
|
| v.重新安排，复位；n.重新放置；重放之物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
skilfully
|
|
| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
jolted
|
|
| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
lameness
|
|
| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
obligatory
|
|
| adj.强制性的，义务的，必须的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |