In spite of the sunshine dark clouds were gathering4 along the western horizon; but the girls did not notice this. Anna and Luretta had forgotten all about the sloop5 Polly, and were both now a little ashamed of their plan to make sport of Melvina.
“Here is your bag all safe, Melly,” called Anna, “and while Luretta is washing your stockings I’ll rub off those spots on your pretty dress. Can’t you step down nearer the water?” she suggested, handing the bag to Melvina, who put it34 carefully beside her hat and agreed promptly6 to Anna’s suggestion, stepping carefully along the rough shore to the edge of the water. The rocks hurt her tender feet, but she said nothing; and when she was near the water she could not resist dipping first one foot and then the other in the rippling7 tide.
“Oh, I have always wanted to wade8 in the ocean,” she exclaimed, “and the water is not cold.”
As Anna listened to Melvina’s exclamation9 a new and wonderful plan came into her thoughts; something she decided11 that would make up to Melvina for her mischievous12 fun. She resolved quickly that Melvina Lyon should have the happiest afternoon of her life.
“Melly, come back a little way and slip off your fine skirts. I’ll take off my shoes and stockings and we’ll wade out to Flat Rock and back. Luretta will fix your clothes, won’t you, Lu?” she called, and Luretta nodded.
The stains did not seem to come out of the stockings; they looked gray and streaked13, so Luretta dipped them again, paying little attention to her companions.
"WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK"
“WE’LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK”
Melvina followed Anna’s suggestion, and her starched14 skirts and hat were left well up the beach with Anna’s stout15 shoes and stockings, and the two girls hurried back hand in hand to the water’s edge.
Flat Rock was not far out from the shore, and Anna knew that the pebbly16 beach ended in soft mud that would not hurt Melvina’s feet, so she led her boldly out.
“It’s fun,” declared Melvina, her dark eyes dancing as she smiled at Anna, quite forgetting all her fears.
“It would be more fun if we had on real old clothes and could splash,” responded Anna; and almost before she finished speaking Melvina leaned away from her and with her free hand swept the water toward her, spraying Anna and herself. In a moment both the girls had forgotten all about their clothes, and were chasing each other along the water’s edge splashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each other’s names in wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled stocking in each hand, looked at them a little enviously17, and wondered a little at the sudden change in Melvina’s behavior.
“Now show me the clam10’s nest!” Melvina demanded, as out of breath and thoroughly36 drenched18 the two girls stood laughing at each other.
“All right,” Anna responded promptly. “Come on down to the point,” and followed by Melvina, now apparently19 careless of the rough beach, she ran along the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud.
“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. “There is the clam’s nest—in that mud. Truly. They are not birds; they are shellfish. I was only fooling.”
“I don’t care,” answered Melvina. “I shall know now what clams20 really are.”
“And those birds are gulls21, not partridges,” continued Anna, pointing to the flock of gulls near shore, “and come here and I will show you a real alder22,” and the two girls climbed over a ledge2 to where a little thicket23 of alder bushes crept down close to the rocks.
“And those splendid tall trees are pines,” went on Anna, pointing to the group of tall trees on the bluff24.
Melvina laughed delightedly. “Why, you know all about everything,” she exclaimed, “even if your hair is short like a boy’s.”
“I know all the trees in the forest,” declared37 Anna, “and I know where squirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers25 make their houses in the river.”
The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta, and Anna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of the forest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world, listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot all about Luretta.
At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longer vexed26 and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and she found herself alone with Melvina’s soiled and discarded skirts and the wet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, and resolved to go home.
“Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much,” thought Luretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly as tidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make on her return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and looked back, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. “I don’t care,” thought the little girl unhappily. “Perhaps they will think I am38 drowned when they come back and don’t find me.” She had just reached the top of the slope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus hurrying along the path that led to the church.
“Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can’t find her,” thought Luretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain Horton’s house to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told that Melvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now hurrying home with this alarming news.
Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy27 knoll28 near the alder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and the wild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight.
“Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow,” said Anna. “We are going to find a liberty pole, and ’twill be a fine walk.”
“I know about liberty poles,” declared Melvina eagerly, “and my father is well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it is time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!” and Melvina’s face grew troubled.39 “Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes in good order?”
At Melvina’s words Anna sprang to her feet. “I think she will do her best, and ’tis well for us to hurry,” she responded; “but you have had a good time, have you not, Melvina?”
“Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear I may never again,” said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she looked tired and anxious.
“Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken our things up from the beach,” said Anna, taking Melvina’s hand and hurrying her along over the ledges. “I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we are better acquainted, and we will often wade together.”
But Melvina shook her head dolefully. “My mother does not like me to play out-of-doors,” she said. “Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite sure to have my things clean and nice?”
The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvina40 had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or of their belongings29.
“Luretta has taken our things up the slope,” declared Anna. “She saw the tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us.”
“But how can we find her?” wailed30 Melvina. “I cannot go up the slope barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me in such a plight31? He tells me often to remember to set a good example to other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this.”
“You do look funny,” Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel32 dress had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; but Melvina’s white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy, and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the first glance.
“I will go and get your things,” said Anna. “Come up the slope a little way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Luretta must be near the pine trees. I’ll hurry right back, and you can dress in a minute.”
Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniper bushes, and41 crouched33 down well under their branches so that she was completely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled34 hurriedly up the slope and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missing garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff to where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there.
And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had been swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thought Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina’s fine garments, and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry her toward Luretta’s home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to take breath, and to see if Luretta might not, by some happy chance, be there; but the shop was silent. Mr. Foster had gone home to his supper; but Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on.
As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing35 in the doorway36, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both looking at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back.
“Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and42 stockings?” said Rebecca, coming down the path to meet her sister. “You were so late in coming home that Mother sent me to meet you.”
“What did Luretta say?” gasped37 Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was trouble in store for them all.
“Luretta hadn’t time to say anything,” responded Rebecca, “for I had just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we’ll get your shoes and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us.”
“Luretta has my shoes,” said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Luretta was still waiting.
“Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina’s things and run, as fast as you can, to the——”
“Luretta! Luretta!” called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried whisper: “Oh, Anna! I haven’t her things. Don’t say a word about Melvina,” vanished into the house.
“Come, Anna,” called Rebecca reprovingly. “Father will come to look for us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoes and stockings?” she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. “It’s a stupid game43 for her to keep them, I will say;” and she put a protecting arm across her sister’s shoulder. “But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; she will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Mother has made a fine molasses cake for supper.” But Anna made no response.
“Oh! Here comes the minister. Keep a little behind me, Dan, and he may not notice your bare feet,” exclaimed Rebecca.
Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting to the children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time in salutations.
“Have you seen Melvina?” he asked anxiously. “She left home early this afternoon to visit at Captain Horton’s and did not appear there at all; nor can we find trace of her.”
“No, sir,” responded Rebecca. “I have but come to fetch my sister home from Mr. Foster’s, and have seen naught38 of Melvina.”
Mr. Lyon turned and hurried back toward the main path, where London Atus was inquiring at every house if anyone had seen his little mistress; but no one had news of her.
“What can have befallen Melvina Lyon? And there’s a storm coming up. I do hope no44 harm has come to her,” said Rebecca, as she hurried Anna along the path.
“Oh, Rebby! It mustn’t storm!” exclaimed Anna.
“’Twill only postpone39 Father’s trip to the forest, Dan,” said Rebby; “but look at those black clouds. ’Twill surely be a tempest. I hope we’ll reach home before it breaks,” and she started to run, pulling Anna along with her.
“Oh, Rebby, let me go! I can’t go home! I can’t!” exclaimed Anna, breaking away from her sister’s clasping hand and darting40 ahead.
Rebecca had not heard Anna’s last words, and thought her sister wished only to outrun her in the race home. So she ran quickly after her, and when at the turn by the blacksmith shop she lost sight of Anna she only thought that the younger girl was hidden by the turn of the path, and not until she pushed open the kitchen door did Rebecca realize that Anna had run away from her, that she had not meant to come home.
“Just in time,” said Mr. Weston, drawing Rebecca in and closing the door against a gust41 of wind and rain. “But why did you not bring Danna home? It has set in for a heavy storm, and she will now have to stay the night at Mr. Foster’s.”
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1
ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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4
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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6
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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7
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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8
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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9
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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clam
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| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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13
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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14
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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16
pebbly
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| 多卵石的，有卵石花纹的 | |
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17
enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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18
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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20
clams
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| n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
alder
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| n.赤杨树 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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24
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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25
beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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26
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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27
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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28
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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29
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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30
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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32
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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33
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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35
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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36
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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37
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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38
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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39
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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40
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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41
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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