"Not a bit like the blue-eyed, flaxen-haired orphan of fiction," decided the girls, rather disappointed at the sight of their protégée.
Perhaps the cook was disappointed too. At any rate, many complaints of smashed dishes, imperfect wiping, and inadequate10 sweeping11 of corners reached Miss Bowes, who urged patience, harangued12 the culprit, and shook her head, half laughing and half sighing, over the domestic catastrophes13. Though strictly14 confined to the kitchen regions, the orphan took the deepest interest in the young ladies of the school. Her keen eyes would peer out of windows, and her head bob round doors in continual efforts to gain some idea of their mode of life. A chance word from one of them wreathed her in smiles. She was a funny, odd little object with her short squat15 figure and round bullet head, and thin little legs appearing underneath16 her official white apron17. Her official name was Susan, but every girl in the school called her Susannah Maude. At the instigation of Miss Bowes her patrons took the furthering of her education in hand, and each in turn bestowed18 half an hour a day in hearing her read history, geography, or some other suitable subject. A little bewildered among so many fresh teachers, the small maid nevertheless made what efforts she could, and read loud and lustily, even if she did not altogether digest the matter she was supposed to be studying.
"I believe she reads the words without taking in a scrap19 of the sense," laughed Ulyth, when her turn as instructress was over. "She was gazing[Pg 185] at my dress, or my watch, or my handkerchief whenever she could spare an eye from her book. She thinks them of far more importance than Henry VIII."
"So she does," agreed Lizzie. "I tried to get her interested yesterday in the number of his wives—I thought the Bluebeard aspect of it might move her—but she only said: 'What does it matter when they're all dead?' I felt so blank that I couldn't say any more."
Nobody quite remembered whose idea it was that their orphan should be invited to the Camp-fire meetings. Somebody in a soft-hearted moment suggested it, and Mrs. Arnold replied: "Oh yes, poor little soul! Bring her, by all means." So Susannah Maude had come, and once there she apparently20 regarded herself as a member of the League, and turned up on every available occasion. How much she understood of the proceedings21 or of the scope of the society nobody could fathom22. She sat, during the meetings, bolt upright, with folded arms, as if she were in school, her bright, beady eyes fixed23 unblinkingly upon Mrs. Arnold, whom she seemed to regard as a species of priestess in charge of occult mysteries.
"Would I be struck dumb if I told what goes on here?" she asked Ulyth one day; and, although she was assured that no such act of vengeance24 on the part of Providence25 would overtake her, she nevertheless preserved a secrecy26 worthy27 of a Freemason, and would drop no hint in the kitchen as to the nature of the ceremonies she witnessed.[Pg 186]
One or two points evidently made a great impression upon her. During the spring months Nature lore28 was very much to the fore29, and the members qualified30 for candidateship to the various grades by exhibiting their knowledge of the ways and habits of birds. Notes of observations were read aloud at the meetings, particulars recorded of nests that had been built in the school grounds, with data as to the number of days in which eggs were hatched and the young ones fledged. It was an unwritten law at The Woodlands never to disturb the birds. The girls were not allowed to take any eggs from the nests, and were taught not to frighten a sitting bird or to interfere31 with the fledge-lings. After several years of such consideration The Woodlands had become a kind of bird sanctuary32, where the little songsters appeared to know they were free from molestation33. That the fruit in the garden suffered rather a heavy toll34 was true; but, as Miss Bowes remarked: "One can't have everything. We must remember how many insects they clear away, and not grudge35 them a few currants and gooseberries. They pay us by their lovely songs in the spring."
Ulyth was a great devotee of Nature study, and had the supreme36 satisfaction of being the first to discover that a pair of long-tailed tits were building in a gorse-bush down the paddock. She was immensely excited, for they were rather rare birds in that district, and generally nested much higher up on the hills. This was indeed the only instance on record of their having selected The Woodlands for[Pg 187] their domestic operations. As she had made the discovery, it was her particular privilege to take the observations, and every day she would go very quietly and cautiously and seat herself near the spot to note the doings of the shy little architects. It was a subject of intense interest to watch the globular nest grow, and then to ascertain37, when the parents were out of the way, that eggs had actually been laid in it. Ulyth was so afraid of disturbing the tits that she conducted her daily observations alone, fearing lest even Lizzie's presence might frighten them. "When there are two of us we can't help talking, and an unusual sound scares them worse than anything," she decided.
One morning she started for her daily expedition to the paddock. The little hen had been sitting long enough to make Ulyth think the eggs must surely be hatched, and that probably the parents were both already busy catering38 for their progeny39. She crept noiselessly round the corner to the hollow where the bushes were situated40. Then she gave a gasp41 and a cry of horror. On the ground, quite close to the nest, knelt Susannah Maude, busily occupied in smearing42 some sticky white substance over the lower boughs43 and shoots of the gorse-bushes. She looked round with a beaming face as Ulyth approached. Her beady eyes twinkled with self-congratulation.
"Susannah! What are you doing, you young imp9 of mischief44?" exclaimed Ulyth in an agony.
"Catching45 your birds for you, Miss," responded the orphan, a thrill of pride in her voice. "It's[Pg 188] bird-lime, this is, and it'll soon stick 'em, you'll see. I knows all about it, for my father was a bird-catcher, and I often went with him when I was a kid. I'd a job to get the lime, I can tell you, but Bobby Jones brought me some from Llangarmon."
She looked at Ulyth with a smile, as if waiting for the praise that she deemed due to her efforts. Utterly46 aghast, Ulyth stammered47:
"But, Susannah Maude, we—we don't want the birds caught."
The orphan appeared puzzled. A shade crossed her sharp little face.
"Not want to catch 'em? What's the use of 'em, then? Dad caught 'em and sold 'em."
Ulyth had to keep a strong curb48 over her temper. After all, how could this ignorant child know what she had never been taught? Miss Bowes might well preach patience and forbearance.
"It's very cruel to snare49 the birds with lime at any time, especially now, when they have young ones who would starve without them," she explained with what calm she could muster51. "Promise me that you will never try to do such a thing again, and never interfere with any of the nests. Mrs. Arnold will be most grieved to hear of this."
The orphan's black eyes filled with tears.
"Will she mind? I thought she'd like 'em to keep in a cage as pets. I'd do anything in the world to please her."
"Then leave the birds alone, if you want to please her. Run now to the house and fetch me[Pg 189] a basin full of hot water and a cloth. I must wipe all this horrible stuff off the bushes. Bring a knife, too, for I shall have to cut away some of the branches and burn them. I hope the tits won't desert."
Ulyth was late for school that morning, but the offence was condoned52 by Miss Teddington when she heard the reason.
"I hope you washed every scrap of the lime off?" she asked anxiously.
"I didn't leave it while there was enough to catch even a bumble-bee. The birds are back. They came directly I'd gone a dozen yards away."
"That shows the young ones are hatched. I hope Susan won't direct her energies into any other natural-history experiments."
"We shall be sorry we brought her to the Camp-fire if she does. She means well, but the worst of her is that you never can calculate in the least what she may do next. She's a problem."
During the summer term the Camp-fire Guild53 had many informal meetings by the stream. The girls were often allowed to take tea there, a permission which they highly appreciated. Mrs. Arnold had lent them a small camp-oven, in which they could bake cakes, and many culinary efforts resulted from the acquisition. On Saturday afternoon Gertrude Oliver and Addie Knighton were on the cooking-list as special scouts54, and, having mixed some currant-buns, placed them carefully in the oven. They were in charge of the camp-fire and[Pg 190] responsible for the preparation of the tea, to which that day all the mistresses were to be specially50 invited. The rest of the school were in the playing-field practising flag-signalling under the joint55 superintendence of Mrs. Arnold and Miss Teddington.
"It's a nuisance we can't leave the cakes," sighed Addie. "I did so want to see them send that message about the aeroplane."
"They're baking all right," said Gertrude. "We can't make them any quicker by looking at them. Couldn't we just run to the top of the gravel-pit and watch for a few minutes? There's Susannah Maude; she'd keep an eye on them. Hello! Susan!"
The orphan, in virtue56 of being a hanger-on of the Camp-fire, was wandering about by the stream in the wake of the proceedings. She came running up eagerly at Gertrude's call.
"I'll mind 'em for you, Miss. I've watched Cook dozens of times. I'll look after the kettle too. You leave it to me."
"I hope it won't be a case of King Alfred and the cakes."
Susan grinned comprehension.
"Standard V Historical Reader. Not me!" she chuckled57. "I always thought the woman was a silly to trust a man to turn the cakes."
"Well, mind you show up better. You might as well put the milk-can in the stream to keep cool. We don't want it curdled58, and I'm certain there's thunder about."[Pg 191]
Addie and Gertie were sure they were not absent long. They just stood and watched a few messages being sent, then ran back promptly59 to their duties.
Susannah Maude was in the very act of trying to lift the big camp-kettle from its trivet.
"Hold hard there!" screamed Addie, running to the rescue. "You can't move that alone. Susan! Stop!" It was too late, however. The small busybody had managed to stir the kettle, but, her youthful arms being quite unequal to sustaining its weight, she let it drop, retreating with a wild Indian yell of alarm. The stream of boiling water fortunately escaped her, but nearly put out the fire. When the steam and dust had subsided60, the rueful scouts picked up the empty kettle gingerly, as it was hot.
"We shall have to build up the fire again," lamented61 Gertrude. "Oh, Addie, the cakes!"
She might well exclaim. In a row among the ashes were the soaked, dust-covered remains62 of the precious currant-buns.
"I took 'em out of the oven because they were done," explained Susan hastily, justifying63 herself. "I thought you shouldn't blame me for letting 'em burn, anyhow; and I put 'em down there on some dock-leaves to keep hot. I couldn't tell the kettle would fall on 'em."
"They're done for," sighed Addie. "There isn't one fit to eat. Help us to fill the kettle again as soon as you can, and fetch some more sticks and gorse, you black-eyed Susan!"[Pg 192]
"Where's the milk-can?" asked Gertrude uneasily.
"I put it in the stream as you told me," replied the orphan rather sulkily, indicating with a nod the location.
Decidedly anxious as to its safety, the girls ran to the water-side. They always put the can in a particular little sheltered corner fenced in by a few stones. Susannah had helped them to place it there many times, and had even named the spot "the dairy". They looked in vain. The milk was certainly not there now.
"What in the name of thunder have you done with the can, you wretched imp?" shouted Addie, thoroughly65 angry.
"You said it ought to keep very cool, so I threw it into the deep pool. 'Tain't my fault," retorted Susannah, who had a temper as well as her benefactresses.
"I've half a mind to throw you after it!" raged Gertie, her fingers twitching66 to shake the luckless orphan.
Perhaps Susannah's experienced eye gauged67 the extent of her wrath68, and decided that for once she had gone too far. She did not wait to proffer69 any more explanations, but turned and fled back towards the house, resuming her neglected pan-scouring in the scullery with a zeal70 that astonished the cook.
Addie and Gertie replenished71 the camp-fire and refilled the kettle; but the cakes were hopeless, and the milk was beyond recall. Doris Deane, the[Pg 193] champion swimmer of the school, dived for the can next morning and brought it up empty; the lid was never recovered, probably having been washed into a hole.
The Guild sat down that afternoon rather disconsolately72 to milkless tea. Addie had begged a small jugful73 from the kitchen, enough for their guests, the mistresses, but it was impossible to replace the big two-gallon can at a moment's notice.
"I begin to wish the school had never supported an orphan at the 'Alexandra Home for Destitute74 Children'," sighed Gertie, eating plain bread and butter, and thinking regretfully of her spoilt cakes. "I vote next term we ask to give up collecting for it, and keep a monkey at the Zoo instead. We could send it nuts and biscuits at Christmas."
"And currant-buns?" giggled75 Beth Broadway.
"You are about the most unfeeling wretch64 I ever came across!" snapped Gertrude.
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1
orphanage
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| n.孤儿院 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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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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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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catering
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| n. 给养 | |
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progeny
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| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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smearing
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| 污点，拖尾效应 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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52
condoned
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| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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57
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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justifying
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| 证明…有理( justify的现在分词 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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gauged
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| adj.校准的；标准的；量规的；量计的v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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jugful
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| 一壶的份量 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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