If Rose was not as happy as Stephen, she was quietly content, and felt that she had more to be grateful for than most girls, for Stephen surprised her with first one evidence and then another of thoughtful generosity6. In his heart of hearts he felt that Rose was not wholly his, that she reserved, withheld7 something; and it was the subjugation8 of this rebellious9 province that he sought. He and Rose had agreed to wait a year for their marriage, in which time Rose's cousin would finish school and be ready to live with the old people; meanwhile Stephen had learned that his maiden10 aunt would be glad to come and keep house for Rufus. The work at the River Farm was too hard for a girl, so he had persuaded himself of late, and the house was so far from the village that Rose was sure to be lonely. He owned a couple of acres between his place and the Edgewood bridge, and here, one afternoon only a month after their engagement, he took Rose to see the foundations of a little house he was building for her. It was to be only a story-and-a-half cottage of six small rooms, the two upper chambers11 to be finished off later on. Stephen had placed it well back from the road, leaving space in front for what was to be a most wonderful arrangement of flower-beds, yet keeping a strip at the back, on the river-brink, for a small vegetable garden. There had been a house there years before-so many years that the blackened ruins were entirely12 overgrown; but a few elms and an old apple-orchard remained to shade the new dwelling13 and give welcome to the coming inmates14.
Stephen had fifteen hundred dollars in bank, he could turn his hand to almost anything, and his love was so deep that Rose's plumb-line had never sounded bottom; accordingly he was able, with the help of two steady workers, to have the roof on before the first of November. The weather was clear and fine, and by Thanksgiving clapboards, shingles15, two coats of brown paint, and even the blinds had all been added. This exhibition of reckless energy on Stephen's part did not wholly commend itself to the neighborhood.
“Steve's too turrible spry,” said Rose's grandfather; “he'll trip himself up some o' these times.”
“The resks in life come along fast enough, without runnin' to meet 'em,” continued the old man. “There's good dough17 in Rose, but it ain't more'n half riz. Let somebody come along an' drop in a little more yeast18, or set the dish a little mite19 nearer the stove, an' you'll see what 'll happen.”
“Steve's kept house for himself some time, an' I guess he knows more about bread-makin' than you do.”
“There don't nobody know more'n I do about nothin', when my pipe's drawin' real good an' nobody's thornin' me to go to work,” replied Mr. Wiley; “but nobody's willin' to take the advice of a man that's seen the world an' lived in large places, an' the risin' generation is in a turrible hurry. I don' know how 't is: young folks air allers settin' the clock forrard an' the old ones puttin' it back.”
“Did you ketch anything for dinner when you was out this mornin'?” asked his wife.
“No, I fished an' fished, till I was about ready to drop, an' I did git a few shiners, but land, they wa'n't as big as the worms I was ketchin' 'em with, so i pitched 'em back in the water an' quit.”
During the progress of these remarks Mr. Wiley opened the door under the sink, and from beneath a huge iron pot drew a round tray loaded with a glass pitcher20 and half a dozen tumblers, which he placed carefully on the kitchen table. “This is the last day's option I've got on this lemonade-set,” he said, “an' if I'm goin' to Biddeford tomorrer I've got to make up my mind here an' now.”
With this observation he took off his shoes, climbed in his stocking feet to the vantage ground of a kitchen chair, and lifted a stone china pitcher from a corner of the highest cup-board shelf where it had been hidden. “This lemonade's gittin' kind o' dusty,” he complained. “I cal'lated to hev a kind of a spree on it when I got through choosin' Rose's weddin' present, but I guess the pig 'll hev to help me out.” The old man filled one of the glasses from the pitcher, pulled up the kitchen shades to the top, put both hands in his pockets, and walked solemnly round the table, gazing at his offering from every possible point of view. There had been three lemonade-sets in the window of a Biddeford crockery store when Mr. Wiley chanced to pass by, and he had brought home the blue and green one on approval. To th': casual cyc it would have appeared as quite uniquely hideous21 until the red and yellow or the purple and orange ones had been seen; after that, no human being could have made a decision, where each was so unparalleled in its ugliness, and Old Kennebec's confusion of mind would have been perfectly22 understood by the connoisseur23.
“How do you like it with the lemonade in, mother?” he inquired eagerly. “The thing that plagues me most is that the red an' yaller one I hed home last week lights up better'n this, an' I believe I'll settle on that; for as I was thinkin' last night in bed, lemonade is mostly an evenin' drink an' Rose won't be usin' the set much by daylight. Root beer looks the han'somest in this purple set, but Rose loves lemonade better'n beer, so I guess I'll pack up this one an' change it tomorrer. Mebbe when I get it out o' sight an' give the lemonade to the pig I'll be easier in my mind.”
In the opinion of the community at large Stephen's forehandedness in the matter of preparations for his marriage was imprudence, and his desire for neatness and beauty flagrant extravagance. The house itself was a foolish idea, it was thought, but there were extenuating24 circumstances, for the maiden aunt really needed a home, and Rufus was likely to marry before long and take his wife to the River Farm. It was to be hoped in his case that he would avoid the snares25 of beauty and choose a good stout26 girl who would bring the dairy back to what it was in Mrs. Waterman's time.
All winter long Stephen labored27 on the inside of the cottage, mostly by himself. He learned all trades in succession, Love being his only master. He had many odd days to spare from his farm work, and if he had not found days he would have taken nights. Scarcely a nail was driven without Rose's advice; and when the plastering was hard and dry, the wallpapers were the result of weeks of consultation28.
Among the quiet joys of life there is probably no other so deep, so sweet, so full of trembling hope and delight, as the building and making of a home,—a home where two lives are to be merged29 in one and flow on together, a home full of mysterious and delicious possibilities, hidden in a future which is always rose-colored.
Rose's sweet little nature broadened under Stephen's influence; but she had her moments of discontent and unrest, always followed quickly by remorse30.
At the Thanksgiving sociable31 some one had observed her turquoise32 engagement ring,—some one who said that such a hand was worthy33 of a diamond, that turquoises34 were a pretty color, but that there was only one stone for an engagement ring, and that was a diamond. At the Christmas dance the same some one had said that her waltzing would make her “all the rage” in Boston. She wondered if it were true, and wondered whether, if she had not promised to marry Stephen, some splendid being from a city would have descended35 from his heights, bearing diamonds in his hand. Not that she would have accepted them; she only wondered. These disloyal thoughts came seldom, and she put them resolutely36 away, devoting herself with all the greater assiduity to her muslin curtains and ruffled37 pillow-shams. Stephen, too, had his momentary38 pangs39. There were times when he could calm his doubts only by working on the little house. The mere40 sight of the beloved floors and walls and ceilings comforted his heart, and brought him good cheer.
The winter was a cold one, so bitterly cold that even the rapid water at the Gray Rock was a mass of curdled41 yellow ice, something that had only occurred once or twice before within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
It was also a very gay season for Pleasant River and Edgewood. Never had there been so many card-parties, sleigh-rides, and tavern42 dances, and never such wonderful skating. The river was one gleaming, glittering thoroughfare of ice from Milliken's Mills to the dam at the Edgewood bridge. At sundown bonfires were built here and there on the mirror-like surface, and all the young people from the neighboring villages gathered on the ice; while detachments of merry, rosy-cheeked boys and girls, those who preferred coasting, met at the top of Brigadier Hill, from which one could get a longer and more perilous43 slide than from any other point in the township.
Claude Merrill, in his occasional visits from Boston, was very much in evidence at the Saturday evening ice parties. He was not an artist at the sport himself, but he was especially proficient44 in the art of strapping45 on a lady's skates, and murmuring,—as he adjusted the last buckle,—“The prettiest foot and ankle on the river!” It cannot be denied that this compliment gave secret pleasure to the fair village maidens46 who received it, but it was a pleasure accompanied by electric shocks of excitement. A girl's foot might perhaps be mentioned, if a fellow were daring enough, but the line was rigidly47 drawn48 at the ankle, which was not a part of the human frame ever alluded49 to in the polite society of Edgewood at that time.
Rose, in her red linsey-woolsey dress and her squirrel furs and cap, was the life of every gathering50, and when Stephen took her hand and they glided51 upstream, alone together in the crowd, he used to wish that they might skate on and on up the crystal ice-path of the river, to the moon itself, whither it seemed to lead them.
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1
loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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3
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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4
maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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5
tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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6
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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7
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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8
subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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9
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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10
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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11
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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12
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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13
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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14
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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15
shingles
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| n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板 | |
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16
sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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18
yeast
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| n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫 | |
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19
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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20
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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21
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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22
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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23
connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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24
extenuating
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| adj.使减轻的，情有可原的v.（用偏袒的辩解或借口）减轻( extenuate的现在分词 )；低估，藐视 | |
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25
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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29
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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30
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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31
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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32
turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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33
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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34
turquoises
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| n.绿松石( turquoise的名词复数 )；青绿色 | |
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35
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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37
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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38
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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39
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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40
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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41
curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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43
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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44
proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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45
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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46
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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47
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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48
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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49
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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51
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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