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CHAPTER V SWEEPING THE DRAWING-ROOM
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 THE day after the drive to Lantig, Mrs. Carlyon was having a large “At Home” in the afternoon—large, that is, for Trelint—and all the household was very busy. There were cakes to make, and biscuits, and tea-cakes, and sandwiches, and ices, and all kinds of good things, for there were not many shops in the town; besides which, it was considered a point of honour to make most of the things at home.
 
Ellen always grew very cross at these times, but she cooked her best, for every one in Trelint knew who Dr. Carlyon’s cook was; just as every one knew how many servants every one else had, and who they were. Nurse, too, was not as patient as usual, she had so many things on her mind, for where there are only two maids to help, a big party makes every one very busy, and the children had to amuse themselves as best they could—at least, Priscilla and Loveday had to; Geoffrey had gone to spend the day in the country with some friends, glad enough to escape “such silly things as At Homes,” he said. Priscilla and Loveday almost wished that they had been invited too, for the day seemed very long and dull without mother, or Geoffrey, or Nurse. They were told, too, to keep in the nursery and play, for they would be in the way anywhere else, but to be told to amuse oneself makes it a very difficult thing to do; everything seems, at once, to be not the very least bit amusing.
 
The dining-room was to be arranged for the guests to go to, to partake of tea and coffee when they arrived; and the drawing-room was, of course, to be decorated with flowers, and arranged a little differently. Priscilla and Loveday were not wanted anywhere, and they could not play in the garden, for there had been heavy rain during the night.
 
“Oh dear!” sighed Priscilla, “there is nothing, nothing that I feel I want to do, and there is more than an hour before we can see the guests coming.”
 
Loveday glanced at the clock, too. “So there is,” she sighed; “it isn’t free yet.”
 
“Don’t be silly,” said Priscilla crossly; “you know you can’t tell the time, so why pretend?”
 
“You said so, too,” protested Loveday; “and I know the people are going to begin to come at four, ’cause mother said so, and if it is more than an hour before they come, that shows that it isn’t free yet by the clock.”
 
In her heart Priscilla thought that it was very clever of her little sister to have found out all that, but she did not tell her so; she thought Loveday was a vain enough little person already. She dropped down with a weary sigh beside her doll’s house, but they had already given that a thorough cleaning from top to bottom, and there was nothing more to do to it. They had dressed and undressed all their dolls and put them to bed, so that they were settled for the night, and wanted no more attention. Every animal had gone out of the ark for a walk, and marched back to it again, and there really seemed nothing left to do that was worth doing.
 
“I wish I could help mother,” sighed Priscilla, who always loved real work much more than play work—she would far rather help to dust a room than dust or tidy her doll’s house; “and if they are so busy,” she added, “I am sure there must be lots that I can do.”
 
After another moment or two had passed, she shut the doll’s house door with a bang, and got up from the floor. “I am going downstairs just a teeny-tiny way,” she said softly. “Don’t you come too, Loveday; you needn’t do everything that I do.”
 
But it was really too much to expect Loveday to stay in that dull nursery by herself, and very soon she was creeping out after Priscilla.
 
Priscilla had reached the foot of the nursery stairs, and was standing1 on the landing looking over the banisters, and listening for any sounds of life below, and Loveday joined her. No one was about, that they could see, but from the dining-room came the rattle2 of china. Presently, however, they heard their mother’s voice; she was speaking to Nurse.
 
“I will leave you to finish arranging the cups and saucers,” she said, “and I will go to the kitchen and place the cakes out on the plates; then it will be time for me to dress. I ought to rest for a few minutes, for I am so tired already I can scarcely stand.”
 
Priscilla and Loveday drew back while their mother passed along the hall below, for they did not want to be seen; they were doing no harm, they thought, and it was very much more interesting to be there than in the nursery. They must run away, though, before mother came upstairs to dress, but by that time it would be nearly time for them to watch from the nursery windows to see the first guests arrive.
 
“I do wish I could help mother,” sighed Priscilla again. “She is so tired, and has such lots to do. Can’t we do something to help? Oh!” with sudden delight, “I know what I’ll do! I’ll dust the drawing-room! Now, don’t you come too, Loveday. I thought of it first, and I can do it by myself, and you are sure to break something and get us both a scolding.”
 
But Loveday was not to be put off in that way, and, to save a howl, Priscilla said, “Well, come along; you may come if you will promise to be good.”
 
The drawing-room was on the very landing on which they stood. Priscilla crept over to the door and looked in. Of course it was empty, and to her it looked as though the furniture had all been pushed back, just as when the room was going to be swept, only there were no dust-sheets over the things.
 
“I believe it hasn’t even been swept yet!” she whispered, in a shocked voice. “We’ll sweep it first, shall we?”
 
It was a grand idea, and Loveday agreed delightedly. Nurse still kept her nursery brushes in a cupboard on the top landing; they would get those, then no one would know what they were doing, and when Nurse came up presently, all hot and tired, to sweep and dust the room she would find it all done, and have a most beautiful surprise; and she would not scold them at all; she would be so glad, and perhaps she would let them have some of the “At Home” cakes for their tea!
 
They hurried up the stairs very gently, and Loveday carried down a long-handled brush, while Priscilla carried the dustpan in one hand and the brush in the other, so that they should not clatter3.
 
“Now close the door,” whispered Priscilla; and Loveday turned to do it, bringing her broom-handle with a sharp tap against a picture which hung by it. Priscilla was too busy to hear the blow, or to see what had happened.
 
“It was such a little tap,” said Loveday to herself, as she gazed ruefully up at the crack which ran quite across the glass of the picture.
 
Priscilla was on her knees by that time, brushing the carpet as hard as she could with the short-handled brush.
 
“What shall I do?” asked Loveday. “I can’t use this brush; it is so tall it knocks my head.”
 
“You shall dust,” panted Priscilla, looking up with a very red face.
 
“But I haven’t a duster!”
 
“You have a handkerchief, haven’t you? Use that.”
 
“No, I haven’t,” said Loveday.
 
“Oh, how you do worry! Here, take mine!”
 
Loveday pounced4 on it gladly, and began to rub the legs of a chair.
 
“I think mother will be surprised to see the carpet so well swept. Won’t she?” said Priscilla contentedly5.
 
“Yes; and to see everything so well dusted. P’r’aps the guests will notice it, too, and will say, ‘Here, Mrs. Carlyon, is sixpence for the person who dusts your room so well.’”
 
But Priscilla scouted6 the idea with the utmost scorn.
 
“As if they would!” she cried. “Why, you silly child, people don’t say things about other people’s rooms, not even if they aren’t dusted at all. Of course, you can dust easy things like chairs, but I’ll have to do the vases, and all the—take care, Loveday, the door is opening; oh, do mind your head!” and Loveday stepped back just in time to allow the door to be opened a little way. “Who is there? You can’t come in yet,” cried Priscilla.
 
But the door opened wider, and Nurse’s agonised face appeared, and behind her, gazing amazedly at Priscilla through a haze7 of dust, stood Lady Carey.
 
“Miss Priscilla! Oh, what are you doing? Oh, you naughty, naughty, mischievous8 children!” cried Nurse, horrified9, and not knowing what to do, or which to attend to first. “Excuse me, ma’am,” she said, turning to the visitor, “but—but—oh, what can I do? The guests will all be coming in a few minutes, and the room is like this!”
 
Lady Carey smiled.
 
“Are the little people too zealously10 industrious11?” she asked. She saw at once that something was amiss, and wanted to make as light of it as possible. “How do you do, children? Are you Mrs. Carlyon’s two little daughters?”
 
Priscilla dropped her brush, sprang to her feet, and went forward to shake hands. Her checks were crimson12 with hard work and shame.
 
“How do you do?” she said breathlessly. “Yes, I am the eldest13; I am Priscilla, and this is Loveday. Loveday” (in an angry aside), “stop dusting, do! I am very sorry the dust is flying,” she went on, turning to Lady Carey again. “We wanted to help mother and Nurse because they were so busy getting ready for the ‘At Home,’ and I was sweeping14 the carpet and Loveday was dusting the easy things, like chairs and table-legs, but we didn’t know it was time for the guests to be coming. Nurse,” turning to her with a distressed15 air, “what can we do?”
 
“Aren’t you very early?” asked Loveday of Lady Carey, as soon as she had shaken hands with her, and said “How d’ye do?”
 
“Well, you see, dear, I am not come to the ‘At Home’; I did not know your mother was having one. I came to return your mother’s call, and I have unfortunately chosen an inconvenient16 day.” Then, turning to the servant: “The dust has gone, I think, and I can sit here—unless, of course, you want to be going round with a duster.” But before Nurse could reply she went on: “No, I tell you what I would much rather do, and what would be by far the best plan,” she added kindly17; “I have some other calls to pay, and Mrs. Carlyon is very busy, and as I wanted to have a nice long talk with her, I will go away now and come one day soon when she has more time. Don’t tell her about this call, at least until after all her guests have gone, and then be sure to tell her I quite understood, and would rather come when I can have her all to myself.”
 
“I—I—but I am sure my mistress would wish to see you, ma’am,” said Nurse, who was perplexed18 to know what she ought to do.
 
“Yes, I know,” said Lady Carey; “but it would be much more pleasant for us both if I called another day. Now let me out, and hurry back to set this room to rights. It is striking the quarter to four. Good-bye, children. I hope I shall see you again soon.”
 
“Good-bye,” said Priscilla, but very, very shamefacedly; and as soon as Lady Carey had gone she flew up the stairs to her own room, and, flinging herself on her bed, burst into tears of shame and pain.
 
“And I meant to help! I meant to make such a nice surprise for mother, and oh! I’ve done such a dreadful thing!” and poor Priscilla sobbed19 and sobbed until her head ached.
 
Presently soft footsteps came lightly up the stairs and to her room, but Priscilla, with her hot face buried in the bed-clothes, did not hear them.
 
“Prissy, dear,” said her mother, as gently and kindly as though nothing had happened, “will you do something for me? Will you run down very quickly and help Nurse to dust the drawing-room? If you will help her, there will be just time to set it all straight again before our guests arrive.”
 
“Oh yes, mother.”
 
Priscilla scrambled20 off the bed in a moment, and pushed her hair back from her face.
 
“Here is a nice soft duster,” said mother; “run quickly, dear.”
 
But Priscilla, using the soft duster to mop her eyes with, stayed for just a moment to throw her arms about her mother’s neck.
 
“Oh!” she cried, “I do think you are the very nicest mother in all the world. I am so glad I haven’t got any other,” and she hugged and kissed her again.
 
“Now, don’t wipe your eyes on the duster any more, dear,” said Mrs. Carlyon laughingly, and returning the kiss, “or it will make the things quite dull instead of polishing them.”
 
Priscilla did not answer; she was gazing at her mother, lost in admiration21. Mrs. Carlyon had on a pretty brown silk gown, trimmed with bands of little pink roses and green leaves, and the gown suited her fair hair and delicate complexion22 to a nicety.
 
“I don’t wonder father married you, mother. You do look nice in that gown.”
 
“Run away and dust my drawing-room,” cried Mrs. Carlyon, laughing again, “and don’t waste time thinking of flattering things to say to your mother. Hurry; it is close on four, and people will be coming soon.”
 
“I wonder,” thought Priscilla, as she ran off, “if I shall ever have a gown like that. But”—with a sigh—“if I had I shouldn’t look as pretty in it as mother does.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
2 rattle 5Alzb     
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓
参考例句:
  • The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓,笑着叫着。
  • She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。
3 clatter 3bay7     
v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声
参考例句:
  • The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
  • Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。
4 pounced 431de836b7c19167052c79f53bdf3b61     
v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击)
参考例句:
  • As soon as I opened my mouth, the teacher pounced on me. 我一张嘴就被老师抓住呵斥了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The police pounced upon the thief. 警察向小偷扑了过去。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句:
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
6 scouted c2ccb9e441a3696747e3f1fa2d26d0d7     
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:
  • They scouted around for a shop that was open late. 他们四处寻找,看看还有没有夜间营业的商店。
  • They scouted around for a beauty parlour. 他们四处寻找美容院。
7 haze O5wyb     
n.霾,烟雾;懵懂,迷糊;vi.(over)变模糊
参考例句:
  • I couldn't see her through the haze of smoke.在烟雾弥漫中,我看不见她。
  • He often lives in a haze of whisky.他常常是在威士忌的懵懂醉意中度过的。
8 mischievous mischievous     
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的
参考例句:
  • He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
  • A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。
9 horrified 8rUzZU     
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句:
  • The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
  • We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。
10 zealously c02c29296a52ac0a3d83dc431626fc33     
adv.热心地;热情地;积极地;狂热地
参考例句:
  • Of course the more unpleasant a duty was, the more zealously Miss Glover performed it. 格洛弗小姐越是对她的职责不满意,她越是去积极执行它。 来自辞典例句
  • A lawyer should represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law. 律师应在法律范围内热忱为当事人代理。 来自口语例句
11 industrious a7Axr     
adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的
参考例句:
  • If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
  • She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。
12 crimson AYwzH     
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句:
  • She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
  • Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
13 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的,最年老的
参考例句:
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
14 sweeping ihCzZ4     
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的
参考例句:
  • The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
  • Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗?
15 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句:
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
16 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
17 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
18 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
19 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
20 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
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
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
22 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。


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