Chapter 17 Gray Days And Gold

    When Rebecca looked back upon theyear or two that followed the Simpsons'

　　Thanksgiving party, she could see onlycertain milestones² rising in the quiet pathway ofthe months.

　　The first milestone¹ was Christmas Day. It wasa fresh, crystal morning, with icicles hanging likedazzling pendants from the trees and a glaze³ ofpale blue on the surface of the snow. The Simpsons'

　　red barn stood out, a glowing mass of color inthe white landscape. Rebecca had been busy forweeks before, trying to make a present for each ofthe seven persons at Sunnybrook Farm, a somewhatdifficult proceeding⁵ on an expenditure⁶ of fiftycents, hoarded⁷ by incredible exertion⁸. Success hadbeen achieved, however, and the precious packethad been sent by post two days previous. MissSawyer had bought her niece a nice gray squirrelmuff and tippet, which was even more unbecomingif possible, than Rebecca's other articles of wearingapparel; but aunt Jane had made her the loveliestdress of green cashmere, a soft, soft green likethat of a young leaf. It was very simply made, butthe color delighted the eye. Then there was abeautiful "tatting" collar from her mother, somescarlet mittens⁹ from Mrs. Cobb, and a handkerchieffrom Emma Jane.

　　Rebecca herself had fashioned an elaborate tea-cosy with a letter "M" in outline stitch, and apretty frilled pincushion marked with a "J," for hertwo aunts, so that taken all together the day wouldhave been an unequivocal success had nothing elsehappened; but something else did.

　　There was a knock at the door at breakfast time,and Rebecca, answering it, was asked by a boy ifMiss Rebecca Randall lived there. On being toldthat she did, he handed her a parcel bearing hername, a parcel which she took like one in a dreamand bore into the dining-room.

　　"It's a present; it must be," she said, lookingat it in a dazed sort of way; "but I can't thinkwho it could be from.""A good way to find out would be to open it,"remarked Miss Miranda.

　　The parcel being untied¹⁰ proved to have twosmaller packages within, and Rebecca opened withtrembling fingers the one addressed to her. Anybody'sfingers would have trembled. There was acase which, when the cover was lifted, disclosed along chain of delicate pink coral beads,--a chainending in a cross made of coral rosebuds¹¹. A cardwith "Merry Christmas from Mr. Aladdin" layunder the cross.

　　"Of all things!" exclaimed the two old ladies,rising in their seats. "Who sent it?""Mr. Ladd," said Rebecca under her breath.

　　"Adam Ladd! Well I never! Don't you rememberEllen Burnham said he was going to sendRebecca a Christmas present? But I never supposedhe'd think of it again," said Jane. "What'sthe other package?"It proved to be a silver chain with a blue enamellocket on it, marked for Emma Jane. That addedthe last touch--to have him remember them both!

　　There was a letter also, which ran:--Dear Miss Rebecca Rowena,--My idea of aChristmas present is something entirely¹² unnecessaryand useless. I have always noticed when Igive this sort of thing that people love it, so Ihope I have not chosen wrong for you and yourfriend. You must wear your chain this afternoon,please, and let me see it on your neck, for I amcoming over in my new sleigh to take you both todrive. My aunt is delighted with the soap.

　　Sincerely your friend,Adam Ladd.

　　"Well, well!" cried Miss Jane, "isn't that kindof him? He's very fond of children, Lyddy Burnhamsays. Now eat your breakfast, Rebecca, andafter we've done the dishes you can run over toEmma's and give her her chain-- What's the matter,child?"Rebecca's emotions seemed always to be stored,as it were, in adjoining compartments¹³, and to becontinually getting mixed. At this moment, thoughher joy was too deep for words, her bread and butteralmost choked her, and at intervals¹⁴ a tear stolefurtively down her cheek.

　　Mr. Ladd called as he promised, and made theacquaintance of the aunts, understanding them bothin five minutes as well as if he had known themfor years. On a footstool near the open fire satRebecca, silent and shy, so conscious of her fineapparel and the presence of aunt Miranda that shecould not utter a word. It was one of her "beautydays." Happiness, excitement, the color of thegreen dress, and the touch of lovely pink in thecoral necklace had transformed the little brownwren for the time into a bird of plumage, and AdamLadd watched her with evident satisfaction. Thenthere was the sleigh ride, during which she foundher tongue and chattered¹⁵ like any magpie¹⁶, and soended that glorious Christmas Day; and many andmany a night thereafter did Rebecca go to sleepwith the precious coral chain under her pillow, onehand always upon it to be certain that it was safe.

　　Another milestone was the departure of theSimpsons from Riverboro, bag and baggage, thebanquet lamp being their most conspicuous¹⁷ posses-sion. It was delightful¹⁸ to be rid of Seesaw¹⁹'s hatefulpresence; but otherwise the loss of severalplaymates at one fell swoop²⁰ made rather a gapin Riverboro's "younger set," and Rebecca wasobliged to make friends with the Robinson baby,he being the only long-clothes child in the villagethat winter. The faithful Seesaw had called at theside door of the brick house on the evening beforehis departure, and when Rebecca answered hisknock, stammered²¹ solemnly, "Can I k-keep comp'nywith you when you g-g-row up?" "Certainly NOT,"replied Rebecca, closing the door somewhattoo speedily upon her precocious²² swain.

　　Mr. Simpson had come home in time to movehis wife and children back to the town that hadgiven them birth, a town by no means waiting withopen arms to receive them. The Simpsons' movingwas presided over by the village authorities andsomewhat anxiously watched by the entireneighborhood, but in spite of all precautions a pulpitchair, several kerosene²³ lamps, and a small stovedisappeared from the church and were successfullyswapped in the course of Mr. Simpson'sdriving tour from the old home to the new. It gaveRebecca and Emma Jane some hours of sorrow tolearn that a certain village in the wake of AbnerSimpson's line of progress had acquired, throughthe medium of an ambitious young minister, amagnificent lamp for its new church parlors²⁴. No moneychanged hands in the operation; for the ministersucceeded in getting the lamp in return for an oldbicycle. The only pleasant feature of the wholeaffair was that Mr. Simpson, wholly unable to consolehis offspring for the loss of the beloved object,mounted the bicycle and rode away on it, not tobe seen or heard of again for many a long day.

　　The year was notable also as being the one inwhich Rebecca shot up like a young tree. She hadseemingly never grown an inch since she was tenyears old, but once started she attended to growingprecisely as she did other things,--with suchenergy, that Miss Jane did nothing for months butlengthen skirts, sleeves, and waists. In spite of allthe arts known to a thrifty²⁵ New England woman,the limit of letting down and piecing down wasreached at last, and the dresses were sent to SunnybrookFarm to be made over for Jenny.

　　There was another milestone, a sad one, markinga little grave under a willow²⁶ tree at SunnybrookFarm. Mira, the baby of the Randall family,died, and Rebecca went home for a fortnight'svisit. The sight of the small still shape that hadbeen Mira, the baby who had been her specialcharge ever since her birth, woke into being a hostof new thoughts and wonderments; for it is sometimesthe mystery of death that brings one to aconsciousness of the still greater mystery of life.

　　It was a sorrowful home-coming for Rebecca. Thedeath of Mira, the absence of John, who had beenher special comrade, the sadness of her mother, theisolation of the little house, and the pinchingeconomies that went on within it, all conspired²⁷ todepress a child who was so sensitive to beauty andharmony as Rebecca.

　　Hannah seemed to have grown into a womanduring Rebecca's absence. There had always beena strange unchildlike air about Hannah, but incertain ways she now appeared older than aunt Jane--soberer, and more settled. She was pretty,though in a colorless fashion; pretty and capable.

　　Rebecca walked through all the old playgroundsand favorite haunts of her early childhood; all herfamiliar, her secret places; some of them known toJohn, some to herself alone. There was the spotwhere the Indian pipes grew; the particular bit ofmarshy ground where the fringed gentians used tobe largest and bluest; the rock maple²⁸ where shefound the oriole's nest; the hedge where the fieldmice lived; the moss-covered stump²⁹ where thewhite toadstools were wont³¹ to spring up as if bymagic; the hole at the root of the old pine where anancient and honorable toad³⁰ made his home; thesewere the landmarks³² of her childhood, and she lookedat them as across an immeasurable distance. Thedear little sunny brook⁴, her chief companion afterJohn, was sorry company at this season. Therewas no laughing water sparkling in the sunshine.

　　In summer the merry stream had danced over whitepebbles on its way to deep pools where it could bestill and think. Now, like Mira, it was cold andquiet, wrapped in its shroud³³ of snow; but Rebeccaknelt by the brink³⁴, and putting her ear to the glazeof ice, fancied, where it used to be deepest, she couldhear a faint, tinkling³⁵ sound. It was all right! Sunnybrookwould sing again in the spring; perhaps Miratoo would have her singing time somewhere--shewondered where and how. In the course of theselonely rambles³⁶ she was ever thinking, thinking,of one subject. Hannah had never had a chance;never been freed from the daily care and work ofthe farm. She, Rebecca, had enjoyed all the privilegesthus far. Life at the brick house had not beenby any means a path of roses, but there had beencomfort and the companionship of other children, aswell as chances for study and reading. Riverborohad not been the world itself, but it had been aglimpse of it through a tiny peephole that wasinfinitely better than nothing. Rebecca shed morethan one quiet tear before she could trust herself tooffer up as a sacrifice that which she so much desiredfor herself. Then one morning as her visit nearedits end she plunged³⁷ into the subject boldly andsaid, "Hannah, after this term I'm going to stayat home and let you go away. Aunt Miranda hasalways wanted you, and it's only fair you shouldhave your turn."Hannah was darning stockings, and she threadedher needle and snipped³⁸ off the yarn³⁹ before sheanswered, "No, thank you, Becky. Mother couldn'tdo without me, and I hate going to school. I canread and write and cipher⁴⁰ as well as anybody now,and that's enough for me. I'd die rather than teachschool for a living. The winter'll go fast, for WillMelville is going to lend me his mother's sewingmachine, and I'm going to make white petticoatsout of the piece of muslin aunt Jane sent, and have'em just solid with tucks. Then there's going tobe a singing-school and a social circle in Temperanceafter New Year's, and I shall have a real goodtime now I'm grown up. I'm not one to be lonesome,Becky," Hannah ended with a blush; "I lovethis place."Rebecca saw that she was speaking the truth, butshe did not understand the blush till a year or twolater.

1 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

2 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

3 glaze   

v.因疲倦、疲劳等指眼睛变得呆滞，毫无表情

参考例句：

• Brush the glaze over the top and sides of the hot cake.在热蛋糕的顶上和周围刷上一层蛋浆。
• Tang three-color glaze horses are famous for their perfect design and realism.唐三彩上釉马以其造型精美和形态生动而著名。

4 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

5 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

6 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

7 hoarded   

v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It owned great properties and often hoarded huge treasures. 它拥有庞大的财产，同时往往窖藏巨额的财宝。 来自辞典例句
• Sylvia among them, good-naturedly applaud so much long-hoarded treasure of useless knowing. 西尔维亚也在他们中间，为那些长期珍藏的无用知识，友好地、起劲地鼓掌。 来自互联网

8 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

9 mittens   

不分指手套

参考例句：

• Cotton mittens will prevent the baby from scratching his own face. 棉的连指手套使婴儿不会抓伤自己的脸。
• I'd fisted my hands inside their mittens to keep the fingers warm. 我在手套中握拳头来保暖手指。

10 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

11 rosebuds   

蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. 花开堪折直须折。
• Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. 有花堪折直须折，莫待花无空折枝。

12 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

13 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：

• Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

15 chattered   

（人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤

参考例句：

• They chattered away happily for a while. 他们高兴地闲扯了一会儿。
• We chattered like two teenagers. 我们聊着天，像两个十多岁的孩子。

16 magpie   

n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者

参考例句：

• Now and then a magpie would call.不时有喜鹊的叫声。
• This young man is really a magpie.这个年轻人真是饶舌。

17 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

18 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

19 seesaw   

n.跷跷板

参考例句：

• Prices have gone up and down like a seesaw this year.今年的价格像跷跷板一样时涨时跌。
• The children are playing at seesaw.孩子们在玩跷跷板。

20 swoop   

n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击

参考例句：

• The plane made a swoop over the city.那架飞机突然向这座城市猛降下来。
• We decided to swoop down upon the enemy there.我们决定突袭驻在那里的敌人。

21 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

22 precocious   

adj.早熟的；较早显出的

参考例句：

• They become precocious experts in tragedy.他们成了一批思想早熟、善写悲剧的能手。
• Margaret was always a precocious child.玛格丽特一直是个早熟的孩子。

23 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

24 parlors   

客厅( parlor的名词复数 )； 起居室； （旅馆中的）休息室； （通常用来构成合成词）店

参考例句：

• It had been a firm specializing in funeral parlors and parking lots. 它曾经是一个专门经营殡仪馆和停车场的公司。
• I walked, my eyes focused into the endless succession of barbershops, beauty parlors, confectioneries. 我走着，眼睛注视着那看不到头的、鳞次栉比的理发店、美容院、糖果店。

25 thrifty   

adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的

参考例句：

• Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
• She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。

26 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

27 conspired   

密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致

参考例句：

• They conspired to bring about the meeting of the two people. 他们共同促成了两人的会面。
• Bad weather and car trouble conspired to ruin our vacation. 恶劣的气候连同汽车故障断送了我们的假日。

28 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

29 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

30 toad   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆

参考例句：

• Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
• Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。

31 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

32 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

33 shroud   

n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏

参考例句：

• His past was enveloped in a shroud of mystery.他的过去被裹上一层神秘色彩。
• How can I do under shroud of a dark sky?在黑暗的天空的笼罩下，我该怎么做呢？

34 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

35 tinkling   

n.丁当作响声

参考例句：

• I could hear bells tinkling in the distance. 我能听到远处叮当铃响。
• To talk to him was like listening to the tinkling of a worn-out musical-box. 跟他说话，犹如听一架老掉牙的八音盒子丁冬响。 来自英汉文学

36 rambles   

（无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论

参考例句：

• He rambles in his talk. 他谈话时漫无中心。
• You will have such nice rambles on the moors. 你可以在旷野里好好地溜达溜达。

37 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

38 snipped   

v.剪( snip的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He snipped off the corner of the packet. 他将包的一角剪了下来。 来自辞典例句
• The police officer snipped the tape and untied the hostage. 警方把胶带剪断，松绑了人质。 来自互联网

39 yarn   

n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事

参考例句：

• I stopped to have a yarn with him.我停下来跟他聊天。
• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。

40 cipher   

n.零；无影响力的人；密码

参考例句：

• All important plans were sent to the police in cipher.所有重要计划均以密码送往警方。
• He's a mere cipher in the company.他在公司里是个无足轻重的小人物。