“Has your mother’s tooth been hurting her very much, Rosalind?”
“Tooth! what tooth? Oh, I think she did have a little twinge one night; but it’s not the dentist whom she is really going to see. That’s only an excuse. She really wants to go to some parties,” said Rosalind lightly; whereat her brother scowled5 at her under heavy brows.
“What business have you to say that? What can you know about it, pray? If mother says she is in pain, it is not for you to contradict, and make up your own explanations. Leave her to manage her own affairs—”
He spoke6 rapidly, but Rosalind only shrugged7 her shoulders, and whispered something in Max’s ear, at which he smiled and nodded his head, evidently taking her part against her brother, to Peggy’s intense indignation.
No words were exchanged between the partners on the subject of the calendar until they were once more at home; when Robert took advantage of the first quiet opportunity, and came up to Peggy with a face of set determination.
“Mariquita!” he said, “I—am—not—going—to give in! If you stick to me, we can still manage to get the calendar off in time. There are twenty more quotations8 to be found. I’ll sit up to-night and fix them off, and go on writing as long as I can keep awake, but I can’t take a dozen books up to town with me, so I must leave it to you to finish up. I’ll mark the passages I choose, write the full address on a piece of paper, and leave everything ready for you to make up the parcel. All you will have to do will be to write the remaining cards, and to see that it is sent off on Friday. Five o’clock will be time enough, but if you can get it off in the morning, so much the better. You think you can manage as much as that?”
“Oh yes! I’d do anything rather than give up now. It would be too grudging9. I am not afraid of a little more work.”
“You have done more than your share already. I am mad about it, but it can’t be helped. I couldn’t refuse to go with the mater, and I wouldn’t if I could. She is really not at all strong, and does not like the life down here. It will do her good to have a few days’ change.”
Peggy looked at him steadily10. She did not speak, but her eyes grew soft and shining, and there was something at once so sweet, so kindly11, and so gentle in her expression that Rob exclaimed in surprise—
“I say, Peggy, you—you do look pretty! I never saw you look like that before—what have you been doing to yourself?”
“Doing!” Peggy straightened herself at that, in offended dignity. “Doing, indeed! What do you mean? Don’t you think I am pretty as a rule?”
“Never thought about it,” returned Robert carelessly. “You are Peggy—that’s enough for me. A nice state I should be in to-day if it were not for you! You are the jolliest little brick I ever met, and if I get this prize it will be far more your doing than my own.”
Well, that was good hearing! Peggy held her head high for the rest of that evening, and felt as if nothing would have power to depress her for the future. But, alas12, when the pendulum13 is at its highest it begins to swing downwards14. Peggy’s heart sank as she watched Robert drive away from the door the next morning, and it went on sinking more and more during the next twenty-four hours, as she realised the responsibility which weighed upon her shoulders. When she came down to breakfast on Friday morning the calendar was finished and ready to be made up for the post, but her head was splitting with pain as the result of the long hours’ work stolen from sleep, and a dead weight of depression had settled on her spirits. It seemed of a sudden that all this work and effort was waste of time; that the chances of being successful were infinitesimally small; that even if it were gained, the prize was of little value; that if Robert’s absence for four days made such a difference in the life at the vicarage, it would become altogether unbearable15 when he said good-bye at the beginning of the year and went up to Oxford16; that she was a desperately17 unfortunate little unit, thrust into the midst of a family which was complete in itself, and had only a kindly toleration to offer to a stranger; that, in all probability, there would shortly be a war in India, when her father would be killed, her mother die of a broken heart, and Arthur be called out to join the ranks of the recruits. She conjured18 up a touching19 picture of herself, swathed in crape, bidding good-bye to her brother at the railway station, and watching the scarlet20 coat disappear in the distance, as the train steamed away. It was all most miserable21 and picturesque22, and outside the fog gathered, and the rain poured down in a fine, persistent23 drizzle24. It was one of those typical November days when it seems as if the earth itself is in the blues25, and that it becomes everyone living on its surface to follow its example.
When afternoon came Peggy curled herself in an arm-chair in the corner of the study, and stared gloomily at the fire. It was four o’clock. In another hour the postman would call for the letters, and she would deliver the precious packet into his hands. She had made it up in the dinner-hour, with some faint idea of carrying it to the village; but she was tired, the rain poured, and Rob had said that the afternoon post would do. She had given up the idea of going out, and taken a nap instead on the top of her bed. And now it was four o’clock. Mellicent called out that she was dying for tea-time to come; it had seemed such a long, long day; they really ought to have tea earlier on these dreary26, murky27 afternoons. “I want my tea!” she chanted, in shrill28, penetrating29 tones, and instantly the refrain was taken up by the other voices, and repeated over and over again with ever-increasing volume, until the mistress of the house rushed in to discover the reason of the clamour.
“Bless your hearts, you shall have it at once!” she cried. “I’ll ring and have it brought in, and ransack30 my cupboards to see what treats I can give you. Poor dears, it is dull for you sitting indoors all day long. We must think of some bright, exciting games for this evening.” No sooner said than done; she did not wait until Mary appeared, but bustled31 off to meet her, to enlist32 the cook’s sympathy, and put out the promised delicacies33, and when the table was set she returned to the room and seated herself, smilingly, in Esther’s place.
“I am going to stay with you this afternoon,” she said brightly. “Draw up your chairs, dears, and let us be jovial34. There is no credit in being happy when the sun is shining, as dear old Mark Tapley would have said; but it will really be praiseworthy if we succeed in being festive35 this afternoon. Come, Peggy, dearie!”
Peggy turned her dreary little face and stared at the table. From outside came the sound of the opening and shutting of the door, of footsteps in the hall. She glanced at the clock, wondering if it could possibly be the postman already, found it was only ten minutes past four, and dismissed the supposition with a sigh. “I don’t—think—I want—” she was beginning slowly, when, of a sudden, there came a tremendous rat-tat-tat on the schoolroom door; the handle was not turned, but burst open; a blast of chilly36 air blew into the room, and in the doorway37 stood a tall, handsome youth, with square shoulders, a gracefully38 poised39 head, and Peggy Saville’s eave-like brows above his dancing eyes.
“Oh, what a surprise!” came the cry in loud laughing tones. “How do you do, everybody? Just thought I would step in as I was passing, and have a cup of tea, don’t you know.”
“My boy! My boy! Oh, how good to see you!” cried Mrs Asplin rapturously. Mellicent gurgled with surprise, and Peggy stood up by her chair and stretched out both arms like a child to its mother.
“Arthur!—oh—Arthur!” she gasped40, and there was a pathos41, a longing42, an almost incredulous rapture43 in her voice which made the tears start in Mrs Asplin’s eyes, and brought a cloud of anxiety over the new-comer’s face.
“Why, Peg2!” he cried. “My little Peg! Is something wrong, dear? You look as melancholy44 as—”
“Peggy has not been like herself for the last few weeks. I think she has had an attack of homesickness and longing for her own people. I’m so glad you’ve come. You will do her more good than a dozen tonics45. Bless the boy; how big he is! And how did you manage to get away, dear, and how long can you stay? Tell me all about it. I am consumed with curiosity—”
“I can stay till Monday or Tuesday, if you can put me up; and I came away because I—I suppose I am not quite up to the mark. My head bothers me. It aches, and I see black specks46 floating before my eyes. The doctor advised me to knock off for a few days, and I thought I would rather come here than anywhere.”
“I should think so, indeed. Of course we can put you up—proud and pleased to do so. Well, this is a pleasant surprise for a dull November day! You couldn’t have had a better one if you had had a hundred wishes, could you, Peggy? You won’t feel melancholy any longer?”
“I’m just enraptured47! Saturday, Sunday, Monday—three whole days and two halves, as good as four days—almost a week! It’s too delicious—too utterly48 delicious to realise!”
Peggy drew deep sighs of happiness, and hung on to Arthur’s arm in an abandonment of tenderness which showed her in a new light to her companions. She would not loosen her grasp for a moment, and even when seated at the table kept her fingers tightly locked round his arm, as though afraid that he might escape.
As for Arthur himself, he was in the wildest spirits. He was as handsome a young soldier as one could wish to see, and his likeness49 to Peggy seemed only to make him more attractive in the eyes of the beholders.
“Hurrah!” he cried cheerily. “Hurrah, for a good old vicarage tea! Scones50? that’s the style! Mary made them, I hope, and put in lots of currants. Raspberry jam! I say, mater, do you remember that solemn waitress you had, who told you that the jam was done again, and when you exclaimed in horror, said, ‘Yes, ’um, it’s not a bit of good buying raspberry jam. They like it!’ Ha, ha, ha! I’ve often thought of that! That looks uncommonly51 good cake you have over there. Thank you, I think I will! Begin with cake, and work steadily back to bread and butter—that’s the style, isn’t it, Peggums? Esther, I looks towards you! Mellicent, you are as thin as ever, I see. You should really do something for it. There are regular hollows in your cheeks.”
“Nasty, horrid52 thing! You are always teasing! How would you like it if you were struck fat yourself?” cried Mellicent, aggrieved53. But, in spite of herself, her chubby54 cheeks dimpled with smiles as Arthur rolled his eyes at her across the table, for there was something irresistibly55 fascinating about this young fellow, and it was like old times to see him seated at the tea-table and to listen to his merry rattling56 voice.
“The dominie must grant a general holiday to-morrow,” he declared, “and we will do something fine to celebrate the occasion. We’ll have out this wonderful camera in the morning and take some groups. You and I must be taken together, Peggy, to send out to the parents. You promised to send me copies of all the things you took, but you are as false in that respect as the whole race of amateur photographers. They are grand hands at promising57, but they never, by any chance—Hallo! What’s that? My cup over? Awfully58 sorry, mater, really! I’ll put a penny in the missionary-box. Was it a clean cloth?”
“Oh, my dear boy, don’t apologise! I should not have felt that it was really you if you had not knocked your cup over! To see the table-cloth swimming with tea all round convinces me that it is Arthur himself, and nobody else! Tut, tut! What does a table-cloth matter?” And Mrs Asplin beamed upon her favourite as if she were really rather delighted than otherwise at his exploit.
It was a merry, not to say noisy, meal which followed. Peggy’s lost spirits had come back with the first glimpse of Arthur’s face; and her quips and cranks were so irresistibly droll59 that three separate times over Mellicent choked over her tea, and had to be relieved with vigorous pounding on the back, while even Esther shook with laughter, and the boys became positively60 uproarious.
Then Mr Asplin came in, and Arthur was carefully concealed61 behind the window-curtains, while he was asked whom he would most like to see if the choice were given him. In provoking manner he mentioned at once a brother in Australia, and, when informed that relatives were not on the list, recollected62 an old college chum who was out in the Mauritius.
“Oh dear, what a stupid man!” cried his wife in despair. “We don’t mean the friends of your youth, dear! Think of the last few years and of your young friends! Now, if you could choose, whom would you—”
“Arthur Saville!” said the vicar promptly63, upon which Arthur made a loophole between the curtains and thrust his mischievous64 face through the gap, to the vicar’s amazement65 and the uproarious delight of the onlookers66. A dozen questions had to be asked and answered about studies, examinations, and health, while Peggy sat listening, beaming with happiness and pride.
It came as quite a shock to all when the vicar announced that it was time to dress for dinner, and Mrs Asplin looked at Peggy with an apologetic smile.
“We were all so charmed to see Arthur that I’m afraid we have been selfish and engrossed67 too much of his attention. You two will be longing for a cosy68 little chat to yourselves. If you run upstairs now, Peggy, and hurry through your dressing69, there will be a little time before dinner, and you could have this room to yourselves.”
“Yes, run along, Peg! It won’t take me ten minutes to get into my clothes, and I’ll be here waiting for you!” cried Arthur eagerly. And Peggy went flying two steps at a time upstairs to her own room.
The gas was lit; the can of hot water stood in the basin, the towel neatly70 folded over the top; the hands of the little red clock pointed71 to six o’clock, and the faint chime met her ear as she entered.
Peggy stood still in the doorway, an icy chill crept through her veins72, her hands grasped the lintel, and her eyes grew wide and blank with horror. There, on the writing-table lay a brown paper parcel—the precious parcel which contained the calendar which had been the object of such painful work and anxiety!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
peg
|
|
| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
quotations
|
|
| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
grudging
|
|
| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
pendulum
|
|
| n.摆，钟摆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
unbearable
|
|
| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
Oxford
|
|
| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
conjured
|
|
| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
persistent
|
|
| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
drizzle
|
|
| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
blues
|
|
| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
murky
|
|
| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
penetrating
|
|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
ransack
|
|
| v.彻底搜索，洗劫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bustled
|
|
| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
enlist
|
|
| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
delicacies
|
|
| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
jovial
|
|
| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
festive
|
|
| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
chilly
|
|
| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
pathos
|
|
| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
rapture
|
|
| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
tonics
|
|
| n.滋补品( tonic的名词复数 )；主音；奎宁水；浊音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
specks
|
|
| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
enraptured
|
|
| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
likeness
|
|
| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
scones
|
|
| n.烤饼，烤小圆面包( scone的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
uncommonly
|
|
| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
aggrieved
|
|
| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
chubby
|
|
| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
irresistibly
|
|
| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
droll
|
|
| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
recollected
|
|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
onlookers
|
|
| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
cosy
|
|
| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |