This time Lallie sat up in bed, pushed her hair out of her eyes, and looked about her. A long shaft2 of sunlight stretched across the room through the gap made by a green blind that did not exactly fit its window. The windows were open, and a gay little breeze moved the blinds gently to and fro. Miss Foster's room was large and stately and handsomely furnished; but somehow it lacked individuality: it was impossible to divine, even to make a guess at Miss Foster's characteristics from her bedroom.
"She must be a paragon3 of tidiness," thought Lallie; "but perhaps that's Ford4. After all, the woman can't leave things about when she's away, so I won't hate her for that. I wonder what she'd say if some one showed her one of those gazing crystals and she beheld5 me lying here in her bed!" Lallie smiled as she pictured Miss Foster's astonishment6, and perhaps some thought of the same kind occurred to Ford, who at that moment appeared bearing a breakfast tray, for she gave vent7 to a little sound, as she crossed the room, that might have been mistaken for a suppressed giggle8 had not her appearance been so severely9 servant-like and respectful.
"Mr. Bevan sent his kind regards, miss, and hopes as you're rested; and he says you're not to get up, but take it quietly this morning after such a long journey. Shall I pull up your blinds, miss, or would you prefer the shaded light?"
Ford shot out the words all in one breath, and deposited the tray on a little table beside the bed.
"Pull them all up, Ford. Oh, what a beautiful morning! Give Mr. Bevan my love and say I slept beautifully; and Miss Foster's bed, and Miss Foster's room, and the view from Miss Foster's windows, and everything that is hers is charming."
Ford waited in respectful silence till she had settled the tray on Lallie's knees.
"You'll give me a hand with backs and things, won't you, Ford? Nearly all my frocks fasten behind--'tis the stupid fashion of the present day, but it can't be helped. I'm afraid I shall make a good deal more work for you, Ford, but Daddie said I was to tell you he'll make it worth while at Christmas. You see, we didn't know whether T--whether Mr. Bevan would have room for Bridget; she's my old nurse, and she does everything for me at home, but she's a bit difficult with other servants. Do you think you'll be able to manage for me, Ford?"
"I shall be very pleased to do my best, miss," said Ford demurely10. "You see, I'm private parlourmaid; I've nothing to do with the young gentlemen's part of the 'ouse, and Miss Foster requires very little waiting on----'
"Oh, dear!" sighed Lallie; "not like me, but I'll try and be tidy in my room. Madame made me be that though Bridget spoiled me. Now don't let me be keeping you; I'll ring when I want to get up and you'll come and show me the bath-room."
When Ford reached the kitchen region again, she remarked to the cook:
"I don't know what it is about that young lady--she's not much to look at--but there's something about her that makes you want to do every mortal thing she wants the minute she's as't you--I think it must be her voice, it's that funny and weedlin'."
Cripps, the captain of the College fives, was in quarantine for mumps11. An inconsiderate little sister had developed this disease two days after his return to school, and his mother being honest and considerate had hastened to inform Tony of the fact by telegram. Hence, Cripps, in rude health and the very worst of tempers, was removed from the society of his fellows to the drear seclusion12 of the sick-room by night and of the garden by day, or such parts of the neighbourhood as were in bounds, while the boys were in College. The rest of the inhabitants of Hamchester might take their chance. But Cripps, that morning, felt no inclination13 for a walk; savage14 and solitary15 he armed himself with a deck-chair and the "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," and sat him down under an elm at the edge of the tennis lawn nearest that side of B. House which contained Miss Foster's room. Thus it came about that Lallie, having with the assistance of Ford arrayed herself in a white cambric frock, dismissed that excellent handmaid, and leaning out of the window beheld Cripps.
A boy--a big boy, with broad shoulders and a brown face and hair that stood up on end in front; a boy lying in a deck-chair and reading a novel at eleven o'clock on a Saturday morning. Lallie was devoured16 by curiosity. What was that boy doing there? Was he some old Hamchestrian staying in the house? No; he looked too youthful for that. Why was he not in College with the others?
Cripps turned a page and yawned widely, showing his white even teeth.
The September sun was hot and he felt sleepy. "The probity17 of parents sets the children's teeth on edge," said Cripps to himself, with a vague idea that he was quoting Scripture18. He laid Sherlock Holmes face downwards19 on his knee and closed his eyes. What a long morning it had been! Might the maledictions of all righteous men fall upon that most mischievous20 of trivial diseases called mumps! Why had no doctor discovered the mump microbe and taken steps to stamp out the whole noxious21 tribe? They were footling fellows these doctors on the whole; all this trouble arose from the idiotic22 habit little girls have of kissing one another. Probably his little sister had kissed some wretched pig-tailed brat23 who was--Cripps had almost forgotten his wrongs in slumber24 when he was startled by a full sweet voice which carolled----
"Captain, art tha' sleeping down below?"
Cripps sat up very straight and looked about him.
"Why are you not in College?" the voice asked again.
Cripps looked up in the direction of the voice and leapt to his feet. Sherlock Holmes fell neglected on the grass.
Lallie was leaning out of the window just above him.
"I beg your pardon," he exclaimed politely; "I didn't know you were there."
"Naturally, for you were asleep. Now how comes it that you were falling asleep in the middle of the morning? That's what I want to know. Are you stopping with T--with Mr. Bevan too?"
Cripps longed to pose as a visitor, but honesty, like many worse things, is sometimes hereditary25, so he hung his head and mumbled26 dismally27:
"No, I'm one of the chaps; but I'm in quarantine--for mumps of all beastly silly diseases. I know I shan't have it, too."
"Poor boy," said Lallie sympathetically, "I hope you won't. I've had it, and it's horrible. Paddy brought it back from here once and gave it to me. It seems to me that the boys in this house are always having something."
"We don't have half as many things as the other houses," Cripps retorted indignantly, "and I haven't got it, it's my beastly little sister----"
"Now that's not nice of you," said Lallie reprovingly, "to speak of the poor little girl like that; no mortal could want mumps. But I don't think I can keep bawling28 to you from here. I'll come down if you can ferret out another chair--not a mumpy one, mind--and I'll try and bring you to a more Christian29 frame of mind."
She vanished from the window and Cripps flew to the summer house to fetch one of Tony's most luxurious30 garden chairs, feeling that for once the fates had not dealt unkindly with him when they put him in quarantine.
Across the lawn towards him came Lallie, swinging a green silk bag.
"Do you like your feet up?" asked the gallant32 Cripps. "There's a piece that pulls out."
"Thank you--it would be a pity to waste these shoes, wouldn't it?"
And Lallie subsided33 into a long chair which supported her very pretty feet, shod in shiny shoes with buckles34 and Louis Quinze heels. From the green silk bag she drew forth35 a roll, which proved to be lace, and she began to sew diligently36.
"What pretty work!" said Cripps, drawing up his chair to face hers.
"It's a strip of Limerick lace I'm making, and I've just got to a 'basket.' The light's good, so I thought I'd do it this morning."
"May I see it close?" asked Cripps, wishing she would look at him instead of at her lace, though black eyelashes resting on rounded cheeks are by no means a disagreeable prospect37.
This morning Lallie was not so pale. Her cheeks were never really rosy38, but they were fresh, with a delicate, fault colour like the inside of certain shells. She held out the roll of work towards Cripps, and he took hold of one end while she unpinned the other and spread out the lace.
"By Jove!" said Cripps, but it was not at the lace he was looking so much as at Lallie's hand. Such an absurd small hand compared to his; so white, with beautiful pink filbert-shaped nails.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" said Lallie, of her lace.
"Awfully," said Cripps. "Whatever size do you take?"
"How d'you mean? You don't make lace in sizes."
"I beg your pardon, I was thinking of your hands. Look at them--compared to mine!"
"Now don't you be reproaching me with being so little. It's no fault of mine nor no wish; I've done my best to grow, but it's no use. I'm the only little person in a tall family, and it's very out-of-date for a girl to be small nowadays. I'm a sort of survival of the obsolete39, and if I live to be old, I'll be looked upon as a sort of rarity, and people will come miles to see me."
"I should think people do that now," said Cripps, still keeping tight hold of the lace.
Lallie let go her end of it and looked at him.
"Now that's very kind of you to say that--really kind and nice. I wonder if all your family are exceptionally good-looking, because, if so, perhaps you can sympathise with me. Are they?"
"Well, no, I don't think they are," Cripps said, getting very red. "I really have never thought about it; one doesn't, you know, with one's own people."
"You'd have to if you were like me," Lallie sighed. "Dad is tremendously good-looking; so's Paddy--don't you think so?"
"Ye-e-e-s," Cripps answered, without enthusiasm, "I suppose he is; but one doesn't notice that sort of thing much in fellows----"
"I think it's their noses that make them so distinguished40," Lallie continued meditatively41. "Dad's and Paddy's, I mean. Now, my nose begins well, it does really--but it changes its character half way; and it's got a confiding42 tip, and that isn't in the least distinguished. My only consolation43 is, it isn't often red."
"I think it's an extremely neat nose," Cripps said, with convincing sincerity44.
"Neat, but not gaudy45! Ah, well, it's the best I've got, anyway, and I can smell anything burning in the kitchen quicker than most people. But all the same, I think it must be very agreeable to be so good-looking that people want to please you just because of it, without you doing anything at all. That's the way with Dad and Paddy. Now ordinary folks like you and me--I hope you don't mind rowing in the same boat with me?--have to be nice to people if we want them to like us."
"Is Paddy Clonmell your brother?"
"My twin brother, but we're not a bit alike, even in disposition46, though we're the best of friends and I adore him. What are you celebrated47 for, and I'll see if I can't tell you your name; I've heard about most of you."
Cripps blushed.
"I'm afraid I'm not celebrated at all," he said modestly. "I'm only in Upper V.; I don't suppose you've ever heard of me."
Lallie laid down her work and looked at Cripps critically.
"I'll try again," she said. "Are you a College colour?"
"Yes."
"Cricket?"
"Oh, no, I'm no good at all."
"Football?"
"Yes."
"Fives?"
"Yes."
"Then you're two, and that's very grand; and I think," said Lallie slowly, her eyes wandering from her companion's face to the book lying on the grass and back again--"then I think you must be Mr. Cripps, the captain of the College fives. Now aren't I a witch of a guesser?"
Distinctly gratified, Cripps duly expressed surprise at her discernment. Lallie's sight was good, and she had seen his name on the paper copy of Sherlock Holmes lying on the grass. They continued to chat happily till morning school was over, and Tony Bevan rushed back to B. House to see after his guest. She saw him coming and flew to meet him, crying:
"Oh, Tony, I've been so happy in your garden, and Mr. Cripps has been so kind and nice, and has entertained me all the morning. It's been very pleasant having him to talk to."
Tony smiled down at the radiant upturned face.
"You don't look a bit tired this morning, Lallie," he said, "and I'm glad you've not been dull; but I'd forgotten all about Cripps, and I'm not sure that you ought to have been talking to him at all. He's contraband48, you know, a suspect----"
"He told me all about it, Tony; and I've had the silly thing, and we were out of doors, so it couldn't matter, now could it?"
"Get your hat on now, Lallie, you are going to lunch with Mrs. Wentworth, the Principal's wife; I've seen her about you and she has kindly31 promised to mother you as much as possible till Miss Foster comes back."
Lallie's face fell.
"Oh, Tony," she exclaimed, "can't I have lunch with you and all the boys this first day? Can't I stop here just for to-day?"
"You'll have lunch here hundreds of times, and I've made the engagement for you to-day. Hurry, my child, for I haven't a minute."
Lallie didn't take long to get her hat--a big white one. She also wore a pair of long white gloves, and still carried the green silk bag, the only touch of colour about her. Tony looked at her with kind, approving eyes. How well the child carried herself; how girlish and fresh she was; and in her own quaint49 way, how full of the distinction she thought she lacked. But he felt some misgivings50 all the same--was she so unnoticeable? that was the question.
"How did you manage to find Cripps?" he asked, as they hurried up the wide tree-bordered road leading from B. House to the College, now full of boys hurrying to and fro from their various houses.
"I saw him from the window, and he was nearly asleep, so I called to him and he looked up; he's such a nice kind boy--we're great friends already."
"Oh, are you?" Tony said, rather drily. "Where was Matron?"
"I haven't seen the dear matron this morning; you see, I went straight out whenever I was dressed. Oh, I did enjoy my lazy lie this morning, Tony, but I'll be up with the lark51 to-morrow."
"Don't you think you'd be better to breakfast in bed until you have got thoroughly52 rested?" Tony said nervously53. "There's no need for you to get up, and it makes such a long morning. Hadn't you better breakfast in bed till----"
"Miss Foster comes back, I suppose," snapped Lallie. "Why would you be hiding me out of sight all the time, Tony? Are you ashamed of me?"
She stood still in the middle of the road, flushed and angry.
"My dear child, ashamed!" the worried Tony repeated. "What an extraordinary idea! don't stand there, Lallie, the boys are staring at you. Doesn't it prove how anxious I am to show you off to my friends that I haven't lost a minute in introducing you to the chief lady of our community?"
"I'm sorry I was cross, Tony, but somehow, ever since I came, I've felt that you felt I oughtn't to be here; that--well, that I'm in a kind of way in quarantine, like poor Cripps, and that only Miss Foster's return will remove the infection."
"Lallie, you're too sharp altogether; you're not so far out though this time, and I begin to sympathise with your father's introduction of Aunt Emileen. But I promise you you'll be happy this afternoon; and this evening I'll bring my work into the drawing-room beside you. I must do it, but you won't feel lonely if I'm there, will you? No, Lallie, you must not try to embrace me in the street! the boys are looking at you!"
"Who's trying to embrace you, you conceited54 man? I was only taking your arm, and that you might have offered me. I promised Matron I wouldn't try to kiss you any more here."
"Promised Matron! What the dickens has Matron got to do with it?" It was Tony who stopped this time, and his voice was the reverse of pleased.
"Oh, dear, oh, dear! you're like the animals in 'Alice,' Tony, there's no pleasing you at all, at all. May I point out that at the present moment several boys are looking at you!"
"But, Lallie, you must explain what you mean; you say such extraordinary things----"
"Not at all, it's all the other way; but I'll try and remember to be stiff and prim55; only one minute you're so nasty and the next you're so nice that action of some sort seems imperative--oh, dear, we're there! What a big house! Is she terrible, Tony? Will she think I'm all mumpy too? You won't leave me; you'll see me safe in----"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
paragon
|
|
| n.模范，典型 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
Ford
|
|
| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
giggle
|
|
| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
demurely
|
|
| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
mumps
|
|
| n.腮腺炎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
seclusion
|
|
| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
probity
|
|
| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
noxious
|
|
| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
idiotic
|
|
| adj.白痴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
brat
|
|
| n.孩子；顽童 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
slumber
|
|
| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hereditary
|
|
| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
dismally
|
|
| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bawling
|
|
| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
subsided
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
buckles
|
|
| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
diligently
|
|
| ad.industriously;carefully | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
obsolete
|
|
| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
meditatively
|
|
| adv.冥想地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
confiding
|
|
| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
sincerity
|
|
| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
gaudy
|
|
| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
contraband
|
|
| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
misgivings
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
lark
|
|
| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
conceited
|
|
| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
prim
|
|
| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |