“Been op for hoars,” he whispered; “been exploring. Found a ripping pool Want to swim in it?”
Teddy eased his arm from under the little girl and nodded. “Let’s light a fire first. She’ll know then that we’re not far away, and won’t be nervous.”
The blur1 of foliage2 quivered with mysteries of a myriad3 coinings and goings. Everywhere unseen paths were being traveled to unseen houses. Within sight, yet sounding distant, a woodpecker, like a postman going his rounds, was tap-tap-tapping.
Ruddy knelt and struck a match; tongues of scarlet4 spurted5. The camp-fire became a beating heart in this citadel6 of gray-green loneliness.
Desire lay curled among withered7 leaves, her face flushed with sleep, her lips parted. At sound of the fire snapping and cracking, she stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
“Oh, don’t leave me. Where are you going?”
“To have a swim,” they told her.
“But mayn’t I come? I promise to sit with my back turned. I promise not to look, honestly.”
Behind a holly8, within sight of the pond, they left her. “Oh, dear, I wish I were a boy,” she pouted9. “Boys have fathers and they can bathe and—and they can do almost everything.”
While they undressed, she kept on talking.
“It’s the same as if you weren’t there, when I can’t see you. Splash loud when you get into the water.”
As she heard them enter, “Splash louder,” she commanded. “Girls don’t have to be truthful10. If you don’t make a noise I’ll look round.”
“Pooh! Look round. Who cares!” cried Ruddy.
“No, don’t—not yet,” shouted Teddy.
Then the sound of their laughter came to her, of the long cool stretch of arms plunging11 deep and panting growing always more distant.
She couldn’t resist. The babies came into her eyes and her finger went up to her mouth. She turned and saw two sleek12 heads, bobbing and diving among anchored lilies. Beneath the water’s surface, as though buried beneath a sheet of glass, the ghost of the wood lay shrouded13. Trees crowded down to the mossy edge to gaze timidly at the wonder of their own reflection. Across the pond flies zigzagged14, leaving a narrow wake behind them. A fish leapt joyously15 and curved in a streak16 of silver. With his chin resting in the highest branches, the sun stared roundly and smiled a challenge.
“I will be a boy,” she whispered rebelliously17.
Her arms flew up and circled about her neck. Lest her daring should go from her, she commenced unbuttoning in a tremendous hurry.
“Hi, Princess, what are you doing?”
She was busy drawing off her stockings.
“I say, but you can’t do that.”
“No, you can’t do that.”
The scandalized duet of protests continued. Her knight-errants watched her aghast.
Sullen18 gray eyes glared defiance19 at them; yet they weren’t altogether sullen, for a glint of mischief20 hid in their depths.
“I am doing it. You daren’t come out to stop me.”
“We’ll come out if you’ll promise to turn round. We’ll do anything, Princess. You can have the pond all to yourself.”
“Don’t want the pond all to myself, stupids.”
She began to slip off her petticoat. Two shocked backs were turned on her. As the boys retreated further into the lilies, their pleadings reached her in spasms21. Their agony at the thought of violated conventions made her relentless22.
She was tired of being a girl; tired of being without a father. “I’ll be a boy,” she whispered, “and wear knickerbockers and have a father, like Teddy.” She really thought that, in some occult way, her outrageous23 conduct would accomplish that. It was all a matter of dress. She chuckled24 at imagining her mother’s amazement25. The still sheet of water was a Pool of Siloam that would heal a little girl of her sex.
“When she’s once got in,” whispered Ruddy, “it won’t be so bad. We can——”
Teddy grabbed his shoulder fiercely. “You shan’t see her. We’ll stay just as far away as——”
A scream startled the air. They swung about. Knee-deep in the pool, at bay and pale as a wood-nymph, was Desire.
“I won’t come out,” she was shouting, “and I’m not a naughty girl.”
Leaning out from the bank, trying to hook her with an umbrella, was a balloon-shaped old lady.
Behind her, peering above the bushes, was the face of Farmer Joseph, his merry eyes screwed up with amusement.
“But you’ll catch cold, darling,” Mrs. Sheerug coaxed26. “Oh, dear, oh, dear! What shall I do? Please do come out.”
“I shan’t catch cold either. And if I do come out you’ll only be cross with me.”
“I won’t be cross with you, darling. I’m too glad to find you for that.”
“Did my beautiful mother send you?”
With what guile27 Mrs. Sheerug answered the boys could only guess by the effect.
“Well, then,” came the piping little voice, “tell Farmer Joseph to stop looking, and you stop poking28 at me. I don’t like your umbrella.”
They saw her wade29 out, drops of water falling from her elfin whiteness like jewels; then saw her folded in the bat-like wings of the faery-godmother’s ample mantle30. The glade31 emptied. The wood grew silent They dared to swim to land.
Ruddy was the first to say anything. “Ma—Ma’s a wonder. I oughtn’t to have sent that pigeon till this s’moming.” Then, in a burst of penitence32 for his zeal33, “I’m afraid I’ve spoiled—— I say, I’m beastly sorry.”
He had spoiled everything; there was no denying it There would be no more camp-fires, no more slaying34 of bird-catchers, no more pretending you were a war-horse with a rescued Princess from Goblinland riding on your back. Teddy was too unhappy to blame or forgive Ruddy. He pulled on his shirt and indulged in reflections.
“Wonder how they found us?” muttered Ruddy. “Must have seen the smoke of our fire. That wasn’t my fault anyhow; you did agree to lighting35 that.”
“Oh, be quiet,” growled36 Teddy. “What does anything matter? Who cares now how they found out?”
Ruddy stole away to see what was happening, thinking that he might prove more acceptable elsewhere.
Teddy stared at the pool. Birds flew across its quiet breast; fish leaped; the sun smiled grandly. Everything was as it had been, yet he was altered. They would take her away from him; of that he was certain. Perhaps they would put her on another ship and send her traveling again across the world. There would be other boys who had never had a sister. He hated them. Because he was young, he would have to stay just where he had been always—in Eden Row, where nothing ever happened. The tyranny of it!
He was roused by hearing his name called softly. She was tiptoeing down the glade, dragging Mrs. Sheerug by the hand. Mrs. Sheerug’s other hand still clasped her umbrella.
As he turned, the child ran forward and flung her arms about his neck. “Oh, Teddy, this person says perhaps she’ll help us to find her.” Then, in a whisper, bringing her face so dose that the thistledown of her hair brushed his forehead and his whole world sank into two gray eyes, “The Princess wasn’t very nice this morning—not modest, so this person says. But you don’t mind—say you don’t I did so want to be like you and to do everything that boys do,” and then, long drawn37 out, when he thought her apology was ended, “Teddy.”
Mrs. Sheerug trundled up, her hands folded beneath her mantle, and looked down at them benevolently38.
“Boys aren’t to be trusted; they shouldn’t be left alone with girls, shouldn’t.” Having uttered the moral she felt necessary, she allowed herself to smile through her shiny spectacles. “She’s fond of you, Teddy—a dear little maid. Ah, well! We must be getting back with Farmer Joseph to breakfast.”
In the wagonette, as they drove through the golden morning, few words were said. Mrs. Sheerug sat with Desire cuddled to her, kissing her again and again with a tender worship. Teddy-couldn’t divine why she should do it, since she had never seen her until that morning. He was conscious of a jealousy39 in Mrs. Sheerug’s attitude—a protective jealousy which made her want to keep touching40 Desire, the way Hal did, to realize her presence. It was as though they both shared his own dread41 that at any moment they might lose her.
It was in the late afternoon when Mrs. Sheerug left. Before going she led him aside. “I want to talk to you.” Her cheeks quivered with earnestness. “You did very wrong, my dear, very wrong. Just how wrong you didn’t know. Something terrible might have happened. That little girl’s in great danger. You must keep her in the garden where no one can see her. Promise me you will. I’d take her back to London to-night, only Hal doesn’t know I’ve found out I want to give him the news gently.” She broke off, wringing42 her hands and speaking to herself, “Why, oh why, was he so foolish? Why did he keep it from me?” Then, recovering, “Either Hal or I will come and fetch her to-morrow. Don’t look so down-hearted, my dear. If the good Lord remembers us, everything may turn out well. If it does, I’ll let you come and see her. Perhaps,” her dim eyes flickered43 with excitement, “I shall be able to keep her always and make sure that she grows into a good woman. Perhaps.”
She caught the boy to her breast. She was trembling all over and on the verge44 of tears. When she had climbed into the wagonette, with Ruddy seated beside her, and had lumbered45 slowly out of the farmyard, she left Teddy wondering: Why had she said “a good woman”? As though there was any doubt that little Desire would grow up good!
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1
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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5
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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7
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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8
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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9
pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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11
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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12
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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13
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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14
zigzagged
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| adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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16
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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17
rebelliously
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| adv.造反地，难以控制地 | |
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18
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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19
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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20
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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21
spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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22
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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23
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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24
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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26
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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27
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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28
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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29
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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30
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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31
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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32
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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33
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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34
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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35
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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36
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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37
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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38
benevolently
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| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
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39
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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40
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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41
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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42
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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43
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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45
lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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