Charley was a beautiful dancer, and very popular, and I am afraid something of a flirt7, with his great, sleepy, hazel eyes, but he was most sedate8 as an escort, as solemn as a judge, and the girls minded his injunctions absolutely in all social matters, which was a great mercy, for the etiquette9 in their home towns was by no means as strict as that dictated10 by St. Cecilia standards.
Before the school term was over this spring I received an invitation from Mrs. David Williams, to spend two months with Serena and Mary at their farm near Staunton, Virginia, which I accepted with delight, and began the preparation at once for my summer outfit11, which would have to be a little more elaborate than what I prepared for a summer at Plantersville. When the time came for leaving, my uncle Chancellor12 Lesesne took me to the station and put me on the train. He gave me many directions as to my conduct on{334} the journey, as it was looked upon as a very hazardous13 departure from custom for me to make the journey alone; among other charges that he gave he said: “My dear niece, let nothing induce you to let a young man speak to you! It would be most improper14 to enter into conversation with any man, but the natural questions which you might have to ask of an official of the road, whom you will recognize by his uniform.” Then he bade me an affectionate and solemn farewell, which started me with a lump in my throat. The end of the eight months of teaching, not to speak of my other activities, always found me in a shattered condition. Toward the end of the last month the dropping of a slate15 startled me into disgraceful tears, which were almost impossible to stop. I used to be quite touched at the great care the girls took not to drop a book or even a pencil, and those who had annoyed me the most by their recklessness in this respect were the most careful now; this was wonderful, for I was awfully16 cross and irritable17. After settling myself in my place, and getting out my book and fan and everything else I could possibly need, Uncle Henry’s words came to my mind with renewed force. I had insisted that I was not at all afraid, and would rather travel alone than waste two weeks of my{335} good holiday and invitation, waiting until a party was going on to Virginia, who said they would take charge of me. But Uncle Henry had succeeded in making me feel that I was courting danger, disaster, and insult, and my strained nerves were delighted to seize and elaborate that theme, so that when we got to the place where I had to change cars for Staunton (I am not sure, but I think it was Alexandria), I got out and stood by my trunk (which had to be rechecked here) in perfect despair; a very nice-looking, gentlemanly young man came up and said: “Can I do anything for you?” With the last remnants of composure, I said, “No, thank you,” and watched him with dismay disappear into the car. At last the conductor came and stood a second at the door of the car and called: “All ’board!” I made a dart18 to the car, saying to myself, “Let the trunk go; I don’t care,” and got up the steps and into the car, to find not a seat, so I stood in the middle of the crowded car, with my heavy blue veil down to conceal19 the marks of agitation20 on my face, and my valise in my hand. Fortunately, the conductor rushed through, and I managed to say: “My trunk is out there.” In his great haste he looked where I pointed21, rushed to the baggage-car and sent two men, who ran, seized the trunk,{336} and pitched it aboard just as the train started. The conductor came back and asked me why under the sun I had not spoken to him before, “that it was a very near thing, and that if the trunk had been left there, in all probability it would never have been seen again, as things were pretty unsettled in these parts.” I was in no condition to enter into conversation; my throat ached so that when I tried to tell the man that I had not spoken to him because I had not seen him, he had trouble in understanding me. The rest of my journey was short, fortunately, and my hearty22 reception restored my equanimity23, but it was some time before I had recovered my voice and spirits enough to be able to narrate24 all my experiences, to the great amusement of the party. I tell all this because it is hard to believe that such a state of things could have ever been possible, when we see the ease and aplomb25 with which very young girls move about the world, from end to end literally26. But that was fifty-three years ago, and surely there is no one who would not say that we have made a wonderful advance in sense.
The home life of this family always remains27 in my mind as a beautiful picture, each member doing his or her own part as perfectly28 as it could be done. Mr. Williams had shown his foresight29 and{337} common sense in an uncommon30 way, for during the war, when it was by no means necessary, as they were wealthy, he had insisted that his daughters (who were attending a school kept by the De Choiseul family and were having a first-class education) should be taught to cook and to wash, for he said that to him it seemed likely that they would have much more use for these domestic arts than for the more ornamental31 branches; the combination had been altogether charming. Finding his property all gone, making it impossible to spend his winters in Florida and the summers in the mountains at their beautiful place at Flat Rock, he determined32 to sell both these delightful homes, not being willing for his family to live altogether in the enervating33 climate of Florida, and there was no chance of making a living at Flat Rock. So he sold them and bought a farm in Virginia, where they could spend winter and summer in a fine climate, and where he could cultivate the land and make a living. It had been almost impossible to bring on their handsome furniture, and it would have been most unsuitable to this farmhouse34, so he had a workshop in which he manufactured the most delightful rustic35 chairs and couches and dressing-tables, which with pretty chintz cushions and curtains made the interior{338} fascinating and unique. I would like to run on and give a full description of my perfect visit; but I must hasten to a close; only one little thing I must tell. Soon after I arrived we were invited to a dance. As I was sitting up in my room, reading, as I always did in the morning while the girls went to do their respective duties in the household—for they would not let me help in the smallest way, saying I was there for rest and must have it, and after a short struggle I gave in completely—Serena came in and asked what I was going to wear to the dance that night; I answered, my barège frock. “Oh, no, wear your white muslin, please.” I answered truly that it was not fresh enough, as I had worn it constantly before leaving home and had not had time to have it done up. Nothing would content her until I took it out for her to look at; then, to my surprise, she said: “Why, that is quite fresh enough; I will take it down for Mollie to smooth, and it will do nicely.” Of course I yielded, as I always did to Serena in the end, but I wondered over it, for the dress was really dirty. In the afternoon, when I came up to get ready, there was my frock spread out on the bed, beautifully done up! I flew down to the kitchen to thank Mollie, but she said: “You needn’t to thank me, ma’am; shure an’ ’twas Miss{339} Serena as don it; she washed it, an’ she starched36 it, and she i’oned it, an’ her just drippin’ with the sweat.” I was overcome; to think of this beauty and belle37, adored and spoiled by so many, doing this in order that her work-weary, plain little friend should look her best, for the barège was a pretty, nice new frock, but she did not think as becoming. I think such friendship is rare. I was to go to Baltimore for a short visit when I left the farm, and it was decided38 that I needed another frock; after discussing the important matter thoroughly39 Mrs. Williams said she thought a black silk was what I should have; I quailed40 at the expense of such a thing, but she said: “Bessie, you send and buy the silk and I will make it up.” So I sent and got ten yards of beautiful black silk, and my wonderful hostess cut, fitted, and made a most stylish41 walking-suit, the very joy of my heart. Of course, I helped with the sewing, but I could never have undertaken so handsome a costume alone. I left my dear friends with tears; it was leaving peace and joy and love behind.
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1
abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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2
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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3
clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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4
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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6
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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7
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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8
sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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9
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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11
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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12
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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13
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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14
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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15
slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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16
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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17
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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19
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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23
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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aplomb
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| n.沉着，镇静 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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29
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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30
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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31
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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32
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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33
enervating
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| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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36
starched
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| adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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40
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
stylish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的 | |
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