THE giant clock on the wall in the assembly-room of Madam Truxton's fashionable school had marked the hour for dismission.
Groups of restless, anxious pupils stood about the apartment, or were gathered at the windows, watching the rain that had been falling in copious1 showers since morning. All were eager to go, yet none dared brave the storm.
Under the stone archway of the entrance to the assembly-hall, a group of four maidens2 stood chatting, apart from the rest, watching the rain, and impatient for its cessation.
"I know my father will either send my brother, or come for me himself," said Helen Le Grande, "so I need not fear the rain." Then, turning to the soft-eyed Jewess who stood by her side, she added, "When the carriage comes, Leah, you can take a seat with me. I'll see that you are safely deposited at home."
"Thank you, Helen, but it won't hurt me to walk. Nothing hurts me--Leah Mordecai the despised." Then, averting3 her face, the young girl gazed abstractedly into the street, and began humming in a low tone.
To these words of the young Jewess there was no reply. A certain sort of emphasis in her utterance4 seemed to forbid any inquiry5, and silence any word of censure6 that might arise to the lips of her companions.
"How mean of me, not to offer a seat in the carriage to Lizzie Heartwell, too," thought Helen after a moment's reflection; "but I dared not, on account of my brother, who has so repeatedly urged me to make equals only of the rich. He little knows how I love Lizzie Heartwell, and whether she be rich or poor I know not, neither do I care."
"I say, girls," at length broke the silence, as the fourth member of the group, Bertha Levy7, a Jewess too, spoke8 out, "think how stupid I am. Mamma has promised me a small tea-party to-morrow night, and this wretched rain had well-nigh caused me to forget it; but, thank fortune, it's giving way a little, and maybe we shall all get home after awhile. I'm desperately9 hungry! Of course, you will all promise me to come, and I shall expect you." Then, turning to Helen, she said, "Won't you?"
"And you, Leah?"
"I will if I can. I am never sure of my movements, however."
"And you, dear Lizzie?"
"With the permission of my uncle and aunt; at any rate, I thank you for your kindness."
"Well, I shall expect you every one, and--"
"There comes the carriage," shouted Helen, as the liveried coach of the wealthy judge rolled round the corner, and drove up in front of the spacious11 school-building. "I knew my father would not forget me--yes, there is my brother."
The horses, thoroughly12 wet, looked dark and sleek13 as greyhounds, as they stood impatiently stamping the paving-stones, while a visible cloud of vapor14 rose from each distended15 nostril16.
The coach door opened, and Emile Le Grande, with handsome, manly17 figure clad in a gray military suit, and equally handsome face, stepped out, and approached the group so impatiently watching the progress of the storm.
"Good morning, Miss Mordecai; I am happy that we meet again," said the gentleman, politely bowing.
"Thank you, sir; but your presence rather surprises us," replied Leah.
"I trust, though, I am not an unwelcome intruder upon this fair group?"
"Allow me to remind you, my brother, that my friends, Miss Heartwell and Miss Levy, are also present," said Helen rather reproachfully.
Emile acknowledged the reproof18 and the courtesy with an apology and a smile, and then added, "To Miss Mordecai's charms I owe the breach19 of politeness."
Leah's face flushed crimson20, and her eye sparkled more brightly than ever at these flattering words of the young cadet; but she made no reply.
"Come, Helen, let's go," at length said the brother. "The horses are impatient. C'sar is wet, and I guess you are tired, too." Then, turning to Leah, he continued, "Miss Mordecai, will you honor us with your company till we reach your father's house, where I pledge myself to deposit you safely?"
"Oh! yes, Leah will go; I have already asked her," said Helen. Then, after a moment's preparation, the two young friends stepped into the carriage.
"Good-by again, girls," said Bertha Levy gayly, as the coach door closed; "riding is rather better than walking, such a day as this. Remember to-morrow night." Then, with a dash, the carriage was out of sight.
"Well, Lizzie," resumed Bertha, smiling significantly, for she could not but observe Helen's manifest preference in offering Leah a seat with her, "we need not stand here any longer. I see that the rain, out of consideration for us, is about to cease, and I don't think any coach is coming for me. Do you expect one?"
To this characteristic remark, Lizzie Heartwell replied smilingly, "I guess, Bertha, with umbrellas, overshoes, and care, we can reach home without serious damage."
"But care is not a coach, you know, my friend, no matter how we turn it," said Bertha laughingly, as she donned the wrapping and overshoes. "I am as hungry as a wolf, and I fear mamma will let that young brother of mine eat all my dinner, if I am too slow in getting there. Boys are perfect cormorants21, anyhow. Come, let's go at once."
The two girls stepped out into the slippery street, and turned their faces homeward. "I am glad, Lizzie," continued Bertha, as they turned corner after corner, "that our paths run together so far; having company is so much better than being alone this forlorn afternoon. And remember, I desire to know the answer to my invitation as early as possible. To-morrow is my brother Isaac's confirmation22 day, and we must all be promptly23 at the synagogue at nine o'clock."
"You shall know to-night, Bertha, and I will be with you, if possible. But here, before we part, let's stop and buy some bananas of old Maum Cinda. She is always so grateful for a fivepence dropped by a school-girl."
By this time the two girls were standing24 in front of the well-known fruit-stall of the old blind colored woman known far and near through the Queen City as "Maum Cinda." For years, hers had been the important market for supplying the school-children with luscious25 fruits, unimpeachable26 taffy, and ground-pea candy.
"An' bless de Lord, is it Miss Lizzie?" said the good-natured woman, as the sound of Lizzie Heartwell's voice fell upon her ear in the kindly27 spoken salutation.
"An' w'at will you have to-day, chile?"
"Some bananas, Maum Cinda--two for me, and two for my friend here, Miss Bertha Levy."
"Oh! yes, Miss Bertha," replied the woman, courtesying, "an' maybe I have seen Miss Bertha, but it's the sweet voice of Miss Lizzie that the old blind woman remembers"--handing the bananas across the wide board that protected her tempting28 wares29 from public incursions.
"You flatter me, Maum Cinda; but I hope the rainy day has not interfered30 much with your trade. Here"--and extending her slender white hand, Lizzie dropped the jingling31 pennies into the aged32, wrinkled one that opened to receive them.
"God bless you, chile. You neber forget His poor ones, de blind. God bless you!"
"Good morning, Maum Cinda."
"Good-by, young ladies, good-by." And the last glimpse the two receding33 friends had of the old woman, she was still profoundly bowing and courtesying in acknowledgment of their remembrance.
Then the friends parted for the day, each one taking the most direct course to her home, and soon both were safely sheltered from the drizzling34 rain and chilling wind.
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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8
spoke
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| 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 | |
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9
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nostril
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| n.鼻孔 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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cormorants
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| 鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 ) | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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unimpeachable
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| adj.无可指责的；adv.无可怀疑地 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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34
drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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