"When you've been stumping5 out elderberries all the afternoon it'll take more than the Judgment Day to keep you awake all night," he said. "But when I woke up this morning it was just awful. I'd forgot it for a moment, and then it all came back with a rush, and I was worse scared than before."
Cecily was pale but brave. For the first time in years she had not put her hair up in curlers on Saturday night. It was brushed and braided with Puritan simplicity7.
"If it's the Judgment Day I don't care whether my hair is curly or not," she said.
"Well," said Aunt Janet, when we all descended8 to the kitchen, "this is the first time you young ones have ever all got up without being called, and that's a fact."
At breakfast our appetites were poor. How could the grown-ups eat as they did? After breakfast and the necessary chores there was the forenoon to be lived through. Peter, true to his word, got out his Bible and began to read from the first chapter in Genesis.
"I won't have time to read it all through, I s'pose," he said, "but I'll get along as far as I can."
There was no preaching in Carlisle that day, and Sunday School was not till the evening. Cecily got out her Lesson Slip and studied the lesson conscientiously9. The rest of us did not see how she could do it. We could not, that was very certain.
"If it isn't the Judgment Day, I want to have the lesson learned," she said, "and if it is I'll feel I've done what was right. But I never found it so hard to remember the Golden Text before."
The long dragging hours were hard to endure. We roamed restlessly about, and went to and fro—all save Peter, who still steadily10 read away at his Bible. He was through Genesis by eleven and beginning on Exodus11.
"There's a good deal of it I don't understand," he said, "but I read every word, and that's the main thing. That story about Joseph and his brother was so int'resting I almost forgot about the Judgment Day."
"I wish it'd hurry up and have it over."
"Oh, Dan!" cried Felicity and Cecily together, in a chorus of horror. But the Story Girl looked as if she rather sympathized with Dan.
If we had eaten little at breakfast we could eat still less at dinner. After dinner the clouds rolled away, and the sun came joyously15 and gloriously out. This, we thought, was a good omen6. Felicity opined that it wouldn't have cleared up if it was the Judgment Day. Nevertheless, we dressed ourselves carefully, and the girls put on their white dresses.
Sara Ray came up, still crying, of course. She increased our uneasiness by saying that her mother believed the Enterprise paragraph, and was afraid that the end of the world was really at hand.
"That's why she let me come up," she sobbed16. "If she hadn't been afraid I don't believe she would have let me come up. But I'd have died if I couldn't have come. And she wasn't a bit cross when I told her I had gone to the magic lantern show. That's an awful bad sign. I hadn't a white dress, but I put on my white muslin apron17 with the frills."
"That seems kind of queer," said Felicity doubtfully. "You wouldn't put on an apron to go to church, and so it doesn't seem as if it was proper to put it on for Judgment Day either."
"Well, it's the best I could do," said Sara disconsolately18. "I wanted to have something white on. It's just like a dress only it hasn't sleeves."
"Let's go into the orchard19 and wait," said the Story Girl. "It's one o'clock now, so in another hour we'll know the worst. We'll leave the front door open, and we'll hear the big clock when it strikes two."
No better plan being suggested, we betook ourselves to the orchard, and sat on the boughs20 of Uncle Alec's tree because the grass was wet. The world was beautiful and peaceful and green. Overhead was a dazzling blue sky, spotted21 with heaps of white cloud.
"Pshaw, I don't believe there's any fear of it being the last day," said Dan, beginning a whistle out of sheer bravado22.
"I don't see a thing about Methodists or Presbyterians, as far as
I've gone, and I'm most through Exodus," said Peter suddenly.
"When does it begin to tell about them?"
"There's nothing about Methodists or Presbyterians in the Bible," said Felicity scornfully.
Peter looked amazed.
"Well, how did they happen then?" he asked. "When did they begin to be?"
"I've often thought it such a strange thing that there isn't a word about either of them in the Bible," said Cecily. "Especially when it mentions Baptists—or at least one Baptist."
"Well, anyhow," said Peter, "even if it isn't the Judgment Day I'm going to keep on reading the Bible until I've got clean through. I never thought it was such an int'resting book."
"It sounds simply dreadful to hear you call the Bible an interesting book," said Felicity, with a shudder24 at the sacrilege. "Why, you might be talking about ANY common book."
"I didn't mean any harm," said Peter, crestfallen25.
"The Bible IS an interesting book," said the Story Girl, coming to Peter's rescue. "And there are magnificent stories in it—yes, Felicity, MAGNIFICENT. If the world doesn't come to an end I'll tell you the story of Ruth next Sunday—or look here! I'll tell it anyhow. That's a promise. Wherever we are next Sunday I'll tell you about Ruth."
"Why, you wouldn't tell stories in heaven," said Cecily, in a very timid voice.
"Why not?" said the Story Girl, with a flash of her eyes. "Indeed I shall. I'll tell stories as long as I've a tongue to talk with, or any one to listen."
Ay, doubtless. That dauntless spirit would soar triumphantly26 above the wreck27 of matter and the crash of worlds, taking with it all its own wild sweetness and daring. Even the young-eyed cherubim, choiring on meadows of asphodel, might cease their harping28 for a time to listen to a tale of the vanished earth, told by that golden tongue. Some vague thought of this was in our minds as we looked at her; and somehow it comforted us. Not even the Judgment was so greatly to be feared if after it we were the SAME, our own precious little identities unchanged.
"It must be getting handy two," said Cecily. "It seems as if we'd been waiting here for ever so much longer than an hour."
Conversation languished29. We watched and waited nervously30. The moments dragged by, each seeming an hour. Would two o'clock never come and end the suspense31? We all became very tense. Even Peter had to stop reading. Any unaccustomed sound or sight in the world about us struck on our taut32 senses like the trump33 of doom. A cloud passed over the sun and as the sudden shadow swept across the orchard we turned pale and trembled. A wagon34 rumbling35 over a plank36 bridge in the hollow made Sara Ray start up with a shriek37. The slamming of a barn door over at Uncle Roger's caused the cold perspiration38 to break out on our faces.
"I don't believe it's the Judgment Day," said Felix, "and I never have believed it. But oh, I wish that clock would strike two."
Story Girl.
She shook her head.
"No, it would be no use to try. But if this isn't the Judgment
Day I'll have a great one to tell of us being so scared."
Pat presently came galloping40 up the orchard, carrying in his mouth a big field mouse, which, sitting down before us, he proceeded to devour41, body and bones, afterwards licking his chops with great satisfaction.
"It can't be the Judgment Day," said Sara Ray, brightening up.
"Paddy would never be eating mice if it was."
"If that clock doesn't soon strike two I shall go out of my seven senses," declared Cecily with unusual vehemence42.
"Time always seems long when you're waiting," said the Story Girl. "But it does seem as if we had been here more than an hour."
"Maybe the clock struck and we didn't hear it," suggested Dan.
"Somebody'd better go and see."
"I'll go," said Cecily. "I suppose, even if anything happens,
I'll have time to get back to you."
We watched her white-clad figure pass through the gate and enter the front door. A few minutes passed—or a few years—we could not have told which. Then Cecily came running at full speed back to us. But when she reached us she trembled so much that at first she could not speak.
going. Mother forgot to wind it up last night and it stopped.
But it's four by the kitchen clock—so it isn't the Judgment
Day—and tea is ready—and mother says to come in."
We looked at each other, realizing what our dread had been, now that it was lifted. It was not the Judgment Day. The world and life were still before us, with all their potent45 lure46 of years unknown.
"I'll never believe anything I read in the papers again," said
Dan, rushing to the opposite extreme.
"I told you the Bible was more to be depended on than the newspapers," said Cecily triumphantly.
Sara Ray and Peter and the Story Girl went home, and we went in to tea with royal appetites. Afterwards, as we dressed for Sunday School upstairs, our spirits carried us away to such an extent that Aunt Janet had to come twice to the foot of the stairs and inquire severely, "Children, have you forgotten what day this is?"
"Isn't it nice that we're going to live a spell longer in this nice world?" said Felix, as we walked down the hill.
"Yes, and Felicity and the Story Girl are speaking again," said
Cecily happily.
"And Felicity DID speak first," I said.
"Yes, but it took the Judgment Day to make her. I wish," added Cecily with a sigh, "that I hadn't been in quite such a hurry giving away my forget-me-not jug47."
"And I wish I hadn't been in such a hurry deciding I'd be a
Presbyterian," said Peter.
"Well, it's not too late for that," said Dan. "You can change your mind now."
"No, sir," said Peter with a flash of spirit, "I ain't one of the kind that says they'll be something just because they're scared, and when the scare is over go back on it. I said I'd be Presbyterian and I mean to stick to it."
"You said you knew a story that had something to do with
Presbyterians," I said to the Story Girl. "Tell us it now."
"Oh, no, it isn't the right kind of story to tell on Sunday," she replied. "But I'll tell it to-morrow morning."
Accordingly, we heard it the next morning in the orchard.
"Long ago, when Judy Pineau was young," said the Story Girl, "she was hired with Mrs. Elder Frewen—the first Mrs. Elder Frewen. Mrs. Frewen had been a school-teacher, and she was very particular as to how people talked, and the grammar they used. And she didn't like anything but refined words. One very hot day she heard Judy Pineau say she was 'all in a sweat.' Mrs. Frewen was greatly shocked, and said, 'Judy, you shouldn't say that. It's horses that sweat. You should say you are in a perspiration.' Well, Judy promised she'd remember, because she liked Mrs. Frewen and was anxious to please her. Not long afterwards Judy was scrubbing the kitchen floor one morning, and when Mrs. Frewen came in Judy looked up and said, quite proud over using the right word, 'Oh, Mees Frewen, ain't it awful hot? I declare I'm all in a Presbyterian.'"
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收听单词发音
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1
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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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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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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4
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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5
stumping
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的现在分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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6
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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7
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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8
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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9
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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10
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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11
exodus
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| v.大批离去，成群外出 | |
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12
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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13
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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14
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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15
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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16
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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18
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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19
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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20
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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21
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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22
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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23
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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24
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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25
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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26
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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27
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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28
harping
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| n.反复述说 | |
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29
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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30
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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31
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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32
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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33
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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34
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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35
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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36
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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37
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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38
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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39
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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41
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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42
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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43
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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45
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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46
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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47
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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