It was not ten seconds before Toto was frolicking madly in Mr. Billy’s crop, and Mamouche—the young scamp—was running swiftly down the lane, laughing fiendishly to himself as he went.
He could not at first decide whether there could be more fun in letting Toto demolish8 things at his pleasure, or in warning Mr. Billy of the calf’s presence in the field. But the latter 216course commended itself as possessing a certain refinement9 of perfidy10.
“Ho, the’a, you!” called out Mamouche to one of Mr. Billy’s hands, when he got around to where the men were at work; “you betta go yon’a an’ see ’bout that calf o’ Ma’me Angèle; he done broke in the fiel’ an’ ’bout to finish the crop, him.” Then Mamouche went and sat behind a big tree, where, unobserved, he could laugh to his heart’s content.
Mr. Billy’s fury was unbounded when he learned that Madame Angèle’s calf was eating up and trampling11 down his corn. At once he sent a detachment of men and boys to expel the animal from the field. Others were required to repair the damaged fence; while he himself, boiling with wrath12, rode up the lane on his wicked black charger.
But merely to look upon the devastation13 was not enough for Mr. Billy. He dismounted from his horse, and strode belligerently14 up to Madame Angèle’s door, upon which he gave, with his riding-whip, a couple of sharp raps that plainly indicated the condition of his mind.
217Mr. Billy looked taller and broader than ever as he squared himself on the gallery of Madame Angèle’s small and modest house. She herself half-opened the door, a pale, sweet-looking woman, somewhat bewildered, and holding a piece of sewing in her hands. Little Marie Louise was beside her, with big, inquiring, frightened eyes.
“Well, Madam!” blustered15 Mr. Billy, “this is a pretty piece of work! That young beast of yours is a fence-breaker, Madam, and ought to be shot.”
“Oh, non, non, M’sieur. Toto’s too li’le; I’m sho he can’t break any fence, him.”
“Don’t contradict me, Madam. I say he’s a fence-breaker. There’s the proof before your eyes. He ought to be shot, I say, and—don’t let it occur again, Madam.” And Mr. Billy turned and stamped down the steps with a great clatter16 of spurs as he went.
Madame Angèle was at the time in desperate haste to finish a young lady’s Easter dress, and she could not afford to let Toto’s escapade occupy her to any extent, much as she regretted it. But little Marie Louise was greatly impressed by the affair. She went out 218in the yard to Toto, who was under the fig-tree, looking not half so shamefaced as he ought. The child, with arms clasped around the little fellow’s white shaggy neck, scolded him roundly.
“Ain’t you shame’, Toto, to go eat up Mr. Billy’s cotton an’ co’n? W’at Mr. Billy ev’a done to you, to go do him that way? If you been hungry, Toto, w’y you did’n’ come like always an’ put yo’ head in the winda? I’m goin’ tell yo’ maman w’en she come back f’om the woods to ’s’evenin’, M’sieur.
Marie Louise only ceased her mild rebuke17 when she fancied she saw a penitential look in Toto’s big soft eyes.
She had a keen instinct of right and justice for so young a little maid. And all the afternoon, and long into the night, she was disturbed by the thought of the unfortunate accident. Of course, there could be no question of repaying Mr. Billy with money; she and her mother had none. Neither had they cotton and corn with which to make good the loss he had sustained through them.
But had they not something far more beautiful and precious than cotton and corn? 219Marie Louise thought with delight of that row of Easter lilies on their tall green stems, ranged thick along the sunny side of the house.
The assurance that she would, after all, be able to satisfy Mr. Billy’s just anger, was a very sweet one. And soothed18 by it, Marie Louise soon fell asleep and dreamt a grotesque19 dream: that the lilies were having a stately dance on the green in the moonlight, and were inviting20 Mr. Billy to join them.
The following day, when it was nearing noon, Marie Louise said to her mamma: “Maman, can I have some of the Easter lily, to do with like I want?”
Madame Angèle was just then testing the heat of an iron with which to press out the seams in the young lady’s Easter dress, and she answered a shade impatiently:
“Yes, yes; va t’en, chérie,” thinking that her little girl wanted to pluck a lily or two.
So the child took a pair of old shears21 from her mother’s basket, and out she went to where the tall, perfumed lilies were nodding, and shaking off from their glistening22 petals23 220the rain-drops with which a passing cloud had just laughingly pelted24 them.
Snip25, snap, went the shears here and there, and never did Marie Louise stop plying26 them till scores of those long-stemmed lilies lay upon the ground. There were far more than she could hold in her small hands, so she literally27 clasped the great bunch in her arms, and staggered to her feet with it.
Marie Louise was intent upon her purpose, and lost no time in its accomplishment28. She was soon trudging29 earnestly down the lane with her sweet burden, never stopping, and only once glancing aside to cast a reproachful look at Toto, whom she had not wholly forgiven.
She did not in the least mind that the dogs barked, or that the darkies laughed at her. She went straight on to Mr. Billy’s big house, and right into the dining-room, where Mr. Billy sat eating his dinner all alone.
It was a finely-furnished room, but disorderly—very disorderly, as an old bachelor’s personal surroundings sometimes are. A black boy stood waiting upon the table. When little Marie Louise suddenly appeared, with 221that armful of lilies, Mr. Billy seemed for a moment transfixed at the sight.
“Well—bless—my soul! what’s all this? What’s all this?” he questioned, with staring eyes.
Marie Louise had already made a little courtesy. Her sunbonnet had fallen back, leaving exposed her pretty round head; and her sweet brown eyes were full of confidence as they looked into Mr. Billy’s.
“I’m bring some lilies to pay back fo’ yo’ cotton an’ co’n w’at Toto eat all up, M’sieur.”
Mr. Billy turned savagely30 upon Pompey. “What are you laughing at, you black rascal2? Leave the room!”
Pompey, who out of mistaken zeal31 had doubled himself with merriment, was too accustomed to the admonition to heed32 it literally, and he only made a pretense33 of withdrawing from Mr. Billy’s elbow.
“Lilies! well, upon my—isn’t it the little one from across the lane?”
“Dat’s who,” affirmed Pompey, cautiously insinuating34 himself again into favor.
“Lilies! who ever heard the like? Why, the baby’s buried under ’em. Set ’em down 222somewhere, little one; anywhere.” And Marie Louise, glad to be relieved from the weight of the great cluster, dumped them all on the table close to Mr. Billy.
The perfume that came from the damp, massed flowers was heavy and almost sickening in its pungency35. Mr. Billy quivered a little, and drew involuntarily back, as if from an unexpected assailant, when the odor reached him. He had been making cotton and corn for so many years, he had forgotten there were such things as lilies in the world.
“Kiar ’em out? fling ’em ’way?” questioned Pompey, who had observed his master cunningly.
“Let ’em alone! Keep your hands off them! Leave the room, you outlandish black scamp! What are you standing36 there for? Can’t you set the Mamzelle a place at table, and draw up a chair?”
So Marie Louise—perched upon a fine old-fashioned chair, supplemented by a Webster’s Unabridged—sat down to dine with Mr. Billy.
She had never eaten in company with so peculiar37 a gentleman before; so irascible toward 223the inoffensive Pompey, and so courteous38 to herself. But she was not ill at ease, and conducted herself properly as her mamma had taught her how.
Mr. Billy was anxious that she should enjoy her dinner, and began by helping39 her generously to Jambalaya. When she had tasted it she made no remark, only laid down her fork, and looked composedly before her.
“It ain’t cook’, M’sieur,” replied Marie Louise politely.
“Of course it isn’t cooked,” echoed Mr. Billy, excitedly, pushing away his plate. “What do you mean, setting a mess of that sort before human beings? Do you take us for a couple of—of rice-birds? What are you standing there for; can’t you look up some jam or something to keep the young one from starving? Where’s all that jam I saw stewing41 a while back, here?”
Pompey withdrew, and soon returned with a platter of black-looking jam. Mr. Billy ordered 224cream for it. Pompey reported there was none.
“No cream, with twenty-five cows on the plantation42 if there’s one!” cried Mr. Billy, almost springing from his chair with indignation.
“Aunt Printy ’low she sot de pan o’ cream on de winda-sell, suh, an’ Unc’ Jonah come ’long an’ tu’n it cl’ar ova; neva lef’ a drap in de pan.”
But evidently the jam, with or without cream, was as distasteful to Marie Louise as the rice was; for after tasting it gingerly she laid away her spoon as she had done before.
“O, no! little one; you don’t tell me it isn’t cooked this time,” laughed Mr. Billy. “I saw the thing boiling a day and a half. Wasn’t it a day and a half, Pompey? if you know how to tell the truth.”
“It’s burn’, M’sieur,” said Marie Louise, politely, but decidedly, to the utter confusion of Mr. Billy, who was as mortified44 as could be at the failure of his dinner to please his fastidious little visitor.
225Well, Mr. Billy thought of Marie Louise a good deal after that; as long as the lilies lasted. And they lasted long, for he had the whole household employed in taking care of them. Often he would chuckle45 to himself: “The little rogue46, with her black eyes and her lilies! And the rice wasn’t cooked, if you please; and the jam was burnt. And the best of it is, she was right.”
But when the lilies withered47 finally, and had to be thrown away, Mr. Billy donned his best suit, a starched48 shirt and fine silk necktie. Thus attired49, he crossed the lane to carry his somewhat tardy50 apologies to Madame Angèle and Mamzelle Marie Louise, and to pay them a first visit.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ails
|
|
| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rascality
|
|
| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
4
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
liberating
|
|
| 解放，释放( liberate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
calf
|
|
| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
disconsolately
|
|
| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
demolish
|
|
| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
refinement
|
|
| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
perfidy
|
|
| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
trampling
|
|
| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
devastation
|
|
| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
belligerently
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
blustered
|
|
| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
rebuke
|
|
| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
soothed
|
|
| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
inviting
|
|
| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
shears
|
|
| n.大剪刀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
glistening
|
|
| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
petals
|
|
| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pelted
|
|
| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
snip
|
|
| n.便宜货，廉价货，剪，剪断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
plying
|
|
| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
trudging
|
|
| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
pretense
|
|
| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
insinuating
|
|
| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
pungency
|
|
| n.（气味等的）刺激性；辣；（言语等的）辛辣；尖刻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
courteous
|
|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
smother
|
|
| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
stewing
|
|
| 炖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
plantation
|
|
| n.种植园，大农场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
plumb
|
|
| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
mortified
|
|
| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
rogue
|
|
| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
withered
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
starched
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tardy
|
|
| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |