The houses in the town were all alike—small, detached, and built of red brick. They were named after the shrubs4 and trees that grew in their gardens. There was the Myrtles, the Hawthorns6, the Laurels7, the Yews8, the Poplars, and many others.
One May morning, when the flowers on the laburnum trees were hanging in a shower of golden rain, and the pink and white blossoms of the hawthorn5 bushes were filling the air with a sweet and [Pg 12]sickly scent9, a single cab, drawn10 by a horse as sleepy as the town to which it belonged, drove up the small, clean street, and turned in at the gate marked the Poplars.
Two small children with satchels11 on their backs paused to peep up the drive. They saw two black boxes being hoisted12 by the driver on to the roof of the cab. There was nothing, one would think, of vital interest in the sight, but it proved more attractive than the thought of lesson books and school-room benches. They remained to gaze.
In a couple of moments a woman came through the front door. She was clad in a black cashmere dress of ample folds, partly hidden by a blade satin jacket, with large, loose sleeves. A wide, white linen13 collar adorned14 with a small black velvet15 bow surrounded her neck; a mushroom-shaped hat, also black, was tied by broad strings16 beneath her chin. In one hand she held a large and tightly rolled umbrella, in the other was a black satin bag drawn up by a cord. It bulged17 in a knobby fashion. It had evidently been stuffed to the extent of its capacities.
The woman spoke18 to the driver, then got into the cab. He climbed to the box, flicked19 his whip, turned the horse’s head, and drove once again through the gate.
Its occupant sat upright within it, clutching tightly at the umbrella and the black satin bag. Little [Pg 13]thrills of happiness were running through her. The May wind blowing through the window fanned her face, bringing with it great puffs21 of scent from the hawthorn bushes. Sunshine sparkled on the roofs of the houses, birds were singing in the gardens past which she drove. It was a day alive with gladness, warm with the breath of spring, fresh with the sense of youth. And the woman within the cab, whose heart, in spite of her sixty years, was as young as the heart of a child, participated in the gladness.
She watched the people in the streets walking leisurely22 in the sunshine. She saw the shops with the tradesmen standing23 idle in the doorways24. At the fishmonger’s only there was a little air of bustle25, where a maid in a neat print had run in to buy a couple of soles for lunch.
The woman pulled out her watch—a huge affair in solid gold, attached to a black hair chain. For a moment she glanced at it anxiously, then returned it to its place with a little sigh of relief. The horse still trotted26 on its slow unhurried way. More shops were passed, then more houses. Finally the cab drew up with a little jerk.
The driver got down and opened the cab door.
“Here we are, ma’am; and twenty minutes to spare. I’ll call a porter.”
While the boxes were being taken from the cab Miss Mason opened the black satin bag. From it she extracted a ten-shilling piece.
[Pg 14]
The boxes were wheeled towards the platform.
“I’ve no change, ma’am,” said the cabby.
“That’s all right,” said Miss Mason hurriedly.
The cabby stared. “You’re very good, ma’am.”
“It’s all right,” said Miss Mason again.
Ten shillings was a small amount to give a man who had driven her a mile towards happiness. She followed the porter on to the platform.
“Victoria, second class,” she said to the man at the ticket office.
“Return or single, ma’am?” he demanded.
“Single,” said Miss Mason firmly.
She took the little piece of cardboard from him and thrust it up her glove. She loved the feeling of it. It was her passport to freedom.
She watched the boxes being labelled. They were new boxes and hitherto guiltless of station labels. When she had seen them firmly attached, and had been solemnly assured by the porter that the paste was both strong and adhesive27, she turned her attention to the bookstall. After a few moments’ survey she moved away hurriedly. The pictures on the covers of some of the books distressed28 her, especially one of a young female with red hair and very insufficient29 orange attire30. For a moment Miss Mason blushed. But she forgot the objectionable book in looking along the shiny rails in the direction from which the train must arrive.
The sudden ringing of a bell made her jump.
[Pg 15]
“Train’s signalled, ma’am,” said the porter. “She’ll be here in five minutes now.”
“You’ll be sure and put in my boxes,” said Miss Mason.
“Sure, ma’am. Corner seat facing the engine, did you say?”
“Y-yes; a seat somewhere,” stammered31 Miss Mason. The near approach of the train was making her feel nervous.
“All right. I’ll see to it. Second class I think you said.”
There was a distant whistle; next, the panting as of some great beast, and an engine with its tail of carriages steamed into sight. It drew up slowly at the platform.
“Here y’are, ma’am. Carriage all to yourself. Boxes will be in the front part of the train. Thank you kindly32, ma’am. Anything I can get for you? Paper or anything? Window up or down? Will put in the boxes myself. Good morning, ma’am.”
A tip proportionate to the fare Miss Mason had paid the cabby was responsible for this burst of eloquence33.
In spite of the porter’s assurance that he would see to the boxes himself, Miss Mason stood with her head through the carriage window till she had seen them actually deposited in the guard’s van. Then she sat down in the corner of the carriage.
The porter reappeared.
[Pg 16]
“They’re in, ma’am. You’re off now.”
There was a gentle vibration34 through the train, and the platform began to recede35. The one woman left on it—a stout36 woman who had been seeing her daughter off on her way to service—waved a large white pocket-handkerchief. Its fluttering was the last thing Miss Mason saw as the train left the station.
She heaved a little sigh.
She found she was still clutching the large umbrella. She laid it now upon the seat beside her. She was almost too excited to think of the happiness before her. She hardly wanted to do so. It was almost too overpowering. She would realize it by degrees. At the moment there were a thousand trivial delights around her.
She examined the carriage in which she was seated. The number on the door was seven hundred and seventy-seven. Miss Mason had a secret partiality for certain numbers, seven being her favourite. She was seven years old when she had her first silk frock. It was a blue and white check frock, and her hair—Miss Mason at that time wore it in two plaits—had been tied with blue ribbons. Seventeen had been, up to date, the happiest year of her life. But more of that year anon. At twenty-seven she had been allowed the entrance of Miss Stanhope’s library. At thirty-seven she had become the owner of a kitten. At forty-seven Miss Stanhope had given [Pg 17]her the watch she now wore. At fifty-seven a favourite rose-tree had borne the most perfect flowers. Trivial enough facts to form landmarks37 in a life, yet they formed landmarks in Miss Mason’s.
She again looked approvingly at the number. From it she turned to a contemplation of the photographs which adorned the walls. They were the usual kind of photographs found in railway carriages—seaside promenades38, ruined castles, lakes with mountains beyond. Miss Mason read the names below them with interest. She looked at the gas-globe in the roof of the carriage, with its black cover which could be drawn over it if the passengers found the light troublesome. She looked at the emergency cord which was to be pulled down to attract the attention of the guard in case of accident. She noted39 that the penalty for its improper40 use was five pounds. It seemed to Miss Mason a large sum to pay merely for pulling a little piece of string. She wondered if anyone had ever been bold enough to pull it without necessity.
After gazing at it for two minutes with a certain amount of awe41, she put her arm through the padded loop by the window, and looked out at the scenery past which they were flying.
There were fields in which sheep and cows were solemnly munching42 the fresh grass; there were hedges covered with the fairy snow of the haw[Pg 18]thorn blossoms; there were woods of larches43, oaks, and beeches44, and among them the darker green of firs; there were streams rippling45 golden-brown past meadow banks and clumps46 of rushes; there were children swinging on gates and waving cap or handkerchief as the train rushed by. She saw market carts and occasionally a dogcart on roads running by the railway, and now and then a solitary47 cyclist, all going at a snail’s pace so it seemed compared with the rate at which she herself was travelling. They passed houses with trimly-kept gardens alive with flowers; cottages with strips of vegetable gardens where from lines attached to posts stuck among the cabbages washing was hung out to dry. The May breeze swung the clothing to and fro, ballooning it momentarily to ridiculous shapes, fluttering red petticoats, white tablecloths48, and blue blouses, like the waving of coloured flags.
Again the joyous49 note of youth and gladness sounded in Miss Mason’s heart. She gave a queer little gruff laugh.
“Wonderful!” she thought. “Like the fairy tales I used to read when I was little. Now I’m part of the fairy tale. Can hardly believe it. Yet it’s true.”
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1
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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hawthorns
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| n.山楂树( hawthorn的名词复数 ) | |
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7
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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8
yews
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| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
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9
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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satchels
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| n.书包( satchel的名词复数 ) | |
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12
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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16
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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17
bulged
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| 凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物） | |
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18
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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19
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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21
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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22
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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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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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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25
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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26
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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27
adhesive
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| n.粘合剂；adj.可粘着的，粘性的 | |
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28
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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29
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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30
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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31
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
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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33
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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34
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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35
recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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37
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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38
promenades
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| n.人行道( promenade的名词复数 )；散步场所；闲逛v.兜风( promenade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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40
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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41
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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42
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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43
larches
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| n.落叶松（木材）( larch的名词复数 ) | |
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44
beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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45
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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46
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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47
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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48
tablecloths
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| n.桌布，台布( tablecloth的名词复数 ) | |
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49
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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