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CHAPTER IX. THE NEW PLAN.
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 Although Marjorie felt elated at the girls’ evident desire to go on with the troop, she was too clever to be deceived by Queenie’s enthusiasm, too far-seeing to expect miracles from her repentance1. Queenie herself was sincere in her promise, there was no doubt about that; but the others would probably be only half-hearted. She realized that a tremendous amount of work lay before her.
 
She resolved, therefore, to make a fresh start. Mr. Richards had told her to let him hear from her; she meant to accept his offer. Calling him upon the telephone, she asked him whether he could spare an evening from his already busy program to talk the matter over and advise her. His answer was cordiality itself; he would be delighted to give her his only free evening that week—which happened to be Wednesday.
 
Marjorie hesitated a moment; Wednesday was John’s night, and she knew that he was not in sympathy with her work for this troop, and might resent her excuse. Nevertheless, the opportunity was too worth-while to turn down, so she thanked Mr. Richards for his kindness and planned to see him at eight o’clock.
 
As usual, however, Lily took John’s part.
 
“I’m afraid this Mr. Richards is becoming interested in you, Marj,” she remarked. “And that simply won’t do. It isn’t fair to John——”
 
“Nonsense, Lil! He has something else to think about! You’re getting as bad as my girls—thinking every man you see has matrimonial intentions. But Mr. Richards is just unselfishly interested in scouting2, and glad to offer a helping4 hand to a beginner like me.”
 
“We’ll see,” muttered Lily, significantly. “I believe I’ll be on hand Wednesday night, since I’ve been made lieutenant5 of the troop. We’ll watch whether he is pleased with my presence or not.”
 
“I’ll be delighted to have you, Lil, honestly—though not for that reason. Two heads are always better than one, and three than two—we may be able to draw up a very interesting program for those girls——But why do you think that I oughtn’t to see any other man but John? You know we’re not engaged——”
 
“No, but it’s high time you were!”
 
“Maybe he hasn’t asked me!”
 
“Maybe he has!”
 
Marjorie blushed faintly; she never could deceive anyone successfully. But she felt that it would not be fair to John to tell anyone, not even Lily. So instead she turned the discussion to the other girl.
 
“Lil, when are you going to tell me about your engagement?”
 
It was Lily’s turn to blush.
 
“How do you know that there’s anything to tell?”
 
“Because I just do. And—you know you can trust me!”
 
Lily smiled contentedly6; she could count upon Marjorie to keep her secret. And it would be such a satisfaction to share her happiness with her chum.
 
“Well, so long as you have guessed it, I’ll tell you, if you promise not to breathe to any of the others. Dick and I are going to announce it at Christmas time. Mother is planning a luncheon7 for me.”
 
Marjorie put her arms around Lily and kissed her joyfully8. Her happiness meant almost as much to her as her own.
 
“Dick Roberts is the luckiest man in the world!” she exclaimed, with sincerity9. “And,” she added, “it certainly will be fun to have a wedding. Nothing exciting has happened in our old senior patrol since Mae Van Horn’s wedding—and our trip to the coast.”
 
“Don’t forget Doris’s baby!” Lily reminded her.
 
“Oh, yes, of course—and Ethel has been doing wonderful things, too, with that teaching job of hers. And I really think Daisy’s in line for a fellowship, next year.”
 
“So you see we really have been pretty much alive,” Lily concluded.
 
“Everybody but Alice, and Florence—and me!” sighed the other.
 
“I won’t agree about the last one,” objected her room-mate, her eyes filled with admiration10. “You’re always doing marvellous things.”
 
“I’m afraid not, Lil!” An unsatisfied look crept over her face. At present Marjorie’s powers did not stand high in her own estimation.
 
“The trouble with me is, I can’t get my scouts11’ point of view,” she remarked, harping12 back to the old subject. “I can’t seem to realize that they aren’t our dear old senior patrol, who got a thrill out of anything connected with scouting. In one way they know so much more than we ever did—they’re so experienced—but in another they’re ignorant and blind, and deaf besides. One thing I learned at the hike—they are bored to death with nature. I might just as well cross hiking and camping off of my program.”
 
“Until later, perhaps,” amended13 Lily. “But it all has to be very gradual. In the meantime, we’ve got to find something else to interest them, and keep tests in the back-ground. Then maybe when they get out with other scouts, they’ll catch the fever.” Marjorie’s eyes brightened; it meant so much to have some help in this weighty problem.
 
“Can you think of anything that they would be interested in?”
 
“How about basket-ball?”
 
“The very thing! That’s exciting enough. And if we played around, and visited other teams——”
 
“Let’s talk it over with Mr. Richards on Wednesday. Maybe he’ll have something even better to suggest.”
 
As the intervening days passed, Marjorie found herself banking14 more and more upon this interview. She even made little notes in her book, anxious not to forget anything, or to waste too much of the man’s valuable time.
 
Yet when the hour came, and she and Lily walked down to the reception-room, she was conscious of a strange little feeling of loneliness. This was John’s night, and she was not to see him, might even not see him on Saturday, and she missed him more than she had expected. Suddenly she wondered whether she were not being foolish to allow such an uncertain undertaking15 to usurp16 her time and monopolize17 her interest. Was she right in putting John aside for this new fancy, John, who had meant so much to her all the years of her school life?
 
She aroused herself sharply from her reverie to answer a question which Lily was asking her, and managed to stammer18 some sort of reply. In another moment they recognized their visitor, entering the wide door-way, and advanced, smiling, to greet him.
 
Lily was agreeably surprised by Mr. Richards’ charming manner and appearance, and immediately took a liking19 to him. They shook hands cordially, and sat down by the fire-place.
 
“I have decided20 to keep the troop,” Marjorie announced, at the outset. “But I’m not sure what I shall do with them. So that’s where we need your advice—I say ‘we,’ for Miss Andrews has promised to be my lieutenant.”
 
“You have recovered from your disappointment over the hike?” he asked. “What decided you in favor of the troop?”
 
“The patrol leader. She came out to see me Sunday morning, and apologized. She was so frank, so sincere, that I couldn’t help but forgive her.”
 
Mr. Richards nodded, reminiscently.
 
“I remember her. She seemed like an exceptionally fine girl to me——. I think, Miss Wilkinson, it would be worth-while going on with the work for her sake alone. If I am not mistaken, that girl will amount to something.”
 
“If she weren’t so flighty!” sighed Lily. “You simply can’t depend on her. She does the wildest things, on impulse.”
 
“Remember,” advised the scout3-master, “that she is very young. Once she develops poise——”
 
“I am glad to hear you say that, Mr. Richards,” put in Marjorie. “And if you don’t mind, I’ll tell her, for your regard would count for a good deal in her eyes——. Now tell me how I could keep a hold on these girls, granted that I once have obtained it!”
 
“Look at life from their point of view, first of all. Evidently amusement is their aim—but their pleasures are not yours.”
 
“What, for instance, do you think their pleasures might be—except dancing and getting motor rides?”
 
Mr. Richards was silent for a moment, trying to adapt his own experiences with boys of that type to girls.
 
“I always start boys with some sort of athletics21, then work them into the gang spirit of scouting, and last of all interest them in something serious.”
 
“Just what I suggested!” cried Lily. “How about basket-ball?”
 
“Fine! If you could get a floor, and a coach.”
 
“Yes, the settlement has a floor, and—and—” a sudden inspiration struck her—“my brother Jack22 would coach us!”
 
“That’s the idea,” agreed Mr. Richards. “They’d do more for a man than for a woman.”
 
Marjorie was started now; her brain was working with its old-time rapidity. Somehow when Jack entered into the scheme and Lily, everything became clearer. Vaguely23 she wished that she might win John over to this new cause.
 
“And then—and then,” she cried, “start a Girl Scout League, and admit only scouts in good standing—and—and make our troop win the championship!” Her eyes fairly shone with fire. “Then on to something serious!”
 
“You have it, Miss Wilkinson! Go ahead, and you’ll win!”
 
At last Marjorie believed that she would.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 repentance ZCnyS     
n.懊悔
参考例句:
  • He shows no repentance for what he has done.他对他的所作所为一点也不懊悔。
  • Christ is inviting sinners to repentance.基督正在敦请有罪的人悔悟。
2 scouting 8b7324e25eaaa6b714e9a16b4d65d5e8     
守候活动,童子军的活动
参考例句:
  • I have people scouting the hills already. 我已经让人搜过那些山了。
  • Perhaps also from the Gospel it passed into the tradition of scouting. 也许又从《福音书》传入守望的传统。 来自演讲部分
3 scout oDGzi     
n.童子军,侦察员;v.侦察,搜索
参考例句:
  • He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵,受了重伤。
  • The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。
4 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
5 lieutenant X3GyG     
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员
参考例句:
  • He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
  • He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官,递上了一张简短的便条进去。
6 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句:
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
7 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴,午餐,便宴
参考例句:
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
8 joyfully joyfully     
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地
参考例句:
  • She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着,脚底下轻飘飘的。
  • During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里,她干得很高兴。
9 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚,诚意;真实
参考例句:
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
10 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
11 scouts e6d47327278af4317aaf05d42afdbe25     
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员
参考例句:
  • to join the Scouts 参加童子军
  • The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组,然后开始巡逻这个地区。
12 harping Jrxz6p     
n.反复述说
参考例句:
  • Don't keep harping on like that. 别那样唠叨个没完。
  • You're always harping on the samestring. 你总是老调重弹。
13 Amended b2abcd9d0c12afefe22fd275996593e0     
adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
  • He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。
14 banking aySz20     
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
参考例句:
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
15 undertaking Mfkz7S     
n.保证,许诺,事业
参考例句:
  • He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
  • He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小,不敢从事任何事业。
16 usurp UjewY     
vt.篡夺,霸占;vi.篡位
参考例句:
  • Their position enabled them to usurp power.他们所处的地位使其得以篡权。
  • You must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest.你不应让它过多地占据你的兴趣。
17 monopolize FEsxA     
v.垄断,独占,专营
参考例句:
  • She tried to monopolize his time.她想独占他的时间。
  • They are controlling so much cocoa that they are virtually monopolizing the market.他们控制了大量的可可粉,因此他们几乎垄断了整个市场。
18 stammer duMwo     
n.结巴,口吃;v.结结巴巴地说
参考例句:
  • He's got a bad stammer.他口吃非常严重。
  • We must not try to play off the boy troubled with a stammer.我们不可以取笑这个有口吃病的男孩。
19 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
20 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
21 athletics rO8y7     
n.运动,体育,田径运动
参考例句:
  • When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
  • Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中,我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。
22 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
23 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。


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