He rowed his skiff into the shore and tied it to a fir that hung out from the bank. A winding6 little footpath7 led up to the Pennington farmhouse8, which crested9 the hill about three hundred yards from the shore. Winslow made for the kitchen door and came face to face with a girl carrying a pail of water—Mrs. Pennington's latest thing in hired girls, of course.
Winslow's first bewildered thought was "What a goddess!" and he wondered, as he politely asked for a drink, where on earth Mrs. Pennington had picked her up. She handed him a shining dipper half full and stood, pail in hand, while he drank it.
She was rather tall, and wore a somewhat limp, faded print gown, and a big sunhat, beneath which a glossy11 knot of chestnut12 showed itself. Her skin was very fair, somewhat freckled13, and her mouth was delicious. As for her eyes, they were grey, but beyond that simply defied description.
"Will you have some more?" she asked in a soft, drawling voice.
"No, thank you. That was delicious. Is Mrs. Pennington home?"
"No. She has gone away for the day."
"Well, I suppose I can sit down here and rest a while. You've no serious objections, have you?"
"Oh, no."
She carried her pail into the kitchen and came out again presently with a knife and a pan of apples. Sitting down on a bench under the poplars she proceeded to peel them with a disregard of his presence that piqued14 Winslow, who was not used to being ignored in this fashion. Besides, as a general rule, he had been quite good friends with Mrs. Pennington's hired girls. She had had three strapping15 damsels during his sojourn16 in Riverside, and he used to sit on this very doorstep and chaff17 them. They had all been saucy18 and talkative. This girl was evidently a new species.
"Do you think you'll get along with Mrs. Pennington?" he asked finally. "As a rule she fights with her help, although she is a most estimable woman."
The girl smiled quite broadly.
"I guess p'r'aps she's rather hard to suit," was the answer, "but I like her pretty well so far. I think we'll get along with each other. If we don't I can leave—like the others did."
"What is your name?"
"Nelly Ray."
"Well, Nelly, I hope you'll be able to keep your place. Let me give you a bit of friendly advice. Don't let the cats get into the pantry. That is what Mrs. Pennington has quarrelled with nearly every one of her girls about."
"It is quite a bother to keep them out, ain't it?" said Nelly calmly. "There's dozens of cats about the place. What on earth makes them keep so many?"
"Mr. Pennington has a mania19 for cats. He and Mrs. Pennington have a standing20 disagreement about it. The last girl left here because she couldn't stand the cats; they affected21 her nerves, she said. I hope you don't mind them."
"Oh, no; I kind of like cats. I've been tryin' to count them. Has anyone ever done that?"
"Not that I know of. I tried but I had to give up in despair—never could tell when I was counting the same cat over again. Look at that black goblin sunning himself on the woodpile. I say, Nelly, you're not going, are you?"
"I must. It's time to get dinner. Mr. Pennington will be in from the fields soon."
The next minute he heard her stepping briskly about the kitchen, shooing out intruding22 cats, and humming a darky air to herself. He went reluctantly back to the shore and rowed across the river in a brown study.
I don't know whether Winslow was afflicted23 with chronic24 thirst or not, or whether the East side water wasn't so good as that of the West side; but I do know that he fairly haunted the Pennington farmhouse after that. Mrs. Pennington was home the next time he went, and he asked her about her new girl. To his surprise the good lady was unusually reticent25. She couldn't really say very much about Nelly. No, she didn't belong anywhere near Riverside. In fact, she—Mrs. Pennington—didn't think she had any settled home at present. Her father was travelling over the country somewhere. Nelly was a good little girl, and very obliging. Beyond this Winslow could get no more information, so he went around and talked to Nelly, who was sitting on the bench under the poplars and seemed absorbed in watching the sunset.
She dropped her g's badly and made some grammatical errors that caused Winslow's flesh to creep on his bones. But any man could have forgiven mistakes from such dimpled lips in such a sweet voice.
He asked her to go for a row up the river in the twilight26 and she assented27; she handled an oar2 very well, he found out, and the exercise became her. Winslow tried to get her to talk about herself, but failed signally and had to content himself with Mrs. Pennington's meagre information. He told her about himself frankly28 enough—how he had had fever in the spring and had been ordered to spend the summer in the country and do nothing useful until his health was fully29 restored, and how lonesome it was in Riverside in general and at the Beckwith farm in particular. He made out quite a dismal case for himself and if Nelly wasn't sorry for him, she should have been.
At the end of a fortnight Riverside folks began to talk about Winslow and the Penningtons' hired girl. He was reported to be "dead gone" on her; he took her out rowing every evening, drove her to preaching up the Bend on Sunday nights, and haunted the Pennington farmhouse. Wise folks shook their heads over it and wondered that Mrs. Pennington allowed it. Winslow was a gentleman, and that Nelly Ray, whom nobody knew anything about, not even where she came from, was only a common hired girl, and he had no business to be hanging about her. She was pretty, to be sure; but she was absurdly stuck-up and wouldn't associate with other Riverside "help" at all. Well, pride must have a fall; there must be something queer about her when she was so awful sly as to her past life.
Winslow and Nelly did not trouble themselves in the least over all this gossip; in fact, they never even heard it. Winslow was hopelessly in love, when he found this out he was aghast. He thought of his father, the ambitious railroad magnate; of his mother, the brilliant society leader; of his sisters, the beautiful and proud; he was honestly frightened. It would never do; he must not go to see Nelly again. He kept this prudent30 resolution for twenty-four hours and then rowed over to the West shore. He found Nelly sitting on the bank in her old faded print dress and he straightway forgot everything he ought to have remembered.
Nelly herself never seemed to be conscious of the social gulf31 between them. At least she never alluded32 to it in any way, and accepted Winslow's attentions as if she had a perfect right to them. She had broken the record by staying with Mrs. Pennington four weeks, and even the cats were in subjection.
Winslow was well enough to have gone back to the city and, in fact, his father was writing for him. But he couldn't leave Beckwiths', apparently33. At any rate he stayed on and met Nelly every day and cursed himself for a cad and a cur and a weak-brained idiot.
One day he took Nelly for a row up the river. They went further than usual around the Bend. Winslow didn't want to go too far, for he knew that a party of his city friends, chaperoned by Mrs. Keyton-Wells, were having a picnic somewhere up along the river shore that day. But Nelly insisted on going on and on, and of course she had her way. When they reached a little pine-fringed headland they came upon the picnickers, within a stone's throw. Everybody recognized Winslow. "Why, there is Burton!" he heard Mrs. Keyton-Wells exclaim, and he knew she was putting up her glasses. Will Evans, who was an especial chum of his, ran down to the water's edge. "Bless me, Win, where did you come from? Come right in. We haven't had tea yet. Bring your friend too," he added, becoming conscious that Winslow's friend was a mighty34 pretty girl. Winslow's face was crimson35. He avoided Nelly's eye.
"Are them people friends of yours?" she asked in a low tone.
"Yes," he muttered.
For three seconds Winslow hesitated. Then he pulled ashore and helped Nelly to alight on a jutting37 rock. There was a curious, set expression about his fine mouth as he marched Nelly up to Mrs. Keyton-Wells and introduced her. Mrs. Keyton-Wells's greeting was slightly cool, but very polite. She supposed Miss Ray was some little country girl with whom Burton Winslow was carrying on a summer flirtation38; respectable enough, no doubt, and must be treated civilly, but of course wouldn't expect to be made an equal of exactly. The other women took their cue from her, but the men were more cordial. Miss Ray might be shabby, but she was distinctly fetching, and Winslow looked savage39.
Nelly was not a whit40 abashed41, seemingly, by the fashionable circle in which she found herself, and she talked away to Will Evans and the others in her soft drawl as if she had known them all her life. All might have gone passably well, had not a little Riverside imp10, by name of Rufus Hent, who had been picked up by the picnickers to run their errands, come up just then with a pail of water.
"Golly!" he ejaculated in very audible tones. "If there ain't Mrs. Pennington's hired girl!"
Mrs. Keyton-Wells stiffened42 with horror. Winslow darted43 a furious glance at the tell-tale that would have annihilated44 anything except a small boy. Will Evans grinned and went on talking to Nelly, who had failed to hear, or at least to heed45, the exclamation46.
The mischief47 was done, the social thermometer went down to zero in Nelly's neighbourhood. The women ignored her altogether. Winslow set his teeth together and registered a mental vow48 to wring49 Rufus Hent's sunburned neck at the first opportunity. He escorted Nelly to the table and waited on her with ostentatious deference50, while Mrs. Keyton-Wells glanced at him stonily51 and made up her mind to tell his mother when she went home.
Nelly's social ostracism52 did not affect her appetite. But after lunch was over, she walked down to the skiff. Winslow followed her.
"Do you want to go home?" he asked.
"Yes, it's time I went, for the cats may be raidin' the pantry. But you must not come; your friends here want you."
"Nonsense!" said Winslow sulkily. "If you are going I am too."
But Nelly was too quick for him; she sprang into the skiff, unwound the rope, and pushed off before he guessed her intention.
Nelly looked at him wickedly.
"You'd better go back to your friends. That old woman with the eyeglasses is watchin' you."
Winslow said something strong under his breath as he went back to the others. Will Evans and his chums began to chaff him about Nelly, but he looked so dangerous that they concluded to stop. There is no denying that Winslow was in a fearful temper just then with Mrs. Keyton-Wells, Evans, himself, Nelly—in fact, with all the world.
His friends drove him home in the evening on their way to the station and dropped him at the Beckwith farm. At dusk he went moodily56 down to the shore. Far up the Bend was dim and shadowy and stars were shining above the wooded shores. Over the river the Pennington farmhouse lights twinkled out alluringly57. Winslow watched them until he could stand it no longer. Nelly had made off with his skiff, but Perry Beckwith's dory was ready to hand. In five minutes, Winslow was grounding her on the West shore. Nelly was sitting on a rock at the landing place. He went over and sat down silently beside her. A full moon was rising above the dark hills up the Bend and in the faint light the girl was wonderfully lovely.
"I thought you weren't comin' over at all tonight," she said, smiling up at him, "and I was sorry, because I wanted to say goodbye to you."
"Goodbye? Nelly, you're not going away?"
"Yes. The cats were in the pantry when I got home."
"Nelly!"
"Well, to be serious. I'm not goin' for that, but I really am goin'. I had a letter from Dad this evenin'. Did you have a good time after I left this afternoon? Did Mrs. Keyton-Wells thaw58 out?"
"Hang Mrs. Keyton-Wells! Nelly, where are you going?"
"To Dad, of course. We used to live down south together, but two months ago we broke up housekeepin' and come north. We thought we could do better up here, you know. Dad started out to look for a place to settle down and I came here while he was prospectin'. He's got a house now, he says, and wants me to go right off. I'm goin' tomorrow."
"Nelly, you mustn't go—you mustn't, I tell you," exclaimed Winslow in despair. "I love you—I love you—you must stay with me forever."
"You don't know what you're sayin', Mr. Winslow," said Nelly coldly. "Why, you can't marry me—a common servant girl."
"I can and I will, if you'll have me," answered Winslow recklessly. "I can't ever let you go. I've loved you ever since I first saw you. Nelly, won't you be my wife? Don't you love me?"
"Well, yes, I do," confessed Nelly suddenly; and then it was fully five minutes before Winslow gave her a chance to say anything else.
"Oh, what will your people say?" she contrived59 to ask at last. "Won't they be in a dreadful state? Oh, it will never do for you to marry me."
"Won't it?" said Winslow in a tone of satisfaction. "I rather think it will. Of course, my family will rampage a bit at first. I daresay Father'll turn me out. Don't worry over that, Nelly. I'm not afraid of work. I'm not afraid of anything except losing you."
"He won't object, will he? I'll write to him or go and see him. Where is he?"
"He is in town at the Arlington."
"The Arlington!" Winslow was amazed. The Arlington was the most exclusive and expensive hotel in town.
"What is he doing there?"
"Transacting61 a real estate or railroad deal with your father, I believe, or something of that sort."
"Nelly!"
"Well?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I say."
Winslow got up and looked at her.
"Nelly, who are you?"
"Helen Ray Scott, at your service, sir."
"Not Helen Ray Scott, the daughter of the railroad king?"
"The same. Are you sorry that you're engaged to her? If you are, she'll stay Nelly Ray."
Winslow dropped back on the seat with a long breath.
"Oh, do forgive me," she said merrily. "I shouldn't have, I suppose—but you know you took me for the hired girl the very first time you saw me, and you patronized me and called me Nelly; so I let you think so just for fun. I never thought it would come to this. When Father and I came north I took a fancy to come here and stay with Mrs. Pennington—who is an old nurse of mine—until Father decided63 where to take up our abode64. I got here the night before we met. My trunk was delayed so I put on an old cotton dress her niece had left here—and you came and saw me. I made Mrs. Pennington keep the secret—she thought it great fun; and I really was a great hand to do little chores and keep the cats in subjection too. I made mistakes in grammar and dropped my g's on purpose—it was such fun to see you wince65 when I did it. It was cruel to tease you so, I suppose, but it was so sweet just to be loved for myself—not because I was an heiress and a belle—I couldn't bear to tell you the truth. Did you think I couldn't read your thoughts this afternoon, when I insisted on going ashore? You were a little ashamed of me—you know you were. I didn't blame you for that, but if you hadn't gone ashore and taken me as you did I would never have spoken to you again. Mrs. Keyton-Wells won't snub me next time we meet. And some way I don't think your father will turn you out, either. Have you forgiven me yet, Burton?"
"I shall never call you anything but Nelly," said Winslow irrelevantly66.
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1
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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2
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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tribulations
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| n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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6
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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7
footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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9
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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10
imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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12
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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15
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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16
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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17
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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18
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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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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21
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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27
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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30
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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31
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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35
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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36
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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37
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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38
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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39
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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40
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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41
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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43
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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44
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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45
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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46
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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47
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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48
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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49
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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50
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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51
stonily
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| 石头地，冷酷地 | |
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52
ostracism
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| n.放逐；排斥 | |
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53
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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55
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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56
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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57
alluringly
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| 诱人地，妩媚地 | |
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58
thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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59
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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60
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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61
transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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62
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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63
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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64
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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65
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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66
irrelevantly
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| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
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