These signs of a change became familiar to me in the course of time, and Mrs. Todd hardly noticed some plain proofs of divination9 one August morning when I said, without preface, that I had just seen the Beggs' best chaise go by, and that we should have to take the grocery. Mrs. Todd was alert in a moment.
“There! I might have known!” she exclaimed. “It's the 15th of August, when he goes and gets his money. He heired an annuity10 from an uncle o' his on his mother's side. I understood the uncle said none o' Sam Begg's wife's folks should make free with it, so after Sam's gone it'll all be past an' spent, like last summer. That's what Sam prospers11 on now, if you can call it prosperin'. Yes, I might have known. 'Tis the 15th o' August with him, an' he gener'ly stops to dinner with a cousin's widow on the way home. Feb'uary n' August is the times. Takes him 'bout12 all day to go an' come.”
I heard this explanation with interest. The tone of Mrs. Todd's voice was complaining at the last.
“I like the grocery just as well as the chaise,” I hastened to say, referring to a long-bodied high wagon13 with a canopy-top, like an attenuated14 four-posted bedstead on wheels, in which we sometimes journeyed. “We can put things in behind—roots and flowers and raspberries, or anything you are going after—much better than if we had the chaise.”
Mrs. Todd looked stony15 and unwilling16. “I counted upon the chaise,” she said, turning her back to me, and roughly pushing back all the quiet tumblers on the cupboard shelf as if they had been impertinent. “Yes, I desired the chaise for once. I ain't goin' berryin' nor to fetch home no more wilted17 vegetation this year. Season's about past, except for a poor few o' late things,” she added in a milder tone. “I'm goin' up country. No, I ain't intendin' to go berryin'. I've been plottin' for it the past fortnight and hopin' for a good day.”
“Would you like to have me go too?” I asked frankly18, but not without a humble19 fear that I might have mistaken the purpose of this latest plan.
“Oh certain, dear!” answered my friend affectionately. “Oh no, I never thought o' any one else for comp'ny, if it's convenient for you, long's poor mother ain't come. I ain't nothin' like so handy with a conveyance20 as I be with a good bo't. Comes o' my early bringing-up. I expect we've got to make that great high wagon do. The tires want settin' and 'tis all loose-jointed, so I can hear it shackle21 the other side o' the ridge22. We'll put the basket in front. I ain't goin' to have it bouncin' an' twirlin' all the way. Why, I've been makin' some nice hearts and rounds to carry.”
These were signs of high festivity, and my interest deepened moment by moment.
“I'll go down to the Beggs' and get the horse just as soon as I finish my breakfast,” said I. “Then we can start whenever you are ready.”
Mrs. Todd looked cloudy again. “I don't know but you look nice enough to go just as you be,” she suggested doubtfully. “No, you wouldn't want to wear that pretty blue dress o' yourn 'way up country. 'Taint23 dusty now, but it may be comin' home. No, I expect you'd rather not wear that and the other hat.”
“Oh yes. I shouldn't think of wearing these clothes,” said I, with sudden illumination. “Why, if we're going up country and are likely to see some of your friends, I'll put on my blue dress, and you must wear your watch; I am not going at all if you mean to wear the big hat.”
“Now you're behavin' pretty,” responded Mrs. Todd, with a gay toss of her head and a cheerful smile, as she came across the room, bringing a saucerful of wild raspberries, a pretty piece of salvage24 from supper-time. “I was cast down when I see you come to breakfast. I didn't think 'twas just what you'd select to wear to the reunion, where you're goin' to meet everybody.”
“What reunion do you mean?” I asked, not without amazement25. “Not the Bowden Family's? I thought that was going to take place in September.”
“To-day's the day. They sent word the middle o' the week. I thought you might have heard of it. Yes, they changed the day. I been thinkin' we'd talk it over, but you never can tell beforehand how it's goin' to be, and 'taint worth while to wear a day all out before it comes.” Mrs. Todd gave no place to the pleasures of anticipation26, but she spoke27 like the oracle28 that she was. “I wish mother was here to go,” she continued sadly. “I did look for her last night, and I couldn't keep back the tears when the dark really fell and she wa'n't here, she does so enjoy a great occasion. If William had a mite29 o' snap an' ambition, he'd take the lead at such a time. Mother likes variety, and there ain't but a few nice opportunities 'round here, an' them she has to miss 'less she contrives30 to get ashore31 to me. I do re'lly hate to go to the reunion without mother, an' 'tis a beautiful day; everybody'll be asking where she is. Once she'd have got here anyway. Poor mother's beginnin' to feel her age.”
“Why, there's your mother now!” I exclaimed with joy, I was so glad to see the dear old soul again. “I hear her voice at the gate.” But Mrs. Todd was out of the door before me.
There, sure enough, stood Mrs. Blackett, who must have left Green Island before daylight. She had climbed the steep road from the waterside so eagerly that she was out of breath, and was standing1 by the garden fence to rest. She held an old-fashioned brown wicker cap-basket in her hand, as if visiting were a thing of every day, and looked up at us as pleased and triumphant32 as a child.
“Oh, what a poor, plain garden! Hardly a flower in it except your bush o' balm!” she said. “But you do keep your garden neat, Almiry. Are you both well, an' goin' up country with me?” She came a step or two closer to meet us, with quaint33 politeness and quite as delightful34 as if she were at home. She dropped a quick little curtsey before Mrs. Todd.
“There, mother, what a girl you be! I am so pleased! I was just bewailin' you,” said the daughter, with unwonted feeling. “I was just bewailin' you, I was so disappointed, an' I kep' myself awake a good piece o' the night scoldin' poor William. I watched for the boat till I was ready to shed tears yisterday, and when 'twas comin' dark I kep' making errands out to the gate an' down the road to see if you wa'n't in the doldrums somewhere down the bay.”
“There was a head-wind, as you know,” said Mrs. Blackett, giving me the cap-basket, and holding my hand affectionately as we walked up the clean-swept path to the door. “I was partly ready to come, but dear William said I should be all tired out and might get cold, havin' to beat all the way in. So we give it up, and set down and spent the evenin' together. It was a little rough and windy outside, and I guess 'twas better judgment35; we went to bed very early and made a good start just at daylight. It's been a lovely mornin' on the water. William thought he'd better fetch across beyond Bird Rocks, rowin' the greater part o' the way; then we sailed from there right over to the landin', makin' only one tack36. William'll be in again for me to-morrow, so I can come back here an' rest me over night, an' go to meetin' to-morrow, and have a nice, good visit.”
“She was just havin' her breakfast,” said Mrs. Todd, who had listened eagerly to the long explanation without a word of disapproval37, while her face shone more and more with joy. “You just sit right down an' have a cup of tea and rest you while we make our preparations. Oh, I am so gratified to think you've come! Yes, she was just havin' her breakfast, and we were speakin' of you. Where's William?”
“He went right back; said he expected some schooners38 in about noon after bait, but he'll come an' have his dinner with us tomorrow, unless it rains; then next day. I laid his best things out all ready,” explained Mrs. Blackett, a little anxiously. “This wind will serve him nice all the way home. Yes, I will take a cup of tea, dear,—a cup of tea is always good; and then I'll rest a minute and be all ready to start.”
“I do feel condemned39 for havin' such hard thoughts o' William,” openly confessed Mrs. Todd. She stood before us so large and serious that we both laughed and could not find it in our hearts to convict so rueful a culprit. “He shall have a good dinner to-morrow, if it can be got, and I shall be real glad to see William,” the confession40 ended handsomely, while Mrs. Blackett smiled approval and made haste to praise the tea. Then I hurried away to make sure of the grocery wagon. Whatever might be the good of the reunion, I was going to have the pleasure and delight of a day in Mrs. Blackett's company, not to speak of Mrs. Todd's.
The early morning breeze was still blowing, and the warm, sunshiny air was of some ethereal northern sort, with a cool freshness as it came over new-fallen snow. The world was filled with a fragrance41 of fir-balsam and the faintest flavor of seaweed from the ledges42, bare and brown at low tide in the little harbor. It was so still and so early that the village was but half awake. I could hear no voices but those of the birds, small and great,—the constant song sparrows, the clink of a yellow-hammer over in the woods, and the far conversation of some deliberate crows. I saw William Blackett's escaping sail already far from land, and Captain Littlepage was sitting behind his closed window as I passed by, watching for some one who never came. I tried to speak to him, but he did not see me. There was a patient look on the old man's face, as if the world were a great mistake and he had nobody with whom to speak his own language or find companionship.
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1
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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primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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5
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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6
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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7
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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9
divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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10
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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prospers
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| v.成功，兴旺( prosper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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13
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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14
attenuated
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| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
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15
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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16
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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17
wilted
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| （使）凋谢，枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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19
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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20
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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21
shackle
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| n.桎梏，束缚物；v.加桎梏，加枷锁，束缚 | |
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22
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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23
taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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24
salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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25
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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26
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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27
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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28
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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29
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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30
contrives
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的第三人称单数 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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31
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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32
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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33
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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34
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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35
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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36
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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37
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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38
schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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39
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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40
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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41
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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42
ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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