"I got it in Vienna," said Julian modestly.
"Um-m— Very good cut! Turn around."
The boy wheeled about.
"Yes—very good—— You have a nice day to go."
Medfield nodded toward the window.
"First-rate!" The young man's face was full of careless light. It seemed to radiate about them.
His father looked at it half curiously1. "Have them serve tea for you.... Give her a good time," he said absently. He was searching among the papers beside him. "I ought to have some cards somewhere!"
"What is it, sir? Can I get something for you?"
"Over there in that desk— That's it! Lower drawer— Just see if there are some of my cards there, will you?"
The boy took them out with an amused[Pg 240] smile. "Going calling?" He brought them across.
Medfield selected one and held his pencil thoughtfully poised2 for a moment—and smiled as he jotted3 something down.
He slipped it into an envelope and pencilled the address and handed it to his son.
"Give that to Munson, will you? Tell him to pick three dozen of the best roses in the garden, and send them to-day.... Tell him the best ones!" he added exactly.
The young man glanced at the address carelessly. His face lighted up.
"You can tell him what I said," said his father dryly. "And have them sent to-day."
"All right, sir." He half turned away. "I'd like to pick some roses myself—for Miss Canfield— You won't object, I suppose?" His father's roses were sacred.
But Herman Medfield waved it away. "Pick all you like." He was gracious with it.
"But not the best ones," laughed the boy. He tucked the card in his pocket and went out.
[Pg 241]
Aunt Jane, sitting at her desk in the office, looked up as he went by.
He nodded and smiled to her, thinking of the little card tucked away in his pocket.
She got up and came across. "You going out home?" she asked.
He radiated happiness. "A ripping good day, isn't it!" He waved his hand at all outdoors.
"You'll have a good time," said Aunt Jane. "And Miss Canfield's a nice girl." She was surveying his new clothes kindly5. "I'm glad you're going to take her."
"So am I!" said the boy. "She's waiting for me—" And he hurried on.
But Miss Canfield was not in the waiting-room. He glanced hurriedly about, and crossed to the open window and looked into the street. He could not sit down.
It was a glorious day—floating clouds, everything fresh and flooded with light.... Down on the walk under the window the man-of-all-work trundled a low cart, and the rumble6 of the wheels came up, chucking clumsily along.
The young man scarcely heard the sound[Pg 242] of the wheels. His ear was waiting for something in the corridor—for light footsteps that would come.... He shrugged7 his shoulders, looking down on the man trundling his cart, and he whistled softly.... Then his ear caught the sound, coming along the corridor far off—light, tripping steps and the little swish of draperies—and he had turned to face her.
It was not Miss Canfield!
She was tall and slender, with a certain quiet grace as she stood there, glancing into the room. There was something poised in the motion—a kind of freedom and lightness.
The young man's eye rested on her a minute—and turned back to the window indifferent.... She was very late. He took out his watch and looked—five minutes past the hour. He put it back with a little impatient gesture. They would miss the best light for the garden!
Behind him, in the room, he was conscious that the young woman had come in. She was[Pg 243] waiting for some one, it seemed, like himself—and he heard her move a little ... and then a subdued9 laugh. He half turned his head—it reminded him of something.... Could he have met her somewhere—before he went abroad? The steps rustled10 and came nearer and a touch fell on his shoulder—very light, as if it might drift away—as if perhaps it were not there....
Julian turned swiftly—and stared into her eyes; they were bubbling over with laughter, and the hair fluffing under the little modish11 hat, caught reddish gleams and glinted at him. And he stared!
She laughed out—the hands hanging easily before her. "You didn't know me!"
Then he seized her hands and looked at her—"I say! Come on!... You are—You're stunning13, you know!"
"Thank you!" said the girl. "Yes—I'm ready." And they went out into the sunshine.
And all the way, in the street-car, sitting beside her, the young man stole glimpses.
[Pg 244]
She was different! He had expected that she would be changed, of course—a little different in her street clothes; and underneath14 he discovered he had been half afraid of the change—afraid perhaps that she might be a little common or awkward, without the distinction of her cap and uniform.... But this young woman— He stole another glance, and his shoulders straightened in a gesture of pride and bewildered delight. This was the real thing! The other girl was masquerading.
"Who are you?" he said abruptly15, as he put up his hand to help her from the car. "I don't know you! I thought I did—but you are somebody else!" He was looking at her keenly.
"Goose!" she laughed. "I am Mary Canfield, of course— Which way do we go?"
"This way." They fell into step. And he was conscious that the light, tripping, hospital step had given way to a free, swinging movement of the whole body. She was like the radiant day about them.... And she was like the roses—when at last they stood among them.... Her freedom had the[Pg 245] same careful air of cultivation16; and the crisp little color in her cheeks had the same dainty refinement17.
He plucked a rose and held it against her cheek. "Just a match!" he said critically. "Goes with you! Will you have it?"
She tucked it in her belt—among the endless frills—and he looked at it admiringly.
When he saw the gardener's eyes following them, he walked with conscious pride. He had not known that any one felt like this! He would have liked to walk with her always—with the whole world looking on and admiring her.... She belonged to him!
"I say!" He stopped short in the path. "You are engaged to me, you know!"
"Oh—am I?" She laughed.
He went in a panic— Some girls were such frightful18 flirts19! They had no decency—They didn't play the game!
"You are mine!" he said fiercely and he glared at the gardener among his roses across the path.
"Oh—very well! Have it so!" Her voice was laughing and sweet.
[Pg 246]
His courage came flooding back. "You are to wait here—please, and we'll have the tea brought out."
"Oh— How pretty!" She was looking into the pergola. A green maze20 of branches crossed and recrossed the sides; and among them the scattered21 roses flushed transparently22 in the light. "How beautiful it is!"
"Will you walk into my parlor24?" She stepped lightly in and faced him. "Now go and get tea! I like it here!"
She sat down and he looked at her once—and was off.
He hurried fast. Suppose she didn't stay?... Suppose it were not real! He fussed about cakes and sandwiches—and there must be strawberries. Everything must be of the best. Suppose she didn't wait! He hurried back.
She had taken off her hat and sat with her hands clasped, looking up into the mazy green tracery and the bits of rose color shining through.
"It is like us," she said with a little motion of her hand.
[Pg 247]
"Like you," he said soberly, sitting beside her. "I'm not a rose!"
"No!" She laughed out. "But it is like us—it's just happiness—nothing to it!" She crushed it in her hand.
And he stared at her.
"No one takes us seriously," she said. "They just think how young we are——"
"And how beautiful you are!"
"It will last!" said the boy vehemently26.
"But we don't care if it doesn't.... Do you know, I think that is what makes it beautiful—" She glanced at the leafy walls of the pergola. "We know it will not be like this always—and so we just—love it!"
He stared a little. "You are not the least bit what I thought you were!" he said helplessly.
"Don't you like me!" Her eyes demanded it.
[Pg 248]
"I—adore you!" he said softly. "But all these ideas about not lasting— Good Lord!—Here's the tea!" He sprang up and took it from the man and set it out for her. And they drank it—with the light coming in through the crossing vines and checkering the table, and falling on her hair and gleaming delicately at him in little glints like stars—all through it.
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收听单词发音
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1
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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2
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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3
jotted
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| v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
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4
corking
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| adj.很好的adv.非常地v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的现在分词 ) | |
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5
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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6
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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7
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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8
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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9
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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10
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
modish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的 | |
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12
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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14
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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15
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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16
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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17
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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18
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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19
flirts
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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20
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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21
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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22
transparently
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| 明亮地，显然地，易觉察地 | |
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23
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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24
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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25
musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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26
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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27
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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28
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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