“Dorothy,” began Tavia that evening, as the two girls sat alone in their room, enjoying their usual good-night conference, “why couldn’t you take that spin out to the auto1 meet. It would be no end of good fun.”
“Fun!” echoed Dorothy, surprised that Tavia should again venture to propose such a thing. “Why, Tavia! Really you shock me!” Then she went to the little dresser, under pretext2 of looking for something, but in reality to gain time—she scarcely knew what to say to her chum, whose sudden whim3 was so startling.
Tavia sat on the box divan4, her hands in her lap, and her brown head bent5 over, a strange and serious attitude for the girl who was never known to sit still, even in church; and who had the reputation of being the jolliest girl at Glenwood. For some moments she appeared to be unconscious of Dorothy’s presence, so absorbed was she in her own thoughts. Dorothy was now regarding her curiously6. What could have turned Tavia’s head? For turned from its usually bright and happy line of thought it plainly was.
[29]
“What is it, Tavia?” she asked finally, stealing up to the crouched7 figure, and placing her arm gently about her chum’s neck.
“Why?” inquired the other, with a sudden start, as if afraid Dorothy would divine her thoughts.
“You are worried about something—come tell me what it is!”
“Worried!” Tavia jumped up, shaking off Dorothy’s arm. “Worried! Dorothy Dale, I believe you’re not well! You act morbid—creepy!”
Dorothy turned away. She was hurt—crushed—that Tavia should spurn8 her affection and refuse her confidence.
“We always told each other everything,” and Dorothy almost sighed, as her words came slowly, and with strange coldness. “I never imagined you would keep any important secret from me.”
“You silly!” exclaimed Tavia, throwing her arms around Dorothy this time. “Who said I had a secret? What in the world has put that wild notion into your yellow head?—bless it!”
[30]
This last expression brought a kiss to the golden ringlets, and, as the two girls sat there, Dorothy with a far-away look in her eyes that were clouded with unbidden tears, Tavia with her cheek pressed lovingly against the blond head, and her own eyes looking into some unknown future, their pose was like a stage picture—the kind usually presented when one sister is about to leave a country home, and the other bids her stay.
“Aren’t we a couple of jays!” broke in Tavia, as soon as she appeared to realize the melo-dramatic effect. “I declare we ought to travel as ‘The Glum9 Sisters—Mag and Liz.’ There! Wouldn’t we make a hit for teary ones? Weeps are in great demand they say. Smiles are being overworked in the profresh!” and she strode up to the mirror with a most self-satisfied glance at her pretty face.
“Tavia, you are getting awfully10 big for slang—it seems more like sneering11 than joking,” exclaimed Dorothy. “And I’ve been wanting to say that to you—some of the other girls have noticed it. They say you act more like a chorus girl than a Glenwood pupil. Of course I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I thought it would be better for me to tell you than for you to hear it from some one else.”
[31]
“Chorus girl! Thanks! No need to apologize, I assure you. That’s from silly, little Nita Brandt, I suppose? Well, better to act like a chorus girl than—a fool!” blurted12 out Tavia with a show of temper. “And any silly girl, who can not keep things to herself—well, I always thought Nita was a featherhead and now I know it!”
“Oh, indeed it was not Nita!” Dorothy hastened to assure her. “It was at the lawn tea the other day. You were ‘acting’; don’t you remember? Doing that funny toe dance you are always trying lately.”
“O-o-o-o-h!” and Tavia made a queer little pout13, and a very funny face. “So they appreciated my maiden14 effort, eh? I am indeed flattered! Tell the girls I’m much obliged and I’ll see that they get passes for the initial performance. Tell them, also, to have the bouquets15 tagged—it’s so annoying to have a great stack of ‘Please accepts’ to answer, with the superscriptions ‘cut out’ so to speak. I know all the girls will send pansies—they are so sweet, and would make such wicked faces for the girls who could not conveniently present their own adorable ‘phizes’!”
“What in the world are you talking about?” asked Dorothy, who had been listening to the outburst with a queer idea that all this stage business was not mere16 idle chatter—that there might be a reason for Tavia’s cynicism.
[32]
“Talking about auto rides,” quietly answered Tavia, recovering herself with an effort. “Wasn’t that a dandy this afternoon? And to think we might have missed that ‘Horatius at the bridge’ business if I had been silly enough to mention that the planking was gone!”
“Don’t talk of it!” exclaimed Dorothy, shuddering17. “I cannot bear to think of what might have happened. And, Tavia, you must not think I have adopted the lecture platform for good, but I must say, it was careless of you not to mention about the bridge—especially as you knew what a hill led down to it, and how the Fire Bird can cover hills.”
“Of course you know I entirely18 forgot it, Doro,” and now Tavia showed some remorse19 at the reprimand.
“My! There’s the bell!” exclaimed Dorothy as a clang sounded down the corridor. “I had no idea it was so late,” and she jumped up to disrobe. “Quick, or Miss Higley will see our light.”
“Let her,” answered Tavia indifferently. “I don’t feel very well, and would just love something warm—say a nice little cup of tea—”
[33]
A tap at the door interrupted her remarks. Dorothy jumped into a large closet and Tavia calmly opened the portal.
It was Miss Higley, the second assistant teacher, with rather a forbidding expression on her wrinkled face, and who, among the girls, bore a reputation characterized as “sour.”
“Why is this?” she demanded, stepping in and brushing Tavia aside.
“I was just thinking of calling you,” answered Tavia, clapping her hand to her waist line. “I have such a dreadful—Oh, dear!” and she sat down without further explanation.
“Oh, no; certainly not,” sighed Tavia. “I would not trouble you. But if I might have a sip22 of tea—that tea you brought Dorothy did her so much good the other night.”
She paused to allow a proper expression of agony to spread over her face, and gently rubbed her hand over the region covered by her belt.
“I suppose you made that tea yourself, didn’t you? It was so good, Dorothy told me.”
That settled it. For any one to praise Miss Higley’s brew23! So few persons really do appreciate a good cup of tea. As usual Tavia had “won out.”
[34]
“Why of course I’ll get you a cup. I have just made a small pot—I felt rather—rather tired myself. I don’t, as a rule, drink tea at night, but I was not altogether well. Where is Dorothy?”
“Just slipping on a robe,” with a glance at the closet where her chum was concealed24. “I’m afraid I disturbed her,” went on Tavia glibly25.
“Well, I’ll get the tea,” Miss Higley remarked, as she started to leave the room. “I’ll bring the pot here and we can take it together.”
“Quick!” called Tavia to Dorothy as the door closed. “Slip on your robe. Tea with Higley! Of all the doin’s!” and she promptly26 turned a somersault on the hitherto unrumpled bed. “Won’t the girls howl! I do hope she brings biscuits. There, get down your box, you precious miser27! Just think of ‘crackering’ Higley!”
Dorothy appeared dumfounded. It had all been arranged so quickly—and there was Miss Higley back again. She carried a tray with a small china teapot and three blue cups to match.
[35]
“I thought Dorothy might like a cup,” she remarked in a sort of apologetic way. “There now,” as Tavia and Dorothy relieved her of the tray, “it will be pleasant to have a sip together. Of course we would not do it but for Octavia’s illness.” (Tavia looked to be in dreadful pain at that moment.) “But since we have to give her a cup of tea, we may as well make a virtue28 of necessity.”
“It is very kind of you, Miss Higley,” Dorothy said, rather hesitatingly. “I’m sure that we—that is I—I mean Tavia—should not have put you to all this trouble—but of course one can’t help being ill,” she hastened to add, for she felt she was rather giving Tavia’s secret away.
“It really is too bad to make all this fuss,” the supposed sufferer interjected. “You went to a lot of trouble for me, Miss Higley, and I appreciate it very much,” and Tavia winked29 the eye next to Dorothy, but concealed the sign from the sight of the instructress. Tavia was trying hard not to laugh, and her repressed emotion shook the tray to the no small danger of upsetting the teapot, cups and all.
[36]
“I never consider my duty any trouble,” answered Miss Higley, seeming to feel the obligation of being dignified30. In fact, it did not occur to her just then that she was doing a most unprecedented31 thing—taking tea with two school girls, and after hours at that! However, she had committed herself, and now there was no way out. Dorothy presented her package of chocolate crackers32, and Miss Higley took some, while Tavia arranged the tea tray on the little table.
Surely the scene was mirth-provoking. Dorothy in her pretty blue robe, Tavia with her hair loose, collar off and shoes unlaced, and Miss Higley, prim20 as ever, in her brown mohair, with the long black cord on her glasses. There the three sat, sipping33 tea and “making eyes,”—“too full for utterance,” as Tavia would say.
“Such lovely tea,” Dorothy managed to gulp34 out at the risk of allowing her mouth to get loose in a titter, once the tight line of silence was broken.
Then, all at once they stopped drinking—some one was coming down the hall. Miss Higley arose instantly. The gentle tap on the door was answered by Tavia.
Mrs. Pangborn!
“Oh,” she apologized, “I did not mean to disturb a little social tea. Do sit down, Honorah,” to Miss Higley. “I’m very glad to see you enjoying yourself,” and Mrs. Pangborn meant what she said.
[37]
Mrs. Pangborn glanced at Tavia.
“But that cup of tea has made me feel so much better,” declared Dorothy’s room-mate, with that kind of truth that mere words make—the kind that challenges falsehood.
“I am always glad to see you looking after the girls, Honorah,” went on the principal, “but I am equally glad to see you consider yourself. I’m sure you have a perfect right to take a cup of tea here. My dear,” to Dorothy, “perhaps you have a sip left?”
Dorothy found there was another cup of the beverage37, still warm in the little teapot, and this she poured into her own pink and white china cup for Mrs. Pangborn.
“Do finish yours,” said Tavia, pushing the empty chair toward the embarrassed teacher.
But Tavia’s mirth showed through her alleged40 illness, and Miss Higley began to feel that she had been imposed upon.
“Oh, do finish your tea,” begged Mrs. Pangborn, and so the severe little teacher was obliged to sit down again.
[38]
An hour later Tavia was still trying to “untwist her kinks,” as she described her attacks of muffled42 laughter.
“Oh, wasn’t it gloriotious!” she exclaimed. “To think I couldn’t get a single twinge in my entire system! If I only could put that sort of a cramp35 in alcohol, wouldn’t it be an heirloom to Glenwood!”
“Please do stop,” pleaded Dorothy, from under her quilt. “The next time they may bring a doctor and a stomach pump, and if you don’t let me go to sleep I do believe I will call her.”
“You dare to and I’ll get something dreadfully contagious43, so you will have to be disinfected and isolated44. But Higley the terrible! The abused little squinty-eyed tattle-tale! Oh, when Mrs. Pangborn said she was glad to see her enjoying herself! That persecuted45 saint enjoying herself! Didn’t she look the part?”
But even such mirth must succumb46 to slumber47 when the victim is young and impressionable, so, with yawns and titters, Tavia finally quieted down to sleep.
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收听单词发音
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1
auto
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| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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2
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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5
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spurn
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| v.拒绝，摈弃；n.轻视的拒绝；踢开 | |
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9
glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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10
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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11
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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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
pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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15
bouquets
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| n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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17
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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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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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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23
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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29
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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cramps
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| n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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38
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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39
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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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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41
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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42
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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43
contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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44
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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45
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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46
succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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47
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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