AWEEK later, cards, very thick, gilt-edged, and perfumed, arrived at Misrule, requesting the pleasure of the company of Mr. Philip and the Misses Woolcot’s company at an “At Home” at Trafalgar House.
Pip said it was “fair cheek.” Meg raised her eyebrows2, but Nellie longed ardently3 to accept, and almost wept when a formal answer pleading regret and a prior engagement was sent in return.
A fortnight passed, and more cards arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzroy-Browne.
The Misses Woolcot.
Friday Evening.
Dancing.R.S.V.P.
Meg left out the “prior engagement” this time 173in her reply, and merely “regretted the Misses Woolcot could not have the pleasure, etc.”
But the girls gushed4 over Nellie just as much whenever they met her. She used to go occasionally to the Parsonage to play mild tennis with Mr. Macintosh’s delicate son, who had been ordered the exercise. The Misses Browne also went there at times; they considered that to visit there on equal terms was a hall mark of gentility, and persevered5 therefore, even though they yawned afterwards all through the drive home.
They always drove wherever they were going, they seemed to think foot exercise below them. It was even said that when they went to return a call of the Macarthys who lived two doors off, they went in their great open carriage, with high-stepping horses, coachman, and footman complete. So, also, whenever they went to the little homely6 Parsonage on the hill top, the imposing7 equipage took them there, the footman stood in petrified8 state while they alighted, and afterwards handed the two racquets out with as much ceremony as if he was assisting in some public function.
Innate9 good taste sometimes whispered to Nellie that these things ought not to be so, but she generally chose to be conveniently blind.
How could she find fault with them when they 174petted her and flattered her till her silly little head was swimming? when they pressed gifts upon her,—a gold bangle that one of them wore and she had admired, a brooch with a tiny chrysophrase heart, even a parasol composed of billowy chiffon. She had the good sense certainly to refuse the presents, though she looked at them with longing10 eyes, but none the less she admired and envied girls who had it in their power to make the offers.
“Your people seem determined11 not to come to our house,” Miss Isabel said one day on the Parsonage tennis ground.
“They—they have so many engagements,” said Nellie, with hesitating mendacity and a blush of distress12. What would they say if they knew the contempt the cards met with at Misrule?
Miss Browne spoke13 of the great ballroom14 at Trafalgar House, of illuminated15 grounds, of the throngs16 of guests; to Nellie, who had not yet been allowed more harmful dissipation than tea-parties, picnics, and children’s romps17, it sounded entrancing. “Yes, I should love to come,” she said wistfully, as they once again regretted she should not give the world an opportunity to see her beauty.
The child naturally was flattered that two grown-up young ladies should take so much notice of her, 175and tell her so frequently of her good looks; it seemed strange, even to her, that with all their money and friends they should trouble to make much of a girl of her age who never wore anything more expensive than muslin, crepon or serge, and always trimmed her own hats.
The reason was that the Misses Browne, though they had really taken a genuine liking18 to the shy, beautiful-faced child, had a great respect for the name of Woolcot, the high esteem19 in which the family was held, peccadilloes20 notwithstanding, and envied—greatly their unquestioned entry into the society that, strive as they would, opened not its doors for them. And they thought, if they could once get on to a friendly footing at Misrule, other people in the neighbourhood who had looked coldly on them hitherto would immediately hold out hands of friendship, and come to their doors with the magic bits of pasteboard they so desired.
The best means to this end they considered would be to dazzle the eyes of the family with the luxury and unstinted wealth at Trafalgar House.
But Nellie was the only one they could get hold of, so they fed her young vanity without stint22, and tried to lure23 her up to the great red mansion24.
“Yes, I should love to come,” she had said on this occasion. They were standing21 on the Parsonage 176court after a set, Nell in a pink cambric blouse and well-worn serge skirt, the Misses Browne in elaborate costumes of Liberty silk with crossed tennis racquets worked all round the skirts.
“Well, come,” they said,—“don’t wait for the others; we want you,—why can’t you come even if they won’t?”
“Oh,” said Nell, who had not dreamed of independent action, “how could I if Esther and Meg don’t?”
“What a good little girl it is! Does it always ask permission for everything, and do exactly as it’s told? Why, when we were your age we never dreamt even of consulting our parents where we went, and they never dreamt of interfering26. Why, it’s a very old-fashioned notion to be in bondage27 like that to your parents.”
Nell flushed half-shamefacedly.
She began to believe that she really gave in too much to her elders, that she ought to have more freedom, and be more independent, now she was nearly “grown-up.”
“Perhaps I will come some day,” she said a little uncertainly.
“Just show them a few times that you are not a child, to be dictated28 to as they wish,” advised Miss 177Isabel; “after that it will be quite easy. Why, I’d just like to hear ma or pa say we shouldn’t go here or mustn’t go there, shouldn’t you, Beatrice?”
Beatrice’s laugh of utter scorn was sufficient answer. “Why, it’s just the other way,” she said: “we tell ma what to do.”
“Some day” Nellie had said, but had not imagined how soon the day would be offered to her.
General Blaxland, the head of the forces in New South Wales, had decided29 to send a certain Lieutenant30 Holloway and Captain Birsted to India, with a view to gaining information from the forces there about several reforms he wished to introduce into the colony.
Just at the last Lieutenant Holloway fell ill, and the General had asked our Captain whether he could manage to tear himself away from the bosom31 of his family for the time required, or whether they must send one of the younger lieutenants32. The Captain had asked for a day to think it over, hastened home to Misrule, and told Esther if she would go with him he would accept, for it would be a delightful33 holiday for both.
Esther was charmed with the idea. India had always seemed a kind of beautiful enchanted34 country to her, where Arabian Night kind of entertainments went on from morning to night. She begged for 178small Essie’s company, but the Captain would not hear of such a tie. So as they would only be away four months Esther at length consented, and delivered her baby into Meg’s care with numberless injunctions.
There was one week of wild confusion at Misrule. The children had holidays from lessons; dressmaking and millinery seemed going on all over the house; trunks, cabin boxes, and portmanteaux stood gaping35 open in Esther’s room, and the Captain had a fit of intense irritability36 all the time.
Monday, the day the Orotava started, came at last, and Meg awoke from the confused dream she had been in all the week to find herself on the Quay37 waving a wet handkerchief to a boat almost out of sight, and only refraining from more tears by a hastily got up argument between Peter and Essie.
“The waved to me latht, tho there!” Peter said.
“Ze never!” said Essie.
“The did!” cried Peter.
Meg thought it time to put away her handkerchief and interpose herself between the two “grass orphans,” or the quarrel would end in Essie slapping Peter, and Peter growing red and pushing her down on the ground.
179Every one was looking a little grave and upset. It is impossible to see a great ship bearing our dear ones move slowly away toward the wide, terrible ocean without quickened heart-beatings, and serious if not misty39 eyes, even if they are only going for a very little time, and accidents are unheard-of things with such splendid ships.
Meg proposed an adjournment40.
“Let’s go and have tea and cakes or ice-creams at Quong Tart’s” she said.
“Who’ll pay?” asked Bunty the practical.
Meg waited a moment; she half hoped Pip would come with them, his own merry self again, and offer to “go halves,” but he made no movement.
“I might take it out of the housekeeping money just this once,” she said. “Seven of us,—that would be three-and-six; only, Peter, you mustn’t ask for ice-cream too if you have a custard roll or anything; every one can only have one thing, or it makes it too expensive.”
Pip moved away.
But he gave her a cold look.
“No, thanks,” he said, and walked off.
So only six of them went to drown their grief in tea and ice-cream.
180There had been talk of asking Mrs. Hassal to come down and look after Misrule and its inmates43 for the four months; but then, what would have become of Yarrahappini?
Meg begged her father to have no one. Surely, she said, for that short time she was capable of being head of the house. The cook was a married woman, and would give an air of steadiness to the place; Martha was thoroughly44 reliable; and Pat had the virtue45 of doing as he was told. There would be herself and Pip in authority, with Nellie as aide-de-camp; Bunty was a changed character; and as to Poppet, Peter, and Essie, any one with a little tact46 could manage them.
So it was decided at last, and Meg picked up the reins47 of government with a pleasurable feeling of responsibility and no misgivings48 whatever.
Pip felt he had done his duty for the time when he spoke a word in season to Peter and threatened “hidings” innumerable if he waxed obstreperous49.
But the aide-de-camp was tried and proved wanting,—all the trouble that followed came through her.
Meg, who desired everything to go on smoothly50 and pleasantly, made a point of consulting Nellie in many things, and treating her as an equal in age. As it happened, it was the worst policy she could 181adopt just then, for it strengthened the younger girl’s growing ideas of independence.
A little firmness—a mother’s firmness—and the enforcement of unquestioned authority at this juncture51 would have saved her from many a subsequent heartache. But alas! there was no mother, and Meg’s rule was certainly not despotic, though it was firm in its way, and answered excellently with the young ones.
“Where are you going, Nell?” she said one afternoon, going up into the bedroom, and finding her young sister in the midst of as elaborate a toilet as her simple clothes would allow.
“Up to Trafalgar House for tennis, that’s all!” Nell replied, in a tone whose studied nonchalance52 was somewhat overdone53.
“You are going to do nothing of the kind, I hope,” she said, with considerable warmth in her tone. “What are you thinking of? Of course you can’t accept hospitality from people we refuse to visit!”
“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” Nellie replied, fluffing a strand55 of hair backward with the comb and pinning it up into a roll. “I consider Esther and you were very rude and unneighbourly not to call 182on them, and it’s no reason I should be impolite as well!”
“But you can’t do such an impossible thing!” Meg cried. “Don’t be such a child, Nellie. Go to the Parsonage, or the Courtneys, or anywhere if you want a game; but, for goodness’ sake, keep away from that horrid56 place!”
Nellie proceeded quietly with her dressing57, the resolute58 light in her eyes not a whit59 diminished. She buttoned her blue tennis blouse, brushed some specks60 of dust off her skirt, and put a piece of clean belting in her silver waist-clasp.
“I can’t believe you’re in earnest,” Meg began 183again; “why, you must remember father expressly said we were not to go!”
“He did not tell me; he only said Esther needn’t call,—that’s not forbidding me!” Nell said calmly.
She put on her sailor hat, stuck the pins through with great care, and made a few little deft61 dabs62 at her fluffy63 side hair. Then she put on her very best gloves and picked up her racquet.
“Nellie, I forbid you to go!” Meg cried, finding neither reasoning nor asking would answer. “Remember, I have been left here in charge of you all, and I absolutely forbid you to go near those Brownes!”
“Pooh!” said Nellie, “I’m nearly as old as you—I’m too big to be forbidden. Give your orders to Peter and Poppet—I’m going!”
And she went.
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1
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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8
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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9
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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10
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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12
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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13
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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14
ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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15
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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16
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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17
romps
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| n.无忧无虑，快活( romp的名词复数 )v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的第三人称单数 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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18
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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peccadilloes
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| n.轻罪，小过失( peccadillo的名词复数 ) | |
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21
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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stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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23
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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24
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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26
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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27
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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28
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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29
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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32
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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33
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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34
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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36
irritability
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| n.易怒 | |
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37
quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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38
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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39
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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40
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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41
beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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42
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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43
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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44
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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45
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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46
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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47
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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48
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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49
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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50
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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51
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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52
nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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53
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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54
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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55
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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56
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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57
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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58
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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59
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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60
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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61
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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62
dabs
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| 少许( dab的名词复数 )； 是…能手； 做某事很在行； 在某方面技术熟练 | |
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63
fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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