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CHAPTER XVI. "I CAN'T BUY TEA"
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Although Sally had not slept until late the night of the ball, yet quite early she awoke the next morning, and, gathering1 the shawl closely about her, she began going over the fine sights and sounds, that had left a charm in her mind like unto a Fairy dream.
 
The longing2 in the maid's young heart for better things than those she had, fairly cried out within her, as she thought of the appearance and the graces of those high-born dames4.
 
"I should have a better home," she said, glancing around her miserable5 room. "There must be ways in which I can raise myself. I am getting of an age to raise myself could I but see how to do it, yet I would wish to do nothing wrong."
 
[Pg 188]"There can be no wrong in wishing to better your condition," said her Fairy; "you are no slave."
 
"Then I will watch for a chance," said Maid Sally.
 
"Do," said her Fairy.
 
In those days, Mistress Brace6 grumbled7 and scolded because she dared not buy tea. There was still a tax on it, and loyal colonists8 denied themselves tea sooner than pay the unjust tax.
 
But Mistress Brace had no great love of country, nor did she care anything about the matters that were stirring the people way down into their hearts and souls.
 
And so, after a time, she had grown tired and vexed9 at having to go without her tea. The only reason she had gone without it at all, was because the hired men—these were farmers who were hired by a planter—had said that it was known all over the place when any one bought an ounce of "the taxed stuff," and that whoever got it was set down as being a[Pg 189] "Tory," which meant a person who favored England and the king rather than one's own country.
 
But there came a day not long after the ball, when Mistress Brace made up her mind that she would do without tea no longer. The hired men had put up with herb—they called it "yarb"—tea, made from herbs and mints, and had drunk it without complaint.
 
But the mistress thought they need know nothing about it if she bought a package for her own use. Goodman Chatfield, who sold dry-goods and haberdashery, or small wares10, on one side of his store, and groceries on the other, would sell no tea at all; he was a true patriot11, and "the taxed stuff" could not be found at his store.
 
But the "apothecary12 man" kept a little "for weak and sickly folk," and now Mistress Brace handed Sally some money as she said:
 
"Here's two and thri-pence, and you are to go to Doctor Hancocke's store and buy half a pound of tea."
 
[Pg 190]"I can't buy tea," said Sally, drawing back her hand and not touching13 the money.
 
"You do as I tell you!" cried Mistress Brace, with fierceness in her tones. "If Doctor Hancocke says aught about it, tell him I am not well and must have a good sup of tea to hearten me."
 
"But you are well," replied Maid Sally, "and it would not be right, either that I should tell a lie or that I should buy tea with the king's tax upon it."
 
Mistress Brace raised her hand as if to strike the young maiden14 who stood straight and quiet before her. But she did not strike her, she only exclaimed again:
 
"Take the money and do as you are bid!"
 
"I can't buy tea" said Maid Sally.
 
"Then begone out of my sight and out of my house, and see that you come not back!" cried the angry mistress. "Highty, tighty! but a great time of day it is when beggars turn about and say 'I can't,' to those who have kept and fed them. Begone, I say, you malapert!"
 
[Pg 191]Sally turned away without a word, but when nearly through the doorway15, she looked back and said:
 
"I am not a beggar. I am an American girl, and mean to act like one."
 
Now there is always something about the words of one who gets not in a rage, but answers coolly one who is in one, that cools down the wrathful person and sets him or her to thinking. And Mistress Brace was struck with fear. What had she dared to say? And what meant Sally to do?
 
But her temper was too high to put down all at once, so she replied:
 
"Very sure that you are an American, are you?"
 
Then, as if it came into her mind that she had better not have said that, and as she also already wished she had not called the maid a beggar, bidding her go away and stay, she began, with a sour kind of laugh:
 
"Of course, I know nought16 of you before you were a baby wench of four years or so,[Pg 192] and if you are so silly set against getting the tea—"
 
But Sally had darted17 to her tiny room. She would wait to hear no more. And thankful she was that Goodman Kellar came the next moment with eggs and butter for Mistress Cory Ann to chaffer or bargain about.
 
Mistress Brace had never been soft of speech, although she could put on the manners of a well-spoken dame3, but she had of late grown more and more rough and coarse, ordering Sally about at times in so unmannerly a way that the maid had more than once turned it over in her mind, wondering if she had any right so to order her.
 
And then, in truth, Sally was noticing such things more after hearing Mistress Maria Kent's nice and gentle speech than she had in the past. And now she hastened to get away if possible before Mistress Brace and Goodman Kellar should be done parleying. All her young spirit flamed up when the mistress called her a beggar, and although something fine in her nature kept her[Pg 193] quiet at the words, they were not to be passed over.
 
She dressed herself with care, putting on a brown and scarlet18 linsey-woolsey gown but just made, and bought nearly all with her own money. Then she slipped out at the front door. It was her day to recite to Parson Kendall, and although she scarcely dared think it out, there was a resolve forming under the warm tints19 of her ruddy hair.
 
But here was her Fairy with something to say.
 
"What are you going to do, Maid Sally?"
 
"I know not, good Fairy, but I mean not to sleep to-night at Mistress Cory Ann's."
 
"Hast any other home?"
 
"No, good Fairy, but mayhap I will find one."
 
"Have you any fixed20 idea about it?"
 
"N-o; I have only in my mind that of which I cannot yet speak."
 
"Very well, then be brave and do not falter21. You have long felt ill at ease with the Tory[Pg 194] woman; tell not too much, but speak the truth boldly."
 
"I mean to," said Maid Sally.
 
After the French lesson was over, Sally lingered in the parson's library.
 
"I gave thee the next reading, did I not?" asked Parson Kendall.
 
"Yes, I know about the lesson, sir," replied Sally, "but I know not where I had better go. I have no home."
 
"No home?" repeated the parson, "how is that? Hath the woman Mistress Brace cast thee out?"
 
Sally turned pale, so great was her fright and her desire to cry. But a single word from her Fairy helped her:
 
"Courage!"
 
"I refused to buy tea at the apothecary man's," she said, "and Mistress Brace called me a beggar, and bade me go and not return. I cannot be called a beggar, nor can I go back, when I have been told to stay away."
 
Parson Kendall toyed with his watch-fob,[Pg 195] looked at the braided mat on which he stood, and seemed studying the pattern of the border. After what seemed a long time to Sally, he said:
 
"Sit thee down for a moment, poor maid. I would speak with Goodwife Kendall for a space. Be not timorous22, all may yet be well with thee."
 
Sally sank into a chair as the parson disappeared.
 
"I've done it!" she said to her Fairy.
 
"Yes, and without many words," answered her Fairy. "That is always the best way to do that to which one has made up the mind."
 
Then Sally fell a-thinking. But so quickly beat her heart that she could scarcely sit still. And it beat all the faster when the door opened and Goodwife Kendall, in a rustling23 black silk, with soft muslin collar and cuffs24, and a lace cap upon her head, stood before her.
 
"I hear you have not so good a home, little maid," she said, in a fine, low voice, "as would beseem thee, and the minister has no mind to[Pg 196] send thee back to it. So here is a plan. My two servants are faithful at their tasks, but there is much needlework that is needful to be done. My two sisters are to tarry with me for the present, and much visiting must be enjoyed.
 
"There are certain duties to be attended to in the minister's family, and in his library, which it is not befitting that servants should be trusted with. Would it suit thee to be my helper for a time?"
 
"Oh, indeed, and indeed," cried Sally, stopping to choke for an instant, "I will so gladly and most faithfully do anything you may ask; and I shall need nothing at present, I have clothes—"
 
"Tut, tut, child!" said Goodwife Kendall, with a smile. "No one should work well to receive nothing in return, and I shall give thee two and sixpence a week, both to teach thee how to use a little money wisely, and also to pay for what I know thou wilt25 justly earn."
 
And seeing that Sally was at the point of[Pg 197] bursting out crying, she added, while turning toward the door:
 
"Come, now, Parson Kendall will send to Mistress Brace for such clothes as you have bought for yourself, leaving all for which she has paid. It will please me to clothe thee with what may be needful from time to time. But there are dried berries to be picked over and put in soak before being stewed26 for supper. Come and let me show thee how to prepare them."

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
2 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
3 dame dvGzR0     
n.女士
参考例句:
  • The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
  • If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会,你就要跟那个夫人结婚。
4 dames 0bcc1f9ca96d029b7531e0fc36ae2c5c     
n.(在英国)夫人(一种封号),夫人(爵士妻子的称号)( dame的名词复数 );女人
参考例句:
  • Dames would not comment any further. Dames将不再更多的评论。 来自互联网
  • Flowers, candy, jewelry, seemed the principal things in which the elegant dames were interested. 鲜花、糖果和珠宝看来是那些贵妇人的主要兴趣所在。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
5 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
6 brace 0WzzE     
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备
参考例句:
  • My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
  • You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。
7 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
8 colonists 4afd0fece453e55f3721623f335e6c6f     
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的;(指问题等)棘手的;争论不休的问题;烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
参考例句:
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
10 wares 2eqzkk     
n. 货物, 商品
参考例句:
  • They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
  • The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。
11 patriot a3kzu     
n.爱国者,爱国主义者
参考例句:
  • He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
  • He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。
12 apothecary iMcyM     
n.药剂师
参考例句:
  • I am an apothecary of that hospital.我是那家医院的一名药剂师。
  • He was the usual cut and dry apothecary,of no particular age and color.他是那种再普通不过的行医者,说不出多大年纪,相貌也没什么值得一提的。
13 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
14 maiden yRpz7     
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
参考例句:
  • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
  • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
15 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
16 nought gHGx3     
n./adj.无,零
参考例句:
  • We must bring their schemes to nought.我们必须使他们的阴谋彻底破产。
  • One minus one leaves nought.一减一等于零。
17 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 scarlet zD8zv     
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的
参考例句:
  • The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
  • The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了,深红的颜色变成了绯红,绯红又变为浅红。
19 tints 41fd51b51cf127789864a36f50ef24bf     
色彩( tint的名词复数 ); 带白的颜色; (淡色)染发剂; 痕迹
参考例句:
  • leaves with red and gold autumn tints 金秋时节略呈红黄色的树叶
  • The whole countryside glowed with autumn tints. 乡间处处呈现出灿烂的秋色。
20 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
21 falter qhlzP     
vi.(嗓音)颤抖,结巴地说;犹豫;蹒跚
参考例句:
  • His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
  • As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时,脚步迟疑了起来。
22 timorous gg6yb     
adj.胆怯的,胆小的
参考例句:
  • She is as timorous as a rabbit.她胆小得像只兔子。
  • The timorous rabbit ran away.那只胆小的兔子跑开了。
23 rustling c6f5c8086fbaf68296f60e8adb292798     
n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的
参考例句:
  • the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
  • the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声
24 cuffs 4f67c64175ca73d89c78d4bd6a85e3ed     
n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打,拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
  • The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。
25 wilt oMNz5     
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱
参考例句:
  • Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
  • Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。
26 stewed 285d9b8cfd4898474f7be6858f46f526     
adj.焦虑不安的,烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 );煨;思考;担忧
参考例句:
  • When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏,兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅,还能煮鸡子吃!还要它?” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说


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