现代灰姑娘 英文版 A Modern Cinderella
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
A MODERN CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE OLD SHOE Page 3
"Now tell us how and why and when you came.Take off your coat, my dear! And here are theold slippers. Why didn't you let us knowyou were coming so soon? How have you been?and what makes you so late to-night? Betsey,you needn't put on your bonnet. And--oh, mydear boy, have you been to supper yet?
Mrs. Lord was a quiet soul, and her flood ofquestions was purred softly in her son's ear; for,being a woman, she must talk, and, being a mother,must pet the one delight of her life, and make alittle festival when the lord of the manor camehome. A whole drove of fatted calves weremetaphorically killed, and a banquet appearedwith speed.
John was not one of those romantic heroes whocan go through three volumes of hair-breadthescapes without the faintest hint of that blessedinstitution, dinner; therefore, like "Lady Letherbridge,"he partook, copiously of everything."while the two women beamed over each mouthfulwith an interest that enhanced its flavor, and urgedupon him cold meat and cheese, pickles and pie, asif dyspepsia and nightmare were among the lostarts.
Then he opened his budget of news and fedthem.
"I was coming next month, according to custom;but Philip fell upon and so tempted me, thatI was driven to sacrifice myself to the cause offriendship, and up we came to-night. He wouldnot let me come here till we had seen your father,Nan; for the poor lad was pining for Laura, andhoped his good behavior for the past year wouldsatisfy his judge and secure his recall. We had afine talk with your father; and, upon my life, Philipseemed to have received the gift of tongues, for hemade a most eloquent plea, which I've stored awayfor future use, I assure you. The dear old gentlemanwas very kind, told Phil he was satisfied withthe success of his probation, that he should seeLaura when he liked, and, if all went well, shouldreceive his reward in the spring. It must be adelightful sensation to know you have made afellow-creature as happy as those words made Philto-night."
John paused, and looked musingly at the matronlytea-pot, as if he saw a wondrous future inits shine.
Nan twinkled off the drops that rose at thethought of Laura's joy, and said, with gratefulwarmth,--
"You say nothing of your own share in themaking of that happiness, John; but we know it,for Philip has told Laura in his letters all that youhave been to him, and I am sure there was othereloquence beside his own before father granted allyou say he has. Oh, John, I thank you very muchfor this!
Mrs. Lord beamed a whole midsummer of delightupon her son, as she saw the pleasure thesewords gave him, though he answered simply,--
"I only tried to be a brother to him, Nan; forhe has been most kind to me. Yes, I said my littlesay to-night, and gave my testimony in behalf ofthe prisoner at the bar; a most merciful judgepronounced his sentence, and he rushed straightto Mrs. Leigh's to tell Laura the blissful news.Just imagine the scene when he appears, and howDi will open her wicked eyes and enjoy the spectacleof the dishevelled lover, the bride-elect's tears,the stir, and the romance of the thing. She'llcry over it to-night, and caricature it to-morrow.
And John led the laugh at the picture he hadconjured up, to turn the thoughts of Di's dangeroussister from himself.
At ten Nan retired into the depths of her oldbonnet with a far different face from the one shebrought out of it, and John, resuming his hat,mounted guard.
"Don't stay late, remember, John!" And inMrs. Lord's voice there was a warning tone thather son interpreted aright.
about his neck, her happy face againsthis own, and .
"I'll not forget, mother."
And he kept his word; for though Philip's happinessfloated temptingly before him, and the littlefigure at his side had never seemed so dear, heignored the bland winds, the tender night, and seta seal upon his lips, thinking manfully within himself."I see many signs of promise in her happyface; but I will wait and hope a little longer forher sake."
There!" cried Di, pointing to!
"Where is father, Sally?" asked Nan, as thatfunctionary appeared, blinking owlishly, but utterlyrepudiating the idea of sleep.
"He went down the garding, miss, when thegentlemen cleared, bein' a little flustered by thegoin's on. Shall I fetch him in?" asked Sally, asirreverently as if her master were a bag of meal.
"No, we will go ourselves." And slowly thetwo paced down the leaf-strewn walk.
Fields of yellow grain were waving on thehill-side, and sere corn blades rustled in the wind,from the orchard came the scent of ripening fruit,and all the garden-plots lay ready to yield up theirhumble offerings to their master's hand. But inthe silence of the night a greater Reaper hadpassed by, gathering in the harvest of a righteouslife, and leaving only tender memories for thegleaners who had come so late.
The old man sat in the shadow of the tree hisown hands planted; its fruit boughs shone ruddily,and its leaves still whispered the low lullabythat hushed him to his rest.
"How fast he sleeps! Poor father! I shouldhave come before and made it pleasant forhim."
As she spoke, Nan lifted up the head bent downupon his breast, and kissed his pallid cheek.
"Oh, John, this is not sleep."
"Yes, dear, the happiest he will everknow."
For a moment the shadows flickered over threewhite faces and the silence deepened solemnly.Then John reverently bore the pale shape in, andNan dropped down beside it, saying, with a rainof grateful tears,--
"He kissed me when I went, and said a lastgood-night!'"
For an hour steps went to and fro about her,many voices whispered near her, and skilful handstouched the beloved clay she held so fast; but oneby one the busy feet passed out, one by one thevoices died away, and human skill proved vain.
Then Mrs. Lord drew the orphan to the shelter ofher arms, soothing her with the mute solace of thatmotherly embrace.
"Nan, Nan! here's Philip! come and see!"The happy call re-echoed through the house,and Nan sprang up as if her time for grief werepast.
"I must tell them. Oh, my poor girls, howwill they bear it?--they have known so littlesorrow!"
But there was no need for her to speak; otherlips had spared her the hard task. For, as shestirred to meet them, a sharp cry rent the air, stepsrang upon the stairs, and two wild-eyed creaturescame into the hush of that familiar room, for thefirst time meeting with no welcome from theirfather's voice.
With one impulse, Di and Laura fled to Nan.and the sisters clung together in a silent embrace,more eloquent than words. John took hismother by the hand, and led her from the room,closing the door upon the sacredness of grief.
"Yes, we are poorer than we thought; butwhen everything is settled, we shall get on verywell. We can let a part of this great house, andlive quietly together until spring; then Laura willbe married, and Di can go on their travels withthem, as Philip wishes her to do. We shall becared for; so never fear for us, John."
Nan said this, as her friend parted from her aweek later, after the saddest holiday he had everknown.
"And what becomes of you, Nan?" he asked,watching the patient eyes that smiled whenothers would have wept.
"I shall stay in the dear old house; for no otherplace would seem like home to me. I shall findsome little child to love and care for, and be quitehappy till the girls come back and want me."
John nodded wisely, as he listened, and wentaway prophesying within himself,--
"She shall find something more than a child tolove; and, God willing, shall be very happy tillthe girls come home and--cannot have her."
Nan's plan was carried into effect. Slowly thedivided waters closed again, and the three fellback into their old life. But the touch of sorrowdrew them closer; and, though invisible, a belovedpresence still moved among them, a familiar voicestill spoke to them in the silence of their softenedhearts. Thus the soil was made ready, and in thedepth of winter the good seed was sown, waswatered with many tears, and soon sprang upgreen with a promise of a harvest for their afteryears.
triangular jacket stilladorned her shoulders in defiance!
Di and Laura consoled themselves with theirfavorite employments, unconscious that Nan wasgrowing paler, thinner, and more silent, as theweeks went by, till one day she dropped quietlybefore them, and it suddenly became manifest thatshe was utterly worn out with many cares and thesecret suffering of a tender heart bereft of thepaternal love which had been its strength and stay.
"I'm only tired, dear girls. Don't be troubled!,for I shall be up to-morrow," she said cheerily, asshe looked into the anxious faces bending overher.
But the weariness was of many months' growth,and it was weeks before that "to-morrow " came.
Laura installed herself as nurse, and her devotionwas repaid four-fold; for, sitting at her sister'sbedside, she learned a finer art than that she hadleft. Her eye grew clear to see the beauty of aself-denying life, and in the depths of Nan's meeknature she found the strong, sweet virtues thatmade her what she was.
looked up, saying, playfully,--the characters of the story are wellpersonated?
Then remembering that these womanly attributes werea bride's best dowry, Laura gave herself to theirattainment, that she might become to another householdthe blessing Nan had been to her own; and turningfrom the worship of the goddess Beauty, she gaveher hand to that humbler and more human teacher,Duty,--learning her lessons with a willing heart,for Philip's sake.
Di corked her inkstand, locked her bookcase,and went at housework as if it were a five-barredgate; of course she missed the leap, but scrambledbravely through, and appeared much sobered bythe exercise. Sally had departed to sit under avine and fig-tree of her own, so Di had undisputedsway; but if dish-pans and dusters had tongues,direful would have been the history of that crusadeagainst frost and fire, indolence and inexperience.But they were dumb, and Di scorned to complain,though her struggles were pathetic to behold, andher sisters went through a series of messes equal toa course of "Prince Benreddin's" peppery tarts.Reality turned Romance out of doors; for, unlikeher favorite heroines in satin and tears, or helmetand shield, Di met her fate in a big checked apronand dust-cap, wonderful to see; yet she wieldedher broom as stoutly as "Moll Pitcher" shoulderedher gun, and marched to her daily martyrdom in thekitchen with as heroic a heart as the "Maid of Orleans"took to her stake.
Mind won the victory over matter in the end,and Di was better all her days for the tribulationsand the triumphs of that time; for she drowned heridle fancies in her wash-tub, made burnt-offeringsof selfishness and pride, and learned the worth ofself-denial, as she sang with happy voice amongthe pots and kettles of her conquered realm.
Nan thought of John, and in the stillness of hersleepless nights prayed Heaven to keep him safe,and make her worthy to receive and strong enoughto bear the blessedness or pain of love.
Snow fell without, and keen winds howledamong the leafless elms, but "herbs of grace"were blooming beautifully in the sunshine ofsincere endeavor, and this dreariest season proved themost fruitful of the year; for love taught Laura,labor chastened Di, and patience fitted Nan for theblessing of her life.
Nature, that stillest, yet most diligent of housewives,began at last that "spring cleaning" whichshe makes so pleasant that none find the heart togrumble as they do when other matrons set theirpremises a-dust. Her hand-maids, wind and rainand sun, swept, washed, and garnished busily,green carpets were unrolled, apple-boughs werehung with draperies of bloom, and dandelions, petnurslings of the year, came out to play upon thesward.
From the South returned that opera troupewhose manager is never in despair, whose tenornever sulks, whose prima donna never fails, andin the orchard bona fide matinees were held, towhich buttercups and clovers crowded in theirprettiest spring hats, and verdant young bladestwinkled their dewy lorgnettes, as they bowed andmade way for the floral belles.
May was bidding June good-morrow, and theroses were just dreaming that it was almost time towake, when John came again into the quiet roomwhich now seemed the Eden that contained hisEve. Of course there was a jubilee; but somethingseemed to have befallen the whole group, fornever had they appeared in such odd frames ofmind. John was restless, and wore an excitedlook, most unlike his usual serenity of aspect.
Nan the cheerful had fallen into a well ofsilence and was not to be extracted by anyHydraulic power, though she smiled like the June skyover her head. Di's peculiarities were out in fullforce, and she looked as if she would go off like atorpedo at a touch; but through all her moodsthere was a half-triumphant, half-remorsefulexpression in the glance she fixed on John. AndLaura, once so silent, now sang like a blackbird,as she flitted to and fro; but her fitful song wasalways, "Philip, my king."
John felt that there had come a change uponthe three, and silently divined whose unconsciousinfluence had wrought the miracle. The embargowas off his tongue, and he was in a fever to askthat question which brings a flutter to the stoutestheart; but though the "man" had come, the"hour" had not. So, by way of steadying hisnerves, he paced the room, pausing often to takenotes of his companions, and each pause seemed toincrease his wonder and content.
He looked at Nan. She was in her usual place,the rigid little chair she loved, because it oncewas large enough to hold a curly-headedplaymate and herself. The old work-basket was ather side, and the battered thimble busily at work;but her lips wore a smile they had never worn be-fore, the color of the unblown roses touched hercheek, and her downcast eyes were full of light.
He looked at Di. The inevitable book was onher knee, but its leaves were uncut; the strong-minded knob of hair still asserted its supremacyaloft upon her head, and the triangular jacket stilladorned her shoulders in defiance of all fashions,past, present, or to come; but the expression of herbrown countenance had grown softer, her tonguehad found a curb, and in her hand lay a card with"Potts, Kettel & Co." inscribed thereon, whichshe regarded with never a scornful word for theCo."
He looked at Laura. She was before her easelas of old; but the pale nun had given place to ablooming girl, who sang at her work, which wasno prim Pallas, but a Clytie turning her humanface to meet the sun.
"John, what are you thinking of?"
He stirred as if Di's voice had disturbed hisfancy at some pleasant pastime, but answered withhis usual sincerity,--
"I was thinking of a certain dear old fairy talecalled 'Cinderella.'"
"Oh!" said Di; and her "Oh" was a mostimpressive monosyllable. "I see the meaning ofyour smile now; and though the application of thestory is not very complimentary to all partiesconcerned, it is very just and very true."
She paused a moment, then went on with softenedvoice and earnest mien:--
"You think I am a blind and selfish creature.So I am, but not so blind and selfish as I havebeen; for many tears have cleared my eyes, andmuch sincere regret has made me humbler than Iwas. I have found a better book than any father'slibrary can give me, and I have read it witha love and admiration that grew stronger as Iturned the leaves. Henceforth I take it for myguide and gospel, and, looking back upon theselfish and neglectful past, can only say, Heavenbless your dear heart, Nan!"
Laura echoed Di's last words; for, with eyesas full of tenderness, she looked down upon thesister she had lately learned to know, saying,warmly,--
"Yes, 'Heaven bless your dear heart, Nan!'I never can forget all you have been to me; andwhen I am far away with Philip, there will alwaysbe one countenance more beautiful to methan any pictured face I may discover, there willbe one place more dear to me than Rome. Theface will be yours, Nan, always so patient, alwaysso serene; and the dearer place will be this home ofours, which you have made so pleasant to me allthese years by kindnesses as numberless andnoiseless as the drops of dew."
"Dear girls, what have I ever done, that youshould love me so?" cried Nan, with happywonderment, as the tall heads, black and golden,bent to meet the lowly brown one, and her sisters'mute lips answered her.
Then Laura looked up, saying, playfully,--
"Here are the good and wicked sisters;-whereshall we find the Prince? "
"There!" cried Di, pointing to John; andthen her secret went off like a rocket; for, with herold impetuosity, she said,--
"I have found you out, John, and am ashamedto look you in the face, remembering the past.Girls, you know when father died, John sent usmoney, which he said Mr. Owen had long owedus and had paid at last? It was a kind lie, John,and a generous thing to do; for we needed it, butnever would have taken it as a gift. I know youmeant that we should never find this out; butyesterday I met Mr. Owen returning from theWest, and when I thanked him for a piece of justicewe had not expected of him, he gruffly told mehe had never paid the debt, never meant to pay it,for it was outlawed, and we could not claim afarthing. John, I have laughed at you, thoughtyou stupid, treated you unkindly; but I know younow, and never shall forget the lesson you havetaught me. I am proud as Lucifer, but I ask youto forgive me, and I seal my real repentance so--and so."
With tragic countenance, Di rushed across theroom, threw both arms about the astonished youngman's neck and dropped an energetic kiss upon hischeek. There was a momentary silence; for Difinally illustrated her strong-minded theories bycrying like the weakest of her sex. Laura, with "theruling passion strong in death," still tried to draw,but broke her pet crayon, and endowed her Clytiewith a supplementary orb, owing to the dimness ofher own. And Nan sat with drooping eyes, thatshone upon her work, thinking with tender pride,--They know him now, and love him for his generous heart."
Di spoke first, rallying to her colors, though alittle daunted by her loss of self-control.
"Don't laugh, John,--I couldn't help it; anddon't think I'm not sincere, for I am,--I am; andI will prove it by growing good enough to be yourfriend. That debt must all be paid, and I shalldo it; for I'll turn my books and pen to someaccount, and write stories full of clear old souls likeyou and Nan; and some one, I know, will like andbuy them, though they are not 'works of Shakespeare.'I've thought of this before, have felt Ihad the power in me; now I have the motive, andnow I'll do it."
If Di had Proposed to translate the Koran, orbuild a new Saint Paul's, there would have beenmany chances of success; for, once moved, herwill, like a battering-ram, would knock down theobstacles her wits could not surmount. Johnbelieved in her most heartily, and showed it, as heanswered, looking into her resolute face,--
"I know you will, and yet make us very proudof our 'Chaos,' Di. Let the money lie, and whenyou have a fortune, I'll claim it with enormousinterest; but, believe me, I feel already doublyrepaid by the esteem so generously confessed, socordially bestowed, and can only say, as we usedto years ago,--'Now let's forgive and so forget."
But proud Di would not let him add to her obligation,even by returning her impetuous salute;she slipped away, and, shaking off the last drops,answered with a curious mixture of old freedomand new respect,--
"No more sentiment, please, John. We knoweach other now; and when I find a friend, I neverlet him go. We have smoked the pipe of peace;so let us go back to our wigwams and bury thefeud. Where were we when I lost my head? andwhat were we talking about?"
"Cinderella and the Prince."
As she spoke, John's eye kindled, and, turning,he looked down at Nan, who sat diligently ornamentingwith microscopic stitches a great patchgoing on, the wrong side out.
"Yes,--so we were; and now taking pussy forthe godmother, the characters of the story are wellpersonated,--all but the slipper," said Di, laughing,as she thought of the many times they hadplayed it together years ago.
A sudden movement stirred John's frame, asudden purpose shone in his countenance, and asudden change befell his voice, as he said,producing from some hiding-place a littlewornout shoe,--
"I can supply the slipper;--who will try itfirst?"
Di's black eyes opened wide, as they fell onthe familiar object; then her romance-loving naturesaw the whole plot of that drama which needs buttwo to act it. A great delight flushed upinto her face, as she promptly took her cue, saying--
" No need for us to try it, Laura; for it wouldn'tfit us, if our feet were as small as Chinese dolls;our parts are played out; therefore 'Exeuntwicked sisters to the music of the wedding-bells.'"
And pouncing upon the dismayed artist, she swepther out and closed the door with a triumphantbang.
John went to Nan, and, dropping on his knee asreverently as the herald of the fairy tale, he asked,still smiling, but with lips grown tremulous,--
"Will Cinderella try the little shoe, and--ifit fits--go with the Prince?"
But Nan only covered up her face, weepinghappy tears, while all the weary work strayeddown upon the floor, as if it knew her holiday hadcome.
John drew the hidden face still closer, and whileshe listened to his eager words, Nan heard thebeating of the strong man's heart, and knew itspoke the truth.
"Nan, I promised mother to be silent till I wassure I loved you wholly,--sure that the knowledgewould give no pain when I should tell it, as I amtrying to tell it now. This little shoe has been mvcomforter through this long year, and I have keptit as other lovers keep their fairer favors. It hasbeen a talisman more eloquent to me than floweror ring; for, when I saw how worn it was, I alwaysthought of the willing feet that came and went forothers' comfort all day long; when I saw the littlebow you tied, I always thought of the hands sodiligent in serving any one who knew a want orfelt a pain; and when I recalled the gentle creaturewho had worn it last, I always saw her patient,tender, and devout,--and tried to grow moreworthy of her, that I might one day dare to askif she would walk beside me all my life and be my'angel in the house.' Will you, dear? Believeme, you shall never know a weariness or grief Ihave the power to shield you from."
Then Nan, as simple in her love as in her life,laid her arms about his neck, her happy face againsthis own, and answered softly,--
"Oh, John, I never can be sad or tired anymore!"