旧式女孩 英文版 An Old-fashioned Girl
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
CHAPTER VII GOOD-BY Page 2
"Was your dress imported?" asked Grace.
"No; was yours?" returned Blanche.
"Yes; and it cost oh, ever so much."
"I don't think it is as pretty as Maud's."
"Mine was made in New York," said Miss Shaw, smoothing herskirts complacently.
"Well, I don't care if my dress is n't imported; my cousin had threekinds of wine at her party; so, now," said Blanche.
"Did she?" And all the little girls looked deeply impressed, tillMaud observed, with a funny imitation of her father's manner,"My papa said it was scan-dill-us; for some of the little boys gottipsy, and had to be tooked home. He would n't let us have anywine; and gwandma said it was vewy impwoper for childwen to doso."
are you!"cared for such things," cried Fanny, surprised.
"My mother says your mother's coup, is n't half so stylish as ours,"put in Alice.
"Yes, it is, too. It 's all lined with gween silk, and that 's nicer thanold wed cloth," cried Maud, ruffling up like an insulted chicken.
"Well, my brother don't wear a horrid old cap, and he 's got nicehair. I would n't have a brother like Tom. He 's horrid rude, mysister says," retorted Alice.
"He is n't. Your brother is a pig."
"You 're a fib!"
"So are you!"
Here, I regret to say, Miss Shaw slapped Miss Lovett, whopromptly returned the compliment, and both began to cry.
Polly, who had paused to listen to the edifying chat, parted thebelligerents, and finding the poor things tired, cross, and sleepy,yet unable to go home till sent for, proposed to play games. Theyoung ladies consented, and "Puss in the corner" proved apeacemaker. Presently, in came the boys; and being exiles fromthe German, gladly joined in the games, which soon were livelyenough to wake the sleepiest. "Blind-man's-buff" was in full swingwhen Mr. Shaw peeped in, and seeing Polly flying about withband-aged eyes, joined in the fun to puzzle her. He got caughtdirectly; and great merriment was caused by Polly's bewilderment,for she could n't guess who he was, till she felt the bald spot on hishead.
This frolic put every one in such spirits, that Polly forgot hertrouble, and the little girls kissed each other good-night asaffectionately as if such things as imported frocks, coup,s, andrival brothers did n't exist "Well, Polly, do you like parties?" askedFan when the last guest was gone.
"Very much; but I don't think it would be good for me to go tomany," answered Polly, slowly.
"Why not?"
"I should n't enjoy them if I did n't have a fine dress, and dance allthe time, and be admired, and all the rest of it."
"I did n't know you cared for such things," cried Fanny, surprised.
"Neither did I till to-night; but I do; and as I can't have 'em, it 'slucky I 'm going home tomorrow."
"Oh, dear! So you are! What shall I do without my 'sweet P.,' asSydney calls you?" sighed Fanny, bearing Polly away to becuddled.
Mr. Shaw had not said he should come home so early, but Pollythought he might, and went to meet him. Mr. Shaw did n't expectto see Polly, for he had left her very busy, and now a light snowwas falling; but, as he turned into the mall there was the round hat,and under it the bright face, looking all the rosier for beingpowdered with snow-flakes, as Polly came running to meet him.
"There won't be any one to help the old gentleman safely hometo-morrow," he said, as Polly took his hand in both hers with anaffectionate squeeze.
"Yes, there will; see if there is n't," cried Polly, nodding andsmiling, for Fan had confided to her that she meant to try it afterher friend had gone.
"I 'm glad of it. But, my dear, I want you to promise that you willcome and make us a visit every winter, a good long one," said Mr.Shaw, patting the blue mittens folded round his hand.
"If they can spare me from home, I 'd love to come dearly."
"They must lend you for a little while, because you do us all good,and we need you."
"Do I? I don't see how; but I 'm glad to hear you say so," criedPolly, much touched.
things," cried Fanny, surprised.grandma.
"I can't tell you how, exactly; but you brought something into myhouse that makes it warmer and pleasanter, and won't quite vanish,I hope, when you go away, my child."
Polly had never heard Mr. Shaw speak like that before, and did n'tknow what to say, she felt so proud and happy at this proof of thetruth of her mother's words, when she said that "even a little girlcould exert an influence, and do some good in this big, busyworld." She only gave her friend a grateful look sweeter than anywords, and they went on together, hand in hand, through the"soft-falling snow."
If Polly could have seen what went into that top tray, she wouldhave been entirely overcome; for Fanny had told grandma aboutthe poor little presents she had once laughed at, and they had alllaid their heads together to provide something really fine andappropriate for every member of the Milton family. Such a mine ofriches! and so much good-will, affection, and kindly forethoughtwas packed away in the tempting bundles, that no one could feeloffended, but would find an unusual charm about the pretty giftsthat made them doubly welcome. I only know that if Polly hadsuspected that a little watch was ticking away in a little case, withher name on it, inside that trunk, she never could have left itlocked as grandma advised, or have eaten her dinner so quietly. Asit was, her heart was very full, and the tears rose to her eyes morethan once, everyone was so kind, and so sorry to have her go.
Tom did n't need any urging to play escort now; and both Fan andMaud insisted on going too. Mrs. Shaw forgot her nerves, and putup some gingerbread with her own hands; Mr. Shaw kissed Pollyas if she had been his dearest daughter; and grandma held herclose, whispering in a tremulous tone, "My little comfort, comeagain soon"; while Katy waved her apron from the nurserywindow, crying, as they drove, away, "The saints bless ye, MissPolly, dear, and sind ye the best of lucks!"
But the crowning joke of all was Tom's good-by, for, when Pollywas fairly settled in the car, the last "All aboard!" uttered, and thetrain in motion, Tom suddenly produced a knobby little bundle,and thrusting it in at the window, while he hung on in somebreakneck fashion, said, with a droll mixture of fun and feeling inhis face, "It 's horrid; but you wanted it, so I put it in to make youlaugh. Good-by, Polly; good-by, good-by!"
The last adieu was a trifle husky, and Tom vanished as it wasuttered, leaving Polly to laugh over his parting souvenir till thetears ran down her cheeks. It was a paper bag of peanuts, andpoked down at the very bottom a photograph of Tom. It was"horrid," for he looked as if taken by a flash of lightning, so black,wild, and staring was it; but Polly liked it, and whenever she felt alittle pensive at parting with her friends, she took a peanut, or apeep at Tom's funny picture, which made her merry again.
So the short journey came blithely to an end, and in the twilightshe saw a group of loving faces at the door of a humble littlehouse, which was more beautiful than any palace in her eyes, for itwas home.