旧式女孩 英文版 An Old-fashioned Girl
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
CHAPTER X BROTHERS AND SISTERS Page 1
POLLY'S happiest day was Sunday, for Will never failed to spendit with her. Instead of sleeping later than usual that morning, shewas always up bright and early, flying round to get ready for herguest, for Will came to breakfast, and they made a long day of it.Will considered his sister the best and prettiest girl going, andPolly, knowing well that a time would come when he would find abetter and a prettier, was grateful for his good opinion, and tried todeserve it. So she made her room and herself as neat and invitingas possible, and always ran to meet him with a bright face and amotherly greeting, when he came tramping in, ruddy, brisk, andbeaming, with the brown loaf and the little pot of beans from thebake-house near by.
They liked a good country breakfast, and nothing gave Polly moresatisfaction than to see her big boy clear the dishes, empty the littlecoffee-pot, and then sit and laugh at her across the ravaged table.Another pleasure was to let him help clear away, as they used to doat home, while the peals of laughter that always accompanied thisperformance did Miss Mills' heart good to hear, for the room wasso small and Will so big that he seemed to be everywhere at once,and Polly and Puttel were continually dodging his long arms andlegs. Then they used to inspect the flower pots, pay Nick a visit,and have a little music as a good beginning for the day, after whichthey went to church and dined with Miss Mills, who consideredWill "an excellent young man." If the afternoon was fair, they tooka long walk together over the bridges into the country, or about thecity streets full of Sabbath quietude. Most people meeting themwould have seen only an awkward young man, with a boy's faceatop of his tall body, and a quietly dressed, fresh faced littlewoman hanging on his arm; but a few people, with eyes to readromances and pleasant histories everywhere, found something veryattractive in this couple, and smiled as they passed, wondering ifthey were young, lovers, or country cousins "looking round."
If the day was stormy, they stayed at home, reading, writing letters,talking over their affairs, and giving each other good advice; for,though Will was nearly three years younger than Polly, he could n'tfor the life of him help assuming amusingly venerable airs, whenhe became a Freshman. In the twilight he had a good lounge on thesofa, and Polly sung to him, which arrangement he particularlyenjoyed, it was so "cosy and homey." At nine o'clock, Polly packedhis bag with clean clothes, nicely mended, such remnants of thefestive tea as were transportable, and kissed him "good-night,"with many injunctions to muffle up his throat going over thebridge, and be sure that his feet were dry and warm when he wentto bed. All of which Will laughed at, accepted graciously, and didn't obey; but he liked it, and trudged away for another week's work,rested, cheered, and strengthened by that quiet, happy day withPolly, for he had been brought up to believe in home influences,and this brother and sister loved one another dearly, and were notashamed to own it.
One other person enjoyed the humble pleasures of these Sundaysquite as much as Polly and Will. Maud used to beg to come to tea,and Polly, glad to do anything for those who had done a good dealfor her, made a point of calling for the little girl as they camehome from their walk, or sending Will to escort her in the carriage,which Maud always managed to secure if bad weather threatenedto quench her hopes. Tom and Fanny laughed at her fancy, but shedid not tire of it, for the child was lonely, and found something inthat little room which the great house could not give her.
Maud was twelve now; a pale, plain child, with sharp, intelligenteyes, and a busy little mind, that did a good deal more thinkingthan anybody imagined. She was just at the unattractive, fidgetyage when no one knew what to do with her, and so let her fumbleher way up as she could, finding pleasure in odd things, and livingmuch alone, for she did not go to school, because her shoulderswere growing round, and Mrs. Shaw would not "allow her figure tobe spoiled." That suited Maud excellently; and whenever her fatherspoke of sending her again, or getting a governess, she was seizedwith bad headaches, a pain in her back, or weakness of the eyes, atwhich Mr. Shaw laughed, but let her holiday go on. Nobodyseemed to care much for plain, pug-nosed little Maudie; her fatherwas busy, her mother nervous and sick, Fanny absorbed in her ownaffairs, and Tom regarded her as most young men do their youngersisters, as a person born for his amusement and convenience,nothing more. Maud admired Tom with all her heart, and made alittle slave of herself to him, feeling well repaid if he merely said,"Thank you, chicken," or did n't pinch her nose, or nip her ear, ashe had a way of doing, "just as if I was a doll, or a dog, and had n'tgot any feelings," she sometimes said to Fanny, when some serviceor sacrifice had been accepted without gratitude or respect. Itnever occurred to Tom, when Maud sat watching him with herface full of wistfulness, that she wanted to be petted as much asever he did in his neglected boyhood, or that when he called her"Pug" before people, her little feelings were as deeply wounded ashis used to be, when the boys called him "Carrots." He was fond ofher in his fashion, but he did n't take the trouble to show it, soMaud worshipped him afar off, afraid to betray the affection thatno rebuff could kill or cool.
One snowy Sunday afternoon Tom lay on the sofa in his favoriteattitude, reading "Pendennis" for the fourth time, and smoking likea chimney as he did so. Maud stood at the window watching thefalling flakes with an anxious countenance, and presently a greatsigh broke from her.
"Don't do that again, chicken, or you 'll blow me away. What's thematter?" asked Tom, throwing down his book with a yawn thatthreatened dislocation.
"I 'm afraid I can't go to Polly's," answered Maud, disconsolately.
"Of course you can't; it 's snowing hard, and father won't be homewith the carriage till this evening. What are you always cutting offto Polly's for?"
"I like it; we have such nice times, and Will is there, and we bakelittle johnny-cakes in the baker before the fire, and they sing, and itis so pleasant."
"Warbling johnny-cakes must be interesting. Come and tell me allabout it."
"No, you 'll only laugh at me."
"I give you my word I won't, if I can help it; but I really am dyingof curiosity to know what you do down there. You like to hearsecrets, so tell me yours, and I 'll be as dumb as an oyster."
"It is n't a secret, and you would n't care for it. Do you wantanother pillow?" she added, as Tom gave his a thump.
"This will do; but why you women always stick tassels and fringeall over a sofa-cushion, to tease and tickle a fellow, is what I don'tunderstand."
"One thing that Polly does Sunday nights, is to take Will's head inher lap, and smooth his forehead. It rests him after studying sohard, she says. If you don't like the pillow, I could do that for you,'cause you look as if you were more tired of studying than Will,"said Maud, with some hesitation, but an evident desire to be usefuland agreeable.
"Well, I don't care if you do try it, for I am confoundedly tired."And Tom laughed, as he recalled the frolic he had been on thenight before.
Maud established herself with great satisfaction, and Tom ownedthat a silk apron was nicer than a fuzzy cushion.
"Do you like it?" she asked, after a few strokes over the hotforehead, which she thought was fevered by intense application toGreek and Latin.
"Not bad; play away," was the gracious reply, as Tom shut hiseyes, and lay so still that Maud was charmed at the success of herattempt. Presently, she said, softly, "Tom, are you asleep?"
"Just turning the comer."
"Before you get quite round would you please tell me what aPublic Admonition is?"
"What do you want to know for?" demanded Tom, opening hiseyes very wide.
"I heard Will talking about Publics and Privates, and I meant to askhim, but I forgot."
"What did he say?"
"I don't remember; it was about somebody who cut prayers, andgot a Private, and had done all sorts of bad things, and had one ortwo Publics. I did n't hear the name and did n't care; I only wantedto know what the words meant."
"So Will tells tales, does he?" and Tom's forehead wrinkled with afrown.
"No, he did n't; Polly knew about it and asked him."
"Will's a 'dig,'" growled Tom, shutting his eyes again, as if nothingmore could be said of the delinquent William.
"I don't care if he is; I like him very much, and so does Polly."
"Happy Fresh!" said Tom, with a comical groan.
"You need n't sniff at him, for he is nice, and treats me withrespect," cried Maud, with an energy that made Tom laugh in herface.
"He 's good to Polly always, and puts on her cloak for her, and says'my dear,' and kisses her 'goodnight,' and don't think it 's silly, and Iwish I had a brother just like him, yes, I do!" And Maud showedsigns of woe, for her disappointment about going was very great.
"Bless my boots! what's the chicken ruffling up her little feathersand pecking at me for? Is that the way Polly soothes the best ofbrothers?" said Tom, still laughing.
"Oh, I forgot! there, I won't cry; but I do want to go," and Maudswallowed her tears, and began to stroke again.
Now Tom's horse and sleigh were in the stable, for he meant todrive out to College that evening, but he did n't take Maud's hint. Itwas less trouble to lie still, and say in a conciliatory tone, "Tellme some more about this good boy, it 's very interesting."
Warbling johnny-cakes must be interesting. Come and tell!
"No, I shan't, but I 'll tell about Puttel's playing on the piano," saidMaud, anxious to efface the memory of her momentary weakness."Polly points to the right key with a little stick, and Puttel sits onthe stool and pats each key as it 's touched, and it makes a tune. It's so funny to see her, and Nick perches on the rack and sings as ifhe 'd kill himself."
"Very thrilling," said Tom, in a sleepy tone.
Maud felt that her conversation was not as interesting as shehoped, and tried again.
"Polly thinks you are handsomer than Mr. Sydney."
"Much obliged."
"I asked which she thought had the nicest face, and she said yourswas the handsomest, and his the best."
"Does he ever go there?" asked a sharp voice behind them; andlooking round Maud saw Fanny in the big chair, cooking her feetover the register.
"I never saw him there; he sent up some books one day, and Willteased her about it."
"What did she do?" demanded Fanny. "Oh, she shook him."
"What a spectacle!" and Tom looked as if he would have enjoyedseeing it, but Fanny's face grew so forbidding, that Tom's little dog,who was approaching to welcome her, put his tail between his legsand fled under the table.
"Then there is n't any 'Sparking Sunday night'?" sung Tom, whoappeared to have waked up again.
"Of course not. Polly is n't going to marry anybody; she 's going tokeep house for Will when he 's a minister, I heard her say so,"cried Maud, with importance.
"What a fate for pretty Polly!" ejaculated Tom.
"She likes it, and I 'm sure I should think she would; it 's beautifulto hear 'em plan it all out."
"Any more gossip to retail, Pug?" asked Tom a minute after, asMaud seemed absorbed in visions of the, future.
"He told a funny story about blowing up one of the professors. Younever told us, so I suppose you did n't know it. Some bad fellowput a torpedo, or some sort of powder thing, under the chair, and itwent off in the midst of the lesson, and the poor man flew up,frightened most to pieces, and the boys ran with pails of water toput the fire out. But the thing that made Will laugh most was, thatthe very fellow who did it got his trousers burnt trying to put outthe fire, and he asked the is it Faculty or President? "
"Either will do," murmured Tom, who was shaking withsuppressed laughter.
"Well, he asked 'em to give him some new ones, and they did givehim money enough, for a nice pair; but he got some cheap ones,with horrid great stripes on 'em, and always wore 'em to thatparticular class, 'which was one too many for the fellows,' Willsaid, and with the rest of the money he had a punch party. Was n'tit dreadful?"
"Awful!" And Tom exploded into a great laugh, that made Fannycover her ears, and the little dog bark wildly.
"Did you know that bad boy?" asked innocent Maud.
"Slightly," gasped Tom, in whose wardrobe at college thoseidentical trousers were hanging at that moment.
"Don't make such a noise, my head aches dreadfully," said Fanny,fretfully.
"Girls' heads always do ache," answered Tom, subsiding from aroar into a chuckle.
"What pleasure you boys can find in such ungentlemanly things, Idon't see," said Fanny, who was evidently out of sorts.
"As much a mystery to you as it is to us, how you girls can like togabble and prink from one week's end to the other," retorted Tom.
There was a pause after this little passage-at-arms, but Fan wantedto be amused, for time hung heavily on her hands, so she asked, ina more amiable tone, "How 's Trix?"
"As sweet as ever," answered Tom, gruffly.
"Did she scold you, as usual?"
"She just did."
"What was the matter?"
"Well, I 'll leave it to you if this is n't unreasonable: she won'tdance with me herself, yet don't like me to go it with anybody else.I said, I thought, if a fellow took a girl to a party, she ought todance with him once, at least, especially if they were engaged. Shesaid that was the very reason why she should n't do it; so, at thelast hop, I let her alone, and had a gay time with Belle, and to-dayTrix gave it to me hot and heavy, coming home from church."
"If you go and engage yourself to a girl like that, I don't know whatyou can expect. Did she wear her Paris hat to-day?" added Fan,with sudden interest in her voice.
"She wore some sort of a blue thing, with a confounded bird ofParadise in it, that kept whisking into my face every time sheturned her head."
"Men never know a pretty thing when they see it. That hat isperfectly lovely."
"They know a lady when they see her, and Trix don't look like one;I can't say where the trouble is, but there 's too much fuss andfeathers for my taste. You are twice as stylish, yet you never lookloud or fast."
Touched by this unusual compliment, Fanny drew her chair neareras she replied with complacency, "Yes, I flatter myself I do knowhow to dress well. Trix never did; she 's fond of gay colors, andgenerally looks like a walking rainbow."
"Can't you give her a hint? Tell her not to wear blue glovesanyway, she knows I hate 'em."
"I 've done my best for your sake, Tom, but she is a perversecreature, and don't mind a word I say, even about things muchmore objectionable than blue gloves."
"Maudie, run and bring me my other cigar case, it 's lying roundsomewhere."
Maud went; and as soon as the door was shut, Tom rose on hiselbow, saying in a cautiously lowered voice, "Fan, does Trixpaint?"
"Yes, and draws too," answered Fanny, with a sly laugh.
"Come, you know what I mean; I 've a right to ask and you oughtto tell," said Tom, soberly, for he was beginning to find that beingengaged was not unmitigated bliss.
"What makes you think she does?"
"Well, between ourselves," said Tom, looking a little sheepish, butanxious to set his mind at rest, "she never will let me kiss her onher cheek, nothing but an unsatisfactory peck at her lips. Then theother day, as I took a bit of heliotrope out of a vase to put in mybutton-hole, I whisked a drop of water into her face; I was going towipe it off, but she pushed my hand away, and ran to the glass,where she carefully dabbed it dry, and came back with one cheekredder than the other. I did n't say anything, but I had mysuspicions. Come now, does she?"
"Yes, she does; but don't say a word to her, for she 'll never forgivemy telling if she knew it."
"I don't care for that; I don't like it, and I won't have it," said Tom,decidedly.
"You can't help yourself. Half the girls do it, either paint orpowder, darken their lashes with burnt hair-pins, or take cologneon lumps of sugar or belladonna to make their eyes bright. Claratried arsenic for her complexion, but her mother stopped it," saidFanny, betraying the secrets of the prison-house in the basestmanner.
"I knew you girls were a set of humbugs, and very pretty ones, too,some of you, but I can't say I like to see you painted up like a lot ofactresses," said Tom, with an air of disgust.
"I don't do anything of the sort, or need it, but Trix does; andhaving chosen her, you must abide your choice, for better orworse."
"It has n't come to that yet," muttered Tom, as he lay down againwith a rebellious air.
Maud's return put an end to these confidences, though Tom excitedher curiosity by asking the mysterious question, "I say, Fan, isPolly up to that sort of thing?"
"No, she thinks it 's awful. When she gets pale and dragged out shewill probably change her mind."
"I doubt it," said Tom.
"Polly says it is n't proper to talk secrets before people who ain't in'em," observed Maud, with dignity.
"Do, for mercy sake, stop talking about Polly, I 'm sick to death ofit," cried Fanny, snappishly.
"Hullo!" and Tom sat up to take a survey. "I thought you werebosom friends, and as spoony as ever."
"Well, I am fond of Polly, but I get tired of hearing Maud sing herpraises everlastingly. Now don't go and repeat that, chatterbox."
"My goodness, is n't she cross?" whispered Maud to Tom.
"As two sticks; let her be. There 's the bell; see who it is, Pug,"answered Tom, as a tingle broke the silence of the house.
Maud went to peep over the banisters, and came flying back in arapture.
"It 's Will come for me! Can't I go? It don't snow hard, and I 'llbundle up, and you can send for me when papa comes."
"I don't care what you do," answered Fan, who was in a very badtemper.
Without waiting for any other permission, Maud rushed away toget ready. Will would n't come up, he was so snowy, and Fannywas glad, because with her he was bashful, awkward, and silent, soTom went down and entertained him with Maud's report. Theywere very good friends, but led entirely different lives, Will beinga "dig," and Tom a "bird," or, in plain English, one was a hardstudent, and the other a jolly young gentleman. Tom had ratherpatronized Will, who did n't like it, and showed that he did n't byrefusing to borrow money of him, or accept any of his invitationsto join the clubs and societies to which Tom belonged. So Shaw letMilton alone, and he got on very well in his own way, doggedlysticking to his books, and resisting all temptations but those ofcertain libraries, athletic games, and such inexpensive pleasures aswere within his means; for this benighted youth had not yetdiscovered that college nowadays is a place in which to "sky-lark,"not to study.
When Maud came down and trotted contentedly away, holdingWill's hand, Tom watched them out of sight, and then strolledabout the house whistling and thinking, till he went to sleep in hisfather's arm-chair, for want of something better to do. He awoke tothe joys of a solitary tea, for his mother never came down, andFanny shut herself and her headache up in her own room.