旧式女孩 英文版 An Old-fashioned Girl
露意莎.梅.奥尔科特 Louisa May Alcott
CHAPTER XIII THE SUNNY SIDE Page 2
"Put a man's hand in hers to help her along, then," said Polly,whose happy fortune it had been to find friends and helpers infather and brothers.
"No; my woman is to stand alone, and help herself," said Rebecca,decidedly.
"She 's to be strong-minded, is she?" and Fanny's lip curled a littleas she uttered the misused words.
"Yes, strong-minded, strong-hearted, strong-souled, andstrong-bodied; that is why I made her larger than the miserable,pinched-up woman of our day. Strength and beauty must gotogether. Don't you think these broad shoulders can bear burdenswithout breaking down, these hands work well, these eyes seeclearly, and these lips do something besides simper and gossip?"
Fanny was silent; but a voice from Bess's corner said, "Put a childin her arms, Becky."
"Not that even, for she is to be something more than a nurse."
"Give her a ballot-box," cried a new voice, and turning round, theysaw an odd-looking woman perched on a sofa behind them.
"Thank you for the suggestion, Kate. I 'll put that with the othersymbols at her feet; for I 'm going to have needle, pen, palette, andbroom somewhere, to suggest the various talents she owns, and theballot-box will show that she has earned the right to use them.How goes it?" and Rebecca offered a clay-daubed hand, which thenew-comer cordially shook.
"Great news, girls! Anna is going to Italy!" cried Kate, tossing upher bonnet like a school-boy.
"Oh, how splendid! Who takes her? Has she had a fortune left her?Tell all about it," exclaimed the girls, gathering round the speaker.
"Yes, it is splendid; just one of the beautiful things that doeseverybody heaps of good, it is so generous and so deserved. Youknow Anna has been longing to go; working and hoping for achance, and never getting it, till all of a sudden Miss Burton isinspired to invite the girl to go with her for several years to Italy.Think of the luck of that dear soul, the advantages she 'll have, thegood it will do her, and, best of all, the lovely way in which itcomes to her. Miss Burton wants, her as a friend, asks nothing ofher but her company, and Anna will go through fire and water forher, of course. Now, is n't that fine?"
It was good to see how heartily these girls sympathized in theircomrade's good fortune. Polly danced all over the room, Bess andBecky hugged one another, and Kate laughed with her eyes full,while even Fanny felt a glow of, pride and pleasure at the kind act.
"Why, it Is Kate King, the authoress. Bless me, how rude not tointroduce you! Here, my King, is an admirer of yours, Fanny Shaw,and my well beloved friend," cried Polly, presenting Fan, whoregarded the shabby young woman with as much respect, as if shehad been arrayed in velvet and ermine; for Kate had written asuccessful book by accident, and happened to be the fashion, justthen.
"It 's time for lunch, girls, and I brought mine along with me, it 'sso much jollier to eat in sisterhood. Let 's club together, and have arevel," said Kate, producing a bag of oranges, and several big,plummy buns.
"We 've got sardines, crackers, and cheese," said Bess, clearing offa table with all speed.
"Wait a bit, and I 'll add my share," cried Polly, and catching upher cloak, she ran off to the grocery store near by.
"You 'll be shocked at our performances, Miss Shaw, but you cancall it a picnic, and never tell what dreadful things you saw us do,"said Rebecca, polishing a paint knife by rubbing it up and down ina pot of ivy, while Kate spread forth the feast in several odd plates,and a flat shell or two.
"Let us have coffee to finish off with; put on the pot, Bess, andskim the milk," added Becky, as she produced cups, mugs, and aqueer little vase, to supply drinking vessels for the party.
"Here 's nuts, a pot of jam, and some cake. Fan likes sweet things,and we want to be elegant when we have company," said Polly,flying in again, and depositing her share on the table.
"Now, then, fall to, ladies, and help yourselves. Never mind if thechina don't hold out; take the sardines by their little tails, and wipeyour fingers on my brown-paper napkins," said Kate, setting theexample with such a relish, that the others followed it in a gale ofmerriment.
Fanny had been to many elegant lunches, but never enjoyed onemore than that droll picnic in the studio; for there was a freedomabout it that was charming, an artistic flavor to everything, andsuch a spirit of good-will and gayety, that she felt at home at once.As they ate, the others talked and she listened, finding it asinteresting as any romance to hear these young women discusstheir plans, ambitions, successes, and defeats. It was a new worldto her, and they seemed a different race of creatures from the girlswhose lives were spent in dress, gossip, pleasure, or ennui. Theywere girls still, full of spirits fun, and youth; but below thelight-heartedness each cherished a purpose, which seemed toennoble her womanhood, to give her a certain power, a sustainingsatisfaction, a daily stimulus, that led her on to daily effort, and intime to some success in circumstance or character, which wasworth all the patience, hope, and labor of her life.
Fanny was just then in the mood to feel the beauty of this, for thesincerest emotion she had ever known was beginning to make herdissatisfied with herself, and the aimless life she led. "Men mustrespect such girls as these," she thought; "yes, and love them too,for in spite of their independence, they are womanly. I wish I had atalent to live for, if it would do as much for me as it does for them.It is this sort of thing that is improving Polly, that makes hersociety interesting to Sydney, and herself so dear to every one.Money can't buy these things for me, and I want them very much."
As these thoughts were passing through her mind, Fanny washearing all sorts of topics discussed with feminine enthusiasm andfrankness. Art, morals, politics, society, books, religion,housekeeping, dress, and economy, for the minds and tonguesroved from subject to subject with youthful rapidity, and seemed toget something from the dryest and the dullest.
"How does the new book come on?" asked Polly, sucking herorange in public with a composure which would have scandalizedthe good ladies of "Cranford."
"Better than it deserves. My children, beware of popularity; it is adelusion and a snare; it puffeth up the heart of man, and especiallyof woman; it blindeth the eyes to faults; it exalteth unduly thehumble powers of the victim; it is apt to be capricious, and just asone gets to liking the taste of this intoxicating draught, it suddenlyfaileth, and one is left gasping, like a fish out of water," and Kateemphasized her speech by spearing a sardine with a penknife, andeating it with a groan.
"It won't hurt you much, I guess; you have worked and waited solong, a large dose will do you good," said Rebecca, giving her agenerous spoonful of jam, as if eager to add as much sweetness aspossible to a life that had not been an easy one.
"When are you and Becky going to dissolve partnership?" askedPolly, eager for news of all.
"Never! George knows he can't have one without the other, and hasnot suggested such a thing as parting us. There is always room inmy house for Becky, and she lets me do as she would if she was inmy place," answered Bess, with a look which her friend answeredby a smile.
"The lover won't separate this pair of friends, you see," whisperedPolly to Fan. "Bess is to be married in the spring, and Becky is tolive with her."
"By the way, Polly, I 've got some tickets for you. People arealways sending me such things, and as I don't care for them, I 'mglad to make them over to you young and giddy infants. There arepasses for the statuary exhibition, Becky shall have those, here arethe concert tickets for you, my musical girl; and that is for a courseof lectures on literature, which I 'll keep for myself."
As Kate dealt out the colored cards to the grateful girls, Fanny tooka good look at her, wondering if the time would ever come whenwomen could earn a little money and success, without paying sucha heavy price for them; for Kate looked sick, tired, and too earlyold. Then her eye went to the unfinished statue, and she said,impulsively, "I hope you 'll put that in marble, and show us whatwe ought to be."
"I wish I could!" And an intense desire shone in Rebecca's face, asshe saw her faulty work, and felt how fair her model was.
For a minute, the five young women sat silent looking up at thebeautiful, strong figure before them, each longing to see it done,and each unconscious that she was helping, by her individual effortand experience, to bring the day when their noblest ideal ofwomanhood should be embodied in flesh and blood, not clay.
The city bells rung one, and Polly started up.
"I must go, for I promised a neighbor of mine a lesson at two."
"I thought this was a holiday," said Fanny.
"So it is, but this is a little labor of love, and does n't spoil the dayat all. The child has talent, loves music, and needs help. I can'tgive her money, but I can teach her; so I do, and she is the mostpromising pupil I have. Help one another, is part of the religion ofour sisterhood, Fan."
"Me! why, there never was such a humdrum, unromantic thing as Iam," cried Polly, amazed.
"I 've booked you, nevertheless, so in you go; but you may add asmuch romance as you like, it 's time you did."
"I 'm ready for it when it comes, but it can't be forced, you know,"and Polly blushed and smiled as if some little spice of thatdelightful thing had stolen into her life, for all its prosaic seeming.
Fanny was amused to see that the girls did not kiss at parting, butshook hands in a quiet, friendly fashion, looking at one anotherwith eyes that said more than the most "gushing" words.
"I like your friends very much, Polly. I was afraid I should findthem mannish and rough, or sentimental and conceited. But theyare simple, sensible creatures, full of talent, and all sorts of finethings. I admire and respect them, and want to go again, if I may."
"Oh, Fan, I am so glad! I hoped you 'd like them, I knew they 'd doyou good, and I 'll take you any time, for you stood the test betterthan I expected. Becky asked me to bring you again, and sheseldom does that for fashionable young ladies, let me tell you."
"I want to be ever so much better, and I think you and they mightshow me how," said Fanny, with a traitorous tremble in her voice.
"We 'll show you the sunny side of poverty and work, and that is auseful lesson for any one, Miss Mills says," answered Polly,hoping that Fan would learn how much the poor can teach the rich,and what helpful friends girls may be to one another.