the garden party(园会)-第37节
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pulling up her gloves and trying to smile。 But deep inside her a little girl
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threw her pinafore over her head and sobbed。 Why had he spoiled it all？
〃I say； you know；〃 said the fat man； 〃you mustn't take me seriously；
little lady。〃
〃As if I should！〃 said Leila； tossing her small dark head and sucking
her underlip。。。
Again the couples paraded。 The swing doors opened and shut。 Now
new music was given out by the bandmaster。 But Leila didn't want to
dance any more。 She wanted to be home； or sitting on the veranda
listening to those baby owls。 When she looked through the dark
windows at the stars； they had long beams like wings。。。
But presently a soft； melting； ravishing tune began； and a young man
with curly hair bowed before her。 She would have to dance； out of
politeness； until she could find Meg。 Very stiffly she walked into the
middle； very haughtily she put her hand on his sleeve。 But in one minute；
in one turn； her feet glided； glided。 The lights； the azaleas； the dresses；
the pink faces； the velvet chairs； all became one beautiful flying wheel。
And when her next partner bumped her into the fat man and he said；
〃Pardon；〃 she smiled at him more radiantly than ever。 She didn't even
recognise him again。
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11。 THE SINGING LESSON。
With despaircold； sharp despairburied deep in her heart like a
wicked knife； Miss Meadows； in cap and gown and carrying a little baton；
trod the cold corridors that led to the music hall。 Girls of all ages； rosy
from the air； and bubbling over with that gleeful excitement that comes
from running to school on a fine autumn morning； hurried； skipped；
fluttered by； from the hollow class…rooms came a quick drumming of
voices； a bell rang； a voice like a bird cried； 〃Muriel。〃 And then there
came from the staircase a tremendous knock…knock…knocking。 Some one
had dropped her dumbbells。
The Science Mistress stopped Miss Meadows。
〃Good mor…ning；〃 she cried； in her sweet； affected drawl。 〃Isn't it
cold？ It might be win…ter。〃
Miss Meadows； hugging the knife； stared in hatred at the Science
Mistress。 Everything about her was sweet； pale； like honey。 You wold
not have been surprised to see a bee caught in the tangles of that yellow
hair。
〃It is rather sharp；〃 said Miss Meadows； grimly。
The other smiled her sugary smile。
〃You look fro…zen；〃 said she。 Her blue eyes opened wide； there came
a mocking light in them。 （Had she noticed anything？）
〃Oh； not quite as bad as that；〃 said Miss Meadows； and she gave the
Science Mistress； in exchange for her smile； a quick grimace and passed
on。。。
Forms Four； Five； and Six were assembled in the music hall。 The
noise was deafening。 On the platform； by the piano； stood Mary Beazley；
Miss Meadows' favourite； who played accompaniments。 She was turning
the music stool。 When she saw Miss Meadows she gave a loud； warning
〃Sh…sh！ girls！〃 and Miss Meadows； her hands thrust in her sleeves； the
baton under her arm； strode down the centre aisle； mounted the steps；
turned sharply； seized the brass music stand； planted it in front of her； and
gave two sharp taps with her baton for silence。
〃Silence； please！ Immediately！〃 and； looking at nobody； her glance
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swept over that sea of coloured flannel blouses； with bobbing pink faces
and hands； quivering butterfly hair…bows； and music…books outspread。
She knew perfectly well what they were thinking。 〃Meady is in a wax。〃
Well； let them think it！ Her eyelids quivered； she tossed her head；
defying them。 What could the thoughts of those creatures matter to some
one who stood there bleeding to death； pierced to the heart； to the heart； by
such a letter
。。。〃I feel more and more strongly that our marriage would be a mistake。
Not that I do not love you。 I love you as much as it is possible for me to
love any woman； but； truth to tell； I have come to the conclusion that I am
not a marrying man； and the idea of settling down fills me with nothing
but〃 and the word 〃disgust〃 was scratched out lightly and 〃regret〃
written over the top。
Basil！ Miss Meadows stalked over to the piano。 And Mary Beazley；
who was waiting for this moment； bent forward； her curls fell over her
cheeks while she breathed； 〃Good morning； Miss Meadows；〃 and she
motioned towards rather than handed to her mistress a beautiful yellow
chrysanthemum。 This little ritual of the flower had been gone through
for ages and ages； quite a term and a half。 It was as much part of the
lesson as opening the piano。 But this morning； instead of taking it up；
instead of tucking it into her belt while she leant over Mary and said；
〃Thank you； Mary。 How very nice！ Turn to page thirty…two；〃 what was
Mary's horror when Miss Meadows totally ignored the chrysanthemum；
made no reply to her greeting； but said in a voice of ice； 〃Page fourteen；
please； and mark the accents well。〃
Staggering moment！ Mary blushed until the tears stood in her eyes；
but Miss Meadows was gone back to the music stand； her voice rang
through the music hall。
〃Page fourteen。 We will begin with page fourteen。 'A Lament。'
Now； girls； you ought to know it by this time。 We shall take it all
together； not in parts； all together。 And without expression。 Sing it；
though； quite simply； beating time with the left hand。〃
She raised the baton； she tapped the music stand twice。 Down came
Mary on the opening chord； down came all those left hands； beating the air；
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and in chimed those young； mournful voices： 〃Fast！ Ah； too Fast
Fade the Ro…o…ses of Pleasure； Soon Autumn yields unto Wi…i…nter
Drear。 Fleetly！ Ah； Fleetly Mu…u…sic's Gay Measure Passes away
from the Listening Ear。〃
Good Heavens； what could be more tragic than that lament！ Every
note was a sigh； a sob； a groan of awful mournfulness。 Miss Meadows
lifted her arms in the wide gown and began conducting with both hands。
〃。。。I feel more and more strongly that our marriage would be a mistake。。。〃
she beat。 And the voices cried： 〃Fleetly！ Ah； Fleetly。〃 What could
have possessed him to write such a letter！ What could have led up to it！
It came out of nothing。 His last letter had been all about a fumed…oak
bookcase he had bought for 〃our〃 books； and a 〃natty little hall…stand〃 he
had seen； 〃a very neat affair with a carved owl on a bracket； holding three
hat…brushes in its claws。〃 How she had smiled at that！ So like a man to
think one needed three hat…brushes！ 〃From the Listening Ear；〃 sang the
voices。
〃Once again；〃 said Miss Meadows。 〃But this time in parts。 Still
without expression。〃 〃Fast！ Ah； too Fast。〃 With the gloom of the
contraltos added； one could scarcely help shuddering。 〃Fade the Roses of
Pleasure。〃 Last time he had come to see her； Basil had worn a rose in his
buttonhole。 How handsome he had looked in that bright blue suit； with
that dark red rose！ And he knew it； too。 He couldn't help knowing it。
