the golden road-第11节

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ully。　　She　thought　Uncle　Roger　was　saying　grace　all　the　time。〃

〃I　don't　think　it's　right　to　tell　funny　stories　about　such　things；〃　said　Felicity　coldly。　　〃And　I　asked　for　your　opinion；　not　for　a　story。〃

〃If　we　don't　ask　her；　Felix　must　say　it；　for　he's　the　only　one　who　can；　and　we　must　have　it；　or　she'd　be　shocked。〃

〃Oh；　ask　herask　her；〃　advised　Felix　hastily。

She　was　asked　accordingly　and　said　grace　without　any　hesitation；　after　which　she　proceeded　to　eat　heartily　of　the　excellent　supper　Felicity　had　provided。　　The　rusks　were　especially　good　and　Great…　aunt　Eliza　ate　three　of　them　and　praised　them。　　Apart　from　that　she　said　little　and　during　the　first　part　of　the　meal　we　sat　in　embarrassed　silence。　　Towards　the　last；　however；　our　tongues　were　loosened；　and　the　Story　Girl　told　us　a　tragic　tale　of　old　Charlottetown　and　a　governor's　wife　who　had　died　of　a　broken　heart　in　the　early　days　of　the　colony。

〃They　say　that　story　isn't　true；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃They　say　what　she　really　died　of　was　indigestion。　　The　Governor's　wife　who　lives　there　now　is　a　relation　of　our　own。　　She　is　a　second　cousin　of　father's　but　we've　never　seen　her。　　Her　name　was　Agnes　Clark。　　And　mind　you；　when　father　was　a　young　man　he　was　dead　in　love　with　her　and　so　was　she　with　him。〃

〃Who　ever　told　you　that？〃　exclaimed　Dan。

〃Aunt　Olivia。　　And　I've　heard　ma　teasing　father　about　it；　too。　　Of　course；　it　was　before　father　got　acquainted　with　mother。〃

〃Why　didn't　your　father　marry　her？〃　I　asked。

〃Well；　she　just　simply　wouldn't　marry　him　in　the　end。　　She　got　over　being　in　love　with　him。　　I　guess　she　was　pretty　fickle。　　Aunt　Olivia　said　father　felt　awful　about　it　for　awhile；　but　he　got　over　it　when　he　met　ma。　　Ma　was　twice　as　good…looking　as　Agnes　Clark。　　Agnes　was　a　sight　for　freckles；　so　Aunt　Olivia　says。　　But　she　and　father　remained　real　good　friends。　　Just　think；　if　she　had　married　him　we　would　have　been　the　children　of　the　Governor's　wife。〃

〃But　she　wouldn't　have　been　the　Governor's　wife　then；〃　said　Dan。

〃I　guess　it's　just　as　good　being　father's　wife；〃　declared　Cecily　loyally。

〃You　might　think　so　if　you　saw　the　Governor；〃　chuckled　Dan。　　〃Uncle　Roger　says　it　would　be　no　harm　to　worship　him　because　he　doesn't　look　like　anything　in　the　heavens　above　or　on　the　earth　beneath　or　the　waters　under　the　earth。〃

〃Oh；　Uncle　Roger　just　says　that　because　he's　on　the　opposite　side　of　politics；〃　said　Cecily。　　〃The　Governor　isn't　really　so　very　ugly。　　I　saw　him　at　the　Markdale　picnic　two　years　ago。　　He's　very　fat　and　bald　and　red…faced；　but　I've　seen　far　worse　looking　men。〃

〃I'm　afraid　your　seat　is　too　near　the　stove；　Aunt　Eliza；〃　shouted　Felicity。

Our　guest；　whose　face　was　certainly　very　much　flushed；　shook　her　head。

〃Oh；　no；　I'm　very　comfortable；〃　she　said。　　But　her　voice　had　the　effect　of　making　us　uncomfortable。　　There　was　a　queer；　uncertain　little　sound　in　it。　　Was　Great…aunt　Eliza　laughing　at　us？　　We　looked　at　her　sharply　but　her　face　was　very　solemn。　　Only　her　eyes　had　a　suspicious　appearance。　　Somehow；　we　did　not　talk　much　more　the　rest　of　the　meal。

When　it　was　over　Great…aunt　Eliza　said　she　was　very　sorry　but　she　must　really　go。　　Felicity　politely　urged　her　to　stay；　but　was　much　relieved　when　Great…aunt　Eliza　adhered　to　her　intention　of　going。　　When　Felicity　took　her　to　the　spare　room　Cecily　slipped　upstairs　and　presently　came　back　with　a　little　parcel　in　her　hand。

〃What　have　you　got　there？〃　demanded　Felicity　suspiciously。

〃Aa　little　bag　of　rose…leaves；〃　faltered　Cecily。　　〃I　thought　I'd　give　them　to　Aunt　Eliza。〃

〃The　idea！　　Don't　you　do　such　a　thing；〃　said　Felicity　contemptuously。　　〃She'd　think　you　were　crazy。〃

〃She　was　awfully　nice　when　I　asked　her　for　her　name　for　the　quilt；〃　protested　Cecily；　〃and　she　took　a　ten…cent　section　after　all。　　So　I'd　like　to　give　her　the　rose…leavesand　I'm　going　to；　too；　Miss　Felicity。〃

Great…aunt　Eliza　accepted　the　little　gift　quite　graciously；　bade　us　all　good…bye；　said　she　had　enjoyed　herself　very　much；　left　messages　for　father　and　mother；　and　finally　betook　herself　away。　　We　watched　her　cross　the　yard；　tall；　stately；　erect；　and　disappear　down　the　lane。　　Then；　as　often　aforetime；　we　gathered　together　in　the　cheer　of　the　red　hearth…flame；　while　outside　the　wind　of　a　winter　twilight　sang　through　fair　white　valleys　brimmed　with　a　reddening　sunset；　and　a　faint；　serene；　silver…cold　star　glimmered　over　the　willow　at　the　gate。

〃Well；〃　said　Felicity；　drawing　a　relieved　breath；　〃I'm　glad　she's　gone。　　She　certainly　is　queer；　just　as　mother　said。〃

〃It's　a　different　kind　of　queerness　from　what　I　expected；　though；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　meditatively。　　〃There's　something　I　can't　quite　make　out　about　Aunt　Eliza。　　I　don't　think　I　altogether　like　her。〃

〃I'm　precious　sure　I　don't；〃　said　Dan。

〃Oh；　well；　never　mind。　　She's　gone　now　and　that's　the　last　of　it；〃　said　Cecily　comfortingly　。

But　it　wasn't　the　last　of　itnot　by　any　manner　of　means　was　it！　When　our　grown…ups　returned　almost　the　first　words　Aunt　Janet　said　were；

〃And　so　you　had　the　Governor's　wife　to　tea？〃

We　all　stared　at　her。

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃We　had　nobody　to　tea　except　Great…aunt　Eliza。　　She　came　this　afternoon　and〃

〃Great…aunt　Eliza？　　Nonsense；〃　said　Aunt　Janet。　　〃Aunt　Eliza　was　in　town　today。　　She　had　tea　with　us　at　Aunt　Louisa's。　　But　wasn't　Mrs。　Governor　Lesley　here？　　We　met　her　on　her　way　back　to　Charlottetown　and　she　told　us　she　was。　　She　said　she　was　visiting　a　friend　in　Carlisle　and　thought　she'd　call　to　see　father　for　old　acquaintance　sake。　　What　in　the　world　are　all　you　children　staring　like　that　for？　　Your　eyes　are　like　saucers。〃

〃There　was　a　lady　here　to　tea；〃　said　Felicity　miserably；　〃but　we　thought　it　was　Great…aunt　Elizashe　never　SAID　she　wasn'tI　thought　she　acted　queerand　we　all　yelled　at　her　as　if　she　was　deafand　said　things　to　each　other　about　her　noseand　Pat　running　over　her　clothes〃

〃She　must　have　heard　all　you　said　while　I　was　showing　her　the　photographs；　Dan；〃　cried　Cecily。

〃And　about　the　Governor　at　tea　time；〃　chuckled　unrepentant　Dan。

〃I　want　to　know　what　all　this　means；〃　said　Aunt　Janet　sternly。

She　knew　in　due　time；　after　she　had　pieced　the　story　together　from　our　disjointed　accounts。　　She　was　horrified；　and　Uncle　Alec　was　mildly　disturbed；　but　Uncle　Roger　roared　with　laughter　and　Aunt　Olivia　echoed　it。

〃To　think　you　should　have　so　little　sense！〃　said　Aunt　Janet　in　a　disgusted　tone。

〃I　think　it　was　real　mean　of　her　to　pretend　she　was　deaf；〃　said　Felicity；　almost　on　the　verge　of　tears。

〃That　was　Agnes　Clark　all　over；〃　chuckled　Uncle　Roger。　　〃How　she　must　have　enjoyed　this　afternoon！〃

She　had　enjoyed　it；　as　we　learned　the　next　day；　when　a　letter　came　from　her。

〃Dear　Cecily　and　all　the　rest　of　you；〃　wrote　the　Governor's　wife；　〃I　want　to　ask　you　to　forgive　me　for　pretending　to　be　Aunt　Eliza。　　I　suspect　it　was　a　little　horrid　of　me；　but　really　I　couldn't　resist　the　temptation；　and　if　you　will　forgive　me　for　it　I　will　forgive　you　for　the　things　you　said　about　the　Governor；　and　we　will　all　be　good　friends。　　You　know　the　Governor　is　a　very　nice　man；　though　he　has　the　misfortune　not　to　be　handsome。

〃I　had　just　a　splendid　time　at　your　place；　and　I　envy　your　Aunt　Eliza　her　nephews　and　nieces。　　You　were　all　so　nice　to　me；　and　I　didn't　dare　to　be　a　bit　nice　to　you　lest　I　should　give　myself　away。　　But　I'll　make　up　for　that　when　you　come　to　see　me　at　Government　House；　as　you　all　must　the　very　next　time　you　come　to　town。　　I'm　so　sorry　I　didn't　see　Paddy；　for　I　love　pussy　cats；　even　if　they　do　track　molasses　over　my　clothes。　　And；　Cecily；　thank　you　ever　so　much　for　that　little　bag　of　pot…pourri。　　It　smells　like　a　hundred　rose　gardens；　and　I　have　put　it　between　the　sheets　for　my　very　sparest　room　bed；　where　you　shall　sleep　when　you　come　to　see　me；　you　dear　thing。　　And　the　Governor　wants　you　to　put　his　name　on　the　quilt　square；　too；　in　the　ten…cent　section。

〃Tell　Dan　I　enjoyed　his　comments　on　the　photographs　very　much。　　They　were　quite　a　refreshing　contrast　to　the　usual　explanations　of　'who's　who。'　And　Felicity；　your　rusks　were　perfection。　　Do　send　me　your　recipe　for　them；　there's　a　darling。

〃Yours　most　cordially；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AGNES　CLARK　LESLEY。


〃Well；　it　was　decent　of　her　to　apologize；　anyhow；〃　commented　Dan。

〃If　we　only　hadn't　said　that　about　the　Governor；〃　moaned　Felicity。

〃How　did　you　make　your　rusks？〃　asked　Aunt　Janet。　　〃There　was　no　baking…powder　in　the　house；　and　I　never　could　get　them　right　with　soda　and　cream　of　tartar。〃

〃There　was　plenty　of　baking…powder　in　the　pantry；〃　said　Felicity。

〃No；　there　wasn't　a　particle。　　I　used　the　last　making　those　cookies　Thursday　morning。〃

〃But　I　found　another　can　nearly　full；　away　back　on　the　top　shelf；　ma；the　one　with　the　yellow　label。　　I　guess　you　forgot　it　was　there。〃

Aunt　Janet　stared　at　her　pretty　daughter　blankly。　　Then　amazement　gave　place　to　horror。

〃Felicity　King！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me　that　you　raised　those　rusks　with　the　stuff　that　was　in　that　old　yellow　can？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　faltered　Felicity；　beginning　to　look　scared。　　〃Why；　ma；　what　was　the　matter　with　it？〃

〃Matter！　　That　stuff　was　TOOTH…POWDER；　that's　what　it　was。　　Your