the golden road-第17节

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CECILY　KING。



CHAPTER　X

DISAPPEARANCE　OF　PADDY



As　I　remember；　the　spring　came　late　that　year　in　Carlisle。　　It　was　May　before　the　weather　began　to　satisfy　the　grown…ups。　　But　we　children　were　more　easily　pleased；　and　we　thought　April　a　splendid　month　because　the　snow　all　went　early　and　left　gray；　firm；　frozen　ground　for　our　rambles　and　games。　　As　the　days　slipped　by　they　grew　more　gracious；　the　hillsides　began　to　look　as　if　they　were　thinking　of　mayflowers；　the　old　orchard　was　washed　in　a　bath　of　tingling　sunshine　and　the　sap　stirred　in　the　big　trees；　by　day　the　sky　was　veiled　with　delicate　cloud　drift；　fine　and　filmy　as　woven　mist；　in　the　evenings　a　full；　low　moon　looked　over　the　valleys；　as　pallid　and　holy　as　some　aureoled　saint；　a　sound　of　laughter　and　dream　was　on　the　wind　and　the　world　grew　young　with　the　mirth　of　April　breezes。

〃It's　so　nice　to　be　alive　in　the　spring；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　one　twilight　as　we　swung　on　the　boughs　of　Uncle　Stephen's　walk。

〃It's　nice　to　be　alive　any　time；〃　said　Felicity；　complacently。

〃But　it's　nicer　in　the　spring；〃　insisted　the　Story　Girl。　　〃When　I'm　dead　I　think　I'll　FEEL　dead　all　the　rest　of　the　year；　but　when　spring　comes　I'm　sure　I'll　feel　like　getting　up　and　being　alive　again。〃

〃You　do　say　such　queer　things；〃　complained　Felicity。　　〃You　won't　be　really　dead　any　time。　　You'll　be　in　the　next　world。　　And　I　think　it's　horrid　to　talk　about　people　being　dead　anyhow。〃

〃We've　all　got　to　die；〃　said　Sara　Ray　solemnly；　but　with　a　certain　relish。　　It　was　as　if　she　enjoyed　looking　forward　to　something　in　which　nothing；　neither　an　unsympathetic　mother；　nor　the　cruel　fate　which　had　made　her　a　colourless　little　nonentity；　could　prevent　her　from　being　the　chief　performer。

〃I　sometimes　think；〃　said　Cecily；　rather　wearily；　〃that　it　isn't　so　dreadful　to　die　young　as　I　used　to　suppose。〃

She　prefaced　her　remark　with　a　slight　cough；　as　she　had　been　all　too　apt　to　do　of　late；　for　the　remnants　of　the　cold　she　had　caught　the　night　we　were　lost　in　the　storm　still　clung　to　her。

〃Don't　talk　such　nonsense；　Cecily；〃　cried　the　Story　Girl　with　unwonted　sharpness；　a　sharpness　we　all　understood。　　All　of　us；　in　our　hearts；　though　we　never　spoke　of　it　to　each　other；　thought　Cecily　was　not　as　well　as　she　ought　to　be　that　spring；　and　we　hated　to　hear　anything　said　which　seemed　in　any　way　to　touch　or　acknowledge　the　tiny；　faint　shadow　which　now　and　again　showed　itself　dimly　athwart　our　sunshine。

〃Well；　it　was　you　began　talking　of　being　dead；〃　said　Felicity　angrily。　　〃I　don't　think　it's　right　to　talk　of　such　things。　　Cecily；　are　you　sure　your　feet　ain't　damp？　　We　ought　to　go　in　anyhowit's　too　chilly　out　here　for　you。〃

〃You　girls　had　better　go；〃　said　Dan；　〃but　I　ain't　going　in　till　old　Isaac　Frewen　goes。　　I've　no　use　for　him。〃

〃I　hate　him；　too；〃　said　Felicity；　agreeing　with　Dan　for　once　in　her　life。　　〃He　chews　tobacco　all　the　time　and　spits　on　the　floor　the　horrid　pig！〃

〃And　yet　his　brother　is　an　elder　in　the　church；〃　said　Sara　Ray　wonderingly。

〃I　know　a　story　about　Isaac　Frewen；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃When　he　was　young　he　went　by　the　name　of　Oatmeal　Frewen　and　he　got　it　this　way。　　He　was　noted　for　doing　outlandish　things。　　He　lived　at　Markdale　then　and　he　was　a　great；　overgrown；　awkward　fellow；　six　feet　tall。　　He　drove　over　to　Baywater　one　Saturday　to　visit　his　uncle　there　and　came　home　the　next　afternoon；　and　although　it　was　Sunday　he　brought　a　big　bag　of　oatmeal　in　the　wagon　with　him。　　When　he　came　to　Carlisle　church　he　saw　that　service　was　going　on　there；　and　he　concluded　to　stop　and　go　in。　　But　he　didn't　like　to　leave　his　oatmeal　outside　for　fear　something　would　happen　to　it；　because　there　were　always　mischievous　boys　around；　so　he　hoisted　the　bag　on　his　back　and　walked　into　church　with　it　and　right　to　the　top　of　the　aisle　to　Grandfather　King's　pew。　　Grandfather　King　used　to　say　he　would　never　forget　it　to　his　dying　day。　　The　minister　was　preaching　and　everything　was　quiet　and　solemn　when　he　heard　a　snicker　behind　him。　　Grandfather　King　turned　around　with　a　terrible　frownfor　you　know　in　those　days　it　was　thought　a　dreadful　thing　to　laugh　in　churchto　rebuke　the　offender；　and　what　did　he　see　but　that　great；　hulking　young　Isaac　stalking　up　the　aisle；　bending　a　little　forward　under　the　weight　of　a　big　bag　of　oatmeal？　　Grandfather　King　was　so　amazed　he　couldn't　laugh；　but　almost　everyone　else　in　the　church　was　laughing；　and　grandfather　said　he　never　blamed　them；　for　no　funnier　sight　was　ever　seen。　　Young　Isaac　turned　into　grandfather's　pew　and　thumped　the　bag　of　oatmeal　down　on　the　seat　with　a　thud　that　cracked　it。　　Then　he　plumped　down　beside　it；　took　off　his　hat；　wiped　his　face；　and　settled　back　to　listen　to　the　sermon；　just　as　if　it　was　all　a　matter　of　course。　　When　the　service　was　over　he　hoisted　his　bag　up　again；　marched　out　of　church；　and　drove　home。　　He　could　never　understand　why　it　made　so　much　talk；　but　he　was　known　by　the　name　of　Oatmeal　Frewen　for　years。〃

Our　laughter；　as　we　separated；　rang　sweetly　through　the　old　orchard　and　across　the　far；　dim　meadows。　　Felicity　and　Cecily　went　into　the　house　and　Sara　Ray　and　the　Story　Girl　went　home；　but　Peter　decoyed　me　into　the　granary　to　ask　advice。

〃You　know　Felicity　has　a　birthday　next　week；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　want　to　write　her　an　ode。〃

〃Aa　what？〃　I　gasped。

〃An　ode；〃　repeated　Peter；　gravely。　　〃It's　poetry；　you　know。　　I'll　put　it　in　Our　Magazine。〃

〃But　you　can't　write　poetry；　Peter；〃　I　protested。

〃I'm　going　to　try；〃　said　Peter　stoutly。　　〃That　is；　if　you　think　she　won't　be　offended　at　me。〃

〃She　ought　to　feel　flattered；〃　I　replied。

〃You　never　can　tell　how　she'll　take　things；〃　said　Peter　gloomily。　　〃Of　course　I　ain't　going　to　sign　my　name；　and　if　she　ain't　pleased　I　won't　tell　her　I　wrote　it。　　Don't　you　let　on。〃

I　promised　I　wouldn't　and　Peter　went　off　with　a　light　heart。　　He　said　he　meant　to　write　two　lines　every　day　till　he　got　it　done。

Cupid　was　playing　his　world…old　tricks　with　others　than　poor　Peter　that　spring。　　Allusion　has　been　made　in　these　chronicles　to　one；　Cyrus　Brisk；　and　to　the　fact　that　our　brown…haired；　soft…voiced　Cecily　had　found　favour　in　the　eyes　of　the　said　Cyrus。　　Cecily　did　not　regard　her　conquest　with　any　pride。　　On　the　contrary；　it　annoyed　her　terribly　to　be　teased　about　Cyrus。　　She　declared　she　hated　both　him　and　his　name。　　She　was　as　uncivil　to　him　as　sweet　Cecily　could　be　to　anyone；　but　the　gallant　Cyrus　was　nothing　daunted。　　He　laid　determined　siege　to　Cecily's　young　heart　by　all　the　methods　known　to　love…lorn　swains。　　He　placed　delicate　tributes　of　spruce　gum；　molasses　taffy；　〃conversation〃　candies　and　decorated　slate　pencils　on　her　desk；　he　persistently　〃chose〃　her　in　all　school　games　calling　for　a　partner；　he　entreated　to　be　allowed　to　carry　her　basket　from　school；　he　offered　to　work　her　sums　for　her；　and　rumour　had　it　that　he　had　made　a　wild　statement　to　the　effect　that　he　meant　to　ask　if　he　might　see　her　home　some　night　from　prayer　meeting。　　Cecily　was　quite　frightened　that　he　would；　she　confided　to　me　that　she　would　rather　die　than　walk　home　with　him；　but　that　if　he　asked　her　she　would　be　too　bashful　to　say　no。　　So　far；　however；　Cyrus　had　not　molested　her　out　of　school；　nor　had　he　as　yet　thumped　Willy　Fraserwho　was　reported　to　be　very　low　in　his　spirits　over　the　whole　affair。

And　now　Cyrus　had　written　Cecily　a　lettera　love　letter；　mark　you。　　Moreover；　he　had　sent　it　through　the　post…office；　with　a　real　stamp　on　it。　　Its　arrival　made　a　sensation　among　us。　　Dan　brought　it　from　the　office　and；　recognizing　the　handwriting　of　Cyrus；　gave　Cecily　no　peace　until　she　showed　us　the　letter。　　It　was　a　very　sentimental　and　rather　ill…spelled　epistle　in　which　the　inflammable　Cyrus　reproached　her　in　heart…rending　words　for　her　coldness；　and　begged　her　to　answer　his　letter；　saying　that　if　she　did　he　would　keep　the　secret　〃in　violets。〃　　Cyrus　probably　meant　〃inviolate〃　but　Cecily　thought　it　was　intended　for　a　poetical　touch。　　He　signed　himself　〃your　troo　lover；　Cyrus　Brisk〃　and　added　in　a　postcript　that　he　couldn't　eat　or　sleep　for　thinking　of　her。

〃Are　you　going　to　answer　it？〃　asked　Dan。

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Cecily　with　dignity。

〃Cyrus　Brisk　wants　to　be　kicked；〃　growled　Felix；　who　never　seemed　to　be　any　particular　friend　of　Willy　Fraser's　either。　　〃He'd　better　learn　how　to　spell　before　he　takes　to　writing　love　letters。〃

〃Maybe　Cyrus　will　starve　to　death　if　you　don't；〃　suggested　Sara　Ray。

〃I　hope　he　will；〃　said　Cecily　cruelly。　　She　was　truly　vexed　over　the　letter；　and　yet；　so　contradictory　a　thing　is　the　feminine　heart；　even　at　twelve　years　old；　I　think　she　was　a　little　flattered　by　it　also。　　It　was　her　first　love　letter　and　she　confided　to　me　that　it　gives　you　a　very　queer　feeling　to　get　it。　　At　all　eventsthe　letter；　though　unanswered；　was　not　torn　up。　　I　feel　sure　Cecily　preserved　it。　　But　she　walked　past　Cyrus　next　morning　at　school　with　a　frozen　countenance；　evincing　not　the　slightest　pity　for　his　pangs　of　unrequited　affection。　　Cecily　winced　when　Pat　caught　a　mouse；　visited　a　school　chum　the　day　the　pigs　were　killed　that　she　might　not　hear　their　squealing；　and　would　not　have　stepped　on　a　caterpillar　for　anything；　yet　she　did　not