the golden road-第33节

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〃Sure；〃　said　Dan；　solemnly。　　Dan　liked　to　tease　even　Cecily　a　wee　bit　now　and　then。

Cecily　relapsed　into　anxious　thought；　and　care　sat　visibly　on　her　brow　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　　Next　morning　she　came　to　me　and　said：

〃Bev；　would　you　like　to　go　for　a　walk　with　me　this　afternoon？〃

〃Of　course；〃　I　replied。　　〃Any　particular　where？〃

〃I'm　going　to　see　Mr。　Campbell　and　ask　him　for　his　name　for　my　square；〃　said　Cecily　resolutely。　　〃I　don't　suppose　it　will　do　any　good。　　He　wouldn't　give　anything　to　the　library　last　summer；　you　remember；　till　the　Story　Girl　told　him　that　story　about　his　grandmother。　　She　won't　go　with　me　this　timeI　don't　know　why。　　I　can't　tell　a　story　and　I'm　frightened　to　death　just　to　think　of　going　to　him。　　But　I　believe　it　is　my　duty；　and　besides　I　would　love　to　get　as　many　names　on　my　square　as　Kitty　Marr　has。　　So　if　you'll　go　with　me　we'll　go　this　afternoon。　　I　simply　COULDN'T　go　alone。〃



CHAPTER　XXIII

A　MISSIONARY　HEROINE


Accordingly；　that　afternoon　we　bearded　the　lion　in　his　den。　　The　road　we　took　was　a　beautiful　one；　for　we　went　〃cross　lots；〃　and　we　enjoyed　it；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　we　did　not　expect　the　interview　with　Mr。　Campbell　to　be　a　very　pleasant　one。　　To　be　sure；　he　had　been　quite　civil　on　the　occasion　of　our　last　call　upon　him；　but　the　Story　Girl　had　been　with　us　then　and　had　beguiled　him　into　good…humour　and　generosity　by　the　magic　of　her　voice　and　personality。　　We　had　no　such　ally　now；　and　Mr。　Campbell　was　known　to　be　virulently　opposed　to　missions　in　any　shape　or　form。

〃I　don't　know　whether　it　would　have　been　any　better　if　I　could　have　put　on　my　good　clothes；〃　said　Cecily；　with　a　rueful　glance　at　her　print　dress；　which；　though　neat　and　clean；　was　undeniably　faded　and　RATHER　short　and　tight。　　〃The　Story　Girl　said　it　would；　and　I　wanted　to；　but　mother　wouldn't　let　me。　　She　said　it　was　all　nonsense；　and　Mr。　Campbell　would　never　notice　what　I　had　on。〃

〃It's　my　opinion　that　Mr。　Campbell　notices　a　good　deal　more　than　you'd　think　for；〃　I　said　sagely。

〃Well；　I　wish　our　call　was　over；〃　sighed　Cecily。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　I　dread　it。〃

〃Now；　see　here；　Sis；〃　I　said　cheerfully；　〃let's　not　think　about　it　till　we　get　there。　　It'll　only　spoil　our　walk　and　do　no　good。　　Let's　just　forget　it　and　enjoy　ourselves。〃

〃I'll　try；〃　agreed　Cecily；　〃but　it's　ever　so　much　easier　to　preach　than　to　practise。〃

Our　way　lay　first　over　a　hill　top；　gallantly　plumed　with　golden　rod；　where　cloud　shadows　drifted　over　us　like　a　gypsying　crew。　　Carlisle；　in　all　its　ripely　tinted　length　and　breadth；　lay　below　us；　basking　in　the　August　sunshine；　that　spilled　over　the　brim　of　the　valley　to　the　far…off　Markdale　Harbour；　cupped　in　its　harvest…　golden　hills。

Then　came　a　little　valley　overgrown　with　the　pale　purple　bloom　of　thistles　and　elusively　haunted　with　their　perfume。　　You　say　that　thistles　have　no　perfume？　　Go　you　to　a　brook　hollow　where　they　grow　some　late　summer　twilight　at　dewfall；　and　on　the　still　air　that　rises　suddenly　to　meet　you　will　come　a　waft　of　faint；　aromatic　fragrance；　wondrously　sweet　and　evasive；　the　distillation　of　that　despised　thistle　bloom。

Beyond　this　the　path　wound　through　a　forest　of　fir；　where　a　wood　wind　wove　its　murmurous　spell　and　a　wood　brook　dimpled　pellucidly　among　the　shadowsthe　dear；　companionable；　elfin　shadowsthat　lurked　under　the　low　growing　boughs。　　Along　the　edges　of　that　winding　path　grew　banks　of　velvet　green　moss；　starred　with　clusters　of　pigeon　berries。　　Pigeon　berries　are　not　to　be　eaten。　　They　are　woolly；　tasteless　things。　　But　they　are　to　be　looked　at　in　their　glowing　scarlet。　　They　are　the　jewels　with　which　the　forest　of　cone…bearers　loves　to　deck　its　brown　breast。　　Cecily　gathered　some　and　pinned　them　on　hers；　but　they　did　not　become　her。　　I　thought　how　witching　the　Story　Girl's　brown　curls　would　have　looked　twined　with　those　brilliant　clusters。　　Perhaps　Cecily　was　thinking　of　it；　too；　for　she　presently　said；

〃Bev；　don't　you　think　the　Story　Girl　is　changing　somehow？〃

〃There　are　timesjust　timeswhen　she　seems　to　belong　more　among　the　grown…ups　than　among　us；〃　I　said；　reluctantly；　〃especially　when　she　puts　on　her　bridesmaid　dress。〃

〃Well；　she's　the　oldest　of　us；　and　when　you　come　to　think　of　it；　she's　fifteen；that's　almost　grown…up；〃　sighed　Cecily。　　Then　she　added；　with　sudden　vehemence；　〃I　hate　the　thought　of　any　of　us　growing　up。　　Felicity　says　she　just　longs　to　be　grown…up；　but　I　don't；　not　a　bit。　　I　wish　I　could　just　stay　a　little　girl　for　everand　have　you　and　Felix　and　all　the　others　for　playmates　right　along。　　I　don't　know　how　it　isbut　whenever　I　think　of　being　grown…up　I　seem　to　feel　tired。〃

Something　about　Cecily's　speechor　the　wistful　look　that　had　crept　into　her　sweet　brown　eyesmade　me　feel　vaguely　uncomfortable；　I　was　glad　that　we　were　at　the　end　of　our　journey；　with　Mr。　Campbell's　big　house　before　us；　and　his　dog　sitting　gravely　at　the　veranda　steps。

〃Oh；　dear；〃　said　Cecily；　with　a　shiver；　〃I'd　been　hoping　that　dog　wouldn't　be　around。〃

〃He　never　bites；〃　I　assured　her。

〃Perhaps　he　doesn't；　but　he　always　looks　as　if　he　was　going　to；〃　rejoined　Cecily。

The　dog　continued　to　look；　and；　as　we　edged　gingerly　past　him　and　up　the　veranda　steps；　he　turned　his　head　and　kept　on　looking。　　What　with　Mr。　Campbell　before　us　and　the　dog　behind；　Cecily　was　trembling　with　nervousness；　but　perhaps　it　was　as　well　that　the　dour　brute　was　there；　else　I　verily　believe　she　would　have　turned　and　fled　shamelessly　when　we　heard　steps　in　the　hall。

It　was　Mr。　Campbell's　housekeeper　who　came　to　the　door；　however；　she　ushered　us　pleasantly　into　the　sitting…room　where　Mr。　Campbell　was　reading。　　He　laid　down　his　book　with　a　slight　frown　and　said　nothing　at　all　in　response　to　our　timid　〃good　afternoon。〃　But　after　we　had　sat　for　a　few　minutes　in　wretched　silence；　wishing　ourselves　a　thousand　miles　away；　he　said；　with　a　chuckle；

〃Well；　is　it　the　school　library　again？〃

Cecily　had　remarked　as　we　were　coming　that　what　she　dreaded　most　of　all　was　introducing　the　subject；　but　Mr。　Campbell　had　given　her　a　splendid　opening；　and　she　plunged　wildly　in　at　once；　rattling　her　explanation　off　nervously　with　trembling　voice　and　flushed　cheeks。

〃No；　it's　our　Mission　Band　autograph　quilt；　Mr。　Campbell。　　There　are　to　be　as　many　squares　in　it　as　there　are　members　in　the　Band。　　Each　one　has　a　square　and　is　collecting　names　for　it。　　If　you　want　to　have　your　name　on　the　quilt　you　pay　five　cents；　and　if　you　want　to　have　it　right　in　the　round　spot　in　the　middle　of　the　square　you　must　pay　ten　cents。　　Then　when　we　have　got　all　the　names　we　can　we　will　embroider　them　on　the　squares。　　The　money　is　to　go　to　the　little　girl　our　Band　is　supporting　in　Korea。　　I　heard　that　nobody　had　asked　you；　so　I　thought　perhaps　you　would　give　me　your　name　for　my　square。〃

Mr。　Campbell　drew　his　black　brows　together　in　a　scowl。

〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃　he　exclaimed　angrily。　〃I　don't　believe　in　Foreign　Missionsdon't　believe　in　them　at　all。　　I　never　give　a　cent　to　them。〃

〃Five　cents　isn't　a　very　large　sum；〃　said　Cecily　earnestly。

Mr。　Campbell's　scowl　disappeared　and　he　laughed。

〃It　wouldn't　break　me；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　it's　the　principle　of　the　thing。　　And　as　for　that　Mission　Band　of　yours；　if　it　wasn't　for　the　fun　you　get　out　of　it；　catch　one　of　you　belonging。　　You　don't　really　care　a　rap　more　for　the　heathen　than　I　do。〃

〃Oh；　we　do；〃　protested　Cecily。　　〃We　do　think　of　all　the　poor　little　children　in　Korea；　and　we　like　to　think　we　are　helping　them；　if　it's　ever　so　little。　　We　ARE　in　earnest；　Mr。　Campbell　indeed　we　are。〃

〃Don't　believe　itdon't　believe　a　word　of　it；〃　said　Mr。　Campbell　impolitely。　　〃You'll　do　things　that　are　nice　and　interesting。　　You'll　get　up　concerts；　and　chase　people　about　for　autographs　and　give　money　your　parents　give　you　and　that　doesn't　cost　you　either　time　or　labour。　　But　you　wouldn't　do　anything　you　disliked　for　the　heathen　childrenyou　wouldn't　make　any　real　sacrifice　for　them　catch　you！〃

〃Indeed　we　would；〃　cried　Cecily；　forgetting　her　timidity　in　her　zeal。　　〃I　just　wish　I　had　a　chance　to　prove　it　to　you。〃

〃You　do；　eh？　　Come；　now；　I'll　take　you　at　your　word。　　I'll　test　you。　　Tomorrow　is　Communion　Sunday　and　the　church　will　be　full　of　folks　and　they'll　all　have　their　best　clothes　on。　　If　you　go　to　church　tomorrow　in　the　very　costume　you　have　on　at　present；　without　telling　anyone　why　you　do　so；　until　it　is　all　over；　I'll　give　youwhy；　I　vow　I'll　give　you　five　dollars　for　that　quilt　of　yours。〃

Poor　Cecily！　　To　go　to　church　in　a　faded　print　dress；　with　a　shabby　little　old　sun…hat　and　worn　shoes！　　It　was　very　cruel　of　Mr。　Campbell。

〃II　don't　think　mother　would　let　me；〃　she　faltered。

Her　tormentor　smiled　grimly。

〃It's　not　hard　to　find　some　excuse；〃　he　said　sarcastically。

Cecily　crimsoned　and　sat　up　facing　Mr。　Campbell　spunkily。

〃It's　NOT　an　excuse；〃　she　said。　　〃If　mother　will　let　me　go　to　church　like　this　I'll　go。　　But　I'll　have　to　tell　HER　why；　Mr。　Campbell；　because　I'm　certain　she'd　never　let　me　if　I　didn't。〃

〃Oh；　you　can　tell　all　your　own　family；〃　said　Mr。　Campbell；　〃but　remember；　none　of　them　must　tell　it　outside　until　Sunday　is　over。　　If　they　do；　I'll　be　sure　to　find　it　out　and　then　our　bargain　is　off。　　If　I　see　you　in　chur