the golden road-第34节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


our　bargain　is　off。　　If　I　see　you　in　church　tomorrow；　dressed　as　you　are　now；　I'll　give　you　my　name　and　five　dollars。　　But　I　won't　see　you。　　You'll　shrink　when　you've　had　time　to　think　it　over。〃

〃I　sha'n't；〃　said　Cecily　resolutely。

〃Well；　we'll　see。　　And　now　come　out　to　the　barn　with　me。　　I've　got　the　prettiest　little　drove　of　calves　out　there　you　ever　saw。　　I　want　you　to　see　them。〃

Mr。　Campbell　took　us　all　over　his　barns　and　was　very　affable。　　He　had　beautiful　horses；　cows　and　sheep；　and　I　enjoyed　seeing　them。　　I　don't　think　Cecily　did；　however。　　She　was　very　quiet　and　even　Mr。　Campbell's　handsome　new　span　of　dappled　grays　failed　to　arouse　any　enthusiasm　in　her。　　She　was　already　in　bitter　anticipation　living　over　the　martyrdom　of　the　morrow。　　On　the　way　home　she　asked　me　seriously　if　I　thought　Mr。　Campbell　would　go　to　heaven　when　he　died。

〃Of　course　he　will；〃　I　said。　　〃Isn't　he　a　member　of　the　church？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　can't　imagine　him　fitting　into　heaven。　　You　know　he　isn't　really　fond　of　anything　but　live　stock。〃

〃He's　fond　of　teasing　people；　I　guess；〃　I　responded。　　〃Are　you　really　going　to　church　to…morrow　in　that　dress；　Sis？〃

〃If　mother'll　let　me　I'll　have　to；〃　said　poor　Cecily。　　〃I　won't　let　Mr。　Campbell　triumph　over　me。　　And　I　DO　want　to　have　as　many　names　as　Kitty　has。　　And　I　DO　want　to　help　the　poor　little　Korean　children。　　But　it　will　be　simply　dreadful。　　I　don't　know　whether　I　hope　mother　will　or　not。〃

I　did　not　believe　she　would；　but　Aunt　Janet　sometimes　could　be　depended　on　for　the　unexpected。　　She　laughed　and　told　Cecily　she　could　please　herself。　　Felicity　was　in　a　rage　over　it；　and　declared　SHE　wouldn't　go　to　church　if　Cecily　went　in　such　a　rig。　　Dan　sarcastically　inquired　if　all　she　went　to　church　for　was　to　show　off　her　fine　clothes　and　look　at　other　people's；　then　they　quarrelled　and　didn't　speak　to　each　other　for　two　days；　much　to　Cecily's　distress。

I　suspect　poor　Sis　wished　devoutly　that　it　might　rain　the　next　day；　but　it　was　gloriously　fine。　　We　were　all　waiting　in　the　orchard　for　the　Story　Girl　who　had　not　begun　to　dress　for　church　until　Cecily　and　Felicity　were　ready。　　Felicity　was　her　prettiest　in　flower…trimmed　hat；　crisp　muslin；　floating　ribbons　and　trim　black　slippers。　　Poor　Cecily　stood　beside　her　mute　and　pale；　in　her　faded　school　garb　and　heavy　copper…toed　boots。　　But　her　face；　if　pale；　was　very　determined。　　Cecily；　having　put　her　hand　to　the　plough；　was　not　of　those　who　turn　back。

〃You　do　look　just　awful；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃I　don't　careI'm　going　to　sit　in　Uncle　James'　pew。　　I　WON'T　sit　with　you。　　There　will　be　so　many　strangers　there；　and　all　the　Markdale　people；　and　what　will　they　think　of　you？　　Some　of　them　will　never　know　the　reason；　either。〃

〃I　wish　the　Story　Girl　would　hurry；〃　was　all　poor　Cecily　said。　　〃We're　going　to　be　late。　　It　wouldn't　have　been　quite　so　hard　if　I　could　have　got　there　before　anyone　and　slipped　quietly　into　our　pew。〃

〃Here　she　comes　at　last；〃　said　Dan。　　〃Whywhat's　she　got　on？〃

The　Story　Girl　joined　us　with　a　quizzical　smile　on　her　face。　　Dan　whistled。　　Cecily's　pale　cheeks　flushed　with　understanding　and　gratitude。　　The　Story　Girl　wore　her　school　print　dress　and　hat　also；　and　was　gloveless　and　heavy　shod。

〃You're　not　going　to　have　to　go　through　this　all　alone；　Cecily；〃　she　said。

〃Oh；　it　won't　be　half　so　hard　now；〃　said　Cecily；　with　a　long　breath　of　relief。

I　fancy　it　was　hard　enough　even　then。　　The　Story　Girl　did　not　care　a　whit；　but　Cecily　rather　squirmed　under　the　curious　glances　that　were　cast　at　her。　　She　afterwards　told　me　that　she　really　did　not　think　she　could　have　endured　it　if　she　had　been　alone。

Mr。　Campbell　met　us　under　the　elms　in　the　churchyard；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃Well；　you　did　it；　Miss；〃　he　said　to　Cecily；　〃but　you　should　have　been　alone。　　That　was　what　I　meant。　　I　suppose　you　think　you've　cheated　me　nicely。〃

〃No；　she　doesn't；〃　spoke　up　the　Story　Girl　undauntedly。　　〃She　was　all　dressed　and　ready　to　come　before　she　knew　I　was　going　to　dress　the　same　way。　　So　she　kept　her　bargain　faithfully；　Mr。　Campbell；　and　I　think　you　were　cruel　to　make　her　do　it。〃

〃You　do；　eh？　　Well；　well；　I　hope　you'll　forgive　me。　　I　didn't　think　she'd　do　itI　was　sure　feminine　vanity　would　win　the　day　over　missionary　zeal。　　It　seems　it　didn'tthough　how　much　was　pure　missionary　zeal　and　how　much　just　plain　King　spunk　I'm　doubtful。　　I'll　keep　my　promise；　Miss。　　You　shall　have　your　five　dollars；　and　mind　you　put　my　name　in　the　round　space。　　No　five…　cent　corners　for　me。〃



CHAPTER　XXIV

A　TANTALIZING　REVELATION


〃I　shall　have　something　to　tell　you　in　the　orchard　this　evening；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　at　breakfast　one　morning。　　Her　eyes　were　very　bright　and　excited。　　She　looked　as　if　she　had　not　slept　a　great　deal。　　She　had　spent　the　previous　evening　with　Miss　Reade　and　had　not　returned　until　the　rest　of　us　were　in　bed。　　Miss　Reade　had　finished　giving　music　lessons　and　was　going　home　in　a　few　days。　　Cecily　and　Felicity　were　in　despair　over　this　and　mourned　as　those　without　comfort。　　But　the　Story　Girl；　who　had　been　even　more　devoted　to　Miss　Reade　than　either　of　them；　had　not；　as　I　noticed；　expressed　any　regret　and　seemed　to　be　very　cheerful　over　the　whole　matter。

〃Why　can't　you　tell　it　now？〃　asked　Felicity。

〃Because　the　evening　is　the　nicest　time　to　tell　things　in。　　I　only　mentioned　it　now　so　that　you　would　have　something　interesting　to　look　forward　to　all　day。〃

〃Is　it　about　Miss　Reade？〃　asked　Cecily。

〃Never　mind。〃

〃I'll　bet　she's　going　to　be　married；〃　I　exclaimed；　remembering　the　ring。

〃Is　she？〃　cried　Felicity　and　Cecily　together。

The　Story　Girl　threw　an　annoyed　glance　at　me。　　She　did　not　like　to　have　her　dramatic　announcements　forestalled。

〃I　don't　say　that　it　is　about　Miss　Reade　or　that　it　isn't。　　You　must　just　wait　till　the　evening。〃

〃I　wonder　what　it　is；〃　speculated　Cecily；　as　the　Story　Girl　left　the　room。

〃I　don't　believe　it's　much　of　anything；〃　said　Felicity；　beginning　to　clear　away　the　breakfast　dishes。　　〃The　Story　Girl　always　likes　to　make　so　much　out　of　so　little。　　Anyhow；　I　don't　believe　Miss　Reade　is　going　to　be　married。　　She　hasn't　any　beaus　around　here　and　Mrs。　Armstrong　says　she's　sure　she　doesn't　correspond　with　anybody。　　Besides；　if　she　was　she　wouldn't　be　likely　to　tell　the　Story　Girl。〃

〃Oh；　she　might。　　They're　such　friends；　you　know；〃　said　Cecily。

〃Miss　Reade　is　no　better　friends　with　her　than　she　is　with　me　and　you；〃　retorted　Felicity。

〃No；　but　sometimes　it　seems　to　me　that　she's　a　different　kind　of　friend　with　the　Story　Girl　than　she　is　with　me　and　you；〃　reflected　Cecily。　　〃I　can't　just　explain　what　I　mean。〃

〃No　wonder。　　Such　nonsense；〃　sniffed　Felicity。　　〃It's　only　some　girl's　secret；　anyway；〃　said　Dan；　loftily。　　〃I　don't　feel　much　interest　in　it。〃

But　he　was　on　hand　with　the　rest　of　us　that　evening；　interest　or　no　interest；　in　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk；　where　the　ripening　apples　were　beginning　to　glow　like　jewels　among　the　boughs。

〃Now；　are　you　going　to　tell　us　your　news？〃　asked　Felicity　impatiently。

〃Miss　Reade　IS　going　to　be　married；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃She　told　me　so　last　night。　　She　is　going　to　be　married　in　a　fortnight's　time。〃

〃Who　to？〃　exclaimed　the　girls。

〃To〃the　Story　Girl　threw　a　defiant　glance　at　me　as　if　to　say；　〃You　can't　spoil　the　surprise　of　THIS；　anyway；〃〃tothe　Awkward　Man。〃

For　a　few　moments　amazement　literally　held　us　dumb。

〃You're　not　in　earnest；　Sara　Stanley？〃　gasped　Felicity　at　last。

〃Indeed　I　am。　　I　thought　you'd　be　astonished。　　But　I　wasn't。　　I've　suspected　it　all　summer；　from　little　things　I've　noticed。　　Don't　you　remember　that　evening　last　spring　when　I　went　a　piece　with　Miss　Reade　and　told　you　when　I　came　back　that　a　story　was　growing？　I　guessed　it　from　the　way　the　Awkward　Man　looked　at　her　when　I　stopped　to　speak　to　him　over　his　garden　fence。〃

〃Butthe　Awkward　Man！〃　said　Felicity　helplessly。　　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible。　　Did　Miss　Reade　tell　you　HERSELF？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　suppose　it　must　be　true　then。　　But　how　did　it　ever　come　about？　He's　SO　shy　and　awkward。　　How　did　he　ever　manage　to　get　up　enough　spunk　to　ask　her　to　marry　him？〃

〃Maybe　she　asked　him；〃　suggested　Dan。

The　Story　Girl　looked　as　if　she　might　tell　if　she　would。

〃I　believe　that　WAS　the　way　of　it；〃　I　said；　to　draw　her　on。

〃Not　exactly；〃　she　said　reluctantly。　　〃I　know　all　about　it　but　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　guessed　part　from　things　I've　seenand　Miss　Reade　told　me　a　good　dealand　the　Awkward　Man　himself　told　me　his　side　of　it　as　we　came　home　last　night。　　I　met　him　just　as　I　left　Mr。　Armstrong's　and　we　were　together　as　far　as　his　house。　　It　was　dark　and　he　just　talked　on　as　if　he　were　talking　to　himselfI　think　he　forgot　I　was　there　at　all；　once　he　got　started。　　He　has　never　been　shy　or　awkward　with　me；　but　he　never　talked　as　he　did　last　night。〃

〃You　might　tell　us　what　he　said；〃　urged　Cecily。　　〃We'd　never　tell。〃

The　Story　Girl　shook　her　head。

〃No；　I　can't。　　You　wouldn't　understand。　　Besides；　I　couldn't　tell　it　just　right。　　It's　one　of　the　things　that　are　hardest　to　tell。　　I'd　spoil　it　if　I　told　itnow。　　Perhaps　some　day　I'll　be　able　to　tell　it　properly。　　It's　very　beautifulbut　it　might　sound　very　ridiculous　if　it　wasn't　told　just　exactly　the　righ