the golden road-第4节

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can't　afford　it。　　And　ma　always　cries　on　holidays　because　she　says　they　make　her　think　of　father。　　Of　course　she　can't　help　it；　but　it　ain't　cheerful。　　Aunt　Jane　wouldn't　have　cried。　　Aunt　Jane　used　to　say　she　never　saw　the　man　who　was　worth　spoiling　her　eyes　for。　　But　I　guess　I'll　have　to　spend　Christmas　at　home。〃

At　the　last　moment；　however；　a　cousin　of　Mrs。　Craig's　in　Charlottetown　invited　her　for　Christmas；　and　Peter；　being　given　his　choice　of　going　or　staying；　joyfully　elected　to　stay。　　So　we　were　all　together；　except　Sara　Ray；　who　had　been　invited　but　whose　mother　wouldn't　let　her　come。

〃Sara　Ray's　mother　is　a　nuisance；〃　snapped　the　Story　Girl。　　〃She　just　lives　to　make　that　poor　child　miserable；　and　she　won't　let　her　go　to　the　party　tonight；　either。〃

〃It　is　just　breaking　Sara's　heart　that　she　can't；〃　said　Cecily　compassionately。　　〃I'm　almost　afraid　I　won't　enjoy　myself　for　thinking　of　her；　home　there　alone；　most　likely　reading　the　Bible；　while　we're　at　the　party。〃

〃She　might　be　worse　occupied　than　reading　the　Bible；〃　said　Felicity　rebukingly。

〃But　Mrs。　Ray　makes　her　read　it　as　a　punishment；〃　protested　Cecily。　　〃Whenever　Sara　cries　to　go　anywhereand　of　course　she'll　cry　tonightMrs。　Ray　makes　her　read　seven　chapters　in　the　Bible。　　I　wouldn't　think　that　would　make　her　very　fond　of　it。　　And　I'll　not　be　able　to　talk　the　party　over　with　Sara　afterwardsand　that's　half　the　fun　gone。〃

〃You　can　tell　her　all　about　it；〃　comforted　Felix。

〃Telling　isn't　a　bit　like　talking　it　over；〃　retorted　Cecily。　　〃It's　too　one…sided。〃

We　had　an　exciting　time　opening　our　presents。　　Some　of　us　had　more　than　others；　but　we　all　received　enough　to　make　us　feel　comfortably　that　we　were　not　unduly　neglected　in　the　matter。　　The　contents　of　the　box　which　the　Story　Girl's　father　had　sent　her　from　Paris　made　our　eyes　stick　out。　　It　was　full　of　beautiful　things；　among　them　another　red　silk　dressnot　the　bright；　flame…　hued　tint　of　her　old　one；　but　a　rich；　dark　crimson；　with　the　most　distracting　flounces　and　bows　and　ruffles；　and　with　it　were　little　red　satin　slippers　with　gold　buckles；　and　heels　that　made　Aunt　Janet　hold　up　her　hands　in　horror。　　Felicity　remarked　scornfully　that　she　would　have　thought　the　Story　Girl　would　get　tired　wearing　red　so　much；　and　even　Cecily　commented　apart　to　me　that　she　thought　when　you　got　so　many　things　all　at　once　you　didn't　appreciate　them　as　much　as　when　you　only　got　a　few。

〃I'd　never　get　tired　of　red；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃I　just　love　itit's　so　rich　and　glowing。　　When　I'm　dressed　in　red　I　always　feel　ever　so　much　cleverer　than　in　any　other　colour。　　Thoughts　just　crowd　into　my　brain　one　after　the　other。　　Oh；　you　darling　dressyou　dear；　sheeny；　red…rosy；　glistening；　silky　thing！〃

She　flung　it　over　her　shoulder　and　danced　around　the　kitchen。

〃Don't　be　silly；　Sara；〃　said　Aunt　Janet；　a　little　stimy。　　She　was　a　good　soul；　that　Aunt　Janet；　and　had　a　kind；　loving　heart　in　her　ample　bosom。　　But　I　fancy　there　were　times　when　she　thought　it　rather　hard　that　the　daughter　of　a　roving　adventureras　she　considered　himlike　Blair　Stanley　should　disport　herself　in　silk　dresses；　while　her　own　daughters　must　go　clad　in　gingham　and　muslinfor　those　were　the　days　when　a　feminine　creature　got　one　silk　dress　in　her　lifetime；　and　seldom　more　than　one。

The　Story　Girl　also　got　a　present　from　the　Awkward　Mana　little；　shabby；　worn　volume　with　a　great　many　marks　on　the　leaves。

〃Why；　it　isn't　newit's　an　old　book！〃　exclaimed　Felicity。　　〃I　didn't　think　the　Awkward　Man　was　mean；　whatever　else　he　was。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　understand；　Felicity；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　patiently。　　〃And　I　don't　suppose　I　can　make　you　understand。　　But　I'll　try。　　I'd　ten　times　rather　have　this　than　a　new　book。　　It's　one　of　his　own；　don't　you　seeone　that　he　has　read　a　hundred　times　and　loved　and　made　a　friend　of。　　A　new　book；　just　out　of　a　shop；　wouldn't　be　the　same　thing　at　all。　　It　wouldn't　MEAN　anything。　　I　consider　it　a　great　compliment　that　he　has　given　me　this　book。　　I'm　prouder　of　it　than　of　anything　else　I've　got。〃

〃Well；　you're　welcome　to　it；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃I　don't　understand　and　I　don't　want　to。　　I　wouldn't　give　anybody　a　Christmas　present　that　wasn't　new；　and　I　wouldn't　thank　anybody　who　gave　me　one。〃

Peter　was　in　the　seventh　heaven　because　Felicity　had　given　him　a　presentand；　moreover；　one　that　she　had　made　herself。　　It　was　a　bookmark　of　perforated　cardboard；　with　a　gorgeous　red　and　yellow　worsted　goblet　worked　on　it；　and　below；　in　green　letters；　the　solemn　warning；　〃Touch　Not　The　Cup。〃　As　Peter　was　not　addicted　to　habits　of　intemperance；　not　even　to　looking　on　dandelion　wine　when　it　was　pale　yellow；　we　did　not　exactly　see　why　Felicity　should　have　selected　such　a　device。　　But　Peter　was　perfectly　satisfied；　so　nobody　cast　any　blight　on　his　happiness　by　carping　criticism。　　Later　on　Felicity　told　me　she　had　worked　the　bookmark　for　him　because　his　father　used　to　drink　before　he　ran　away。

〃I　thought　Peter　ought　to　be　warned　in　time；〃　she　said。

Even　Pat　had　a　ribbon　of　blue；　which　he　clawed　off　and　lost　half　an　hour　after　it　was　tied　on　him。　　Pat　did　not　care　for　vain　adornments　of　the　body。

We　had　a　glorious　Christmas　dinner；　fit　for　the　halls　of　Lucullus；　and　ate　far　more　than　was　good　for　us；　none　daring　to　make　us　afraid　on　that　one　day　of　the　year。　　And　in　the　eveningoh；　rapture　and　delight！we　went　to　Kitty　Marr's　party。

It　was　a　fine　December　evening；　the　sharp　air　of　morning　had　mellowed　until　it　was　as　mild　as　autumn。　　There　had　been　no　snow；　and　the　long　fields；　sloping　down　from　the　homestead；　were　brown　and　mellow。　　A　weird；　dreamy　stillness　had　fallen　on　the　purple　earth；　the　dark　fir　woods；　the　valley　rims；　the　sere　meadows。　　Nature　seemed　to　have　folded　satisfied　hands　to　rest；　knowing　that　her　long　wintry　slumber　was　coming　upon　her。

At　first；　when　the　invitations　to　the　party　had　come；　Aunt　Janet　had　said　we　could　not　go；　but　Uncle　Alec　interceded　in　our　favour；　perhaps　influenced　thereto　by　Cecily's　wistful　eyes。　　If　Uncle　Alec　had　a　favourite　among　his　children　it　was　Cecily；　and　he　had　grown　even　more　indulgent　towards　her　of　late。　　Now　and　then　I　saw　him　looking　at　her　intently；　and；　following　his　eyes　and　thought；　I　had；　somehow；　seen　that　Cecily　was　paler　and　thinner　than　she　had　been　in　the　summer；　and　that　her　soft　eyes　seemed　larger；　and　that　over　her　little　face　in　moments　of　repose　there　was　a　certain　languor　and　weariness　that　made　it　very　sweet　and　pathetic。　　And　I　heard　him　tell　Aunt　Janet　that　he　did　not　like　to　see　the　child　getting　so　much　the　look　of　her　Aunt　Felicity。

〃Cecily　is　perfectly　well；〃　said　Aunt　Janet　sharply。　　〃She's　only　growing　very　fast。　　Don't　be　foolish；　Alec。〃

But　after　that　Cecily　had　cups　of　cream　where　the　rest　of　us　got　only　milk；　and　Aunt　Janet　was　very　particular　to　see　that　she　had　her　rubbers　on　whenever　she　went　out。

On　this　merry　Christmas　evening；　however；　no　fears　or　dim　foreshadowings　of　any　coming　event　clouded　our　hearts　or　faces。　　Cecily　looked　brighter　and　prettier　than　I　had　ever　seen　her；　with　her　softly　shining　eyes　and　the　nut　brown　gloss　of　her　hair。　　Felicity　was　too　beautiful　for　words；　and　even　the　Story　Girl；　between　excitement　and　the　crimson　silk　array；　blossomed　out　with　a　charm　and　allurement　more　potent　than　any　regular　loveliness　and　this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　Aunt　Olivia　had　tabooed　the　red　satin　slippers　and　mercilessly　decreed　that　stout　shoes　should　be　worn。

〃I　know　just　how　you　feel　about　it；　you　daughter　of　Eve；〃　she　said；　with　gay　sympathy；　〃but　December　roads　are　damp；　and　if　you　are　going　to　walk　to　Marrs'　you　are　not　going　to　do　it　in　those　frivolous　Parisian　concoctions；　even　with　overboots　on；　so　be　brave；　dear　heart；　and　show　that　you　have　a　soul　above　little　red　satin　shoes。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　said　Uncle　Roger；　〃that　red　silk　dress　will　break　the　hearts　of　all　the　feminine　small　fry　at　the　party。　　You'd　break　their　spirits；　too；　if　you　wore　the　slippers。　　Don't　do　it；　Sara。　　Leave　them　one　wee　loophole　of　enjoyment。〃

〃What　does　Uncle　Roger　mean？〃　whispered　Felicity。

〃He　means　you　girls　are　all　dying　of　jealousy　because　of　the　Story　Girl's　dress；〃　said　Dan。

〃I　am　not　of　a　jealous　disposition；〃　said　Felicity　loftily；　〃and　she's　entirely　welcome　to　the　dresswith　a　complexion　like　that。〃

But　we　enjoyed　that　party　hugely；　every　one　of　us。　　And　we　enjoyed　the　walk　home　afterwards；　through　dim；　enshadowed　fields　where　silvery　star…beams　lay；　while　Orion　trod　his　stately　march　above　us；　and　a　red　moon　climbed　up　the　black　horizon's　rim。　　A　brook　went　with　us　part　of　the　way；　singing　to　us　through　the　darka　gay；　irresponsible　vagabond　of　valley　and　wilderness。

Felicity　and　Peter　walked　not　with　us。　　Peter's　cup　must　surely　have　brimmed　over　that　Christmas　night。　　When　we　left　the　Marr　house；　he　had　boldly　said　to　Felicity；　〃May　I　see　you　home？〃　　And　Felicity；　much　to　our　amazement；　had　taken　his　arm　and　marched　off　with　him。　　The　primness　of　her　was　indescribable；　and　was　not　at　all　ruffled　by　Dan's　hoot　of　derision。　　As　for　me；　I　was　consumed　by　a　secret　and　burning　desire　to　ask　the　Story　Girl　if　I　might　see　HER　home；　but　I　could　not　screw　my　courage　to　the　sticking　point。　　How　I　envied　Peter　his　easy；　insouciant　manne