the golden road-第46节

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〃And　the　time　Paddy　was　bewitched；〃　suggested　Sara　Ray。

〃And　when　Peter　was　dying　of　the　measles；〃　said　Felicity。

〃And　the　time　Jimmy　Patterson　was　lost；〃　said　Dan。　　〃Gee…whiz；　but　that　scared　me　out　of　a　year's　growth。〃

〃Do　you　remember　the　time　we　took　the　magic　seed；〃　grinned　Peter。

〃Weren't　we　silly？〃　said　Felicity。　　〃I　really　can　never　look　Billy　Robinson　in　the　face　when　I　meet　him。　　I'm　always　sure　he's　laughing　at　me　in　his　sleeve。〃

〃It's　Billy　Robinson　who　ought　to　be　ashamed　when　he　meets　you　or　any　of　us；〃　commented　Cecily　severely。　　〃I'd　rather　be　cheated　than　cheat　other　people。〃

〃Do　you　mind　the　time　we　bought　God's　picture？〃　asked　Peter。

〃I　wonder　if　it's　where　we　buried　it　yet；〃　speculated　Felix。

〃I　put　a　stone　over　it；　just　as　we　did　over　Pat；〃　said　Cecily。

〃I　wish　I　could　forget　what　God　looks　like；〃　sighed　Sara　Ray。　　〃I　can't　forget　itand　I　can't　forget　what　the　bad　place　is　like　either；　ever　since　Peter　preached　that　sermon　on　it。〃

〃When　you　get　to　be　a　real　minister　you'll　have　to　preach　that　sermon　over　again；　Peter；〃　grinned　Dan。

〃My　Aunt　Jane　used　to　say　that　people　needed　a　sermon　on　that　place　once　in　a　while；〃　retorted　Peter　seriously。

〃Do　you　mind　the　night　I　et　the　cucumbers　and　milk　to　make　me　dream？〃　said　Cecily。　

And　therewith　we　hunted　out　our　old　dream　books　to　read　them　again；　and；　forgetful　of　coming　partings；　laughed　over　them　till　the　old　orchard　echoed　to　our　mirth。　　When　we　had　finished　we　stood　in　a　circle　around　the　well　and　pledged　〃eternal　friendship〃　in　a　cup　of　its　unrivalled　water。

Then　we　joined　hands　and　sang　〃Auld　Lang　Syne。〃　Sara　Ray　cried　bitterly　in　lieu　of　singing。

〃Look　here；〃　said　the　Story　Girl；　as　we　turned　to　leave　the　old　orchard；　〃I　want　to　ask　a　favour　of　you　all。　　Don't　say　good…bye　to　me　tomorrow　morning。〃

〃Why　not？〃　demanded　Felicity　in　astonishment。

〃Because　it's　such　a　hopeless　sort　of　word。　Don't　let's　SAY　it　at　all。　　Just　see　me　off　with　a　wave　of　your　hands。　　It　won't　seem　half　so　bad　then。　　And　don't　any　of　you　cry　if　you　can　help　it。　　I　want　to　remember　you　all　smiling。〃

We　went　out　of　the　old　orchard　where　the　autumn　night　wind　was　beginning　to　make　its　weird　music　in　the　russet　boughs；　and　shut　the　little　gate　behind　us。　　Our　revels　there　were　ended。



CHAPTER　XXXIII

THE　STORY　GIRL　GOES


The　morning　dawned；　rosy　and　clear　and　frosty。　　Everybody　was　up　early；　for　the　travellers　must　leave　in　time　to　catch　the　nine　o'clock　train。　　The　horse　was　harnessed　and　Uncle　Alec　was　waiting　by　the　door。　　Aunt　Janet　was　crying；　but　everybody　else　was　making　a　valiant　effort　not　to。　　The　Awkward　Man　and　Mrs。　Dale　came　to　see　the　last　of　their　favourite。　　Mrs。　Dale　had　brought　her　a　glorious　sheaf　of　chrysanthemums；　and　the　Awkward　Man　gave　her；　quite　gracefully；　another　little；　old；　limp　book　from　his　library。

〃Read　it　when　you　are　sad　or　happy　or　lonely　or　discouraged　or　hopeful；〃　he　said　gravely。

〃He　has　really　improved　very　much　since　he　got　married；〃　whispered　Felicity　to　me。

Sara　Stanley　wore　a　smart　new　travelling　suit　and　a　blue　felt　hat　with　a　white　feather。　　She　looked　so　horribly　grown　up　in　it　that　we　felt　as　if　she　were　lost　to　us　already。

Sara　Ray　had　vowed　tearfully　the　night　before　that　she　would　be　up　in　the　morning　to　say　farewell。　　But　at　this　juncture　Judy　Pineau　appeared　to　say　that　Sara；　with　her　usual　luck；　had　a　sore　throat；　and　that　her　mother　consequently　would　not　permit　her　to　come。　　So　Sara　had　written　her　parting　words　in　a　three…cornered　pink　note。


〃My　OWN　DARLING　FRIEND：WORDS　CANNOT　EXPRESS　my　feelings　over　not　being　able　to　go　up　this　morning　to　say　good…bye　to　one　I　so　FONDLY　ADORE。　　When　I　think　that　I　cannot　SEE　YOU　AGAIN　my　heart　is　almost　TOO　FULL　FOR　UTTERANCE。　　But　mother　says　I　cannot　and　I　MUST　OBEY。　　But　I　will　be　present　IN　SPIRIT。　　It　just　BREAKS　MY　HEART　that　you　are　going　SO　FAR　AWAY。　　You　have　always　been　SO　KIND　to　me　and　never　hurt　my　feelings　AS　SOME　DO　and　I　shall　miss　you　SO　MUCH。　　But　I　earnestly　HOPE　AND　PRAY　that　you　will　be　HAPPY　AND　PROSPEROUS　wherever　YOUR　LOT　IS　CAST　and　not　be　seasick　on　THE　GREAT　OCEAN。　　I　hope　you　will　find　time　AMONG　YOUR　MANY　DUTIES　to　write　me　a　letter　ONCE　IN　A　WHILE。　　I　shall　ALWAYS　REMEMBER　YOU　and　please　remember　me。　　I　hope　we　WILL　MEET　AGAIN　sometime；　but　if　not　may　we　meet　in　A　FAR　BETTER　WORLD　where　there　are　no　SAD　PARTINGS。

〃Your　true　and　loving　friend；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃SARA　RAY〃


〃Poor　little　Sara；〃　said　the　Story　Girl；　with　a　queer　catch　in　her　voice；　as　she　slipped　the　tear…blotted　note　into　her　pocket。　　〃She　isn't　a　bad　little　soul；　and　I'm　sorry　I　couldn't　see　her　once　more；　though　maybe　it's　just　as　well　for　she'd　have　to　cry　and　set　us　all　off。　　I　WON'T　cry。　　Felicity；　don't　you　dare。　　Oh；　you　dear；　darling　people；　I　love　you　all　so　much　and　I'll　go　on　loving　you　always。〃

〃Mind　you　write　us　every　week　at　the　very　least；〃　said　Felicity；　winking　furiously。

〃Blair；　Blair；　watch　over　the　child　well；〃　said　Aunt　Janet。　　〃Remember；　she　has　no　mother。〃

The　Story　Girl　ran　over　to　the　buggy　and　climbed　in。　　Uncle　Blair　followed　her。　　Her　arms　were　full　of　Mrs。　Dale's　chrysanthemums；　held　close　up　to　her　face；　and　her　beautiful　eyes　shone　softly　at　us　over　them。　　No　good…byes　were　said；　as　she　wished。　　We　all　smiled　bravely　and　waved　our　hands　as　they　drove　out　of　the　lane　and　down　the　moist　red　road　into　the　shadows　of　the　fir　wood　in　the　valley。　　But　we　still　stood　there；　for　we　knew　we　should　see　the　Story　Girl　once　more。　　Beyond　the　fir　wood　was　an　open　curve　in　the　road　and　she　had　promised　to　wave　a　last　farewell　as　they　passed　around　it。

We　watched　the　curve　in　silence；　standing　in　a　sorrowful　little　group　in　the　sunshine　of　the　autumn　morning。　　The　delight　of　the　world　had　been　ours　on　the　golden　road。　　It　had　enticed　us　with　daisies　and　rewarded　us　with　roses。　　Blossom　and　lyric　had　waited　on　our　wishes。　　Thoughts；　careless　and　sweet；　had　visited　us。　　Laughter　had　been　our　comrade　and　fearless　Hope　our　guide。　　But　now　the　shadow　of　change　was　over　it。

〃There　she　is；〃　cried　Felicity。

The　Story　Girl　stood　up　and　waved　her　chrysanthemums　at　us。　　We　waved　wildly　back　until　the　buggy　had　driven　around　the　curve。　　Then　we　went　slowly　and　silently　back　to　the　house。　　The　Story　Girl　was　gone。




End