a summer in a canyon-第21节

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and　red　hair　that　make　me　what　I　am；　or　did　what　I　am　make　my　nose
and　hair　what　they　arewhich？'

'We'll　have　to　ask　Aunt　Truth；'　said　Margery；　'that　is　too　difficult
a　thing　for　us　to　answer。'

'Wasn't　it　nice　I　catched　that　big　bull…frog；　Margie？'　cried　Dick；
his　eyes　shining　with　anticipation。　　'Now　I'll　have　as　many　as　seven
or　'leven　frogs　and　lots　of　horned　toads　when　Elsie　comes；　and　she
can　help　me　play　with　'em。'

When　the　girls　reached　the　tents　again；　the　last　article　had　been
taken　from　the　team　and　Manuel　had　driven　away。　　The　sound　of　Phil's
hammer　could　be　heard　from　the　carpenter…shop；　and　Pancho　was　already
laying　the　tent　floor　in　a　small；　open；　sunny　place；　where　the　low
boughs　of　a　single　sycamore　hung　so　as　to　protect　one　of　its　corners；
leaving　the　rest　to　the　full　warmth　of　the　sunshine　that　was　to　make
Elsie　entirely　well　again。

'I　am　tired　to　death；'　sighed　Laura；　throwing　herself　down　in　a
bamboo　lounging…chair。　　'Such　a　tramp　as　we　had！　and　after　all；　the
boys　insisted　on　going　where　Dr。　Winship　wouldn't　allow　us　to　follow；
so　that　we　had　to　stay　behind　and　fish　with　the　children；　I　wish　I
had　stayed　at　home　and　read　The　Colonel's　Daughter。'

'Oh；　Laura！'　remonstrated　Margery；　'think　of　that　lovely　pool　with
the　forests　of　maiden…hair　growing　all　about　it！'

'And　poison…oak；'　grumbled　Laura。　　'I　know　I　walked　into　some　of　it
and　shall　look　like　a　perfect　fright　for　a　week。　　I　shall　never　make
a　country　girlit's　no　use　for　me　to　try。'

'It's　no　use　for　you　to　try　walking　four　miles　in　high…heeled　shoes；
my　dear；'　said　Polly；　bluntly。

'They　are　not　high；'　retorted　Laura；　'and　if　they　are；　I　don't　care
to　look　like　aacow…boy；　even　in　the　backwoods。'

'I'm　an　awful　example；'　sighed　Polly；　seating　herself　on　a　stump　in
front　of　the　tent；　and　elevating　a　very　dusty　little　common…sense
boot。　　'Sir　Walter　Raleigh　would　never　have　allowed　me　to　walk　on　his
velvet　cloak　with　that　boot；　would　he；　girls？　　Oh；　wasn't　that
romantic；　though？　and　don't　I　wish　that　I　had　been　Queen　Elizabeth！'

'You've　got　the　HAIR；'　said　Laura。

'Thank　you！　　I　had　forgotten　Elizabeth's　hair　was　red；　so　it　was。
This　is　my　court　train；'　snatching　a　tablecloth　that　bung　on　a　hush
near　by；　and　pinning　it　to　her　waist　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；
'this　my　farthingale；'　dangling　her　sun…bonnet　from　her　belt；'this
my　sceptre；'　seizing　a　Japanese　umbrella；'this　my　crown；'　inverting
a　bright　tin　plate　upon　her　curly　head。　　'She　is　just　alighting　from
her　chariot；　THUS；　the　courtiers　turn　pale；　THUS；　（why　don't　you　do
it？）　what　shall　be　done？　　The　Royal　Feet　must　not　be　wet。　　〃Go　round
the　puddle？　　Prit；　me　Lud；　'Od's　body！　　Forsooth！　　Certainly　not！
Remove　the　puddle！〃　she　says　haughtily　to　her　subjects。　　They　are
just　about　to　do　so；　when　out　from　behind　a　neighbouring　chaparral
bush　stalks　a　beautiful　young　prince　with　coal…black　hair　and　rose…
red　cheeks。　　He　wears　a　rich　velvet　cloak；　glittering　with
embroidery。　　He　sees　not　her　crown；　her　hair　outshines　it；　he　sees
not　her　sceptre；　her　tiny　hand　conceals　it；　he　sees　naught　save　the
loathly　mud。　　He　strips　off　his　cloak　and　floats　it　on　the　puddle。
With　a　haughty　but　gracious　bend　of　her　head　the　Queen　accepts　the
courtesy；　crosses　the　puddle；　THUS；　waves　her　sceptre；　THUS；　and
saying；　〃You　shall　hear　from　me　by　return　mail；　me　Lud；〃　she　vanishes
within　the　castle。　　The　next　morning　she　makes　Sir　Walter　British
Minister　to　Florida。　　He　departs　at　once　with　a　cargo　of　tobacco；
which　he　exchanges　for　sweet　potatoes；　and　everybody　is　happy　ever
after。'

The　girls　were　convulsed　with　mirth　at　this　historical　romance；　and；
as　Mrs。　Winship　wiped　the　tears　of　merriment　from　her　eyes；　Polly
seized　the　golden　opportunity　and　dropped　on　her　knees　beside　her。

'Please；　Aunt　Truth；　we　can't　get　the　white　mosquito…netting　because
Dr。　Winship　has　the　key　of　the　storehouse　in　his　pocket；　and　somay…
…Iblow　the　horn？'

Mrs。　Winship　gave　her　consent　in　despair；　and　Polly　went　to　the　oak…
tree　where　the　horn　hung　and　blew　all　the　strength　of　her　lungs　into
blast　after　blast　for　five　minutes。

'That's　all　I　needed；'　she　said；　on　returning；　'that　was　an　escape…
valve；　and　I　shall　be　lady…like　and　well…behaved　the　rest　of　the
day。'



CHAPTER　VI：　　QUEEN　ELSIE　VISITS　THE　COURT



'An　hour　and　friend　with　friend　will　meet；
Lip　cling　to　lip　and　hand　clasp　hand。'


'Now；　Laura；'　asked　Bell；　when　quiet　was　restored；　'advise　us　about
Elsie's　tent。　　We　want　it　to　be　perfectly　lovely；　and　you　have　such
good　taste！'

'Let　me　think；'　said　Laura。　　'Oh；　if　she　were　only　a　brunette　instead
of　a　blonde；　we　could　festoon　the　tent　with　that　yellow　tarlatan　I
brought　for　the　play！'

'What　difference　does　it　make　whether　she　is　dark　or　light？'　asked
Bell；　obtusely。

'Why；　a　room　ought　to　be　as　becoming　as　a　dressso　Mrs。　Pinkerton
says。　　You　know　I　saw　a　great　deal　of　her　at　the　hotel；　and　oh；
girls！　her　bedroom　was　the　most　exquisite　thing　you　ever　saw！　　She
had　a　French　toilet…table；　covered　with　pale　blue　silk　and　white
marquise　lace；perfectly　lovely；with　yards　and　yards　of　robin's…
egg　blue　watered　ribbon　in　bows；　and　on　it　she　kept　all　her　toilet
articles；　everything　in　hammered　silver　from　Tiffany's　with　monograms
on　the　back；three　or　four　sizes　of　brushes；　and　combs；　and　mirrors；
and　a　full　manicure　set。　　It　used　to　take　her　two　hours　to　dress；　but
it　was　worth　it。　　Oh；　such　gorgeous　tea…gowns　as　she　had！　　One　of　old
rose　and　lettuce　was　a　perfect　dream！　　She　always　had　her　breakfast
in　bed；　you　know。　　I　think　it's　delightful　to　have　your　breakfast
before　you　get　up；　and　dress　as　slowly　as　you　like。　　I　wish　mamma
would　let　me　do　it。'

'What　does　she　do　after　she　gets　dressed　in　her　rows　of　old　lettuce
I　mean　her　old　rows　of　lettuce？'　asked　Polly。

'Do？　　Why　really；　Polly；　you　are　too　stupid！　　What　do　you　suppose　she
did？　　What　everybody　else　does；　of　course。'

'Oh！'　said　Polly；　apologetically。

'How　old　is　Mrs。　Pinkerton？'　asked　Margery。

'Between　nineteen　and　twenty。　　There　is　not　three　years'　difference
in　our　ages；　though　she　has　been　married　nearly　two　years。　　It　seems
so　funny。'

'Only　nineteen！'　cried　Bell。　　'Why；　I　always　thought　that　she　was　old
as　the　hillstwenty…five　or　thirty　at　the　very　least。　　She　always
seemed　tired　of　things。'

'Well；'　said　Laura；　in　a　whisper　intended　to　be　too　low　to　reach　Mrs。
Winship's　tent；　'I　don't　know　whether　I　ought　to　repeat　what　was　told
me　in　confidence；　but　the　fact　iswellshe　doesn't　like　Mr。
Pinkerton　very　well！'

The　other　girls；　who　had　not　enjoyed　the　advantages　of　city　life　and
travel；　looked　as　dazed　as　any　scandalmonger　could　have　desired。

'Don't　like　him！'　gasped　Polly；　nearly　falling　off　the　stump。　　'Why；
she's　married　to　him！'

'Where　on　earth　were　you　brought　up？'　snapped　Laura。　　'What
difference　does　that　make？　　She　can't　help　it　if　she　doesn't　happen
to　like　her　husband；　can　she？　　You　can't　make　yourself　like　anybody；
can　you？'

'Well；　did　she　ever　like　him？'　asked　Margery；　'for　she's　only　been
married　a　year　or　two；　and　it　seems　to　me　it　might　have　lasted　that
long　if　there　was　anything　to　begin　on。'

'But；'　whispered　Laura；　mysteriously；　'you　see　Mr。　Pinkerton　was　very
rich　and　the　Dentons　very　poor。　　Mr。　Denton　had　just　died；　leaving
them　nothing　at　all　to　live　on；　and　poor　Jessie　would　have　had　to
teach　school；　or　some　dreadful　thing　like　that。　　The　thought　of　it
almost　killed　her；　she　is　so　sensitive　and　so　refined。　　She　never
told　me　so　in　so　many　words；　but　I　am　sure　she　married　Mr。　Pinkerton
to　save　her　mother　from　poverty；　and　I　pity　her　from　the　bottom　of　my
heart。'

'I　suppose　it　was　noble；'　said　Bell；　in　a　puzzled　tone；　'if　she
couldn't　think　of　any　other　way；　but'

'Well；　did　she　try　very　hard　to　think　of　other　ways？'　asked　Polly。
'She　never　looked　especially　noble　to　me。　　I　thought　she　seemed　like
a　die…away；　frizzlygig　kind　of　a　girl。'

'I　wish；　Miss　Oliver；　that　you　would　be　kind　enough　to　remember　that
Mrs。　Pinkerton　is　one　of　my　most　intimate　friends；'　said　Laura；
sharply。　　'And　I　do　wish；　also；　that　you　wouldn't　talk　loud　enough　to
be　heard　all　through　the　canyon。'

The　colour　came　into　Polly's　cheeks；　but　before　she　could　answer；
Mrs。　Winship　walked　in；　stocking…basket　in　hand；　and　seated　herself
in　the　little　wicker　rocking…chair。　　Polly's　clarion　tones　had　given
her　a　clue　to　the　subject；　and　she　thought　the　discussion　needed
guidance。

'You　were　talking　about　Mrs。　Pinkerton；　girls；'　she　said；　serenely。
'You　say　you　are　fond　of　her；　Laura；　dear；　and　it　seems　very
ungracious　for　me　to　criticise　your　friend；　that　is　a　thing　which
most　of　us　fail　to　bear　patiently。　　But　I　cannot　let　you　hold　her　up
as　an　ideal　to　be　worshipped；　or　ask　the　girls　to　admire　as　a　piece
of　self…denial　what　I　fear　was　nothing　but　indolence　and　self…
gratification。　　You　are　too　young　to　talk　of　these　things　very　much；
but　you　are　not　too　young　to　make　up　your　mind　that　when　you　agree　to
live　all　your　life　long　with　a　person；　you　must　have　some　other
feeling　than　a　determination　not　to　teach　school。　　Jessie　Denton's
mother；　my　dear　Laura；　would　never　have　asked　the　sacrifice　of　her
dau