april hopes-第14章

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impartial　friendliness；　he　promised　an　early　and　triumphant　emergence
from　all　difficulties；　he　started　singing；　and　sacrificed　himself　in
several　tunes；　for　he　could　not　sing　well；　his　laugh　seemed　to　be　always
coming　back　to　Alice；　where　she　rode　late　in　the　little　procession；
several　times；　with　the　deference　which　he　delicately　qualified　for　her；
he　came　himself　to　see　if　he　could　not　do　something　for　her。

〃Miss　Pasmer；〃　croaked　her　friend　Miss　Anderson；　who　always　began　in　that
ceremonious　way　with　her；　and　got　to　calling　her　Alice　further　along　in
the　conversation；　〃if　you　don't　drop　something　for　that　poor　fellow　to
run　back　two　or　three　miles　and　get；　pretty　soon；　I'll　do　it　myself。
It's　peyfectly　disheaytening　to　see　his　disappointment　when　you　tell　him
theye's　nothing　to　be　done。〃

〃He　seems　to　get　over　it；〃　said　Alice　evasively。　　She　smiled　with
pleasure　in　Miss　Anderson's　impeachment；　however。

〃Oh；　he　keeps　coming；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　　But　do　drop　an　umbrella；
or　a　rubber；　or　something；　next　time；　just　to　show　a　proper
appreciation。〃

But　Mavering　did　not　come　any　more。　　Just　before　they　got　to　the　cove；
Miss　Anderson　leaned　over　again　to　whisper　in　Alice's　ear；　〃I　told　you　he
was　huyt。　　Now　you　must　be　very　good　to　him　the　rest　of　the　time。〃

Upon　theory　a　girl　of　Alice　Pasmer's　reserve　ought　to　have　resented　this
intervention；　but　it　is　not　probable　she　did。　　She　flushed　a　little；　but
not　with　offence；　apparently；　and　she　was　kinder　to　Mavering；　and　let　him
do　everything　for　her　that　he　could　invent　in　transferring　the　things
from　the　wagons　to　the　rocks。

The　party　gave　a　gaiety　to　the　wild　place　which　accented　its　proper
charm；　as　they　scattered　themselves　over　the　ledges　on　the　bright　shawls
spread　upon　the　level　spaces。　　On　either　hand　craggy　bluffs　hemmed　the
cove　in；　but　below　the　ledge　it　had　a　pebbly　beach　strewn　with　drift…
wood；　and　the　Bay　of　Fundy　gloomed　before　it　with　small　fishing　craft
tipping　and　tilting　on　the　swell　in　the　foreground；　and　dim　sail　melting
into　the　dun　fog　bank　at　the　horizon's　edge。

The　elder　ladies　of　the　party　stood　up；　or　stretched　themselves　on　the
shawls；　as　they　found　this　or　that　posture　more　restful　after　their　long
drive；　one；　who　was　skilled　in　making　coffee；　had　taken　possession　of　the
pot；　and　was　demanding　fire　and　water　for　it。　　The　men　scattered
themselves　over　the　beach；　and　brought　her　drift　enough　to　roast　an　ox；
two　of　them　fetched　water　from　the　spring　at　the　back　of　the　ledge；
whither　they　then　carried　the　bottles　of　ale　to　cool　in　its　thrilling
pool。　　Each　after　his　or　her　fashion　symbolised　a　return　to　nature　by
some　act　or　word　of　self…abandon。

〃You　ought　to　have　brought　heavier　shoes；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a
serious　glance　at　her　daughter's　feet。　　〃　Well；　never　mind；〃　she　added。
〃It　doesn't　matter　if　you　do　spoil　them。〃

〃Really；〃　cried　Mrs　Brinkley；　casting　her　sandals　from　her；　〃I　will　not
be　enslaved　to　rubbers　in　such　a　sylvan　scene　as　this；　at　any　rate。〃

〃Look　at　Mrs。　Stamwell！〃　said　Miss　Cotton。　　〃She's　actually　taken　her　hat
off。〃

Mrs。　Stamwell　had　not　only　gone　to　this　extreme；　but　had　tied　a　lightly
fluttering　handkerchief　round　her　hair。　　She　said　she　should　certainly
not　put　on　that　heavy　thing　again　till　she　got　in　sight　of　civilisation。

At　these　words　Miss　Cotton　boldly　drew　off　her　gloves；　and　put　them　in
her　pocket。

The　young　girls；　slim　in　their　blues　flannel　skirts　and　their　broad　white
canvas　belts；　went　and　came　over　the　rocks。　　There　were　some　children　in
the　party；　who　were　allowed　to　scream　uninterruptedly　in　the　games　which
they　began　to　play　as　soon　as　they　found　their　feet　after　getting　out　of
the　wagons。

Some　of　the　gentlemen　drove　a　stake　into　the　beach；　and　threw　stones　at
it；　to　see　which　could　knock　off　the　pebble　balanced　on　its　top。　　Several
of　the　ladies　joined　them　in　the　sport；　and　shrieked　and　laughed　when
they　made　wild　shots　with　the　missiles　the　men　politely　gathered　for
them。

Alice　had　remained　with　Mavering　to　help　the　hostess　of　the　picnic　lay
the　tables；　but　her　mother　had　followed　those　who　went　down　to　the　beach。
At　first　Mrs。　Pasmer　looked　on　at　the　practice　of　the　stone…throwers　with
disapproval；　but　suddenly　she　let　herself　go　in　this；　as　she　did　in　other
matters　that　her　judgment　condemned；　and　began　to　throw　stones　herself；
she　became　excited；　and　made　the　wildest　shots　of　any；　accepting　missiles
right　and　left；　and　making　herself　dangerous　to　everybody　within　a　wide
circle。　　A　gentleman　who　had　fallen　a　victim　to　her　skill　said；　〃Just
wait；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　till　I　get　in　front　of　the　stake。〃

The　men　became　seriously　interested；　and　worked　themselves　red　and　hot；
the　ladies　soon　gave　it　up；　and　sat　down　on　the　sand　and　began　to　talk。
They　all　owned　themselves　hungry；　and　from　time　to　time　they　looked　up
anxiously　at　the　preparations　for　lunch　on　the　ledge；　where　white　napkins
were　spread；　with　bottles　at　the　four　corners　to　keep　them　from　blowing
away。　　This　use　of　the　bottles　was　considered　very　amusing；　the　ladies
tried　to　make　jokes　about　it；　and　the　desire　to　be　funny　spread　to
certain　of　the　men　who　had　quietly　left　off　throwing　at　the　stake　because
they　had　wrenched　their　shoulders；　they　succeeded　in　being　merry。　　They
said　they　thought　that　coffee　took　a　long　time　to　boil。

A　lull　of　expectation　fell　upon　all；　even　Mavering　sat　down　on　the　rocks
near　the　fire；　and　was　at　rest　a　few　minutes；　by　order　of　Miss　Anderson；
who　said　that　the　sight　of　his　activity　tired　her　to　death。

〃I　wonder　why　always　boiled　ham　at　a　picnic！〃　said　the　lady　who　took　a
final　plate　of　it　from　a　basket。　　〃Under　the　ordinary　conditions；　few　of
us　can　be　persuaded　to　touch　it。〃

〃It　seems　to　be　dear　to　nature；　and　to　nature's　children；〃　said　Mrs。
Brinkley。　　〃Perhaps　because　their　digestions　are　strong。〃

〃Don't　you　wish　that　something　could　be　substituted　for　it？〃　asked　Miss。
Cotton。

〃There　have　been　efforts　to　replace　it　with　chicken　and　tongue　in
sandwiches；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　〃but　I　think　they've　only　measurably
succeededabout　as　temperance　drinks　have　in　place　of　the　real　strong
waters。〃

〃On　the　boat　coming　up；〃　said　Mavering；　〃we　had　a　troupe　of　genuine　darky
minstrels。　　One　of　them　sang　a　song　about　ham　that　rather　took　me

〃'Ham；　good　old　ham！
Ham　is　de　best　ob　meat；
It's　always　good　and　sweet；
You　can　bake　it；　you　can　boil　it；
You　can　fry　it；　you　can　broil　it
Ham；　good　old　ham！'〃

〃Oh；　how　good！〃　sighed　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　〃How　sincere！　　How　native！　　Go　on；
Mr。　Mavering；　for　ever。〃

〃I　haven't　the　materials；〃　said　Mavering；　with　his　laugh。　　〃The　rest　was
da　capo。　　But　there　was　another　song；　about　a　coloured　lady〃

〃'Six　foot　high　and　eight　foot　round；
Holler　ob　her　foot　made　a　hole　in　de　ground。'〃

〃Ah；　that's　an　old　friend；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　〃I　remember　hearing　of
that　coloured　lady　when　I　was　a　girl。　　But　it's　a　fine　flight　of　the
imagination。　　What　else　did　they　sing？〃

〃I　can't　remember。　　But　there　was　something　they　dancedto　show　how　a
rheumatic　old　coloured　uncle　dances。〃

He　jumped　nimbly　up；　and　sketched　the　stiff　and　limping　figure　he　had
seen。　　It　was　over　in　a　flash。　　He　dropped　down　again；　laughing。

〃Oh；　how　wonderfully　good！〃　cried　Mrs。　Brinkley；　with　frank　joy。　　〃Do　it
again。〃

〃Encore！　　Oh；　encore！〃　came　from　the　people　on　the　beach。

Mavering　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　burlesqued　the　profuse　bows　of　an　actor
who　refuses　to　repeat；　he　was　about　to　drop　down　again　amidst　their　wails
of　protest。

〃No；　don't　sit　down；　Mr。　Mavering；〃　said　the　lady　who　had　introduced　the
subject　of　ham。　　〃Get　some　of　the　young　ladies；　and　go　and　gather　some
blueberries　for　the　dessert。　　There　are　all　the　necessaries　of　life　here；
but　none　of　the　luxuries。〃

〃I'm　at　the　service　of　the　young　ladies　as　an　escort；〃　said　Mavering
gallantly；　with　an　infusion　of　joke。　　〃Will　you　come　and　pick　blueberries
under　my　watchful　eyes；　Miss　Pasmer？〃

〃They've　gone　to　pick　blueberries；〃　called　the　lady　through　her　tubed
hand　to　the　people　on　the　beach；　and　the　younger　among　them　scrambled　up
the　rocks　for　cups　and　bowls　to　follow　them。

Mrs。　Pasmer　had　an　impulse　to　call　her　daughter　back；　and　to　make　some
excuse　to　keep　her　from　going。　　She　was　in　an　access　of　decorum；
naturally　following　upon　her　late　outbreak；　and　it　seemed　a　very
pronounced　thing　for　Alice　to　be　going　off　into　the　woods　with　the　young
man；　but　it　would　have　been　a　pronounced　thing　to　prevent　her；　and　so
Mrs。　Pasmer　submitted。

〃Isn't　it　delightful；〃　asked　Mrs。　Brinkley；　following　them　with　her　eyes；
〃to　see　the　charm　that　gay　young　fellow　has　for　that　serious　girl？　　She
looked　at　him　while　he　was　dancing　as　if　she　couldn't　take　her　eyes　off
him；　and　she　followed　him　as　if　he　drew　her　by　an　invisible　spell。　　Not
that　spells　are　ever　visible；〃　she　added；　saving　herself。　　〃Though　this
one　seems　to　be；〃　she　added　further；　again　saving　herself。

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃　pleaded　Miss　Cotton。

〃Well；　I　say　so；　whatever　I　think。　　And　I'm　not　going　to　be　caught　up　on
the　tenter…hooks　of　conscience　as　to　all　my　meanings；　Miss　Cotton。　　I
don't　know　them　all。　　But　I'm　not　one　of　the　Aliceolaters；　you　know。〃

〃No；　of　course　not。　　But　shouldn't　youDon't　you　think　it　would　be　a
great　pityShe's　so　superior；　so　very　uncommon　in　every　way；　that　it
hardly　seemsAh；　I　should　so　like　to　see　some　one　really　finenot　a
coarse　fibre　in　him；　don't　you　know。　　Not　that　Mr。　Mavering's　coarse。
But　beside　her　he　does　seem　so　light！〃

〃Perhaps　that's　the　reason　she　likes　him。〃

〃No；　no！　　I　can't　believe　that。　　She　must　see　more　in　him　than　we　can。〃

〃I　dare　say　she　thinks　she　does。　　At　any　rate；　it's　a　perfectly　evident
case　on　both　sides；　and　the　frank　way　he's　followed　her　up　here；　and
devoted　himself　to　her；　as　ifwell；　not　as　if　she　were　the　only　girl　in
the　world；　but　incomparably　the　bestis　certainly　not　common。〃

〃No；〃　sighed　Miss　Cotton；　glad　to　admit　it；　〃that's　beautiful。〃



XV。

In　the　edge　of　the　woods　and　the　open　spaces　among　the　trees　the
blueberries　grew　larger　and　sweeter　in　the　late　Northern　summer　than　a
more　southern　sun　seems　to　make　them。　　They　hung　dense　upon　the　low
bushes；　and　gave　them　their　tint　through　the　soft　grey　bloom　that　veiled
their　blue。　　Sweet…fern　in　patches　broke　their　mass　here　and　there；　and
exhaled　its　wild　perfume　to　the　foot　or　skirt　brushing　through　it。

〃I　don't　think　there's　anything　much　prettier　than　these　clusters；　do
you；　Miss　Pasmer？〃　asked　Mavering；　as　he　lifted　a　bunch　pendent　from　the
little　tree　before　he　stripped　it　into　the　bowl　he　carried。　　〃And　see！
it　spoils　the　bloom　to　gather　them。〃　　He　held　out　a　handful；　and　then
tossed　them　away。　　〃It　ought　to　be　managed　more　aesthetically　for　an
occasion　like　this。　　I'll　tell　you　what；　Miss　Pasmer：　are　you　used　to
blueberrying？〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　ever　went　blueberrying　before。
Why？〃　she　asked。

〃Because；　if　you　haven't；　you　wouldn't　be　very　efficient　perhaps；　and　so
you　might　resign　yourself　to　sitting　on　that　log　and　holding　the　berries
in　your　lap；　while　I　pick　them。〃

〃But　what　about　the　bowls；　then？〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　them。　　I've　got　an　idea。　　See　here