the garden party(园会)-第1章
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！
The Garden Party
The Garden Party
By Katherine Mansfield
1
… Page 2…
The Garden Party
1。 AT THE BAY。
Chapter 1。I。
Very early morning。 The sun was not yet risen； and the whole of
Crescent Bay was hidden under a white sea…mist。 The big bush…covered
hills at the back were smothered。 You could not see where they ended
and the paddocks and bungalows began。 The sandy road was gone and
the paddocks and bungalows the other side of it； there were no white
dunes covered with reddish grass beyond them； there was nothing to mark
which was beach and where was the sea。 A heavy dew had fallen。 The
grass was blue。 Big drops hung on the bushes and just did not fall； the
silvery； fluffy toi…toi was limp on its long stalks； and all the marigolds and
the pinks in the bungalow gardens were bowed to the earth with wetness。
Drenched were the cold fuchsias； round pearls of dew lay on the flat
nasturtium leaves。 It looked as though the sea had beaten up softly in the
darkness； as though one immense wave had come rippling； ripplinghow
far？ Perhaps if you had waked up in the middle of the night you might
have seen a big fish flicking in at the window and gone again。。。
Ah…Aah！ sounded the sleepy sea。 And from the bush there came the
sound of little streams flowing； quickly； lightly； slipping between the
smooth stones； gushing into ferny basins and out again； and there was the
splashing of big drops on large leaves； and something elsewhat was it？
a faint stirring and shaking； the snapping of a twig and then such silence
that it seemed some one was listening。
Round the corner of Crescent Bay； between the piled…up masses of
broken rock； a flock of sheep came pattering。 They were huddled
together； a small； tossing； woolly mass； and their thin； stick…like legs
trotted along quickly as if the cold and the quiet had frightened them。
Behind them an old sheep…dog； his soaking paws covered with sand； ran
along with his nose to the ground； but carelessly； as if thinking of
something else。 And then in the rocky gateway the shepherd himself
appeared。 He was a lean； upright old man； in a frieze coat that was
2
… Page 3…
The Garden Party
covered with a web of tiny drops； velvet trousers tied under the knee； and
a wide…awake with a folded blue handkerchief round the brim。 One hand
was crammed into his belt； the other grasped a beautifully smooth yellow
stick。 And as he walked； taking his time； he kept up a very soft light
whistling； an airy； far…away fluting that sounded mournful and tender。
The old dog cut an ancient caper or two and then drew up sharp； ashamed
of his levity； and walked a few dignified paces by his master's side。
The sheep ran forward in little pattering rushes； they began to bleat； and
ghostly flocks and herds answered them from under the sea。 〃Baa！
Baaa！〃 For a time they seemed to be always on the same piece of ground。
There ahead was stretched the sandy road with shallow puddles； the same
soaking bushes showed on either side and the same shadowy palings。
Then something immense came into view； an enormous shock… haired
giant with his arms stretched out。 It was the big gum…tree outside Mrs。
Stubbs' shop； and as they passed by there was a strong whiff of eucalyptus。
And now big spots of light gleamed in the mist。 The shepherd stopped
whistling； he rubbed his red nose and wet beard on his wet sleeve and；
screwing up his eyes； glanced in the direction of the sea。 The sun was
rising。 It was marvellous how quickly the mist thinned； sped away；
dissolved from the shallow plain； rolled up from the bush and was gone as
if in a hurry to escape； big twists and curls jostled and shouldered each
other as the silvery beams broadened。 The far…away skya bright； pure
bluewas reflected in the puddles； and the drops； swimming along the
telegraph poles； flashed into points of light。 Now the leaping； glittering
sea was so bright it made one's eyes ache to look at it。 The shepherd
drew a pipe； the bowl as small as an acorn； out of his breast pocket；
fumbled for a chunk of speckled tobacco； pared off a few shavings and
stuffed the bowl。 He was a grave； fine…looking old man。 As he lit up
and the blue smoke wreathed his head； the dog； watching； looked proud of
him。
〃Baa！ Baaa！〃 The sheep spread out into a fan。 They were just
clear of the summer colony before the first sleeper turned over and lifted a
drowsy head； their cry sounded in the dreams of little children。。。who lifted
their arms to drag down； to cuddle the darling little woolly lambs of sleep。
3
… Page 4…
The Garden Party
Then the first inhabitant appeared； it was the Burnells' cat Florrie； sitting
on the gatepost； far too early as usual； looking for their milk… girl。 When
she saw the old sheep…dog she sprang up quickly； arched her back； drew in
her tabby head； and seemed to give a little fastidious shiver。 〃Ugh！
What a coarse； revolting creature！〃 said Florrie。 But the old sheep…dog；
not looking up； waggled past； flinging out his legs from side to side。
Only one of his ears twitched to prove that he saw； and thought her a silly
young female。
The breeze of morning lifted in the bush and the smell of leaves and
wet black earth mingled with the sharp smell of the sea。 Myriads of birds
were singing。 A goldfinch flew over the shepherd's head and； perching
on the tiptop of a spray； it turned to the sun； ruffling its small breast
feathers。 And now they had passed the fisherman's hut； passed the
charred… looking little whare where Leila the milk…girl lived with her old
Gran。 The sheep strayed over a yellow swamp and Wag； the sheep…dog；
padded after； rounded them up and headed them for the steeper； narrower
rocky pass that led out of Crescent Bay and towards Daylight Cove。
〃Baa！ Baa！〃 Faint the cry came as they rocked along the fast…drying
road。 The shepherd put away his pipe； dropping it into his breast…pocket
so that the little bowl hung over。 And straightway the soft airy whistling
began again。 Wag ran out along a ledge of rock after something that
smelled； and ran back again disgusted。 Then pushing； nudging； hurrying；
the sheep rounded the bend and the shepherd followed after out of sight。
Chapter 1。II。
A few moments later the back door of one of the bungalows opened；
and a figure in a broad…striped bathing suit flung down the paddock；
cleared the stile； rushed through the tussock grass into the hollow；
staggered up the sandy hillock； and raced for dear life over the big porous
stones； over the cold； wet pebbles； on to the hard sand that gleamed like
oil。 Splish… Splosh！ Splish…Splosh！ The water bubbled round his legs
as Stanley Burnell waded out exulting。 First man in as usual！ He'd
beaten them all again。 And he swooped down to souse his head and
neck。
4
… Page 5…
The Garden Party
〃Hail； brother！ All hail； Thou Mighty One！〃 A velvety bass voice
came booming over the water。
Great Scott！ Damnation take it！ Stanley lifted up to see a dark head
bobbing far out and an arm lifted。 It was Jonathan Troutthere before
him！ 〃Glorious morning！〃 sang the voice。
〃Yes； very fine！〃 said Stanley briefly。 Why the dickens didn't the
fellow stick to his part of the sea？ Why should he come barging over to
this exact spot？ Stanley gave a kick； a lunge and struck out； swimming
overarm。 But Jonathan was a match for him。 Up he came； his black
hair sleek on his forehead； his short beard sleek。
〃I had an extraordinary dream last night！〃 he shouted。
What was the matter with the man？ This mania for conversation
irritated Stanley beyond words。 And it was always the samealways
some piffle about a dream he'd had； or some cranky idea he'd got hold of；
or some rot he'd been reading。 Stanley turned over on his back and
kicked with his legs till he was a living waterspout。 But even then。。。〃I
dreamed I was hanging over a terrifically high cliff； shouting to some one
below。〃 You would be！ thought Stanley。 He could stick no more of it。
He stopped splashing。 〃Look here； Trout；〃 he said； 〃I'm in rather a hurry
this morning。〃
〃You're WHAT？〃 Jonathan was so surprisedor pretended to bethat
he sank under the water； then reappeared again blowing。
〃All I mean is；〃 said Stanley； 〃I've no time tototo fool about。 I
want to get this over。 I'm in a hurry。 I've work to do this morning
see？〃
Jonathan was gone before Stanley had finished。 〃Pass； friend！〃 said
the bass voice gently； and he slid away through the water with scarcely a
ripple。。。But curse the fellow！ He'd ruined Stanley's bathe。 What an
unpractical idiot the man was！ Stanley struck out to sea again； and then
as quickly swam in again； and away he rushed up the beach。 He felt
cheated。
Jonathan
