the golden road-第30部分

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〃Well；　I　wish　our　call　was　over；〃　sighed　Cecily。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　I　dread　it。〃

〃Now；　see　here；　Sis；〃　I　said　cheerfully；　〃let's　not　think　about　it　till　we　get　there。　　It'll　only　spoil　our　walk　and　do　no　good。　　Let's　just　forget　it　and　enjoy　ourselves。〃

〃I'll　try；〃　agreed　Cecily；　〃but　it's　ever　so　much　easier　to　preach　than　to　practise。〃

Our　way　lay　first　over　a　hill　top；　gallantly　plumed　with　golden　rod；　where　cloud　shadows　drifted　over　us　like　a　gypsying　crew。　　Carlisle；　in　all　its　ripely　tinted　length　and　breadth；　lay　below　us；　basking　in　the　August　sunshine；　that　spilled　over　the　brim　of　the　valley　to　the　far…off　Markdale　Harbour；　cupped　in　its　harvest…　golden　hills。

Then　came　a　little　valley　overgrown　with　the　pale　purple　bloom　of　thistles　and　elusively　haunted　with　their　perfume。　　You　say　that　thistles　have　no　perfume？　　Go　you　to　a　brook　hollow　where　they　grow　some　late　summer　twilight　at　dewfall；　and　on　the　still　air　that　rises　suddenly　to　meet　you　will　come　a　waft　of　faint；　aromatic　fragrance；　wondrously　sweet　and　evasive；　the　distillation　of　that　despised　thistle　bloom。

Beyond　this　the　path　wound　through　a　forest　of　fir；　where　a　wood　wind　wove　its　murmurous　spell　and　a　wood　brook　dimpled　pellucidly　among　the　shadowsthe　dear；　companionable；　elfin　shadowsthat　lurked　under　the　low　growing　boughs。　　Along　the　edges　of　that　winding　path　grew　banks　of　velvet　green　moss；　starred　with　clusters　of　pigeon　berries。　　Pigeon　berries　are　not　to　be　eaten。　　They　are　woolly；　tasteless　things。　　But　they　are　to　be　looked　at　in　their　glowing　scarlet。　　They　are　the　jewels　with　which　the　forest　of　cone…bearers　loves　to　deck　its　brown　breast。　　Cecily　gathered　some　and　pinned　them　on　hers；　but　they　did　not　become　her。　　I　thought　how　witching　the　Story　Girl's　brown　curls　would　have　looked　twined　with　those　brilliant　clusters。　　Perhaps　Cecily　was　thinking　of　it；　too；　for　she　presently　said；

〃Bev；　don't　you　think　the　Story　Girl　is　changing　somehow？〃

〃There　are　timesjust　timeswhen　she　seems　to　belong　more　among　the　grown…ups　than　among　us；〃　I　said；　reluctantly；　〃especially　when　she　puts　on　her　bridesmaid　dress。〃

〃Well；　she's　the　oldest　of　us；　and　when　you　come　to　think　of　it；　she's　fifteen；that's　almost　grown…up；〃　sighed　Cecily。　　Then　she　added；　with　sudden　vehemence；　〃I　hate　the　thought　of　any　of　us　growing　up。　　Felicity　says　she　just　longs　to　be　grown…up；　but　I　don't；　not　a　bit。　　I　wish　I　could　just　stay　a　little　girl　for　everand　have　you　and　Felix　and　all　the　others　for　playmates　right　along。　　I　don't　know　how　it　isbut　whenever　I　think　of　being　grown…up　I　seem　to　feel　tired。〃

Something　about　Cecily's　speechor　the　wistful　look　that　had　crept　into　her　sweet　brown　eyesmade　me　feel　vaguely　uncomfortable；　I　was　glad　that　we　were　at　the　end　of　our　journey；　with　Mr。　Campbell's　big　house　before　us；　and　his　dog　sitting　gravely　at　the　veranda　steps。

〃Oh；　dear；〃　said　Cecily；　with　a　shiver；　〃I'd　been　hoping　that　dog　wouldn't　be　around。〃

〃He　never　bites；〃　I　assured　her。

〃Perhaps　he　doesn't；　but　he　always　looks　as　if　he　was　going　to；〃　rejoined　Cecily。

The　dog　continued　to　look；　and；　as　we　edged　gingerly　past　him　and　up　the　veranda　steps；　he　turned　his　head　and　kept　on　looking。　　What　with　Mr。　Campbell　before　us　and　the　dog　behind；　Cecily　was　trembling　with　nervousness；　but　perhaps　it　was　as　well　that　the　dour　brute　was　there；　else　I　verily　believe　she　would　have　turned　and　fled　shamelessly　when　we　heard　steps　in　the　hall。

It　was　Mr。　Campbell's　housekeeper　who　came　to　the　door；　however；　she　ushered　us　pleasantly　into　the　sitting…room　where　Mr。　Campbell　was　reading。　　He　laid　down　his　book　with　a　slight　frown　and　said　nothing　at　all　in　response　to　our　timid　〃good　afternoon。〃　But　after　we　had　sat　for　a　few　minutes　in　wretched　silence；　wishing　ourselves　a　thousand　miles　away；　he　said；　with　a　chuckle；

〃Well；　is　it　the　school　library　again？〃

Cecily　had　remarked　as　we　were　coming　that　what　she　dreaded　most　of　all　was　introducing　the　subject；　but　Mr。　Campbell　had　given　her　a　splendid　opening；　and　she　plunged　wildly　in　at　once；　rattling　her　explanation　off　nervously　with　trembling　voice　and　flushed　cheeks。

〃No；　it's　our　Mission　Band　autograph　quilt；　Mr。　Campbell。　　There　are　to　be　as　many　squares　in　it　as　there　are　members　in　the　Band。　　Each　one　has　a　square　and　is　collecting　names　for　it。　　If　you　want　to　have　your　name　on　the　quilt　you　pay　five　cents；　and　if　you　want　to　have　it　right　in　the　round　spot　in　the　middle　of　the　square　you　must　pay　ten　cents。　　Then　when　we　have　got　all　the　names　we　can　we　will　embroider　them　on　the　squares。　　The　money　is　to　go　to　the　little　girl　our　Band　is　supporting　in　Korea。　　I　heard　that　nobody　had　asked　you；　so　I　thought　perhaps　you　would　give　me　your　name　for　my　square。〃

Mr。　Campbell　drew　his　black　brows　together　in　a　scowl。

〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃　he　exclaimed　angrily。　〃I　don't　believe　in　Foreign　Missionsdon't　believe　in　them　at　all。　　I　never　give　a　cent　to　them。〃

〃Five　cents　isn't　a　very　large　sum；〃　said　Cecily　earnestly。

Mr。　Campbell's　scowl　disappeared　and　he　laughed。

〃It　wouldn't　break　me；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　it's　the　principle　of　the　thing。　　And　as　for　that　Mission　Band　of　yours；　if　it　wasn't　for　the　fun　you　get　out　of　it；　catch　one　of　you　belonging。　　You　don't　really　care　a　rap　more　for　the　heathen　than　I　do。〃

〃Oh；　we　do；〃　protested　Cecily。　　〃We　do　think　of　all　the　poor　little　children　in　Korea；　and　we　like　to　think　we　are　helping　them；　if　it's　ever　so　little。　　We　ARE　in　earnest；　Mr。　Campbell　indeed　we　are。〃

〃Don't　believe　itdon't　believe　a　word　of　it；〃　said　Mr。　Campbell　impolitely。　　〃You'll　do　things　that　are　nice　and　interesting。　　You'll　get　up　concerts；　and　chase　people　about　for　autographs　and　give　money　your　parents　give　you　and　that　doesn't　cost　you　either　time　or　labour。　　But　you　wouldn't　do　anything　you　disliked　for　the　heathen　childrenyou　wouldn't　make　any　real　sacrifice　for　them　catch　you！〃

〃Indeed　we　would；〃　cried　Cecily；　forgetting　her　timidity　in　her　zeal。　　〃I　just　wish　I　had　a　chance　to　prove　it　to　you。〃

〃You　do；　eh？　　Come；　now；　I'll　take　you　at　your　word。　　I'll　test　you。　　Tomorrow　is　Communion　Sunday　and　the　church　will　be　full　of　folks　and　they'll　all　have　their　best　clothes　on。　　If　you　go　to　church　tomorrow　in　the　very　costume　you　have　on　at　present；　without　telling　anyone　why　you　do　so；　until　it　is　all　over；　I'll　give　youwhy；　I　vow　I'll　give　you　five　dollars　for　that　quilt　of　yours。〃

Poor　Cecily！　　To　go　to　church　in　a　faded　print　dress；　with　a　shabby　little　old　sun…hat　and　worn　shoes！　　It　was　very　cruel　of　Mr。　Campbell。

〃II　don't　think　mother　would　let　me；〃　she　faltered。

Her　tormentor　smiled　grimly。

〃It's　not　hard　to　find　some　excuse；〃　he　said　sarcastically。

Cecily　crimsoned　and　sat　up　facing　Mr。　Campbell　spunkily。

〃It's　NOT　an　excuse；〃　she　said。　　〃If　mother　will　let　me　go　to　church　like　this　I'll　go。　　But　I'll　have　to　tell　HER　why；　Mr。　Campbell；　because　I'm　certain　she'd　never　let　me　if　I　didn't。〃

〃Oh；　you　can　tell　all　your　own　family；〃　said　Mr。　Campbell；　〃but　remember；　none　of　them　must　tell　it　outside　until　Sunday　is　over。　　If　they　do；　I'll　be　sure　to　find　it　out　and　then　our　bargain　is　off。　　If　I　see　you　in　church　tomorrow；　dressed　as　you　are　now；　I'll　give　you　my　name　and　five　dollars。　　But　I　won't　see　you。　　You'll　shrink　when　you've　had　time　to　think　it　over。〃

〃I　sha'n't；〃　said　Cecily　resolutely。

〃Well；　we'll　see。　　And　now　come　out　to　the　barn　with　me。　　I've　got　the　prettiest　little　drove　of　calves　out　there　you　ever　saw。　　I　want　you　to　see　them。〃

Mr。　Campbell　took　us　all　over　his　barns　and　was　very　affable。　　He　had　beautiful　horses；　cows　and　sheep；　and　I　enjoyed　seeing　them。　　I　don't　think　Cecily　did；　however。　　She　was　very　quiet　and　even　Mr。　Campbell's　handsome　new　span　of　dappled　grays　failed　to　arouse　any　enthusiasm　in　her。　　She　was　already　in　bitter　anticipation　living　over　the　martyrdom　of　the　morrow。　　On　the　way　home　she　asked　me　seriously　if　I　thought　Mr。　Campbell　would　go　to　heaven　when　he　died。

〃Of　course　he　will；〃　I　said。　　〃Isn't　he　a　member　of　the　church？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　can't　imagine　him　fitting　into　heaven。　　You　know　he　isn't　really　fond　of　anything　but　live　stock。〃

〃He's　fond　of　teasing　people；　I　guess；〃　I　responded。　　〃Are　you　really　going　to　church　to…morrow　in　that　dress；　Sis？〃

〃If　mother'll　let　me　I'll　have　to；〃　said　poor　Cecily。　　〃I　won't　let　Mr。　Campbell　triumph　over　me。　　And　I　DO　want　to　have　as　many　names　as　Kitty　has。　　And　I　DO　want　to　help　the　poor　little　Korean　children。　　But　it　will　be　simply　dreadful。　　I　don't　know　whether　I　hope　mother　will　or　not。〃

I　did　not　believe　she　would；　but　Aunt　Janet　sometimes　could　be　depended　on　for　the　unexpected。　　She　laughed　and　told　Cecily　she　could　please　herself。　　Felicity　was　in　a　rage　over　it；　and　declared　SHE　wouldn't　go　to　church　if　Cecily　went　in　such　a　rig。　　Dan　sarcastically　inquired　if　all　she　went　to　church　for　was　to　show　off　her　fine　clothes　and　look　at　other　people's；　then　they　quarrelled　and　didn't　speak　to　each　other　for　two　days；　much　to　Cecily's　distress。

I　suspect　poor　Sis　wished　devoutly　that　it　might　rain　the　next　day；　but　it　was　gloriously　fine。　　We　were　all　waiting　in　the　orchard　for　the　Story　Girl　who　had　not　begun　to　dress　for　church　until　Cecily　and　Felicity　were　ready。　　Felicity　was　her　prettiest　in　flower…trimmed　hat；　crisp　muslin；　floating　ribbons　and　trim　black　slippers。　　Poor　Cecily　stood　beside　her　mute　and　pale；　in　her　faded　school　garb　and　heavy　copper…toed　boots。　　But　her　face；　if　pale；　was　very　determined。　　Cecily；　having　put　her　hand　to　the　plough；　was　not　of　those　who　turn　back。

〃You　do　look　just　awful；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃I　don't　careI'm　going　to　sit　in　Uncle　James'　pew。　　I　WON'T　sit　with　you。　　There　will　be　so　many　strangers　there；　and　all　the　Markdale　people；　and　what　will　they　think　of　you？　　Some　of　them　will　never　know　the　reason；　either。〃

〃I　wish　the　Story　Girl　would　hurry；〃　was　all　poor　Cecily　said。　　〃We're　going　to　be　late。　　It　wouldn't　have　been　quite　so　hard　if　I　could　have　got　there　before　anyone　and　slipped　quietly　into　our　pew。〃

〃Here　she　comes　at　last；〃　said　Dan。　　〃Whywhat's　she　got　on？〃

The　Story　Girl　joined　us　with　a　quizzical　smile　on　her　face。　　Dan　whistled。　　Cecily's　p