the golden road-第31部分

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　Story　Girl　joined　us　with　a　quizzical　smile　on　her　face。　　Dan　whistled。　　Cecily's　pale　cheeks　flushed　with　understanding　and　gratitude。　　The　Story　Girl　wore　her　school　print　dress　and　hat　also；　and　was　gloveless　and　heavy　shod。

〃You're　not　going　to　have　to　go　through　this　all　alone；　Cecily；〃　she　said。

〃Oh；　it　won't　be　half　so　hard　now；〃　said　Cecily；　with　a　long　breath　of　relief。

I　fancy　it　was　hard　enough　even　then。　　The　Story　Girl　did　not　care　a　whit；　but　Cecily　rather　squirmed　under　the　curious　glances　that　were　cast　at　her。　　She　afterwards　told　me　that　she　really　did　not　think　she　could　have　endured　it　if　she　had　been　alone。

Mr。　Campbell　met　us　under　the　elms　in　the　churchyard；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃Well；　you　did　it；　Miss；〃　he　said　to　Cecily；　〃but　you　should　have　been　alone。　　That　was　what　I　meant。　　I　suppose　you　think　you've　cheated　me　nicely。〃

〃No；　she　doesn't；〃　spoke　up　the　Story　Girl　undauntedly。　　〃She　was　all　dressed　and　ready　to　come　before　she　knew　I　was　going　to　dress　the　same　way。　　So　she　kept　her　bargain　faithfully；　Mr。　Campbell；　and　I　think　you　were　cruel　to　make　her　do　it。〃

〃You　do；　eh？　　Well；　well；　I　hope　you'll　forgive　me。　　I　didn't　think　she'd　do　itI　was　sure　feminine　vanity　would　win　the　day　over　missionary　zeal。　　It　seems　it　didn'tthough　how　much　was　pure　missionary　zeal　and　how　much　just　plain　King　spunk　I'm　doubtful。　　I'll　keep　my　promise；　Miss。　　You　shall　have　your　five　dollars；　and　mind　you　put　my　name　in　the　round　space。　　No　five…　cent　corners　for　me。〃



CHAPTER　XXIV

A　TANTALIZING　REVELATION


〃I　shall　have　something　to　tell　you　in　the　orchard　this　evening；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　at　breakfast　one　morning。　　Her　eyes　were　very　bright　and　excited。　　She　looked　as　if　she　had　not　slept　a　great　deal。　　She　had　spent　the　previous　evening　with　Miss　Reade　and　had　not　returned　until　the　rest　of　us　were　in　bed。　　Miss　Reade　had　finished　giving　music　lessons　and　was　going　home　in　a　few　days。　　Cecily　and　Felicity　were　in　despair　over　this　and　mourned　as　those　without　comfort。　　But　the　Story　Girl；　who　had　been　even　more　devoted　to　Miss　Reade　than　either　of　them；　had　not；　as　I　noticed；　expressed　any　regret　and　seemed　to　be　very　cheerful　over　the　whole　matter。

〃Why　can't　you　tell　it　now？〃　asked　Felicity。

〃Because　the　evening　is　the　nicest　time　to　tell　things　in。　　I　only　mentioned　it　now　so　that　you　would　have　something　interesting　to　look　forward　to　all　day。〃

〃Is　it　about　Miss　Reade？〃　asked　Cecily。

〃Never　mind。〃

〃I'll　bet　she's　going　to　be　married；〃　I　exclaimed；　remembering　the　ring。

〃Is　she？〃　cried　Felicity　and　Cecily　together。

The　Story　Girl　threw　an　annoyed　glance　at　me。　　She　did　not　like　to　have　her　dramatic　announcements　forestalled。

〃I　don't　say　that　it　is　about　Miss　Reade　or　that　it　isn't。　　You　must　just　wait　till　the　evening。〃

〃I　wonder　what　it　is；〃　speculated　Cecily；　as　the　Story　Girl　left　the　room。

〃I　don't　believe　it's　much　of　anything；〃　said　Felicity；　beginning　to　clear　away　the　breakfast　dishes。　　〃The　Story　Girl　always　likes　to　make　so　much　out　of　so　little。　　Anyhow；　I　don't　believe　Miss　Reade　is　going　to　be　married。　　She　hasn't　any　beaus　around　here　and　Mrs。　Armstrong　says　she's　sure　she　doesn't　correspond　with　anybody。　　Besides；　if　she　was　she　wouldn't　be　likely　to　tell　the　Story　Girl。〃

〃Oh；　she　might。　　They're　such　friends；　you　know；〃　said　Cecily。

〃Miss　Reade　is　no　better　friends　with　her　than　she　is　with　me　and　you；〃　retorted　Felicity。

〃No；　but　sometimes　it　seems　to　me　that　she's　a　different　kind　of　friend　with　the　Story　Girl　than　she　is　with　me　and　you；〃　reflected　Cecily。　　〃I　can't　just　explain　what　I　mean。〃

〃No　wonder。　　Such　nonsense；〃　sniffed　Felicity。　　〃It's　only　some　girl's　secret；　anyway；〃　said　Dan；　loftily。　　〃I　don't　feel　much　interest　in　it。〃

But　he　was　on　hand　with　the　rest　of　us　that　evening；　interest　or　no　interest；　in　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk；　where　the　ripening　apples　were　beginning　to　glow　like　jewels　among　the　boughs。

〃Now；　are　you　going　to　tell　us　your　news？〃　asked　Felicity　impatiently。

〃Miss　Reade　IS　going　to　be　married；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃She　told　me　so　last　night。　　She　is　going　to　be　married　in　a　fortnight's　time。〃

〃Who　to？〃　exclaimed　the　girls。

〃To〃the　Story　Girl　threw　a　defiant　glance　at　me　as　if　to　say；　〃You　can't　spoil　the　surprise　of　THIS；　anyway；〃〃tothe　Awkward　Man。〃

For　a　few　moments　amazement　literally　held　us　dumb。

〃You're　not　in　earnest；　Sara　Stanley？〃　gasped　Felicity　at　last。

〃Indeed　I　am。　　I　thought　you'd　be　astonished。　　But　I　wasn't。　　I've　suspected　it　all　summer；　from　little　things　I've　noticed。　　Don't　you　remember　that　evening　last　spring　when　I　went　a　piece　with　Miss　Reade　and　told　you　when　I　came　back　that　a　story　was　growing？　I　guessed　it　from　the　way　the　Awkward　Man　looked　at　her　when　I　stopped　to　speak　to　him　over　his　garden　fence。〃

〃Butthe　Awkward　Man！〃　said　Felicity　helplessly。　　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible。　　Did　Miss　Reade　tell　you　HERSELF？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　suppose　it　must　be　true　then。　　But　how　did　it　ever　come　about？　He's　SO　shy　and　awkward。　　How　did　he　ever　manage　to　get　up　enough　spunk　to　ask　her　to　marry　him？〃

〃Maybe　she　asked　him；〃　suggested　Dan。

The　Story　Girl　looked　as　if　she　might　tell　if　she　would。

〃I　believe　that　WAS　the　way　of　it；〃　I　said；　to　draw　her　on。

〃Not　exactly；〃　she　said　reluctantly。　　〃I　know　all　about　it　but　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　guessed　part　from　things　I've　seenand　Miss　Reade　told　me　a　good　dealand　the　Awkward　Man　himself　told　me　his　side　of　it　as　we　came　home　last　night。　　I　met　him　just　as　I　left　Mr。　Armstrong's　and　we　were　together　as　far　as　his　house。　　It　was　dark　and　he　just　talked　on　as　if　he　were　talking　to　himselfI　think　he　forgot　I　was　there　at　all；　once　he　got　started。　　He　has　never　been　shy　or　awkward　with　me；　but　he　never　talked　as　he　did　last　night。〃

〃You　might　tell　us　what　he　said；〃　urged　Cecily。　　〃We'd　never　tell。〃

The　Story　Girl　shook　her　head。

〃No；　I　can't。　　You　wouldn't　understand。　　Besides；　I　couldn't　tell　it　just　right。　　It's　one　of　the　things　that　are　hardest　to　tell。　　I'd　spoil　it　if　I　told　itnow。　　Perhaps　some　day　I'll　be　able　to　tell　it　properly。　　It's　very　beautifulbut　it　might　sound　very　ridiculous　if　it　wasn't　told　just　exactly　the　right　way。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　and　I　don't　believe　you　know　yourself；〃　said　Felicity　pettishly。　　〃All　that　I　can　make　out　is　that　Miss　Reade　is　going　to　marry　Jasper　Dale；　and　I　don't　like　the　idea　one　bit。　　She　is　so　beautiful　and　sweet。　　I　thought　she'd　marry　some　dashing　young　man。　　Jasper　Dale　must　be　nearly　twenty　years　older　than　herand　he's　so　queer　and　shyand　such　a　hermit。〃

〃Miss　Reade　is　perfectly　happy；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃She　thinks　the　Awkward　Man　is　lovelyand　so　he　is。　　You　don't　know　him；　but　I　do。〃

〃Well；　you　needn't　put　on　such　airs　about　it；〃　sniffed　Felicity。

〃I　am　not　putting　on　any　airs。　　But　it's　true。　　Miss　Reade　and　I　are　the　only　people　in　Carlisle　who　really　know　the　Awkward　Man。　　Nobody　else　ever　got　behind　his　shyness　to　find　out　just　what　sort　of　a　man　he　is。〃

〃When　are　they　to　be　married？〃　asked　Felicity。

〃In　a　fortnight's　time。　　And　then　they　are　coming　right　back　to　live　at　Golden　Milestone。　　Won't　it　be　lovely　to　have　Miss　Reade　always　so　near　us？〃

〃I　wonder　what　she'll　think　about　the　mystery　of　Golden　Milestone；〃　remarked　Felicity。

Golden　Milestone　was　the　beautiful　name　the　Awkward　Man　had　given　his　home；　and　there　was　a　mystery　about　it；　as　readers　of　the　first　volume　of　these　chronicles　will　recall。

〃She　knows　all　about　the　mystery　and　thinks　it　perfectly　lovely　and　so　do　I；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。

〃Do　YOU　know　the　secret　of　the　locked　room？〃　cried　Cecily。

〃Yes；　the　Awkward　Man　told　me　all　about　it　last　night。　　I　told　you　I'd　find　out　the　mystery　some　time。〃

〃And　what　is　it？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you　that　either。〃

〃I　think　you're　hateful　and　mean；〃　exclaimed　Felicity。　　〃It　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　Miss　Reade；　so　I　think　you　might　tell　us。〃

〃It　has　something　to　do　with　Miss　Reade。　　It's　all　about　her。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　see　how　that　can　be　when　the　Awkward　Man　never　saw　or　heard　of　Miss　Reade　until　she　came　to　Carlisle　in　the　spring；〃　said　Felicity　incredulously；　〃and　he's　had　that　locked　room　for　years。〃

〃I　can't　explain　it　to　youbut　it's　just　as　I've　said；〃　responded　the　Story　Girl。

〃Well；　it's　a　very　queer　thing；〃　retorted　Felicity。

〃The　name　in　the　books　in　the　room　was　Aliceand　Miss　Reade's　name　is　Alice；〃　marvelled　Cecily。　　〃Did　he　know　her　before　she　came　here？〃

〃Mrs。　Griggs　says　that　room　has　been　locked　for　ten　years。　　Ten　years　ago　Miss　Reade　was　just　a　little　girl　of　ten。　　SHE　couldn't　be　the　Alice　of　the　books；〃　argued　Felicity。

〃I　wonder　if　she'll　wear　the　blue　silk　dress；〃　said　Sara　Ray。

〃And　what　will　she　do　about　the　picture；　if　it　isn't　hers？〃　added　Cecily。

〃The　picture　couldn't　be　hers；　or　Mrs。　Griggs　would　have　known　her　for　the　same　when　she　came　to　Carlisle；〃　said　Felix。

〃I'm　going　to　stop　wondering　about　it；〃　exclaimed　Felicity　crossly；　aggravated　by　the　amused　smile　with　which　the　Story　Girl　was　listening　to　the　various　speculations。　　〃I　think　Sara　is　just　as　mean　as　mean　when　she　won't　tell　us。〃

〃I　can't；〃　repeated　the　Story　Girl　patiently。

〃You　said　one　time　you　had　an　idea　who　'Alice'　was；〃　I　said。　　〃Was　your　idea　anything　like　the　truth？〃

〃Yes；　I　guessed　pretty　nearly　right。〃

〃Do　you　suppose　they'll　keep　the　room　locked　after　they　are　married？〃　asked　Cecily。

〃Oh；　no。　　I　can　tell　you　that　much。　　It　is　to　be　Miss　Reade's　own　particular　sitting　room。〃

〃Why；　then；　perhaps　we'll　see　it　some　time　ourselves；　when　we　go　to　see　Miss　Reade；〃　cried　Cecily。

〃I'd　be　frightened　to　go　into　it；〃　confessed　Sara　Ray。　　〃I　hate　things　with　mysteries。　　They　always　make　me　nervous。〃

〃I　love　them。　　They're　so　exciting；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。

〃Just　think；　this　will　be　the　second　wedding　of　people　we　know；〃　reflected　Cecily。　　〃Isn't　that　interesting？〃

〃I　only　hope　the　next　thing　won't　be　a　funeral；〃　remarked　Sara　Ray　gloomily。　　〃There　were　three　lighted　lamps　on　our　kitchen　table　last　night；　and　Judy　Pineau　says　that's　a　sure　sign　of　a　funeral。〃

〃Well；　there　are　funerals　going　on　all　the　time；〃　said　Dan。

〃But　it　means　the　funeral