第十二章 劳伦斯营地
第十二章 劳伦斯营地
贝丝是邮局局长，她在家时间最多，能够按时收取邮件。再说，她也非常喜欢每天打开邮箱小门，分发邮件的工作。七月的一天，她双手捧满邮件进来了，然后满屋子分发书信和包裹，俨然一副便士邮递员[1]的样子。
“这是您的花束，妈妈！劳里总是把这事记在心上。”她边说边把香喷喷的鲜花插进摆在“妈咪角”的花瓶里，花瓶一直是那位感情细腻的男孩负责填满的。
“美格·马奇小姐，一封信和一只手套。”贝丝继续工作，把邮件递给坐在妈妈身边缝袖口的姐姐。
“咦，我在那边丢了一双，怎么现在只有一只？”美格望望灰色的棉手套，“你是不是把另一只丢在园子里头了？”
“没有，肯定没有，邮箱里就只有一只。”
“我讨厌落单手套！不过不要紧，另一只会找到的。我的信只是我要的一首德语歌的译文。我想是布鲁克写的，不是劳里的字迹嘛。”
马奇太太瞅一眼美格，只见她穿着一袭方格花布晨衣，额前的小鬈发随风轻轻飘动，显得美丽动人，女性味十足。她坐在堆满白布卷的小工作台边，哼着歌儿飞针走线，脑子里只顾做着如皮带上的三色堇一样朝气蓬勃、天真无邪的少女美梦，一点也没有觉察到妈妈的心事。马奇太太笑了，感到十分满意。
“乔博士有两封信、一本书，还有一顶滑稽的旧帽子，把整个邮箱都盖住了，还露出一部分在外面呢。”贝丝边说边笑着走进书房，乔正坐着写作呢。
“劳里真是个狡猾的家伙啊！我说如果流行大帽子就好了，因为我每到天热就会把脸晒伤。他说：‘何必管它流行不流行？就戴一顶大帽，舒服要紧！’我说如果我有就会戴的，他就送了这顶来试我。我偏要戴上它，跟他闹着玩，让他知道我不在乎流行不流行的。”乔把这顶旧式阔边帽子挂到柏拉图的半身像上，开始读信。
一封是妈妈写的，她读着便双颊飞红，热泪盈眶了，信上说：
乖乖：
写条子是要告诉你，看到你为控制脾气不遗余力，我甚感欣慰。你不辞劳苦，不计成败，也许以为除了那位每天给你帮助的“朋友”（我相信是那本封面卷了角的指导书）外无人知晓。不过，我也一一看在眼里，而且完全相信你的诚意和决心，因为你的决心已经开始开花结果了。继续努力吧，乖乖，耐着性子，鼓足勇气，记住有一个人比任何人都更关心你，更爱护你，她就是我。
你亲爱的妈妈
“此话对我很有好处，这封信抵得成千上万的金钱和无数溢美之词。啊，妈咪，我确实是在努力！在您的帮助下，我一定不屈不挠地坚持下去。”
乔把头靠在臂上，笔下的小说稿纸上洒下了几滴喜泪。她原以为没有人看到和欣赏她为了学好而做的努力，现在变了。她一向最敬重母亲的话，母亲的赞扬出人意表，显得弥足珍贵，更加鼓舞人心。她把纸条当作护身符别在上衣里面，以便时刻提醒自己，更增加了迎战、征服那恶魔的信心。她接着打开另一封信，准备接受这个不知是好是坏的消息，展现在眼前的是劳里大大咧咧的字：
亲爱的乔：
明天有几个英国小孩来看我，准备玩个痛快。如果天气晴朗，将去长草坪搭帐篷，大家一起划船去，吃午饭，玩棒球——生篝火，烧东西吃，学吉普赛人，享受各种乐趣。他们人都很友善，都喜欢这样玩。布鲁克也去，他照看我们这帮男孩子，凯特·沃恩管束女孩子。希望你们都能来，无论如何别丢下贝丝，没人难为她。至于吃的，请不要担心——一切都由我来安排。只要人来就行，这才够朋友！
匆匆搁笔。
你永远的朋友
劳里
“好彩头！”乔喊着飞奔进屋，去告诉美格，“当然可以去的，妈妈，是吧？还可以帮帮劳里，我能划船，美格会做饭，妹妹们也多少能帮上点忙。”
“希望沃恩姐弟不是讲究体面的成年人。你了解他们吗，乔？”美格问。
“只知道他们是四姐弟。凯特年纪比你大，弗雷德和弗兰克双胞胎，年纪跟我差不多，还有个小姑娘（格莱丝），大概有十岁。劳里是在国外认识他们的，他喜欢那两个男孩子。我想，他不怎么喜欢凯特，因为他谈起她便严肃地抿起嘴巴。”
“我真高兴，我的法式印花布服装还干干净净，这种场合穿正合适，又好看！”美格得意地说，“你有合适的衣服吗，乔？”
“红灰两色的划艇衣，够好的了。我要划船，到处跑动，不想顾忌衣服上过浆而不敢动弹。你也来吧，贝丝？”
“那你得别让那些男孩子跟我说话。”
“一个也不让！”
“我想让劳里高兴，我也不怕布鲁克先生，他是个大好人，但是我不想玩，不想唱，也不想说话。我会埋头干活，不麻烦别人。你来照看我，乔，那我就去。”
“这才是我的好妹妹。你努力克服自己的害羞心理，我真高兴。我知道改正缺点并不容易，而一句鼓励的话儿，就能使人精神一振。谢谢您，妈妈。”乔说着感激地吻了一下母亲瘦削的脸庞，这一吻对于马奇太太来说，比让她恢复丰满红润的青春笑脸都要宝贵。
“我收到一盒巧克力糖和我想要临摹的图画。”艾美说着把邮件打开给大家看。
“我收到劳伦斯先生一张字条，叫我今晚点灯前过去弹琴给他听，我会去的。”贝丝接着说，她跟老人的友谊与日俱增。
“我们马上行动起来吧，今天干双倍活，明天就可以玩得无忧无虑了。”乔说道，准备放下笔杆，拿起扫帚。
第二天清早，太阳公公把头探进姑娘们的房间，告诉她们是个大晴天。这时，他看到了滑稽的一幕。姑娘们个个都为这次野营做好了必要的准备。美格脑门上挂着一排卷发纸；乔在晒焦的脸上涂了冷面霜；贝丝把乔安娜带上床共眠，来补偿即将到来的分离；最可笑的要算艾美，她用衣夹夹住鼻子，想以此来使那个令人烦恼的鼻子挺一点。这种夹子原来是画家拿来把纸夹到画板上的，现在用于这项用途也算物尽其用吧。这可笑的一幕似乎把太阳都给逗乐了。他乐得金光四射，把乔晒醒了，她冲着艾美的这副打扮哈哈大笑，吵醒了众姐妹。
阳光和欢笑都是开心聚会的好兆头，很快，两家的屋子里都开始忙碌起来。贝丝第一个准备好，她靠在窗前不断报告邻居的动态，活跃了三姐妹梳妆打扮的气氛。
“一个人带着帐篷出来了！我看到巴克太太把午饭放到一个食盒和大篓里。现在劳伦斯先生抬头看天空和风标，但愿他也一起去。那是劳里，打扮得像个水手——好小伙子啊！啊呀呀！马车上全是人，一个高个女士、一个小姑娘，还有两个可怕的男孩子。一个是瘸子，可怜巴巴的！他拄着拐杖。劳里没跟我们说过。快点，姑娘们！时间不早了。呀，我这里宣告，那是内德·莫法特。瞧，美格，这不是那天我们购物时向你欠身的那个人吗？”
“可不是嘛。奇怪，他怎么也来了？我还以为他在山里头呢。那是萨莉，太好了，她回来得正是时候。你看我这样行吗，乔？”美格惊慌地问道。
“标准的美人。提起裙子，把帽子扶正，这样斜翘着显得感伤，而且风一吹便飞走了。好了，我们出发吧！”
“乔，你不是要戴这顶糟帽子去吧？太荒唐了，你不该把自己弄得像个小伙子的。”美格规劝道。此时乔正把劳里开玩笑送来的旧式阔边意大利草帽用一根红丝带围系起来。
“我就要戴着去，它棒极了——又挡阴，又轻，又大。戴上它很滑稽，再说，只要舒服，我不在乎做个小伙子。”乔说罢迈步就走，姐妹们紧跟其后。每人穿一身夏装，戴一顶逍遥自在的宽边帽子，满脸笑容，十分好看，俨然一支活泼快乐的小队伍。
劳里跑过来迎接，然后十分热忱地把姑娘们一一介绍给他的朋友们。草坪就是接待室，在那里没待几分钟，气氛就变得相当活跃。美格发现，凯特小姐虽然二十岁了，可穿戴朴素，心里顿时松了口气，要知道，这可是美国女孩应该学习的。听到内德先生一再向她保证，自己是专为看她才过来的，她感到受宠若惊。乔知道为什么一提起凯特，劳里就抿住嘴巴，装出一本正经的样子。原来那位小姐有一种“走开，别碰我”的架子，这与其他姑娘自由轻松的举止形成了鲜明对比。贝丝仔细地观察了一番刚认识的这些男孩，最后断定脚跛的那位并不可怕，倒是温文尔雅，且体弱多病，应该对他友好。艾美发现格莱斯人虽小，可举止优雅、活泼开朗，互相默默地对视了几分钟后，马上就成了好朋友。
帐篷、午饭、棒球游戏器具早就先行送走，所以大家很快登上了小船。两叶轻舟一起推进，岸上只剩下挥着帽子的劳伦斯先生一人。劳里和乔共划一条船，布鲁克先生和内德先生划另一条，而淘气作乱的双胞胎之一弗雷德·沃恩则使劲划着一只单人赛艇，像受了惊的水生蝽一样在旁边横冲直撞，妄图将两船撞翻。乔那顶风趣的帽子用途十分广泛，值得鸣谢。它一开始便打破隔膜，逗得众人一笑，她划船时帽子上下摆动，扇出阵阵清风。她说，如果下起雨来，还可以给全班人马当作一把大伞使用。凯特觉得乔的一举一动都十分离奇，特别是她丢了桨时大叫“真该死”。而劳里就座时不小心在乔脚上绊了一下，他说：“我的好伙伴，弄痛了没有？”这更叫她纳罕不已。戴上眼镜把这位奇怪的姑娘审视几遍后，凯特小姐认定乔“古怪，但挺聪明”，于是远远对着她微笑起来。
另一条船上，美格舒舒服服地坐在两个桨手的对面。两个小伙子见状大喜，各自使出非凡的技巧和机敏，去做平掠回桨的动作。布鲁克先生是个严肃、沉默寡言的青年，声音悦耳动听，棕色的眼睛很神气。美格喜欢他性格沉静，把他看做是一部活百科全书，装着各种有用的知识。他不大跟她说话，但目光却常常落在她身上，美格肯定他对自己并不反感。内德是大学新生，当然认为摆足派头是自己应尽的义务。他并不特别聪明，但脾气随和，不失为维持野炊活动的好人选。萨莉·加德纳一面尽心竭力护着自己的凸纹布白裙子不弄脏，一面和无处不在的弗雷德攀谈，因为弗雷德不断胡闹，贝丝被吓得心惊胆战。
长草坪并不远，他们到的时候帐篷已经搭好，三门柱也竖了起来。这是块令人神清气爽的绿色旷野，当中有三棵枝繁叶茂的橡树，还有一条狭长而平整的草坪可打棒球。
“欢迎来到劳伦斯营地！”年轻的主人喊道。他们刚靠岸，欢呼雀跃着。
“布鲁克是总司令，我是军需部长，其他男士是参谋，各位女士都当客人。帐篷是特意为你们搭的，那棵橡树就是你们的起居室，这棵是食堂，另外一棵是营地伙房。现在，趁天还没热起来，我们先来打一局球，然后再做午饭。”
弗兰克、贝丝、艾美和格莱斯坐下来观看其他八个人打球。布鲁克先生挑了美格、凯特和弗雷德，劳里则选了萨莉、乔和内德。英国人玩得很出色，可是美国人更胜一筹，好像受到了1776年[2]精神的鼓舞，士气十足，寸土必争。乔和弗雷德之间发生几次争执，有一次还差点吵了起来。乔在打最后一道门时，一下击空了，这使她大为恼火。弗雷德紧随其后，却比乔早轮到击球。他击了一下，球打到了门柱上，在球门外一寸的地方停了下来。大家离得都很远，他跑上前来看个究竟，脚尖偷偷地把球轻轻一拨，球随之到了球门内一寸的地方。
“我进了！嗨，乔小姐，我要收拾你，先赢球。”年轻的绅士大声喊道，一边晃动着他的槌棒，准备再次击球。
“你把它踢进去的，我看到了。现在该轮到我了。”乔大声说。
“我敢发誓，没有踢。球刚才也许是滚了一下，可那没犯规。请你让开，我要冲击桩标了。”
“这里是美国，我们从不赖皮，不过你要赖就赖吧。”乔气愤地说。
“谁不知道，美国佬最狡猾了。看球！”弗雷德反驳道，并把她的球槌出老远。
乔刚要张口骂人，可她忍住了，脸涨得通红，站了片刻，使尽全身力气拿下了一轮。也就在这时，弗雷德击中了桩标，欣喜若狂地宣布自己胜出。乔走过去捡球，好一会儿才在灌木丛中找到了自己的球。她回来后显得很冷静，耐心地等着击球。过了几个回合，她终于收复失地，可等到这时，另一方几乎赢定了，因为凯特是倒数第二个击球，而球就在桩标边上。
“哎呀，我们完结了！再见，凯特，乔小姐还欠我一个球呢，你是完蛋了。”弗雷德兴奋地喊道，这时大家都走过来观看最后的决战。
“美国佬有对敌人宽宏大量的本事。”乔说着瞥了他一眼，使小伙子的脸霎时涨得通红。“特别是击败敌人的时候。”她补充说。乔绝妙一击，球绕过凯特的球进了球门，她获得了比赛的胜利。
劳里把帽子往上一抛，突然又想起输家是自己的客人，不便太高兴，于是刚欢呼了几声，就赶紧停下来。他对乔悄悄地说：“干得好，乔！他的确耍赖，我看到了。我们不能跟他直说，可他以后不会再这样了，相信我吧。”
美格把乔拉到一边，假装帮她夹紧一绺松下来的头发，夸奖她说：“这事真叫人来气，可你没有发作，我真高兴，乔。”
“别夸我，美格，到现在我都想给他个耳光。我躲在荨麻丛里，消了消气才没说出口，要不，我早就发作了。现在还很火，他最好滚得远一点。”乔说着咬紧嘴唇，大帽子下的双眼瞪着弗雷德。
“做饭了。”布鲁克先生看了看表说，“军需部长，你生火，再提些水来，好吗？马奇小姐、萨莉小姐，还有我，摊桌子。谁咖啡煮得好？”
“乔会的！”美格说，高兴地推荐妹妹。乔最近经常下厨烧菜，学了不少技艺，觉得这下可以露一手了。她走过去照看咖啡壶，妹妹们拾干柴，男孩们生火，到附近的泉眼提水。凯特小姐在写生，贝丝一边用灯芯草编小垫子做盘子，一边和弗兰克聊天。
总司令带领助手们很快就摊好了桌布。吃的喝的都摆上了，引得众人直流口水，其中又点缀了几片绿色的叶子，色香味俱佳。乔宣布咖啡煮好了，大家都坐下来享受一顿丰盛的午餐。年轻人一般肠胃都很好，运动后更是胃口大增。午饭吃得很开心，一切都显得那么新鲜、有趣，朗朗的笑声此起彼伏，竟把正在附近吃草的一匹老马都惊动了。餐桌不平，弄得杯子和盘子东倒西歪，频遭厄运。橡子掉到了牛奶里，黑色的小蚂蚁不请自来，也来分享点心，还有长满绒毛的毛虫也从树上吊下来瞧个究竟。三个白头发的小孩从篱笆上探出脑袋，河对岸的一条狗冲着他们拼命地叫个不停。
“要加的话，盐在这里。”劳里说着把一碟草莓递给乔。
“谢谢，我宁可要蜘蛛。”说着，乔从奶油中捞出两只小蜘蛛，那是不小心掉到里面淹死的。“怎么还敢提上次糟糕的宴会？就算你的宴会无懈可击，那又怎么样？”乔接着说。两人都会心地笑了，由于瓷盘不够，他们就合用一个盘子。
“那天我吃得特别开心，至今难忘啊。要知道，今天可不是我的功劳。我什么都没做，都是你、美格和布鲁克一手操办的，我是感激不尽啊。吃饱了干什么呢？”劳里问。他感到自己的王牌已经打完了，吃完午饭就没什么安排了。
“玩游戏，等天凉快些再回去。我带了‘猜作者’游戏卡，我敢说，凯特小姐一定会玩好多新花样。去问问她，她是客人，你应该多和她待在一起的。”
“你不也是客人嘛！我想布鲁克跟她合适，可他老是与美格聊天，凯特戴着那副滑稽的眼镜，盯着他们看。我要走了，用不着教我那些规矩，你自己做不到的。”
凯特确实会玩几种新花样，女孩们不愿再吃了，男孩们也吃不下了，他们都退到了起居室，玩起“废话接龙”的游戏。
“一个人开始讲故事，说什么废话都行，可长可短，只是要注意，说到紧要关头必须打住，让另一个人接龙。做得好是很有趣的，可以形成一大堆可悲可喜的材料，使人大笑特笑。请开头吧，布鲁克先生。”凯特以命令的口气说。美格对这位家教是以礼相待的，听了很吃惊。
布鲁克先生躺在草地上，位于两位小姐的脚边。他漂亮的棕色眼睛盯着波光粼粼的河面，顺从地起头了：
“从前有个骑士，穷得只剩下剑和盾，于是出去闯世界打天下。他历尽艰辛，周游列国，差不多有二十八年之久，最后来到老国王的宫殿。老国王有一匹心爱的小宝马，但尚未驯服。他下令，谁把马训练好，就有重赏。骑士同意试一试，决定稳扎稳打。宝马雄壮骁勇，很快就和新主人建立了感情，虽然性子暴烈，但还是日渐驯服了。每天训练时，骑士都骑着国王的宝马穿越这座城市，边走边寻找梦中出现过无数次的漂亮脸蛋，但一直找不到。一天，他策马走过一条寂静的街道，却在废城堡的窗口里看到了那可爱的脸。他惊喜万分，便打听是谁住在这座旧城堡里头，得知原来是几位掳来的公主，中了魔咒，被关在里头，整天纺纱织布，存钱赎自由。骑士极想解救她们，但身无分文，于是只能天天路过那里，盼望着再次看到佳人的脸蛋，希望公主能来到光天化日之下。最后他决定闯进城堡，设法帮助她们。他走过去敲门，大门马上拉开，他看到了——”
“一位绝色佳人，她狂喜地大叫一声，高呼：‘终于盼来啦！盼来啦！'”凯特接上茬，她读过法国小说，喜欢那种风格，“‘原来是她呀！’居斯塔夫伯爵喊道，欣喜若狂地拜倒在她的石榴裙下。‘起来啊！’她伸出纤纤玉手说道。‘不起来！除非你告诉我怎么才能救你。’骑士跪在那里发誓。‘呵，厄运把我囚在这里，暴君不死，我就没有出头之日。'‘坏蛋在哪里？'‘在紫红色的大厅里。去吧，勇敢的爱人，快把我救出绝境。'‘遵命，一定与他决一死战！’说完这几句豪言壮语后，他冲出去，推开紫红色大厅的大门，正要走进去，却遭到——”
“希腊大词典的一下痛击，一个披黑衣的老家伙对他下了手，”内德说，“某某爵士马上回过神来，把暴君摔出窗外，大获全胜，转身去与佳人相会，但眉头上顶着大包，却发现门锁上了，只好撕破窗帘做成绳梯，下到半途绳梯突然断裂，他一头栽进六十英尺下面的护城河。他谙熟水性，涉水绕城堡而行，最后来到一扇有两名彪形大汉把守的小门。他把两个脑袋撞在一起，脑袋被挤得像核桃一样裂开，接着，不费吹灰之力便破门而入，走上两级石阶，上面积满了一英尺厚的灰尘，还有拳头大小的癞蛤蟆，大蜘蛛准把你吓得歇斯底里尖叫，马奇小姐。在石阶上头，他蓦地撞到了一个景象，令他大惊失色，毛骨悚然，他看到——”
“一个高高的身影，一身白衣服，脸上蒙了一块面纱，瘦骨嶙峋的手提着一盏灯。”美格续上去，“那个影子招招手，无声无息地沿着像坟墓一样黑暗冰凉的走廊滑行。披着盔甲的塑像阴森森地站立两边，周围一片死寂，灯火发出幽蓝的光，鬼影不时向他转过脸来，两只恐怖的眼睛透过白面纱发出闪闪幽光。他们走到一扇挂了帘子的门前，门后面奏起悦耳的音乐，他跳上前要走进去，幽灵把他拽了回来，威胁地在他面前扬着一个——”
“鼻烟盒。”乔阴森森地说，众人听得毛发倒竖，“‘谢了。’骑士礼貌地说，一面拈了一撮儿，随即重重地打了七个大喷嚏，震得脑袋都掉了下来。‘哈！哈！’鬼魂狂笑着。恶鬼透过钥匙孔，看到公主们仍在纺线赎身，便捡起牺牲品，把他放进一个大铁皮箱子里，箱子里头还密密麻麻地塞了十一个无头骑士，他们全站起身来，开始——”
“跳号笛舞。”弗雷德趁乔停下换气时插进来，“他们跳舞时，废城堡变成了一艘鼓满风帆的战船。‘三角帆向风，收中桅帆升降索，背风转舵，炮手就位！’船长吼叫道。此时一艘葡萄牙海盗船正驶入视线，前桅飘着一面黑旗。‘为了胜利，弟兄们冲啊！’船长说，于是大战开始了。当然是英方打赢了，他们向来都是赢家。”
“不对！”乔在一旁叫道。
“把海盗船长俘虏后，战船直冲那纵帆船，船甲板上堆满尸体，鲜血从下风一侧排水孔流了出来，因为下的命令是‘拔刀，拼死肉搏！'。‘副水手长，拿三角帆帆脚索扣来，如果这坏蛋不赶快招供，就把他干掉。’英国舰船长说道。那葡萄牙人咬紧牙关，坚决不招，情愿走跳板跳海。快乐的水手们欢呼若狂。但那狡猾的家伙潜入水中，游到战船下面凿穿船底，眼看扬满风帆的船儿沉了下去，往海底，海底，海底，那儿——”
“啊，天啊！我该说什么？”萨莉叫道。此时弗雷德收住了他的连篇废话，水手用语和生活描写的大杂烩，全都取材于他最喜欢的一本书。“唔，他们沉到海底，美人鱼前来迎接，看到装着无头骑士的箱子，美人鱼十分伤心，便好心地把他们腌在盐水里，希望能发现他们的秘密，是女人，好奇心就强。后来，有人潜水下来，美人鱼便说，‘若能把箱子拿上去，便把这盒珍珠送给你。’她想让这些可怜虫起死回生，但自己却无力抬起沉重的箱子。潜水者把箱子举上来，打开一看，并无珍珠，失望之余，便把箱子遗弃在一片荒野里，被一个——”
“小牧鹅女发现了。小姑娘在这片地里养了百头肥鹅。”艾美在萨莉才思枯竭时接着，“她很替骑士们难过，便请教一位老太太，怎样才能救他们。‘你的鹅会告诉你的，鹅无所不知。’老太太说。她接着又问，旧脑袋丢了，应该用什么做新脑袋，只见那些鹅百嘴张开，齐齐尖叫——”
“‘卷心菜！'”劳里立即接上去，“‘就是它了。’姑娘说道，随即跑到菜园里摘了十二棵大卷心菜。她把卷心菜装上，骑士们马上复活了。他们谢过牧鹅女，兴高采烈地上路，并不知道脑袋换了。世上跟他们一样的脑袋太多了，见怪不怪。我关注的那位骑士回头去找佳人，得知公主们已靠纺纱赎回了自由，除了一位外已全部出嫁了。骑士听了热血沸腾，跨上一直跟他赴汤蹈火的小公马，冲进城堡，看看到底留下了哪位。他隔着树篱偷窥，看到他心爱的公主正在花园里采花。‘给我一朵玫瑰好吗？’他问道。‘自己过来拿。我不能走来找你，这样不规矩。’佳人柔声说道。他试图爬过树篱，但它似乎越长越高；然后他想冲破树篱，但它却越长越密。他一筹莫展，于是耐心地把枝杈一枝一枝折断，开了一个小洞，从洞里望进去，哀求道：‘让我进吧！让我进吧！’但俏公主似乎并不理解，依然平静地采她的玫瑰，任由他孤身奋战。他有没有冲进去呢？弗兰克会告诉大家的。”
“我不会，我没有参加游戏，我从来都不玩的。”弗兰克说道。他不知道怎样做，才能把这对荒唐的情人从感情困境中解救出来。贝丝早躲到乔的身后，格莱丝则睡着了。
“那么说可怜的骑士就被困在树篱上了，对吗？”布鲁克先生眼睛仍然凝视着小河，手里把玩着插在纽孔上的蔷薇，问道。
“我想后来公主给了他一束玫瑰，并把门打开。”劳里说，顾自笑着，向老师扔橡树子。
“看我们凑了篇什么样的废话！多练练，或许就能搞出点聪明的名堂吧？你们知道‘真心话’吗？”当大家笑过自己瞎编的故事后，萨莉问。
“但愿我知道。”美格认真地说。
“我是指那个游戏。”
“什么游戏？”弗雷德问。
“哦，这样，大家把手叠起来，选一个数字，然后轮流抽出手，抽到这个数字的人，得老实回答大家的问题。很好玩的。”
“我们试试吧。”喜欢新花头的乔说。
凯特小姐、布鲁克先生、美格和内德退出了。弗雷德、萨莉、乔和劳里叠手玩游戏，劳里抽中了。
“谁是你心目中的英雄？”乔问。
“爷爷和拿破仑。”
“你认为这里哪位女士最漂亮？”萨莉问。
“玛格丽特。”
“最喜欢哪一位？”弗雷德问。
“乔，那还用说。”
劳里说得实事求是，大家全笑起来。乔轻蔑地耸耸肩，说：“你们问得真无聊！”
“再玩一回，‘真心话’这游戏挺不错的。”弗雷德说。
“对你来说是好游戏。”乔低声反驳道。
这回轮到她了。
“最大的缺点是什么？”弗雷德问，借此试探她是否诚实。他自己缺乏这种美德。
“脾气急躁。”
“最希望得到什么？”劳里问。
“一双靴带。”乔揣测到他的用意，给予迎头痛击。
“回答不老实，必须说出真正最希望得到什么。”
“天才，难道你不是恨不得你可以送给我吗，劳里？”她望着那张失望的脸孔狡黠地一笑。
“最敬慕男士什么美德？”萨莉问。
“勇敢真诚。”
“现在该我了。”弗雷德说道，他抽中最后。
“给他来点厉害的。”劳里向乔耳语，乔点点头，立即问：
“棒球比赛你难道没有赖皮？”
“嗯，唔，有那么一点点。”
“好！你的故事难道不是取自《海狮》? ”劳里问。
“差不多。”
“你难道不认为英国在各方面都完美？”萨莉问。
“不这样，我就枉为英国人了。”
“真是彻头彻尾的约翰牛[3]。好了，萨莉小姐，轮到你了，不必等抽签。我要问你一个问题，先折磨一下你的感情。你觉得自己是不是有几分卖弄风情？”劳里说。乔则向弗雷德点点头，表示讲和了。
“好个鲁莽汉！当然不是的。”萨莉叫道，那架势说明事实恰恰相反。
“最恨什么？”弗雷德问。
“蜘蛛和米粥汤。”
“最喜欢什么？”乔问。
“跳舞和法国手套。”
“哦，我看‘真心话’是无聊透顶的把戏，不如换个有意思的，我们玩‘猜作者’来提神吧。”乔提议。
内德、弗兰克和小姑娘们加入了这个游戏，三个年长一点的则坐到一边聊天。凯特小姐又拿出她的写生本，美格看着她画，布鲁克先生则躺在草地上，手里拿着一本书，却又不看。
“你画得真棒！真希望我也会。”美格说道，声音又仰慕又遗憾。
“那你为什么不学？我认为你有这方面的趣味和才华。”凯特小姐礼貌地回答。
“没有时间啊。”
“可能你妈妈希望你学别的才艺吧。我妈妈也一样，但我私下学了几课，把才华证明给她看，她便同意我继续学了。你不也一样可以自己跟家庭教师学啊？”
“我没有家庭教师。”
“我倒忘了，美国姑娘大都上学堂，跟我们不一样。爸爸说，这些学校都很气派。我猜你上的是私立学校吧？”
“我根本不上学。我自己便是个家庭教师。”
“是吗？”凯特小姐说。但她倒不如直说：“哎哟，真糟糕！”因为她的语气分明有这个意思。她脸上的神情使美格涨红了脸，懊悔自己刚才太坦诚。
布鲁克先生抬起头，马上说道：“美国姑娘跟她们的祖先一样热爱独立，她们自食其力，并因此而受到敬重。”
“噢，不错，她们这样做当然十分体面。我们也有不少高尚可敬的小姐这样做，受雇于贵族阶层。因为，作为绅士家的女儿，她们都很有教养和才艺的呢。”凯特小姐用一种恩赐的腔调说道，这伤及了美格的自尊心，使她的工作变得不但更加讨厌，而且更加低人一等了。
“那首德语歌合你的口味吗，马奇小姐？”布鲁克先生打破尴尬的沉默，问道。
“当然！优美极了，我十分感激替我翻译的那个人。”美格板着的脸说话时又有了神采。
“你不会德语吗？”凯特小姐惊讶地问。
“读得不大好。父亲原来教我，但现在不在家，我自学进展不快，没人纠正发音嘛。”
“现在就读读看，这里有席勒的《玛丽·斯图亚特》，还有一位愿意教你的家庭老师。”布鲁克先生笑容可掬地把他的书放在她膝盖上。
“这本书太难，不敢读。”美格说道。她十分感激，但在多才多艺的小姐面前又感到很不好意思。
“我先读几句来鼓励你。”凯特小姐说着，把其中最优美的一段朗诵一遍，读得一字不差，但却毫无表情。
布鲁克先生听完后不语。凯特小姐把书交回美格，美格天真地说道：
“我想这是诗歌吧。”
“部分是。读读这段吧。”
布鲁克先生把书翻到“可怜玛丽的挽歌”一页，嘴角挂着一丝怪笑。
美格服从了，顺着新教师用来指点的长草叶羞涩地慢慢读下去。她的声调悦耳轻柔，那些生涩难读的字句不知不觉全变得如诗如歌。绿草叶一路指下去，把美格带到悲泣哀怨的神往境界。她旋即忘掉了听众，旁若无人地往下读，读到不幸的女王说话时，腔调带上了悲剧口气。当时，她要是看到了那对棕色眼睛，一定会突然停下的，但她没有抬头，这堂课于是没有砸锅。
“读得好！”布鲁克先生待她停下来说道。其实她读错了不少单词，但他当作没听到，俨然一副热爱教书的模样。
凯特小姐带上眼镜，把眼前的动人情景扫视了一回，然后合上写生本，屈尊地说道：“你的口音蛮漂亮，日后必成好朗诵者。建议你学一学，德语对于教师来说是很有价值的才艺。我得去照看格莱丝，她在乱蹦乱跳呢。”凯特小姐说着慢慢走开了，他一边走，一边自言自语道：“我可不是来照料女家庭教师的，虽然她确实年轻貌美。这些美国佬真是怪人，劳里跟她们一起恐怕会学坏了哩。”
“我忘了英国人瞧不起女家教，不像我们平等相待。”美格望着凯特小姐远去的身影懊恼地说道。
“可悲的是，据我所知，男家教在那边，日子也不好过。对于我们打工仔来说，再没有比美国更好的地方了，玛格丽特小姐。”布鲁克先生显得如此满足，如此快乐，美格也不好意思再哀叹自己命苦了。
“那真高兴我生活在美国。我不喜欢我的工作，不过还是从中得到很大的满足，所以我不抱怨，我只希望能像你一样喜欢教书。”
“如果有劳里这样的学生，我想你就会喜欢的。可惜我明年就要失去他了。”布鲁克先生边说边在草坪上狠命戳洞。
“上大学，是吧？”美格嘴里这样问，眼睛却在说：“那你自己干什么呢？”
“是的，该上大学了，他准备好了。他一走，我就参军。部队上需要我。”
“我真高兴！”美格叫道，“我也认为每个青年都应该有这个心愿，虽然留在家里的母亲和姐妹们日子会感到难过。”她说着伤心起来。
“我没有母亲姐妹，在乎我死活的朋友也寥寥无几。”布鲁克先生有点苦涩地说道。他心不在焉地把干枯的玫瑰放到戳好的洞里，像小坟墓似的用土盖上。
“劳里和他爷爷就会十分在乎，万一你受了伤，我们也全都会很难过的。”美格真心地说。
“谢谢，听了令人高兴。”布鲁克先生振作起来，说道。一语未毕，内德骑着那匹老马笨拙地走过来，在小姐们面前炫耀他的骑术，于是这一天就再也没有安宁了。
“你难道不喜欢骑马吗？”格莱丝问艾美。她俩刚刚和大家一起跟着内德绕田野跑了一圈，这时站着在歇气。
“喜欢极了。我爸爸有钱那时候，美格姐常常骑，但我们现在没有马了，只有‘爱伦树’。”艾美笑着补充说。
“跟我说说，‘爱伦树’是一头驴子吗？”格莱丝好奇地问。
“嘿，你不知道，乔爱马爱得发疯，我也一样，但我们没有马，只有一个旧横鞍。我们园子里有一棵苹果树，长了一枝低树丫，乔便把马鞍放上去，在弯起处系上缰绳，我们有兴致时，就跳上‘爱伦树’驰骋。”
“多有趣！”格莱丝笑了，“我家里有一匹矮种马，我几乎每天都跟弗雷德和凯特一起去海德公园骑马，真惬意；我的朋友们都去，整个骑马道都是绅士小姐们的身影。”
“哎呀，多带劲！希望有一天能出国，但我宁愿去罗马[4]，不去罗欧。”艾美说。她压根儿不知道罗欧是什么，死活不肯发问。
坐在两个小姑娘后面的弗兰克听到了她们说话。看到生龙活虎的小伙子们在做各种各样的滑稽体操动作，他很不耐烦地一把推开自己的拐杖。贝丝正在收拾散乱一地的“猜作者”卡片，闻声抬起头来，羞怯而友好地问：
“恐怕你累了吧，我能为你效劳吗？”
“跟我说说话吧，求你啦，一个人枯坐闷死了。”弗兰克回答。显然他在家里被悉心照料惯了。
贝丝害羞，即使让她发表拉丁语演说也不会比这更困难。但她现在无路可逃，乔不在身边挡驾，可怜的小伙子又眼巴巴地望着她，她于是勇于一试。
“你看谈什么好呢？”她边收拾卡片边问，把卡片扎起来时洒落了一半。
“嗯，我想听听板球、划船和打猎这类事情。”弗兰克说道。他尚未懂得自己的兴趣应该是力所能及的事情。
“天哪！我该怎么办？我对这些一无所知。”贝丝想，仓皇之间忘记了小伙子的不幸。她想引他说话，便说：“我从来没见过打猎，不过我猜你熟门熟路的。”
“以前是，但我再也不能打猎了，跳越一道该死的五栅门时伤了腿，再也不能骑马放猎狗了。”弗兰克长叹一声说。贝丝见状直恨自己粗心无知，说错了话。
“你们的鹿儿远比我们丑陋的水牛美丽。”她说道，转身望着开阔的草原寻找灵感，很高兴自己曾读过一本乔十分喜欢的男孩子读物。
事实证明水牛具有镇静功能，令人满意。贝丝一心一意要让弗兰克乐起来，心里早没有了自己。姐妹们看到她竟和一个原来躲避不迭的可怕男孩谈得滔滔不绝，全都又惊又喜，贝丝对此却全然不觉。
“好心的人儿！她怜悯他，所以对他好。”乔说道，从棒球场那边对着她微笑。
“我一向都说她是个小圣人。”美格用不容置疑的口吻说。
“很久都没有听弗兰克笑得这样开心了。”格莱丝对艾美说。她们正坐在一处，边谈论玩偶，边用橡果壳做茶具。
“我贝丝姐有时候很努力，是个令人瑕疵的姑娘。”艾美对贝丝的成功很高兴，说道。她的意思是“令人痴迷”，不过反正格莱丝也不知道这两个词的确切意思，“令人瑕疵”听起来不错，而且令对方刮目相看。
看了即兴马戏表演，下了狐狸大雁棋，打了一场槌球友谊赛，不觉一个下午就过去了。等到夕阳西下，大家拆了帐篷，收拾好篮子，卸下三门柱，把行李装上船。他们一起顺流而下，放声歌唱。内德伤感起来，用柔和的颤音唱起了小夜曲，从那忧郁的过门：
孤独，孤独，哎哟！孤独。
唱到歌词：
我们各自青春年少，各自有心，
呵，为什么要这样拉开冷漠的距离？
他趁机望着美格，表情有气无力，美格忍不住扑哧一笑，把歌声打断了。
“怎能对我这样无情？”趁大家活跃地说话时，他咕哝道，“你全天都和那个古板的英国女人混在一起，这会儿又来轻慢我了。”
“不是有意的，只是你很滑稽，实在忍不住。”美格答道，避而不谈他第一部分的责备。说真的，她对莫法特家晚会以及后来的闲话记忆犹新，整天都躲着他。
内德生气了，转头向萨莉寻求安慰，他小气地说道：“你说这姑娘是不是一点风情也不解啊？”
“半点也不解，不过她是个乖乖儿。”萨莉回答，虽然坦白了朋友的缺点，却维护了朋友。
“反正不是受惊的‘怪鹿’吧。”内德想说俏皮话，无奈的年轻人火候未到，果然不成功。
在早晨集合的草地上，大家互道晚安，依依惜别，因为沃恩姐弟们还要去加拿大呢。四姐妹穿过花园回家时，凯特小姐目送着她们说：“尽管美国姑娘感情外露，但熟悉之后，便知道她们十分迷人。”她的话里已经放下了恩赐的腔调。
“我同意你的意见。”布鲁克先生说。
* * *
[1]英国旧时平邮邮资，不论远近，一律收一便士。
[2]1776年美国颁布了《独立宣言》，宣告摆脱英国殖民统治。
[3]英国人的绰号。
[4]骑马道英文为row，与罗马音近，艾美不知道row是何意，所以就认为和罗马一样是地名。
CHAPTER 12 CAMP LAURENCE
CHAPTER 12 CAMP LAURENCE
BETH WAS postmistress, for, being most at home, she could attend to it regularly, and dearly liked the daily task of unlocking the little door and distributing the mail. One July day she came in with her hands full, and went about the house leaving letters and parcels like the penny post.
“Here's your posy, Mother! Laurie never forgets that, ” she said, putting the fresh nosegay in the vase that stood in “Marmee's corner”, and was kept supplied by the affectionate boy.
“Miss Meg March, one letter and a glove, ” continued Beth, delivering the articles to her sister, who sat near her mother, stitching wristbands.
“Why, I left a pair over there, and here is only one, ” said Meg, looking at the gray cotton glove. “Didn't you drop the other in the garden? ”
“No, I'm sure I didn't, for there was only one in the office.”
“I hate to have odd gloves! Never mind, the other may be found. My letter is only a translation of the German song I wanted. I think Mr. Brooke did it, for this isn't Laurie's writing.”
Mrs. March glanced at Meg, who was looking very pretty in her gingham morning gown, with the little curls blowing about her forehead, and very womanly, as she sat sewing at her little worktable, full of tidy white rolls, so unconscious of the thought in her mother's mind as she sewed and sang, while her fingers flew and her thoughts were busied with girlish fancies as innocent and fresh as the pansies in her belt, that Mrs. March smiled and was satisfied.
“Two letters for Doctor Jo, a book, and a funny old hat, which covered the whole post office and stuck outside, ” said Beth, laughing as she went into the study where Jo sat writing.
“What a sly fellow Laurie is! I said I wished bigger hats were the fashion, because I burn my face every hot day. He said, ‘Why mind the fashion? Wear a big hat, and be comfortable! ' I said I would if I had one, and he has sent me this,to try me.I'll wear it for fun,and show him I don't care for the fashion.” And hanging the antique broad-brim on a bust of Plato, Jo read her letters.
One from her mother made her cheeks glow and her eyes fill, for it said to her—
My Dear,
I write a little word to tell you with how much satisfaction I watch your efforts to control your temper. You say nothing about your trials, failures, or successes, and think, perhaps, that no one sees them but the Friend whose help you daily ask, if I may trust the well-worn cover of your guidebook. I, too, have seen them all, and heartily believe in the sincerity of your resolution, since it begins to bear fruit. Go on, dear, patiently and bravely, and always believe that no one sympathizes more tenderly with you than your loving—
Mother
“That does me good! That's worth millions of money and pecks of praise. Oh, Marmee, I do try! I will keep on trying, and not get tired, since I have you to help me.”
Laying her head on her arms, Jo wet her little romance with a few happy tears,for she had thought that no one saw and appreciated her efforts to be good, and this assurance was doubly precious, doubly encouraging, because unexpected and from the person whose commendation she most valued. Feeling stronger than ever to meet and subdue her Apollyon, she pinned the note inside her frock, as a shield and a reminder, lest she be taken unaware, and proceeded to open her other letter, quite ready for either good or bad news. In a big, dashing hand, Laurie wrote—
Dear Jo,
What ho!
Some English girls and boys are coming to see me tomorrow and I want to have a jolly time. If it's fine, I'm going to pitch my tent in Longmeadow, and row up the whole crew to lunch and croquet—have a fire, make messes, gypsy fashion, and all sorts of larks. They are nice people, and like such things. Brooke will go to keep us boys steady, and Kate Vaughn will play propriety for the girls. I want you all to come, can't let Beth off at any price, and nobody shall worry her. Don't bother about rations, I'll see to that and everything else, only do come, there's a good fellow!
In a tearing hurry,
Yours ever
Laurie
“Here's richness! ” cried Jo, flying in to tell the news to Meg.
“Of course we can go, Mother? It will be such a help to Laurie, for I can row, and Meg see to the lunch, and the children be useful in some way.”
“I hope the Vaughns are not fine grown-up people. Do you know anything about them, Jo? ” asked Meg.
“Only that there are four of them. Kate is older than you, Fred and Frank (twins) about my age, and a little girl (Grace), who is nine or ten. Laurie knew them abroad, and liked the boys. I fancied, from the way he primmed up his mouth in speaking of her, that he didn't admire Kate much.”
“I'm so glad my French print is clean, it's just the thing and so becoming! ” observed Meg complacently. “Have you anything decent, Jo? ”
“Scarlet and gray boating suit, good enough for me. I shall row and tramp about, so I don't want any starch to think of. You'll come, Betty? ”
“If you won't let any boys talk to me.”
“Not a boy! ”
“I like to please Laurie, and I'm not afraid of Mr. Brooke, he is so kind. But I don't want to play, or sing, or say anything. I'll work hard and not trouble anyone, and you'll take care of me, Jo, so I'll go.”
“That's my good girl. You do try to fight off your shyness, and I love you for it. Fighting faults isn't easy, as I know, and a cheery word kind of gives a lift. Thank you, Mother, ” And Jo gave the thin cheek a grateful kiss,more precious to Mrs. March than if it had given back the rosy roundness of her youth.
“I had a box of chocolate drops, and the picture I wanted to copy, ”said Amy, showing her mail.
“And I got a note from Mr. Laurence, asking me to come over and play to him tonight, before the lamps are lighted, and I shall go, ” added Beth, whose friendship with the old gentleman prospered finely.
“Now let's fly round, and do double duty today, so that we can play tomorrow with free minds, ” said Jo, preparing to replace her pen with a broom.
When the sun peeped into the girls' room early next morning to promise them a fine day, he saw a comical sight. Each had made such preparation for the fete as seemed necessary and proper. Meg had an extra row of little curlpapers across her forehead, Jo had copiously anointed her afflicted face with cold cream, Beth had taken Joanna to bed with her to atone for the approaching separation, and Amy had capped the climax by putting a clothespin on her nose to uplift the offending feature. It was one of the kind artists use to hold the paper on their drawing boards, therefore quite appropriate and effective for the purpose it was now being put. This funny spectacle appeared to amuse the sun, for he burst out with such radiance that Jo woke up and roused her sisters by a hearty laugh at Amy's ornament.
Sunshine and laughter were good omens for a pleasure party, and soon a lively bustle began in both houses. Beth, who was ready first, kept reporting what went on next door, and enlivened her sisters' toilets by frequent telegrams from the window.
“There goes the man with the tent! I see Mrs. Barker doing up the lunch in a hamper and a great basket. Now Mr. Laurence is looking up at the sky and the weathercock. I wish he would go too. There's Laurie, looking like a sailor—nice boy! Oh, mercy me! Here's a carriage full of people—a tall lady, a little girl, and two dreadful boys. One is lame, poor thing, he's got a crutch. Laurie didn't tell us that. Be quick, girls! It's getting late. Why, there is Ned Moffat, I do declare. Meg, isn't that the man who bowed to you one day when we were shopping? ”
“So it is. How queer that he should come. I thought he was at the mountains. There is Sallie. I'm glad she got back in time. Am I all right, Jo? ” cried Meg in a flutter.
“A regular daisy. Hold up your dress and put your hat on straight, it looks sentimental tipped that way and will fly off at the first puff. Now, then, come on! ”
“Oh, Jo, you are not going to wear that awful hat? It's too absurd! You shall not make a guy of yourself, ”remonstrated Meg,as Jo tied down with a red ribbon the broad-brimmed, old-fashioned leghorn Laurie had sent for a joke.
“I just will, though, for it's capital—so shady, light, and big. It will make fun, and I don't mind being a guy if I'm comfortable.” With that Jo marched straight away and the rest followed—a bright little band of sisters, all looking their best in summer suits, with happy faces under the jaunty hatbrims.
Laurie ran to meet and present them to his friends in the most cordial manner. The lawn was the reception room, and for several minutes a lively scene was enacted there. Meg was grateful to see that Miss Kate, though twenty, was dressed with a simplicity which American girls would do well to imitate, and who was much flattered by Mr. Ned's assurances that he came especially to see her. Jo understood why Laurie “primmed up his mouth” when speaking of Kate, for that young lady had a standoff-don't-touch-me air, which contrasted strongly with the free and easy demeanor of the other girls. Beth took an observation of the new boys and decided that the lame one was not “dreadful”, but gentle and feeble, and she would be kind to him on that account. Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry, little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, they suddenly became very good friends.
Tents, lunch, and croquet utensils having been sent on beforehand, the party was soon embarked, and the two boats pushed off together, leaving Mr. Laurence waving his hat on the shore. Laurie and Jo rowed one boat, Mr. Brooke and Ned the other, while Fred Vaughn, the riotous twin, did his best to upset both by paddling about in a wherry like a disturbed water bug. Jo's funny hat deserved a vote of thanks, for it was of general utility. It broke the ice in the beginning by producing a laugh, it created quite a refreshing breeze, flapping to and fro as she rowed, and would make an excellent umbrella for the whole party, if a shower came up, she said. Miss Kate decided that she was “odd, but rather clever, ” and smiled upon her from afar.
Meg, in the other boat, was delightfully situated, face to face with the rowers, who both admired the prospect and feathered their oars with uncommon “skill and dexterity”. Mr. Brooke was a grave, silent young man, with handsome brown eyes and a pleasant voice. Meg liked his quiet manners and considered him a walking encyclopedia of useful knowledge. He never talked to her much, but he looked at her a good deal, and she felt sure that he did not regard her with aversion. Ned, being in college, of course put on all the airs which freshmen think it their bounden duty to assume. He was not very wise, but very good-natured, and altogether an excellent person to carry on a picnic. Sallie Gardiner was absorbed in keeping her white pique dress clean and chattering with the ubiquitous Fred, who kept Beth in constant terror by his pranks.
It was not far to Longmeadow, but the tent was pitched and the wickets down by the time they arrived. A pleasant green field, with three wide-spreading oaks in the middle and a smooth strip of turf for croquet.
“Welcome to Camp Laurence! ” said the young host, as they landed with exclamations of delight.
“Brooke is commander in chief, I am commissary general, the other fellows are staff officers, and you, ladies, are company. The tent is for your especial benefit and that oak is your drawing room, this is the messroom and the third is the camp kitchen. Now, let's have a game before it gets hot, and then we'll see about dinner.”
Frank, Beth, Amy, and Grace sat down to watch the game played by the other eight. Mr. Brooke chose Meg, Kate, and Fred. Laurie took Sallie, Jo, and Ned. The English played well, but the Americans played better, and contested every inch of the ground as strongly as if the spirit of '76 inspired them. Jo and Fred had several skirmishes and once narrowly escaped high words. Jo was through the last wicket and had missed the stroke, which failure ruffled her a good deal. Fred was close behind her and his turn came before hers. He gave a stroke, his ball hit the wicket, and stopped an inch on the wrong side. No one was very near, and running up to examine, he gave it a sly nudge with his toe, which put it just an inch on the right side.
“I'm through! Now, Miss Jo, I'll settle you, and get in first, ” cried the young gentleman, swinging his mallet for another blow.
“You pushed it. I saw you; it's my turn now, ” said Jo sharply.
“Upon my word, I didn't move it; it rolled a bit, perhaps, but that is allowed; so stand off, please, and let me have a go at the stake.”
“We don't cheat in America, but you can, if you choose, ” said Jo angrily.
“Yankees are a deal the most tricky, everybody knows. There you go! ”returned Fred, croqueting her ball far away.
Jo opened her lips to say something rude, but checked herself in time, colored up to her forehead and stood a minute, hammering down a wicket with all her might, while Fred hit the stake and declared himself out with much exultation. She went off to get her ball, and was a long time finding it among the bushes, but she came back, looking cool and quiet, and waited her turn patiently. It took several strokes to regain the place she had lost, and when she got there, the other side had nearly won, for Kate's ball was the last but one and lay near the stake.
“By George, it's all up with us! Good-by, Kate. Miss Jo owes me one, so you are finished, ” cried Fred excitedly, as they all drew near to see the finish.
“Yankees have a trick of being generous to their enemies, ” said Jo, with a look that made the lad redden, “especially when they beat them, ”she added, as, leaving Kate's ball untouched, she won the game by a clever stroke.
Laurie threw up his hat, then remembered that it wouldn't do to exult over the defeat of his guests, and stopped in the middle of the cheer to whisper to his friend, “Good for you, Jo! He did cheat, I saw him. We can't tell him so, but he won't do it again, take my word for it.”
Meg drew her aside, under pretense of pinning up a loose braid, and said approvingly, “It was dreadfully provoking, but you kept your temper, and I'm so glad, Jo.”
“Don't praise me, Meg, for I could box his ears this minute. I should certainly have boiled over if I hadn't stayed among the nettles till I got my rage under control enough to hold my tongue. It's simmering now, so I hope he'll keep out of my way, ” returned Jo, biting her lips as she glowered at Fred from under her big hat.
“Time for lunch, ” said Mr. Brooke, looking at his watch. “Commissary general, will you make the fire and get water, while Miss March, Miss Sallie, and I spread the table? Who can make good coffee? ”
“Jo can, ” said Meg, glad to recommend her sister. So Jo, feeling that her late lessons in cookery were to do her honor, went to preside over the coffeepot, while the children collected dry sticks, and the boys made a fire and got water from a spring near by. Miss Kate sketched and Frank talked to Beth, who was making little mats of braided rushes to serve as plates.
The commander in chief and his aides soon spread the tablecloth with an inviting array of eatables and drinkables, prettily decorated with green leaves. Jo announced that the coffee was ready, and everyone settled themselves to a hearty meal, for youth is seldom dyspeptic, and exercise develops wholesome appetites. A very merry lunch it was, for everything seemed fresh and funny, and frequent peals of laughter startled a venerable horse who fed near by. There was a pleasing inequality in the table, which produced many mishaps to cups and plates, acorns dropped in the milk, little black ants partook of the refreshments without being invited, and fuzzy caterpillars swung down from the tree to see what was going on. Three white-headed children peeped over the fence, and an objectionable dog barked at them from the other side of the river with all his might and main.
“There's salt here, ” said Laurie, as he handed Jo a saucer of berries.
“Thank you, I prefer spiders, ” she replied, fishing up two unwary little ones who had gone to a creamy death. “How dare you remind me of that horrid dinner party, when yours is so nice in every way? ” added Jo, as they both laughed and ate out of one plate, the china having run short.
“I had an uncommonly good time that day, and haven't got over it yet. This is no credit to me, you know, I don't do anything. It's you and Meg and Brooke who make it all go, and I'm no end obliged to you. What shall we do when we can't eat anymore? ” asked Laurie, feeling that his trump card had been played when lunch was over.
“Have games till it's cooler. I brought Authors, and I dare say Miss Kate knows something new and nice. Go and ask her. She's company, and you ought to stay with her more.”
“Aren't you company too? I thought she'd suit Brooke, but he keeps talking to Meg, and Kate just stares at them through that ridiculous glass of hers. I'm going, so you needn't try to preach propriety, for you can't do it, Jo.”
Miss Kate did know several new games, and as the girls would not, and the boys could not, eat any more, they all adjourned to the drawing room to play Rig-marole.
“One person begins a story, any nonsense you like, and tells as long as he pleases, only taking care to stop short at some exciting point, when the next takes it up and does the same. It's very funny when well done, and makes a perfect jumble of tragical comical stuff to laugh over. Please start it, Mr. Brooke, ” said Kate, with a commanding air, which surprised Meg, who treated the tutor with as much respect as any other gentleman.
Lying on the grass at the feet of the two young ladies, Mr. Brooke obediently began the story, with the handsome brown eyes steadily fixed upon the sunshiny river.
“Once on a time, a knight went out into the world to seek his fortune, f
