第二十九章 拜访
第二十九章 拜访
“快来，乔，时间到了。”
“什么事？”
“你不会忘了答应过的，今天要和我一起作六个拜访吧？”
“我这辈子是做过许多草率傻事，但还不至于疯到这个地步，说要一天作六次拜访，一次就够我难受一礼拜的了。”
“没错，你说过的，是我俩的交易呀。我为你完成贝丝蜡笔画，你好好陪我一起回访邻居。”
“‘如果天气晴朗’，协议中有这句话，我字字句句遵守协议，讨债鬼。可东边有一大堆云，天气不晴朗，我不去。”
“嘿，你这是逃避责任。天气很好，没有下雨的迹象，你一向为自己能遵守诺言而自豪，还是老实一点，尽了你的义务，然后会有半年的安宁。”
那会儿，乔正特别专心地在做衣服，她是家里的外套总管，很居功自傲，因为自己的针线功夫不亚于笔头功夫。刚首次试穿就被人抓差，够恼火的，而且还是在一个七月的热天里盛装外出拜访。她很讨厌那种正式拜访，要不是艾美缠着跟她交易，威逼利诱，是绝不去的。到了眼下这种地步，也无法逃脱，她恨恨地敲击着剪刀，愤愤地说听到雷声了，可最后还是屈服了。她把活儿收起来，无可奈何地拿起帽子和手套，对艾美说，殉道者已经准备好了。
“乔·马奇，你太任性了，圣人也会恼火的！希望你不要打算穿成这个样子去拜访人家。”艾美惊愕地打量着她。
“为什么不行？我的穿着整洁、凉爽、舒服，很适合走在尘土弥漫的热天里。如果人们更在乎我的衣着，而不在乎我这个人，我就不想见他们。你可以穿得又体面又惹人爱，喜欢怎么文雅就怎么文雅。你这样穿戴感觉值得，而我觉得不值，裙饰只能让我烦啊。”
“天哪！”艾美叹气了，“她现在逆反心理发作，若不把她抚顺，会逼得我心烦意乱的。我当然也不高兴今天去，但我们欠了社交的债呀。除了你和我，家里又没人能还这笔债。乔，只要穿得漂亮一点，帮我完成这些礼节，会为你做任何事的。如果你努力，是很会讲话的，穿上了漂亮衣服，看上去也有贵族气派，举止也那么优雅，我真为你感到骄傲的。我不敢一个人去的，去吧，去照顾我。”
“真是个油滑的小丫头，居然这样恭维和哄骗生气的老姐。说什么有贵族气派、有教养、不敢单独出去！真不知道哪一个最荒唐。行，既然非去不可，那我就去，尽力而为。你是此行的司令官，我盲目服从，该满意了吧？”任性的乔突然变成了顺从的小绵羊。
“真是个小天使！来，穿上所有最漂亮的衣服吧，每到一处我会说明如何表现，给人留下美好的印象。我希望人们喜欢你，他们会喜欢你的，只要你努力做到随和一点。梳理个漂亮的发型，帽子放上粉红的玫瑰花。这样很好看，素色的衣服看上去太严肃了。带上你浅色的手套和绣花手帕。我们在美格家弯一下，把白色阳伞借来，你就可以用我的鸽子色阳伞了。”
艾美一边打扮自己，一边对乔发号施令，乔不无抗议地遵命。她唉声叹气窸窸窣窣地穿上自己那件蝉翼纱新衣，忧郁地皱着眉头把帽子的带子系成无可挑剔的蝴蝶结，恶狠狠地拨弄别针把领圈戴上，抖出手帕时挤眉弄眼，手帕上的刺绣刺激她的鼻子，就像眼前的使命刺激她的情绪，还把手挤进了有三颗纽扣和一条穗的小手套。完成这最后一道高雅的工序后，神情痴痴的她转身对着艾美温顺地说：
“太痛苦了，但是如果你认为我这样体面，我会幸福地就义。”
“非常令人满意，慢慢地转过身来，让我好好地看看。”乔旋转着，艾美这里触一下，那里碰一下，然后往后退一步，把头偏往一边，谦和地审视着，“行，不错。你的头饰是我最满意的，玫瑰花配白色的帽子相当迷人。挺直肩背，手放得自然些，别管手套是否太紧。有一样东西对你很配，乔，来，戴上披肩。我用披肩不好看，可它很适合你，很高兴姑婆送给你那条可爱的披肩。虽然素雅，但很美观，臂上的褶子确实有美感。我的斗篷花边居中了吗？我的礼服卷得均匀吗？我喜欢把靴子露出来，因为脚长得漂亮，鼻子可不漂亮。”
“你是漂亮的小东西，总是那么赏心悦目。”乔说着，比划着单手，以鉴赏家的神态看着艾美金色头发上的蓝色羽毛饰物，“请问小姐，我这盛装是一路拖着扫灰尘呢，还是把它拎起来？”
“走路的时候提起来，进屋就放下来。裙摆拖地的款式最适合你，必须学会优雅地拖着裙摆。一个袖口还没有扣上一半，马上扣。如果不注意细节，就永远不会形象完美，可人的整体形象是由细节构成的。”
乔叹口气，扣袖口时把手套的纽扣差点绷掉了。终于，她俩准备就绪，飘然出发了。汉娜在楼上窗口探头望着她俩说：“美得像画儿一样。”
“喂，乔姐，切斯特一家子自命高雅得很。因此，希望你表现出最好的举止。千万不要乱说话，不要有古怪举止，行吗？只要沉着、镇定、安静，这样最保险，最有贵妇气质，你能轻而易举地做到，就一刻钟。”快到第一家的时候，艾美说道。她们已经从美格家借到了白阳伞，并接受了两只手各抱一个婴孩的美格的检阅。
“让我想想，‘沉着、镇定、安静’，行，我想能做到。我曾在舞台上扮演过古板的贵夫人，舞台下就试试看。我的表演能力很强，你会看到的，所以放心吧，孩子。”
艾美看上去放心了，可是调皮的乔死抠着她的话去做。拜访第一家的时候，乔坐在那里，手脚优雅地搁着，裙褶都恰到好处地垂着，平静得像夏天的海面，镇定得像冬天的雪堆，安静得像狮身人面像。切斯特太太提及她的小说是多么令人感动，切斯特小姐们提及晚会、野餐、歌剧和时装的时候，她均以微笑、鞠躬和冷冰冰的“是”或“不”作答，端庄有余。艾美使眼色要她说话，试着引她开口，暗地里用脚捅她，均告徒劳无效。乔娴雅地坐着，好像一点也没察觉，仪态如同莫德[1]的脸，五官端正却冷若冰霜，毫无表情却光彩照人。
“马奇家大小姐太傲慢，是个索然无趣的人！”客人离开关上门，一位切斯特小姐发表议论说，不幸的是被客人听见了。在穿过门廊的整个时间里，乔哑笑着，而艾美对指令失灵一脸反感，自然怪罪起乔来。
“怎能这么曲解我的意思？我只是要适当地端庄点、稳重点，而你却把自己变成了彻头彻尾的泥塑木雕。到了兰姆家可要活络点。要像其他姑娘那样聊聊天，对服饰、卖弄等废话，要表现出应有的兴趣。他们出入上流社会，与他们交往对我们很有价值，我无论如何都要给他们留下好印象。”
“我会很好相处的。我会谈笑风生，你喜欢的任何一点琐事，我都会表现出惊讶和狂喜。我喜欢这样的。我将模仿所谓的‘迷人姑娘’的举止。我能做得到，因为有梅·切斯特做榜样，而且我会迎头赶上。倒是要看看兰姆家会不会说：‘乔·马奇多可爱，多讨人喜欢！'”
艾美担心起来了，这不无道理，乔一旦中了邪，就不知道会在什么地方刹车。看着姐姐移步进入又一个客厅，热情地亲吻所有的年轻小姐，优雅地对着年轻男士微笑，热情地参与聊天，这种状况让旁观者感到吃惊，艾美的脸色值得品味啊。兰姆太太很喜欢艾美，拉着她，硬是要她听自己滔滔不绝地谈论经典传说中什么卢克雷霞的最后攻击，而三个快乐的年轻男士则在附近转来转去伺候着，准备稍有停顿就冲进来把她救走。有鉴于此，她无法脱身去制止乔，而乔似乎是妖精附身，淘气地和兰姆太太一样喋喋不休。有一群人围在她的周围，艾美竖起耳朵想听听在说些什么，断断续续的话使她惊慌不已，睁大的眼睛和抬起的手折磨着她的好奇心，频频传来的阵阵笑声使她很想去分享这种乐趣。听到以下谈话的只言片语，可以想象她内心遭受的痛苦。
“她骑马骑得那么好——是谁教的？”
“没人教。她曾经把一个旧马鞍安在树上，练习过上马、勒马和骑马。现在她什么马都骑，不知道什么是害怕。马房对她降低收费，她驯过的马都能很好地接待女士。她那么迷恋马，我经常对她说，如果其他事干不成，她可以当个驯马师维持生计。”
听到这些糟糕的话，艾美很难克制自己，因为给人的印象是，她是个相当放荡的小姐，而这是她最讨厌的。可是她又能怎么样呢？老太太的故事才讲了一半，离讲完还早着呢。乔又侃开了其他话题，披露出更多可笑的事情，犯了更多可怕的错误。
“是的，那天艾美非常绝望，好马都被骑走了，留下来的三匹，一匹跛足、一匹瞎眼，另一匹脾性犟，要它起步就得往嘴里塞土。游乐聚会上这是好马，是不是？”
“她选了哪一匹呢？”一位男士笑着问，他很喜欢这个话题。
“一匹也没要。她听说河对面农庄里有一匹马驹，不曾有女士骑过，但决定试一试，因为那匹马长得气宇轩昂，精神得很。她的奋斗真是悲壮，还不曾有人给这匹马上过鞍，所以她要上鞍。我的天，她真的驾着它过了河，易如反掌地上了鞍，驭它走向马棚，让那个老头大惊！”
“她骑这匹马了吗？”
“当然骑，而且骑得极痛快。原以为会被摔得支离破碎抬回家，结果她把它驯得很好，她可是那次聚会的灵魂人物呢。”
“唷，我说那是胆量啊！”小兰姆先生转身用赞许的眼光瞥一眼艾美，心里在纳闷，他母亲到底说了些什么，居然让这位姑娘涨得满脸通红而且很不自在。
当话题突然转到服饰的时候，她脸色更红更不自在了。一位小姐问乔，野餐会上戴的那顶漂亮的土褐色帽子是哪里买的。傻乎乎的乔不提两年前买的地方，而是没必要地坦白说：“哦，是艾美在上面涂了颜色。街上买不到那么柔和的颜色的，所以我们喜欢什么颜色就上什么颜色。有一个搞艺术的妹妹，是我们极大的安慰。”
“这不是很有创意吗？”兰姆小姐叫起来，她发现乔很逗。
“与她的某些才气横溢的表演相比，这算不了什么的嘛。这孩子无所不能。嗨，她想穿一双蓝色的靴子参加萨莉的晚会，于是就把自己那双脏兮兮的白色靴子涂成天蓝色的了。那种蓝的好看程度前所未有，很像缎子嘞。”乔补充道，满脸是为妹妹的才艺感到自豪的神情，可把艾美气得真想用名片盒掷她才解恨。
“前阵子读了你写的小说，很喜欢呢。”兰姆大小姐说道，意在恭维这位文学女士。必须承认，此刻文学女士并没有现出本色。
一听有人提起她的作品，乔的反应总是不好，她要么变得生硬起来，像是受到了冒犯；要么用粗话改变话题，如同现在这样。“很遗憾，你没有找到更好的书读。我写那些垃圾是因为好卖，受凡人欢迎。你今年冬天要去纽约吗？”
由于兰姆小姐喜欢她的小说，这么说话就显然不够领情，也不礼貌。乔出口后马上就意识到了错误。怕把事情弄得更糟，她突然记起该自己先提出来告别，行为如此唐突，使得三个人还有一半话留在嘴里。
“艾美，我们得走了。再见，亲爱的，一定要来看我们。期待你们的拜访。不敢邀请你，兰姆先生，不过若是你来了，我想我肯定不忍心打发你走的。”
乔说这话时模仿梅·切斯特过分热情的派头。那种滑稽相，促使艾美尽可能快地冲出了房间，同时强烈地升起一种哭笑不得的感觉。
“我做得还好吧？”离开后，乔踌躇满志地问道。
“没有更糟的了，”艾美全盘否定道，“你着了什么魔会去说我的马鞍呀、帽呀、靴呀的事情，一切的一切？”
“没什么呀，这些事很有趣的，能逗大家高兴。他们知道我们穷，所以，没必要装出我们雇有马夫，一季能买三四顶帽子，能像他们轻而易举地添置东西的样子。”
“不要去对他们说我们的小花招嘛，完全没必要以那种方式来揭自家的穷。你没有一点正常的自尊心，从来就学不会什么时候闭嘴，什么时候开口。”艾美绝望地说。
可怜的乔难为情了，用发硬的手帕默默地拭着鼻头，仿佛在为自己的过错忏悔。
“在这一家我该怎么做呢？”走近第三家别墅的时候她问道。
“爱怎么怎么的，不管你了。”艾美简短地回答。
“那我会过得很愉快的。那些男孩都在家，我们会玩得很痛快。天知道，我需要换点花样，优雅举止对我的身体很不利。”乔粗声粗气地说，她为自己无法适应而烦恼不安。
三个大男孩和几个漂亮孩子的热情欢迎，迅速安抚了她的烦恼心情。乔留下艾美一个人去招呼女主人和碰巧同样来访的都铎先生。她专心致志地与年轻人玩，发觉这新花样很提神。她饶有兴趣地听大学的故事，一声不吭地爱抚着指示犬和鬈毛小狗，欣然同意“汤姆·布朗[2]是条汉子”，全然不顾这种赞美方式不恰当。当一个小伙子提议参观自己的海龟池时，她爽快地跟着走了。这招来妈妈的笑容，慈爱的淑女整一整被子女们的拥抱弄乱了的帽子，熊抱的样子倒很亲切，对她来说比心灵手巧的法国女子制作的无懈可击的发型还宝贝。
艾美听任姐姐自己去玩，自己也尽兴玩乐着。都铎先生的叔叔与一个英国小姐结了亲，这位小姐是在位勋爵的远房亲戚。艾美无限崇敬他们家族，尽管生在美国长在美国，但她还是跟大多数国人一样，对爵位肃然起敬——这是对早期君主信仰的那种默认的忠诚。若干年以前，一个皇家金发男孩到来的时候，这种忠诚曾经使这个阳光下最民主的国家骚动起来，这与年轻国家对古老国家的敬爱也息息相关，就像大儿子对专横的小母亲的爱，母亲有能力的时候拥有儿子，但儿子造反后，便一顿责骂令其远走高飞了。不过，即使与英国贵族远房亲戚的攀谈令人心满意足，也不能使艾美忘记时间，盘桓的分钟数恰到好处时，她留恋不舍地抽身离开了贵族伙伴，去寻找乔，热切地希望那无可救药的姐姐不会处在给马奇姓氏蒙羞的境地。
情况原本可以更糟，但艾美已经认为够糟的了。乔坐在草地上，周围驻扎着一群男孩，一条四爪污秽的狗歇息在她节日礼服的裙摆上，而她正在向心怀钦佩的听众讲劳里恶作剧的故事。一个小孩正在用艾美的宝贝阳伞拨弄海龟，第二个正在乔最好的帽子上吃姜饼，第三个正在用她的手套玩球，所有的人都玩得很高兴。当乔收拾起那被损坏了的财物要离开的时候，她的那一群卫队簇拥着请求她再来：“听你讲有关劳里的玩乐故事真好玩。”
“都是顶好的男孩，不是吗？待了一会儿后，我就感到格外的年轻活泼。”乔说着，把双手背在后面漫步走着，几分是出于习惯，几分是在隐藏弄脏了的阳伞。
“为什么总是躲着都铎先生？”艾美问，明智地避而不谈乔走了形的外表。
“不喜欢他呗，他爱摆架子，慢待姐妹，烦扰父亲，提到母亲很不尊重。劳里说他放荡不羁，我觉得他不值得结识，所以不理他。”
“至少要对他有礼貌吧。你对他只是冷冷地点个头，可刚才对汤米·张伯伦又是鞠躬又是礼貌地微笑。他父亲是个开杂货店的，你对他俩的态度反一反，那才对。”艾美责怪地说。
“不，不行。”乔倔犟地回答说，“我不喜欢，不看重，不钦慕都铎，尽管他的爷爷的叔叔的侄子的侄女是一位爵爷的远房表亲。汤米贫穷、羞涩，但他善良，而且非常聪明。我觉得他好，愿意对他表示恭敬，因为他虽然手里摆弄的是牛皮纸袋，却是个绅士。”
“跟你争论没用。”艾美说。
“是没用，乖乖，”乔打断她的话，“还是让我们显得友好些，在这里留张名片吧，显然，金家都外出了，谢天谢地。”
家庭名片尽了职，两位小姐继续前进。到了第五家，她们被告知小姐们今天有事，乔再次感恩起来。
“现在就回家吧，今天就别管马奇姑婆了。随时可以去她家的，穿着最好的礼服拖过一路灰尘太可惜了，再说我们又累又烦。”
“爱怎么说，就怎么说吧。姑婆喜欢我们穿着入时主动地登门造访。这对我们来说是抬脚之劳，但会给她带来快乐。我认为，这对你衣服的损坏程度不及那几条脏狗和那群野孩子所损的一半。弯腰，让我取掉你帽子上的碎屑。”
“真是个好姑娘，艾美！”乔说着，懊悔地打量一下自己弄坏了的衣服，又瞥一眼妹妹的衣服，她的衣服仍然光鲜无尘，“希望能像你那样，能轻而易举地做些小事情来取悦人。我想过这些，但做这些事情太费时间了，所以总在等待时机搞个大好事，而让小事从身边溜走了，但我看最终还是小事最有效。”
艾美笑了，怒气立刻平息，还带着母爱的神情说：“女人应该学会随和，尤其是穷女人，没有其他方式回报人家给予的善意嘛。如果记住这一点，并照着去做，你会比我更招人喜欢的，你的长处更多呀。”
“我是个坏脾气的古董，而且永远改不掉，但我愿意承认你是对的。只是对我来说，与其违心地去取悦一个人，还不如去为他两肋插刀容易些。我这种爱憎分明太强烈的性格很不幸，是不是？”
“如果你不能掩饰，那是更大的不幸。不瞒你说，我并不比你更认可都铎，但没有人要我对他这么说。你也同样，犯不着因为他不讨人喜欢而使自己显得不随和。”
“但我认为，女孩不认可男孩就要表露出来，除了举止上体现出来，还能怎么做？说教没有用，这一点自从我对付特迪以来就明白了，真悲哀。但是可以从许多小事情上去默默影响他。唉，如果可能的话，对其他人我们也应该如法炮制。”
“特迪是个出类拔萃的男孩，不能用来例证其他男孩的。”艾美说，音调严肃而肯定，这话若被那“出类拔萃的男孩”听到，他会笑得合不拢嘴的，“如果我们是美女，或者有钱有地位，也许能做点什么。但是，因为不认可一些青年就横眉冷对，认可一些青年就笑脸相迎，这样做毫无效果，只能让人觉得我们古怪，像清教徒。”
“所以要默许我们厌恶的人和事，只因为我们不是美女和百万富翁，是不是？这是多好的道德原则。”
“说不过你，我只知道这是处世方式。反对它的人，只会费尽苦心而遭人耻笑。我不喜欢改革家，希望你也不要尝试着去当这个改革家。”
“我的确喜欢改革家，如果可能，我要成为一个改革家。尽管有人耻笑，但这个世界没有改革家就不会进步。我俩观点不对路：你属于旧派，我属于新派。你会生活得很好，但我会活得很有生气。我想我宁愿享受拍砖和起哄。”
“行啦，镇静一下吧，不要用你的新观念去打扰姑婆。”
“我尽量不去烦扰她，可在她面前，我总像是着了魔似的，会突然冒出一些特别不客气的话，或是激进的看法。这是命中注定，我不由自主的啊。”
她们发现卡罗尔婶婶在老太太家里，全神贯注地谈论着某个有趣话题，看到姑娘们进来便放下了话头，用一种窘困的眼神看着她们，这说明她们刚才正在谈论侄孙女们。乔情绪不好，任性劲儿又发作了；但艾美正处在天使般的心境中，她善良地尽到了责任，控制住了情绪，并使每个人都舒心。这种亲情交融的气氛立刻感染了两位长辈，她们亲切地称她为“我的乖乖”，眼神里传达出她们后来加以强调的意思：“这孩子每天都在进步。”
“你是不是要去交易会帮忙，乖乖？”卡罗尔太太问道，艾美坐到她的身边，那种贴心的神情是每个长辈都喜欢的。
“是的，婶婶。切斯特太太问我去不去，我提出看管一张桌子，因为除了时间没有其他东西可出让。”
“我不去。”乔断然插话，“我讨厌受人恩惠，切斯特一家认为让我们去他们亲友满座的交易会帮忙，对我们是个莫大的恩惠。我惊讶你居然会答应，艾美，他们只是要你去干活。”
“我愿意去干活。交易会是为切斯特家办的，也是为自由人办的。他们真好，让我去参加劳动分享快乐。善意的恩惠不会让我烦心。”
“完全正确。我喜欢你的感恩之心，乖乖。帮助那些感激我们助力的人，是件令人愉快的事。有些人并不感激，这令人懊恼。”马奇姑婆一边从眼镜的上面看着乔，一边说道。乔离她有点距离，坐在摇椅上摇着，表情有点郁闷。
要是乔知道一股巨大的福气正在她俩中间徘徊，而平衡点只能落到一个人身上，她马上就会变得像只鸽子的。但是，很不幸，我们的心里没有窗户，看不到朋友的脑子里在想些什么。在普通的事情上，也许看不见更好，但有时候能知道人家在想什么，会是一种安慰，也能节约时间，免得淘气。乔接下来的话，剥夺了自己长达多年的快乐，同时也接受了一个学会管住舌头的适时教训。
“我不喜欢受人恩赐，这样压迫我，让人感到像个奴隶。我宁愿一切事情都由自己做，完全独立。”
“呃哼！”卡罗尔婶婶轻轻地咳了一声，眼睛看看马奇姑婆。
“早就跟你讲过了。”马奇姑婆果断地向卡罗尔婶婶点着头说。
幸好乔不知道自己到底干了什么，她还趾高气扬地坐在那里，一副造反的表情，这种神情随你怎么形容，就是不能说是动人的。
“你会说法语吗，乖乖？”卡罗尔太太把手放在艾美的手上问道。
“相当好，多亏马奇姑婆，只要我愿意她就让埃丝特经常跟我对话。”艾美感激地回答说，这使得老太太的脸上露出和蔼的微笑。
“你的外语怎么样？”卡罗尔太太问乔。
“一个字也不懂。我学任何东西都很笨，受不了法语。法语是那么难缠那么无聊的一种语言。”乔唐突地回答说。
两位老太太再次交换了眼色。马奇姑婆对艾美说：“乖乖，你现在身体相当强壮，是不是？眼睛恢复了，是不是？”
“一点也没有，谢谢你，夫人。我很好，今年冬天我想干些大事，以便那快乐的时光到来时，可以随时动身赴罗马。”
“真是个好姑娘！你应该去，相信你会有这么一天的。”姑婆赞许地拍拍她的脑袋说，艾美则为她捡起了线团。
牢骚鬼，闩上门，坐到炉边纺纱去。
鹦哥正歇息在乔坐椅背后的栖木上，它弯下头来看着乔的脸号叫，仿佛在放肆地质询，神情那么滑稽，不由你不笑起来。
“很会察言观色的小鸟。”老太太说。
“来，散步呀，乖乖？”鹦哥叫着朝瓷器柜跳去，示意要一块糖。
“谢谢，我这就去。走，艾美。”乔结束了这次拜访，更加强烈地意识到拜访的确对她的身体很不利。她以绅士的方式握手道别，而艾美亲吻了两位长辈。两个女孩离开了，留下的印象像阴影和阳光，见其消失在远处的背影，马奇姑婆做出了决定：“玛丽，你最好去安排吧，我出钱。”
卡罗尔婶婶则果断地回答：“我当然会去的，只要她父母同意。”
* * *
[1]英国诗人丁尼生的同名诗歌中（1855年）的人物。
[2]托马斯·休斯小说中的人物。
CHAPTER 29 CALLS
CHAPTER 29 CALLS
“COME, JO, it's time.”
“For what? ”
“You don't mean to say you have forgotten that you promised to make half a dozen calls with me today? ”
“I've done a good many rash and foolish things in my life, but I don't think I ever was mad enough to say I'd make six calls in one day, when a single one upsets me for a week.”
“Yes, you did, it was a bargain between us. I was to finish the crayon of Beth for you, and you were to go properly with me, and return our neighbors' visits.”
“If it was fair—that was in the bond; and I stand to the letter of my bond, Shylock. There is a pile of clouds in the east, it's not fair, and I don't go.”
“Now, that's shirking. It's a lovely day, no prospect of rain, and you pride yourself on keeping promises; so be honorable, come and do your duty, and then be at peace for another six months.”
At that minute Jo was particularly absorbed in dressmaking; for she was mantua-maker general to the family, and took especial credit to herself because she could use a needle as well as a pen. It was very provoking to be arrested in the act of a first trying-on, and ordered out to make calls in her best array on a warm July day. She hated calls of the formal sort, and never made any till Amy compelled her with a bargain, bribe, or promise. In the present instance there was no escape, and having clashed her scissors rebelliously, while protesting that she smelled thunder, she gave in, put away her work, and taking up her hat and gloves with an air of resignation, told Amy the victim was ready.
“Jo March, you are perverse enough to provoke a saint! You don't intend to make calls in that state, I hope, ” cried Amy, surveying her with amazement.
“Why not? I'm neat and cool and comfortable, quite proper for a dusty walk on a warm day. If people care more for my clothes than they do for me, I don't wish to see them. You can dress for both, and be as elegant as you please: it pays for you to be fine; it doesn't for me, and furbelows only worry me.”
“Oh, dear! ” sighed Amy, “now she's in a contrary fit, and will drive me distracted before I can get her properly ready. I'm sure it's no pleasure to me to go today, but it's a debt we owe society, and there's no one to pay it but you and me. I'll do anything for you, Jo, if you'll only dress yourself nicely, and come and help me do the civil. You can talk so well, look so aristocratic in your best things, and behave so beautifully, if you try, that I'm proud of you. I'm afraid to go alone, do come and take care of me.”
“You're an artful little puss to flatter and wheedle your cross old sister in that way. The idea of my being aristocratic and well-bred, and your being afraid to go anywhere alone! I don't know which is the most absurd. Well, I'll go if I must, and do my best. You shall be commander of the expedition, and I'll obey blindly, will that satisfy you? ” said Jo, with a sudden change from perversity to lamblike submission.
“You're a perfect cherub! Now put on all your best things, and I'll tell you how to behave at each place, so that you will make a good impression. I want people to like you, and they would if you'd only try to be a little more agreeable. Do your hair the pretty way, and put the pink rose in your bonnet; it's becoming, and you look too sober in your plain suit. Take your light gloves and the embroidered handkerchief. We'll stop at Meg's, and borrow her white sunshade, and then you can have my dove-colored one.”
While Amy dressed, she issued her orders, and Jo obeyed them, not without entering her protest, however, for she sighed as she rustled into her new organdie, frowned darkly at herself as she tied her bonnet strings in an irreproachable bow, wrestled viciously with pins as she put on her collar, wrinkled up her features generally as she shook out the handkerchief, whose embroidery was as irritating to her nose as the present mission was to her feelings, and when she had squeezed her hands into tight gloves with three buttons and a tassel, as the last touch of elegance, she turned to Amy with an imbecile expression of countenance, saying meekly—
“I'm perfectly miserable; but if you consider me presentable, I die happy.”
“You're highly satisfactory; turn slowly round, and let me get a careful view.” Jo revolved, and Amy gave a touch here and there, then fell back, with her head on one side, observing graciously, “Yes, you'll do; your head is all I could ask,for that white bonnet with the rose is quite ravishing.Hold back your shoulders, and carry your hands easily, no matter if your gloves do pinch. There's one thing you can do well, Jo, that is, wear a shawl—I can't; but it's very nice to see you, and I'm so glad Aunt March gave you that lovely one; it's simple, but handsome, and those folds over the arm are really artistic. Is the point of my mantle in the middle, and have I looped my dress evenly?I like to show my boots,for my feet are pretty,though my nose isn't.”
“You are a thing of beauty and a joy forever, ” said Jo, looking through her hand with the air of a connoisseur at the blue feather against the golden hair. “Am I to drag my best dress through the dust, or loop it up, please, ma'am? ”
“Hold it up when you walk, but drop it in the house. The sweeping style suits you best, and you must learn to trail your skirts gracefully. You haven't half buttoned one cuff, do it at once. You'll never look finished if you are not careful about the little details, for they make up the pleasing whole.”
Jo sighed, and proceeded to burst the buttons off her glove, in doing up her cuff; but at last both were ready, and sailed away, looking as “pretty as picters, ” Hannah said, as she hung out of the upper window to watch them.
“Now, Jo dear, the Chesters consider themselves very elegant people, so I want you to put on your best deportment. Don't make any of your abrupt remarks, or do anything odd, will you? Just be calm, cool, and quiet—that's safe and ladylike, and you can easily do it for fifteen minutes, ” said Amy, as they approached the first place, having borrowed the white parasol and been inspected by Meg, with a baby on each arm.
“Let me see. ‘Calm, cool, and quiet'—yes, I think I can promise that. I've played the part of a prim young lady on the stage, and I'll try it off. My powers are great, as you shall see, so be easy in your mind, my child.”
Amy looked relieved, but naughtily Jo took her at her word, for during the first call she sat with every limb gracefully composed, every fold correctly draped, calm as a summer sea, cool as a snowbank, and as silent as the sphinx. In vain Mrs. Chester alluded to her “charming novel”, and the Misses Chester introduced parties, picnics, the opera, and the fashions;each and all were answered by a smile, a bow, and a demure “Yes” or “No”with the chill on. In vain Amy telegraphed the word “talk”, tried to draw her out, and administered covert pokes with her foot. Jo sat as if blandly unconscious of it all, with deportment like Maud's face, “icily regular, splendidly null.”
“What a haughty, uninteresting creature that oldest Miss March is! ”was the unfortunately audible remark of one of the ladies, as the door closed upon their guests. Jo laughed noiselessly all through the hall, but Amy looked disgusted at the failure of her instructions, and very naturally laid the blame upon Jo.
“How could you mistake me so? I merely meant you to be properly dignified and composed, and you made yourself a perfect stock and stone. Try to be sociable at the Lambs', gossip as other girls do, and be interested in dress and flirtations and whatever nonsense comes up. They move in the best society, are valuable persons for us to know, and I wouldn't fail to make a good impression there for anything.”
“I'll be agreeable. I'll gossip and giggle, and have horrors and raptures over any trifle you like. I rather enjoy this, and now I'll imitate what is called ‘a charming girl'. I can do it, for I have May Chester as a model, and I'll improve upon her. See if the Lambs don't say, ‘What a lively, nice creature that Jo March is! '”
Amy felt anxious, as well she might, for when Jo turned freakish there was no knowing where she would stop. Amy's face was a study when she saw her sister skim into the next drawing room, kiss all the young ladies with effusion, beam graciously upon the young gentlemen, and join in the chat with a spirit which amazed the beholder. Amy was taken possession of by Mrs. Lamb, with whom she was a favorite, and forced to hear a long account of Lucretia's last attack, while three delightful young gentlemen hovered near, waiting for a pause when they might rush in and rescue her. So situated, she was powerless to check Jo, who seemed possessed by a spirit of mischief, and talked away as volubly as the lady. A knot of heads gathered about her, and Amy strained her ears to hear what was going on, for broken sentences filled her with curiosity, and frequent peals of laughter made her wild to share the fun. One may imagine her suffering on overhearing fragments of this sort of conversation:
“She rides splendidly—who taught her? ”
“No one. She used to practice mounting, holding the reins, and sitting straight on an old saddle in a tree. Now she rides anything, for she doesn't know what fear is, and the stableman lets her have horses cheap because she trains them to carry ladies so well. She has such a passion for it, I often tell her if everything else fails, she can be a horsebreaker, and get her living so.”
At this awful speech Amy contained herself with difficulty, for the impression was being given that she was rather a fast young lady, which was her especial aversion. But what could she do? For the old lady was in the middle of her story, and long before it was done, Jo was off again, making more droll revelations and committing still more fearful blunders.
“Yes, Amy was in despair that day, for all the good beasts were gone, and of three left, one was lame, one blind, and the other so balky that you had to put dirt in his mouth before he would start. Nice animal for a pleasure party, wasn't it? ”
“Which did she choose? ” asked one of the laughing gentlemen, who enjoyed the subject.
“None of them. She heard of a young horse at the farmhouse over the river, and though a lady had never ridden him, she resolved to try, because he was handsome and spirited. Her struggles were really pathetic; there was no one to bring the horse to the saddle, so she took the saddle to the horse. My dear creature, she actually rowed it over the river, put it on her head, and marched up to the barn to the utter amazement of the old man! ”
“Did she ride the horse? ”
“Of course she did, and had a capital time. I expected to see her brought home in fragments, but she managed him perfectly, and was the life of the party.”
“Well, I call that plucky! ” And young Mr. Lamb turned an approving glance upon Amy, wondering what his mother could be saying to make the girl look so red and uncomfortable.
She was still redder and more uncomfortable a moment after, when a sudden turn in the conversation introduced the subject of dress. One of the young ladies asked Jo where she got the pretty drab hat she wore to the picnic and stupid Jo, instead of mentioning the place where it was bought two years ago, must needs answer with unnecessary frankness, “Oh, Amy painted it. You can't buy those soft shades, so we paint ours any color we like. It's a great comfort to have an artistic sister.”
“Isn't that an original idea? ” cried Miss Lamb, who found Jo great fun.
“That's nothing compared to some of her brilliant performances. There's nothing the child can't do. Why, she wanted a pair of blue boots for Sallie's party, so she just painted her soiled white ones the loveliest shade of sky blue you ever saw, and they looked exactly like satin, ” added Jo, with an air of pride in her sister's accomplishments that exasperated Amy till she felt that it would be a relief to throw her cardcase at her.
“We read a story of yours the other day, and enjoyed it very much, ”observed the elder Miss Lamb, wishing to compliment the literary lady, who did not look the character just then, it must be confessed.
Any mention of her “works” always had a bad effect upon Jo, who either grew rigid and looked offended, or changed the subject with a brusque remark, as now. “Sorry you could find nothing better to read. I write that rubbish because it sells, and ordinary people like it. Are you going to New York this winter? ”
As Miss Lamb had “enjoyed” the story, this speech was not exactly grateful or complimentary. The minute it was made Jo saw her mistake, but fearing to make the matter worse, suddenly remembered that it was for her to make the first move toward departure, and did so with an abruptness that left three people with half-finished sentences in their mouths.
“Amy, we must go. Good-by, dear, do come and see us. We are pining for a visit. I don't dare to ask you, Mr. Lamb, but if you should come, I don't think I shall have the heart to send you away.”
Jo said this with such a droll imitation of May Chester's gushing style that Amy got out of the room as rapidly as possible, feeling a strong desire to laugh and cry at the same time.
“Didn't I do well? ” asked Jo, with a satisfied air as they walked away.
“Nothing could have been worse, ” was Amy's crushing reply. “What possessed you to tell those stories about my saddle, and the hats and boots, and all the rest of it? ”
“Why, it's funny, and amuses people. They know we are poor, so it's no use pretending that we have grooms, buy three or four hats a season, and have things as easy and fine as they do.”
“You needn't go and tell them all our little shifts, and expose our poverty in that perfectly unnecessary way. You haven't a bit of proper pride, and never will learn when to hold your tongue and when to speak, ”said Amy despairingly.
Poor Jo looked abashed, and silently chafed the end of her nose with the stiff handkerchief, as if performing a penance for her misdemeanors.
“How shall I behave here? ” she asked, as they approached the third mansion.
“Just as you please. I wash my hands of you, ” was Amy's short answer.
“Then I'll enjoy myself. The boys are at home, and we'll have a comfortable time. Goodness knows I need a little change, for elegance has a bad effect upon my constitution, ” returned Jo gruffly, being disturbed by her failure to suit.
An enthusiastic welcome from three big boys and several pretty children speedily soothed her ruffled feelings, and leaving Amy to entertain the hostess and Mr. Tudor, who happened to be calling likewise, Jo devoted herself to the young folks and found the change refreshing. She listened to college stories with deep interest, caressed pointers and poodles without a murmur, agreed heartily that “Tom Brown was a brick, ” regardless of the improper form of praise; and when one lad proposed a visit to his turtle tank, she went with an alacrity which caused Mamma to smile upon her, as that motherly lady settled the cap which was left in a ruinous condition by filial hugs, bearlike but affectionate, and dearer to her than the most faultless coiffure from the hands of an inspired Frenchwoman.
Leaving her sister to her own devices, Amy proceeded to enjoy herself to her heart's content. Mr. Tudor's uncle had married an English lady who was third cousin to a living lord, and Amy regarded the whole family with great respect, for in spite of her American birth and breeding, she possessed that reverence for titles which haunts the best of us—that unacknowledged loyalty to the early faith in kings which set the most democratic nation under the sun in ferment at the coming of a royal yellow-haired laddie, some years ago, and which still has something to do with the love the young country bears the old, like that of a big son for an imperious little mother, who held him while she could, and let him go with a farewell scolding when he rebelled. But even the satisfaction of talking with a distant connection of the British nobility did not render Amy forgetful of time, and when the proper number of minutes had passed, she reluctantly tore herself from this aristocratic society, and looked about for Jo, fervently hoping that her incorrigible sister would not be found in any position which should bring disgrace upon the name of March.
It might have been worse, but Amy considered it bad; for Jo sat on the grass, with an encampment of boys about her, and a dirty-footed dog reposing on the skirt of her state and festival dress, as she related one of Laurie's pranks to her admiring audience. One small child was poking turtles with Amy's cherished parasol, a second was eating gingerbread over Jo's best bonnet, and a third playing ball with her gloves, but all were enjoying themselves, and when Jo collected her damaged property to go, her escort accompanied her, begging her to come again, “It was such fun to hear about Laurie's larks.”
“Capital boys, aren't they? I feel quite young and brisk again after that, ” said Jo, strolling along with her hands behind her, partly from habit, partly to conceal the bespattered parasol.
“Why do you always avoid Mr. Tudor? ” asked Amy, wisely refraining from any comment upon Jo's dilapidated appearance.
“Don't like him, he puts on airs, snubs his sisters, worries his father,and doesn't speak respectfully of his mother. Laurie says he is fast, and I don't consider him a desirable acquaintance, so I let him alone.”
“You might treat him civilly, at least. You gave him a cool nod, and just now you bowed and smiled in the politest way to Tommy Chamberlain, whose father keeps a grocery store. If you had just reversed the nod and the bow, it would have been right, ” said Amy reprovingly.
“No, it wouldn't, ” returned Jo, “I neither like, respect, nor admire Tudor, though his grandfather's uncle's nephew's niece was a third cousin to a lord. Tommy is poor and bashful and good and very clever. I think well of him, and like to show that I do, for he is a gentleman in spite of the brown paper parcels.”
“It's no use trying to argue with you, ” began Amy.
“Not the least, my dear, ” interrupted Jo, “so let us look amiable, and drop a card here, as the Kings are evidently out, for which I'm deeply grateful.”
The family cardcase having done its duty the girls walked on, and Jo uttered another thanksgiving on reaching the fifth house, and being told that the young ladies were engaged.
“Now let us go home, and never mind Aunt March today. We can run down there any time, and it's really a pity to trail through the dust in our best bibs and tuckers, when we are tired and cross.”
“Speak for yourself, if you please. Aunt March likes to have us pay her the compliment of coming in style, and making a formal call; it's a little thing to do, but it gives her pleasure, and I don't believe it will hurt your things half so much as letting dirty dogs and clumping boys spoil them. Stoop down, and let me take the crumbs off your bonnet.”
“What a good girl you are, Amy! ” said Jo, with a repentant glance from her own damaged costume to that of her sister, which was fresh and spotless still. “I wish it was as easy for me to do little things to please people as it is for you. I think of them, but it takes too much time to do them; so I wait for a chance to confer a great favor, and let the small ones slip; but they tell best in the end, I fancy.”
Amy smiled and was mollified at once, saying with a maternal air,“Women should learn to be agreeable, particularly poor ones, for they have no other way of repaying the kindnesses they receive. If you'd remember that, and practice it, you'd be better liked than I am, because there is more of you.”
“I'm a crotchety old thing, and always shall be, but I'm willing to own that you are right, only it's easier for me to risk my life for a person than to be pleasant to him when I don't feel like it. It's a great misfortune to have such strong likes and dislikes, isn't it? ”
“It's a greater not to be able to hide them. I don't mind saying that I don't approve of Tudor any more than you do, but I'm not called upon to tell him so; neither are you, and there is no use in making yourself disagreeable because he is.”
“But I think girls ought to show when they disapprove of young men, and how can they do it except by their manners? Preaching does not do any good, as I know to my sorrow, since I've had Teddy to manage; but there are many little ways in which I can influence him without a word, and I say we ought to do it to others if we can.”
“Teddy is a remarkable boy, and can't be taken as a sample of other boys, ” said Amy, in a tone of solemn conviction, which would have convulsed the “remarkable boy” if he had heard it. “If we were belles, or women of wealth and position, we might do something, perhaps, but for us to frown at one set of young gentlemen because we don't approve of them, and smile upon another set because we do, wouldn't have a particle of effect, and we should only be considered odd and puritanical.”
“So we are to countenance things and people which we detest, merely because we are not belles and millionaires, are we? That's a nice sort of morality.”
“I can't argue about it, I only know that it's the way of the world, and people who set themselves against it only get laughed at for their pains. I don't like reformers, and I hope you never try to be one.”
“I do like them, and I shall be one if I can, for in spite of the laughing the world would never get on without them. We can't agree about that, for you belong to the old set, and I to the new: you will get on the best, but I shall have the liveliest time of it. I should rather enjoy the brickbats and hooting, I think.”
“Well, compose yourself now, and don't worry Aunt with your new ideas.”
“I'll try not to, but I'm always possessed to burst out with some particularly blunt speech or revolutionary sentiment before her. It's my doom, and I can't help it.”
They found Aunt Carrol with the old lady, both absorbed in some very interesting subject, but they dropped it as the girls came in, with a conscious look which betrayed that they had been talking about their nieces. Jo was not in a good humor, and the perverse fit returned, but Amy, who had virtuously done her duty, kept her temper and pleased everybody, was in a most angelic frame of mind. This amiable spirit was felt at once, and both aunts “my deared” her affectionately, looking what they afterward said emphatically, “That child improves every day.”
“Are you going to help about the fair, dear? ” asked Mrs. Carrol, as Amy sat down beside her with the confiding air elderly people like so well in the young.
“Yes, Aunt. Mrs. Chester asked me if I would, and I offered to tend a table, as I have nothing but my time to give.”
“I'm not, ” put in Jo decidedly. “I hate to be patronized, and the Chesters think it's a great favor to allow us to help with their highly connected fair. I wonder you consented, Amy, they only want you to work.”
“I am willing to work: it's for the freedmen as well as the Chesters, and I think it is very kind of them to let me share the labor and the fu
