首页 >出版文学> Little Women>第53章

第53章

  “Prut!Wewillmakethetime,andwefailnottofindthesense。AtefeningIshallgifalittlelessonwithmuchgladness,forlookyou,MeesMarsch,Ihafthisdebttopay。“Andhepointedtomywork`Yes,’theysaytooneanother,thesesokindladies,`heisastupidoldfellow,hewillseenotwhatwedo,hewillneverobservethathissockheelsgonotinholesanymore,hewillthinkhisbuttonsgrowoutnewwhentheyfall,andbelievethatstringsmaketheirselves。’“Ah!ButIhafaneye,andIseemuch。Ihafaheart,andIfeelthanksforthis。
  Come,alittlelessonthenandnow,ornomoregoodfairyworksformeandmine。“
  OfcourseIcouldn’tsayanythingafterthat,andasitreallyisasplendidopportunity,Imadethebargain,andwebegan。Itookfourlessons,andthenIstuckfastinagrammaticalbog。TheProfessorwasverypatientwithme,butitmusthavebeentormenttohim,andnowandthenhe’dlookatmewithsuchanexpressionofmilddespairthatitwasatoss-upwithmewhethertolaughorcry。Itriedbothways,andwhenitcametoasnifforuttermortificationandwoe,hejustthrewthegrammarontothefloorandmarchedoutoftheroom。
  Ifeltmyselfdisgracedanddesertedforever,butdidn’tblamehimaparticle,andwasscramblingmypaperstogether,meaningtorushupstairsandshakemyselfhard,wheninhecame,asbriskandbeamingasifI’dcoveredmyselfinglory。
  “Nowweshalltryanewway。YouandIwillreadthesepleasantlittleMARCHENtogether,anddignomoreinthatdrybook,thatgoesinthecornerformakingustrouble。“
  Hespokesokindly,andopenedHansAndersons’sfairytalessoinvitinglybeforeme,thatIwasmoreashamedthanever,andwentatmylessoninaneck-or-nothingstylethatseemedtoamusehimimmensely。Iforgotmybashfulness,andpeggedawaynootherwordwillexpressitwithallmymight,tumblingoverlongwords,pronouncingaccordingtoinspirationoftheminute,anddoingmyverybest。WhenIfinishedreadingmyfirstpage,andstoppedforbreath,heclappedhishandsandcriedoutinhisheartyway,“Dasistgut!’Nowwegowell!Myturn。IdohiminGerman,gifmeyourear。“Andawayhewent,rumblingoutthewordswithhisstrongvoiceandarelishwhichwasgoodtoseeaswellashear。FortunatelythestorywastheCONSTANTTINSOLDIER,whichisdroll,youknow,soIcouldlaugh,andIdid,thoughIdidn’tunderstandhalfheread,forIcouldn’thelpit,hewassoearnest,Isoexcited,andthewholethingsocomical。
  Afterthatwegotonbetter,andnowIreadmylessonsprettywell,forthiswayofstudyingsuitsme,andIcanseethatthegrammargetstuckedintothetalesandpoetryasonegivespillsinjelly。Ilikeitverymuch,andhedoesn’tseemtiredofityet,whichisverygoodofhim,isn’tit?ImeantogivehimsomethingonChristmas,forIdarenotoffermoney。
  Tellmesomethingnice,Marmee。
  I’mgladLaurieseemssohappyandbusy,thathehasgivenupsmokingandletshishairgrow。YouseeBethmanageshimbetterthanIdid。I’mnotjealous,dear,doyourbest,onlydon’tmakeasaintofhim。I’mafraidIcouldn’tlikehimwithoutaspiceofhumannaughtiness。Readhimbitsofmyletters。Ihaven’ttimetowritemuch,andthatwilldojustaswell。ThankHeavenBethcontinuessocomfortable。
  JANUARY
  AHappyNewYeartoyouall,mydearestfamily,whichofcourseincludesMr。L。andayoungmanbythenameofTeddy。
  Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIenjoyedyourChristmasbundle,forididn’tgetittillnightandhadgivenuphoping。Yourlettercameinthemorning,butyousaidnothingaboutaparcel,meaningitforasurprise,soIwasdisappointed,forI’dhada`kindoffeeling’thatyouwouldn’tforgetme。
  IfeltalittlelowinmymindasIsatupinmyroomaftertea,andwhenthebig,muddy,battered-lookingbundlewasbroughttome,Ijusthuggeditandpranced。ItwassohomeyandrefreshingthatIsatdownonthefloorandreadandlookedandateandlaughedandcried,inmyusualabsurdway。ThethingswerejustwhatIwanted,andallthebetterforbeingmadeinsteadofbought。Beth’snew`inkbib’wascapital,andHannah’sboxofhardgingerbreadwillbeatreasure。I’llbesureandweartheniceflannelsyousent,Marmee,andreadcarefullythebooksFatherhasmarked。Thankyouall,heapsandheaps!
  SpeakingofbooksremindsmethatI’mgettingrichinthatline,foronNewYear’sDayMr。BhaergavemeafineShakespeare。
  Itisonehevaluesmuch,andI’veoftenadmiredit,setupintheplaceofhonorwithhisGermanBible,Plato,Homer,andMilton,soyoumayimaginehowIfeltwhenhebroughtitdown,withoutitscover,andshowedmemyownnameinit,“frommyfriendFriedrichBhaer“。
  “Yousayoftenyouwishalibrary。HereIgifyouone,forbetweentheselidshemeantcoversismanybooksinone。Readhimwell,andhewillhelpyoumuch,forthestudyofcharacterinthisbookwillhelpyoutoreaditintheworldandpaintitwithyourpen。“
  IthankedhimaswellasIcould,andtalknowabout`mylibrary’,asifIhadahundredbooks。IneverknewhowmuchtherewasinShakespearebefore,butthenIneverhadaBhaertoexplainittome。Nowdon’tlaughathishorridname。
  Itisn’tpronouncedeitherBearorBeer,aspeoplewillsayit,butsomethingbetweenthetwo,asonlyGermanscangiveit。
  I’mgladyoubothlikewhatItellyouabouthim,andhopeyouwillknowhimsomeday。Motherwouldadmirehiswarmheart,Fatherhiswisehead。Iadmireboth,andfeelrichinmynew`friendFriedrichBhaer’。
  Nothavingmuchmoney,orknowingwhathe’dlike,Igotseverallittlethings,andputthemabouttheroom,wherehewouldfindthemunexpectedly。Theywereuseful,pretty,orfunny,anewstandishonhistable,alittlevaseforhisflower,healwayshasone,orabitofgreeninaglass,tokeephimfresh,hesays,andaholderforhisblower,sothatheneedn’tburnupwhatAmycalls`mouchoirs’。ImadeitlikethoseBethinvented,abigbutterflywithafatbody,andblackandyellowwings,worstedfeelers,andbeadeyes。
  Ittookhisfancyimmensely,andheputitonhismantlepieceasanarticleofvirtue,soitwasratherafailureafterall。
  Poorasheis,hedidn’tforgetaservantorachildinthehouse,andnotasoulhere,fromtheFrenchlaundrywomantoMissNortonforgothim。Iwassogladofthat。
  Theygotupamasquerade,andhadagaytimeNewYear’sEve。Ididn’tmeantogodown,havingnodress。Butatthelastminute,Mrs。Kirkerememberedsomeoldbrocades,andMissNortonlentmelaceandfeathers。SoIdressedupasMrs。
  Malaprop,andsailedinwithamaskon。Nooneknewme,forI
  disguisedmyvoice,andnoonedreamedofthesilent,haughtyMissMarchfortheythinkIamverystiffandcool,mostofthem,andsoIamtowhippersnapperscoulddanceanddress,andburstoutintoa`nicederangementofepitaphs,likeanallegoryonthebanksoftheNile’。Ienjoyeditverymuch,andwhenweunmaskeditwasfuntoseethemstareatme。I
  heardoneoftheyoungmentellanotherthatheknewI’dbeenanactress,infact,hethoughtherememberedseeingmeatoneoftheminortheaters。Megwillrelishthatjoke。Mr。
  BhaerwasNickBottom,andTinawasTitania,aperfectlittlefairyinhisarms。Toseethemdancewas`quitealandscape’,touseaTeddyism。
  IhadaveryhappyNewYear,afterall,andwhenIthoughtitoverinmyroom,IfeltasifIwasgettingonalittleinspiteofmymanyfailures,forI’mcheerfulallthetimenow,workwithawill,andtakemoreinterestinotherpeoplethanIusedto,whichissatisfactory。Blessyouall!Everyourloving……JoChapter34CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
  Thoughveryhappyinthesocialatmosphereabouther,andverybusywiththedailyworkthatearnedherbreadandmadeitsweeterfortheeffort,Jostillfoundtimeforliterarylabors。
  Thepurposewhichnowtookpossessionofherwasanaturalonetoapoorandambitiousgirl,butthemeansshetooktogainherendwerenotthebest。Shesawthatmoneyconferredpower,therefore,sheresolvedtohave,nottobeusedforherselfalone,butforthosewhomshelovedmorethanlife。
  Thedreamoffillinghomewithcomforts,givingBetheverythingshewanted,fromstrawberriesinwintertoanorganinherbedroom,goingabroadherself,andalwayshavingmorethanenough,sothatshemightindulgeintheluxuryofcharity,hadbeenforyearsJo’smostcherishedcastleintheair。
  Theprize-storyexperiencehadseemedtoopenawaywhichmight,afterlongtravelingandmuchuphillwork,leadtothisdelightfulchateauenEspagne。Butthenoveldisasterquenchedhercourageforatime,forpublicopinionisagiantwhichhasfrightenedstouter-heartedJacksonbiggerbeanstalksthanhers。
  Likethatimmortalhero,shereposedawhileafterthefirstattempt,whichresultedinatumbleandtheleastlovelyofthegiant’streasures,ifIrememberrightly。Butthe`upagainandtakeanother’spiritwasasstronginJoasinJack,soshescrambledupontheshadysidethistimeandgotmorebooty,butnearlyleftbehindherwhatwasfarmorepreciousthanthemoneybags。
  Shetooktowritingsensationstories,forinthosedarkages,evenall-perfectAmericareadrubbish。Shetoldnoone,butconcocteda`thrillingtale’,andboldlycarrieditherselftoMr。Dashwood,editoroftheWeeklyVolcano。ShehadneverreadSartorResartus,butshehadawomanlyinstinctthatclothespossessaninfluencemorepowerfulovermanythantheworthofcharacterorthemagicofmanners。Soshedressedherselfinherbest,andtryingtopersuadeherselfthatshewasneitherexcitednornervous,bravelyclimbedtwopairsofdarkanddirtystairstofindherselfinadisorderlyroom,acloudofcigarsmoke,andthepresenceofthreegentlemen,sittingwiththeirheelsratherhigherthantheirhats,whicharticlesofdressnoneofthemtookthetroubletoremoveonherappearance。somewhatdauntedbythisreception,Johesitatedonthethreshold,murmuringinmuchembarrassment……
  “Excuseme,IwaslookingfortheWeeklyVolcanooffice。
  IwishedtoseeMr。Dashwood。“
  Downwentthehighestpairofheels,uprosethesmokiestgentleman,andcarefullycherishinghiscigarbetweenhisfingers,headvancedwithanodandacountenanceexpressiveofnothingbutsleep。Feelingthatshemustgetthroughthemattersomehow,Joproducedhermanuscriptand,blushingredderandredderwitheachsentence,blunderedoutfragmentsofthelittlespeechcarefullypreparedfortheoccasion。
  “Afriendofminedesiredmetooffer——astory——justasanexperiment——wouldlikeyouropinion——begladtowritemoreifthissuits。“
  Whilesheblushedandblundered,Mr。Dashwoodhadtakenthemanuscript,andwasturningovertheleaveswithapairofratherdirtyfingers,andcastingcriticalglancesupanddowntheneatpages。
  “Notafirstattempt,Itakeit?“observingthatthepageswerenumbered,coveredonlyononeside,andnottiedupwitharibbon——suresignofanovice。
  “No,sir。Shehashadsomeexperience,andgotaprizeforataleintheBLARNEYSTONEBANNER。“
  “Oh,didshe?“AndMr。DashwoodgaveJOaquicklook,whichseemedtotakenoteofeverythingshehadon,fromthebowinherbonnettothebuttonsonherboots。“Well,youcanleaveit,ifyoulike。We’vemoreofthissortofthingonhandthanweknowwhattodowithatpresent,butI’llrunmyeyeoverit,andgiveyouananswernextweek。“
  Now,Jodidnotliketoleaveit,forMr。Dashwooddidn’tsuitheratall,but,underthecircumstances,therewasnothingforhertodobutbowandwalkaway,lookingparticularlytallanddignified,asshewasapttodowhennettledorabashed。
  Justthenshewasboth,foritwasperfectlyevidentfromtheknowingglancesexchangedamongthegentlementhatherlittlefictionof`myfriend’wasconsideredagoodjoke,andalaugh,producedbysomeinaudibleremarkoftheeditor,asheclosedthedoor,completedherdiscomfiture。Halfresolvingnevertoreturn,shewenthome,andworkedoffherirritationbystitchingpinaforesvigorously,andinanhourortwowascoolenoughtolaughoverthesceneandlongfornextweek。
  Whenshewentagain,Mr。Dashwoodwasalone,whereatsherejoiced。Mr。Dashwoodwasmuchwiderawakethanbefore,whichwasagreeableandMr。Dashwoodwasnottoodeeplyabsorbedinacigartorememberhismanners,sothesecondinterviewwasmuchmorecomfortablethanthefirst。
  “We’lltakethiseditorsneversayI,ifyoudon’tobjecttoafewalterations。It’stoolong,butomittingthepassagesI’vemarkedwillmakeitjusttherightlength,“
  hesaid,inabusinessliketone。
  JohardlyknewherownMSagain,socrumpledandunderscoredwereitspagesandparagraphs,butfeelingasatenderpatentmightonbeingaskedtocutoffherbaby’slegsinorderthatitmightfitintoanewcradle,shelookedatthemarkedpassagesandwassurprisedtofindthatallthemoralreflections——whichshehadcarefullyputinasballastformuchromance——hadbeenstrickenout。
  “But,Sir,Ithoughteverystoryshouldhavesomesortofamoral,soItookcaretohaveafewofmysinnersrepent。“
  Mr。Dashwoods’seditorialgravityrelaxedintoasmile,forJohadforgottenher`friend’,andspokenasonlyanauthorcould。
  “Peoplewanttobeamused,notpreachedat,youknow。Moralsdon’tsellnowadays。“Whichwasnotquiteacorrectstatement,bytheway。
  “Youthinkitwoulddowiththesealterations,then?“
  “Yes,it’sanewplot,andprettywellworkedup——languagegood,andsoon,“wasMr。Dashwood’saffablereply。
  “Whatdoyou——thatis,whatcompensation——“beganJo,notexactlyknowinghowtoexpressherself。
  “Oh,yes,well,wegivefromtwenty-fivetothirtyforthingsofthissort。Paywhenitcomesout,“returnedMr。Dashwood,asifthatpointhadescapedhim。Suchtriflesdoescapetheeditorialmind,itissaid。
  “Verywell,youcanhaveit,“saidJo,handingbackthestorywithasatisfiedair,forafterthedollar-a-columnwork,eventwenty-fiveseemedgoodpay。
  “ShallItellmyfriendyouwilltakeanotherifshehasonebetterthanthis?“askedJo,unconsciousofherlittleslipofthetongue,andemboldenedbyhersuccess。
  “Well,we’lllookatit。Can’tpromisetotakeit。Tellhertomakeitshortandspicy,andnevermindthemoral。Whatnamewouldyourfriendliketoputonit?“inacarelesstone。
  “Noneatall,ifyouplease,shedoesn’twishhernametoappearandhasnonomdeplume,“saidJo,blushinginspiteofherself。
  “Justasshelikes,ofcourse。Thetalewillbeoutnextweek。
  Willyoucallforthemoney,orshallIsendit?“askedMr。Dashwood,whofeltanaturaldesiretoknowwhohisnewcontributormightbe。
  “I’llcall。Goodmorning,Sir。“