章节正文
only lived."
Miss Cornelia sighed. Gilbert had gone down and
Leslie, who had been crooning over the small James
Matthew in the dormer window, laid him asleep in his
basket and went her way. As soon as she was safely out
of earshot, Miss Cornelia bent forward and said in a
conspirator's whisper:
"Anne, dearie, I'd a letter from Owen Ford yesterday.
He's in Vancouver just now, but he wants to know if I
can board him for a month later on. YOU know what that
means. Well, I hope we're doing right."
"We've nothing to do with it--we couldn't prevent him
from coming to Four Winds if he wanted to," said Anne
quickly. She did not like the feeling of match-making
Miss Cornelia's whispers gave her; and then she weakly
succumbed herself.
"Don't let Leslie know he is coming until he is here,"
she said. "If she found out I feel sure she would go
away at once. She intends to go in the fall
anyhow--she told me so the other day. She is going to
Montreal to take up nursing and make what she can of
her life."
"Oh, well, Anne, dearie," said Miss Cornelia, nodding
sagely "that is all as it may be. You and I have done
our part and we must leave the rest to Higher Hands."
CHAPTER 35
POLITICS AT FOUR WINDS
When anne came downstairs again, the Island, as well as
all Canada, was in the throes of a campaignpreceding a
general election. Gilbert, who was an ardent
Conservative, found himself caught in the vortex, being
much in demand for speech-making at the various county
rallies. Miss Cornelia did not approve of his mixing
up in politics and told Anne so.
"Dr. Dave never did it. Dr. Blythe will find he is
making a mistake, believe ME. Politics is something no
decent man should meddle with."
"Is the government of the country to be left solely to
the rogues then?" asked Anne.
"Yes--so long as it's Conservative rogues," said Miss
Cornelia, marching off with the honors of war. "Men
and politicians are all tarred with the same brush.
The Grits have it laid on thicker than the
Conservatives, that's all--CONSIDERABLY thicker. But
Grit or Tory, my advice to Dr. Blythe is to steer clear
of politics. First thing you know, he'll be running an
election himself, and going off to Ottawa for half the
year and leaving his practice to go to the dogs."
"Ah, well, let's not borrow trouble," said Anne. "The
rate of interest is too high. Instead, let's look at
Little Jem. It should be spelled with a G. Isn't he
perfectly beautiful? Just see the dimples in his
elbows. We'll bring him up to be a good Conservative,
you and I, Miss Cornelia."
"Bring him up to be a good man," said Miss Cornelia.
"They're scarce and valuable; though, mind you, I
wouldn't like to see him a Grit. As for the election,
you and I may be thankful we don't live over harbor.
The air there is blue these days. Every Elliott and
Crawford and MacAllister is on the warpath, loaded for
bear. This side is peaceful and calm, seeing there's
so few men. Captain Jim's a Grit, but it's my opinion
he's ashamed of it, for he never talks politics. There
isn't any earthly doubt that the Conservatives will be
returned with a big majority again."
Miss Cornelia was mistaken. On the morning after the
election Captain Jim dropped in at the little house to
tell the news. So virulent is the microbe of party
politics, even in a peaceable old man, that Captain
Jim's cheeks were flushed and his eyes were flashing
with all his old-time fire.
"Mistress Blythe, the Liberals are in with a sweeping
majority. After eighteen years of Tory mismanagement
this down-trodden country is going to have a chance at
last."
"I never heard you make such a bitter partisan speech
before, Captain Jim. I didn't think you had so much
political venom in you," laughed Anne, who was not
much excited over the tidings. Little Jem had said
"Wow-ga" that morning. What were principalities and
powers, the rise and fall of dynasties, the overthrow
of Grit or Tory, compared with that miraculous
occurrence?
"It's been accumulating for a long while," said
Captain Jim, with a deprecating smile. "I thought I
was only a moderate Grit, but when the news came that
we were in I found out how Gritty I really was."
"You know the doctor and I are Conservatives."
"Ah, well, it's the only bad thing I know of either of
you, Mistress Blythe. Cornelia is a Tory, too. I
called in on my way from the Glen to tell her the
news."
"Didn't you know you took your life in your hands?"
"Yes, but I couldn't resist the temptation."
"How did she take it?"
"Comparatively calm, Mistress Blythe, comparatively
calm. She says, says she, `Well, Providence sends
seasons of humiliation to a country, same as to
individuals. You Grits have been cold and hungry for
many a year. Make haste to get warmed and fed, for you
won't be in long.' `Well, now Cornelia,' I says,
`mebbe Providence thinks Canada needs a real long spell
of humiliation.' Ah, Susan, have YOU heard the news?
The Liberals are in."
Susan had just come in from the kitchen, attended by
the odor of delectable dishes which always seemed to
hover around her.
"Now, are they?" she said, with beautiful unconcern.
"Well, I never could see but that my bread rose just as
light when Grits were in as when they were not. And if
any party, Mrs. Doctor, dear, will make it rain before
the week is out, and save our kitchen garden from
entire ruination, that is the party Susan will vote
for. In the meantime, will you just step out and give
me your opinion on the meat for dinner? I am fearing
that it is very tough, and I think that we had better
change our butcher as well as our government."
One evening, a week later, Anne walked down to the
Point, to see if she could get some fresh fish from
Captain Jim, leaving Little Jem for the first time. It
was quite a tragedy. Suppose he cried? Suppose Susan
did not know just exactly what to do for him? Susan
was calm and serene.
"I have had as much experience with him as you, Mrs.
Doctor, dear, have I not?"
"Yes, with him--but not with other babies. Why, I
looked after three pairs of twins, when I was a child,
Susan. When they cried, I gave them peppermint or
castor oil quite coolly. It's quite curious now to
recall how lightly I took all those babies and their
woes."
"Oh, well, if Little Jem cries, I will just clap a hot
water bag on his little stomach," said Susan.
"Not too hot, you know," said Anne anxiously. Oh, was
it really wise to go?
"Do not you fret, Mrs. Doctor, dear. Susan is not the
woman to burn a wee man. Bless him, he has no notion
of crying."
Anne tore herself away finally and enjoyed her walk to
the Point after all, through the long shadows of the
sun-setting. Captain Jim was not in the living room of
the lighthouse, but another man was--a handsome,
middle-aged man, with a strong, clean-shaven chin, who
was unknown to Anne. Nevertheless, when she sat down,
he began to talk to her with all the assurance of an
old acquaintance. There was nothing amiss in what he
said or the way he said it, but Anne rather resented
such a cool taking-for-granted in a complete stranger.
Her replies were frosty, and as few as decency
required. Nothing daunted, her companion talked on for
several minutes, then excused himself and went away.
Anne could have sworn there was a twinkle in his eye
and it annoyed her. Who was the creature? There was
something vaguely familiar about him but she was
certain she had never seen him before.
"Captain Jim, who was that who just went out?" she
asked, as Captain Jim came in.
"Marshall Elliott," answered the captain.
"Marshall Elliott!" cried Anne. "Oh, Captain Jim--it
wasn't-- yes, it WAS his voice--oh, Captain Jim, I
didn't know him--and I was quite insulting to him! WHY
didn't he tell me? He must have seen I didn't know
him."
"He wouldn't say a word about it--he'd just enjoy the
joke. Don't worry over snubbing him--he'll think it
fun. Yes, Marshall's shaved off his beard at last and
cut his hair. His party is in, you know. I didn't
know him myself first time I saw him. He was up in
Carter Flagg's store at the Glen the night after
election day, along with a crowd of others, waiting for
the news. About twelve the 'phone came through--the
Liberals were in. Marshall just got up and walked
out--he didn't cheer or shout--he left the others to do
that, and they nearly lifted the roof off Carter's
store, I reckon. Of course, all the Tories were over
in Raymond Russell's store. Not much cheering THERE.
Marshall went straight down the street to the side door
of Augustus Palmer's barber shop. Augustus was in bed
asleep, but Marhall hammered on the door until he got
up and come down, wanting to know what all the racket
was about.
"Come into your shop and do the best job you ever did
in your life, Gus,' said Marshall. `The Liberals are
in and you're going to barber a good Grit before the
sun rises.'
"Gus was mad as hops--partly because he'd been dragged
out of bed, but more because he's a Tory. He vowed he
wouldn't shave any man after twelve at night.
"`You'll do what I want you to do, sonny,' said
Marshall, `or I'll jest turn you over my knee and give
you one of those spankings your mother forgot.'
"He'd have done it, too, and Gus knew it, for Marshall
is as strong as an ox and Gus is only a midget of a
man. So he gave in and towed Marshall in to the shop
and went to work. `Now,' says he, `I'll barber you up,
but if you say one word to me about the Grits getting
in while I'm doing it I'll cut your throat with this
razor,' says he. You wouldn't have thought mild little
Gus could be so bloodthirsty, would you? Shows what
party politics will do for a man. Marshall kept quiet
and got his hair and beard disposed of and went home.
Miss Cornelia sighed. Gilbert had gone down and
Leslie, who had been crooning over the small James
Matthew in the dormer window, laid him asleep in his
basket and went her way. As soon as she was safely out
of earshot, Miss Cornelia bent forward and said in a
conspirator's whisper:
"Anne, dearie, I'd a letter from Owen Ford yesterday.
He's in Vancouver just now, but he wants to know if I
can board him for a month later on. YOU know what that
means. Well, I hope we're doing right."
"We've nothing to do with it--we couldn't prevent him
from coming to Four Winds if he wanted to," said Anne
quickly. She did not like the feeling of match-making
Miss Cornelia's whispers gave her; and then she weakly
succumbed herself.
"Don't let Leslie know he is coming until he is here,"
she said. "If she found out I feel sure she would go
away at once. She intends to go in the fall
anyhow--she told me so the other day. She is going to
Montreal to take up nursing and make what she can of
her life."
"Oh, well, Anne, dearie," said Miss Cornelia, nodding
sagely "that is all as it may be. You and I have done
our part and we must leave the rest to Higher Hands."
CHAPTER 35
POLITICS AT FOUR WINDS
When anne came downstairs again, the Island, as well as
all Canada, was in the throes of a campaignpreceding a
general election. Gilbert, who was an ardent
Conservative, found himself caught in the vortex, being
much in demand for speech-making at the various county
rallies. Miss Cornelia did not approve of his mixing
up in politics and told Anne so.
"Dr. Dave never did it. Dr. Blythe will find he is
making a mistake, believe ME. Politics is something no
decent man should meddle with."
"Is the government of the country to be left solely to
the rogues then?" asked Anne.
"Yes--so long as it's Conservative rogues," said Miss
Cornelia, marching off with the honors of war. "Men
and politicians are all tarred with the same brush.
The Grits have it laid on thicker than the
Conservatives, that's all--CONSIDERABLY thicker. But
Grit or Tory, my advice to Dr. Blythe is to steer clear
of politics. First thing you know, he'll be running an
election himself, and going off to Ottawa for half the
year and leaving his practice to go to the dogs."
"Ah, well, let's not borrow trouble," said Anne. "The
rate of interest is too high. Instead, let's look at
Little Jem. It should be spelled with a G. Isn't he
perfectly beautiful? Just see the dimples in his
elbows. We'll bring him up to be a good Conservative,
you and I, Miss Cornelia."
"Bring him up to be a good man," said Miss Cornelia.
"They're scarce and valuable; though, mind you, I
wouldn't like to see him a Grit. As for the election,
you and I may be thankful we don't live over harbor.
The air there is blue these days. Every Elliott and
Crawford and MacAllister is on the warpath, loaded for
bear. This side is peaceful and calm, seeing there's
so few men. Captain Jim's a Grit, but it's my opinion
he's ashamed of it, for he never talks politics. There
isn't any earthly doubt that the Conservatives will be
returned with a big majority again."
Miss Cornelia was mistaken. On the morning after the
election Captain Jim dropped in at the little house to
tell the news. So virulent is the microbe of party
politics, even in a peaceable old man, that Captain
Jim's cheeks were flushed and his eyes were flashing
with all his old-time fire.
"Mistress Blythe, the Liberals are in with a sweeping
majority. After eighteen years of Tory mismanagement
this down-trodden country is going to have a chance at
last."
"I never heard you make such a bitter partisan speech
before, Captain Jim. I didn't think you had so much
political venom in you," laughed Anne, who was not
much excited over the tidings. Little Jem had said
"Wow-ga" that morning. What were principalities and
powers, the rise and fall of dynasties, the overthrow
of Grit or Tory, compared with that miraculous
occurrence?
"It's been accumulating for a long while," said
Captain Jim, with a deprecating smile. "I thought I
was only a moderate Grit, but when the news came that
we were in I found out how Gritty I really was."
"You know the doctor and I are Conservatives."
"Ah, well, it's the only bad thing I know of either of
you, Mistress Blythe. Cornelia is a Tory, too. I
called in on my way from the Glen to tell her the
news."
"Didn't you know you took your life in your hands?"
"Yes, but I couldn't resist the temptation."
"How did she take it?"
"Comparatively calm, Mistress Blythe, comparatively
calm. She says, says she, `Well, Providence sends
seasons of humiliation to a country, same as to
individuals. You Grits have been cold and hungry for
many a year. Make haste to get warmed and fed, for you
won't be in long.' `Well, now Cornelia,' I says,
`mebbe Providence thinks Canada needs a real long spell
of humiliation.' Ah, Susan, have YOU heard the news?
The Liberals are in."
Susan had just come in from the kitchen, attended by
the odor of delectable dishes which always seemed to
hover around her.
"Now, are they?" she said, with beautiful unconcern.
"Well, I never could see but that my bread rose just as
light when Grits were in as when they were not. And if
any party, Mrs. Doctor, dear, will make it rain before
the week is out, and save our kitchen garden from
entire ruination, that is the party Susan will vote
for. In the meantime, will you just step out and give
me your opinion on the meat for dinner? I am fearing
that it is very tough, and I think that we had better
change our butcher as well as our government."
One evening, a week later, Anne walked down to the
Point, to see if she could get some fresh fish from
Captain Jim, leaving Little Jem for the first time. It
was quite a tragedy. Suppose he cried? Suppose Susan
did not know just exactly what to do for him? Susan
was calm and serene.
"I have had as much experience with him as you, Mrs.
Doctor, dear, have I not?"
"Yes, with him--but not with other babies. Why, I
looked after three pairs of twins, when I was a child,
Susan. When they cried, I gave them peppermint or
castor oil quite coolly. It's quite curious now to
recall how lightly I took all those babies and their
woes."
"Oh, well, if Little Jem cries, I will just clap a hot
water bag on his little stomach," said Susan.
"Not too hot, you know," said Anne anxiously. Oh, was
it really wise to go?
"Do not you fret, Mrs. Doctor, dear. Susan is not the
woman to burn a wee man. Bless him, he has no notion
of crying."
Anne tore herself away finally and enjoyed her walk to
the Point after all, through the long shadows of the
sun-setting. Captain Jim was not in the living room of
the lighthouse, but another man was--a handsome,
middle-aged man, with a strong, clean-shaven chin, who
was unknown to Anne. Nevertheless, when she sat down,
he began to talk to her with all the assurance of an
old acquaintance. There was nothing amiss in what he
said or the way he said it, but Anne rather resented
such a cool taking-for-granted in a complete stranger.
Her replies were frosty, and as few as decency
required. Nothing daunted, her companion talked on for
several minutes, then excused himself and went away.
Anne could have sworn there was a twinkle in his eye
and it annoyed her. Who was the creature? There was
something vaguely familiar about him but she was
certain she had never seen him before.
"Captain Jim, who was that who just went out?" she
asked, as Captain Jim came in.
"Marshall Elliott," answered the captain.
"Marshall Elliott!" cried Anne. "Oh, Captain Jim--it
wasn't-- yes, it WAS his voice--oh, Captain Jim, I
didn't know him--and I was quite insulting to him! WHY
didn't he tell me? He must have seen I didn't know
him."
"He wouldn't say a word about it--he'd just enjoy the
joke. Don't worry over snubbing him--he'll think it
fun. Yes, Marshall's shaved off his beard at last and
cut his hair. His party is in, you know. I didn't
know him myself first time I saw him. He was up in
Carter Flagg's store at the Glen the night after
election day, along with a crowd of others, waiting for
the news. About twelve the 'phone came through--the
Liberals were in. Marshall just got up and walked
out--he didn't cheer or shout--he left the others to do
that, and they nearly lifted the roof off Carter's
store, I reckon. Of course, all the Tories were over
in Raymond Russell's store. Not much cheering THERE.
Marshall went straight down the street to the side door
of Augustus Palmer's barber shop. Augustus was in bed
asleep, but Marhall hammered on the door until he got
up and come down, wanting to know what all the racket
was about.
"Come into your shop and do the best job you ever did
in your life, Gus,' said Marshall. `The Liberals are
in and you're going to barber a good Grit before the
sun rises.'
"Gus was mad as hops--partly because he'd been dragged
out of bed, but more because he's a Tory. He vowed he
wouldn't shave any man after twelve at night.
"`You'll do what I want you to do, sonny,' said
Marshall, `or I'll jest turn you over my knee and give
you one of those spankings your mother forgot.'
"He'd have done it, too, and Gus knew it, for Marshall
is as strong as an ox and Gus is only a midget of a
man. So he gave in and towed Marshall in to the shop
and went to work. `Now,' says he, `I'll barber you up,
but if you say one word to me about the Grits getting
in while I'm doing it I'll cut your throat with this
razor,' says he. You wouldn't have thought mild little
Gus could be so bloodthirsty, would you? Shows what
party politics will do for a man. Marshall kept quiet
and got his hair and beard disposed of and went home.
- safely [´seifli]
ad.安全地；平安地 (初中英语单词) - downstairs [,daun´steəz] ad.在楼下 a.楼下的 (初中英语单词)
- election [i´lekʃən] n.选举；选择 (初中英语单词)
- approve [ə´pru:v] v.赞成；同意；批准 (初中英语单词)
- politics [´pɔlitiks] n.政治(学)；政治活动 (初中英语单词)
- running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
- scarce [skeəs, skers] a.缺乏的；稀有的 (初中英语单词)
- valuable [´væljuəbəl, -jubəl] a.有价值的，贵重的 (初中英语单词)
- peaceful [´pi:sfəl] a.和平的；平静的 (初中英语单词)
- ashamed [ə´ʃeimd] a.惭愧；不好意思 (初中英语单词)
- moderate [´mɔdərit] a.适度的n.温和主义者 (初中英语单词)
- mistress [´mistris] n.女主人；情妇；女能手 (初中英语单词)
- resist [ri´zist] v.抵抗；对抗；抵制 (初中英语单词)
- meantime [´mi:ntaim] n.&ad.其间；同时 (初中英语单词)
- butcher [´butʃə] n.屠夫，刽子手 (初中英语单词)
- tragedy [´trædʒidi] n.悲剧；惨案；灾难 (初中英语单词)
- lightly [´laitli] ad.轻微地，稍微 (初中英语单词)
- nevertheless [,nevəðə´les] conj.&ad.然而；不过 (初中英语单词)
- acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)
- companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
- twinkle [´twiŋkl] vi.&n.闪烁；眨眼 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- barber [´bɑ:bə] n.理发师 (初中英语单词)
- throat [θrəut] n.咽喉；嗓子；出入口 (初中英语单词)
- campaign [kæm´pein] n.战役；行动 vi.从军 (高中英语单词)
- meddle [´medl] vi.干涉(预)；乱弄 (高中英语单词)
- solely [´səulli] ad.唯一；单独；完全 (高中英语单词)
- conservative [kən´sə:vətiv] a.保守的 n.保守者 (高中英语单词)
- thankful [´θæŋkfəl] a.感激的；欣慰的 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- earthly [´ə:θli] a.地球的；世俗的 (高中英语单词)
- mistaken [mis´teikən] mistake的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- peaceable [´pi:səbl] a.和平的；安静的 (高中英语单词)
- tidings [´taidiŋz] n.消息，音信 (高中英语单词)
- anxiously [´æŋkʃəsli] ad.挂念地；渴望地 (高中英语单词)
- assurance [ə´ʃuərəns] n.保证；自信；信任 (高中英语单词)
- preceding [pri(:)´si:diŋ] a.在先的；前面的 (英语四级单词)
- old-time [´əuld-´taim] a.老资格的；古时的 (英语四级单词)
- partisan [,pɑ:ti´zæn] n.党人 a.有偏袒的 (英语四级单词)
- providence [´prɔvidəns] n.天意，天命，上帝 (英语四级单词)
- coolly [´ku:li] ad.冷(静地)，沉着地 (英语四级单词)
- lighthouse [´laithaus] n.灯塔 (英语四级单词)
- frosty [´frɔsti] a.霜冻的；冷淡的 (英语四级单词)
- vaguely [´veigli] ad.含糊地，暖昧地 (英语四级单词)
- humiliation [hju:,mili´eiʃən] n.羞辱，屈辱 (英语六级单词)
- wanting [´wɔntiŋ, wɑ:n-] a.短缺的；不足的 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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