the garden party(园会)-第16章
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said her mother； 〃the hat is yours。 It's made for you。 It's much too
young for me。 I have never seen you look such a picture。 Look at
yourself！〃 And she held up her hand…mirror。
〃But； mother；〃 Laura began again。 She couldn't look at herself； she
turned aside。
This time Mrs。 Sheridan lost patience just as Jose had done。
〃You are being very absurd； Laura；〃 she said coldly。 〃People like that
don't expect sacrifices from us。 And it's not very sympathetic to spoil
everybody's enjoyment as you're doing now。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 said Laura； and she walked quickly out of the
room into her own bedroom。 There； quite by chance； the first thing she
saw was this charming girl in the mirror； in her black hat trimmed with
gold daisies； and a long black velvet ribbon。 Never had she imagined she
could look like that。 Is mother right？ she thought。 And now she hoped
her mother was right。 Am I being extravagant？ Perhaps it was
extravagant。 Just for a moment she had another glimpse of that poor
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woman and those little children； and the body being carried into the house。
But it all seemed blurred； unreal； like a picture in the newspaper。 I'll
remember it again after the party's over； she decided。 And somehow that
seemed quite the best plan。。。
Lunch was over by half…past one。 By half…past two they were all
ready for the fray。 The green…coated band had arrived and was
established in a corner of the tennis…court。
〃My dear！〃 trilled Kitty Maitland； 〃aren't they too like frogs for words？
You ought to have arranged them round the pond with the conductor in the
middle on a leaf。〃
Laurie arrived and hailed them on his way to dress。 At the sight of
him Laura remembered the accident again。 She wanted to tell him。 If
Laurie agreed with the others； then it was bound to be all right。 And she
followed him into the hall。
〃Laurie！〃
〃Hallo！〃 He was half…way upstairs； but when he turned round and
saw Laura he suddenly puffed out his cheeks and goggled his eyes at her。
〃My word； Laura！ You do look stunning；〃 said Laurie。 〃What an
absolutely topping hat！〃
Laura said faintly 〃Is it？〃 and smiled up at Laurie； and didn't tell him
after all。
Soon after that people began coming in streams。 The band struck up；
the hired waiters ran from the house to the marquee。 Wherever you
looked there were couples strolling； bending to the flowers； greeting；
moving on over the lawn。 They were like bright birds that had alighted
in the Sheridans' garden for this one afternoon； on their way towhere？
Ah； what happiness it is to be with people who all are happy； to press
hands； press cheeks； smile into eyes。
〃Darling Laura； how well you look！〃
〃What a becoming hat； child！〃
〃Laura； you look quite Spanish。 I've never seen you look so
striking。〃
And Laura； glowing； answered softly； 〃Have you had tea？ Won't you
have an ice？ The passion…fruit ices really are rather special。〃 She ran to
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The Garden Party
her father and begged him。 〃Daddy darling； can't the band have
something to drink？〃
And the perfect afternoon slowly ripened； slowly faded； slowly its
petals closed。
〃Never a more delightful garden…party 。。。〃 〃The greatest success 。。。〃
〃Quite the most 。。。〃
Laura helped her mother with the good…byes。 They stood side by side
in the porch till it was all over。
〃All over； all over； thank heaven；〃 said Mrs。 Sheridan。 〃Round up the
others； Laura。 Let's go and have some fresh coffee。 I'm exhausted。
Yes； it's been very successful。 But oh； these parties； these parties！ Why
will you children insist on giving parties！〃 And they all of them sat down
in the deserted marquee。
〃Have a sandwich； daddy dear。 I wrote the flag。〃
〃Thanks。〃 Mr。 Sheridan took a bite and the sandwich was gone。 He
took another。 〃I suppose you didn't hear of a beastly accident that
happened to…day？〃 he said。
〃My dear；〃 said Mrs。 Sheridan； holding up her hand； 〃we did。 It
nearly ruined the party。 Laura insisted we should put it off。〃
〃Oh； mother！〃 Laura didn't want to be teased about it。
〃It was a horrible affair all the same；〃 said Mr。 Sheridan。 〃The chap
was married too。 Lived just below in the lane； and leaves a wife and half
a dozen kiddies； so they say。〃
An awkward little silence fell。 Mrs。 Sheridan fidgeted with her cup。
Really； it was very tactless of father。。。
Suddenly she looked up。 There on the table were all those
sandwiches； cakes； puffs； all uneaten； all going to be wasted。 She had
one of her brilliant ideas。
〃I know；〃 she said。 〃Let's make up a basket。 Let's send that poor
creature some of this perfectly good food。 At any rate； it will be the
greatest treat for the children。 Don't you agree？ And she's sure to have
neighbours calling in and so on。 What a point to have it all ready
prepared。 Laura！〃 She jumped up。 〃Get me the big basket out of the
stairs cupboard。〃
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〃But； mother； do you really think it's a good idea？〃 said Laura。
Again； how curious； she seemed to be different from them all。 To
take scraps from their party。 Would the poor woman really like that？
〃Of course！ What's the matter with you to…day？ An hour or two ago
you were insisting on us being sympathetic； and now〃
Oh well！ Laura ran for the basket。 It was filled； it was heaped by
her mother。
〃Take it yourself； darling；〃 said she。 〃Run down just as you are。 No；
wait； take the arum lilies too。 People of that class are so impressed by
arum lilies。〃
〃The stems will ruin her lace frock；〃 said practical Jose。
So they would。 Just in time。 〃Only the basket； then。 And；
Laura！〃her mother followed her out of the marquee〃don't on any
account〃
〃What mother？〃
No； better not put such ideas into the child's head！ 〃Nothing！ Run
along。〃
It was just growing dusky as Laura shut their garden gates。 A big dog
ran by like a shadow。 The road gleamed white； and down below in the
hollow the little cottages were in deep shade。 How quiet it seemed after
the afternoon。 Here she was going down the hill to somewhere where a
man lay dead； and she couldn't realize it。 Why couldn't she？ She
stopped a minute。 And it seemed to her that
