the garden party(园会)-第40章
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as she took one out of the basket。 She wanted to ask some one； 〃Am I
meant to have one too？〃 but she had just time to read： 〃Waltz 3。 'Two；
Two in a Canoe。' Polka 4。 'Making the Feathers Fly；'〃 when Meg cried；
〃Ready； Leila？〃 and they pressed their way through the crush in the
passage towards the big double doors of the drill hall。
Dancing had not begun yet； but the band had stopped tuning； and the
noise was so great it seemed that when it did begin to play it would never
be heard。 Leila； pressing close to Meg； looking over Meg's shoulder； felt
that even the little quivering coloured flags strung across the ceiling were
talking。 She quite forgot to be shy； she forgot how in the middle of
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dressing she had sat down on the bed with one shoe off and one shoe on
and begged her mother to ring up her cousins and say she couldn't go after
all。 And the rush of longing she had had to be sitting on the veranda of
their forsaken up…country home； listening to the baby owls crying 〃More
pork〃 in the moonlight； was changed to a rush of joy so sweet that it was
hard to bear alone。 She clutched her fan； and； gazing at the gleaming；
golden floor； the azaleas； the lanterns； the stage at one end with its red
carpet and gilt chairs and the band in a corner； she thought breathlessly；
〃How heavenly； how simply heavenly！〃
All the girls stood grouped together at one side of the doors； the men at
the other； and the chaperones in dark dresses； smiling rather foolishly；
walked with little careful steps over the polished floor towards the stage。
〃This is my little country cousin Leila。 Be nice to her。 Find her
partners； she's under my wing；〃 said Meg； going up to one girl after
another。
Strange faces smiled at Leilasweetly； vaguely。 Strange voices
answered； 〃Of course； my dear。〃 But Leila felt the girls didn't really see
her。 They were looking towards the men。 Why didn't the men begin？
What were they waiting for？ There they stood； smoothing their gloves；
patting their glossy hair and smiling among themselves。 Then； quite
suddenly； as if they had only just made up their minds that that was what
they had to do； the men came gliding over the parquet。 There was a
joyful flutter among the girls。 A tall； fair man flew up to Meg； seized her
programme； scribbled something； Meg passed him on to Leila。 〃May I
have the pleasure？〃 He ducked and smiled。 There came a dark man
wearing an eyeglass； then cousin Laurie with a friend； and Laura with a
little freckled fellow whose tie was crooked。 Then quite an old manfat；
with a big bald patch on his head took her programme and murmured；
〃Let me see； let me see！〃 And he was a long time comparing his
programme； which looked black with names； with hers。 It seemed to
give him so much trouble that Leila was ashamed。 〃Oh； please don't
bother；〃 she said eagerly。 But instead of replying the fat man wrote
something； glanced at her again。 〃Do I remember this bright little face？〃
he said softly。 〃Is it known to me of yore？〃 At that moment the band
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began playing； the fat man disappeared。 He was tossed away on a great
wave of music that came flying over the gleaming floor； breaking the
groups up into couples； scattering them； sending them spinning。。。
Leila had learned to dance at boarding school。 Every Saturday
afternoon the boarders were hurried off to a little corrugated iron mission
hall where Miss Eccles （of London） held her 〃select〃 classes。 But the
difference between that dusty…smelling hallwith calico texts on the walls；
the poor terrified little woman in a brown velvet toque with rabbit's ears
thumping the cold piano； Miss Eccles poking the girls' feet with her long
white wandand this was so tremendous that Leila was sure if her partner
didn't come and she had to listen to that marvellous music and to watch
the others sliding； gliding over the golden floor； she would die at least； or
faint； or lift her arms and fly out of one of those dark windows that
showed the stars。
〃Ours； I think〃 Some one bowed； smiled； and offered her his arm；
she hadn't to die after all。 Some one's hand pressed her waist； and she
floated away like a flower that is tossed into a pool。
〃Quite a good floor； isn't it？〃 drawled a faint voice close to her ear。
〃I think it's most beautifully slippery；〃 said Leila。
〃Pardon！〃 The faint voice sounded surprised。 Leila said it again。
And there was a tiny pause before the voice echoed； 〃Oh； quite！〃 and she
was swung round again。
He steered so beautifully。 That was the great difference between
dancing with girls and men； Leila decided。 Girls banged into each other；
and stamped on each other's feet； the girl who was gentleman always
clutched you so。
The azaleas were separate flowers no longer； they were pink and white
flags streaming by。
〃Were you at the Bells' last week？〃 the voice came again。 It sounded
tired。 Leila wondered whether she ought to ask him if he would like to
stop。
〃No； this is my first dance；〃 said she。
Her partner gave a little gasping laugh。 〃Oh； I say；〃 he protested。
〃Yes； it is really the first dance I've ever been to。〃 Leila was most
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fervent。 It was such a relief to be able to tell somebody。 〃You see； I've
lived in the country all my life up till now。。。〃
At that moment the music stopped； and they went to sit on two chairs
against the wall。 Leila tucked her pink satin feet under and fanned
herself； while she blissfully watched the other couples passing and
disappearing through the swing doors。
〃Enjoying yourself； Leila？〃 asked Jose； nodding her golden head。
Laura passed and gave her the faintest little wink； it made Leila
wonder for a moment whether she was quite grown up after all。
Certainly her partner did not say very much。 He coughed； tucked his
handkerchief away； pulled down his waistcoat； took a minute thread off his
sleeve。 But it didn't matter。 Almost immediately the band started and
her second partner seemed to spring from the ceiling。
〃Floor's not bad；〃 said the new voice。 Did one always begin with the
floor？ And then； 〃Were you at the Neaves' on Tuesday？〃 And again
Leila explained。 Perhaps it was a little strange that her partners were not
more interested。 For it was thrilling。 Her first ball！ She was only at
the beginning of everything。 It seemed to her that she had never known
what the night was like before。 Up till now it had been dark；
