登陆注册
14325600000004

第4章 POLLY ARRIVES (4)

"You must n't mind my staring, dear," said Madam, softly pinching her rosy cheek. "I have n't seen a little girl for so long, it does my old eyes good to look at you."Polly thought that a very odd speech, and could n't help saying, "Are n't Fan and Maud little girls, too?""Oh, dear, no! not what I call little girls. Fan has been a young lady this two years, and Maud is a spoiled baby. Your mother 's a very sensible woman, my child.""What a very queer old lady!" thought Polly; but she said "Yes 'm" respectfully, and looked at the fire.

"You don't understand what I mean, do you?" asked Madam, still holding her by the chin.

"No 'm; not quite."

"Well, dear, I 'll tell you. In my day, children of fourteen and fifteen did n't dress in the height of the fashion; go to parties, as nearly like those of grown people as it 's possible to make them; lead idle, giddy, unhealthy lives, and get blasé at twenty. We were little folks till eighteen or so; worked and studied, dressed and played, like children; honored our parents; and our days were much longer in the land than now, it seems to, me."The old lady appeared to forget Polly at the end of her speech; for she sat patting the plump little hand that lay in her own, and looking up at a faded picture of an old gentleman with a ruffled shirt and a queue.

"Was he your father, Madam?

"Yes, dear; my honored father. I did up his frills to the day of his death; and the first money I ever earned was five dollars which he offered as a prize to whichever of his six girls would lay the handsomest darn in his silk stockings.""How proud you must have been!" cried Polly, leaning on the old lady's knee with an interested face.

"Yes, and we all learned to make bread, and cook, and wore little chintz gowns, and were as gay and hearty as kittens. All lived to be grandmothers and fathers; and I 'm the last,­seventy, next birthday, my dear, and not worn out yet; though daughter Shaw is an invalid at forty.""That 's the way I was brought up, and that 's why Fan calls me old-fashioned, I suppose. Tell more about your papa, please; I like it," said Polly.

"Say 'father.' We never called him papa; and if one of my brothers had addressed him as 'governor,' as boys do now, I really think he 'd have him cut off with a shilling."Madam raised her voice in saying this, and nodded significantly; but a mild snore from the other room seemed to assure her that it was a waste of shot to fire in that direction.

Before she could continue, in came Fanny with the joyful news that Clara Bird had invited them both to go to the theatre with her that very evening, and would call for them at seven o'clock. Polly was so excited by this sudden plunge into the dissipations of city life, that she flew about like a distracted butterfly, and hardly knew what happened, till she found herself seated before the great green curtain in the brilliant theatre. Old Mr.

Bird sat on one side, Fanny on the other, and both let her alone, for which she was very grateful, as her whole attention was so absorbed in the scene around her, that she could n't talk.

同类推荐
  • 太上灵宝净明法序

    太上灵宝净明法序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 天皇至道太清玉册

    天皇至道太清玉册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 张文襄公事略

    张文襄公事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 嘉泰普灯录

    嘉泰普灯录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 古文观止

    古文观止

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 败家教师

    败家教师

    欧阳雪:“混蛋,你给我去死!”杜月笙:“赵大哥,你别这样!”林倩:“为什么老是有人举报你违法乱纪?和我去小黑屋!”叶美景:“我看上的男人就是帅!”众多学生异口同声问道:“老师你是神吗?”赵啸杰强势登场:“我不是神,我只是神一般的男人”
  • 网游之杀戮剑尊

    网游之杀戮剑尊

    因某种机遇进入游戏后属性错乱,原本只加闪避和速度的敏捷竟然还加了攻击?领悟超级变态的攻击境界到最后却为了家园选择舍我其谁!
  • 前世未了的情缘,今世来还

    前世未了的情缘,今世来还

    苏颜,从胖子逆袭,穿越到古代,原本衣食无忧,为何会穿越,结局到底是如何,当她会到现实,是会把他仅仅当成一场梦还是恋恋不忘......
  • 穿过银河遇见你

    穿过银河遇见你

    美男王子被赶到地球变成哑巴是一种什么体验?不过还好,穿过银河遇见了你……
  • 云中仙歌

    云中仙歌

    仙山无处觅,白云深处有仙歌……这是一个起始于赵国青云派的故事,一切从这里开端,注定了一切的结束,也将在这里。
  • 半生凄凉半生秋

    半生凄凉半生秋

    流弊的书还需要辣么多介绍吗、最可恨的是,,,还要介绍20个字
  • 老妈,儿子我穿越了

    老妈,儿子我穿越了

    人到中年,工作生活双不顺的悦馨,在得到位面交易系统后会做什么?对不起,这章和书名不符合,最近也不会更新,只是因为放在了作家助手中,使得要发的书无法提交只好把这章先放出来,真正的新书是明天才会上传。新书书名《老妈,我穿越了》,这书是应自家宝贝的要求写的,送我家宝贝17岁生日的特别礼物。
  • 毁魔灭神

    毁魔灭神

    在这个世界,有六个地域,每一个地方,都有着不同的宗门,每一个人在出生的时候都会伴随着一个元素之力,可以借助其修炼。少年江尘,身怀四大元素之力,却因其力量太过强大从而封住丹田,不能修炼,被世人嘲笑,直到十六岁,偶然获得的功法令江尘冲破封印,开始修炼!脚踩各家族的天才弟子,一步一步走向强者的巅峰!
  • 爆笑穿越:鬼马狂妃霸上爷

    爆笑穿越:鬼马狂妃霸上爷

    【免费完结】三人一日游,竟然穿越了,这个不得不信的狗血世界,差点小命不保,更要命的事,她居然差点掉落粪坑里,幸好抓住一条救命稻草,“小朋友,小帅哥,小可爱跟姐姐走吧”某女装作淡定的模样对着一张正太脸说着手抚摸他的脸颊,似流氓般的少女。只见他说了句:“姑娘,这是要对我负责的。她笑容顿时一僵,这声音,这神色……那一刻她只有一个念头,“赶紧溜”“往哪去”他揪住她的衣服。“跑啊!”她转身对着他嫣然一笑,伸手就是一拳:“小样的”
  • 一路有你,是我的荣幸

    一路有你,是我的荣幸

    她一直暗示他,他为了她的安全,狠心装傻。当他被她感动了,就在要接受她时,意外发生了。车祸,让她一无所有,连回忆也夺走了。再见面时,“我们认识吗?”她的迷蒙,让他后悔,自责…