按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Good morning；〃 she said； copying her mother's voice。 But that
sounded so fearfully affected that she was ashamed； and stammered like a
little girl； 〃Oherhave you comeis it about the marquee？〃
〃That's right； miss；〃 said the tallest of the men； a lanky； freckled fellow；
and he shifted his tool…bag； knocked back his straw hat and smiled down at
her。 〃That's about it。〃
His smile was so easy； so friendly that Laura recovered。 What nice
eyes he had； small； but such a dark blue！ And now she looked at the
others； they were smiling too。 〃Cheer up； we won't bite；〃 their smile
seemed to say。 How very nice workmen were！ And what a beautiful
morning！ She mustn't mention the morning； she must be business…like。
The marquee。
〃Well； what about the lily…lawn？ Would that do？〃
And she pointed to the lily…lawn with the hand that didn't hold the
bread… and…butter。 They turned； they stared in the direction。 A little fat
chap thrust out his under…lip； and the tall fellow frowned。
〃I don't fancy it；〃 said he。 〃Not conspicuous enough。 You see； with
a thing like a marquee；〃 and he turned to Laura in his easy way； 〃you want
to put it somewhere where it'll give you a bang slap in the eye； if you
follow me。〃
Laura's upbringing made her wonder for a moment whether it was
quite respectful of a workman to talk to her of bangs slap in the eye。 But
she did quite follow him。
〃A corner of the tennis…court；〃 she suggested。 〃But the band's going
to be in one corner。〃
〃H'm； going to have a band； are you？〃 said another of the workmen。
He was pale。 He had a haggard look as his dark eyes scanned the tennis…
court。 What was he thinking？
〃Only a very small band；〃 said Laura gently。 Perhaps he wouldn't
mind so much if the band was quite small。 But the tall fellow
interrupted。
〃Look here； miss； that's the place。 Against those trees。 Over there。
That'll do fine。〃
Against the karakas。 Then the karaka…trees would be hidden。 And
39
… Page 40…
The Garden Party
they were so lovely； with their broad； gleaming leaves； and their clusters
of yellow fruit。 They were like trees you imagined growing on a desert
island； proud； solitary； lifting their leaves and fruits to the sun in a kind of
silent splendour。 Must they be hidden by a marquee？
They must。 Already the men had shouldered their staves and were
making for the place。 Only the tall fellow was left。 He bent down；
pinched a sprig of lavender； put his thumb and forefinger to his nose and
snuffed up the smell。 When Laura saw that gesture she forgot all about
the karakas in her wonder at him caring for things like thatcaring for the
smell of lavender。 How many men that she knew would have done such
a thing？ Oh； how extraordinarily nice workmen were； she thought。
Why couldn't she have workmen for her friends rather than the silly boys
she danced with and who came to Sunday night supper？ She would get
on much better with men like these。
It's all the fault； she decided； as the tall fellow drew something on the
back of an envelope； something that was to be looped up or left to hang； of
these absurd class distinctions。 Well； for her part； she didn't feel them。
Not a bit； not an atom。。。And now there came the chock…chock of wooden
hammers。 Some one whistled； some one sang out； 〃Are you right there；
matey？〃 〃Matey！〃 The friendliness of it； thetheJust to prove how
happy she was； just to show the tall fellow how at home she felt； and how
she despised stupid conventions； Laura took a big bite of her bread…and…
butter as she stared at the little drawing。 She felt just like a work… girl。
〃Laura； Laura； where are you？ Telephone； Laura！〃 a voice cried from
the house。
〃Coming！〃 Away she skimmed； over the lawn； up the path； up the
steps； across the veranda； and into the porch。 In the hall her father and
Laurie were brushing their hats ready to go to the office。
〃I say； Laura；〃 said Laurie very fast； 〃you might just give a squiz at my
coat before this afternoon。 See if it wants pressing。〃
〃I will；〃 said she。 Suddenly she couldn't stop herself。 She ran at
Laurie and gave him a small； quick squeeze。 〃Oh； I do love parties； don't
you？〃 gasped Laura。
〃Ra…ther；〃 said Laurie's warm； boyish voice； and he squeezed his sister
40
… Page 41…
The Garden Party
too； and gave her a gentle push。 〃Dash off to the telephone； old girl。〃
The telephone。 〃Yes； yes； oh yes。 Kitty？ Good morning； dear。
Come to lunch？ Do； dear。 Delighted of course。 It will only be a very
scratch mealjust the sandwich crusts and broken meringue…shells and
what's left over。 Yes； isn't it a perfect morning？ Your white？ Oh； I
certainly should。 One momenthold the line。 Mother's calling。〃 And
Laura sat back。 〃What； mother？ Can't hear。〃
Mrs。 Sheridan's voice floated down the stairs。 〃Tell her to wear that
sweet hat she had on last Sunday。〃
〃Mother says you're to wear that sweet hat you had on last Sunday。
Good。 One o'clock。 Bye…bye。〃
Laura put back the receiver； flung her arms over her head； took a deep
breath； stretched and let them fall。 〃Huh；〃 she sighed； and the moment
after the sigh she sat up quickly。 She was still； listening。 All the doors
in the house seemed to be open。 The house was alive with soft； quick
steps and running voices。 The green baize door that led to the kitchen
regions swung open and shut with a muffled thud。 And now there came a
long； chuckling absurd sound。 It was the heavy piano being moved on its
stiff castors。 But the air！ If you stopped to notice； was the air always
like this？ Little faint winds were playing chase； in at the tops of the
windows； out at the doors。 And there were two tiny spots of sun； one on
the inkpot； one on a silver photograph frame； playi