第 1 节
作者:炒作      更新:2021-02-27 02:55      字数:9322
  What Diantha Did
  by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  CHAPTER I。
  HANDICAPPED
  One may use the Old Man of the Sea;
  For a partner or patron;
  But helpless and hapless is he
  Who is ridden; inextricably;
  By a fond old mer…matron。
  The Warden house was more impressive in appearance than its neighbors。
  It had 〃grounds;〃 instead of a yard or garden; it had wide pillared
  porches and 〃galleries;〃 showing southern antecedents; moreover; it had
  a cupola; giving date to the building; and proof of the continuing
  ambitions of the builders。
  The stately mansion was covered with heavy flowering vines; also with
  heavy mortgages。  Mrs。 Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed
  peacefully under the vines; while Roscoe Warden; Jr。; struggled
  desperately under the mortgages。
  A slender; languid lady was Mrs。 Warden; wearing her thin but still
  brown hair in 〃water…waves〃 over a pale high forehead。 She was sitting
  on a couch on the broad; rose…shaded porch; surrounded by billowing
  masses of vari…colored worsted。  It was her delight to purchase skein on
  skein of soft; bright…hued wool; cut it all up into short lengths; tie
  them together again in contrasting colors; and then crochet this hashed
  rainbow into afghans of startling aspect。  California does not call for
  afghans to any great extent; but 〃they make such acceptable presents;〃
  Mrs。 Warden declared; to those who questioned the purpose of her work;
  and she continued to send them off; on Christmases; birthdays; and minor
  weddings; in a stream of pillowy bundles。  As they were accepted; they
  must have been acceptable; and the stream flowed on。
  Around her; among the gay blossoms and gayer wools; sat her four
  daughters; variously intent。  The mother; a poetic soul; had named them
  musically and with dulcet rhymes: Madeline and Adeline were the two
  eldest; Coraline and Doraline the two youngest。  It had not occurred to
  her until too late that those melodious terminations made it impossible
  to call one daughter without calling two; and that 〃Lina〃 called them
  all。
  〃Mis' Immerjin;〃 said a soft voice in the doorway; 〃dere pos'tively
  ain't no butter in de house fer supper。〃
  〃No butter?〃 said Mrs。 Warden; incredulously。  〃Why; Sukey; I'm sure we
  had a tub sent up lastlast Tuesday!〃
  〃A week ago Tuesday; more likely; mother;〃 suggested Dora。
  〃Nonsense; Dora!  It was this week; wasn't it; girls?〃  The mother
  appealed to them quite earnestly; as if the date of that tub's delivery
  would furnish forth the supper…table; but none of the young ladies save
  Dora had even a contradiction to offer。
  〃You know I never notice things;〃 said the artistic Cora; and 〃the
  de…lines;〃 as their younger sisters called them; said nothing。
  〃I might borrow some o' Mis' Bell?〃 suggested Sukey; 〃dat's nearer 'n'
  de sto'。〃
  〃Yes; do; Sukey;〃 her mistress agreed。  〃It is so hot。  But what have
  you done with that tubful?〃
  〃Why; some I tuk back to Mis' Bell for what I borrered befo'I'm always
  most careful to make return for what I borrersand yo' know; Mis'
  Warden; dat waffles and sweet potaters and cohn bread dey do take
  butter; to say nothin' o' them little cakes you all likes so well_an'_
  de fried chicken; _an'_〃
  〃Never mind; Sukey; you go and present my compliments to Mrs。 Bell; and
  ask her for some; and be sure you return it promptly。  Now; girls; don't
  let me forget to tell Ross to send up another tub。〃
  〃We can't seem to remember any better than you can; mother;〃 said
  Adeline; dreamily。  〃Those details are so utterly uninteresting。〃
  〃I should think it was Sukey's business to tell him;〃 said Madeline with
  decision; while the 〃a…lines〃 kept silence this time。
  〃There!  Sukey's gone!〃 Mrs。 Warden suddenly remarked; watching the
  stout figure moving heavily away under the pepper trees。  〃And I meant
  to have asked her to make me a glass of shrub!  Dora; dear; you run and
  get it for mother。〃
  Dora laid down her work; not too regretfully; and started off。
  〃That child is the most practical of any of you;〃 said her mother; which
  statement was tacitly accepted。  It was not extravagant praise。
  Dora poked about in the refrigerator for a bit of ice。  She ho no idea
  of the high cost of ice in that regionit came from 〃the store;〃 like
  all their provisions。  It did not occur to her that fish and milk and
  melons made a poor combination in flavor; or that the clammy;
  sub…offensive smell was not the natural and necessary odor of
  refrigerators。  Neither did she think that a sunny corner of the back
  porch near the chimney; though convenient; was an ill…selected spot for
  a refrigerator。  She couldn't find the ice…pick; so put a big piece of
  ice in a towel and broke it on the edge of the sink; replaced the
  largest fragment; used what she wanted; and left the rest to filter
  slowly down through a mass of grease and tea…leaves; found the raspberry
  vinegar; and made a very satisfactory beverage which her mother received
  with grateful affection。
  〃Thank you; my darling;〃 she said。 〃I wish you'd made a pitcherful。〃
  〃Why didn't you; Do?〃 her sisters demanded。
  〃You're too late;〃 said Dora; hunting for her needle and then for her
  thimble; and then for her twist; 〃but there's more in the kitchen。〃
  〃I'd rather go without than go into the kitchen;〃 said Adeline; 〃I do
  despise a kitchen。〃  And this seemed to be the general sentiment; for no
  one moved。
  〃My mother always liked raspberry shrub;〃 said Mrs。 Warden; 〃and your
  Aunt Leicester; and your Raymond cousins。〃
  Mrs。 Warden had a wide family circle; many beloved relatives;
  〃connections〃 of whom she was duly proud and 〃kin〃 in such widening
  ramifications that even her carefully reared daughters lost track of
  them。
  〃You young people don't seem to care about your cousins at all!〃 pursued
  their mother; somewhat severely; setting her glass on the railing; from
  whence it was presently knocked off and broken。
  〃That's the fifth!〃 remarked Dora; under breath。
  〃Why should we; Ma?〃 inquired Cora。  〃We've never seen one of
  themexcept Madam Weatherstone!〃
  〃We'll never forget _her!〃_ said Madeline; with delicate decision;
  laying down the silk necktie she was knitting for Roscoe。  〃What
  _beautiful_ manners she had!〃
  〃How rich is she; mother?  Do you know?〃 asked Dora。
  〃Rich enough to do something for Roscoe; I'm sure; if she had a proper
  family spirit;〃 replied Mrs。 Warden。  〃Her mother was own cousin to my
  grandmotherone of the Virginia Paddingtons。  Or she might do something
  for you girls。〃
  〃I wish she would!〃 Adeline murmured; softly; her large eyes turned to
  the horizon; her hands in her lap over the handkerchief she was marking
  for Roscoe。
  〃Don't be ungrateful; Adeline;〃 said her mother; firmly。  〃You have a
  good home and a good brother; no girl ever had a better。〃
  〃But there is never anything going on;〃 broke in Coraline; in a tone of
  complaint; 〃no parties; no going away for vacations; no anything。〃
  〃Now; Cora; don't be discontented!  You must not add a straw to dear
  Roscoe's burdens;〃 said her mother。
  〃Of course not; mother; I wouldn't for the world。  I never saw her but
  that once; and she wasn't very cordial。  But; as you say; she might do
  _something。_  She might invite us to visit her。〃
  〃If she ever comes back again; I'm going to recite for her;〃 said; Dora;
  firmly。
  Her mother gazed fondly on her youngest。  〃I wish you could; dear;〃 she
  agreed。  〃I'm sure you have talent; and Madam Weatherstone would
  recognize it。  And Adeline's music too。  And Cora's art。  I am very
  proud of my girls。〃
  Cora sat where the light fell well upon her work。  She was illuminating
  a volume of poems; painting flowers on the margins; in appropriate
  placesfor Roscoe。
  〃I wonder if he'll care for it?〃 she said; laying down her brush and
  holding the book at arm's length to get the effect。
  〃Of course he will!〃 answered her mother; warmly。  〃It is not only the
  beauty of it; but the affection!  How are you getting on; Dora?〃
  Dora was laboring at a task almost beyond her fourteen years; consisting
  of a negligee shirt of outing flannel; upon the breast of which she was
  embroidering a large; intricate designfor Roscoe。  She was an
  ambitious child; but apt to tire in the execution of her large projects。
  〃I guess it'll be done;〃 she said; a little wearily。 〃What are you going
  to give him; mother?〃
  〃Another bath…robe; his old one is so worn。  And nothing is too good for
  my boy。〃
  〃He's coming;〃 said Adeline; who was still looking down the road; and
  they all concealed their birthday work in haste。
  A tall; straight young fellow; with an air of suddenly…faced maturity
  upon him; opened the gate under the pepper trees and came toward them。
  He had the finely molded features we see in portraits of handsome
  ancestors; seeming to call for curling hair a little longish; and a rich
  profusion of ruffled shirt。  But his hair was sternly short; his shirt
  severely plain; his proudly carried head spoke of effort rather than of
  ease in its attitude。
  Dora skipped to meet him; Cora descended a decorous step or two。
  Madeline and Adeline; arm in arm; met him at the piazza edge; his mother
  lifted her face。
  〃Well; mother; dear!〃  Aff