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a girl of the limberlost-第2部分
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She had two fleeting impressions。 That it was all a
mistake; this was no school; but a grand display of
enormous ribbon bows; and the second; that she was sinking;
and had forgotten how to walk。 Then a burst from the
orchestra nerved her while a bevy of daintily clad; sweet…
smelling things that might have been birds; or flowers;
or possibly gaily dressed; happy young girls; pushed
her forward。 She found herself plodding across the back of
the auditorium; praying for guidance; to an empty seat。
As the girls passed her; vacancies seemed to open to
meet them。 Their friends were moving over; beckoning
and whispering invitations。 Every one else was seated;
but no one paid any attention to the white…faced girl
stumbling half…blindly down the aisle next the farthest wall。
So she went on to the very end facing the stage。
No one moved; and she could not summon courage to
crowd past others to several empty seats she saw。
At the end of the aisle she paused in desperation; while
she stared back at the whole forest of faces most of which
were now turned upon her。
In a flash came the full realization of her scanty dress;
her pitiful little hat and ribbon; her big; heavy shoes;
her ignorance of where to go or what to do; and from a
sickening wave which crept over her; she felt she was
going to become very ill。 Then out of the mass she saw
a pair of big; brown boy eyes; three seats from her; and
there was a message in them。 Without moving his body
he reached forward and with a pencil touched the back of
the seat before him。 Instantly Elnora took another step
which brought her to a row of vacant front seats。
She heard laughter behind her; the knowledge that
she wore the only hat in the room burned her; every
matter of moment; and some of none at all; cut and stung。
She had no books。 Where should she go when this
was over? What would she give to be on the trail
going home! She was shaking with a nervous chill when
the music ceased; and the superintendent arose; and
coming down to the front of the flower…decked platform;
opened a Bible and began to read。 Elnora did not know
what he was reading; and she felt that she did not care。
Wildly she was racking her brain to decide whether she
should sit still when the others left the room or follow;
and ask some one where the Freshmen went first。
In the midst of the struggle one sentence fell on her ear。
〃Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings。〃
Elnora began to pray frantically。 〃Hide me; O God;
hide me; under the shadow of Thy wings。〃
Again and again she implored that prayer; and before
she realized what was coming; every one had arisen and
the room was emptying rapidly。 Elnora hurried after the
nearest girl and in the press at the door touched her
sleeve timidly。
〃Will you please tell me where the Freshmen go?〃 she
asked huskily。
The girl gave her one surprised glance; and drew away。
〃Same place as the fresh women;〃 she answered; and
those nearest her laughed。
Elnora stopped praying suddenly and the colour crept
into her face。 〃I'll wager you are the first person I meet
when I find it;〃 she said and stopped short。 〃Not that!
Oh; I must not do that!〃 she thought in dismay。 〃Make an
enemy the first thing I do。 Oh; not that!〃
She followed with her eyes as the young people separated
in the hall; some climbing stairs; some disappearing
down side halls; some entering adjoining doors。 She saw
the girl overtake the brown…eyed boy and speak to him。
He glanced back at Elnora with a scowl on his face。
Then she stood alone in the hall。
Presently a door opened and a young woman came out
and entered another room。 Elnora waited until she
returned; and hurried to her。 〃Would you tell me where
the Freshmen are?〃 she panted。
〃Straight down the hall; three doors to your left;〃
was the answer; as the girl passed。
〃One minute please; oh please;〃 begged Elnora:
〃Should I knock or just open the door?〃
〃Go in and take a seat;〃 replied the teacher。
〃What if there aren't any seats?〃 gasped Elnora。
〃Classrooms are never half…filled; there will be plenty;〃
was the answer。
Elnora removed her hat。 There was no place to put
it; so she carried it in her hand。 She looked infinitely
better without it。 After several efforts she at last opened
the door and stepping inside faced a smaller and more
concentrated battery of eyes。
〃The superintendent sent me。 He thinks I belong
here;〃 she said to the professor in charge of the class;
but she never before heard the voice with which she spoke。
As she stood waiting; the girl of the hall passed
on her way to the blackboard; and suppressed laughter
told Elnora that her thrust had been repeated。
〃Be seated;〃 said the professor; and then because he
saw Elnora was desperately embarrassed he proceeded
to lend her a book and to ask her if she had studied algebra。
She said she had a little; but not the same book they were using。
He asked her if she felt that she could do the work they were
beginning; and she said she did。
That was how it happened; that three minutes after
entering the room she was told to take her place beside the
girl who had gone last to the board; and whose flushed face
and angry eyes avoided meeting Elnora's。 Being compelled
to concentrate on her proposition she forgot herself。
When the professor asked that all pupils sign their work
she firmly wrote 〃Elnora Comstock〃 under her demonstration。
Then she took her seat and waited with white lips and
trembling limbs; as one after another professor called
the names on the board; while their owners arose and
explained their propositions; or 〃flunked〃 if they had
not found a correct solution。 She was so eager to catch
their forms of expression and prepare herself for her
recitation; that she never looked from the work on the
board; until clearly and distinctly; 〃Elnora Comstock;〃
called the professor。
The dazed girl stared at the board。 One tiny curl
added to the top of the first curve of the m in her name;
had transformed it from a good old English patronymic
that any girl might bear proudly; to Cornstock。
Elnora sat speechless。 When and how did it happen?
She could feel the wave of smothered laughter in the air
around her。 A rush of anger turned her face scarlet and
her soul sick。 The voice of the professor addressed her directly。
〃This proposition seems to be beautifully demonstrated;
Miss Cornstalk;〃 he said。 〃Surely; you can tell us how
you did it。〃
That word of praise saved her。 She could do good work。
They might wear their pretty clothes; have their friends
and make life a greater misery than it ever before
had been for her; but not one of them should do better
work or be more womanly。 That lay with her。 She was
tall; straight; and handsome as she arose。
〃Of course I can explain my work;〃 she said in
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