Jo's Boys - Charter 18

The clerk of the weather evidently has a regard for young people, and sends sunshine for class days as often as he can. An especially lovely one shone over Plumfield as this interesting anniversary came round, bringing the usual accompaniments of roses, strawberries, white-gowned girls, beaming youths, proud friends, and stately dignitaries full of well-earned satisfaction with the yearly harvest. As Laurence College was a mixed one, the presence of young women as students gave to the occasion a grace and animation ² entirely ³ wanting where the picturesque ⁴ half of creation appear merely as spectators. The hands that turned the pages of wise books also possessed ⁵ the skill to decorate the hall with flowers; eyes tired with study shone with hospitable ⁶ warmth on the assembling guests; and under the white muslins beat hearts as full of ambition, hope, and courage as those agitating ⁷ the broadcloth of the ruling sex., ,College Hill, Parnassus, and old Plum swarmed ⁸ with cheery faces, as guests, students, and professors hurried to and fro in the pleasant excitement of arriving and receiving. Everyone was welcomed cordially, whether he rolled up in a fine carriage, or trudged ⁹ afoot to see the good son or daughter come to honour on the happy day that rewarded many a mutual ¹⁰ sacrifice. Mr Laurie and his wife were on the reception committee, and their lovely house was overflowing ¹¹. Mrs Meg, with Daisy and Jo as aides, was in demand among the girls, helping ¹² on belated toilettes, giving an eye to spreads, and directing the decorations. Mrs Jo had her hands full as President's lady, and the mother of Ted ¹³; for it took all the power and skill of that energetic woman to get her son into his Sunday best., ,Not that he objected to be well arrayed; far from it; he adored good clothes, and owing to his great height already revelled ¹⁵ in a dress-suit, bequeathed him by a dandy friend. The effect was very funny; but he would wear it in spite of the jeers ¹⁶ of his mates, and sighed vainly for a beaver ¹⁷, because his stern parent drew the line there. He pleaded that English lads of ten wore them and were 'no end nobby'; but his mother only answered, with a consoling pat of the yellow mane:, , ,Denied this noble badge of manhood, Ted soothed ¹⁹ his wounded soul by appearing in collars of an amazing height and stiffness, and ties which were the wonder of all female eyes. This freak was a sort of vengeance ²⁰ on his hard-hearted mother; for the collars drove the laundress to despair, never being just right, and the ties required such art in the tying that three women sometimes laboured long before - like Beau Brummel - he turned from a heap of 'failures' with the welcome words: 'That will do.' Rob was devoted ²¹ on these trying occasions, his own toilet being distinguished ²² only by its speed, simplicity ²³, and neatness. Ted was usually in a frenzy ²⁴ before he was suited, and roars, whistles, commands, and groans ²⁵ were heard from the den ¹ wherein the Lion raged and the Lamb patiently toiled ²⁶. Mrs Jo bore it till boots were hurled ²⁷ and a rain of hair-brushes set in, then, fearing for the safety of her eldest ²⁸, she would go to the rescue, and by a wise mixture of fun and authority finally succeed in persuading Ted that he was 'a thing of beauty', if not 'a joy for ever'. At last he would stalk majestically ²⁹ forth ³⁰, imprisoned ³¹ in collars compared to which those worn by Dickens's afflicted ³² Biler were trifles not worth mentioning. The dresscoat was a little loose in the shoulders, but allowed a noble expanse of glossy ³³ bosom ³⁴ to be seen, and with a delicate handkerchief negligently ³⁵ drooping ³⁶ at the proper angle, had a truly fine effect. Boots that shone, and likewise pinched, appeared at one end of the 'long, black clothes-pin' - as Josie called him - -and a youthful but solemn face at the other, carried at an angle which, if long continued, would have resulted in spinal ³⁷ curvature. Light gloves, a cane ³⁸, and - oh, bitter drop in the cup of joy! - an ignominious ³⁹ straw hat, not to mention a choice floweret in the buttonhole, and a festoon of watchguard below, finished off this impressive boy., ,'How's that for style?' he asked, appearing to his mother and cousins whom he was to escort to the hall on this particular occasion., ,The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子
。,They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。