An Old-Fashioned Girl - Chapter 19

     "Come, Philander ¹, let us be a marching,,     Every one his true love a searching,",WOULD be the most appropriate motto for this chapter, because, intimidated ² by the threats, denunciations, and complaints showered upon me in consequence of taking the liberty to end a certain story as I liked, I now yield to the amiable ⁴ desire of giving satisfaction, and, at the risk of outraging ⁵ all the unities ⁶, intend to pair off everybody I can lay my hands on., ,Occasionally a matrimonial epidemic ⁷ appears, especially toward spring, devastating ⁸ society, thinning the ranks of bachelordom, and leaving mothers lamenting ⁹ for their fairest daughters. That spring the disease broke out with great violence in the Shaw circle, causing paternal ¹⁰ heads much bewilderment, as one case after another appeared with alarming rapidity. Fanny, as we have seen, was stricken first, and hardly had she been carried safely through the crisis, when Tom returned to swell ¹¹ the list of victims. As Fanny was out a good deal with her Arthur, who was sure that exercise was necessary for the convalescent, Polly went every day to see Mrs. Shaw, who found herself lonely, though much better than usual, for the engagement had a finer effect upon her constitution than any tonic ¹² she ever tried. Some three days after Fan's joyful ¹³ call Polly was startled on entering the Shaws' door, by Maud, who came tumbling down stairs, sending an avalanche ¹⁴ of words before her, "He's come before he said he should to surprise us! He's up in mamma's room, and was just saying, 'How's Polly?' when I heard you come, in your creep-mouse way, and you must go right up. He looks so funny with whiskers, but he's ever so nice, real big and brown, and he swung me right up when he kissed me. Never mind your bonnet ¹⁵, I can't wait.", , ,"The sooner it's over the better for me," was the only thought Polly had time for before she plunged ¹⁷ into the room above, propelled by Maud, who cried triumphantly ¹⁸, "There he is! Ain't he splendid?", ,For a minute, everything danced before Polly's eyes, as a hand shook hers warmly, and a gruffish voice said heartily ¹⁹, "How are you, Polly?" Then she slipped into a chair beside Mrs. Shaw, hoping that her reply had been all right and proper, for she had not the least idea what she said., ,I had no time or inclination to philander.我是没有时间拈花惹草的，也不喜欢。,We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯 。