the golden road-第5章
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Even Pat had a ribbon of blue； which he clawed off and lost half an hour after it was tied on him。 Pat did not care for vain adornments of the body。
We had a glorious Christmas dinner； fit for the halls of Lucullus； and ate far more than was good for us； none daring to make us afraid on that one day of the year。 And in the eveningoh； rapture and delight！we went to Kitty Marr's party。
It was a fine December evening； the sharp air of morning had mellowed until it was as mild as autumn。 There had been no snow； and the long fields； sloping down from the homestead； were brown and mellow。 A weird； dreamy stillness had fallen on the purple earth； the dark fir woods； the valley rims； the sere meadows。 Nature seemed to have folded satisfied hands to rest； knowing that her long wintry slumber was coming upon her。
At first； when the invitations to the party had come； Aunt Janet had said we could not go； but Uncle Alec interceded in our favour； perhaps influenced thereto by Cecily's wistful eyes。 If Uncle Alec had a favourite among his children it was Cecily； and he had grown even more indulgent towards her of late。 Now and then I saw him looking at her intently； and； following his eyes and thought； I had； somehow； seen that Cecily was paler and thinner than she had been in the summer； and that her soft eyes seemed larger； and that over her little face in moments of repose there was a certain languor and weariness that made it very sweet and pathetic。 And I heard him tell Aunt Janet that he did not like to see the child getting so much the look of her Aunt Felicity。
〃Cecily is perfectly well；〃 said Aunt Janet sharply。 〃She's only growing very fast。 Don't be foolish； Alec。〃
But after that Cecily had cups of cream where the rest of us got only milk； and Aunt Janet was very particular to see that she had her rubbers on whenever she went out。
On this merry Christmas evening； however； no fears or dim foreshadowings of any coming event clouded our hearts or faces。 Cecily looked brighter and prettier than I had ever seen her； with her softly shining eyes and the nut brown gloss of her hair。 Felicity was too beautiful for words； and even the Story Girl； between excitement and the crimson silk array； blossomed out with a charm and allurement more potent than any regular loveliness and this in spite of the fact that Aunt Olivia had tabooed the red satin slippers and mercilessly decreed that stout shoes should be worn。
〃I know just how you feel about it； you daughter of Eve；〃 she said； with gay sympathy； 〃but December roads are damp； and if you are going to walk to Marrs' you are not going to do it in those frivolous Parisian concoctions； even with overboots on； so be brave； dear heart； and show that you have a soul above little red satin shoes。〃
〃Anyhow；〃 said Uncle Roger； 〃that red silk dress will break the hearts of all the feminine small fry at the party。 You'd break their spirits； too； if you wore the slippers。 Don't do it； Sara。 Leave them one wee loophole of enjoyment。〃
〃What does Uncle Roger mean？〃 whispered Felicity。
〃He means you girls are all dying of jealousy because of the Story Girl's dress；〃 said Dan。
〃I am not of a jealous disposition；〃 said Felicity loftily； 〃and she's entirely welcome to the dresswith a complexion like that。〃
But we enjoyed that party hugely； every one of us。 And we enjoyed the walk home afterwards； through dim； enshadowed fields where silvery star…beams lay； while Orion trod his stately march above us； and a red moon climbed up the black horizon's rim。 A brook went with us part of the way； singing to us through the darka gay； irresponsible vagabond of valley and wilderness。
Felicity and Peter walked not with us。 Peter's cup must surely have brimmed over that Christmas night。 When we left the Marr house； he had boldly said to Felicity； 〃May I see you home？〃 And Felicity； much to our amazement； had taken his arm and marched off with him。 The primness of her was indescribable； and was not at all ruffled by Dan's hoot of derision。 As for me； I was consumed by a secret and burning desire to ask the Story Girl if I might see HER home； but I could not screw my courage to the sticking point。 How I envied Peter his easy； insouciant manner！ I could not emulate him； so Dan and Felix and Cecily and the Story Girl and I all walked hand in hand； huddling a little closer together as we went through James Frewen's woodsfor there are strange harps in a fir grove； and who shall say what fingers sweep them？ Mighty and sonorous was the music above our heads as the winds of the night stirred the great boughs tossing athwart the starlit sky。 Perhaps it was that aeolian harmony which recalled to the Story Girl a legend of elder days。
〃I read such a pretty story in one of Aunt Olivia's books last night；〃 she said。 〃It was called 'The Christmas Harp。' Would you like to hear it？ It seems to me it would just suit this part of the road。〃
〃There isn't anything aboutabout ghosts in it； is there？〃 said Cecily timidly。
〃Oh； no； I wouldn't tell a ghost story here for anything。 I'd frighten myself too much。 This story is about one of the shepherds who saw the angels on the first Christmas night。 He was just a youth； and he loved music with all his heart； and he longed to be able to express the melody that was in his soul。 But he could not； he had a harp and he often tried to play on it； but his clumsy fingers only made such discord that his companions laughed at him and mocked him； and called him a madman because he would not give it up； but would rather sit apart by himself； with his arms about his harp； looking up into the sky； while they gathered around their fire and told tales to wile away their long night vigils as they watched their sheep on the hills。 But to him the thoughts that came out of the great silence were far sweeter than their mirth； and he never gave up the hope； which sometimes left his lips as a prayer； that some day he might be able to express those thoughts in music to the tired； weary； forgetful world。 On the first Christmas night he was out with his fellow shepherds on the hills。 It was chill and dark； and all； except him； were glad to gather around the fire。 He sat； as usual； by himself； with his harp on his knee and a great longing in his heart。 And there came a marvellous light in the sky and over the hills； as if the darkness of the night had suddenly blossomed into a wonderful meadow of flowery flame； and all the shepherds saw the angels and heard them sing。 And as they sang； the harp that the young shepherd held began to play softly by itself； and as he listened to it he realized that it was playing the same music that the angels sang and that all his secret longings and aspirations and strivings were expressed in it。 From that night； whenever he took the harp in his hands； it played the same music； and he wandered all over the world carrying it； wherever the sound of its music was heard hate and discord fled away and peace and good…will reigned。 No one who heard it could think an evil thought； no one could feel hopeless or despairing or bitter or angry。 When a man had once heard that music it entered into his soul and heart and life and became a part of him for ever。 Years went by； the shepherd grew old and bent and feeble； but still he roamed over land and sea； that his harp might carry the message of the Christmas night and the angel song to all mankind。 At last his strength failed him and he fell by the wayside in the darkness； but his harp played as his spirit passed； and it seemed to him that a Shining One stood by him； with wonderful starry eyes； and said to him； 'Lo； the music thy harp has played for so many years has been but the echo of the love and sympathy and purity and beauty in thine own soul； and if at any time in the wanderings thou hadst opened the door of that soul to evil or envy or selfishness thy harp would have ceased to play。 Now thy life is ended； but what thou hast given to mankind has no end； and as long as the world lasts； so long will the heavenly music of the Christmas harp ring in the ears of men。' When the sun rose the old shepherd lay dead by the roadside； with a smile on his face； and in his hands wa
