the garden party(园会)-第26章
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his arms and pressed her to him。 〃God bless you； mother！〃 she heard him
say。
And grandma put her hand； with the black thread glove that was worn
through on her ring finger； against his cheek； and she sobbed； 〃God bless
you； my own brave son！〃
This was so awful that Fenella quickly turned her back on them；
swallowed once； twice； and frowned terribly at a little green star on a mast
head。 But she had to turn round again； her father was going。
〃Good…bye； Fenella。 Be a good girl。〃 His cold； wet moustache
brushed her cheek。 But Fenella caught hold of the lapels of his coat。
〃How long am I going to stay？〃 she whispered anxiously。 He
wouldn't look at her。 He shook her off gently； and gently said； 〃We'll see
about that。 Here！ Where's your hand？〃 He pressed something into
her palm。 〃Here's a shilling in case you should need it。〃
A shilling！ She must be going away for ever！ 〃Father！〃 cried
Fenella。 But he was gone。 He was the last off the ship。 The sailors
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put their shoulders to the gangway。 A huge coil of dark rope went flying
through the air and fell 〃thump〃 on the wharf。 A bell rang； a whistle
shrilled。 Silently the dark wharf began to slip； to slide； to edge away
from them。 Now there was a rush of water between。 Fenella strained to
see with all her might。 〃Was that father turning round？〃or waving？or
standing alone？or walking off by himself？ The strip of water grew
broader； darker。 Now the Picton boat began to swing round steady；
pointing out to sea。 It was no good looking any longer。 There was
nothing to be seen but a few lights； the face of the town clock hanging in
the air； and more lights； little patches of them； on the dark hills。
The freshening wind tugged at Fenella's skirts； she went back to her
grandma。 To her relief grandma seemed no longer sad。 She had put the
two sausages of luggage one on top of the other； and she was sitting on
them； her hands folded； her head a little on one side。 There was an intent；
bright look on her face。 Then Fenella saw that her lips were moving and
guessed that she was praying。 But the old woman gave her a bright nod
as if to say the prayer was nearly over。 She unclasped her hands； sighed；
clasped them again； bent forward； and at last gave herself a soft shake。
〃And now； child；〃 she said； fingering the bow of her bonnet…strings； 〃I
think we ought to see about our cabins。 Keep close to me； and mind you
don't slip。〃
〃Yes； grandma！〃
〃And be careful the umbrellas aren't caught in the stair rail。 I saw a
beautiful umbrella broken in half like that on my way over。〃
〃Yes； grandma。〃
Dark figures of men lounged against the rails。 In the glow of their
pipes a nose shone out； or the peak of a cap； or a pair of surprised…looking
eyebrows。 Fenella glanced up。 High in the air； a little figure； his hands
thrust in his short jacket pockets； stood staring out to sea。 The ship
rocked ever so little； and she thought the stars rocked too。 And now a
pale steward in a linen coat； holding a tray high in the palm of his hand；
stepped out of a lighted doorway and skimmed past them。 They went
through that doorway。 Carefully over the high brass…bound step on to the
rubber mat and then down such a terribly steep flight of stairs that
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grandma had to put both feet on each step； and Fenella clutched the
clammy brass rail and forgot all about the swan…necked umbrella。
At the bottom grandma stopped； Fenella was rather afraid she was
going to pray again。 But no； it was only to get out the cabin tickets。
They were in the saloon。 It was glaring bright and stifling； the air
smelled of paint and burnt chop…bones and indiarubber。 Fenella wished
her grandma would go on； but the old woman was not to be hurried。 An
immense basket of ham sandwiches caught her eye。 She went up to them
and touched the top one delicately with her finger。
〃How much are the sandwiches？〃 she asked。
〃Tuppence！〃 bawled a rude steward； slamming down a knife and fork。
Grandma could hardly believe it。
〃Twopence each？〃 she asked。
〃That's right；〃 said the steward； and he winked at his companion。
Grandma made a small； astonished face。 Then she whispered primly
to Fenella。 〃What wickedness！〃 And they sailed out at the further door
and along a passage that had cabins on either side。 Such a very nice
stewardess came to meet them。 She was dressed all in blue； and her
collar and cuffs were fastened with large brass buttons。 She seemed to
know grandma well。
〃Well； Mrs。 Crane；〃 said she； unlocking their washstand。 〃We've got
you back again。 It's not often you give yourself a cabin。〃 〃No；〃 said
grandma。 〃But this time my dear son's thoughtfulness〃
〃I hope〃 began the stewardess。 Then she turned round and took a
long； mournful look at grandma's blackness and at Fenella's black coat and
skirt； black blouse； and hat with a crape rose。
Grandma nodded。 〃It was God's will；〃 said she。
The stewardess shut her lips and； taking a deep breath； she seemed to
expand。
〃What I always say is；〃 she said； as though it was her own discovery；
〃sooner or later each of us has to go； and that's a certingty。〃 She paused。
〃Now； can I bring you anything； Mrs Crane？ A cup of tea？ I know it's
no good offering you a little something to keep the cold out。〃
Grandma shook her head。 〃Nothing； thank you。 We've got a few
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wine biscuits； and Fenella has a very nice banana。〃
〃Then I'll give you a look later on；〃 said the stewardess； and she went
out； shutting the door。
What a very small cabin it was！ It was like being shut up in a box
with grandma。 The dark round eye above the washstand gleamed at them
dully。 Fenella felt shy。 She stood against the door； still clasping her
luggage and the umbrella。 Were they going to get undressed in here？
Already her grandma had taken off her bonnet； and； rolling up the strings；
she fixed each with a pin to the lining before she hung the bonnet up。
Her white hair shone like silk； the little bun at the back was covered with a
black net。 Fenella hardly ever saw her grandma with her head uncovered；
she looked strange。
〃I shall put on the woollen fascinator your dear mother crocheted for
me；〃 said grandma； and； unstrapping the sausage； she took it out and
wound it round her head； the fringe of grey bobbles danced at her
eyebrows as she smiled tenderly and mournfully at Fenella。 Then she
undid her bodice； and something under that； and something else
underneath that。 Then there seemed a short； sharp tussle； and grandma
flushed faintly。 Snip！ Snap！ She had undone her stays。 She
breathed a sigh of relief； and sitting on the plush couch； she slowly and
carefully pulled off her elastic…sided boots and stood them side by side。
By the time Fenella had taken off her coat and skirt and put on her
flannel dressing…gown grandma was quite ready。
〃Must I take off my boots； grandma？ They're lace。〃
Grandma gave them a moment's deep consideration。 〃You'd feel a
great deal more comfortable if you did； child；〃 said she。 She kissed
Fenella。 〃Don't forget to say your prayers。 Our dear Lord is with us
when we are at sea even more than when we are on dry land。 And
because I am an experienced traveller；〃 said grandma briskly； 〃I shall take
the upper berth。〃
〃But； grandma； however will you get up there？〃
Three little spider…like steps were all Fenella saw。 The old woman
gave a small silent laugh before she mounted them nimbly； and she peered
over the high bunk at the astonished Fenella。
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〃You didn't think your grandma could do that； did you？〃 said she。
And as she sank back Fenella heard her light laugh again。
The hard square of brown soap would not lather； and the water in the
bottle was like a kind of blue jelly。 How hard it was； too； to turn down
those stiff sheets； you simply had to tear your way in。 If everything had
been different； Fenella might have got the giggles。。。At last she was inside；
and while she lay there panting； there sounded from above a long； soft
whispering； as though some one was gently； gently rustling among tissue
paper to find something。 It was grandma saying her prayers。。。
A long time passed。 Then the stewardess came in； she trod softly and
leaned her hand on grandma's bunk。
〃We're just entering the Straits；〃 she said。
〃Oh！〃
〃It's a fine night； but we're rather empty。 We may pitch a little。〃
And indeed at that moment the Picton Boat rose and rose and hung in
the air just long enough to give a shiver before she swung down again； and
there was the sound of heavy water slapping against her sides。 Fenella
remembered she had left the swan…necked umbrella standing up on the
little couch。 If it fell over； would it break？ But grandma remem
