【导读】　The garden party是英国女作家Katherine Mansfield的短篇小说。阅读下面有关花园聚会的场景描写，一起享受有音乐、鲜花、美食的美好时刻吧！
【节选】　
The garden party
They need not have worried. The weather was perfect—warm，and without a cloud in the sky.The gardener had been at work since dawn，cutting and brushing the lawns，until the green grass shone. And the roses—the roses were wonderful.Hundreds of flowers had opened during the night.You could almost believe that the roses knew about the garden party!
While the Sheridan girls were having breakfast，the men came with the marquee.
‘Where shall we put the marquee，mother？’asked Meg.
‘My dear child，please don't ask me.I'm determined to make you children organize everything this year.
Forget that I am your mother.Pretend I'm one of your guests.’But Meg could not possibly talk to the men.She had just washed her hair.Jose，as usual，wasn't even dressed yet.
‘You'll have to go，Laura. You're the artistic one in this family.’
Laura flew out of the house，still holding a piece of bread and butter in her hand. Food always tasted delicious out of doors，and Laura loved arranging things. She always felt that she could do it better than anyone else.
Four men were waiting on the garden path.They were carrying big bags of tools，and looked very serious.Laura wished she had left her bread and butter in the house.She blushed，and tried to look business­like.
‘Good morning，’she said，copying her mother's voice.But it sounded so silly that she was ashamed，and asked，just like a little girl，‘Oh，have you come—is it about the marquee？’
marquee marquee
‘That's right，miss，’said the tallest of the men.He pushed back his hat and smiled down at her.
His smile was so friendly that Laura felt better immediately. What nice eyes he had—small，but a lovely dark blue！All the men were smiling now.‘Cheer up！We
won't bite！’they seemed to be saying.How very nice workmen were！And what a beautiful morning！She mustn't mention the morning；she must be business­like.The marquee.
‘Well，shall we put it on the lawn over there？’
She pointed with the hand that was not holding the bread and butter.They all turned and stared.The tall man frowned.
‘I don't like it，’he said.‘You wouldn't notice it there.You see，with a thing like a marquee，you want it where it hits you—bang in the eye，as you might say.’Laura had been brought up in a way which made her wonder for a moment whether a workman should use an expression like‘bang in the eye’to her.But she understood what he meant.
‘A corner of the tennis court，’she suggested.‘But the band's going to be in one corner.’
‘Having a band，are you？’said another workman.He was pale，with a tired look in his dark eyes.What was he thinking?
‘Only a very small band，’Laura said gently.Perhaps he wouldn't mind a very small band. But the tall man said，‘Look here，miss，that's the place.By those trees.Over there.’
By the karaka trees.The marquee would hide them.And the karaka trees were so lovely，with their big，shiny leaves and orange fruit.Must they be hidden by a marquee?
They must.The men were already carrying their bags of tools across the lawn.Only the tall man was left.Suddenly，he bent down touched a rose，and pulled it gently towards him to smell it.
When Laura saw him do that，she forgot about the karakas.He was a workman who loved the perfume of roses.How many of the men that she knew cared about things like that？Oh，how nice workmen are，she thought.Why couldn't she have them for her friends，instead of the silly boys she danced with and who came to Sunday night supper？She liked these men much better.
It's all the fault，she decided，of these stupid differences in social class.Well，for her there were no differences.Absolutely none at all，not a And now there
came the sound of hammers.Someone whistled，someone called out，‘Are you all right，mate？’‘Mate！’How friendly they were！Just to show how happy she was，how she liked being among these friendly men，Laura took a big bite out of her bread and butter. She felt just like a workgirl.
‘Laura，Laura，where are you？Telephone，Laura！’a voice cried from the house.
‘Coming！’She ran across the lawn，up the path and into the house.In the hall，her father and Laurie were brushing their hats，getting ready to go to the office.
‘I say，Laura，’said Laurie，‘take a look at my coat，can you，before this afternoon？I think it needs ironing.’
‘All right，’she said.Suddenly，she couldn't stop herself.She ran up to Laurie and threw her arms around him.‘Oh，I do love parties，don't you！’she cried.
‘I'll say I do！’said Laurie's warm，boyish voice.He gave his sister a gentle push.‘Run off to the phone，old girl.’
The telephone.‘Yes，yes；oh yes.Kitty？Good morning，dear.Come to lunch，my dear！It will be nothing special—just what's left over.Yes，isn't it a perfect morning？Yes，wear your white dress.One moment—mother is saying something.’Mrs Sheridan's voice floated down the stairs.‘Tell her to wear that sweet hat she wore last Sunday.’
‘Mother says you must wear that sweet hat you wore last Sunday.Good.One o'clock.Bye­bye！’
Laura put down the phone，took a deep breath，and stretched out her arms.Then she stood still，li
stening.The house was alive with sounds of running feet and distant voices.Somewhere down in the kitchen，a door opened and closed.Sunlight，and little warm winds，played in and out of the windows. Darling little winds.
The door­bell rang，and she heard a man's voice and then Sadie saying，‘I'm sure I don't know.Wait.I'll ask Mrs Sheridan.’
‘What is it，Sadie？’Laura came into the hall.
‘The flowers have come from the shop，Miss Laura.’
And there they were，by the door.Box after box，full of pots of pink lilies.No
other kind. Nothing but lilies，big pink flowers，wide open and almost frighteningly alive.
园会
他们不必担心。天气再好不过了——暖融融的，没有一丝云彩。园丁们天不亮就开始忙着修剪、清理草坪，直到把青翠的草地收拾得光彩照人。玫瑰花——玫瑰花也艳丽极了。几百朵玫瑰在一夜之间竞相绽放，让你不得不相信它们仿佛也知道要开园会了！
当谢里登家的姑娘们还在吃早饭的时候，搭帐篷的人就到了。
“妈妈，我们把帐篷搭在哪儿？”梅格问。
“乖孩子，请别问我。我决定今年所有的事情都让你们这些孩子来管。别想着我是你们的妈妈，把我当作你们的一位客人吧。”
不过梅格是不可能去和那些人商议这个问题的。她刚洗了头发，而乔斯同平常一样还没有穿戴整齐。
“劳拉，只有你跑一趟了。我们家里你最有艺术眼光。”
劳拉跑了出去，手里还拿着她那块黄油面包。在户外吃东西总是很香甜的，再说，她也乐意管事。她总觉得自己比别人管得好。
四个工人在花园小路上等着。他们背着大工具袋，样子很严肃。劳拉真希望刚才把那块黄油面包留在了屋里。她的脸红了，却努力做出一本正经的样子。
“早上好。”她模仿着母亲的声调说。但是这种声调听起来愚蠢极了，她很不好意思，接着像个小女孩儿似的问：“噢，你们来——是来搭帐篷的吗？”
“没错，小。”个头最高的那个人回答道。他把帽子往后面推了推，低头冲她微笑。
他的笑容是如此的友善，劳拉马上感觉好多了。他的眼睛多好看呀——虽然不大，却是那种迷人的深蓝！所有的人都在微笑。“高兴点儿！我们不会咬你的！”他们仿佛在这么说。多好的工人！多美的早晨！但她可不能谈论这些；得像个办事的样子。搭帐篷吧。
“嗯，我们把帐篷搭在那边的草坪上行吗？”
她用没拿黄油面包的手指着草坪。大家都转身望去。高个子皱起了眉头。
“我不喜欢，”他说，“搭在那儿让人注意不到。你要明白，帐篷这样的东西得搭在一眼就能看到的地方——用你的话来说，就是可以让你眼睛一亮的那种地
方。”
劳拉从小受的家教使她迟疑了一会儿，她不知道工人对她说话是否应该使用“眼睛一亮”这样的字眼。但她明白他的意思。
“搭在网球场的角上吧，”她提议道，“可乐队还要占一角呢。”
“还有乐队，是吗？”另一位工人说。他面苍白，黑眼睛里透着疲惫。他在想什么呢？
“只不过是支很小的乐队。”劳拉轻声回答说。对于很小的乐队他可能是不会介意的。这时高个子说：“小，看这儿。这真是块好地方。就在那些树旁边，就在那儿。”
搭在卡拉卡树周围，那么这些树就会被帐篷挡住。可这些长着发亮的大叶子、结着橘黄果实的树是多么可爱呀。它们非得被帐篷挡住不可吗？
非被挡住不可了。工人们已经背起工具袋走过草坪了，只有高个子没动。突然间，他弯下身去，用手抚摸着一朵玫瑰，轻轻地把花拉到跟前，去闻花的芳香。
劳拉看着高个子，竟忘记了卡拉卡树的事。这位工人竟然会喜欢玫瑰花的香味。她认识的男人中有几个人会在乎这样的东西呢？噢，工人们真是太好了，她想。为什么她不能跟工人们交朋友，却非得和那些同她跳舞、星期天来赴晚餐的傻乎乎的男孩儿们交往呢？跟那些男孩儿们相比，她更喜欢这些人。
劳拉认定一切都是这些讨厌的社会阶层差别造成的。然而，对于她来说是没有这些差别的。绝对没有，一丁点儿也没有……这时传来了锤子的敲击声。有人吹着口哨，有人大声喊道：“还行吗，伙计？”“伙计！”他们是多么友善啊！只是为了证明她有多么快活，证明她多么喜欢待在这些友好的人当中，劳拉咬了一大口黄油面包。她觉得自己就像是个女工。
“劳拉，劳拉，你在哪儿？有你的电话，劳拉！”有人在房子里喊着。
“来啦！”她跑过草坪，沿着小路跑进屋里。大厅里，父亲和劳里正在刷帽子，准备去上班。
“喂，劳拉，”劳里说，“下午之前帮我检查一下外套好吗？可能需要熨一熨。”
“没问题。”劳拉答道。突然间，她情不自禁的跑向劳里去拥抱她。“噢，我真喜欢聚会！你呢？”她大声问道。
“我也喜欢！”劳里用他那热情而又孩子气的声音回答道。他也轻轻地抱了抱妹妹。“快去接电话，小丫头。”
得接电话。“喂，是我；噢，是的。基蒂？早上好，亲爱的。来吃午饭吧，亲爱的！没什么特别招待的——只有些剩饭菜。是呀，多么美妙的早晨呀！对，穿上你的白裙子。等一下——妈妈有话说。”
从楼上传来谢里登夫人的声音：“告诉她戴上上个星期天戴的那顶漂亮帽子。”
“我妈妈叫你务必戴你上星期天戴的那顶漂亮帽子。好的，1点钟，再见！”
劳拉放下电话，深吸了一口气，舒展开双臂。然后她一动不动地站着，侧耳聆听。奔跑的脚步声和远处的话语声让整个房子都活了起来。在厨房的某个地方，有扇门忽开忽闭。阳光和煦暖的微风从窗口进进出出，仿佛在嬉戏玩耍。好可爱的微风。
门铃响了，她听到一个男子的声音，紧接着她听到萨迪说：“我不知道有这回事。请等一下，我去问问谢里登夫人。”
“什么事，萨迪？”劳拉走进大厅。
“在店里订的花到了，劳拉小。”
那些花就在门旁放着。一箱又一箱的，箱子里装满了盆栽的粉百合花。没有其他品种，只有百合花。大朵大朵的粉百合花怒放着，那股生机咄咄逼人。
[知识积累]
1．marquee n．(游园会，花展等表演用的)大帐篷
2．hit v.一眼就能看出来
3．perfume n.香味；芳香
4．stupid adj.讨厌的，恼人的
5．lawn n.草坪
6．stretch v.伸长，伸展
[文化链接]
解读《园会》
短篇小说《园会》就像一张照片，记录下人们生活中的某些瞬间。人们在这些瞬间或微笑，或蹙眉，或忧伤或快乐，或惊奇……

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