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GREEK
Phrase Book
&Dictionary
Philippa Goodrich
Language consultant: Maria Dikeakou Gaffney
Greek Phrase Book and Dictionary
Published 2005
Sixth impression 2011
ISBN 978-0-563-51922-5
iv
bars and cafés 72 bargaining 109
comments and requests 74 photography 109
special requirements 74 at the off-licence 111
problems and complaints 76 at the post office 112
paying the bill 76 at the bank 113
buying food 77 changing money 115
menu reader: telephones 116
– drinks 79 mobiles 118
– food 80 the internet 119
sightseeing faxes 120
&activities 85
health&safety 121
at the tourist office 86
at the chemist’s 122
opening times 87
at the doctor’s 123
visiting places 88
describing your
going on tours
symptoms 124
and trips 90
medical complaints
tourist glossary 92
and conditions 125
entertainment 92
parts of the body 127
booking tickets 95
at the dentist’s 129
at the show 96
emergencies 130
sports and activities 97
police 132
at the beach, river
reporting crime 133
or pool 100
basic grammar 135
shops
&services 101 English – Greek
shopping 102 dictionary 143
paying 105
buying clothes Greek – English
dictionary 183
and shoes 106
changing rooms 107
exchanges and refunds 108
v
pronunciation guide
The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, most of which will
look or sound familiar as they also exist in English. If you
follow the guide, pronunciation shouldn’t be a problem as
almost all of the sounds already exist in English.
All Greek words of more than one syllable are written
with a stress mark, e.g. Καλημέρα, which indicates where
you should put the emphasis. In this book the stressed
syllable appears in bold type, e.g. kaleemera.
* vowels
letter name and
pronunciation
approx english
equivalent
shown in
book as
* consonants
letter name and approx english shown in
pronunciation equivalent book as
*Note: The letter ‘σ’ is used at the beginning and in the middle of the word
pronunciation guide
whereas the ‘ς’ is used only at the end, e.g. Κώστας, ίσως.
* vowel combinations
letter approx english for
equivalent example
Note: As in English, double letters, e.g. ‘ll’, ‘rr’ etc., are pronounced as one, e.g.
θάλασσα (thalassa), αλλά (alla).
* consonant combinations
letter approx english shown in
equivalent book as
The combination ‘γχ’ is pronounced like the ‘gh’ in ‘Nottingham’. For example,
παιγχνίδι (peghneedhee).
viii
the basics
essentials 2
numbers 4
ordinal numbers 5
fractions 6
days, months 6
seasons, dates 7
telling the time 7
time phrases 8
measurements 10
clothes and shoe sizes 11
national holidays and festivals 12
*essentials
Hello. Γεια σας. yasas
Goodbye. Αντίο. andeeo
Good morning. Καλημέρα. kaleemera
Good evening. Καλησπέρα. kaleespera
Good night. Καληνύχτα. kaleeneehta
Yes. Ναι. ne
No. Όχι. ohee
Please. Παρακαλώ. parakalo
Thank you Ευχαριστώ efhareesto
(very much). (πολύ). (polee)
You’re welcome./ Παρακαλώ. parakalo
Don’t mention it.
I don’t know. Δεν ξέρω. dhen ksero
I don’t understand. Δεν καταλαβαίνω. dhen katalaveno
I don’t speak Δεν μιλάω πολλά dhen meelao pola
much Greek. Ελληνικά. eleeneeka
Do you speak Μιλάτε Αγγλικά; meelate angleeka
the basics
English?
Pardon? Συγνώμη; seegnomee
Could you repeat Μπορείτε να το boreete na to
that please? επαναλάβετε epanalavete
παρακαλώ; parakalo
More slowly, please. Πιο αργά, pio arga
παρακαλώ. parakalo
2
How do you say Πώς το λέτε στα pos to lete sta
it in Greek? Ελληνικά; eleeneeka
Excuse me. Με συγχωρείτε. me seenhoreete
Sorry! Συγνώμη! seegnomee
OK, fine./That’s Εντάξει. entaksee
all right.
Cheers! Στην υγειά σας! steen eeyiasas
I’d like… Θα ήθελα... tha eethela…
Is there (any)...? Υπάρχει...; eeparhee…
Are there (any)...? Υπάρχουν...; eeparhoon…
Do you have…? Έχετε...; ehete…
What’s this? Τι είναι αυτό; tee eene afto
How much is it? Πόσο κάνει αυτό; poso kanee afto
Can I....? Μπορώ...; boro...
Can we…? Μπορούμε...; boroome…
Where is/are…? Πού είναι...; poo eene…
the basics
* numbers
1 ένα ena
2 δύο dheeo
3 τρία treea
4 τέσσερα tesera
5 πέντε pende
6 έξι eksee
7 εφτά (επτά) efta (epta)
8 οχτώ (οκτώ) ohto (okto)
9 εννέα (εννιά) ennea (ennia)
10 δέκα dheka
11 έντεκα endeka
12 δώδεκα dhodheka
13 δεκατρία dhekatreea
14 δεκατέσσερα dhekatessera
15 δεκαπέντε dhekapende
16 δεκαέξι dhekaeksee
17 δεκαεφτά (δεκαεπτά) dhekaefta (dhekaepta)
18 δεκαοχτώ (δεκαοκτώ) dhekaohto (dhekaokto)
19 δεκαεννέα dhekaennea
(δεκαεννιά) (dhekaennia)
20 είκοσι eekosee
21 είκοσι ένα eekosee ena
22... είκοσι δύο... eekosee dheeo…
the basics
30 τριάντα treeanda
31 τριάντα ένα treeanda ena
40 σαράντα saranda
50 πενήντα peneenda
60 εξήντα ekseenda
70 εβδομήντα evdhomeenda
80 ογδόντα ogdhonda
90 ενενήντα eneneenda
100 εκατό ekato
4
ordinal numbers
* ordinal numbers
first πρώτος-η-ο (m-f-n) protos-ee-o
second δεύτερος-η-ο defteros-ee-o
third τρίτος-η-ο treetos-ee-o
the basics
* fractions
a quarter τέταρτο tetarto
a half μισό meeso
three-quarters τρία τέταρτα treea tetarta
a third ένα τρίτο ena treeto
two-thirds δύο τρίτα dheeo treeta
* days
Monday Δευτέρα dheftera
Tuesday Τρίτη treetee
Wednesday Τετάρτη tetartee
Thursday Πέμπτη pemptee
Friday Παρασκευή paraskevee
Saturday Σάββατο savato
Sunday Κυριακή keeriakee
* months
January Ιανουάριος eeanooareeos
February Φεβρουάριος fevrooareeos
March Μάρτιος marteeos
April Απρίλιος apreeleeos
the basics
* seasons
spring άνοιξη aneexee
summer καλοκαίρι kalokeree
autumn φθινόπωρο ftheenoporo
winter χειμώνας heemonas
* dates
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● What day is it Τι μέρα είναι σήμερα; tee mera eene
today? seemera
● What date is it Τι ημερομηνία έχουμε tee eemeromeeneea
today? σήμερα; ehoome seemera
● When is... Πότε είναι... pote eene...
your birthday? τα γενέθλιά σου; ta yenethleea soo
Easter? το Πάσχα; to pasha
● (It’s) the fifteenth (Είναι) δεκαπέντε (eene) dhekapende
of April. Απριλίου. apreeleeoo
● On the fifteenth Στις δεκαπέντε stees dhekapende
of April. Απριλίου. apreeleeoo
* time phrases
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
the basics
8
time phrases
9
measurements
* measurements
MEASUREMENTS
centimetres εκατοστά ekatosta
metres μέτρα metra
kilometres χιλιόμετρα heeliometra
miles μίλια meeleea
10
clothes and shoe sizes
CONVERSIONS
1km = 0.62 miles 200g = 7oz
1 mile = 1.61km ¼lb = 113g
1 litre = 1.8 pints ½ kilo = 1.1lb
100g = 3.5oz ½lb = 225g
1oz = 28g 1 kilo = 2.2lb
To convert multiply by To convert multiply by
centimetres to inches 0.3937 inches to centimetres 2.54
kilometres to miles 0.6214 miles to kilometres 1.6090
grammes to ounces 0.0353 ounces to grammes 28.35
kilogrammes to pounds 2.2050 pounds to kilogrammes 0.4536
men’s clothes
UK 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Continent 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
men’s shirts
UK 14 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17
the basics
Continent 36 37 38 39 41 42 43
shoes
UK 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Continent 35 36 37 38 39 41 42
UK 9 10 11 12
Continent 43 44 45 46/47
11
national holidays
Italians in 1941
Παραμονή Christmas Eve 24 December
Χριστουγέννων
12
greetings 14
introductions 15
talking about yourself 15
asking about other people 17
chatting 18
the weather 19
likes and dislikes 20
feelings and opinions 21
making arrangements 23
useful expressions 24
general
conversation
greetings
● The most common greeting, Γεια σας
(yasas), means ‘Hello’ and also ‘Goodbye’.
Καλημέρα (Good morning) is used till 4pm,
Καλησπέρα (Good evening) until nightfall,
and Καληνύχτα (Goodnight) after dark.
Greeks often kiss both cheeks on meeting.
* greetings
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● Hello/Goodbye.
(to one person, Γεια σου. yasoo
(informally)
(formal/to more Γεια σας. yasas
(than one person)
● Good morning. Καλημέρα. kaleemera
● Good afternoon. Χαίρετε herete
general conversation
* introductions
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● My name is… Με λένε... me lene…
● This is… Αυτός είναι... aftos eene…
David Brown ο David Brown o david brown
my husband ο άντρας μου o andras moo
my partner (m) ο σύντροφός μου o seendrofos moo
● This is… Αυτή είναι... aftee eene…
Jane Clark η Jane Clark ee jane clark
my wife η γυναίκα μου ee yeeneka moo
my partner (f) η σύντροφός μου ee seendrofos moo
● Pleased to meet Χαίρω πολύ. hero polee
you.
επαγγελματίας epaggelmateeas
● I‘m… Είμαι... eeme…
married (m/f) παντρεμένος/ pandremenos/
παντρεμένη pandremenee
divorced (m/f) διαζευγμένος/ dheeazevgmenos/
διαζευγμένη dheeazevgmenee
separated (m/f) χωρισμένος/ horeesmenos/
χωρισμένη horeesmenee
single (m/f) ελεύθερος/ eleftheros/
ελεύθερη eleftheree
● I have… Έχω... eho…
three children τρία παιδιά treea pedhia
one sister μία αδελφή meea adhelfee
16
asking about other people
general conversation
an estate agent μεσίτης/ meseetees/
(m/f) μεσίτρια meseetreea
* chatting
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● Greece is very Η Ελλάδα είναι πολύ ee elladha eene
beautiful. όμορφη. polee omorfee
● It’s the first time Πρώτη φορά έρχομαι protee fora erhome
I’ve been to στην Ελλάδα. steen elladha
Greece.
18
the weather
general conversation
Ελλάδα; steen elladha Greece before?
● Πόσο θα μείνετε; poso tha meenete How long are you
here for?
● Μιλάτε ελληνικά meelate elleeneeka Your Greek is very
πολύ καλά. polee kala good.
* the weather
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● It’s a beautiful Είναι ωραία μέρα! eene orea mera
day/morning!
● What fantastic Τι φανταστικός καιρός! tee fandasteekos
weather! keros
19
likes and dislikes
●
beer η μπύρα ee beera
● I like… (plural) Μ’ αρέσουν... maresoon...
strawberries οι φράουλες ee fraooles
● I quite like… Μ’ αρέσει αρκετά... maresei arketa...
● I really like… Μ’ αρέσει πολύ... maresei polee...
● I love… Αγαπώ... agapo...
sailing την ιστιοπλοΐα teen
eesteeoploeea
● I don’t like… Δεν μ’ αρέσει... dhen maresee...
her αυτή aftee
● I don’t like… Δεν μ’ αρέσουν... dhen maresoon...
tomatoes οι ντομάτες ee domates
20
feelings and opinions
general conversation
upset? (m/f) στεναχωρημένος/ stenahoreemenos/
στεναχωρημένη stenahoreemenee
● Are you (too)…
cold? Κρυώνετε (πολύ); kreeonete (polee)
hot? Ζεσταίνεστε (πολύ); zesteneste (polee)
● I’m ( just)… Είμαι (απλώς)... eeme (aplos)...
tired (m/f) κουρασμένος/ koorasmenos/
κουρασμένη koorasmenee
sad (m/f) λυπημένος/ leepeemenos/
λυπημένη leepeemenee
embarrassed σε αμηχανία se ameehaneea
● I’m a bit Είμαι λίγο eeme leego
annoyed. (m/f) ενοχλημένος/ enohleemenos/
ενοχλημένη. enohleemenee
21
feelings and opinions
* making arrangements
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● What are you Τι κάνεις απόψε; tee kaneis apopse
doing tonight?
● Would you like… Θέλεις... theleis...
a drink? ένα ποτό; ena poto
something to κάτι να φας; katee na fas
eat?
to come with να έρθεις μαζί μας; na ertheis mazee
general conversation
us? mas
● Yes, please. Ναι, ευχαριστώ. ne efhareesto
● No, thank you. Όχι, ευχαριστώ. ohee efhareesto
● That’d be great. Θαύμα. thavma
● What time shall Τι ώρα να tee ora na
we meet? συναντηθούμε; seenanteethoome
● Where shall we Πού να poo na
meet? συναντηθούμε; seenanteethoome
● See you… Θα σε δω... tha se dho...
later αργότερα argotera
at seven στις εφτά stees efta
23
useful expressions
*(seeuseful expressions
essentials, page 2)
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● Congratulations! Συγχαρητήρια! seenhareeteereea
● Happy birthday! Χρόνια Πολλά! hronia pola
general conversation
24
travel&transport
arriving in the country 26
directions 28
information and tickets 30
trains 32
buses and coaches 34
underground 35
boats and ferries 36
air travel 38
taxis 39
hiring cars and bicycles 41
driving 43
mechanical problems 45
car parts 47
bicycle parts 48
arriving in the country
27
directions
* directions
YOU MAY SEE...
Αγορά market place
Γκαλερί art gallery
Διάβαση πεζών pedestrian crossing
Δρόμος street
Εκκλησία (Ναός) church
Η Βουλή the parliament
Ιδιωτικός-ή-ό private
Κάστρο castle
Κεντρικός σταθμός main station
Μετρό underground
Μητρόπολη cathedral
Μουσείο museum
Οδός street (followed by its name)
travel and transport
29
information and tickets
30
information and tickets
*(seetrains
information and tickets, page 30)
● You can get information, and buy
and book tickets at train stations, travel
travel and transport
Εισιτήρια tickets
Είσοδος entrance
Εκδοτήριο εισιτηρίων ticket office
Εκτός Κυριακής except Sunday
Έξοδος exit
Καθημερινά daily
Κουκέτες couchettes
Κρατήσεις θέσεων reservations
Ντουλαπάκια για τις αποσκευές luggage lockers
Μη σκύβετε έξω do not lean out
Πληροφορίες information
Πληροφορίες για διαμονή accommodation
information
Προορισμός destination
Προς αποβάθρες to the platforms
34
underground
*(seeunderground
information and tickets, page 30)
YOU MAY SEE...
Απαγορεύεται το Κάπνισμα no smoking
Είσοδος entrance
Έξοδος exit
Μετρό underground
Πληροφορίες information
35
boats and ferries
36
boats and ferries
37
air travel
*(seeairinformation
travel
and tickets, page 30)
YOU MAY SEE...
Αίθουσα Αναχωρήσεων departure lounge
Αναχωρήσεις departures
Αναχωρήσεις Εξωτερικού international departures
Αναχωρήσεις Εσωτερικού domestic departures
Ασφάλεια security
Αφίξεις arrivals
Ενοικιάσεις Αυτοκινήτων car hire
Παραλαβή Αποσκευών luggage reclaim
Προσδεθείτε fasten seatbelts
38
taxis
*(seetaxis
directions, page 28)
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY...
● Is there a taxi Υπάρχει πιάτσα ταξί eeparhee piatsa
rank round here? εδώ γύρω; taksee edho yeero
39
taxis
40
hiring cars and bicycles
41
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“Let’s go in this way,” said Dolly; “it’s nearer, and I can skin up to
my room and brush my hair. I don’t want Auntie Rachel to think I’m
always messy.”
In at the back door they went, and as the kitchen was deserted,
they looked around in some surprise.
“Might as well catch a bun,” said Dick, seeing a panful of rolls in
the warming oven.
The hungry children each took a roll, and then sped on up to
their rooms, intent on tidying themselves for breakfast.
“For goodness’ sake, Dolly!” exclaimed Dick’s voice through the
door, “it’s after nine o’clock! Do you s’pose they’ve had breakfast,
and where is everybody?”
“After nine o’clock!” said Dolly, opening the door, to make sure
she had heard aright. “Well, if this isn’t the queerest house! Hurry
up, Dick, and brush your hair, and we’ll go down and see what’s the
matter. I know they haven’t had breakfast, for the kitchen range was
all full of cereals and things.”
A few moments later, two neat and well-brushed children tripped
gaily downstairs. They went into the library, where their two aunts,
nearly in a state of collapse, were reposing in armchairs.
“Good-morning, aunties,” said the twins, blithely. “Are we late?”
Miss Abbie gasped and closed her eyes, at the astonishing sight,
but Miss Rachel, who was of a different nature, felt all her anxiety
turn to exasperation, and she said, sternly:
“You naughty children! Where have you been?”
“Why, we just got up early, and went to look around the place,”
volunteered Dolly, “and we didn’t know it got late so soon.”
“But where were you? We’ve searched the place over.”
“We went to the woods,” said Dick. “You see, Aunt Abbie, I felt
as if I must screech a little, and we thought if we stayed too near
the house, we might wake you up. It was awful early then. I don’t
see how nine o’clock came so soon! Did we keep breakfast back? I’m
sorry.”
“Why did you want to screech?” said Miss Abbie, quickly. “Are you
homesick?”
“Oh, no! I mean screech for joy. Just shout, you know, for fun,
and jump around, and turn somersaults. I always do those things
when I’m glad. But as it turned out, we couldn’t, very much, for we
were watching for fairies, and then for squirrels, so we had to be
quiet after all.”
“And so you wanted to shout for joy, did you?” asked Aunt
Rachel, much mollified at the compliments they paid so
unconsciously.
“Oh, yes’m! Everything is so beautiful, and so—so sort of
enchanted.”
“Enchanted?”
“Yes; full of fairies, and sprites. The woods, you know, and the
pond, and the fountain,—oh, Dana Dene is the finest place I ever
saw!”
Dick’s enthusiasm was so unfeigned, and his little face shone
with such intense happiness, that Miss Rachel hadn’t the heart to
scold him after all. So, resolving to tell the twins later of the trouble
they had caused, she went away to tell Delia to send in breakfast,
and to tell Michael to go and find Patrick, for the twins had returned.
“Oh, how good the cool ripply water did feel!” (Page 10)
“You see,” explained Dolly, as they sat at breakfast, “we went out
of the house at half-past seven, by the big, hall clock. And I thought
then we’d stay an hour, and get back in time to fix up before we saw
you. We’re not very good at keeping clean.”
“So I see,” said Aunt Abbie, glancing at several grass stains and a
zigzag tear that disfigured Dolly’s frock.
“Yes’m; so we ’most always try to get in to meals ahead of time,
and that ’lows us to spruce up some.”
“We try to,” said Dick, honestly, “but we don’t always do it.”
“No,” returned Dolly, calmly; “’most never. But isn’t it ’stonishing
how fast the time goes when you think there’s plenty?”
“It is,” said Aunt Rachel, a little grimly. “And now that you’re to
live here, you’ll have to mend your ways, about being late, for I
won’t have tardiness in my house.”
“All right,” said Dolly, cheerfully; “I’ll hunt up my watch. It doesn’t
go very well, except when it lies on its face; but if I put it in my
pocket upside down, maybe it’ll go.”
“It must be a valuable watch,” remarked Aunt Abbie.
“Yes’m, it is. Auntie Helen gave it to me for a good-by gift, but I
looked at it so often, that I thought it would be handier to wear it
hanging outside, like a locket, you know. Well, I did, and then it
banged into everything I met. And the chain caught on everything,
and the watch got dented, and the crystal broke, and one hand
came off. But it was the long hand, so as long as the hour hand goes
all right, I can guess at the time pretty good. If I’d just had it with
me this morning, we’d been all right. I’m real sorry we were late.”
Aunt Rachel smiled, but it was rather a grim smile.
“I don’t set much store by people who are sorry,” she said; “what
I like, are people who don’t do wrong things the second time. If you
are never late to breakfast again, that will please me more than
being sorry for this morning’s escapade.”
“I’ll do both,” said Dolly, generously, and indeed, the twins soon
learned to be prompt at meals, which is a habit easily acquired, if
one wishes to acquire it.
CHAPTER IV
GARDENS
“N ow, children,” said Aunt Rachel, as they all went into the library,
after breakfast, “you may play around as you choose, but I
don’t want you to go off the premises without permission. No more
wading in the brook, and coming home looking disreputable. You
may go to our wood, or anywhere on the place, and stay as long as
you like, provided you are here and properly tidy at meal-times But
outside the gates, without permission, you must not go: Can I trust
you?”
“Yes, indeed, Aunt Rachel,” said Dick; “I’m sure we don’t want to
go anywhere else, with all this beautiful place to play in. Why, we
haven’t half explored it yet. Pat says there are thirty acres! Think of
that!”
“Yes, it’s a fine old place,” said Miss Rachel, with justifiable pride
in her ancestral home. “And I’m glad to have you young people in it,
if you’ll only behave yourselves, and not keep us everlastingly in hot
water.”
“We do want to be good, Auntie,” said Dolly, in her sweet way;
“and if we’re bad a few times, just till we learn your ways, you know,
you’ll forgive us, won’t you?”
Pretty little Dolly had a wheedlesome voice, and a winning smile,
and Miss Rachel found it difficult to speak sternly, when the big, dark
eyes looked into her face so lovingly.
“Yes, I’m sure you want to be good, my dears, and also, we want
to do the right thing by you. So we’ll learn each other’s ways, and
I’m sure we’ll get along beautifully.”
Miss Rachel was not used to children, and she talked to them as
if they were as grown-up as herself, but Dick and Dolly understood,
and sat patiently while she talked, though, in truth, they were
impatient to get away, and run outdoors again.
“I shall send you to school,” went on Miss Rachel, “but not for a
week or two yet. I want to learn you myself a little better first.”
“Yes’m,” said Dolly, who was equally well pleased to go to school
or to stay at home. But Dick wanted to go.
“Let us go pretty soon, won’t you, Auntie?” he said; “for I want
to get acquainted with the Heatherton fellows.”
“Boys, Dick,” corrected Aunt Abbie, who was beginning to think
the twins rather careless of their diction.
“Yes’m, I mean boys. Are there any who live near here?”
Miss Rachel pursed her lips together.
“The Middletons live in the place next to this,” she began, and
Dolly broke in:
“Oh, that pretty place, with the stone pillars at the gate?”
“Yes,” went on her aunt. “But Mrs. Middleton and we are not—
that is—”
“Oh, you’re not good friends, is that it?” volunteered Dick.
“Well, yes; I suppose that is it. You children are too young to
understand, but let it be enough for you that I prefer you should not
play with the little Middletons. There are other neighbours equally
pleasant for your acquaintance.”
“All right, Auntie,” agreed Dick. “Cut out the Middletons. And now
mayn’t we run out to play?”
“First, I’ll take you up and show you your playroom. It’s more for
rainy days, as you seem to like to be out of doors in fine weather.
But come and see it, anyway.”
The two aunts led the way, and the children followed to a large,
delightful room in the third story.
There was a big table in the middle, and smaller tables and
chairs about. There was a pleasant little writing-desk for each, well
furnished with pretty writing materials. Low bookshelves ran round
two sides of the room, and the other side showed a jolly big
fireplace, and pleasant windows with deep seats.
A roomy, comfortable old sofa and a chest of drawers completed
the furnishing.
“It isn’t finished,” said Miss Abbie, “because we don’t yet know
your tastes.”
“It’s lovely, Aunties!” cried Dolly, flinging her arms round the neck
of one after the other, and finally embracing Dick in her enthusiasm.
“Oh, it’s just gay!” Dick cried. “I’ve always wanted a big
playroom, and now we’ve got one. Can I whittle and jigsaw up
here?”
“Yes, you may do just exactly as you please. You may bring your
young friends up here, and entertain them whenever you choose.”
“That is, after we get the friends,” supplemented Dolly.
“Yes, but you’ll soon get acquainted. There are many nice
children in Heatherton. Do you play dolls, Dolly?”
“Yes, I do, when I have any little girls to play with. But, you see,
I play with Dick so much, I get out of the habit of dolls. But I do love
’em. When our big box of things comes, I’ve lots of dolls in it, and
Dick’s tool-chest and jigsaw—oh, it will be splendid to fix them all up
here!”
“Yes, Michael will help you. He’ll fix a good workbench, for you,
Dick, if you’re fond of fussing with tools. Do you cut your fingers
much?”
“Sometimes, Aunt Rachel, but not always. Say, you’re awful good
to us. We’re ever so much obliged.”
Dick was more awkward at expressing his appreciation than
Dolly, but the honest joy on the boy’s face showed his admiration of
the room, and Aunt Rachel’s heart warmed toward him, for she too
was sometimes unable to express herself aptly.
“Now we’ll skiddoo,” said Dolly, as she patted Miss Abbie’s hand
by way of farewell. “We want to see Pat feed the chickens.”
“Yes, dearie, run along, but,—would you mind if I ask you not to
use those—those unusual words?”
“Skiddoo? Oh, that’s an awful useful word, Aunt Abbie. I don’t
see how I could get along without it, but I’ll try if you say so.”
“Yes, do try, Dolly; I want my niece to be a refined, ladylike little
girl, not a slangy one.”
“Yes’m.” Dolly drew a little sigh. “I want to do what you want me
to do. But I’m pretty forgetful, Aunt Abbie, so don’t be ’scouraged,
will you, if I don’t get good all at once?”
Dolly had a childish trick of omitting the first syllable of a word,
but Aunt Abbie kissed the earnest little face, and assured her that
she wouldn’t get ’scouraged.
So away the twins scampered, down the stairs, and out into the
sweet, clear morning air.
Dana Dene stood high on an elevation that looked down on the
small town of Heatherton. The view from the terrace in front of the
house was beautiful, and as Dick and Dolly looked down at the
clustered buildings they tried to guess what they were.
“That’s the church,” said Dick, triumphantly pointing to an
unmistakable spire.
“One of ’em,” corrected Dolly; “there’s another, and I wonder
what that big stone building is; prob’ly the school where we’ll go.”
“P’raps. Is it, Patrick?”
“Well, no, Master Dick; that isn’t exactly the school fer ye
children. That’s the jail,—the county jail, so it is.”
“Oh,” cried Dolly, in dismay; “I don’t want to go to school to a
jail! Where is the school-house, Patrick?”
“There’s three of ’em, Miss Dolly. But the grandest is that white
house ferninst, an’ I’m thinkin’ ye’ll go there.”
“Are my aunts very grand, Patrick?”
“Oh, yes, miss. We’re the quality of the hull place. There’s
nobody like the Danas.”
“That’s nice,” said Dolly, with a little air of satisfaction.
“Huh,” said Dick; “what sort of a country do you think this is,
Dolly? Everybody is as good as everybody else. Why do you talk that
way, Pat?”
“Well, sor, it may be. But everybody in Heatherton, they thinks
Miss Rachel and Miss Abbie is top o’ the heap, you see.”
“All right,” returned Dick. “I don’t mind if we are. But what about
the Middletons? Aren’t they nice people?”
Pat’s face clouded. “Don’t be askin’ me about the Middletons,” he
said; “I’ve nothin’ to say for or agin ’em. Now, if so be’s you want to
see them chickens, come ahead.”
They went ahead or, rather, they followed Pat to the chicken
yard, and spent a blissful half-hour among the feathered wonders.
They learned the names of the various kinds of chickens, and
Dolly declared she should never tire of watching the little yellow
fledglings patter around and peep.
“They’re not still a minute,” she said. “Can I try to catch one?”
Pat showed her how to lift one gently, without hurting the little
soft ball of down, and as it was such a pretty little yellow one, Dolly
named it Buttercup, and Pat said it should always be her own
chicken.
Then Dick picked one out for his very own, and he chose a black
one, and called it Cherry, because, he said, some cherries are black.
This made Pat laugh, and then he told the twins to run away and
play by themselves, as he had to go to work in earnest.
“What’s your work, Pat?” asked Dolly, who liked to stay with the
good-natured Irishman.
“I have to do the gardens, Miss Dolly. An’ it’s rale work, it is, not
play. So do ye run away, now.”
“Oh, Pat, let us see you garden,” begged Dolly.
“Please do,” said Dick. “We never saw anybody garden in our
life.”
“Ye didn’t! Fer the love of green corn, where was ye brung up?”
“In the city; and summers we had to go to hotels, and we never
even saw a garden dug.”
“Come on, then; but ye mustn’t bother.”
“No, we won’t bother,” and with a hop, skip, and jump, they
followed Pat to the toolhouse. There was such an array of spades,
hoes, rakes, and other implements, that Dick cried out: “Oh, let us
garden, too! Pat, can’t we each have a little garden,—just a square
patch, you know, and plant things in it?”
“Arrah, a garden, is it? An’ who’d be afther weedin’ it, an’ keepin’
it in order fer ye?”
“Why, we’d do it ourselves,” declared Dolly, fixing her eyes on Pat
with her most coaxing smile. “Do let us, Pat, dear.”
“Well, ye must ask yer aunties. I cudden’t give no such
permission of myself.”
Away flew the twins to the house, in search of the aunties, and
when the twins ran, it was a swift performance indeed. They held
hands, and their feet flew up and down so fast that they looked like
some queer sort of windmill rolling along.
Bang! in at the front door they went, and almost upset Miss
Rachel, who was serenely crossing the hall.
“Oh, Auntie, may we have a garden?” shouted Dick, seizing his
aunt’s hand, and leaning up against her to steady himself after his
exhausting run.
“Oh, Auntie, may we? Do say yes,” cried Dolly, who had flung her
arms round Miss Rachel’s waist, and who was dancing up and down
to the imminent danger of the good lady’s toes.
“What? Oh, my, how you do fluster me! What is it?”
Miss Rachel shook off the two, and seated herself in a hall chair,
to regain her equilibrium, both physical and mental, but the twins
made another wild dash at her. “Please,” they coaxed, patting her
arm and her face and occasionally each other’s hands in their
excitement. “Please, Auntie, a garden for our very own.”
“Two,—one for each of us. May we? Oh, please say yes! Do,
Auntie, do, say yes.”
Miss Rachel found her voice at last.
“If you want anything,” she said, “stop jumping around like a pair
of wild savages. Sit down on that settee, and tell me quietly, and
one at a time, what it’s all about.”
“Let me tell, Dick,” said Dolly, and knowing his sister’s talent for
persuasion, Dick willingly kept quiet while Dolly told.
They sat side by side on the hall settee, opposite their aunt, and
scarcely dared move, while Dolly made her plea.
“You see, Auntie,” she began, “we’ve never had a garden; never
even seen one made. And so, we thought, perhaps, maybe, as
there’s so much spare ground lying around, we hoped maybe you’d
let us each have a little garden of our own. Just a little tiny one, you
know.”
“For pity’s sake,” exclaimed Miss Rachel, “is all this fuss about a
garden? Why, you can have a dozen, if you like.”
“Oh, thank you, Auntie,” cried Dolly, repressing her inclination to
fly over and hug her aunt, lest it be considered a “fuss.” “One’s
enough,—one apiece, I mean. And what can we plant?”
“Why, plant anything you choose. Pat will give you seeds, and if
he hasn’t what you want, we’ll buy some when we go driving this
afternoon.”
Dick was overcome by his aunt’s kindness and whole-souled
generosity. But he had no intention of making a fuss,—not he. He
rose and quietly crossed the hall, and bowing low in front of the
lady, said:
“Aunt Rachel, I do think you’re the very best person in the whole
world!”
“So do I!” said Dolly. “Seems ’s if I must squeeze you!”
“Not now,” said Miss Rachel, smiling; “you nearly squeezed the
breath out of me a few moments ago. I’ll take your enthusiasm for
granted. Now, run out, and make your gardens. Tell Pat I said you’re
to have whatever you want for them.”
“Hurray! Hooroo!” cried Dick, unable to repress himself longer,
and throwing his cap up in the air, without having had the least
intention of doing so.
It landed on the high chandelier, and Hannah had to bring the
long-handled feather duster to get it down.
“Please ’scuse Dick, Aunt Rachel,” said loyal little Dolly, seeing her
brother’s regretful look. “He didn’t mean to fling that cap till he got
outdoors, but somehow——”
“Somehow, it flung itself,” cried Dick; “’cause I’m so glad about
the garden!”
Away they went, banging the door behind them, and Miss Rachel
sat a few minutes, seriously considering whether or not she could
keep such little cyclones in her hitherto quiet and well-ordered
home.
“It isn’t so much what they’ve done,” she said, as she went and
talked it over with Miss Abbie, “as what they may do. They’re liable
to fling caps anywhere, and break all the bric-à-brac, and bang all
the furniture—well, if there were any place to send them, they
should go to-day.”
“You don’t mean that, Rachel,” said Miss Abbie. “They are noisy, I
know, but I think we can train them to better manners; and they
have dear, loving little hearts.”
“Too loving,” said the elder sister, ruefully. “They nearly felled me
to the floor, the way they rushed at me. I’m not over the shock yet!”
“Well,” sighed Miss Abbie, “I suppose it’s because we’re not used
to children; but they do seem especially sudden in their ways.”
CHAPTER V
A PLAYGROUND
“S udden in their ways,” just described Dick and Dolly. After getting
their aunt’s sanction, they flew back to the toolhouse, and
tumbling in at the door, nearly upset Pat by their sudden dash for
spades and hoes.
“She says we can!” cried Dolly; “how do you begin, Pat? What do
we do first?”
“Dig, of course,” declared Dick, seizing the biggest spade he
could find.
“All right; where shall we dig?”
Dolly grabbed another spade, and skipping out of the toolhouse,
began to dig frantically in the path that led from the doorstep.
“Whisht! now! Miss Dolly, don’t be fer sp’ilin’ me good path!”
Pat was amiable, but the vigorous enthusiasm of these children
began to appal him. He was always deferential to his employers, and
he looked upon the twins as members of his employers’ family, and
so he considered himself under their orders. But he also began to
see that he must direct matters himself, if these impetuous
youngsters were to have a real garden.
“Well,” he said, “if so be’s yer aunts has give permission, we must
make the gardens fer ye. But we must do ’t dacint an’ proper. Don’t
begin by diggin’ up me tidy paths.”
“I won’t, Pat; I’m sorry!” and Dolly carefully smoothed away the
clefts she had dug with her spade.
“Now, we’ll consider,” said Pat, greatly interested in the plan.
“First of all, where will ye be selectin’ the place?”
The twins gazed around, at the various gardens, terrace,
woodland, and water, and then Dolly said, decidedly:
“In the woods; that’s the prettiest place.”
“Oh, ho!” laughed Pat. “Why, little miss, ye can’t grow things in
the woods! Leastwise, only ferns an’ moss! Don’t ye want flowers,
now?”
“Oh, yes; of course we do! And I forgot they have to have
sunshine.”
“Goosie!” cried Dick. “Now, I think a place near the pond would
be nice, and then we can fetch water easily,—for I s’pose we have to
water our flowers every day, don’t we, Pat?”
“Yes; onless it rains fer ye, which it sometimes do. Now, s’pose
ye let me s’lect yer place, an’ then do ye pick out yer own choice o’
flowers.”
“Do,” cried Dolly. “You know so much better than we do where a
garden ought to be.”
Pat considered carefully for a few moments, casting his eye
thoughtfully toward various parts of the estate.
“Come on,” he said, at last, and the children followed him, as he
strode off.
Just beyond the beautifully kept terrace was a stretch of lawn,
entirely open to the sunlight, save for a big horse-chestnut tree in
one corner.
Here Pat paused, and indicating by a sweep of his arm a section
about seventy-five feet square, he said:
“I’m thinkin’, instead of only a garden, by itself, it’d be foine for
ye to make yersilves a rale playground.”
Dolly’s quick mind jumped to the possibilities.
“Oh, Pat, a playground, all for ourselves, with our two gardens in
it!”
“Yes, miss; and an arbour, and seats, an’ a table, an’——”
But he got no further, for Dick and Dolly seized him by either
hand, and jumped up and down, fairly shouting with delight.
“Oh, Pat, Pat, I never heard of anything so lovely!”
“How could you think of it? Let’s begin at once!”
“But ye must behave!” cried Pat, shaking his hands loose from
their grasp, and waiting for them to stop their antics.
“Yes, yes; we’ll behave!” said Dolly, suddenly standing stock-still,
and looking very; demure. “What do we do first, dig?”
“I’m thinkin’ yez better dig a whole acre,—an’ see if ye can’t work
off some of yer animile sperrits! Such rampageous bein’s I niver
saw!”
“We’ll be quiet, Pat,” said Dick, earnestly; “now let’s begin.”
“Well, thin,—first, we must plan it, sure. Suppose we drive a
shtake here fer wan corner; and thin the big tree will be the
opposite corner. Now ye see the size av it.”
“Yes,” agreed Dolly, “it’s a lovely size.”
“Thin, supposin’ we plan to set out a little low hedge all around
the four sides, wid an openin’ or two——”
“And an arched gateway!” cried Dolly, with sparkling eyes.
“Yes, miss, say an arched gateway or two. An’ then, inside ye can
have three or four garden-beds,—fer sep’rate plants, ye know,—an’
yer arbour, an’ whativer else ye like.”
“Oh!” said Dolly, sitting plump down on the ground from sheer
inability to bear up under these wonderful anticipations.
“Now, what’s to do first?” said Dick, eager to get to work.
“Well, first we’ll lay out our flower beds. Now I don’t s’pose ye
know the difference between seeds an’ plants, do ye?”
“Oh, yes! Plants grow from seeds.”
“Well, av coorse they do. But I don’t mean that. Ye see, some
flowers ye set out as plants; an’ some ye raise from seeds.”
“Oh, I think seeds will be most fun,” said Dolly: “You just stuff
’em in the ground and then they grow, don’t they, Pat?”
“Well, yes, miss; if yer seeds is right, an’ yer ground’s right, an’ if
ye stuff ’em in right, an’ take care of ’em right, afterward.”
“Oh, we can do all that,” Dick assured him, grandly, and Pat’s
eyes twinkled, as he replied:
“Av coorse ye can!”
Then Pat called Michael to help him, and they drove stakes and
tied twine to them, until they had the playground distinctly marked
out.
“Now, we’ll consider yer flower-beds, an’ lave the other
considerations till later,” announced Pat. “Ye see, yer seed-beds must
be in the mornin’ sun, an’ have the shade of an afthernoon. So, wid
the big tree ferninst, we can aisy manage that.”
“Seeds seem to be pretty particular,” observed Dolly.
“They be that, Miss; but so likewise is the plants. Some wants
sun an’ some wants shade, an’ if they don’t get what they wants,
they jist lies down an’ dies!”
Then Pat and Michael selected the best spots, and marked out
two oval flower-beds of goodly size, and two straight, narrow seed-
beds somewhat smaller.
“Miss Dolly’s, we’ll say, will be on this side, an’ Master Dick’s on
that. Now, if so be’s ye childhern wants to dig, fer mercy’s sake dig!
Ye can’t hurt the ground.”
Pat well knew that his own strong arms would spade up the beds
later, and he would fill them with the right sort of soil, and get them
in perfect order for planting; but the twins were delighted at the
idea of doing their own digging, and went to work with their usual
enthusiasm.
It was hard work, but they enjoyed it, and though not very
scientifically done, they did manage to dislodge the soft turf, and
riddle up the dirt beneath.
“I s’pose it won’t be such hard work after the digging is dug,”
said Dolly, looking at her blistered little palms.
“Why, Dolly Dana!” exclaimed Aunt Abbie, who came out just
then, to see how the gardens progressed; “don’t you dig another bit!
You poor, dear child, your hands are in a dreadful state! Go in and
ask Aunt Rachel for some salve.”
“No, indeedy!” declared the valiant Dolly. “I’m going to plant my
seeds now!”
“Oh, no, miss,” said Pat. “Them beds isn’t ready yet. Nor ye
haven’t got yer seeds.”
“Don’t be too impetuous, Dolly,” said Aunt Abbie. “This afternoon,
we’ll plan out what is best to plant and then by to-morrow, if Patrick
has the beds ready, you can do your planting.”
Dick was still digging away, manfully, quite unwilling to admit
there were blisters on his own hands.
But Aunt Abbie made him stop, for though the digging was good
fun, there was no use in causing himself needless pain, and Patrick
would do the beds all over, anyway. So Aunt Abbie persuaded the
children to turn their attention to planning their playground.
She quite approved of Pat’s suggestions, and sent for Miss Rachel
to come out and assist with the plans.
Both ladies were very fond of gardening, and entered
enthusiastically into the idea of the pretty playground. Miss Rachel
instructed Pat to buy and set out a low hedge of privet all round the
inclosure; and they decided on two entrances, front and back, each
to be adorned by an arch covered with a flowering vine.
An arbour was planned for the centre, but Dolly chose to call it a
playhouse. For it was to be big enough to have seats and a table
inside.
It was to be built tent-shape; that is, very long, slender poles
would be set up in pairs, meeting at the top, like the letter A. There
would be about a dozen pairs of these poles, each pair about two
feet apart, and thus they would have a long arbour on which to train
vines and flowers.
A ridge-pole along the top would keep it all firm and steady, and
quickly growing vines should be chosen, which would soon cover the
whole frame.
Michael, who was clever at carpenter work, volunteered to make
a table and benches, and Dick, who was also fond of tools, felt sure
he could help.
Aunt Abbie said she would give a garden swing as her
contribution to the playground, and Aunt Rachel said she, too, would
give something nice, but what it would be, was a secret as yet.
Then it was nearly dinner-time, so they went back to the house,
and the four sorry-looking little hands were carefully washed and
anointed with a soothing lotion.
Heatherton people approved of midday dinners, and so the
hungry children sat down to an ample and satisfying meal, to which
they were fully prepared to do justice.
“You know,” said Aunt Rachel, as they chatted at table, “you are
to take care of these gardens yourselves. Pat and Michael have all
they can do, already; and though they have helpers in the busy
seasons, I expect you two to weed and water your own flower-
beds.”
“Of course, Auntie,” said Dolly; “that’s what we want to do.”
“Else they wouldn’t be ours,” chimed in Dick. “There are lots of
flower-beds around the place, but these are to be our very own. And
how can they be, if we don’t do all the work on ’em?”
“That’s right,” said Aunt Rachel, approvingly. “Patrick will
superintend your work, and he or Michael will keep the grass and
the paths in order, but the rest is for you to do. Do you know
anything about flowers?”
“Not a thing!” declared Dolly. “But I want to raise violets and
carnation pinks.”
“That proves you don’t know much,” said Aunt Abbie, laughing.
“Why, those are the very things you couldn’t possibly raise!”
“Why?” said Dolly, looking surprised.
“Because they are too difficult. They require hothouses, or, at
least cold frames. You must content yourself with simpler blossoms;
nasturtiums, phlox, asters, peonies——”
“Oh, those are just as good,” said Dolly. “I don’t care much what
flowers they are, if they’ll grow.”
“I like big plants,” said Dick. “Could I have sunflowers and
hollyhocks, Aunt Rachel?”
“Yes, my boy; I’m sure you can manage those. Have a hedge at
the back of your playground of those flowers, and also cosmos and
goldenglow.”
After dinner they went to the library, and made lists of the
flowers they would have. Aunt Abbie drew diagrams of their
gardens, and advised the right kinds of flowers to grow together.
“I want you to grow up to love gardening,” said Miss Rachel, “but
as you are now quite young, and very ignorant on the subject, you
must begin with the simplest and easiest sorts of plants.”
Then the aunts explained how the children must plant seeds in
their seed-beds, and after the tiny shoots sprang up, how they must
be separated and thinned out.
“And throw away some of them!” exclaimed Dolly in dismay.
“Yes; that’s to make the others stronger and healthier plants.”
“What do we plant in our big gardens?” asked Dick.
“Well, there you can have such plants as you want. Roses,
geraniums, and Canterbury Bells are good ones. And then, you
transplant to those beds your seedlings that you have already
started yourselves.”
“And can’t we plant any seeds in the flower beds?”
“Oh, yes; such as do not need transplanting. You can have
borders of portulacca, candytuft, sweet alyssum, and such things.”
“My! it sounds grand!” said Dolly, to whom nearly all these names
were new.
“Now suppose we go out there again,” said Aunt Rachel, “and
see what seeds Pat has on hand. Then we’ll know what to buy for
you.”
So back went the quartette, and found the playground had
assumed quite a definite air.
A narrow strip of upturned earth showed the line of the hedge
that was to be set out. The flower-beds and seed-beds were neatly
cut in shape and properly spaded. Little stakes marked the places for
the arbor poles, and white cords outlined paths that were yet to be
cut.
“It doesn’t seem possible it’s ours!” said Dolly, drawing a blissful
sigh of contentment.
“Now here’s some seeds as I already have,” said Pat, offering a
box of packets to the children.
“Oh, can we plant some now,—right away?” asked Dick.
“Yes; let us do so,” said Aunt Abbie, who was nearly as eager as
the children to get the garden started.
So they selected nasturtiums, poppies, marigolds, and morning
glories from Pat’s box, and all went to work at the planting.
The aunts showed Dick and Dolly how to poke a little hole in the
ground, about three inches deep, and then drop in a nasturtium
seed. Then they covered it over with dirt, pressed it down lightly,
and watered it.
This was an enthralling occupation, and the children worked
carefully and did just as they were told. Poppies came next, and
these seeds were planted quite differently. The ground was made
quite smooth, and then slightly watered. Then Pat showed them how
to sprinkle the fine seed scantily over the top of the ground, and not
put any dirt over it at all. A thin layer of cut grass was scattered over
them to keep the seeds from too much sunlight.
“How do you know that some seeds must be planted one way
and some another?” asked Dick, looking at Patrick with a new
interest.
“That’s me business, Masther Dick. We all has to know our
business av coorse.”
The morning-glory seeds could not be planted just then, as they
had to soak in water for two hours, so next they set out some pansy
plants. These Pat had expected to use elsewhere, but at Miss
Rachel’s direction, he handed them over to the twins.
This was a new sort of work, and even more fascinating than
seed-planting. The tiny plants were fragile and had to be handled
very carefully. Then a hole must be dug with a trowel, the plant set
in, and the soil gently filled in about it.
The twins each had a half-dozen pansy plants, and Dick set his in
a group, but Dolly arranged hers in a border. Then Miss Rachel said
they had done enough for one day, and she marched them off to the
house to get rested.
But did Dick and Dolly rest? Not they! They didn’t seem to know
what the word meant. They went up to their playroom, and sitting
together at the table, they drew diagrams and plans for their
playground until the aunties called them downstairs again.
CHAPTER VI
A SOCIAL CALL
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