options-第16章

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〃It　must　be　nice　to　be　a　mountain；〃　said　he；　with　ponderous　lightness；　　〃and　have　angels　in　blue　climb　up　you　instead　of　flying　over　you。〃

〃Mamma　had　neuralgia；〃　said　Beatrix；　〃and　went　to　bed；　or　I　couldn't　　have　come。　　It's　dreadfully　hot　at　that　horrid　old　inn。　　But　we　hadn't　　the　money　to　go　anywhere　else　this　summer。〃

〃Last　night；〃　said　the　hermit；　〃I　climbed　to　the　top　of　that　big　rock　　above　us。　　I　could　see　the　lights　of　the　inn　and　hear　a　strain　or　two　　of　the　music　when　the　wind　was　right。　　I　imagined　you　moving　　gracefully　in　the　arms　of　others　to　the　dreamy　music　of　the　waltz　amid　　the　fragrance　of　flowers。　　Think　how　lonely　I　must　have　been！〃

The　youngest；　handsomest；　and　poorest　of　the　famous　Trenholme　sisters　　sighed。

〃You　haven't　quite　hit　it；〃　she　said；　plaintively。　　〃I　was　moving　　gracefully　at　the　arms　of　another。　　Mamma　had　one　of　her　periodical　　attacks　of　rheumatism　in　both　elbows　and　shoulders；　and　I　had　to　rub　　them　for　an　hour　with　that　horrid　old　liniment。　　I　hope　you　didn't　　think　that　smelled　like　flowers。　　You　know；　there　were　some　West　Point　　boys　and　a　yachtload　of　young　men　from　the　city　at　last　evening's　　weekly　dance。　　I've　known　mamma　to　sit　by　an　open　window　for　three　　hours　with　one…half　of　her　registering　85　degrees　and　the　other　half　　frostbitten；　and　never　sneeze　once。　　But　just　let　a　bunch　of　　ineligibles　come　around　where　I　am；　and　she'll　begin　to　swell　at　the　　knuckles　and　shriek　with　pain。　　And　I　have　to　take　her　to　her　room　and　　rub　her　arms。　　To　see　mamma　dressed　you'd　be　surprised　to　know　the　　number　of　square　inches　of　surface　there　are　to　her　arms。　　I　think　it　　must　be　delightful　to　be　a　hermit。　　Thatcassock　gabardine；　isn't　　it？that　you　wear　is　so　becoming。　　Do　you　make　itor　themof　course　　you　must　have　changes…　yourself？　　And　what　a　blessed　relief　it　must　be　　to　wear　sandals　instead　of　shoes！　　Think　how　we　must　sufferno　matter　　how　small　I　buy　my　shoes　they　always　pinch　my　toes。　　Oh；　why　can't　　there　be　lady　hermits；　too！〃

The　beautifulest　and　most　adolescent　Trenholme　sister　extended　two　　slender　blue　ankles　that　ended　in　two　enormous　blue…silk　bows　that　　almost　concealed　two　fairy　Oxfords；　also　of　one　of　the　forty…seven　　shades　of　blue。　　The　hermit；　as　if　impelled　by　a　kind　of　reflex…　telepathic　action；　drew　his　bare　toes　farther　beneath　his　gunny…　sacking。

〃I　have　heard　about　the　romance　of　your　life；〃　said　Miss　Trenholme；　　softly。　　〃They　have　it　printed　on　the　back　of　the　menu　card　at　the　　inn。　　Was　she　very　beautiful　and　charming？〃

〃On　the　bills　of　fare！〃　muttered　the　hermit；　〃but　what　do　I　care　for　　the　world's　babble？　　Yes；　she　was　of　the　highest　and　grandest　type。　　　Then；〃　he　continued；　〃then　I　thought　the　world　could　never　contain　　another　equal　to　her。　　So　I　forsook　it　and　repaired　to　this　mountain　　fastness　to　spend　the　remainder　of　my　life　aloneto　devote　and　　dedicate　my　remaining　years　to　her　memory。〃

〃It's　grand；〃　said　Miss　Trenholme；　〃absolutely　grand。　　I　think　a　　hermit's　life　is　the　ideal　one。　　No　bill…collectors　calling；　no　　dressing　for　dinnerhow　I'd　like　to　be　one！　　But　there's　no　such　luck　　for　me。　　If　I　don't　marry　this　season　I　honestly　believe　mamma　will　　force　me　into　settlement　work　or　trimming　hats。　　It　isn't　because　I'm　　getting　old　or　ugly；　but　we　haven't　enough　money　left　to　butt　in　at　　any　of　the　swell　places　any　more。　　And　I　don't　want　to　marryunless　　it's　somebody　I　like。　　That's　why　I'd　like　to　be　a　hermit。　　Hermits　　don't　ever　marry；　do　they　？〃

〃Hundreds　of　'em；〃　said　the　hermit；　〃when　they've　found　the　right　　one。〃

〃But　they're　hermits；〃　said　the　youngest　and　beautifulest；　〃because　　they've　lost　the　right　one；　aren't　they？〃

〃Because　they　think　they　have；〃　answered　the　recluse；　fatuously。　　　〃Wisdom　comes　to　one　in　a　mountain　cave　as　well　as　to　one　in　the　world　　of　'swells；'　as　I　believe　they　are　called　in　the　argot。〃

〃When　one　of　the　'swells'　brings　it　to　them；〃　said　Miss　Trenholme。　　　〃And　my　folks　are　swells。　　That's　the　trouble。　　But　there　are　so　many　　swells　at　the　seashore　in　the　summer…time　that　we　hardly　amount　to　　more　than　ripples。　　So　we've　had　to　put　all　our　money　into　river　and　　harbor　appropriations。　　We　were　all　girls；　you　know。　　There　were　four　　of　us。　　I'm　the　only　surviving　one。　　The　others　have　been　married　off。　　　All　to　money。　　Mamma　is　so　proud　of　my　sisters。　　They　send　her　the　　loveliest　pen…wipers　and　art　calendars　every　Christmas。　　I'm　the　only　　one　on　the　market　now。　　I'm　forbidden　to　look　at　any　one　who　hasn't　　money。〃

〃But〃　began　the　hermit。

〃But；　oh；〃　said　the　beautifulest　〃of　course　hermits　have　great　pots　of　　gold　and　doubloons　buried　somewhere　near　three　great　oak…trees。　　They　　all　have。〃

〃I　have　not；〃　said　the　hermit；　regretfully。

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　said　Miss　Trenholme。　　〃I　always　thought　they　had。　　I　　think　I　must　go　now。〃

Oh；　beyond　question；　she　was　the　beautifulest。

〃Fair　lady〃　began　the　hermit。

〃I　am　Beatrix　Trenholmesome　call　me　Trix；〃　she　said。　　〃You　must　come　　to　the　inn　to　see　me。〃

〃I　haven't　been　a　stone'sthrow　from　my　cave　in　ten　years；〃　said　the　　hermit。

〃You　must　come　to　see　me　there；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Any　evening　except　　Thursday。〃

The　hermit　smiled　weakly。

〃Good…bye；〃　she　said；　gathering　the　folds　of　her　pale…blue　skirt。　　〃I　　shall　expect　you。　　But　not　on　Thursday　evening；　remember。〃

What　an　interest　it　would　give　to　the　future　menu　cards　of　the　　Viewpoint　Inn　to　have　these　printed　lines　added　to　them：　〃Only　once　　during　the　more　than　ten　years　of　his　lonely　existence　did　the　　mountain　hermit　leave　his　famous　cave。　　That　was　when　he　was　　irresistibly　drawn　to　the　inn　by　the　fascinations　of　Miss　Beatrix　　Trenholme；　youngest　and　most　beautiful　of　the　celebrated　Trenholme　　sisters；　whose　brilliant　marriage　to〃

Aye；　to　whom？

The　hermit　walked　back　to　the　hermitage。　　At　the　door　stood　Bob　　Binkley；　his　old　friend　and　companion　of　the　days　before　he　had　　renounced　the　worldBob；　himself；　arrayed　like　the　orchids　of　the　　greenhouse　in　the　summer　man's　polychromatic　garbBob；　the　　millionaire；　with　his　fat；　firm；　smooth；　shrewd　face；　his　diamond　　rings；　sparkling　fob…chain；　and　pleated　bosom。　　He　was　two　years　older　　than　the　hermit；　and　looked　five　years　younger。

〃You're　Hamp　Ellison；　in　spite　of　those　whiskers　and　that　going…away　　bathrobe；〃　he　shouted。　　〃I　read　about　you　on　the　bill　of　fare　at　the　　inn。　　They've　run　your　biography　in　between　the　cheese　and　'Not　　Responsible　for　Coats　and　Umbrellas。'　　What　'd　you　do　it　for；　Hamp？　　　And　ten　years；　toogeewhilikins！〃

〃You're　just　the　same；〃　said　the　hermit。　　〃Come　in　and　sit　down。　　Sit　　on　that　limestone　rock　over　there；　it's　softer　than　the　granite。〃

〃I　can't　understand　it；　old　man；〃　said　Binkley。　　〃I　can　see　how　you　　could　give　up　a　woman　for　ten　years；　but　not　ten　years　for　a　woman。　　　Of　course　I　know　why　you　did　it。　　Everybody　does。　　Edith　Carr。　　She　　jilted　four　or　five　besides　you。　　But　you　were　the　only　one　who　took　　to　a　hole　in　the　ground。　　The　others　had　recourse　to　whiskey；　the　　Klondike；　politics；　and　that　similia　similibus　cure。　　But；　sayHamp；　　Edith　Carr　was　just　about　the　finest　woman　in　the　worldhigh…toned　　and　proud　and　noble；　and　playing　her　ideals　to　win　at　all　kinds　of　　odds。　　She　certainly　was　a　crackerjack。〃

〃After　I　renounced　the　world；〃　said　the　hermit；　〃I　never　heard　of　her　　again。〃

〃She　married　me；〃　said　Binkley。

The　hermit　leaned　against　the　wooden　walls　of　his　ante…cave　and　　wriggled　his　toes。

〃I　know　how　you　feel　about　it；〃　said　Binkley。　　〃What　else　could　she　　do？　　There　were　her　four　sisters　and　her　mother　and　old　man　Carryou　　remember　how　he　put　all　the　money　he　had　into　dirigible　balloons？　　Well；　　everything　was　coming　down　and　nothing　going　up　with　'em；　as　　you　might　say。　　Well；　I　know　Edith　as　well　as　you　doalthough　I　　married　her。　　I　was　worth　a　million　then；　but　I've　run　it　up　since　to　　between　five　and　six。　　It　wasn't　me　she　wanted　as　much　aswell；　it　　was　about　like　this。　　She　had　that　bunch　on　her　hands；　and　they　had　to　　be　taken　care　of。　　Edith　married　me　two　months　after　you　did　the　　ground…squirrel　act。　　I　thought　she　liked　me；　too；　at　the　time。〃

〃And　now？〃　inquired　the　recluse。

〃We're　better　friends　than　ever　now。　　She　got　a　divorce　from　me　two　　years　ago。　　Just　incompatibility。　　I　didn't　put　in　any　defence。　　Well；　　well；　well；　Hamp；　this　is　certainly　a　funny　dugout　you've　built　here。　　　But　you　always　were　a　hero　of　fiction。　　Seems　like　you'd　have　been　the　　very　one　to　strike　Edith's　fancy。　　Maybe　you　didbut　it's　the　bank　…　　roll　that　catches　'em；　my　boyyour　caves　and　whiskers　won't　do　it。　　　Honestly；　Hamp；　don't　you　think　you've　been　a　darned　fool？〃

The　hermit　smiled　behind　his　tangled　beard。　　He　was　and　always　had　　been　so　superior　to　the　crude　and　mercenary　Binkley　that　even　his　　vulgarities　could　not　anger　him。　　Moreover；　his　studies　and　　meditations　in　his　retreat　had　raised　him　far　above　the　little　　vanities　of　the　world。　　His　little　mountain…side　had　been　almost　an　　Olympus；　over　the　edge　of　which　he　saw；　smiling；　the　bolts　hurled　in　　the　valleys　of　man　below。　　Had　his　ten　years　of　renunciation；　of　　thought；　of　devotion　to　an　ideal；　of　living　scorn　of　a　sordid　world；　　been　in　vain？　　Up　from　the　world　had　come　to　him　the　youngest　and　　beautifulestfairer　than　Edithone　and　three…seventh　times　lovelier　　than　the　seven…years…served　Rachel。　　So　the　hermit　smiled　in　his　　beard。

When　Binkley　had　relieved　the　hermitage　from　the　blot　of　his　presence　　and　the　first　faint　star　showed　above　the　pines；　the　hermit　got　the　　can　of　baking…powder　from　his　cupboard。　　He　still　smiled　behind　his　　beard。

There　was　a　slight　rustle　in　the　doorway。　　There　stood　Edith　Carr；　　with　all　the　added　beauty　and　stateliness　and　noble　bearing　that　ten　　years　had　brought　her。

She　was　never　one　to　chatter。　　She　looked　at　the　hermit　with　her　　large；　thinking；　dark　eyes。　　The　hermit　stood　still；　surprised　into　a　　pose　as　motionless　as　her　own。　　Only　his　subconscious　sense　of　the　　fitness　of　things　caused　him　to　turn　the　baking…powder　can　slowly　in　　his　hands　until　its　red　label　was　hidden　against　his　bosom。

〃I　am　stopping　at　the　inn；〃　said　Edith；　in　low　but　clear　tones。　　〃I　　heard　of　you　there。　　I　told　myself　that　I　must　see　you。　　I　want　to　ask　　your　forgiveness。　　I　sold　my　happiness　for　money。　　There　were　others　　to　be　provided　forbut　that　does　not　excuse　me。　　I　just　wanted　to　see　　you　and　ask　your　forgiveness。　　You　have　lived　here　ten　years；　they　　tell　me；　cherishing　my　memory！　　I　was　blind；　Hampton。　　I　could　not　see　　then　that　all　the　money　in　the　world　cannot　weigh　in　the　scales　　against　a　faithful　heart。　　Ifbut　it　is　too　late　now；　of　course。〃

Her　assertion　was　a　question　clothed　as　best　it　could　be　in　a　loving　　woman's　pride。　　But　through　the　thin　disguise　the　hermit　saw　easily　　that　his　lady　had　come　back　to　himif　he　chose。　　He　had　won　a　golden　　crownif　it　pleased　him　to　take　it。　　The　reward　of　his　decade　of　　faithfulness　was　ready　for　his　handif　he　desired　to　stretch　it　　forth。


For　the　space　of　one　minute　the　old　enchantment　shone　upon　him　with　a　　reflected　radiance。　　And　then　by　turns　he　felt　the　manly　sensations　of　　indignation　at　having　been　discarded；　and　of　repugnance　at　having　　beenas　it　weresought　again。　　And　last　of　allhow　strange