a girl of the limberlost-第23章

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〃Well；　me　and　Snap　don't　want　him　up；　and　I　bet　you

Jimmy　and　Belle　don't；　either。　　I　ain't　been　twisty

inside　once　since　I　been　here；　and　I　don't　want　to　go　away；

and　Snap　don't；　either。　　He　told　me　so。〃



〃Billy！　　That　is　not　true。　　Dogs　can't　talk；〃

cautioned　Margaret。



〃Then　what　makes　you　open　the　door　when　he　asks　you　to？〃

demanded　Billy。



〃Scratching　and　whining　isn't　talking。〃



〃Anyway；　it's　the　best　Snap　can　talk；　and　you　get　up

and　do　things　he　wants　done。　　Chipmunks　can　talk　too。　

You　ought　to　hear　them　damn　things　holler　when　Snap

gets　them！〃



〃Billy！　　When　you　want　a　cooky　for　supper　and　I　don't

give　it　to　you　it　is　because　you　said　a　wrong　word。〃



〃Well；　for〃　　　Billy　clapped　his　hand　over　his　mouth

and　stained　his　face　in　swipes。　　〃Well；　foranything！　

Did　I　go　an'　forget　again！　　The　cookies　will　get　all

hard；　won't　they？　　I　bet　you　ten　dollars　I　don't　say　that

any　more。〃



He　espied　Wesley　and　ran　to　show　him　a　walnut　too　big

to　go　through　the　holes；　and　Elnora　and　Margaret　entered

the　house。



They　talked　of　many　things　for　a　time　and　then　Elnora

said　suddenly：　　〃Aunt　Margaret；　I　like　music。〃



〃I've　noticed　that　in　you　all　your　life；〃　answered　Margaret。



〃If　dogs　can't　talk；　I　can　make　a　violin　talk；〃　announced

Elnora；　and　then　in　amazement　watched　the　face　of

Margaret　Sinton　grow　pale。



〃A　violin！〃　she　wavered。　　〃Where　did　you　get　a　violin？〃



〃They　fairly　seemed　to　speak　to　me　in　the　orchestra。　

One　day　the　conductor　left　his　in　the　auditorium；　and　I

took　it；　and　Aunt　Margaret；　I　can　make　it　do　the　wind　in

the　swamp；　the　birds；　and　the　animals。　　I　can　make　any

sound　I　ever　heard　on　it。　　If　I　had　a　chance　to　practise

a　little；　I　could　make　it　do　the　orchestra　music；　too。　

I　don't　know　how　I　know；　but　I　do。〃



〃Diddid　you　ever　mention　it　to　your　mother？〃

faltered　Margaret。



〃Yes；　and　she　seems　prejudiced　against　them。　　But　oh；

Aunt　Margaret；　I　never　felt　so　about　anything；　not　even

going　to　school。　　I　just　feel　as　if　I'd　die　if　I　didn't

have　one。　　I　could　keep　it　at　school；　and　practise　at　noon

a　whole　hour。　　Soon　they'd　ask　me　to　play　in　the　orchestra。　

I　could　keep　it　in　the　case　and　practise　in　the　woods

in　summer。　　You'd　let　me　play　over　here　Sunday。　

Oh；　Aunt　Margaret；　what　does　one　cost？　　Would　it　be　wicked

for　me　to　take　of　my　money；　and　buy　a　very　cheap　one？　

I　could　play　on　the　least　expensive　one　made。〃



〃Oh；　no　you　couldn't！　　A　cheap　machine　makes　cheap　music。　

You　got　to　have　a　fine　fiddle　to　make　it　sing。　　But　there's

no　sense　in　your　buying　one。　　There　isn't　a　decent　reason

on　earth　why　you　shouldn't　have　your　fa〃



〃My　father's！〃　cried　Elnora。　　She　caught　Margaret

Sinton　by　the　arm。　　〃My　father　had　a　violin！　　He　played　it。　

That's　why　I　can！　　Where　is　it！　　Is　it　in　our　house？

Is　it　in　mother's　room？〃



〃Elnora！〃　panted　Margaret。　　〃Your　mother　will　kill　me！　

She　always　hated　it。〃



〃Mother　dearly　loves　music；〃　said　Elnora。



〃Not　when　it　took　the　man　she　loved　away　from　her　to

make　it！〃



〃Where　is　my　father's　violin？〃



〃Elnora！〃



〃I've　never　seen　a　picture　of　my　father。　　I've　never

heard　his　name　mentioned。　　I've　never　had　a　scrap　that

belonged　to　him。　　Was　he　my　father；　or　am　I　a　charity

child　like　Billy；　and　so　she　hates　me？〃



〃She　has　good　pictures　of　him。　　Seems　she　just　can't　bear

to　hear　him　talked　about。　　Of　course；　he　was　your　father。　

They　lived　right　there　when　you　were　born。　　She　doesn't

dislike　you；　she　merely　tries　to　make　herself　think

she　does。　　There's　no　sense　in　the　world　in　you　not

having　his　violin。　　I've　a　great　notion〃



〃Has　mother　got　it？〃



〃No。　　I've　never　heard　her　mention　it。　　It　was　not　at

home　when　hewhen　he　died。〃



〃Do　you　know　where　it　is？〃



〃Yes。　　I'm　the　only　person　on　earth　who　does；　except

the　one　who　has　it。〃



〃Who　is　that？〃



〃I　can't　tell　you；　but　I　will　see　if　they　have　it　yet；　and　get

it　if　I　can。　　But　if　your　mother　finds　it　out　she　will　never

forgive　me。〃



〃I　can't　help　it；〃　said　Elnora。　　I　want　that　violin。〃



〃I'll　go　to…morrow；　and　see　if　it　has　been　destroyed。〃



〃Destroyed！　　Oh；　Aunt　Margaret！　　Would　any　one　dare？〃



〃I　hardly　think　so。　　It　was　a　good　instrument。　　He　played

it　like　a　master。〃



〃Tell　me！〃　breathed　Elnora。



〃His　hair　was　red　and　curled　more　than　yours；　and　his

eyes　were　blue。　　He　was　tall；　slim；　and　the　very　imp

of　mischief。　　He　joked　and　teased　all　day　until　he　picked

up　that　violin。　　Then　his　head　bent　over　it；　and　his　eyes

got　big　and　earnest。　　He　seemed　to　listen　as　if　he　first

heard　the　notes；　and　then　copied　them。　　Sometimes　he

drew　the　bow　trembly；　like　he　wasn't　sure　it　was　right；　and

he　might　have　to　try　again。　　He　could　almost　drive　you

crazy　when　he　wanted　to；　and　no　man　that　ever　lived　could

make　you　dance　as　he　could。　　He　made　it　all　up　as　he　went。　

He　seemed　to　listen　for　his　dancing　music；　too。　　It　appeared

to　come　to　him；　he'd　begin　to　play　and　you　had　to　keep　time。　

You　couldn't　be　still；　he　loved　to　sweep　a　crowd　around　with

that　bow　of　his。　　I　think　it　was　the　thing　you　call　inspiration。　

I　can　see　him　now；　his　handsome　head　bent；　his　cheeks　red；

his　eyes　snapping；　and　that　bow　going　across　the　strings；

and　driving　us　like　sheep。　　He　always　kept　his　body　swinging；

and　he　loved　to　play。　　He　often　slighted　his　work　shamefully；

and　sometimes　her　a　little；　that　is　why　she　hated　itElnora；

what　are　you　making　me　do？〃



The　tears　were　rolling　down　Elnora's　cheeks。　　〃Oh；　Aunt

Margaret；〃　she　sobbed。　　〃Why　haven't　you　told　me　about

him　sooner？　　I　feel　as　if　you　had　given　my　father　to　me

living；　so　that　I　could　touch　him。　　I　can　see　him；　too！　

Why　didn't　you　ever　tell　me　before？　　Go　on！　　Go　on！〃



〃I　can't；　Elnora！　I'm　scared　silly。　　I　never　meant　to

say　anything。　　If　I　hadn't　promised　her　not　to　talk　of

him　to　you　she　wouldn't　have　let　you　come　here。　

She　made　me　swear　it。〃



〃But　why？　　Why？　　Was　he　a　shame？　　Was　he　disgraced？〃



〃Maybe　it　was　that　unjust　feeling　that　took　possession

of　her　when　she　couldn't　help　him　from　the　swamp。　　She　had

to　blame　some　one；　or　go　crazy；　so　she　took　it　out　on　you。　

At　times；　those　first　ten　years；　if　I　had　talked　to　you；

and　you　had　repeated　anything　to　her；　she　might　have

struck　you　too　hard。　　She　was　not　master　of　herself。　

You　must　be　patient　with　her；　Elnora。　　God　only　knows

what　she　has　gone　through；　but　I　think　she　is　a　little

better；　lately。〃



〃So　do　I；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃She　seems　more　interested　in

my　clothes；　and　she　fixes　me　such　delicious　lunches　that　the

girls　bring　fine　candies　and　cake　and　beg　to　trade。　　I　gave

half　my　lunch　for　a　box　of　candy　one　day；　brought　it

home　to　her；　and　told　her。　　Since；　she　has　wanted　me　to

carry　a　market　basket　and　treat　the　crowd　every　day；　she

was　so　pleased。　　Life　has　been　too　monotonous　for　her。　

I　think　she　enjoys　even　the　little　change　made　by　my　going

and　coming。　　She　sits　up　half　the　night　to　read　the　library

books　I　bring；　but　she　is　so　stubborn　she　won't　even　admit

that　she　touches　them。　　Tell　me　more　about　my　father。〃



〃Wait　until　I　see　if　I　can　find　the　violin。〃



So　Elnora　went　home　in　suspense；　and　that　night　she

added　to　her　prayers：　　〃Dear　Lord；　be　merciful　to　my

father；　and　oh；　do　help　Aunt　Margaret　to　get　his　violin。〃



Wesley　and　Billy　came　in　to　supper　tired　and　hungry。　

Billy　ate　heartily；　but　his　eyes　often　rested　on　a　plate　of

tempting　cookies；　and　when　Wesley　offered　them　to　the

boy　he　reached　for　one。　　Margaret　was　compelled　to　explain

that　cookies　were　forbidden　that　night。



〃What！〃　said　Wesley。　　〃Wrong　words　been　coming　again。　

Oh　Billy；　I　do　wish　you　could　remember！　　I　can't　sit

and　eat　cookies　before　a　little　boy　who　has　none。　

I'll　have　to　put　mine　back；　too。〃　　Billy's　face　twisted

in　despair。



〃Aw　go　on！〃　he　said　gruffly；　but　his　chin　was　jumping；

for　Wesley　was　his　idol。



〃Can't　do　it；〃　said　Wesley。　　〃It　would　choke　me。〃



Billy　turned　to　Margaret。　　〃You　make　him；〃　he　appealed。



〃He　can't；　Billy；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　know　how　he　feels。　

You　see；　I　can't　myself。〃



Then　Billy　slid　from　his　chair；　ran　to　the　couch；　buried　his

face　in　the　pillow　and　cried　heart…brokenly。　　Wesley　hurried

to　the　barn；　and　Margaret　to　the　kitchen。　　When　the　dishes

were　washed　Billy　slipped　from　the　back　door。



Wesley　piling　hay　into　the　mangers　heard　a　sound　behind　him

and　inquired；　〃That　you；　Billy？〃



〃Yes；〃　answered　Billy；　〃and　it's　all　so　dark　you　can't

see　me　now；　isn't　it？〃



〃Well；　mighty　near；〃　answered　Wesley。



〃Then　you　stoop　down　and　open　your　mouth。〃



Sinton　had　shared　bites　of　apple　and　nuts　for　weeks；　for

Billy　had　not　learned　how　to　eat　anything　without　dividing

with　Jimmy　and　Belle。　　Since　he　had　been　separated

from　them；　he　shared　with　Wesley　and　Margaret。　　So　he

bent　over　the　boy　and　received　an　instalment　of　cooky

that　almost　choked　him。



〃Now　you　can　eat　it！〃　shouted　Billy　in　delight。　

〃It's　all　dark！　　I　can't　see　what　you're　doing　at　all！〃



Wesley　picked　up　the　small　figure　and　set　the　boy　on　the

back　of　a　horse　to　bring　his　face　level　so　that　they　could

talk　as　men。　　He　never　towered　from　his　height　above

Billy；　but　always　lifted　the　little　soul　when　important

matters　were　to　be　discussed。



〃Now　what　a　dandy　scheme；〃　he　commented。　　〃Did　you

and　Aunt　Margaret　fix　it　up？〃



〃No。　　She　ain't　had　hers　yet。　　But　I　got　one　for　her。　

Ist　as　soon　as　you　eat　yours；　I　am　going　to　take　hers；　and

feed　her　first　time　I　find　her　in　the　dark。〃



〃But　Billy；　where　did　you　get　the　cookies？　　You　know

Aunt　Margaret　said　you　were　not　to　have　any。〃



〃I　ist　took　them；〃　said　Billy；　〃I　didn't　take　them　for　me。　

I　ist　took　them　for　you　and　her。〃



Wesley　thought　fast。　　In　the　warm　darkness　of　the　barn

the　horses　crunched　their　corn；　a　rat　gnawed　at　a　corner　of

the　granary；　and　among　the　rafters　the　white　pigeon　cooed

a　soft　sleepy　note　to　his　dusky　mate。



〃DiddidI　steal？〃　wavered　Billy。



Wesley's　big　hands　closed　until　he　almost　hurt　the　boy。



〃No！〃　he　said　vehemently。　　〃That　is　too　big　a　word。　

You　made　a　mistake。　　You　were　trying　to　be　a　fine

little　man；　but　you　went　at　it　the　wrong　way。　　You　only

made　a　mistake。　　All　of　us　do　that；　Billy。　　The　world

grows　that　way。　　When　we　make　mistakes　we　can　see　them；

that　teaches　us　to　be　more　careful　the　next　time；　and

so　we　learn。〃



〃How　wouldn't　it　be　a　mistake？〃



〃If　you　had　told　Aunt　Margaret　what　you　wanted　to　do；　and

asked　her　for　the　cookies　she　would　have　given　them　to　you。〃



〃But　I　was　'fraid　she　wouldn't；　and　you　ist　had　to　have　it。〃



〃Not　if　it　was　wrong　for　me　to　have　it；　Billy。　　I　don't

want　it　that　much。〃



〃Must　I　take　it　back？〃



〃You　think　hard；　and　decide　yourself。〃



〃Lift　me　down；〃　said　Billy；　af