a girl of the limberlost-第39章

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lips　parted；　and　on　the　hand　she　held　out　to　them

clung　a　pair　of　delicate　blue…green　moths；　with　white

bodies；　and　touches　of　lavender　and　straw　colour。　

All　around　her　lay　flower…brocaded　grasses；　behind　the

deep　green　background　of　the　forest；　while　the　sun　slowly

sifted　gold　from　heaven　to　burnish　her　hair。　　Mrs。　Comstock

heard　a　sharp　breath　behind　her。



〃Oh；　what　a　picture！〃　exulted　Philip　at　her　shoulder。　

〃She　is　absolutely　and　altogether　lovely！　　I'd　give　a

small　fortune　for　that　faithfully　set　on　canvas！〃



He　picked　the　box　from　Mrs。　Comstock's　fingers　and

slowly　advanced　with　it。　　Elnora　held　down　her　hand

and　transferred　the　moths。　　Philip　closed　the　box

carefully；　but　the　watching　mother　saw　that　his　eyes　were

following　the　girl's　face。　　He　was　not　making　the　slightest

attempt　to　conceal　his　admiration。



〃I　wonder　if　a　woman　ever　did　anything　lovelier　than

to　find　a　pair　of　Luna　moths　on　a　forest　path；　early　on

a　perfect　June　morning；〃　he　said　to　Mrs。　Comstock；

when　he　returned　the　box。



She　glanced　at　Elnora　who　was　intently　searching　the　bushes。



〃Look　here；　young　man；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃You　seem

to　find　that　girl　of　mine　about　right。〃



〃I　could　suggest　no　improvement；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　never

saw　a　more　attractive　girl　anywhere。　　She　seems　absolutely

perfect　to　me。〃



〃Then　suppose　you　don't　start　any　scheme　calculated

to　spoil　her！〃　proposed　Mrs。　Comstock　dryly。　　〃I　don't

think　you　can；　or　that　any　man　could；　but　I'm　not　taking

any　risks。　　You　asked　to　come　here　to　help　in　this　work。　

We　are　both　glad　to　have　you；　if　you　confine　yourself　to　work；

but　it's　the　least　you　can　do　to　leave　us　as　you　find　us。〃



〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　intended　no　offence。　

I　admire　her　as　I　admire　any　perfect　creation。〃



〃And　nothing　in　all　this　world　spoils　the　average　girl

so　quickly　and　so　surely；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　She　raised

her　voice。　　〃Elnora；　fasten　up　that　tag　of　hair　over　your

left　ear。　　These　bushes　muss　you　so　you　remind　me　of　a

sheep　poking　its　nose　through　a　hedge　fence。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　started　down　the　path　toward　the　log

again；　when　she　reached　it　she　called　sharply：　　〃Elnora；

come　here！　　I　believe　I　have　found　something　myself。〃



The　〃something〃　was　a　Citheronia　Regalis　which　had

emerged　from　its　case　on　the　soft　earth　under　the　log。　

It　climbed　up　the　wood；　its　stout　legs　dragging　a　big

pursy　body；　while　it　wildly　flapped　tiny　wings　the　size

of　a　man's　thumb…nail。　　Elnora　gave　one　look　and　a　cry

which　brought　Philip。



〃That's　the　rarest　moth　in　America！〃　he　announced。　

〃Mrs。　Comstock；　you've　gone　up　head。　　You　can　put

that　in　a　box　with　a　screen　cover　to…night；　and　attract

half　a　dozen；　possibly。〃



〃Is　it　rare；　Elnora？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Comstock；　as　if　no

one　else　knew。



〃It　surely　is；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃If　we　can　find

it　a　mate　to…night；　it　will　lay　from　two　hundred　and　fifty

to　three　hundred　eggs　to…morrow。　　With　any　luck　at

all　I　can　raise　two　hundred　caterpillars　from　them。　

I　did　once　before。　　And　they　are　worth　a　dollar　apiece。〃



〃Was　the　one　I　killed　like　that？〃



〃No。　　That　was　a　different　moth；　but　its　life　processes

were　the　same　as　this。　　The　Bird　Woman　calls　this　the

King　of　the　Poets。〃



〃Why　does　she？〃



〃Because　it　is　named　for　Citheron　who　was　a　poet；　and

regalis　refers　to　a　king。　　You　mustn't　touch　it　or　you

may　stunt　wing　development。　　You　watch　and　don't　let

that　moth　out　of　sight；　or　anything　touch　it。　　When　the

wings　are　expanded　and　hardened　we　will　put　it　in　a　box。〃



〃I　am　afraid　it　will　race　itself　to　death；〃　objected

Mrs。　Comstock。



〃That's　a　part　of　the　game；〃　said　Philip。　　〃It　is　starting

circulation　now。　　When　the　right　moment　comes；　it　will

stop　and　expand　its　wings。　　If　you　watch　closely　you　can

see　them　expand。〃



Presently　the　moth　found　a　rough　projection　of　bark

and　clung　with　its　feet；　back　down；　its　wings　hanging。　

The　body　was　an　unusual　orange　red；　the　tiny　wings　were

gray；　striped　with　the　red　and　splotched　here　and　there

with　markings　of　canary　yellow。　　Mrs。　Comstock　watched

breathlessly。　　Presently　she　slipped　from　the　log　and

knelt　to　secure　a　better　view。



〃Are　its　wings　developing？〃　called　Elnora。



〃They　are　growing　larger　and　the　markings　coming

stronger　every　minute。〃



〃Let's　watch；　too；〃　said　Elnora　to　Philip。



They　came　and　looked　over　Mrs。　Comstock's　shoulder。　

Lower　drooped　the　gay　wings；　wider　they　spread；　brighter

grew　the　markings　as　if　laid　off　in　geometrical　patterns。　

They　could　hear　Mrs。　Comstock's　tense　breath　and　see

her　absorbed　expression。



〃Young　people；〃　she　said　solemnly；　〃if　your　studying

science　and　the　elements　has　ever　led　you　to　feel　that

things　just　happen；　kind　of　evolve　by　chance；　as　it　were；

this　sight　will　be　good　for　you。　　Maybe　earth　and　air

accumulate；　but　it　takes　the　wisdom　of　the　Almighty　God

to　devise　the　wing　of　a　moth。　　If　there　ever　was　a　miracle；

this　whole　process　is　one。　　Now；　as　I　understand　it；　this

creature　is　going　to　keep　on　spreading　those　wings；　until

they　grow　to　size　and　harden　to　strength　sufficient　to

bear　its　body。　　Then　it　flies　away；　mates　with　its　kind；

lays　its　eggs　on　the　leaves　of　a　certain　tree；　and　the　eggs

hatch　tiny　caterpillars　which　eat　just　that　kind　of　leaves；

and　the　worms　grow　and　grow；　and　take　on　different

forms　and　colours　until　at　last　they　are　big　caterpillars

six　inches　long；　with　large　horns。　　Then　they　burrow　into

the　earth；　build　a　water…proof　house　around　themselves

from　material　which　is　inside　them；　and　lie　through　rain

and　freezing　cold　for　months。　　A　year　from　egg　laying　they

come　out　like　this；　and　begin　the　process　all　over　again。　

They　don't　eat；　they　don't　see　distinctly；　they　live　but

a　few　days；　and　fly　only　at　night；　then　they　drop　off　easy；

but　the　process　goes　on。〃



A　shivering　movement　went　over　the　moth。　　The　wings

drooped　and　spread　wider。　　Mrs。　Comstock　sank　into

soft　awed　tones。



〃There　never　was　a　moment　in　my　life；〃　she　said；

〃when　I　felt　so　in　the　Presence；　as　I　do　now。　　I　feel　as

if　the　Almighty　were　so　real；　and　so　near；　that　I　could

reach　out　and　touch　Him；　as　I　could　this　wonderful　work

of　His；　if　I　dared。　　I　feel　like　saying　to　Him：　　‘To　the

extent　of　my　brain　power　I　realize　Your　presence；　and　all

it　is　in　me　to　comprehend　of　Your　power。　　Help　me　to　learn；

even　this　late；　the　lessons　of　Your　wonderful　creations。　

Help　me　to　unshackle　and　expand　my　soul　to　the　fullest

realization　of　Your　wonders。　　Almighty　God；　make　me　bigger；

make　me　broader！'〃



The　moth　climbed　to　the　end　of　the　projection；　up　it

a　little　way；　then　suddenly　reversed　its　wings；　turned

the　hidden　sides　out　and　dropped　them　beside　its　abdomen；

like　a　large　fly。　　The　upper　side　of　the　wings；　thus

exposed；　was　far　richer　colour；　more　exquisite　texture　than

the　under；　and　they　slowly　half　lifted　and　drooped　again。　

Mrs。　Comstock　turned　her　face　to　Philip。



〃Am　I　an　old　fool；　or　do　you　feel　it；　too？〃　she　half　whispered。



〃You　are　wiser　than　you　ever　have　been　before；〃

answered　he。　　〃I　feel　it；　also。〃



〃And　I；〃　breathed　Elnora。



The　moth　spread　its　wings；　shivered　them　tremulously；

opening　and　closing　them　rapidly。　　Philip　handed　the　box

to　Elnora。



She　shook　her　head。



〃I　can't　take　that　one；〃　she　said。　　〃Give　her　freedom。〃



〃But；　Elnora；〃　protested　Mrs。　Comstock；　〃I　don't　want　to

let　her　go。　　She's　mine。　　She's　the　first　one　I　ever　found

this　way。　　Can't　you　put　her　in　a　big　box；　and　let　her　live；

without　hurting　her？　　I　can't　bear　to　let　her　go。　　I　want

to　learn　all　about　her。〃



〃Then　watch　while　we　gather　these　on　the　trees；〃　said　Elnora。　

〃We　will　take　her　home　until　night　and　then　decide　what　to　do。　

She　won't　fly　for　a　long　time　yet。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　settled　on　the　ground；　gazing　at　the　moth。　

Elnora　and　Philip　went　to　the　baited　trees；　placing

several　large　moths　and　a　number　of　smaller　ones　in　the

cyanide　jar；　and　searching　the　bushes　beyond　where　they

found　several　paired　specimens　of　differing　families。　

When　they　returned　Elnora　showed　her　mother　how　to

hold　her　hand　before　the　moth　so　that　it　would　climb　upon

her　fingers。　　Then　they　started　back　to　the　cabin；　Elnora

and　Philip　leading　the　way；　Mrs。　Comstock　followed

slowly；　stepping　with　great　care　lest　she　stumble　and

injure　the　moth。　　Her　face　wore　a　look　of　comprehension；

in　her　eyes　was　an　exalted　light。　　On　she　came　to　the　blue…

bordered　pool　lying　beside　her　path。



A　turtle　scrambled　from　a　log　and　splashed　into　the

water；　while　a　red…wing　shouted；　〃O…ka…lee！〃　to　her。　

Mrs。　Comstock　paused　and　looked　intently　at　the　slime…

covered　quagmire；　framed　in　a　flower　riot　and　homed　over

by　sweet…voiced　birds。　　Then　she　gazed　at　the　thing　of

incomparable　beauty　clinging　to　her　fingers　and　said　softly：　

〃If　you　had　known　about　wonders　like　these　in　the　days　of

your　youth；　Robert　Comstock；　could　you　ever　have　done　what

you　did？〃



Elnora　missed　her　mother；　and　turning　to　look　for　her；

saw　her　standing　beside　the　pool。　　Would　the　old

fascination　return？　　A　panic　of　fear　seized　the　girl。　

She　went　back　swiftly。



〃Are　you　afraid　she　is　going？〃　Elnora　asked。　　〃If　you　are；

cup　your　other　hand　over　her　for　shelter。　　Carrying　her

through　this　air　and　in　the　hot　sunshine　will　dry　her　wings

and　make　them　ready　for　flight　very　quickly。　　You　can't　trust

her　in　such　air　and　light　as　you　can　in　the　cool　dark　woods。〃



While　she　talked　she　took　hold　of　her　mother's　sleeve；

anxiously　smiling　a　pitiful　little　smile　that　Mrs。

Comstock　understood。　　Philip　set　his　load　at　the　back　door；

returning　to　hold　open　the　garden　gate　for　Elnora　and

Mrs。　Comstock。　　He　reached　it　in　time　to　see　them　standing

together　beside　the　pool。　　The　mother　bent　swiftly　and

kissed　the　girl　on　the　lips。　　Philip　turned　and　was　busily

hunting　moths　on　the　raspberry　bushes　when　they　reached

the　gate。　　And　so　excellent　are　the　rewards　of　attending

your　own　business；　that　he　found　a　Promethea　on　a　lilac

in　a　corner；　a　moth　of　such　rare　wine…coloured；　velvety

shades　that　it　almost　sent　Mrs。　Comstock　to　her　knees　again。　

But　this　one　was　fully　developed；　able　to　fly；　and　had　to

be　taken　into　the　cabin　hurriedly。　　Mrs。　Comstock　stood　in

the　middle　of　the　room　holding　up　her　Regalis。



〃Now　what　must　I　do？〃　she　asked。



Elnora　glanced　at　Philip　Ammon。　　Their　eyes　met　and

both　of　them　smiled；　he　with　amusement　at　the　tall；　spare

figure；　with　dark　eyes　and　white　crown；　asking　the　childish

question　so　confidingly；　and　Elnora　with　pride。　　She　was

beginning　to　appreciate　the　character　of　her　mother。



〃How　would　you　like　to　sit　and　see　her　finish　development？　

I'll　get　dinner；〃　proposed　the　girl。



After　they　had　dined；　Philip　and　Elnora　carried　the　dishes

to　the　kitchen；　brou