the village watch-tower-第18章

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〃Would　youmind　going　out　in　the　orchard　for　an　hour　or　so？

You　seem　to　be　rather　in　the　way　here；　and　I　should　like

the　place　to　myself；　if　you'll　excuse　me　for　saying　so。

I'm　ever　so　much　more　capable　than　Mrs。　Buck；　won't　you

give　me　a　trial；　sir？　　Here's　your　violin　and　your　hat。

I'll　call　you　if　you　can　help　or　advise　me。〃



〃But　I　can't　let　a　stranger　come　in　and　do　my　housework；〃　he　objected。

〃I　can't；　you　know；　though　I　appreciate　your　kindness　all　the　same。〃



〃I　am　your　nearest　neighbor；　and　your　only　one；　for　that　matter；〃

said　Lyddy　firmly；　〃its　nothing　more　than　right　that　I　should　look　after　that

sick　child；　and　I　must　do　it。　　I　haven't　got　a　thing　to　do　in　my　own　house。

I　am　nothing　but　a　poor　lonely　old　maid；　who's　been　used　to　children

all　her　life；　and　likes　nothing　better　than　to　work　over　them。〃



A　calm　settled　upon　Anthony's　perturbed　spirit；　as　he　sat　under

the　apple…trees　and　heard　Lyddy　going　to　and　fro　in　the　cottage。

〃She　isn't　any　old　maid；〃　he　thought；　〃she　doesn't　step　like　one；

she　has　soft　shoes　and　a　springy　walk。　　She　must　be　a　very

handsome　woman；　with　a　hand　like　that；　and　such　a　voice！

I　knew　the　moment　she　spoke　that　she　didn't　belong　in　this　village。〃



As　a　matter　of　fact；　his　keen　ear　had　caught　the　melody　in

Lyddy's　voice；　a　voice　full　of　dignity；　sweetness；　and　reserve　power。

His　sense　of　touch；　too；　had　captured　the　beauty　of　her　hand；

and　held　it　in　remembrance；the　soft　palm；　the　fine　skin；

supple　fingers；　smooth　nails；　and　firm　round　wrist。

These　charms　would　never　have　been　noted　by　any　seeing

man　in　Edgewood；　but　they　were　revealed　to　Anthony　Croft

while　Lyddy；　like　the　good　Samaritan；　bound　up　his　wounds。

It　is　these　saving　stars　that　light　the　eternal　darkness

of　the　blind。



Lyddy　thought　she　had　met　her　Waterloo　when；　with　arms　akimbo；

she　gazed　about　the　Croft　establishment；　which　was　a　scene

of　desolation　for　the　moment。　　Anthony's　cousin　from

Bridgton　was　in　the　habit　of　visiting　him　every　two　months

for　a　solemn　house…cleaning；　and　Mrs。　Buck　from　Pleasant

River　came　every　Saturday　and　Monday　for　baking　and　washing。

Between　times　Davy　and　his　uncle　did　the　housework　together；

and　although　it　was　respectably　done；　there　was　no　pink…and…white

daintiness　about　it；　you　may　be　sure。



Lyddy　came　out　to　the　apple…trees　in　about　an　hour；

laughing　a　little　nervously　as　she　said；　〃I'm　sorry　to

have　taken　a　mean　advantage　of　you；　Mr。　Croft；　but　I　know

everything　you've　got　in　your　house；　and　exactly　where　it　is。

I　couldn't　help　it；　you　see；　when　I　was　making　things　tidy。

It　would　do　you　good　to　see　the　boy。　　His　room　was　too　light；

and　the　flies　were　devouring　him。　　I　swept　him　and　dusted　him；

put　on　clean　sheets　and　pillow　slips；　sponged　him　with　bay　rum；

brushed　his　hair；　drove　out　the　flies；　and　tacked　a　green

curtain　up　to　the　window。　　Fifteen　minutes　after　he　was　sleeping

like　a　kitten。　　He　has　a　sore　throat　and　considerable　fever。

Could　youcan　youat　least；　will　you；　go　up　to　my　house

on　an　errand？〃



〃Certainly　I　can。　　I　know　it　inside　and　out　as　well　as　my　own。〃



〃Very　good。　　On　the　clock　shelf　in　the　sitting…room　there

is　a　bottle　of　sweet　spirits　of　nitre；　it's　the　only　bottle　there；

so　you　can't　make　any　mistake。　　It　will　help　until　the　doctor　comes。

I　wonder　you　didn't　send　for　him　yesterday？〃



〃Davy　wouldn't　have　him；〃　apologized　his　uncle。



〃Wouldn't　he　？〃　said　Lyddy　with　cheerful　scorn。

〃He　has　you　under　pretty　good　control；　hasn't　he？

But　children　are　unmerciful　tyrants。〃



〃Couldn't　you　coax　him　into　it　before　you　go　home？〃　asked　Anthony

in　a　wheedling　voice。



〃I　can　try；　but　it　isn't　likely　I　can

influence　him；　if　you　can't。　Still；　if　we　both　fail；　I　really　don't

see　what　's　to　prevent　our　sending　for　the　doctor　in　spite　of　him。

He　is　as　weak　as　a　baby；　you　know；　and　can't　sit　up　in　bed：

what　could　he　do？　　I　will　risk　the　consequences；　if　you　will！　〃



There　was　a　note　of　such　amiable　and　winning　sarcasm　in　all　this；

such　a　cheery；　invincible　courage；　such　a　friendly　neighborliness

and　cooperation；　above　all　such　a　different　tone　from　any

he　was　accustomed　to　hear　in　Edgewood；　that　Anthony　Croft　felt

warmed　through　to　the　core。



As　he　walked　quickly　along　the　road；　he　conjured　up　a　vision

of　autumn　beauty　from　the　few　hints　nature　gave　even　to　her　sightless

ones　on　this　glorious　morning；the　rustle　of　a　few　fallen　leaves　under

his　feet；　the　clear　wine　of　the　air；　the　full　rush　of　the　swollen　river；

the　whisking　of　the　squirrels　in　the　boughs；　the　crunch　of　their　teeth

on　the　nuts；　the　spicy　odor　of　the　apples　lying　under　the　trees。

He　missed　his　mother　that　morning　more　than　he　had　missed　her　for　years。

How　neat　she　was；　how　thrifty；　how　comfortable；　and　how　comforting！

His　life　was　so　dreary　and　aimless；　and　was　it　the　best　or　the　right　one

for　Davy；　with　his　talent　and　dawning　ambition？　　Would　it　not　be　better

to　have　Mrs。　Buck　live　with　them　altogether；　instead　of　coming　twice　a　week；

as　heretofore　？　　No；　he　shrank　from　that　with　a　hopeless　aversion　born

of　Saturday　and　Monday　dinners　in　her　company。　　He　could　hear　her　pour

her　coffee　into　the　saucer；　hear　the　scraping　of　the　cup　on　the　rim；

and　know　that　she　was　setting　it　sloppily　down　on　the　cloth。　　He　could

remember　her　noisy　drinking；　the　weight　of　her　elbow　on　the　table；

the　creaking　of　her　calico　dress　under　the　pressure　of　superabundant　flesh。

Besides；　she　had　tried　to　scrub　his　favorite　violin　with　sapolio。

No；　anything　was　better　than　Mrs。　Buck　as　a　constancy。



He　took　off　his　hat　unconsciously　as　he　entered　Lyddy's　sitting…room。

A　gentle　breeze　blew　one　of　the　full　red　curtains　towards　him　till

it　fluttered　about　his　shoulders　like　a　frolicsome；　teasing　hand。

There　was　a　sweet；　pungent　odor　of　pine　boughs；　a　canary　sang　in　the　window；

the　clock　was　trimmed　with　a　blackberry　vine；　he　knew　the　prickles；

and　they　called　up　to　his　mind　the　glowing　tints　he　had　loved　so　well。

His　sensitive　hand；　that　carried　a　divining　rod　in　every　finger…tip；

met　a　vase　on　the　shelf；　and；　traveling　upward；　touched　a　full　branch

of　alder　berries　tied　about　with　a　ribbon。　　The　ribbon　would　be　red；

the　woman　who　arranged　this　room　would　make　no　mistake；　for　in　one　morning

Anthony　Croft　had　penetrated　the　secret　of　Lyddy's　true　personality；

and　in　a　measure　had　sounded　the　shallows　that　led　to　the　depths

of　her　nature。



Lyddy　went　home　at　seven　o'clock　that　night　rather　reluctantly。

The　doctor　had　said　Mr。　Croft　could　sit　up　with　the　boy　unless　he　grew

much　worse；　and　there　was　no　propriety　in　her　staying　longer　unless

there　was　danger。



〃You　have　been　very　good　to　me；〃　Anthony　said　gravely；

as　he　shook　her　hand　at　parting；〃very　good。〃



They　stood　together　on　the　doorstep。　　A　distant　bell；

called　to　evening　prayer…meeting；　the　restless　murmur　of　the　river

and　the　whisper　of　the　wind　in　the　pines　broke　the　twilight　stillness。

The　long；　quiet　day　together；　part　of　it　spent　by　the　sick　child's　bedside；

had　brought　the　two　strangers　curiously　near　to　each　other。



〃The　house　hasn't　seemed　so　sweet　and　fresh　since　my　mother　died；〃

he　went　on；　as　he　dropped　her　hand；　〃and　I　haven't　had　so　many　flowers

and　green　things　in　it　since　I　lost　my　eyesight。〃



〃Was　it　long　ago？〃



〃Ten　years。　　Is　that　long？〃



〃Long　to　bear　a　burden。〃



〃I　hope　you　know　little　of　burden…bearing？〃



〃I　know　little　else。〃



〃I　might　have　guessed　it　from　the　alacrity　with　which

you　took　up　Davy's　and　mine。　　You　must　be　very　happy　to　have

the　power　to　make　things　straight　and　sunny　and　wholesome；

to　breathe　your　strength　into　helplessness　such　as　mine。

I　thank　you；　and　I　envy　you。　　Good…night。〃



Lyddy　turned　on　her　heel　without　a　word；　her　mind　was　beyond

and　above　words。　　The　sky　seemed　to　have　descended　upon；　enveloped　her；

caught　her　up　into　its　heaven；　as　she　rose　into　unaccustomed　heights

of　feeling；　like　Elijah　in　his　chariot　of　fire。　　She　very　happy！

She　with　power；　power　to　make　things　straight　and　sunny　and　wholesome！

She　able　to　breathe　strength　into　helplessness；　even　a　consecrated；

Godsmitten　helplessness　like　his！　　She　not　only　to　be　thanked；　but　envied！



Her　house　seemed　strange　to　her　that　night。

She　went　to　bed　in　the　dark；　dreading　even　the　light　of　a　candle；

and　before　she　turned　down　her　counterpane　she　flung　herself

on　her　knees；　and　poured　out　her　soul　in　a　prayer　that　had

been　growing；　waiting；　and　waited　for；　perhaps；　for　years：



〃O　Lord；　I　thank　Thee　for　health　and　strength　and　life。

I　never　could　do　it　before；　but　I　thank　Thee　to…night　for　life

on　any　terms。　　I　thank　Thee　for　this　home；　for　the　chance

of　helping　another　human　creature；　stricken　like　myself；

for　the　privilege　of　ministering　to　a　motherless　child。

Make　me　to　long　only　for　the　beauty　of　holiness；　and　to　be

satisfied　if　I　attain　to　it。　　Wash　my　soul　pure　and　clean；

and　let　that　be　the　only　mirror　in　which　I　see　my　face。

I　have　tried　to　be　useful。　　Forgive　me　if　it　always　seemed

so　hard　and　dreary　a　life。　　Forgive　me　if　I　am　too　happy　because

for　one　short　day　I　have　really　helped　in　a　beautiful　way；

and　found　a　friend　who　saw；　because　he　was　blind；　the　real

me　underneath；　the　me　that　never　was　burned　by　the　fire；

the　me　that　isn't　disfigured；　unless　my　wicked　discontent

has　done　it；　the　me　that　has　lived　on　and　on　and　on；

starving　to　death　for　the　friendship　and　sympathy　and　love

that　come　to　other　women。　　I　have　spent　my　forty　years　in

the　wilderness；　feeding　on　wrath　and　bitterness　and　tears。

Forgive　me；　Lord；　and　give　me　one　more　vision　of　the　blessed

land　of　Canaan；　even　if　I　never　dwell　there。〃



VI。





〃Nor　less　the　eternal　poles

Of　tendency　distribute　souls。

There　need　no　vows　to　bind

Whom　not　each　other　seek；　but　find。〃



Emerson's　_Celestial　Love。_





Davy's　sickness　was　a　lingering　one。　　Mrs。　Buck　came　for　two　or

three　hours　a　day；　but　Lyddy　was　the　self…installed　angel　of　the　house；

and　before　a　week　had　passed　the　boy's　thin　arms　were　around　her　neck；

his　head　on　her　loving　shoulder；　and　his　cheek　pressed　against　hers。

Anthony　could　hear　them　talk；　as　he　sat　in　the　kitchen　busy　at

his　work。　　Musical　instruments　were　still　brought　him　to　repair；

though　less　frequently　than　of　yore；　and　he　could　still　make

many　parts　of　violins　far　better　than　his　seeing　competitors。

A　friend　and　pupil　sat　by　his　side　in　the　winter　evenings

and　supplemented　his　weakness；　helping　and　learning　alternately；

while　his　blind　master's　skill　filled　him　with　wonder　and　despair。

The　years　of　struggle　for　perfection　had　not　been　wasted；

and　though　the　eye　that　once　detected　the　deviation　of　a　hair's

breadth　could　no　longer　tell　the　true　from　the　false；　yet　nature

had　been　busy　with　her　divine　work　of　compensation。

The　one　sense　stricken　with　death；　she　poured　floods　of　new　life　and

vigor　into　t