lavender and old lace-第10章

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ooks　than　she　wants；　because　she　reviews'em　for　the　paper；　and　I　don't　think　she's　musical。　She　doesn't　look　like　the　candy　fiends；　and　I　imagine　she'd　pitch　a　box　of　chocolates　into　the　sad　sea；　or　give　it　to　Hepsey。　There's　nothing　left　but　flowersand　I　suppose　she　wouldn't　notice'em。

〃A　man　would　have　to　teach　her　to　like　him；　and；　on　my　soul；　I　don't　know　how　he'd　do　that。　Constant　devotion　wouldn't　have　any　effectI　doubt　if　she'd　permit　it；　and　a　fellow　might　stay　away　from　her　for　six　months；　without　a　sign　from　her。　I　guess　she's　coldno；　she　isn't；　eithereyes　and　temper　like　hers　don't　go　with　the　icebergs。

〃Ithat　is；　he　couldn't　take　her　out；　because　there's　no　place　to　go。　It's　different　in　the　city；　of　course；　but　if　he　happened　to　meet　her　in　the　country；　as　I've　done

〃Might　ask　her　to　drive；　possibly；　if　I　could　rent　Alfred　and　Mamie　for　a　few　hoursno；　we'd　have　to　have　the　day；　for　anything　over　two　miles；　and　that　wouldn't　be　good　form；　without　a　chaperone。　Not　that　she　needs　oneshe's　equal　to　any　emergency；　I　fancy。　Besides；　she　wouldn't　go。　If　I　could　get　those　two　plugs　up　the　hill；　without　pushing　'em；　gravity　would　take'em　back；　but　I　couldn't　ask　her　to　walk　up　the　hill　after　the　pleasure　excursion　was　over。　I　don't　believe　a　drive　would　entertain　her。

〃Perhaps　she'd　like　to　fishno；　she　wouldn't；　for　she　said　she　didn't　like　worms。　Might　sail　on　the　briny　deep；　except　that　there's　no　harbour　within　ten　miles；　and　she　wouldn't　trust　her　fair　young　life　to　me。　She'd　be　afraid　I'd　drown　her。

〃I　suppose　the　main　idea　is　to　cultivate　a　clinging　dependence；　but　I'd　like　to　see　the　man　who　could　woo　any　dependence　from　Miss　Thorne。　She　holds　her　head　like　a　thoroughbred　touched　with　the　lash。　She　said　she　was　afraid　of　Carlton；　but　I　guess　she　was

just　trying　to　be　pleasant。　I'll　tell　him　about　itno；　I　won't；　for　I　said　I　wouldn't。

〃I　wish　there　was　some　other　girl　here　for　me　to　talk　to；　but　I'll　be　lucky　if　I　can　get　along　peaceably　with　the　one　already　here。　I'll　have　to　discover　all　her　pet　prejudices　and　be　careful　not　to　walk　on　any　of　'em。　There's　that　crazy　woman；　for　instanceI　mustn't　allude　to　her；　even　respectfully；　if　I'm　to　have　any　softening　feminine　influence　about　me　before　I　go　back　to　town。　She　didn't　seem　to　believe　I　had　any　letter　from　Carltonthat's　what　comes　of　being　careless。

〃I　shouldn't　have　told　her　that　people　said　she　had　large　feet　and　wore　men's　shoes。　She's　got　a　pretty　foot；　I　noticed　it　particularly　before　I　spokeI　suppose　she　didn't　like　thatmost　girls　wouldn't；　I　guess；　but　she　took　it　as　a　hunter　takes　a　fence。　Even　after　that；　she　said　she'd　help　me　be　patient；　and　last　night；　when　she　said　she'd　read　the　papers　to　meshe　was　awfully　sweet　to　me　then。

〃Perhaps　she　likes　me　a　little　bitI　hope　so。　She'd　never　care　very　much　for　anybody；　thoughshe's　too　independent。　She　wouldn't　even　let　me　help　her　up　the　hill；　I　don't　know　whether　it　was　independence；　or　whether　she　didn't　want　me　to　touch　her。　If　we　ever　come　to　a　place　where　she　has　to　be　helped；　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　put　gloves　on；　or　let　her　hold　one　end　of　a　stick　while　I　hang　on　to　the　other。

〃Still　she　didn't　take　her　hand　away　last　night；　when　I　grabbed　it。　Probably　she　was　thinking　about　something　else；　and　didn't　notice。　It's　a　particularly　nice　hand　to　hold；　but　I'll　never　have　another　chance；　I　guess。

〃Carlton　said　she'd　take　the　conceit　out　of　me；　if　I　had　any。　I'm　glad　he　didn't　put　that　in　the　letterstill　it　doesn't　matter；　since　I've　lost　it。　I　wish　I　hadn't；　for　what　he　said　about　me　was　really　very　nice。　Carlton　is　a　good　fellow。

〃How　she　lit　on　me　when　I　thought　the　crazy　person　might　make　a　good　special！　Jerusalem！　I　felt　like　the　dust　under　her　feet。　I'd　be　glad　to　have　anybody　stand　up　for　me；　like　that；　but　nobody　ever　will。　She's　mighty　pretty　when　she's　angry；　but　I'd　rather　she　wouldn't　get　huffy　at　me。　She's　a　tremendously　nice　girlthere's　no　doubt　of　that。〃

At　this　juncture；　Joe　came　out　on　the　porch；　hat　in　hand。　〃Mornin'；　Mr。　Winfield。〃

〃Good　morning；　Joe；　how　are　your　troubles　this　morning？〃

〃They're　ill　right；　I　guess；〃　he　replied；　pleased　with　the　air　of　comradeship。　〃Want　me　to　read　the　paper　to　yer？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　Joe；　not　this　morning。〃

The　tone　was　a　dismissal；　but　Joe　lingered；　shifting　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　〃Ain't　I　done　it　to　suit　yer？〃

〃Quite　so；〃　returned　Winfield；　serenely。

〃I　don't　mind　doin'　it；〃　Joe　continued；　after　a　long　silence。　〃I　won't　charge　yer　nothin'。〃

〃You're　very　kind；　Joe；　but　I　don't　care　about　it　to…day。〃　Winfield　rose　and　walked　to　the　other　end　of　the　porch。　The　apple　trees　were　in　bloom；　and　every　wandering　wind　was　laden　with　sweetness。　Even　the　gnarled　old　tree　in　Miss　Hathaway's　yard；　that　had　been　out　of　bearing　for　many　a　year；　had　put　forth　a　bough　of　fragrant　blossoms。　He　saw　it　from　where　he　stood；　a　mass　of　pink　and　white　against　the　turquoise　sky；　and　thought　that　Miss　Thorne　would　make　a　charming　picture　if　she　stood　beneath　the　tree　with　the　blown　petals　drifting　around　her。

He　lingered　upon　the　vision　till　Joe　spoke　again。　〃Be　you　goin'　up　to　Miss　Hathaway's　this　mornin'？〃

〃Why；　I　don't　know；〃　Winfield　answered　somewhat　resentfully；　〃why？〃

〃'Cause　I　wouldn't　gonot　if　I　was　in　your　place。〃

〃Why？〃　he　demanded；　facing　him。

〃Miss　Hathaway's　niece；　she's　sick。〃

〃Sick！〃　repeated　Winfield；　in　sudden　fear；　〃what's　the　matter！〃

〃Oh；'t　ain't　nothin'　serious；　I　reckon；　cause　she's　up　and　around。　I've　just　come　from　there；　and　Hepsey　said　that　all　night　Miss　Thorne　was　a…cryin'；　and　that　this　mornin'　she　wouldn't　eat　no　breakfast。　She　don't　never　eat　much；　but　this　mornin'　she　wouldn't　eat　nothin'；　and　she　wouldn't　say　what　was　wrong　with　her。〃

Winfield's　face　plainly　showed　his　concern。

〃She　wouldn't　eat　nothin'　last　night；　neither；〃　Joe　went　on。　〃Hepsey　told　me　this　mornin'　that　she　thought　p'raps　you　and　her　had　fit。　She's　your　girl；　ain't　she？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Winfield；　〃she　isn't　my　girl；　and　we　haven't　'fit。'　I'm　sorry　she　isn't　well。〃

He　paced　back　and　forth　moodily；　while　Joe　watched　him　in　silence。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　at　length；　〃I　reckon　I'll　be　movin'　along。　I　just　thought　I'd　tell　yer。〃

There　was　no　answer；　and　Joe　slammed　the　gate　in　disgust。　〃I　wonder　what's　the　matter；〃　thought　Winfield。　〃'T　isn't　a　letter；　for　to…day's　mail　hasn't　come　and　she　was　all　right　last　night。　Perhaps　she　isn't　illshe　said　she　cried　when　she　was　angry。　Great　Heavens！　I　hope　she　isn't　angry　at　me！

〃She　was　awfully　sweet　to　me　just　before　I　left　her；〃　he　continued；　mentally；　〃so　I'm　not　to　blame。　I　wonder　if　she's　angry　at　herself　because　she　offered　to　read　the　papers　to　me？〃

All　unknowingly　he　had　arrived　at　the　cause　of　Miss　Thorne's　unhappiness。　During　a　wakeful；　miserable　night；　she　had　wished　a　thousand　times　that　she　might　take　back　those　few　impulsive　words。

〃That　must　be　it；〃　he　thought；　and　then　his　face　grew　tender。　〃Bless　her　sweet　heart；〃　he　muttered；　apropos　of　nothing；　〃I'm　not　going　to　make　her　unhappy。　It's　only　her　generous　impulse；　and　I　won't　let　her　think　it's　any　more。〃

The　little　maiden　of　his　dreams　was　but　a　faint　image　just　then；　as　he　sat　down　to　plan　a　course　of　action　which　would　assuage　Miss　Thorne's　tears。　A　grey　squirrel　appeared　on　the　gate　post；　and　sat　there；　calmly；　cracking　a　nut。

He　watched　the　little　creature；　absently；　and　then　strolled　toward　the　gate。　The　squirrel　seemed　tame　and　did　not　move　until　he　was　almost　near　enough　to　touch　it；　and　then　it　scampered　only　a　little　way。

〃I'll　catch　it；〃　Winfield　said　to　himself；　〃and　take　it　up　to　Miss　Thorne。　Perhaps　she'll　be　pleased。〃

It　was　simple　enough；　apparently；　for　the　desired　gift　was　always　close　at　hand。　He　followed　it　across　the　hill；　and　bent　a　score　of　times　to　pick　it　up；　but　it　was　a　guileful　squirrel　and　escaped　with　great　regularity。

Suddenly；　with　a　flaunt　of　its　bushy　tail　and　a　daring；　backward　glance；　it　scampered　under　the　gate　into　Miss　Ainslie's　garden　and　Winfield　laughed　aloud。　He　had　not　known　he　was　so　near　the　other　house　and　was　about　to　retreat　when　something　stopped　him。

Miss　Ainslie　stood　in　the　path　just　behind　the　gate；　with　her　face　ghastly　white　and　her　eyes　wide　with　terror；　trembling　like　a　leaf。　There　was　a　troubled　silence；　then　she　said；　thickly；　〃Go！〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　answered；　hurriedly；　〃I　did　not　mean　to　frighten　you。〃

〃Go！〃　she　said　again；　her　lips　scarcely　moving；　〃Go！〃

〃Now　what　in　the　mischief　have　I　done；〃　he　thought；　as　he　crept　away；　feeling　like　a　thief。　〃I　understood　that　this　was　a　quiet　place　and　yet　the　strenuous　life　seems　to　have　struck　the　village　in　good　earnest。

〃What　am　I；　that　I　should　scare　the　aged　and　make　the　young　weep？　I've　always　been　considered　harmless；　till　now。　That　must　be　Miss　Thorne's　friend；　whom　I　met　so　unfortunately　just　now。　She's　crazy；　surely；　or　she　wouldn't　have　been　afraid　of　me。　Poor　thing；　perhaps　I　startled　her。〃

He　remembered　that　she　had　carried　a　basket　and　worn　a　pair　of　gardening　gloves。　Even　though　her　face　was　so　changed；　for　an　instant　he　had　seen　its　beautythe　deep　violet　eyes；　fair　skin；　and　regular　features；　surmounted　by　that　wonderful　crown　of　silvered　hair。

Conflicting　emotions　swayed　him　as　he　wended　his　way　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　with　the　morning　paper　in　his　pocket　as　an　excuse；　if　he　should　need　one。　When　he　approached　the　gate；　he　was　seized　by　a　swift　and　unexplainable　fear；　and　would　have　turned　back；　but　Miss　Hathaway's　door　was　opened。

Then　the　little　maiden　of　his　dreams　vanished；　waving　her　hand　in　token　of　eterna1　farewell；　for　as　Ruth　came　down　the　path　between　the　white　and　purple　plumes　of　lilac；　with　a　smile　of　welcome　upon　her　lips；　he　knew　that；　in　all　the　world；　there　was　nothing　half　so　fair。



VIII。　Summer　Days

The　rumble　of　voices　which　came　from　the　kitchen　was　not　disturbing；　but　when　the　rural　lovers　began　to　sit　on　the　piazza；　directly　under　Ruth's　window；　she　felt　called　upon　to　remonstrate。

〃Hepsey；〃　she　asked；　one　morning；　〃why　don't　you　and　Joe　sit　under　the　trees　at　the　side　of　the　house？　You　can　take　your　chairs　out　there。〃

〃Miss　Hathaway　allerss　let　us　set　on　the　piazzer；〃　returned　Hepsey；　unmoved。

〃Miss　Hathaway　probably　sleeps　more　soundly　than　I　do。　You　don't　want　me　to　hear　everything　you　say；　do　you？〃

Hepsey　shrugged　her　buxom　shoulders。　〃You　can　if　you　like；　mum。〃

〃But　I　don't　like；〃　snapped　Ruth。　〃It　annoys　me。〃

There　was　an　interval　of　silence；　then　Hepsey　spoke　again；　of　her　own　accord。　〃If　Joe　and　me　was　to　set　anywheres　but　in　front；　he　might　see　the　light。〃

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃

〃Miss　Hathaway；　she　don't　want　it　talked　of；　and　men　folks　never　can　keep　secrets；〃　Hepsey　suggested。

〃You　wouldn't　have　to　tell　him；　would　you？〃

〃Yes'm。　Men　folks　has　got　terrible　curious　minds。　They're　all　right　if　they　don't　know　there's　nothin'；　but　if　they　does；　why　they's　keen。〃

〃Perhaps　you're　right；　Hepsey；〃　she　replied；　biting　her　lips。　〃Sit　anywhere　you　please。〃

There　were　times　when　Ruth　was　compelled　to　admit　that　Hepsey's　mental　gifts　were　fully　equal　to　her　own。　It　was　unreasonable　to　suppose；　even　for　an　instant；　that　Joe　and　Hepsey　had　not　pondered　long　and　earnestly　upon　the　sub