lavender and old lace-第11章

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o　suppose；　even　for　an　instant；　that　Joe　and　Hepsey　had　not　pondered　long　and　earnestly　upon　the　subject　of　the　light　in　the　attic　window；　yet　the　argument　was　unanswerable。　The　matter　had　long　since　lost　its　interest　for　Ruthperhaps　because　she　was　too　happy　to　care。

Winfield　had　easily　acquired　the　habit　of　bringing　her　his　morning　papers；　and；　after　the　first　embarrassment；　Ruth　settled　down　to　it　in　a　businesslike　way。　Usually；　she　sat　in　Miss　Hathaway's　sewing　chair；　under　a　tree　a　little　way　from　the　house；　that　she　might　at　the　same　time　have　a　general　supervision　of　her　domain；　while　Winfield　stretched　himself　upon　the　grass　at　her　feet。　When　the　sun　was　bright；　he　wore　his　dark　glasses；　thereby　gaining　an　unfair　advantage。

After　breakfast；　which　was　a　movable　feast　at　the　〃Widder's；〃　he　went　after　his　mail　and　brought　hers　also。　When　he　reached　the　top　of　the　hill；　she　was　always　waiting　for　him。

〃This　devotion　is　very　pleasing；〃　he　remarked；　one　morning。

〃Some　people　are　easily　pleased；〃　she　retorted。　〃I　dislike　to　spoil　your　pleasure；　but　my　stern　regard　for　facts　compels　me　to　say　that　it　is　not　Mr。　Winfield　I　wait　for；　but　the　postman。〃

〃Then　I'll　always　be　your　postman；　for　I　'do　admire'　to　be　waited　for；　as　they　have　it　at　the　'Widder's。'　Of　course；　it's　more　or　less　of　an　expensethis　morning；　for　instance；　I　had　to　dig　up　two　cents　to　get　one　of　your　valuable　manuscripts　out　of　the　clutches　of　an　interested　government。〃

〃That's　nothing；〃　she　assured　him；　〃for　I　save　you　a　quarter　every　day；　by　taking　Joe's　place　as　reader　to　Your　Highness；　not　to　mention　the　high　tariff　on　the　Sunday　papers。　Besides；　the　manuscripts　are　all　in　now。〃

〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　he　replied；　sitting　down　on　the　piazza。　〃Do　you　know；　Miss　Thorne；　I　think　there's　a　great　deal　of　joyous　excitement　attached　to　the　pursuit　of　literature。　You　send　out　a　story；　fondly　believing　that　it　is　destined　to　make　you　famous。　Time　goes　on；　and　you　hear　nothing　from　it。　You　can　see　your　name　'featured'　on　the　advertisements　of　the　magazine；　and　hear　the　heavy　tread　of　the　fevered　mob；　on　the　way　to　buy　up　the　edition。　In　the　roseate　glow　of　your　fancy；　you　can　see　not　only　your　cheque；　but　the　things　you're　going　to　buy　with　it。　Perhaps　you　tell　your　friends；　cautiously；　that　you're　writing　for　such　and　such　a　magazine。　Before　your　joy　evaporates；　the　thing　comes　back　from　the　Dead　Letter　Office；　because　you　hadn't　put　on　enough　postage；　and　they　wouldn't　take　it　in。　Or；　perhaps　they've　written　'Return'　on　the　front　page　in　blue　pencil；　and　all　over　it　are　little；　dark；　four…fingered　prints；　where　the　office　pup　has　walked　on　it。〃

〃You　seem　to　be　speaking　from　experience。〃

〃You　have　guessed　it；　fair　lady；　with　your　usual　wonderful　insight。　Now　let's　read　the　paperdo　you　know；　you　read　much　better　than　Joe　does？〃

〃Really？〃　Ruth　was　inclined　to　be　sarcastic；　but　there　was　a　delicate　colour　in　her　cheeks；　which　pleased　his　aesthetic　sense。

At　first；　he　had　had　an　insatiable　thirst　for　everything　in　the　paper；　except　the　advertisements。　The　market　reports　were　sacrificed　inside　of　a　week；　and　the　obituary　notices；　weather　indications；　and　foreign　despatches　soon　followed。　Later；　the　literary　features　were　eliminated；　but　the　financial　and　local　news　died　hard。　By　the　end　of　June；　however；　he　was　satisfied　with　the　headlines。

〃No；　thank　you；　I　don't　want　to　hear　about　the　murder；〃　he　said；　in　answer　to　Ruth's　ironical　question；　〃nor　yet　the　Summer　styles　in　sleeves。　All　that　slop　on　the　Woman's　Page；　about　making　home　happy；　is　not　suited　to　such　as　I；　and　I'll　pass。〃

〃There's　a　great　deal　here　that's　very　interesting；〃　returned　Ruth；　〃and　I　doubt　if　I　myself　could　have　crammed　more　solid　knowledge　into　one　Woman's　Page。　Here's　a　full　account　of　a　wealthy　lady's　Summer　home；　and　a　description　of　a　poor　woman's　garden；　and　eight　recipes；　and　half　a　column　on　how　to　keep　a　husband　at　home　nights；　and　plans　for　making　a　china　closet　out　of　an　old　bookcase。〃

〃If　there's　anything　that　makes　me　dead　tired；〃　remarked　Winfield；　〃it's　that　homemade　furniture　business。〃

〃For　once；　we　agree；〃　answered　Ruth。　〃I've　read　about　it　till　I'm　completely　out　of　patience。　Shirtwaist　boxes　from　soap　boxes；　dressing　tables　from　packing　boxes；　couches　from　cots；　hall　lamps　from　old　arc　light　globes；　and　clothes　hampers　from　barrelsall　these　I　endured；　but　the　last　straw　was　a　'transformed　kitchen。'〃

〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　begged　Winfield；　who　was　enjoying　himself　hugely。

〃The　stove　was　to　be　set　into　the　wall；〃　began　Ruth；　〃and　surrounded　with　marble　and　white　tiling；　or；　if　this　was　too　expensive；　it　was　to　be　hidden　from　view　by　a　screen　of　Japanese　silk。　A　nice　oak　settle；　hand　carved；　which　'the　young　husband　might　make　in　his　spare　moments；'　was　to　be　placed　in　front　of　it；　and　there　were　to　be　plate　racks　and　shelves　on　the　walls；　to　hold　the　rare　china。　Charming　kitchen！〃

Her　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　eyes　shone　like　stars。　〃You're　an　awfully　funny　girl；〃　said　Winfield；　quietly；　〃to　fly　into　a　passion　over　a　'transformed　kitchen'　that　you　never　saw。　Why　don't　you　save　your　temper　for　real　things？〃

She　looked　at　him；　meaningly；　and　he　retreated　in　good　order。　〃I　think　I'm　a　tactful　person；〃　he　continued；　hurriedly；　〃because　I　get　on　so　well　with　you。　Most　of　the　time；　we're　as　contented　as　two　kittens　in　a　basket。〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Winfield；〃　returned　Ruth；　pleasantly；　〃you're　not　only　tactful；　but　modest。　I　never　met　a　man　whose　temperament　so　nearly　approached　the　unassuming　violet。　I'm　afraid　you'll　never　be　appreciated　in　this　worldyou're　too　good　for　it。　You　must　learn　to　put　yourself　forward。　I　expect　it　will　be　a　shock　to　your　sensitive　nature；　but　it's　got　to　be　done。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　he　laughed。　〃I　wish　we　were　in　town　now；　and　I'd　begin　to　put　myself　forward　by　asking　you　out　to　dinner　and　afterward　to　the　theatre。〃

〃Why　don't　you　take　me　out　to　dinner　here？〃　she　asked。

〃I　wouldn't　insult　you　by　offering　you　the　'Widder's'　cooking。　I　mean　a　real　dinner；　with　striped　ice　cream　at　the　end　of　it。〃

〃I'll　go；〃　she　replied；　〃I　can't　resist　the　blandishments　of　striped　ice　cream。〃

〃Thank　you　again；　that　gives　me　courage　to　speak　of　something　that　has　lain　very　near　my　heart　for　a　long　time。〃

〃Yes？〃　said　Ruth；　conventionally。　For　the　moment　she　was　frightened。

〃I've　been　thinking　fondly　of　your　chafing…dish；　though　I　haven't　been　allowed　to　see　it　yet；　and　I　suppose　there's　nothing　in　the　settlernent　to　cook　in　it；　is　there？〃

〃Nothing　much；　surely。〃

〃We　might　have　some　stuff　sent　out　from　the　city；　don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Canned　things？〃

〃Yesanything　that　would　keep。〃

Aided　and　abetted　by　Winfield；　she　made　out　a　list　of　articles　which　were　unknown　to　the　simple…minded　inhabitants　of　the　village。

〃I'll　attend　to　the　financial　part　of　it；〃　he　said；　pocketing　the　list；　〃and　then；　my　life　will　be　in　your　hands。〃

After　he　went　away；　Ruth　wished　she　knew　more　about　the　gentle　art　of　cooking；　which；　after　all；　is　closely　allied　to　the　other　oneof　making　enemies。　She　decided　to　dispense　with　Hepsey's　services；　when　Winfield　came　up　to　dinner；　and　to　do　everything　herself。

She　found　an　old　cook　book　of　Aunt　Jane's　and　turned　over　its　pages　with　new　interest。　It　was　in　manuscript　form；　and　seemed　to　represent　the　culinary　knowledge　of　the　entire　neighbourhood。　Each　recipe　was　duly　accredited　to　its　original　author；　and　there　were　many　newspaper　clippings；　from　the　despised　〃Woman's　Page〃　in　various　journals。

Ruth　thought　it　would　be　an　act　of　kindness　to　paste　the　loose　clippings　into　Aunt　Jane's　book；　and　she　could　look　them　over　as　she　fastened　them　in。　The　work　progressed　rapidly；　until　she　found　a　clipping　which　was　not　a　recipe。　It　was　a　perfunctory　notice　of　the　death　of　Charles　Winfield；　dated　almost　eighteen　years　ago。

She　remembered　the　various　emotions　old　newspapers　had　given　her　when　she　first　came　to　Aunt　Jane's。　This　was　Abigail　Weatherby's　husbandhe　had　survived　her　by　a　dozen　years。　〃I'm　glad　it's　Charles　Winfield　instead　of　Carl；〃　thought　Ruth；　as　she　put　it　aside；　and　went　on　with　her　work。

〃Pantry's　come；〃　announced　Winfield；　a　few　days　later；　〃I　didn't　open　it；　but　I　think　everything　is　there。　Joe's　going　to　bring　it　up。〃

〃Then　you　can　come　to　dinner　Sunday；〃　answered　Ruth；　smiling。

〃I'll　be　here；〃　returned　Winfield　promptly。　〃What　time　do　we　dine？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly。　It's　better　to　wait；　I　think；　until　Hepsey　goes　out。　She　always　regards　me　with　more　or　less　suspicion；　and　it　makes　me　uncomfortable。〃

Sunday　afternoon；　the　faithful　Joe　drove　up　to　the　gate；　and　Hepsey　emerged　from　her　small　back　room；　like　a　butterfly　from　a　chrysalis。　She　was　radiant　in　a　brilliant　blue　silk；　which　was　festooned　at　irregular　intervals　with　white　silk　lace。　Her　hat　was　bending　beneath　its　burden　of　violets　and　red　roses；　starred　here　and　there　with　some　unhappy　buttercups　which　had　survived　the　wreck　of　a　previous　millinery　triumph。　Her　hands　were　encased　in　white　cotton　gloves；　which　did　not　fit。

With　Joe's　assistance；　she　entered　the　vehicle　and　took　her　place　proudly　on　the　back　seat；　even　while　he　pleaded　for　her　to　sit　beside　him。

〃You　know　yourself　that　I　can't　drive　nothin'　from　the　back　seat；〃　he　complained。

〃Nobody's　askin'　you　to　drive　nothin'　from　nowhere；〃　returned　Hepsey；　scornfully。　〃If　you　can't　take　me　out　like　a　lady；　I　ain't　a…goin'。〃

Ruth　was　dazzled　by　the　magnificence　of　the　spectacle　and　was　unable　to　take　her　eyes　away　from　it；　even　after　Joe　had　turned　around　and　started　down　hill。　She　thought　Winfield　would　see　them　pass　his　door　and　time　his　arrival　accordingly；　so　she　was　startled　when　he　came　up　behind　her　and　said；　cheerfully：

〃They　look　like　a　policeman's；　don't　they？〃

〃Whatwho？〃

〃Hepsey's　handsdid　you　think　I　meant　yours？〃

〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃

〃Nearly　thirty　years。〃

〃That　wasn't　what　I　meant；〃　said　Ruth；　colouring。　〃How　long　have　you　been　at　Aunt　Jane's？〃

〃Oh；　that's　different。　When　Joe　went　out　to　harness　his　fiery　steeds　to　his　imposing　chariot；　I　went　around　through　the　woods；　across　the　beach；　climbed　a　vertical　precipice；　and　came　up　this　side　of　the　hill。　I　had　to　wait　some　little　time；　but　I　had　a　front　seat　during　the　show。〃

He　brought　out　her　favourite　chair；　placing　it　under　the　maple　tree；　then　sat　down　near　her。　〃I　should　think　you'd　get　some　clothes　like　Hepsey's；〃　he　began。　〃I'll　wager；　now；　that　you　haven't　a　gown　like　that　in　your　entire　wardrobe。〃

〃You're　rightI　haven't。　The　nearest　approach　to　it　is　a　tailored　gown；　lined　with　silk；　which　Hepsey　thinks　I　should　wear　wrong　side　out。〃

〃How　long　will　the　coast　be　clear？〃

〃Until　nine　o'clock；　I　think。　They　go　to　church　in　the　evening。〃

〃It's　half　past　three　now；〃　he　observed；　glancing　at　his　watch。　〃I　had　fried　salt　pork；　fried　eggs；　and　fried　potatoes　for　breakfast。　I've　renounced　coffee；　for　I　can't　seem　to　get　used　to　theirs。　For　dinner；　we　had　round　steak；　fried；　more　fried　potatoes；　and　boiled　onions。　Dried　apple　pie　for　dessertI　think　I'd　rather　have　had　the　mince　I　refused　this　morning。〃

〃I'll　feed　you　at　five　o'clock；〃　she　said；　smiling。

〃That　seems　like　a　long　time；〃　he　complained。

〃It　won't；　after　you　begin