lavender and old lace-第12章

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〃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　to　entertain　me。〃

It　was　after　five　before　either　realised　it。　〃Come　on；〃　she　said；　〃you　can　sit　in　the　kitchen　and　watch　me。〃

He　professed　great　admiration　while　she　put　on　one　of　Hepsey's　white　aprons；　and　when　she　appeared　with　the　chafing…dish；　his　emotion　was　beyond　speech。　He　was　allowed　to　open　the　box　and　to　cut　up　some　button　mushrooms；　while　she　shredded　cold　chicken。　〃I'm　getting　hungry　every　minute；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　there　is　undue　postponement；　I　fear　I　shall　assimilate　all　the　raw　material　in　sightincluding　the　cook。〃

Ruth　laughed　happily。　She　was　making　a　sauce　with　real　cream；　seasoned　delicately　with　paprika　and　celery　salt。　〃Now　I'll　put　in　the　chicken　and　mushrooms；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　can　stir　it　while　I　make　toast。〃

They　were　seated　at　the　table　in　the　dining…room　and　the　fun　was　at　its　height；　when　they　became　aware　of　a　presence。　Hepsey　stood　in　the　door；　apparently　transfixed　with　surprise；　and　with　disapproval　evident　in　every　line　of　her　face。　Before　either　could　speak；　she　was　gone。

Though　Ruth　was　very　much　annoyed；　the　incident　seemingly　served　to　accentuate　Winfield's　enjoyment。　The　sound　of　wheels　on　the　gravel　outside　told　them　that　she　was　continuing　her　excursion。

〃I'm　going　to　discharge　her　to…morrow；〃　Ruth　said。

〃You　can'tshe　is　in　Miss　Hathaway's　service；　not　yours。　Besides；　what　has　she　done？　She　came　back；　probably；　after　something　she　had　forgotten。　You　have　no　reasonable　ground　for　discharging　her；　and　I　think　you'd　be　more　uncomfortable　if　she　went　than　if　she　stayed。〃

〃Perhaps　you're　right；〃　she　admitted。

〃I　know　how　you　feel　about　it；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　I　hope　you　won't　let　her　distress　you。　It　doesn't　make　a　bit　of　difference　to　me；　she's　only　amusing。　Please　don't　bother　about　it。〃

〃I　won't；〃　said　Ruth；　〃that　is；　I'll　try　not　to。〃

They　piled　the　dishes　in　the　sink；　〃as　a　pleasant　surprise　for　Hepsey；〃　he　said；　and　the　hours　passed　as　if　on　wings。　It　was　almost　ten　o'clock　before　it　occurred　to　Winfield　that　his　permanent　abode　was　not　Miss　Hathaway's　parlour。

As　they　stood　at　the　door；　talking；　the　last　train　came　in。　〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Winfield；　〃that　every　night；　just　as　that　train　comes　in；　your　friend　down　there　puts　a　candle　in　her　front　window？〃

〃Well；〃　rejoined　Ruth；　sharply；　〃what　of　it？　It's　a　free　country；　isn't　it？〃

〃Very。　Untrammelled　press　and　highly　independent　women。　Good　night；　Miss　Thorne。　I'll　be　up　the　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃

She　was　about　to　speak；　but　slammed　the　door　instead；　and　was　displeased　when　she　heard　a　smothered　laugh　from　outside。



IX。　By　Humble　Means

As　lightly　as　a　rose　petal　upon　the　shimmering　surface　of　a　stream；　Summer　was　drifting　away；　but　whither；　no　one　seemed　to　care。　The　odour　of　printer's　ink　upon　the　morning　paper　no　longer　aroused　vain　longings　in　Winfield's　breast；　and　Ruth　had　all　but　forgotten　her　former　connection　with　the　newspaper　world。

By　degrees；　Winfield　had　arranged　a　routine　which　seemed　admirable。　Until　luncheon　time；　he　was　with　Ruth　and；　usually；　out　of　doors；　according　to　prescription。　In　the　afternoon；　he　went　up　again；　sometimes　staying　to　dinner；　and；　always；　he　spent　his　evenings　there。

〃Why　don't　you　ask　me　to　have　my　trunk　sent　up　here？〃　he　asked　Ruth；　one　day。

〃I　hadn't　thought　of　it；〃　she　laughed。　〃I　suppose　it　hasn't　seemed　necessary。〃

〃Miss　Hathaway　would　be　pleased；　wouldn't　she；　if　she　knew　she　had　two　guests　instead　of　one？〃

〃Undoubtedly；　how　could　she　help　it？〃

〃When　do　you　expect　her　to　return？〃

〃I　don't　knowI　haven't　heard　a　word　from　her。　Sometimes　I　feel　a　little　anxious　about　her。〃　Ruth　would　have　been　much　concerned　for　her　relative's　safety；　had　she　known　that　the　eccentric　lady　had　severed　herself　from　the　excursion　and　gone　boldly　into　Italy；　unattended；　and　with　no　knowledge　of　the　language。

Hepsey　inquired　daily　for　news　of　Miss　Hathaway；　but　no　tidings　were　forthcoming。　She　amused　herself　in　her　leisure　moments　by　picturing　all　sorts　of　disasters　in　which　her　mistress　was　doubtless　engulfed；　and　in　speculating　upon　the　tie　between　Miss　Thorne　and　Mr。　Winfield。

More　often　than　not；　it　fell　to　Hepsey　to　light　the　lamp　in　the　attic　window；　though　she　did　it　at　Miss　Thorne's　direction。　〃If　I　forget　it；　Hepsey；〃　she　had　said；　calmly；　〃you'll　see　to　it；　won't　you？〃

Trunks；　cedar　chests；　old　newspapers；　and　long　hidden　letters　were　out　of　Ruth's　province　now。　Once　in　two　or　three　weeks；　she　went　to　see　Miss　Ainslie；　but　never　stayed　long；　though　almost　every　day　she　reproached　herself　for　neglect。

Winfield's　days　were　filled　with　peace；　since　he　had　learned　how　to　get　on　with　Miss　Thorne。　When　she　showed　herself　stubborn　and　unyielding；　he　retreated　gracefully；　and　with　a　suggestion　of　amusement；　as　a　courtier　may　step　aside　gallantly　for　an　angry　lady　to　pass。　Ruth　felt　his　mental　attitude　and；　even　though　she　resented　it；　she　was　ashamed。

Having　found　that　she　could　have　her　own　way；　she　became　less　anxious　for　it；　and　several　times　made　small　concessions；　which　were　apparently　unconscious；　but　amusing；　nevertheless。　She　had　none　of　the　wiles　of　the　coquette；　she　was　transparent；　and　her　friendliness　was　disarming。　If　she　wanted　Winfield　to　stay　at　home　any　particular　morning　or　afternoon；　she　told　him　so。　At　first　he　was　offended；　but　afterward　learned　to　like　it；　for　she　could　easily　have　instructed　Hepsey　to　say　that　she　was　out。

The　pitiless；　unsympathetic　calendar　recorded　the　fact　that　July　was　near　its　end；　and　Ruth　sighedthen　hated　herself　for　it。

She　had　grown　accustomed　to　idleness；　and；　under　the　circumstances；　liked　it　far　too　well。

One　morning；　when　she　went　down　to　breakfast；　Hepsey　was　evidently　perplexed　about　something；　but　Ruth　took　no　outward　note　of　it；　knowing　that　it　would　be　revealed　ere　long。

〃Miss　Thorne；〃　she　said；　tentatively；　as　Ruth　rose　from　the　table。

〃Yes？〃

〃Of　course；　Miss　Thorne；　I　reckon　likely't　ain't　none　of　my　business；　but　is　Mr。　Winfield　another　detective；　and　have　you　found　anything　out　yet？〃

Ruth；　inwardly　raging；　forced　herself　to　let　the　speech　pass　unnoticed；　and　sailed　majestically　out　of　the　room。　She　was　surprised　to　discover　that　she　could　be　made　so　furiously　angry　by　so　small　a　thing。

Winfield　was　coming　up　the　hill　with　the　mail；　and　she　tried　to　cool　her　hot　cheeks　with　her　hands。　〃Let's　go　down　on　the　side　of　the　hill；〃　she　said；　as　he　gave　her　some　letters　and　the　paper；　〃it's　very　warm　in　the　sun；　and　I'd　like　the　sea　breeze。〃

They　found　a　comparatively　level　place；　with　two　trees　to　lean　against；　and；　though　they　were　not　far　from　the　house；　they　were　effectually　screened　by　the　rising　ground。　Ruth　felt　that　she　could　not　bear　the　sight　of　Hepsey　just　then。


After　glancing　at　her　letters　she　began　to　read　aloud；　with　a　troubled　haste　which　did　not　escape　him。　〃Here's　a　man　who　had　a　little　piece　of　bone　taken　out　of　the　inside　of　his　skull；〃　she　said。　〃Shall　I　read　about　that？　He　seems；　literally；　to　have　had　something　on　his　mind。〃

〃You're　brilliant　this　morning；〃　answered　Winfield；　gravely；　and　she　laughed　hysterically。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　he　asked。　〃You　don't　seem　like　yourself。〃

〃It　isn't　nice　of　you　to　say　that；〃　she　retorted；　〃considering　your　previous　remark。〃

There　was　a　rumble　and　a　snort　on　the　road　and；　welcoming　the　diversion；　he　went　up　to　reconnoitre。　〃Joe's　coming；　is　there　anything　you　want　in　the　village？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　wearily；　〃there's　nothing　I　wantanywhere。〃

〃You're　an　exceptional　woman；〃　returned　Winfield；　promptly；　〃and　I'd　advise　you　to　sit　for　your　photograph。　The　papers　would　like　it'Picture　of　the　Only　Woman　Who　Doesn't　Want　Anything'why；　that　would　work　off　an　extra　in　about　ten　minutes！〃

Ruth　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　turned　her　eyes　away。　He　felt　vaguely　uncomfortable；　and　was　about　to　offer　atonement　when　Joe's　deep　bass　voice　called　out：

〃Hello！〃

〃Hello　yourself！〃　came　in　Hepsey's　highest　tones；　from　the　garden。

〃Want　anything　to…day？〃

〃Nope！〃

There　was　a　brief　pause；　and　then　Joe　shouted　again：　〃Hepsey！〃

〃Well？〃

〃I　should　think　they'd　break　their　vocal　cords；〃　said　Winfield。

〃I　wish　they　would；〃　rejoined　Ruth；　quickly。

〃Come　here！〃　yelled　Joe。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　yer。〃

〃Talk　from　there；〃　screamed　Hepsey。

〃Where's　yer　folks？〃

〃D'know。〃

〃Say；　be　they　courtin'？〃

Hepsey　left　her　work　in　the　garden　and　came　toward　the　front　of　the　house。　〃They　walk　out　some；〃　she　said；　when　she　was　halfway　to　the　gate；　〃and　they　set　up　a　good　deal；　and　Miss　Thorne　told　me　she　didn't　know　as　she'd　do　better；　but　you　can't　rightly　say　they're　courtin''cause　city　ways　ain't　like　our'n。〃

The　deep　colour　dyed　Ruth's　face　and　her　hands　twitched　nervously。　Winfield　very　much　desired　to　talk；　but　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　The　situation　was　tense。

Joe　clucked　to　his　horses。　〃So　long；〃　he　said。　〃See　yer　later。〃

Ruth　held　her　breath　until　he　passed　them；　and　then　broke　down。　Her　self　control　was　quite　gone；　and　she　sobbed　bitterly；　in　grief　and　shame。　Winfield　tucked　his　handkerchief　into　her　cold　hands；　not　knowing　what　else　to　do。

〃Don't！〃　he　said；　as　if　he；　too；　had　been　hurt。　〃Ruth；　dear；　don't　cry！〃

A　new　tenderness　almost　unmanned　him；　but　he　sat　still　with　his　hands　clenched；　feeling　like　a　brute　because　of　her　tears。

The　next　few　minutes　seemed　like　an　hour；　then　Ruth　raised　her　head　and　tried　to　smile。　〃I　expect　you　think　I'm　silly；〃　she　said；　hiding　her　tear　stained　face　again。

〃No！〃　he　cried；　sharply；　then；　with　a　catch　in　his　throat；　he　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Don't！〃　she　sobbed；　turning　away　from　him；　〃whatwhat　they　saidwas　bad　enough！〃

The　last　words　ended　in　a　rush　of　tears；　and；　sorely　distressed；　he　began　to　walk　back　and　forth。　Then　a　bright　idea　came　to　him。

〃I'll　be　back　in　a　minute；〃　he　said。

When　he　returned；　he　had　a　tin　dipper；　freshly　filled　with　cold　water。　〃Don't　cry　any　more；〃　he　pleaded；　gently；　〃I'm　going　to　bathe　your　face。〃

Ruth　leaned　back　against　the　tree　and　he　knelt　beside　her。　〃Oh；　that　feels　so　good；〃　she　said；　gratefully；　as　she　felt　his　cool　fingers　upon　her　burning　eyes。　In　a　little　while　she　was　calm　again；　though　her　breast　still　heaved　with　every　fluttering　breath。

〃You　poor　little　woman；〃　he　said；　tenderly；　〃you're　just　as　nervous　as　you　can　be。　Don't　feel　so　about　it。　just　suppose　it　was　somebody　who　wasn't！〃

〃Who　wasn't　what？〃　asked　Ruth；　innocently。

Winfield　crimsoned　to　the　roots　of　his　hair　and　hurled　the　dipper　into　the　distance。

〃Whatwhatthey　said；〃　he　stammered；　sitting　down　awkwardly。　〃Oh；　darn　it！〃　He　kicked　savagely　at　a　root；　and　added；　in　bitterest　self　accusation；　〃I'm　a　chump；　I　am！〃

〃No　you're　not；〃　returned　Ruth；　with　sweet　shyness；　〃you're　nice。　Now　we'll　read　some　more　of　the　paper。〃

He　assumed　a　feverish　interest　in　the　market　reports；　but　his　thoughts　were　wandering。　Certainly；　nothing　could　have　been　worse。　He　felt　as　if　a　bud；　which　he　had　been　long　and　eagerly　watching；　was　suddenly　torn　open　by　a　vandal　hand。　When　he　first　touched　Ruth's　eyes　with　his　finger　tips；　he　had　trembled　like　a　schoo