lavender and old lace-第2章

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led　in　the　bare　branches　below。

Ruth　opened　the　window　and　drew　a　long　breath。　Her　senses　had　been　dulled　by　the　years　in　the　city；　but　childhood；　hidden　though　not　forgotten；　came　back　as　if　by　magic；　with　that　first　scent　of　sea　and　Spring。

As　yet；　she　had　not　fully　realised　how　grateful　she　was　for　this　little　time　away　from　her　desk　and　typewriter。　The　managing　editor　had　promised　her　the　same　position；　whenever　she　chose　to　go　back；　and　there　was　a　little　hoard　in　the　savings…bank；　which　she　would　not　need　to　touch；　owing　to　the　kindness　of　this　eccentric　aunt；　whom　she　had　never　seen。

The　large　room　was　a　typical　attic；　with　its　spinning…wheel　and　discarded　furniturecolonial　mahogany　that　would　make　many　a　city　matron　envious；　and　for　which　its　owner　cared　little　or　nothing。　There　were　chests　of　drawers；　two　or　three　battered　trunks；　a　cedar　chest；　and　countless　boxes；　of　various　sizes。　Bunches　of　sweet　herbs　hung　from　the　rafters；　but　there　were　no　cobwebs；　because　of　Miss　Hathaway's　perfect　housekeeping。

Ruth　regretted　the　cobwebs　and　decided　not　to　interfere；　should　the　tiny　spinners　take　advantage　of　Aunt　Jane's　absence。　She　found　an　old　chair　which　was　unsteady　on　its　rockers　but　not　yet　depraved　enough　to　betray　one's　confidence。　Moving　it　to　the　window；　she　sat　down　and　looked　out　at　the　sea；　where　the　slow　boom　of　the　surf　came　softly　from　the　shore；　mingled　with　the　liquid　melody　of　returning　breakers。

The　first　grey　of　twilight　had　come　upon　the　world　before　she　thought　of　going　downstairs。　A　match…safe　hung　upon　the　window　casing；　newly　filled；　and；　mindful　of　her　trust；　she　lighted　the　lamp　and　closed　the　window。　Then　a　sudden　scream　from　the　floor　below　startled　her。

〃Miss　Thorne！　Miss　Thorne！〃　cried　a　shrill　voice。　〃Come　here！　Quick！〃

White　as　a　sheet；　Ruth　flew　downstairs　and　met　Hepsey　in　the　hall。　〃What　on　earth　is　the　matter！〃　she　gasped。

〃Joe's　come　with　your　trunk；〃　responded　that　volcanic　young　woman；　amiably；　〃where'd　you　want　it　put？〃

〃In　the　south　front　room；〃　she　answered；　still　frightened；　but　glad　nothing　more　serious　had　happened。　〃You　mustn't　scream　like　that。〃

〃Supper's　ready；〃　resumed　Hepsey；　nonchalantly；　and　Ruth　followed　her　down　to　the　little　dining…room。

As　she　ate；　she　plied　the　maid　with　questions。　〃Does　Miss　Hathaway　light　that　lamp　in　the　attic　every　night？〃

〃Yes'm。　She　cleans　it　and　fills　it　herself；　and　she　puts　it　out　every　morning。　She　don't　never　let　me　touch　it。〃

〃Why　does　she　keep　it　there？〃

〃D'　know。　She　d'　know；　neither。〃

〃Why；　Hepsey；　what　do　you　mean？　Why　does　she　do　it　if　she　doesn't　know　why　she　does　it？〃

〃D'know。'Cause　she　wants　to；　I　reckon。〃

〃She's　been　gone　a　week；　hasn't　she？〃

〃No'm。　Only　six　days。　It'll　be　a　week　to…morrer。〃

Hepsey's　remarks　were　short　and　jerky；　as　a　rule；　and　had　a　certain　explosive　force。

〃Hasn't　the　lamp　been　lighted　since　she　went　away？〃

〃Yes'm。　I　was　to　do　it　till　you　come；　and　after　you　got　here　I　was　to　ask　you　every　night　if　you'd　forgot　it。〃

Ruth　smiled　because　Aunt　Jane's　old…fashioned　exactness　lingered　in　her　wake。　〃Now　see　here；　Hepsey；〃　she　began　kindly；　〃I　don't　know　and　you　don't　know；　but　I'd　like　to　have　you　tell　me　what　you　think　about　it。〃

〃I　d'　know；　as　you　say；　mum；　but　I　think〃　here　she　lowered　her　voice〃　I　think　it　has　something　to　do　with　Miss　Ainslie。〃

〃Who　is　Miss　Ainslie？〃

〃She's　a　peculiar　woman；　Miss　Ainslie　is；〃　the　girl　explained；　smoothing　her　apron；　〃and　she　lives　down　the　road　a　piece；　in　the　valley　as；　you　may　say。　She　don't　never　go　nowheres；　Miss　Ainslie　don't；　but　folks　goes　to　see　her。　She's　got　a　funny　houseI've　been　inside　of　it　sometimes　when　I've　been　down　on　errands　for　Miss　Hathaway。　She　ain't　got　no　figgered　wall　paper；　nor　no　lace　curtains；　and　she　ain't　got　no　rag　carpets　neither。　Her　floors　is　all　kinder　funny；　and　she's　got　heathen　things　spread　down　onto'em。　Her　house　is　full　of　heathen　things；　and　sometimes　she　wears'em。〃

〃Wears　what；　Hepsey？　The'heathen　things'　in　the　house？〃

〃No'm。　Other　heathen　things　she's　got　put　away　somewheres。　She's　got　money；　I　guess；　but　she's　got　furniture　in　her　parlour　that's　just　like　what　Miss　Hathaway's　got　set　away　in　the　attic。　We　wouldn't　use　them　kind　of　things；　nohow；〃　she　added　complacently。

〃Does　she　live　all　alone？〃

〃Yes'm。　Joe；　he　does　her　errands　and　other　folks　stops　in　sometimes；　but　Miss　Ainslie　ain't　left　her　front　yard　for　I　d'　know　how　long。　Some　says　she's　cracked；　but　she's　the　best　housekeeper　round　here；　and　if　she　hears　of　anybody　that's　sick　or　in　trouble；　she　allers　sends'em　things。　She　ain't　never　been　up　here；　but　Miss　Hathaway；　she　goes　down　there　sometimes；　and　she'n　Miss　Ainslie　swaps　cookin'　quite　regler。　I　have　to　go　down　there　with　a　plate　of　somethin'　Miss　Hathaway's　made；　and　Miss　Ainslie　allers　says：　'Wait　just　a　moment；　please；　Hepsey；　I　would　like　to　send　Miss　Hathaway　a　jar　of　my　preserves。'〃

She　relapsed　unconsciously　into　imitation　of　Miss　Ainslie's　speech。　In　the　few　words；　softened；　and　betraying　a　quaint　stateliness；　Ruth　caught　a　glimpse　of　an　old…fashioned　gentlewoman；　reserved　and　yet　gracious。

She　folded　her　napkin；　saying：　〃You　make　the　best　biscuits　I　ever　tasted；　Hepsey。〃　The　girl　smiled；　but　made　no　reply。

〃What　makes　you　think　Miss　Ainslie　has　anything　to　do　with　the　light？〃　she　inquired　after　a　little。

〃'Cause　there　wasn't　no　light　in　that　winder　when　I　first　comeleastways；　not　as　I　know　ofand　after　I'd　been　here　a　week　or　so；　Miss　Hathaway；　she　come　back　from　there　one　day　looking　kinder　strange。　She　didn't　say　much；　but　the　next　mornin'　she　goes　down　to　town　and　buys　that　lamp；　and　she　saws　off　them　table　legs　herself。　Every　night　since；　that　light's　been　a…goin'；　and　she　puts　it　out　herself　every　mornin'　before　she　comes　downstairs。〃

〃Perhaps　she　and　Miss　Ainslie　had　been　talking　of　shipwreck；　and　she　thought　she　would　have　a　little　lighthouse　of　her　own；〃　Miss　Thorne　suggested；　when　the　silence　became　oppressive。

〃P'raps　so；〃　rejoined　Hepsey。　She　had　become　stolid　again。

Ruth　pushed　her　chair　back　and　stood　at　the　dining…room　window　a　moment；　looking　out　into　the　yard。　The　valley　was　in　shadow；　but　the　last　light　still　lingered　on　the　hill。　〃What's　that；　Hepsey？〃　she　asked。

〃What's　what？〃

〃Thatwhere　the　evergreen　is　coming　up　out　of　the　ground；　in　the　shape　of　a　square。〃

〃That's　the　cat's　grave；　mum。　She　died　jest　afore　Miss　Hathaway　went　away；　and　she　planted　the　evergreen。〃

〃I　thought　something　was　lacking；〃　said　Ruth；　half　to　herself。

〃Do　you　want　a　kitten；　Miss　Thorne？〃　inquired　Hepsey；　eagerly。　〃I　reckon　I　can　get　you　oneMaltese　or　white；　just　as　you　like。〃

〃No；　thank　you；　Hepsey；　I　don't　believe　I'll　import　any　pets。〃

〃Jest　as　you　say；　mum。　It's　sorter　lonesome；　though；　with　no　cat；　and　Miss　Hathaway　said　she　didn't　want　no　more。〃

Speculating　upon　the　departed　cat's　superior　charms；　that　made　substitution　seem　like　sacrilege　to　Miss　Hathaway；　Ruth　sat　down　for　a　time　in　the　old…fashioned　parlour；　where　the　shabby　haircloth　furniture　was　ornamented　with　〃tidies〃　to　the　last　degree。　There　was　a　marble…topped　centre　table　in　the　room；　and　a　basket　of　wax　flowers　under　a　glass　case；　Mrs。　Hemans's　poems；　another　book；　called　The　Lady's　Garland；　and　the　family　Bible　were　carefully　arranged　upon　it。

A　hair　wreath；　also　sheltered　by　glass；　hung　on　the　wall　near　another　collection　of　wax　flowers　suitably　framed。　There　were　various　portraits　of　people　whom　Miss　Thorne　did　not　know；　though　she　was　a　near　relative　of　their　owner；　and　two　tall；　white　china　vases；　decorated　with　gilt；　flanked　the　mantel…shelf。　The　carpet；　which　was　once　of　the　speaking　variety；　had　faded　to　the　listening　point。　Coarse　lace　curtains　hung　from　brass　rings　on　wooden　poles；　and　red　cotton　lambrequins　were　festooned　at　the　top。

Hepsey　came　in　to　light　the　lamp　that　hung　by　chains　over　the　table；　but　Miss　Thorne　rose；　saying：　〃You　needn't　mind；　Hepsey；　as　I　am　going　upstairs。〃

〃Want　me　to　help　you　unpack？　she　asked；　doubtless　wishing　for　a　view　of　〃city　clothes。〃

〃No；　thank　you。〃

〃I　put　a　pitcher　of　water　in　your　room；　Miss　Thorne。　Is　there　anything　else　you　would　like？〃

〃Nothing　more；　thank　you。〃

She　still　lingered；　irresolute；　shifting　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　〃Miss　Thorne〃　she　began　hesitatingly。

〃Yes？〃

〃Be　yoube　you　a　lady　detective？〃　Ruth's　clear　laughter　rang　out　on　the　evening　air。　〃Why；　no；　you　foolish　girl；　I'm　a　newspaper　woman；　and　I've　earned　a　restthat's　all。　You　mustn't　read　books　with　yellow　covers。〃

Hepsey　withdrew；　muttering　vague　apologies；　and　Ruth　found　her　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　when　she　went　up　to　her　room。　〃How　long　have　you　been　with　Miss　Hathaway？〃　she　asked。

〃Five　years　come　next　June。〃

〃Good　night；　Hepsey。〃

〃Good　night；　Miss　Thorne。〃

From　sheer　force　of　habit；　Ruth　locked　her　door。　Her　trunk　was　not　a　large　one；　and　it　did　not　take　her　long　to　put　her　simple　wardrobe　into　the　capacious　closet　and　the　dresser　drawers。　As　she　moved　the　empty　trunk　into　the　closet；　she　remembered　the　box　of　money　that　she　had　left　in　the　attic；　and　went　up　to　get　it。　When　she　returned　she　heard　Hepsey's　door　close　softly。

〃Silly　child；〃　she　said　to　herself。　I　might　just　as　well　ask　her　if　she　isn't　a'lady　detective。'　They'll　laugh　about　that　in　the　office　when　I　go　back。〃

She　sat　down；　rocking　contentedly；　for　it　was　April；　and　she　would　not　have　to　go　back　until　Aunt　Jane　came　home；　probably　about　the　first　of　October。　She　checked　off　the　free；　health…giving　months　on　her　tired　fingers；　that　would　know　the　blue　pencil　and　the　typewriter　no　more　until　Autumn；　when　she　would　be　strong　again　and　the　quivering　nerves　quite　steady。

She　blessed　the　legacy　which　had　fallen　into　Jane　Hathaway's　lap　and　led　her；　at　fifty…five；　to　join　a　〃personally　conducted〃　party　to　the　Old　World。　Ruth　had　always　had　a　dim　yearning　for　foreign　travel；　but　just　now　she　felt　no　latent　injustice；　such　as　had　often　rankled　in　her　soul　when　her　friends　went　and　she　remained　at　home。

Thinking　she　heard　Hepsey　in　the　hall；　and　not　caring　to　arouse　further　suspicion；　she　put　out　her　light　and　sat　by　the　window；　with　the　shutters　wide　open。

Far　down　the　hill；　where　the　road　became　level　again；　and　on　the　left　as　she　looked　toward　the　village；　was　the　white　house；　surrounded　by　a　garden　and　a　hedge；　which　she　supposed　was　Miss　Ainslie's。　A　timid　chirp　came　from　the　grass；　and　the　faint；　sweet　smell　of　growing　things　floated　in　through　the　open　window　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。

A　train　from　the　city　sounded　a　warning　whistle　as　it　approached　the　station；　and　then　a　light　shone　on　the　grass　in　front　of　Miss　Ainslie's　house。　It　was　a　little　gleam；　evidently　from　a　candle。

〃So　she's　keeping　a　lighthouse；　too；〃　thought　Ruth。　The　train　pulled　out　of　the　station　and　half　an　hour　afterward　the　light　disappeared。

She　meditated　upon　the　general　subject　of　illumination　while　she　got　ready　for　bed；　but　as　soon　as　her　head　touched　the　pillow　she　lost　consciousness　and　knew　no　more　until　the　morning　light　crept　into　her　room。



II。　The　Attic

The　maid　sat　in　the　kitchen；　wondering　why　Miss　Thorne　did　not　come　down。　It　was　almost　seven　o'clock；　and　Miss　Hathaway's　breakfast　hour　was　hal