a sappho of green springs-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



going　into　the　darkest　corner　supported　herself　with　one　hand

against　the　wall　while　with　the　other　she　drew　off；　one　by　one；　her

slippers　from　her　slim；　striped…stockinged　feet；　shook　and　blew　out

the　dust　that　had　penetrated　within；　and　put　them　on　again。　　Then；

perceiving　a　triangular　fragment　of　looking…glass　nailed　against

the　wall；　she　settled　the　strings　of　her　bonnet　by　the　aid　of　its

reflection；　patted　the　fringe　of　brown　hair　on　her　forehead　with

her　separated　five　fingers　as　if　playing　an　imaginary　tune　on　her

brow；　and　came　back　with　maidenly　abstraction　to　the　doorway。



Everything　was　quiet；　and　her　seclusion　seemed　unbroken。　　A　smile

played　for　an　instant　in　the　soft　shadows　of　her　eyes　and　mouth　as

she　recalled　the　abrupt　withdrawal　of　the　men。　　Then　her　mouth

straightened　and　her　brows　slightly　bent。　　It　was　certainly　very

unmannerly　in　them　to　go　off　in　that　way。　　〃Good　heavens！　couldn't

they　have　stayed　around　without　talking？　　Surely　it　didn't　require

four　men　to　go　and　bring　up　that　wagon！〃　　She　picked　up　her　parasol

from　the　bench　with　an　impatient　little　jerk。　　Then　she　held　out

her　ungloved　hand　into　the　hot　sunshine　beyond　the　door　with　the

gesture　she　would　have　used　had　it　been　raining；　and　withdrew　it　as

quicklyher　hand　quite　scorched　in　the　burning　rays。　　Nevertheless；

after　another　impatient　pause　she　desperately　put　up　her　parasol

and　stepped　from　the　shanty。



Presently　she　was　conscious　of　a　faint　sound　of　hammering　not　far

away。　　Perhaps　there　was　another　shed；　but　hidden；　like　everything

else；　in　this　monotonous；　ridiculous　grain。　　Some　stalks；　however；

were　trodden　down　and　broken　around　the　shanty；　she　could　move　more

easily　and　see　where　she　was　going。　　To　her　delight；　a　few　steps

further　brought　her　into　a　current　of　the　trade…wind　and　a　cooler

atmosphere。　　And　a　short　distance　beyond　them；　certainly；　was　the

shed　from　which　the　hammering　proceeded。　　She　approached　it　boldly。



It　was　simply　a　roof　upheld　by　rude　uprights　and　crossbeams；　and

open　to　the　breeze　that　swept　through　it。　　At　one　end　was　a　small

blacksmith's　forge；　some　machinery；　and　what　appeared　to　be　part　of

a　small　steam…engine。　　Midway　of　the　shed　was　a　closet　or　cupboard

fastened　with　a　large　padlock。　　Occupying　its　whole　length　on　the

other　side　was　a　work…bench；　and　at　the　further　end　stood　the

workman　she　had　heard。



He　was　apparently　only　a　year　or　two　older　than　herself；　and　clad

in　blue　jean　overalls；　blackened　and　smeared　with　oil　and　coal…

dust。　　Even　his　youthful　face；　which　he　turned　towards　her；　had　a

black　smudge　running　across　it　and　almost　obliterating　a　small

auburn　moustache。　　The　look　of　surprise　that　he　gave　her；　however；

quickly　passed；　he　remained　patiently　and　in　a　half…preoccupied

way；　holding　his　hammer　in　his　hand；　as　she　advanced。　　This　was

evidently　the　young　fellow　who　could　〃do　anything　that　could　be

done　with　wood　and　iron。〃



She　was　very　sorry　to　disturb　him；　but　could　he　tell　her　how　long

it　would　be　before　the　wagon　could　be　brought　up　and　mended？　　He

could　not　say　that　until　he　himself　saw　what　was　to　be　done；　if　it

was　only　a　matter　of　the　wheel　he　could　fix　it　up　in　a　few　moments；

if；　as　he　had　been　told；　it　was　a　case　of　twisted　or　bent　axle；　it

would　take　longer；　but　it　would　be　here　very　soon。　　Ah；　then；　would

he　let　her　wait　here；　as　she　was　very　anxious　to　know　at　once；　and

it　was　much　cooler　than　in　the　shed？　　Certainly；　he　would　go　over

and　bring　her　a　bench。　　But　here　she　begged　he　wouldn't　trouble

himself；　she　could　sit　anywhere　comfortably。



The　lower　end　of　the　work…bench　was　covered　with　clean　and　odorous

shavings；　she　lightly　brushed　them　aside　and；　with　a　youthful

movement；　swung　herself　to　a　seat　upon　it；　supporting　herself　on

one　hand　as　she　leaned　towards　him。　　She　could　thus　see　that　his

eyes　were　of　a　light…yellowish　brown；　like　clarified　honey；　with　a

singular　look　of　clear　concentration　in　them；　which；　however；　was

the　same　whether　turned　upon　his　work；　the　surrounding　grain；　or

upon　her。　　This；　and　his　sublime　unconsciousness　of　the　smudge

across　his　face　and　his　blackened　hands；　made　her　wonder　if　the　man

who　could　do　everything　with　wood　and　iron　was　above　doing　anything

with　water。　　She　had　half　a　mind　to　tell　him　of　it；　particularly　as

she　noticed　also　that　his　throat　below　the　line　of　sunburn

disclosed　by　his　open　collar　was　quite　white；　and　his　grimy　hands

well　made。　　She　was　wondering　whether　he　would　be　affronted　if　she

said　in　her　politest　way；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　but　do　you　know　you

have　quite　accidentally　got　something　on　your　face；〃　and　offer　her

handkerchief；　which；　of　course；　he　would　decline；　when　her　eye　fell

on　the　steam…engine。



〃How　odd！　　Do　you　use　that　on　the　farm？〃



〃No；〃he　smiled　here；　the　smudge　accenting　it　and　setting　off　his

white　teeth　in　a　Christy　Minstrel　fashion　that　exasperated　herno；

although　it　COULD　be　used；　and　had　been。　　But　it　was　his　first

effort；　made　two　years　ago；　when　he　was　younger　and　more

inexperienced。　　It　was　a　rather　rough　thing；　she　could　seebut　he

had　to　make　it　at　odd　times　with　what　iron　he　could　pick　up　or　pay

for；　and　at　different　forges　where　he　worked。



She　begged　his　pardonwhere



WHERE　HE　WORKED。



Ah；　then　he　was　the　machinist　or　engineer　here？



No；　he　worked　here　just　like　the　others；　only　he　was　allowed　to　put

up　a　forge　while　the　grain　was　green；　and　have　his　bench　in

consideration　of　the　odd　jobs　he　could　do　in　the　way　of　mending

tools；　etc。　　There　was　a　heap　of　mending　and　welding　to　doshe　had

no　idea　how　quickly　agricultural　machines　got　out　of　order！　　He　had

done　much　of　his　work　on　the　steam…engine　on　moonlit　nights。　　Yes；

she　had　no　idea　how　perfectly　clear　and　light　it　was　here　in　the

valley　on　such　nights；　although　of　course　the　shadows　were　very

dark；　and　when　he　dropped　a　screw　or　a　nut　it　was　difficult　to

find。　　He　had　worked　there　because　it　saved　time　and　because　it

didn't　cost　anything；　and　he　had　nobody　to　look　on　or　interfere

with　him。　　No；　it　was　not　lonely；　the　coyotes　and　wild　cats

sometimes　came　very　near；　but　were　always　more　surprised　and

frightened　than　he　was；　and　once　a　horseman　who　had　strayed　off　the

distant　road　yonder　mistook　him　for　an　animal　and　shot　at　him

twice。



He　told　all　this　with　such　freedom　from　embarrassment　and　with　such

apparent　unconsciousness　of　the　blue　eyes　that　were　following　him；

and　the　light；　graceful　figure；which　was　so　near　his　own　that　in

some　of　his　gestures　his　grimy　hands　almost　touched　its　delicate

garments；that；　accustomed　as　she　was　to　a　certain　masculine

aberration　in　her　presence；　she　was　greatly　amused　by　his　naive

acceptance　of　her　as　an　equal。　　Suddenly；　looking　frankly　in　her

face；　he　said：



〃I'll　show　you　a　secret；　if　you　care　to　see　it。〃



Nothing　would　please　her　more。



He　glanced　hurriedly　around；　took　a　key　from　his　pocket；　and

unlocked　the　padlock　that　secured　the　closet　she　had　noticed。

Then；　reaching　within；　with　infinite　care　he　brought　out　a　small

mechanical　model。



〃There's　an　invention　of　my　own。　　A　reaper　and　thresher　combined。

I'm　going　to　have　it　patented　and　have　a　big　one　made　from　this

model。　　This　will　work；　as　you　see。〃



He　then　explained　to　her　with　great　precision　how　as　it　moved　over

the　field　the　double　operation　was　performed　by　the　same　motive

power。　　That　it　would　be　a　saving　of　a　certain　amount　of　labor　and

time　which　she　could　not　remember。　　She　did　not　understand　a　word

of　his　explanations；　she　saw　only　a　clean　and　pretty　but

complicated　toy　that　under　the　manipulation　of　his　grimy　fingers

rattled　a　number　of　frail…like　staves　and　worked　a　number　of　wheels

and　drums；　yet　there　was　no　indication　of　her　ignorance　in　her

sparkling　eyes　and　smiling；　breathless　attitude。　　Perhaps　she　was

interested　in　his　own　absorption；　the　revelation　of　his　preoccupation

with　this　model　struck　her　as　if　he　had　made　her　a　confidante　of

some　boyish　passion　for　one　of　her　own　sex；　and　she　regarded　him

with　the　same　sympathizing　superiority。



〃You　will　make　a　fortune　out　of　it；〃　she　said　pleasantly。



Well；　he　might　make　enough　to　be　able　to　go　on　with　some　other

inventions　he　had　in　his　mind。　　They　cost　money　and　time；　no　matter

how　careful　one　was。



This　was　another　interesting　revelation　to　the　young　girl。　　He　not

only　did　not　seem　to　care　for　the　profit　his　devotion　brought　him；

but　even　his　one　beloved　ideal　might　be　displaced　by　another。　　So

like　a　man；　after　all！



Her　reflections　were　broken　upon　by　the　sound　of　voices。　　The　young

man　carefully　replaced　the　model　in　its　closet　with　a　parting

glance　as　if　he　was　closing　a　shrine；　and　said；　〃There　comes　the

wagon。〃　　The　young　girl　turned　to　face　the　men　who　were　dragging　it

from　the　road；　with　the　half…complacent　air　of　having　been

victorious　over　their　late　rude　abandonment；　but　they　did　not　seem

to　notice　it　or　to　be　surprised　at　her　companion；　who　quickly

stepped　forward　and　examined　the　broken　vehicle　with　workmanlike

deliberation。



〃I　hope　you　will　be　able　to　do　something　with　it；〃　she　said

sweetly；　appealing　directly　to　him。　　〃I　should　thank　you　SO　MUCH。〃



He　did　not　reply。　　Presently　he　looked　up　to　the　man　who　had

brought　her　to　the　shanty；　and　said；　〃The　axle's　strained；　but　it's

safe　for　five　or　six　miles　more　of　this　road。　　I'll　put　the　wheel

on　easily。〃　　He　paused；　and　without　glancing　at　her；　continued；

〃You　might　send　her　on　by　the　cart。〃



〃Pray　don't　trouble　yourselves；〃　interrupted　the　young　girl；　with　a

pink　uprising　in　her　cheeks；　〃I　shall　be　quite　satisfied　with　the

buggy　as　it　stands。〃　　Send　her　on　in　the　cart；　indeed！　　Really；

they　were　a　rude　setALL　of　them。〃



Without　taking　the　slightest　notice　of　her　remark；　the　man　replied

gravely　to　the　young　mechanic；　〃Yes；　but　we'll　be　wanting　the　cart

before　it　can　get　back　from　taking　her。〃



〃Her〃　again。　　〃I　assure　you　the　buggy　will　serve　perfectly　well

if　thisgentlemanwill　only　be　kind　enough　to　put　on　the　wheel

again；〃　she　returned　hotly。



The　young　mechanic　at　once　set　to　work。　　The　young　girl　walked

apart　silently　until　the　wheel　was　restored　to　its　axle。　　But　to

her　surprise　a　different　horse　was　led　forward　to　be　harnessed。



〃We　thought　your　horse　wasn't　safe　in　case　of　another　accident；〃

said　the　first　man；　with　the　same　smileless　consideration。　　〃This

one　wouldn't　cut　up　if　he　was　harnessed　to　an　earthquake　or　a　worse

driver　than　you've　got。〃



It　occurred　to　her　instantly　that　the　more　obvious　remedy　of

sending　another　driver　had　been　already　discussed　and　rejected　by

them。　　Yet；　when　her　own　driver　appeared　a　moment　afterwards；　she

ascended　to　her　seat　with　some　dignity　and　a　slight　increase　of

color。



〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　all；〃　she　said；　without　glancing　at

the　young　inventor。



〃Don't　mention　it；　m