a girl of the limberlost-第52节
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〃If she destroys that； I shall die！〃 cried the girl。
〃She won't！〃 said Philip。 〃You misunderstand her。
She wouldn't have said what she did about the owls； if
she had meant to。 She is your mother。 No one loves
you as she does。 Trust her！ MyselfI think she's
simply great！〃
Mrs。 Comstock returned with serene face； and all of
them helped with the supper。 When it was over Philip
and Elnora sorted and classified the afternoon's specimens；
and made a trip to the woods to paint and light several
trees for moths。 When they came back Mrs。 Comstock
sat in the arbour； and they joined her。 The moonlight
was so intense； print could have been read by it。
The damp night air held odours near to earth； making
flower and tree perfume strong。 A thousand insects were
serenading； and in the maple the grosbeak occasionally
said a reassuring word to his wife； while she answered
that all was well。 A whip…poor…will wailed in the swamp and
beside the blue…bordered pool a chat complained disconsolately。
Mrs。 Comstock went into the cabin； but she returned immediately；
laying the violin and bow across Elnora's lap。 〃I wish you
would give us a little music；〃 she said。
CHAPTER XVII
WHEREIN MRS。 COMSTOCK DANCES IN THE MOONLIGHT；
AND ELNORA MAKES A CONFESSION
Billy was swinging in the hammock； at peace with himself
and all the world； when he thought he heard something。
He sat bolt upright； his eyes staring。 Once he opened
his lips； then thought again and closed them。
The sound persisted。 Billy vaulted the fence；
and ran down the road with his queer sidewise hop。
When he neared the Comstock cabin； he left the
warm dust of the highway and stepped softly at slower
pace over the rank grasses of the roadside。 He had
heard aright。 The violin was in the grape arbour；
singing a perfect jumble of everything； poured out in
an exultant tumult。 The strings were voicing the joy of
a happy girl heart。
Billy climbed the fence enclosing the west woods and
crept toward the arbour。 He was not a spy and not a sneak。
He merely wanted to satisfy his child…heart as to
whether Mrs。 Comstock was at home； and Elnora at last
playing her loved violin with her mother's consent。
One peep sufficed。 Mrs。 Comstock sat in the moonlight；
her head leaning against the arbour； on her face was a
look of perfect peace and contentment。 As he stared at
her the bow hesitated a second and Mrs。 Comstock spoke：
〃That's all very melodious and sweet；〃 she said； 〃but I
do wish you could play Money Musk and some of the
tunes I danced as a girl。〃
Elnora had been carefully avoiding every note that
might be reminiscent of her father。 At the words she
laughed softly and began 〃Turkey in the Straw。〃
An instant later Mrs。 Comstock was dancing in the
moon light。 Ammon sprang to her side； caught her in
his arms； while to Elnora's laughter and the violin's
impetus they danced until they dropped panting on the
arbour bench。
Billy scarcely knew when he reached the road。 His light
feet barely touched the soft way； so swiftly he flew。
He vaulted the fence and burst into the house。
〃Aunt Margaret！ Uncle Wesley！〃 he screamed。 〃Listen！
Listen！ She's playing it！ Elnora's playing her violin
at home！ And Aunt Kate is dancing like anything
before the arbour！ I saw her in the moonlight！ I ran down！
Oh； Aunt Margaret！〃
Billy fled sobbing to Margaret's breast。
〃Why Billy！〃 she chided。 〃Don't cry； you little dunce！
That's what we've all prayed for these many years； but
you must be mistaken about Kate。 I can't believe it。〃
Billy lifted his head。 〃Well； you just have to！〃 he said。
〃When I say I saw anything； Uncle Wesley knows I did。
The city man was dancing with her。 They danced together
and Elnora laughed。 But it didn't look funny to me；
I was scared。〃
〃Who was it said ‘wonders never cease；'〃 asked Wesley。
〃You mark my word； once you get Kate Comstock started；
you can't stop her。 There's a wagon load of penned…up
force in her。 Dancing in the moonlight！ Well； I'll
be hanged！〃
Billy was at his side instantly。 〃Whoever does it will
have to hang me； too；〃 he cried。
Sinton threw his arm around Billy and drew him closely。
〃Tell us all about it； son；〃 he said。 Billy told。 〃And when
Elnora just stopped a breath； ‘Can't you play some
of the old things I knew when I was a girl？' said her ma。
Then Elnora began to do a thing that made you want to
whirl round and round； and quicker 'an scat there was her
ma a…whirling。 The city man； he ups and grabs her and
whirls； too； and back in the woods I was going just like
they did。 Elnora begins to laugh； and I ran to tell you；
cos I knew you'd like to know。 Now； all the world is
right； ain't it？〃 ended Billy in supreme satisfaction。
〃You just bet it is！〃 said Wesley。
Billy looked steadily at Margaret。 〃Is it； Aunt Margaret？〃
Margaret Sinton smiled at him bravely。
An hour later when Billy was ready to climb the stairs
to his room； he went to Margaret to say good night。
He leaned against her an instant； then brought his lips
to her ear。 〃Wish I could get your little girls back
for you！〃 he whispered and dashed toward the stairs。
Down at the Comstock cabin the violin played on until
Elnora was so tired she scarcely could lift the bow。
Then Philip went home。 The women walked to the gate
with him； and stood watching him from sight。
〃That's what I call one decent young man！〃 said
Mrs。 Comstock。 〃To see him fit in with us； you'd think
he'd been brought up in a cabin； but it's likely he's
always had the very cream o' the pot。〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 laughed Elnora； 〃but it hasn't
hurt him。 I've never seen anything I could criticise。
He's teaching me so much； unconsciously。 You know
he graduated from Harvard； and has several degrees in law。
He's coming in the morning； and we are going to put in a
big day on Catocalae。〃
〃Which is？〃
〃Those gray moths with wings that fold back like big
flies； and they appear as if they had been carved from
old wood。 Then； when they fly； the lower wings flash
out and they are red and black； or gold and black； or
pink and black； or dozens of bright； beautiful colours
combined with black。 No one ever has classified all
of them and written their complete history； unless the
Bird Woman is doing it now。 She wants everything
she can get about them。〃
〃I remember；〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。 〃They are mighty
pretty things。 I've started up slews of them from the
vines covering the logs； all my life。 I must be cautious
and catch them after this； but they seem powerful spry。
I might get hold of something rare。〃 She thought
intently and added； 〃And wouldn't know it if I did。
It would just be my luck。 I've had the rarest thing on
earth in reach this many a day and only had the wit to
cinch it just as it was going。 I'll bet I don't let
anything else escape me。〃
Next morning Philip came early； and he and Elnora
went at once to the fields and woods。 Mrs。 Comstock
had come to believe so implicitly in him that she now
stayed at home to complete the work before she joined
them； and when she did she often sat sewing； leaving
them wandering hours at a time。 It was noon before
she finished； and then she packed a basket of lunch。
She found Elnora and Philip near the violet patch； which
was still in its prime。 They all lunched together in the
shade of a wild crab thicket； with flowers spread at their
feet； and the gold orioles streaking the air with flashes
of light and trailing ecstasy behind them； while the red…
wings； as always； asked the most impertinent questions。
Then Mrs。 Comstock carried the basket back to the cabin；
and Philip and Elnora sat on a log； resting a few minutes。
They had unexpected luck； and both were eager to continue
the search。
〃Do you remember your promise about these violets？〃
asked he。 〃To…morrow is Edith's birthday； and if I'd
put them special delivery on the morning train； she'd
get them in the late afternoon。 They ought to keep
that long。 She leaves for the North next day。〃
〃Of course； you may have them；〃 said Elnora。 〃We will
quit long enough before supper to gather a large bunch。
They can be packed so they will carry all right。
They should be perfectly fresh； especially if we gather
them this evening and let them drink all night。〃
Then they went back to hunt Catocalae。 It was a
long and a happy search。 It led them into new；
unexplored nooks of the woods； past a red…poll nest；
and where goldfinches prospected for thistledown for
the cradles they would line a little later。 It led
them into real forest； where deep； dark pools lay；
where the hermit thrush and the wood robin extracted
the essence from all other bird melody； and poured it
out in their pure bell…t
