a girl of the limberlost-第69节
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〃I have brought you help；〃 said Freckles。 〃Here is the
Limberlost girl in whom the Bird Woman is interested。
Miss Comstock needs a rest before beginning her school
work for next year； so she came to us。〃
〃You dear thing！ How good of you！〃 cried the Angel。
〃We shall be so happy to have you！〃
In her room that night； in a beautiful cottage furnished
with every luxury； Elnora lifted a tired face to the Angel。
〃Of course； you understand there is something back of
this？〃 she said。 〃I must tell you。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed the Angel。 〃Tell me！ If you get it out
of your system； you will stand a better chance of sleeping。〃
Elnora stood brushing the copper…bright masses of her
hair as she talked。 When she finished the Angel was
almost hysterical。
〃You insane creature！〃 she cried。 〃How crazy of you
to leave him to her！ I know both of them。 I have met
them often。 She may be able to make good her boast。
But it is perfectly splendid of you！ And； after all； really
it is the only way。 I can see that。 I think it is what I
should have done myself； or tried to do。 I don't know
that I could have done it！ When I think of walking away
and leaving Freckles with a woman he once loved； to let
her see if she can make him love her again； oh； it gives me
a graveyard heart。 No； I never could have done it！ You are
bigger than I ever was。 I should have turned coward； sure。〃
〃I am a coward；〃 admitted Elnora。 〃I am soul…sick！
I am afraid I shall lose my senses before this is over。
I didn't want to come！ I wanted to stay； to go straight
into his arms； to bind myself with his ring； to love him
with all my heart。 It wasn't my fault that I came。
There was something inside that just pushed me。 She is
beautiful〃
〃I quite agree with you！〃
〃You can imagine how fascinating she can be。 She used
no arts on me。 Her purpose was to cower me。 She found
she could not do that； but she did a thing which helped
her more： she proved that she was honest； perfectly
sincere in what she thought。 She believes that if she
merely beckons to Philip； he will go to her。 So I am giving
her the opportunity to learn from him what he will do。
She never will believe it from any one else。 When she is
satisfied； I shall be also。〃
〃But； child！ Suppose she wins him back！〃
〃That is the supposition with which I shall eat and sleep
for the coming few weeks。 Would one dare ask for a peep
at the babies before going to bed？〃
〃Now； you are perfect！〃 announced the Angel。 〃I never
should have liked you all I can； if you had been content
to go to sleep in this house without asking to see
the babies。 Come this way。 We named the first boy
for his father； of course； and the girl for Aunt Alice。
The next boy is named for my father； and the baby for
the Bird Woman。 After this we are going to branch out。〃
Elnora began to laugh。
〃Oh； I suspect there will be quite a number of them；〃
said the Angel serenely。 〃I am told the more there are
the less trouble they make。 The big ones take care of the
little ones。 We want a large family。 This is our start。〃
She entered a dark room and held aloft a candle。 She went
to the side of a small white iron bed in which lay a
boy of eight and another of three。 They were perfectly
formed； rosy children； the elder a replica of his mother；
the other very like。 Then they came to a cradle where a
baby girl of almost two slept soundly； and made a picture。
〃But just see here！〃 said the Angel。 She threw the light
on a sleeping girl of six。 A mass of red curls swept
the pillow。 Line and feature the face was that of Freckles。
Without asking； Elnora knew the colour and expression
of the closed eyes。 The Angel handed Elnora the candle；
and stooping； straightened the child's body。 She ran
her fingers through the bright curls； and lightly touched
the aristocratic little nose。
〃The supply of freckles holds out in my family； you see！〃
she said。 〃Both of the girls will have them； and the
second boy a few。〃
She stood an instant longer； then bending； ran her hand
caressingly down a rosy bare leg； while she kissed the
babyish red mouth。 There had been some reason for
touching all of them； the kiss fell on the lips which were
like Freckles's。
To Elnora she said a tender good…night； whispering
brave words of encouragement and making plans to fill
the days to come。 Then she went away。 An hour later
there was a light tap on the girl's door。
〃Come！〃 she called as she lay staring into the dark。
The Angel felt her way to the bedside； sat down and
took Elnora's hands。
〃I just had to come back to you；〃 she said。 〃I have
been telling Freckles； and he is almost hurting himself
with laughing。 I didn't think it was funny； but he does。
He thinks it's the funniest thing that ever happened。
He says that to run away from Mr。 Ammon； when you
had made him no promise at all； when he wasn't sure of
you； won't send him home to her； it will set him hunting you！
He says if you had combined the wisdom of Solomon；
Socrates； and all the remainder of the wise men； you
couldn't have chosen any course that would have sealed
him to you so surely。 He feels that now Mr。 Ammon will
perfectly hate her for coming down there and driving
you away。 And you went to give her the chance she wanted。
Oh； Elnora！ It is becoming funny！ I see it； too！〃
The Angel rocked on the bedside。 Elnora faced the
dark in silence。
〃Forgive me；〃 gulped the Angel。 〃I didn't mean to laugh。
I didn't think it was funny； until all at once it
came to me。 Oh； dear！ Elnora； it funny！ I've got
to laugh！〃
〃Maybe it is；〃 admitted Elnora 〃to others； but it
isn't very funny to me。 And it won't be to Philip； or
to mother。〃
That was very true。 Mrs。 Comstock had been slightly
prepared for stringent action of some kind； by what Elnora
had said。 The mother instantly had guessed where the
girl would go； but nothing was said to Philip。 That would
have been to invalidate Elnora's test in the beginning； and
Mrs。 Comstock knew her child well enough to know that
she never would marry Philip unless she felt it right that
she should。 The only way was to find out； and Elnora
had gone to seek the information。 There was nothing to
do but wait until she came back； and her mother was not
in the least uneasy but that the girl would return brave and
self…reliant； as always。
Philip Ammon hurried back to the Limberlost； strong
in the hope that now he might take Elnora into his arms
and receive her promise to become his wife。 His first
shock of disappointment came when he found her gone。
In talking with Mrs。 Comstock he learned that Edith Carr
had made an opportunity to speak with Elnora alone。
He hastened down the road to meet her； coming back alone；
an agitated man。 Then search revealed the notes。 His read：
DEAR PHILIP：
I find that I am never going to be able to answer your question of
this afternoon fairly to all of us； when you are with me。 So I am going
away a few weeks to think over matters alone。 I shall not tell you；
or even mother； where I am going； but I shall be safe； well cared for；
and happy。 Please go back home and live among your friends； just
as you always have done； and on or before the first of September； I
will write you where I am； and what I have decided。 Please do not
blame Edith Carr for this； and do not avoid her。 I hope you will call
on her and be friends。 I think she is very sorry； and covets your
friendship at least。 Until September； then； as ever；
ELNORA。
Mrs。 Comstock's note was much the same。 Philip was
ill with disappointment。 In the arbour he laid his head on
the table； among the implements of Elnora's loved work； and
gulped down dry sobs he could not restrain。 Mrs。 Comstock
never had liked him so well。 Her hand involuntarily crept
toward his dark head； then she drew back。 Elnora would not
want her to do anything whatever to influence him。
〃What am I going to do to convince Edith Carr that I
do not love her； and Elnora that I am hers？〃 he demanded。
〃I guess you have to figure that out yourself；〃 said
Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I'd be glad to help you if I could；
but it seems to be up to you。〃
Philip sat a long time in silence。 〃Well； I have decided！〃
he said abruptly。 〃Are you perfectly sure Elnora had
plenty of money and a safe place to go？〃
〃Absolutely！〃 answered Mrs。 Comstock。 〃She has
been taking care of herself ever since she was born； and she
always has come out all right； so far； I'll stake all I'm
worth on it； that she always will。 I don't know where she
is； but I'm not going to worry about her safety。〃
〃I can't help worrying！〃 cried Philip。 〃I can think of
fifty things that may happen to her when she thinks
