lavender and old lace-第11节

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She　laughed；　reluctantly。　The　path　led　around　the　hill　and　down　from　the　highlands　to　a　narrow　ledge　of　beach　that　lay　under　the　cliff。　〃Do　you　want　to　drown　me？〃　she　asked。　〃It　looks　very　much　as　if　you　intended　to；　for　this　ledge　is　covered　at　high　tide。〃

〃You　wrong　me；　Miss　Thorne；　I　have　never　drowned　anything。〃

His　answer　was　lost　upon　her；　for　she　stood　on　the　beach；　under　the　cliff；　looking　at　the　water。　The　shimmering　turquoise　blue　was　slowly　changing　to　grey；　and　a　single　sea　gull　circled　overhead。

He　made　two　or　three　observations；　to　which　Ruth　paid　no　attention。　〃My　Lady　Disdain；〃　he　said；　with　assumed　anxiety；　〃don't　you　think　we'd　better　go　on？　I　don't　know　what　time　the　tide　comes　in；　and　I　never　could　look　your　aunt　in　the　face　if　I　had　drowned　her　only　relative。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　replied　carelessly；　〃let's　go　around　the　other　way。〃

They　followed　the　beach　until　they　came　to　the　other　side　of　the　hill；　but　found　no　path　leading　back　to　civilisation；　though　the　ascent　could　easily　be　made。

〃People　have　been　here　before；〃　he　said；　〃here　are　some　initials　cut　into　this　stone。　What　are　they？　I　can't　see。〃

Ruth　stooped　to　look　at　the　granite　boulder　he　indicated。　〃J。　H。；〃　she　answered；　〃and　J。　B。〃

〃It's　incomplete；〃　he　objected；　〃there　should　be　a　heart　with　an　arrow　run　through　it。〃

〃You　can　fix　it　to　suit　yourself；〃　Ruth　returned；　coolly；　〃I　don't　think　anybody　will　mind。〃　She　did　not　hear　his　reply；　for　it　suddenly　dawned　upon　her　that　〃J。　H。〃　meant　Jane　Hathaway。

They　stood　there　in　the　twilight　for　some　little　time；　watching　the　changing　colours　on　the　horizon　and　then　there　was　a　faint　glow　on　the　water　from　the　cliff　above。　Ruth　went　out　far　enough　to　see　that　Hepsey　had　placed　the　lamp　in　the　attic　window。

〃It's　time　to　go；〃　she　said；　〃inasmuch　as　we　have　to　go　back　the　way　we　came。〃

They　crossed　to　the　other　side　and　went　back　through　the　woods。　It　was　dusk；　and　they　walked　rapidly　until　they　came　to　the　log　across　the　path。

〃So　your　friend　isn't　crazy；〃　he　said　tentatively；　as　he　tried　to　assist　her　over　it。

〃That　depends；〃　she　replied；　drawing　away　from　him；　〃you're　indefinite。〃

〃Forgot　to　wet　the　rag；　didn't　we？〃　he　asked。　〃I　will　gladly　assume　the　implication；　however；　if　I　may　be　your　friend。〃

〃Kind；　I'm　sure；〃　she　answered；　with　distant　politeness。

The　path　widened；　and　he　walked　by　her　side。　〃Have　you　noticed；　Miss　Thorne；　that　we　have　trouble　every　time　we　approach　that　seemingly　innocent　barrier？　I　think　it　would　be　better　to　keep　away　from　it；　don't　you？〃

〃Perhaps。〃

〃What　initials　were　those　on　the　boulder？　J。　H。　and〃

〃J。　B。〃

〃I　thought　so。　'J。　B。'　must　have　had　a　lot　of　spare　time　at　his　disposal；　for　his　initials　are　cut　into　the　'Widder'　Pendleton's　gate　post　on　the　inner　side；　and　into　an　apple　tree　in　the　back　yard。〃

〃How　interesting！〃

〃Did　you　know　Joe　and　Hepsey　were　going　out　to…night？〃

〃No；　I　didn'tthey're　not　my　intimate　friends。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　Joe　expects　to　marry　on　the　income　derived　from　the　village　chariot。〃

〃Have　they　got　that　far？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Winfield；　with　the　air　of　one　imparting　a　confidence。　〃You　see；　though　I　have　been　in　this　peaceful　village　for　some　little　time；　I　have　not　yet　arrived　at　the　fine　distinction　between　'walking　out；　'settin'　up；'　and　'stiddy　comp'ny。'　I　should　infer　that　'walking　out'　came　first；　for　'settin'　up'　must　take　a　great　deal　more　courage；　but　even　1；　with　my　vast　intellect；　cannot　at　present　understand　'stiddy　comp'ny。'〃

〃Joe　takes　her　out　every　Sunday　in　the　carriage；〃　volunteered　Ruth；　when　the　silence　became　awkward。

〃In　the　what？〃

〃Carriagehaven't　you　ridden　in　it？〃

〃I　have　ridden　in　them；　but　not　in　it。　I　walked　to　the　'Widder's；'　but　if　it　is　the　conveyance　used　by　travellers；　they　are　both　'walking　out'　and　'settin'　up。'〃

They　paused　at　the　gate。　〃Thank　you　for　a　pleasant　afternoon；〃　said　Winfield。　〃I　don't　have　many　of　them。〃

〃You're　welcome；〃　returned　Ruth；　conveying　the　impression　of　great　distance。

Winfield　sighed；　then　made　a　last　desperate　attempt。　〃Miss　Thorne；〃　he　said；　pleadingly；　〃please　don't　be　unkind　to　me。　You　have　my　reason　in　your　hands。　I　can　see　myself　now；　sitting　on　the　floor；　at　one　end　of　the　dangerous　ward。　They'll　smear　my　fingers　with　molasses　and　give　me　half　a　dozen　feathers　to　play　with。　You'll　come　to　visit　the　asylum；　sometime；　when　you're　looking　for　a　special；　and　at　first；　you　won't　recognise　me。　Then　I'll　say：　'Woman；　behold　your　work；'　and　you'll　be　miserable　all　the　rest　of　your　life。〃

She　laughed　heartily　at　the　distressing　picture；　and　the　plaintive　tone　of　his　voice　pierced　her　armour。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　she　asked。

〃I　don't　knowI　suppose　it's　my　eyes。　I'm　horribly　restless　and　discontented；　and　it　isn't　my　way。〃

Then　Ruth　remembered　her　own　restless　weeks；　which　seemed　so　long　ago；　and　her　heart　stirred　with　womanly　sympathy。　〃I　know；〃　she　said；　in　a　different　tone；　〃I've　felt　the　same　way　myself；　almost　ever　since　I've　been　here；　until　this　very　afternoon。　You're　tired　and　nervous；　and　you　haven't　anything　to　do；　but　you'll　get　over　it。〃

〃I　hope　you're　right。　I've　been　getting　Joe　to　read　the　papers　to　me；　at　a　quarter　a　sitting；　but　his　pronunciation　is　so　unfamiliar　that　it's　hard　to　get　the　drift；　and　the　whole　thing　exasperated　me　so　that　I　had　to　give　it　up。〃

〃Let　me　read　the　papers　to　you；〃　she　said；　impulsively；　〃I　haven't　seen　one　for　a　month。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。　〃I　don't　want　to　impose　upon　you；〃　he　answered〃no；　you　mustn't　do　it。〃

Ruth　saw　a　stubborn　pride　that　shrank　from　the　slightest　dependence；　a　self…reliance　that　would　not　failter；　but　would　steadfastly　hold　aloof；　and　she　knew　that　in　one　thing；　at　least；　they　were　kindred。

〃Let　me；〃　she　cried；　eagerly；　〃I'll　give　you　my　eyes　for　a　little　while！〃

Winfield　caught　her　hand　and　held　it　for　a　moment；　fully　understanding。　Ruth's　eyes　looked　up　into　hisdeep；　dark；　dangerously　appealing；　and　alight　with　generous　desire。

His　fingers　unclasped　slowly。　〃Yes；　I　will；〃　he　said；　strangely　moved。　〃It's　a　beautiful　giftin　more　ways　than　one。　You　are　very　kindthank　yougood　night！〃



VII。　The　Man　Who　Hesitates

〃Isn't　fair'；〃　said　Winfield　to　himself；　miserably；　〃no　sir；　't　isn't　fair！〃

He　sat　on　the　narrow　piazza　which　belonged　to　Mrs。　Pendleton's　brown　house；　and　took　stern　account　of　his　inner　self。　The　morning　paper　lay　beside　him；　unopened；　though　his　fingers　itched　to　tear　the　wrapper；　and　his　hat　was　pulled　far　down　over　his　eyes；　to　shade　them　from　the　sun。

〃If　I　go　up　there　I'm　going　to　fall　in　love　with　her；　and　I　know　it！〃

That　moment　of　revelation　the　night　before；　when　soul　stood　face　to　face　with　soul；　had　troubled　him　strangely。　He　knew　himself　for　a　sentimentalist　where　women　were　concerned；　but　until　they　stood　at　the　gate　together；　he　had　thought　himself　safe。　Like　many　another　man；　on　the　sunny　side　of　thirty；　he　had　his　ideal　woman　safely　enshrined　in　his　inner　consciousness。

She　was　a　pretty　little　thing；　this　dream　maidena　blonde；　with　deep　blue　eyes；　a　rosy　complexion；　and　a　mouth　like　Cupid's　bow。　Mentally；　she　was　of　the　clinging　sort；　for　Winfield　did　not　know　that　in　this　he　was　out　of　fashion。　She　had　a　dainty；　bird…like　air　about　her　and　a　high；　sweet　voicea　most　adorable　little　woman；　truly；　for　a　man　to　dream　of　when　business　was　not　too　pressing。

In　almost　every　possible　way；　Miss　Thorne　was　different。　She　was　dark；　and　nearly　as　tall　as　he　was；　dignified；　self…possessed；　and　calm；　except　for　flashes　of　temper　and　that　one　impulsive　moment。　He　had　liked　her；　found　her　interesting　in　a　tantalising　sort　of　way；　and　looked　upon　her　as　an　oasis　in　a　social　desert；　but　that　was　all。

Of　course；　he　might　leave　the　village；　but　he　made　a　wry　face　upon　discovering；　through　laboured　analysis；　that　he　didn't　want　to　go　away。　It　was　really　a　charming　spothunting　and　fishing　to　be　had　for　the　asking；　fine　accommodations　at　Mrs。　Pendleton's；　beautiful　scenery；　bracing　airin　every　way　it　was　just　what　he　needed。　Should　he　let　himself　be　frightened　out　of　it　by　a　newspaper　woman　who　lived　at　the　top　of　the　hill？　Hardly！

None　the　less；　he　realised　that　a　man　might　firmly　believe　in　Affinity；　and；　through　a　chain　of　unfortunate　circumstances；　become　the　victim　of　Propinquity。　He　had　known　of　such　instances　and　was　now　face　to　face　with　the　dilemma。

Then　his　face　flooded　with　dull　colour。　〃Darn　it；〃　he　said　to　himself；　savagely；　〃what　an　unmitigated　cad　I　am！　All　this　is　on　the　assumption　that　she's　likely　to　fall　on　my　neck　at　any　minute！　Lord！〃

Yet　there　was　a　certain　comfort　in　the　knowledge　that　he　was　safe；　even　if　he　should　fall　in　love　with　Miss　Thorne。　That　disdainful　young　woman　would　save　him　from　himself；　undoubtedly；　when　he　reached　the　danger　point；　if　not　before。

〃I　wonder　how　a　fellow　would　go　about　it　anyway；〃　he　thought。　〃He　couldn't　make　any　sentimental　remarks；　without　being　instantly　frozen。　She's　like　the　Boston　girls　we　read　about　in　the　funny　papers。　He　couldn't　give　her　things；　either；　except　flowers　or　books；　or　sweets；　or　music。　She　has　more　books　than　she　wants；　because　she　reviews'em　for　the　paper；　and　I　don't　think　she's