lavender and old lace-第14节
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Hepsey's services； when Winfield came up to dinner； and to do everything herself。
She found an old cook book of Aunt Jane's and turned over its pages with new interest。 It was in manuscript form； and seemed to represent the culinary knowledge of the entire neighbourhood。 Each recipe was duly accredited to its original author； and there were many newspaper clippings； from the despised 〃Woman's Page〃 in various journals。
Ruth thought it would be an act of kindness to paste the loose clippings into Aunt Jane's book； and she could look them over as she fastened them in。 The work progressed rapidly； until she found a clipping which was not a recipe。 It was a perfunctory notice of the death of Charles Winfield； dated almost eighteen years ago。
She remembered the various emotions old newspapers had given her when she first came to Aunt Jane's。 This was Abigail Weatherby's husbandhe had survived her by a dozen years。 〃I'm glad it's Charles Winfield instead of Carl；〃 thought Ruth； as she put it aside； and went on with her work。
〃Pantry's come；〃 announced Winfield； a few days later； 〃I didn't open it； but I think everything is there。 Joe's going to bring it up。〃
〃Then you can come to dinner Sunday；〃 answered Ruth； smiling。
〃I'll be here；〃 returned Winfield promptly。 〃What time do we dine？〃
〃I don't know exactly。 It's better to wait； I think； until Hepsey goes out。 She always regards me with more or less suspicion； and it makes me uncomfortable。〃
Sunday afternoon； the faithful Joe drove up to the gate； and Hepsey emerged from her small back room； like a butterfly from a chrysalis。 She was radiant in a brilliant blue silk； which was festooned at irregular intervals with white silk lace。 Her hat was bending beneath its burden of violets and red roses； starred here and there with some unhappy buttercups which had survived the wreck of a previous millinery triumph。 Her hands were encased in white cotton gloves； which did not fit。
With Joe's assistance； she entered the vehicle and took her place proudly on the back seat； even while he pleaded for her to sit beside him。
〃You know yourself that I can't drive nothin' from the back seat；〃 he complained。
〃Nobody's askin' you to drive nothin' from nowhere；〃 returned Hepsey； scornfully。 〃If you can't take me out like a lady； I ain't a…goin'。〃
Ruth was dazzled by the magnificence of the spectacle and was unable to take her eyes away from it； even after Joe had turned around and started down hill。 She thought Winfield would see them pass his door and time his arrival accordingly； so she was startled when he came up behind her and said； cheerfully：
〃They look like a policeman's； don't they？〃
〃Whatwho？〃
〃Hepsey's handsdid you think I meant yours？〃
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Nearly thirty years。〃
〃That wasn't what I meant；〃 said Ruth； colouring。 〃How long have you been at Aunt Jane's？〃
〃Oh； that's different。 When Joe went out to harness his fiery steeds to his imposing chariot； I went around through the woods； across the beach； climbed a vertical precipice； and came up this side of the hill。 I had to wait some little time； but I had a front seat during the show。〃
He brought out her favourite chair； placing it under the maple tree； then sat down near her。 〃I should think you'd get some clothes like Hepsey's；〃 he began。 〃I'll wager； now； that you haven't a gown like that in your entire wardrobe。〃
〃You're rightI haven't。 The nearest approach to it is a tailored gown； lined with silk； which Hepsey thinks I should wear wrong side out。〃
〃How long will the coast be clear？〃
〃Until nine o'clock； I think。 They go to church in the evening。〃
〃It's half past three now；〃 he observed； glancing at his watch。 〃I had fried salt pork； fried eggs； and fried potatoes for breakfast。 I've renounced coffee； for I can't seem to get used to theirs。 For dinner； we had round steak； fried； more fried potatoes； and boiled onions。 Dried apple pie for dessertI think I'd rather have had the mince I refused this morning。〃
〃I'll feed you at five o'clock；〃 she said； smiling。
〃That seems like a long time；〃 he complained。
〃It won't； after you begin to entertain me。〃
It was after five before either realised it。 〃Come on；〃 she said； 〃you can sit in the kitchen and watch me。〃
He professed great admiration while she put on one of Hepsey's white aprons； and when she appeared with the chafing…dish； his emotion was beyond speech。 He was allowed to open the box and to cut up some button mushrooms； while she shredded cold chicken。 〃I'm getting hungry every minute；〃 he said； 〃and if there is undue postponement； I fear I shall assimilate all the raw material in sightincluding the cook。〃
Ruth laughed happily。 She was making a sauce with real cream； seasoned delicately with paprika and celery salt。 〃Now I'll put in the chicken and mushrooms；〃 she said； 〃and you can stir it while I make toast。〃
They were seated at the table in the dining…room and the fun was at its height； when they became aware of a presence。 Hepsey stood in the door； apparently transfixed with surprise； and with disapproval evident in every line of her face。 Before either could speak； she was gone。
Though Ruth was very much annoyed； the incident seemingly served to accentuate Winfield's enjoyment。 The sound of wheels on the gravel outside told them that she was continuing her excursion。
〃I'm going to discharge her to…morrow；〃 Ruth said。
〃You can'tshe is in Miss Hathaway's service； not yours。 Besides； what has she done？ She came back； probably； after something she had forgotten。 You have no reasonable ground for discharging her； and I think you'd be more uncomfortable if she went than if she stayed。〃
〃Perhaps you're right；〃 she admitted。
〃I know how you feel about it；〃 he went on； 〃but I hope you won't let her distress you。 It doesn't make a bit of difference to me； she's only amusing。 Please don't bother about it。〃
〃I won't；〃 said Ruth； 〃that is； I'll try not to。〃
They piled the dishes in the sink； 〃as a pleasant surprise for Hepsey；〃 he said； and the hours passed as if on wings。 It was almost ten o'clock before it occurred to Winfield that his permanent abode was not Miss Hathaway's parlour。
As they stood at the door； talking； the last train came in。 〃Do you know；〃 said Winfield； 〃that every night； just as that train comes in； your friend down there puts a candle in her front window？〃
〃Well；〃 rejoined Ruth； sharply； 〃what of it？ It's a free country； isn't it？〃
〃Very。 Untrammelled press and highly independent women。 Good night； Miss Thorne。 I'll be up the first thing in the morning。〃
She was about to speak； but slammed the door instead； and was displeased when she heard a smothered laugh from outside。
IX。 By Humble Means
As lightly as a rose petal upon the shimmering surface of a stream； Summer was drifting away； but whither； no one seemed to care。 The odour of printer's ink upon the morning paper no longer aroused vain longings in Winfield's breast； and Ruth had all but forgotten her former connection with the newspaper world。
By degrees； Winfield had arranged a routine which seemed admirable。 Until luncheon time； he was with Ruth and； usually； out of doors； according to prescription。 In the afternoon； he went up again； sometimes staying to dinner； and； always； he spent his evenings there。
〃Why don't you ask me to have my trunk sent up here？〃 he asked Ruth； one day。
〃I hadn't thought of it；〃 she laughed。 〃I suppose it hasn't seemed necessary。〃
〃Miss Hathaway would be pleased； wouldn't she； if she knew she had two guests instead of one？〃
〃Undoubtedly； how could she help it？〃
〃When do you expect her to return？〃
〃I don't knowI haven't heard a word from her。 Sometimes I feel a little anxious about her。〃 Ruth would have been much concerned for her relative's safety； had she known that the eccentric lady had severed herself from the excursion and gone boldly into Italy； unattended； and with no knowledge of the language。
Hepsey inquired daily for news of Miss Hathaway； but no tidings were forthcoming。 She amused herself in her leisure moments by picturing all sorts of disasters in which her mistress was doubtless engulfed； and in speculating upon the tie between Miss Thorne and Mr。 Winfield。
More often than not； it fell to Hepsey to light the lamp in the attic window； though she did it at Miss Thorne's direction。 〃If I forget it； Hepsey；〃 she had said； calmly； 〃you'll see to it； won't you？〃
Trunks； cedar chests； old newspapers； and long hidden letters were out of Ruth's province now。 Once in two or three weeks； she went to see Miss Ainslie； but never stayed long； though almost every day she reproached herself for neglect。
Winfield's days were filled with peace； since he had learned how to get on with Miss Thorne。 When she showed herself stubborn and unyielding； he retreated gracefully； and with a suggestion of amusement； as a courtier may step aside gallantly for an angry lady to pass。 Ruth felt his mental attitude and； even though she resented it； she was ashamed。
Having found that she could have her own way； she became less anxious for it； and several times made small concessions； which were apparently unconscious； but amusing；
