lavender and old lace-第15节

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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；　nevertheless。　She　had　none　of　the　wiles　of　the　coquette；　she　was　transparent；　and　her　friendliness　was　disarming。　If　she　wanted　Winfield　to　stay　at　home　any　particular　morning　or　afternoon；　she　told　him　so。　At　first　he　was　offended；　but　afterward　learned　to　like　it；　for　she　could　easily　have　instructed　Hepsey　to　say　that　she　was　out。

The　pitiless；　unsympathetic　calendar　recorded　the　fact　that　July　was　near　its　end；　and　Ruth　sighedthen　hated　herself　for　it。

She　had　grown　accustomed　to　idleness；　and；　under　the　circumstances；　liked　it　far　too　well。

One　morning；　when　she　went　down　to　breakfast；　Hepsey　was　evidently　perplexed　about　something；　but　Ruth　took　no　outward　note　of　it；　knowing　that　it　would　be　revealed　ere　long。

〃Miss　Thorne；〃　she　said；　tentatively；　as　Ruth　rose　from　the　table。

〃Yes？〃

〃Of　course；　Miss　Thorne；　I　reckon　likely't　ain't　none　of　my　business；　but　is　Mr。　Winfield　another　detective；　and　have　you　found　anything　out　yet？〃

Ruth；　inwardly　raging；　forced　herself　to　let　the　speech　pass　unnoticed；　and　sailed　majestically　out　of　the　room。　She　was　surprised　to　discover　that　she　could　be　made　so　furiously　angry　by　so　small　a　thing。

Winfield　was　coming　up　the　hill　with　the　mail；　and　she　tried　to　cool　her　hot　cheeks　with　her　hands。　〃Let's　go　down　on　the　side　of　the　hill；〃　she　said；　as　he　gave　her　some　letters　and　the　paper；　〃it's　very　warm　in　the　sun；　and　I'd　like　the　sea　breeze。〃

They　found　a　comparatively　level　place；　with　two　trees　to　lean　against；　and；　though　they　were　not　far　from　the　house；　they　were　effectually　screened　by　the　rising　ground。　Ruth　felt　that　she　could　not　bear　the　sight　of　Hepsey　just　then。


After　glancing　at　her　letters　she　began　to　read　aloud；　with　a　troubled　haste　which　did　not　escape　him。　〃Here's　a　man　who　had　a　little　piece　of　bone　taken　out　of　the　inside　of　his　skull；〃　she　said。　〃Shall　I　read　about　that？　He　seems；　literally；　to　have　had　something　on　his　mind。〃

〃You're　brilliant　this　morning；〃　answered　Winfield；　gravely；　and　she　laughed　hysterically。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　he　asked。　〃You　don't　seem　like　yourself。〃

〃It　isn't　nice　of　you　to　say　that；〃　she　retorted；　〃considering　your　previous　remark。〃

There　was　a　rumble　and　a　snort　on　the　road　and；　welcoming　the　diversion；　he　went　up　to　reconnoitre。　〃Joe's　coming；　is　there　anything　you　want　in　the　village？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　wearily；　〃there's　nothing　I　wantanywhere。〃

〃You're　an　exceptional　woman；〃　returned　Winfield；　promptly；　〃and　I'd　advise　you　to　sit　for　your　photograph。　The　papers　would　like　it'Picture　of　the　Only　Woman　Who　Doesn't　Want　Anything'why；　that　would　work　off　an　extra　in　about　ten　minutes！〃

Ruth　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　turned　her　eyes　away。　He　felt　vaguely　uncomfortable；　and　was　about　to　offer　atonement　when　Joe's　deep　bass　voice　called　out：

〃Hello！〃

〃Hello　yourself！〃　came　in　Hepsey's　highest　tones；　from　the　garden。

〃Want　anything　to…day？〃

〃Nope！〃

There　was　a　brief　pause；　and　then　Joe　shouted　again：　〃Hepsey！〃

〃Well？〃

〃I　should　think　they'd　break　their　vocal　cords；〃　said　Winfield。

〃I　wish　they　would；〃　rejoined　Ruth；　quickly。

〃Come　here！〃　yelled　Joe。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　yer。〃

〃Talk　from　there；〃　screamed　Hepsey。

〃Where's　yer　folks？〃

〃D'know。〃

〃Say；　be　they　courtin'？〃

Hepsey　left　her　work　in　the　garden　and　came　toward　the　front　of　the　house。　〃They　walk　out　some；〃　she　said；　when　she　was　halfway　to　the　gate；　〃and　they　set　up　a　good　deal；　and　Miss　Thorne　told　me　she　didn't　know　as　she'd　do　better；　but　you　can't　rightly　say　they're　courtin''cause　city　ways　ain't　like　our'n。〃

The　deep　colour　dyed　Ruth's　face　and　her　hands　twitched　nervously。　Winfield　very　much　desired　to　talk；　but　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　The　situation　was　tense。

Joe　clucked　to　his　horses。　〃So　long；〃　he　said。　〃See　yer　later。〃

Ruth　held　her　breath　until　he　passed　them；　and　then　broke　down。　Her　self　control　was　quite　gone；　and　she　sobbed　bitterly；　in　grief　and　shame。　Winfield　tucked　his　handkerchief　into　her　cold　hands；　not　knowing　what　else　to　do。

〃Don't！〃　he　said；　as　if　he；　too；　had　been　hurt。　〃Ruth；　dear；　don't　cry！〃

A　new　tenderness　almost　unmanned　him；　but　he　sat　still　with　his　hands　clenched；　feeling　like　a　brute　because　of　her　tears。

The　next　few　minutes　seemed　like　an　hour；　then　Ruth　raised　her　head　and　tried　to　smile。　〃I　expect　you　think　I'm　silly；〃　she　said；　hiding　her　tear　stained　face　again。

〃No！〃　he　cried；　sharply；　then；　with　a　catch　in　his　throat；　he　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Don't！〃　she　sobbed；　turning　away　from　him；　〃whatwhat　they　saidwas　bad　enough！〃

The　last　words　ended　in　a　rush　of　tears；　and；　sorely　distressed；　he　began　to　walk　back　and　forth。　Then　a　bright　idea　came　to　him。

〃I'll　be　back　in　a　minute；〃　he　said。

When　he　returned；　he　had　a　tin　dipper；　freshly　filled　with　cold　water。　〃Don't　cry　any　more；〃　he　pleaded；　gently；　〃I'm　going　to　bathe　your　face。〃

Ruth　leaned　back　against　the　tree　and　he　knelt　beside　her。　〃Oh；　that　feels　so　good；〃　she　said；　gratefully；　as　she　felt　his　cool　fingers　upon　her　burning　eyes。　In　a　little　while　she　was　calm　again；　though　her　breast　still　heaved　with　every　fluttering　breath。

〃You　poor　little　woman；〃　he　said；　tenderly；　〃you're　just　as　nervous　as　you　can　be。　Don't　feel　so　about　it。　just　suppose　it　was　somebody　who　wasn't！〃

〃Who　wasn't　what？〃　asked　Ruth；　innocently。

Winfield　crimsoned　to　the　roots　of　his　hair　and　hurled　the　dipper　into　the　distance。

〃Whatwhatthey　said；〃　he　stammered；　sitting　down　awkwardly。　〃Oh；　darn　it！〃　He　kicked　savagely　at　a　root；　and　added；　in　bitterest　self　accusation；　〃I'm　a　chump；　I　am！〃

〃No　you're　not；〃　returned　Ruth；　with　sweet　shyness；　〃you're　nice。　Now　we'll　read　some　more　of　the　paper。〃

He　assumed　a　feverish　interest　in　the　market　reports；　but　his　thoughts　were　wandering。　Certainly；　nothing　could　have　been　worse。　He　felt　as　if　a　bud；　which　he　had　been　long　and　eagerly　watching；　was　suddenly　torn　open　by　a　vandal　hand。　When　he　first　touched　Ruth's　eyes　with　his　finger　tips；　he　had　trembled　like　a　schoolboy；　and　he　wondered　if　she　knew　it。

If　she　did；　she　made　no　sign。　Her　cheeks　were　flushed；　the　lids　of　her　downcast　eyes　were　pink；　and　her　voice　had　lost　its　crisp；　incisive　tones；　but　she　read　rapidly；　without　comment　or　pause；　until　the　supply　of　news　gave　out。　Then　she　began　on　the　advertisements；　dreading　the　end　of　her　task　and　vainly　wishing　for　more　papers；　though　in　her　heart　there　was　something　sweet；　which；　even　to　herself；　she　dared　not　name。

〃That'll　do；〃　he　said；　abruptly；　〃I'm　not　interested　in　the　'midsummer　glove　clearing。'　I　meant　to　tell　you　something　when　I　first　cameI've　got　to　go　away。〃

Ruth's　heart　throbbed　painfully；　as　if　some　cold　hand　held　it　fast。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　politely；　not　recognising　her　own　voice。

〃It's　only　for　a　weekI've　got　to　go　to　the　oculist　and　see　about　some　other　things。　I'll　be　back　before　long。〃

〃I　shall　miss　you；〃　she　said；　conventionally。　Then　she　saw　that　he　was　going　away　to　relieve　her　from　the　embarrassment　of　his　presence；　and　blessed　him　accordingly。

〃When　are　you　going？〃　she　asked。

〃This　afternoon。　I　don't　want　to　go；　but　it's　just　as　well　to　have　it　over　with。　Can　I　do　anything　for　you　in　the　city？〃

〃No；　thank　you。　My　wants　are　few　and；　at　present；　well　supplied。〃

〃Don't　you　want　me　to　match　something　for　you？　I　thought　women　always　had　pieces　of　stuff　that　had　to　be　matched　immediately。〃

〃They　made　you　edit　the　funny　column；　didn't　they？〃　she　asked；　irrelevantly。

〃They　did；　Miss　Thorne；　and；　moreover；　I　expect　I'll　have　to　do　it　again。〃

After　a　little；　they　were　back　on　the　old　footing；　yet　everything　was　different；　for　there　was　an　obtruding　self　consciousness　on　either　side。　〃What　time　do　you　go？〃　she　asked；　with　assumed　indifference。

〃Three…fifteen；　I　think；　and　it's　after　one　now。〃

He　walked　back　to　the　house　with　her；　and；　for　the　second　time　that　day；　Hepsey　came　out　to　sweep　the　piazza。

〃Good　bye；　Miss　Thorne；〃　he　said。

〃Good　bye；　Mr。　Winfield。〃

That　was　all；　but　Ruth　looked　up　with　an　unspoken　question　and　his　eyes　met　hers　clearly；　with　no　turning　aside。　She　knew　he　would　come　back　very　soon　and　she　understood　his　answerthat　he　had　the　right。

As　she　entered　the　house；　Hepsey　said；　pleasantly：　〃Has　he　gone　away；　Miss　Thorne？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　without　emotion。　She　was　about　to　say　that　she　did　not　care　for　luncheon；　then　decided　that　she　must　seem　to　care。

Still；　it　was　impossible　to　escape　that　keen…eyed　observer。　〃You　ain't　eatin'　much；〃　she　suggested。

〃I'm　not　very　hungry。〃

〃Be　you　sick；　Miss　Thorne？〃

〃Nonot　exactly。　I've　been　out　in　the　sun　and　my　head　aches；〃　she　replied；　clutching　at　the　straw。

〃Do　you　want　a　wet　rag？〃

Ruth　laughed；　remembering　an　earlier　suggestion　of　Winfield's。　〃No；　I　don't　want　any　wet　rag；　Hepsey；　but　I'll　go　up　to　my　room　for　a　little　while；　I　think。　Please　don't　disturb　me。〃

She　locked　her　door；　shutting　out　all　the　world　from　the　nameless　joy　that　surged　in　her　heart。　The　mirror　disclosed　flushed；　feveris