lavender and old lace-第19节

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nd　the　money；〃　she　added　hopefully。

〃Why；　yes；　that's　right。　Do　you　hear　James？　It'll　have　to　be　your　book；　'The　Love　Letters　of　a　Sailor；'　by　James；　and　dedicated　in　the　front　'to　my　dearly　beloved　wife；　Jane　Ball；　as　was　Jane　Hathaway。'　It'll　be　beautiful；　won't　it；　James？〃

〃Yes'm；　I　hev　no　doubt　but　what　it　will。〃

〃Do　you　remember；　James；　how　you　borrered　a　chisel　from　the　tombstone　man　over　to　the　Ridge；　and　cut　our　names　into　endurin'　granite？〃

〃I'd　forgot　thathow　come　you　to　remember　it？〃

〃On　account　of　your　havin'　lost　the　chisel　and　the　tombstone　man　a…worryin'　me　about　it　to　this　day。　I'll　take　you　to　the　place。　There's　climbin'　but　it　won't　hurt　us　none；　though　we　ain't　as　young　as　we　might　be。　You　says　to　me；　you　says：　'Jane；　darlin'；　as　long　as　them　letters　stays　cut　into　the　everlastin'　rock；　just　so　long　I'll　love　you；'　you　says；　and　they's　there　still。〃

〃Well；　I'm　here；　too；　ain't　I？〃　replied　Mr。　Ball；　seeming　to　detect　a　covert　reproach。　〃I　was　allers　a　great　hand　fer　cuttin'。〃

〃There'll　have　to　be　a　piece　writ　in　the　end；　Ruth；　explainin'　the　happy　endin'　of　the　romance。　If　you　can't　do　it　justice；　James　and　me　can　helpJames　was　allers　a　master　hand　at　writin'。　It'll　have　to　tell　how　through　the　long　years　he　has　toiled；　hopin'　against　hope；　and　for　over　thirty　years　not　darin'　to　write　a　line　to　the　object　of　his　affections；　not　feelin'　worthy；　as　you　may　say；　and　how　after　her　waitin'　faithfully　at　home　and　turnin'　away　dozens　of　lovers　what　pleaded　violent…like；　she　finally　went　travellin'　in　furrin　parts　and　come　upon　her　old　lover　a…keepin'　a　store　in　a　heathen　land；　a…strugglin'　to　retrieve　disaster　after　disaster　at　sea；　and　constantly　withstandin'　the　blandishments　of　heathen　women　as　endeavoured　to　wean　him　from　his　faith；　and　how；　though　very　humble　and　scarcely　darin　to　speak；　he　learned　that　she　was　willin'　and　they　come　a　sailin'　home　together　and　lived　happily　ever　afterward。　Ain't　that　as　it　was；　James？〃

〃Yes'm；　except　that　there　wa'n't　no　particular　disaster　at　sea　and　them　heathen　women　didn't　exert　no　blandishments。　They　was　jest　pleasant　to　an　old　feller；　bless　their　little　hearts。〃

By　some　subtle　mental　process；　Mr。　Ball　became　aware　that　he　had　made　a　mistake。　〃You　ain't　changed　nothin'　here；　Jane；〃　he　continued；　hurriedly；　〃there's　the　haircloth　sofy　that　we　used　to　set　on　Sunday　evenins'　after　meetin'；　and　the　hair　wreath　with　the　red　rose　in　it　made　out　of　my　hair　and　the　white　rose　made　out　of　your　grandmother's　hair　on　your　father's　side；　and　the　yeller　lily　made　out　of　the　hair　of　your　Uncle　Jed's　youngest　boy。　I　disremember　the　rest；　but　time　was　when　I　could　say'm　all。　I　never　see　your　beat　for　makin'　hair　wreaths；　Jane。　There　ain't　nothin'　gone　but　the　melodeon　that　used　to　set　by　the　mantel。　What's　come　of　the　melodeon？〃

〃The　melodeon　is　set　away　in　the　attic。　The　mice　et　out　the　inside。〃

〃Didn't　you　hev　no　cat？〃

〃There　ain't　no　cat；　James；　that　could　get　into　a　melodeon　through　a　mouse　hole；　more　especially　the　big　maltese　you　gave　me。　I　kept　that　cat；　James；　as　you　may　say；　all　these　weary　years。　When　there　was　kittens；　I　kept　the　one　that　looked　most　like　old　Malty；　but　of　late　years；　the　cats　has　all　been　different；　and　the　one　I　buried　jest　afore　I　sailed　away　was　yeller　and　white　with　black　and　brown　spotsa　kinder　tortoise　shellthat　didn't　look　nothin'　like　Malty。　You'd　never　have　knowed　they　belonged　to　the　same　family；　but　I　was　sorry　when　she　died；　on　account　of　her　bein'　the　last　cat。〃

Hepsey；　half　frightened；　put　her　head　into　the　room。　〃Dinner's　ready；〃　she　shouted；　hurriedly　shutting　the　door。

〃Give　me　your　arm；　James；〃　said　Mrs。　Ball；　and　Ruth　followed　them　into　the　dining…room。

The　retired　sailor　ate　heartily；　casting　occasional　admiring　glances　at　Ruth　and　Hepsey。　It　was　the　innocent　approval　which　age　bestows　upon　youth。　〃These　be　the　finest　biscuit；〃　he　said；　〃that　I've　had　for　many　a　day。　I　reckon　you　made　'em；　didn't　you；　young　woman？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Hepsey；　twisting　her　apron。

The　bride　was　touched　in　a　vulnerable　spot。

〃Hepsey；〃　she　said；　decisively；　〃when　your　week　is　up；　you　will　no　longer　be　in　my　service。　I　am　a…goin'to　make　a　change。〃

Mr。　Ball's　knife　dropped　with　a　sharp　clatter。　〃Why；　Mis'　Ball；〃　he　said；　reproachfully；　〃who　air　you　goin'　to　hev　to　do　your　work？〃

〃Don't　let　that　trouble　you；　James；〃　she　answered；　serenely；　〃the　washin'　can　be　put　out　to　the　Widder　Pendleton；　her　as　was　Elmiry　Peavey；　and　the　rest　ain't　no　particular　trouble。〃

〃Aunty；〃　said　Ruth；　〃now　that　you've　come　home　and　everything　is　going　on　nicely；　I　think　I'd　better　go　back　to　the　city。　You　see；　if　I　stay　here；　I'll　be　interrupting　the　honeymoon。〃

〃No；　no；　Niece　Ruth！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ball；　〃you　ain't　interruptin'　no　honeymoon。　It's　a　great　pleasure　to　your　aunt　and　me　to　hev　you　herewe　likes　pretty　young　things　around　us；　and　as　long　as　we　hev　a　home；　you're　welcome　to　stay　in　it；　ain't　she　Jane？〃

〃She　has　sense　enough　to　see；　James；　that　she　is　interruptin'　the　honeymoon；〃　replied　Aunt　Jane；　somewhat　harshly。　〃On　account　of　her　mother　havin'　been　a　Hathaway　before　marriage；　she　knows　things。　Not　but　what　you　can　come　some　other　time；　Ruth；〃　she　added；　with　belated　hospitality。

〃Thank　you；　Aunty；　I　will。　I'll　stay　just　a　day　or　two　longer；　if　you　don't　mindjust　until　Mr。　Winfield　comes　back。　I　don't　know　just　where　to　write　to　him。〃

〃Mr。who？〃　demanded　Aunt　Jane；　looking　at　her　narrowly。

〃Mr。　Carl　Winfield；〃　said　Ruth；　crimsoning　〃the　man　I　am　going　to　marry。〃　The　piercing　eyes　were　still　fixed　upon　her。

〃Now　about　the　letters；　Aunty；〃　she　went　on；　in　confusion；　〃you　could　help　Uncle　James　with　the　book　much　better　than　I　could。　Of　course　it　would　have　to　be　done　under　your　supervision。〃

Mrs。　Ball　scrutinized　her　niece　long　and　carefully。　〃You　appear　to　be　tellin'　the　truth；〃　she　said。　〃Who　would　best　print　it？〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　better　for　you　to　handle　it　yourself；　Aunty；　and　then　you　and　Uncle　James　would　have　all　the　profits。　If　you　let　some　one　else　publish　it　and　sell　it；　you'd　have　only　ten　per　cent；　and　even　then；　you　might　have　to　pay　part　of　the　expenses。〃　　〃How　much　does　it　cost　to　print　a　book？〃

〃That　depends　on　the　book。　Of　course　it　costs　more　to　print　a　large　one　than　a　small　one。〃

〃That　needn't　make　no　difference；〃　said　Aunt　Jane；　after　long　deliberation。　〃James　has　two　hundred　dollars　sewed　up　on　the　inside　of　the　belt　he　insists　on　wearin'；　instead　of　Christian　suspenders；　ain't　you；　James？〃

〃Yes'm；　two　hundred　and　four　dollars　in　my　belt　and　seventy…six　cents　in　my　pocket。〃

〃It's　from　his　store；〃　Mrs。　Ball　explained。　〃He　sold　it　to　a　relative　of　one　of　them　heathen　women。〃

〃It　was　worth　more'n　three　hundred；〃　he　said　regretfully。

〃Now；　James；　you　know　a　small　store　like　that　ain't　worth　no　three　hundred　dollars。　I　wouldn't　have　let　you　took　three　hundred；　'cause　it　wouldn't　be　honest。〃

The　arrival　of　a　small　and　battered　trunk　created　a　welcome　diversion。　〃Where's　your　trunk；　Uncle　James？〃　asked　Ruth。

〃I　ain't　a　needin'　of　no　trunk；〃　he　answered；　〃what　clothes　I've　got　is　on　me；　and　that　there　valise　has　more　of　my　things　in　it。　When　my　clothes　wears　out；　I　put　on　new　ones　and　leave　the　others　for　some　pore　creeter　what　may　need　'em　worse'n　me。〃

Aunt　Jane　followed　Joe　upstairs；　issuing　caution　and　direction　at　every　step。　〃You　can　set　outside　now；　Joe　Pendleton；〃　she　said；　〃and　see　that　them　hosses　don't　run　away；　and　as　soon　as　I　get　some　of　my　things　hung　up　so's　they　won't　wrinkle　no　more；　I'll　come　out　and　pay　you。〃

Joe　obeyed；　casting　longing　eyes　at　a　bit　of　blue　gingham　that　was　fluttering　among　the　currant　bushes　in　the　garden。　Mr。　Ball；　longing　for　conversation　with　his　kind；　went　out　to　the　gate　and　stood　looking　up　at　him；　blinking　in　the　bright　sunlight。　〃Young　feller；〃　he　said；　〃I　reckon　that　starboard　hoss　is　my　old　mare。　Where'd　you　get　it？〃

〃Over　to　the　Ridge；〃　answered　Joe；　〃of　a　feller　named　Johnson。〃

〃Jest　soI　reckon　't　was　his　father　I　give　Nellie　to　when　I　went　away。　She　was　a　frisky　filly　thenshe　don't　look　nothin'　like　that　now。〃

〃Mamie〃　turned；　as　if　her　former　master's　voice　had　stirred　some　old　memory。　〃She's　got　the　evil　eye；〃　Mr。　Ball　continued。　〃You　wanter　be　keerful。〃

〃She's　all　right；　I　guess；〃　Joe　replied。

〃Young　feller；〃　said　Mr。　Ball　earnestly；　〃do　you　chew　terbacker？〃

〃Yep；　but　I　ain't　got　no　more。　I'm　on　the　last　hunk。〃

Mr。　Ball　stroked　his　stained　beard。　〃I　useter；〃　he　said；　reminiscently；　〃afore　I　was　merried。〃

Joe　whistled　idly；　still　watching　for　Hepsey。

〃Young　feller；　〃said　Mr。　Ball；　again；　〃there's　a　great　deal　of　merryin'　and　givin'　in　merriage　in　this　here　settlement；　ain't　there？〃

〃Not　so　much　as　there　might　be。〃

〃Say；　was　your　mother's　name　Elmiry　Peavey？〃

〃Yes　sir；〃　Joe　answered；　much　surprised。

〃Then　you　be　keerful；〃　cautioned　Mr。　Ball。　〃Your　hoss　has　got　the　evil　eye　and　your　father；　as　might　hev　been；　allers　had　a　weak　eye　fer　women。〃　Joe's　face　was　a　picture　of　blank　astonishment。　〃I　was　engaged　to　both　of　'em；〃　Mr。　Ball　explained；　〃each　one　a…keepin'　of　it　secret；　and　she〃　here　he　pointed　his　thumb　suggestively　toward　the　house〃she's　got　me。〃

〃I'm　going　to