lavender and old lace-第22节

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ug　you　are！〃

〃You　like　humbugs；　don't　you？〃

〃Some；　not　all。〃

There　was　a　long　silence；　and　then　Ruth　moved　away　from　him。　〃Tell　me　about　everything；〃　she　said。　〃Think　of　all　the　years　I　haven't　known　you！〃

〃There's　nothing　to　tell；　dear。　Are　you　going　to　conduct　an　excavation　into　my　'past？'〃

〃Indeed；　I'm　not！　The　present　is　enough　for　me；　and　I'll　attend　to　your　future　myself。〃

〃There's　not　much　to　be　ashamed　of；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　soberly。　〃I've　always　had　the　woman　I　should　marry　in　my　mind'the　not　impossible　she；'　and　my　ideal　has　kept　me　out　of　many　a　pitfall　I　wanted　to　go　to　her　with　clean　hands　and　a　clean　heart；　and　I　have。　I'm　not　a　saint；　but　I'm　as　clean　as　I　could　be；　and　live　in　the　world　at　all。〃

Ruth　put　her　hand　on　his。　〃Tell　me　about　your　mother。〃

A　shadow　crossed　his　face　and　he　waited　a　moment　before　speaking。　〃My　mother　died　when　I　was　born；〃　he　said　with　an　effort。　〃I　can't　tell　you　about　her；　Ruth；　sheshewasn't　a　very　good　woman。〃

〃Forgive　me；　dear；〃　she　answered　with　quick　sympathy；　〃I　don't　want　to　know！〃

〃I　didn't　know　about　it　until　a　few　years　ago；〃　he　continued；　〃when　some　kindly　disposed　relatives　of　father's　gave　me　full　particulars。　They're　dead　now；　and　I'm　glad　of　it。　Sheshedrank。〃

〃Don't；　Carl！〃　she　cried；　〃I　don't　want　to　know！〃

〃You're　a　sweet　girl；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　tenderly；　touching　her　hand　to　his　lips。　〃Father　died　when　I　was　ten　or　twelve　years　old　and　I　can't　remember　him　very　well；　though　I　have　one　picture；　taken　a　little　while　before　he　was　married。　He　was　a　moody；　silent　man；　who　hardly　ever　spoke　to　any　one。　I　know　now　that　he　was　broken…hearted。　I　can't　remember　even　the　tones　of　his　voice；　but　only　one　or　two　little　peculiarities。　He　couldn't　bear　the　smell　of　lavender　and　the　sight　of　any　shade　of　purple　actually　made　him　suffer。　It　was　very　strange。

〃I've　picked　up　what　education　I　have；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　have　nothing　to　give　you；　Ruth；　but　these〃　he　held　out　his　hands〃and　my　heart。〃

〃That's　all　I　want；　dearestdon't　tell　me　any　more！〃

A　bell　rang　cheerily；　and；　when　they　went　in；　Aunt　Jane　welcomed　him　with　apparent　cordiality；　though　a　close　observer　might　have　detected　a　tinge　of　suspicion。　She　liked　the　ring　on　Ruth's　finger；　which　she　noticed　for　the　first　time。　〃It's　real　pretty；　ain't　it；　James？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes'm；　't　is　so。〃

〃It's　just　come　to　my　mind　now　that　you　never　give　me　no　ring　except　this　here　one　we　was　married　with。　I　guess　we'd　better　take　some　of　that　two　hundred　dollars　you've　got　sewed　up　in　that　unchristian　belt　you　insist　on　wearin'　and　get　me　a　ring　like　Ruth's；　and　use　the　rest　for　furniture；　don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Yes'm；〃　he　replied。　〃Ring　and　furnitureor　anythin'　you'd　like。〃

〃James　is　real　indulgent；〃　she　said　to　Winfield；　with　a　certain　modest　pride　which　was　at　once　ludicrous　and　pathetic。

〃He　should　be；　Mrs。　Ball；〃　returned　the　young　man；　gallantly。

She　looked　at　him　closely；　as　if　to　discover　whether　he　was　in　earnest；　but　he　did　not　flinch。　〃Young　feller；〃　she　said；　〃you　ain't　layin'　out　to　take　no　excursions　on　the　water；　be　you？〃

〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　he　answered；　〃why？〃

〃Sea…farin'　is　dangerous；〃　she　returned。

〃Mis'　Ball　was　terrible　sea　sick　comin'　here；〃　remarked　her　husband。　〃She　didn't　seem　to　have　no　sea　legs；　as　you　may　say。〃

〃Ain't　you　tired　of　dwellin'　on　that？〃　asked　Aunt　Jane；　sharply。　〃'T　ain't　no　disgrace　to　be　sea　sick；　and　I　wan't　the　only　one。〃

Winfield　came　to　the　rescue　with　a　question　and　the　troubled　waters　were　soon　calm　again。　After　supper；　Ruth　said：　〃Aunty；　may　I　take　Mr。　Winfield　up　to　the　attic　and　show　him　my　grandmother's　things　that　you've　just　given　me？〃

〃Run　along；　child。　Me　and　James　will　wash　the　dishes。〃

〃Poor　James；　〃said　Winfield；　in　a　low　tone；　as　they　ascended　the　stairs。　〃Do　I　have　to　wash　dishes；　Ruth？〃

〃It　wouldn't　surprise　me。　You　said　you　wanted　to　work　for　me；　and　I　despise　dishes。〃

〃Then　we'll　get　an　orphan　to　do　'em。　I'm　not　fitted　for　it；　and　I　don't　think　you　are。〃

〃Say；　isn't　this　great！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　they　entered　the　attic。　〃Trunks；　cobwebs；　and　old　furniture！　Why　have　I　never　been　here　before？〃

〃It　wasn't　proper；〃　replied　Ruth；　primly；　with　a　sidelong　glance　at　him。　〃No；　go　away！〃

They　dragged　the　furniture　out　into　the　middle　of　the　room　and　looked　it　over　critically。　There　was　all　that　she　had　described；　and　unsuspected　treasure　lay　in　concealment　behind　it。　〃There's　almost　enough　to　furnish　a　flat！〃　she　cried；　in　delight。

He　was　opening　the　drawers　of　a　cabinet；　which　stood　far　back　under　the　eaves。　〃What's　this；　Ruth？〃

〃Oh；　it's　old　blue　chinawillow　pattern！　How　rich　we　are！〃

〃Is　old　blue　willow…pattern　china　considered　beautiful？〃

〃Of　course　it　is；　you　goose！　We'll　have　to　have　our　dining…room　done　in　old　blue；　now；　with　a　shelf　on　the　wall　for　these　plates。〃

〃Why　can't　we　have　a　red　dining…room？〃

〃Because　it　would　be　a　fright。　You　can　have　a　red　den；　if　you　like。〃

〃All　right；〃　he　answered；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　it　would　be　simpler　and　save　a　good　deal　of　expense；　if　we　just　pitched　the　plates　into　the　sad　sea。　I　don't　think　much　of　'em。〃

〃That's　because　you're　not　educated；　dearest；〃　returned　Ruth；　sweetly。　〃When　you're　married；　you'll　know　a　great　deal　more　about　chinayou　see　if　you　don't。〃

They　lingered　until　it　was　so　dark　that　they　could　scarcely　see　each　other's　faces。　〃We'll　come　up　again　to…morrow；〃　she　said。　〃Wait　a　minute。〃

She　groped　over　to　the　east　window；　where　there　was　still　a　faint　glow；　and　lighted　the　lamp；　which　stood　in　its　accustomed　place；　newly　filled。

〃You're　not　going　to　leave　it　burning；　are　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　Aunt　Jane　has　a　light　in　this　window　every　night。〃

〃Why；　what　for？〃

〃I　don't　know；　dearest。　I　think　it's　for　a　lighthouse；　but　I　don't　care。　Come；　let's　go　downstairs。〃



XIV。　〃For　Remembrance〃

The　next　day；　while　Ruth　was　busily　gathering　up　her　few　belongings　and　packing　her　trunk；　Winfield　appeared　with　a　suggestion　regarding　the　advisability　of　outdoor　exercise。　Uncle　James　stood　at　the　gate　and　watched　them　as　they　went　down　hill。　He　was　a　pathetic　old　figure；　predestined　to　loneliness　under　all　circumstances。

〃That's　the　way　I'll　look　when　we've　been　married　a　few　years；〃　said　Carl。

〃Worse　than　that；〃　returned　Ruth；　gravely。　〃I'm　sorry　for　you；　even　now。〃

〃You　needn't　be　proud　and　haughty　just　because　you've　had　a　wedding　at　your　housewe're　going　to　have　one　at　ours。〃

〃At　ours？〃

〃At　the　'Widder's；'　I　mean；　this　very　evening。〃

〃That's　nice；〃　answered　Ruth；　refusing　to　ask　the　question。

〃It's　Joe　and　Hepsey；〃　he　continued；　〃and　I　thought　perhaps　you　might　stoop　low　enough　to　assist　me　in　selecting　an　appropriate　wedding　gift　in　yonder　seething　mart。　I　feel　greatly　indebted　to　them。〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　will；　it's　quite　sudden；　isn't　it？〃　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　say　so。　However；　it's　the　most　reversed　wedding　I　ever　heard　of。　A　marriage　at　the　home　of　the　groom；　to　say　the　least；　is　unusual。　Moreover；　the　'Widder'　Pendleton　is　to　take　the　bridal　tour　and　leave　the　happy　couple　at　home。　She's　going　to　visit　a　relative　who　is　distant　in　both　position　and　relationshipall　unknown　to　the　relative；　I　fancy。　She　starts　immediately　after　the　ceremony　and　it　seems　to　me　that　it　would　be　a　pious　notion　to　throw　rice　and　old　shoes　after　her。〃

〃Why；　Carl！　You　don't　want　to　maim　her；　do　you？〃

〃I　wouldn't　mind。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　my　ostrich…like　digestion；　I　wouldn't　have　had　anything　to　worry　about　by　this　time。　However；　if　you　insist；　I　will　throw　the　rice　and　let　you　heave　the　shoes。　If　you　have　the　precision　of　aim　which　distinguishes　your　sex；　the　'Widder'　will　escape　uninjured。〃

〃Am　I　to　be　invited？〃

〃Certainlyhaven't　I　already　invited　you？〃

〃They　may　not　like　it。〃

〃That　doesn't　make　any　difference。　Lots　of　people　go　to　weddings　who　aren't　wanted。〃

〃I'll　go；　then；〃　announced　Ruth；　〃and　once　again；　I　give　you　my　gracious　permission　to　kiss　the　bride。〃

〃Thank　you；　dear；　but　I'm　not　going　to　kiss　any　brides　except　my　own。　I've　signed　the　pledge　and　sworn　off。〃

They　created　a　sensation　in　the　village　when　they　acquired　the　set　of　china　which　had　been　on　exhibition　over　a　year。　During　that　time　it　had　fallen　at　least　a　third　in　price；　though　its　value　was　unchanged。　Ruth　bought　a　hideous　red　table…cloth；　which　she　knew　would　please　Hepsey；　greatly　to　Winfield's　digust。

〃Why　do　you　do　that？〃　he　demanded。　〃Don't　you　know　that；　in　all　probability；　I'll　have　to　eat　off　of　it？　I　much　prefer　the　oilcloth；　to　which　I　am　now　accustomed。〃

〃You'll　have　to　get　used　to　table　linen；　dear；〃　she　returned　teasingly；　〃it's　my　ambition　to　have　one　just　like　this　for　state　occasions。〃

Joe　appeared　with　the　chariot　just　in　time　to　receive　and　transport　the　gift。　〃Here's　your　wedding　present；　Joe！〃　called　Winfield；　and　the　innocent　villagers　formed　a　circle　about　them　as　the　groom…elect　endeavoured　to　express　his　appreciation。　Winfield　helped　him　pack　the　〃101　pieces〃　on　the　back　seat　and　under　it；　and　when　Ruth；　feeling　like　a　fairy　godmother；　presented　the　red　table…cloth；　his　cup　of　joy　was　full。

He　started　off　proudly；　with　a　soup　tureen　and　two　platters　on　the　seat　beside　him。　The　red