lavender and old lace-第23节

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ull。

He　started　off　proudly；　with　a　soup　tureen　and　two　platters　on　the　seat　beside　him。　The　red　table…cloth　was　slung　over　his　arm；　in　toreador　fashion；　and　the　normal　creak　of　the　conveyance　was　accentuated　by　an　ominous　rattle　of　crockery。　Then　he　circled　back；　motioning　them　to　wait。

〃Here's　sunthin'　I　most　forgot；〃　he　said；　giving　Ruth　a　note。　〃I'd　drive　you　back　fer　nothin'；　only　I've　got　sech　a　load。〃

The　note　was　from　Miss　Ainslie；　inviting　Miss　Thorne　and　her　friend　to　come　at　five　o'clock　and　stay　to　tea。　No　answer　was　expected　unless　she　could　not　come。

The　quaint；　old…fashioned　script　was　in　some　way　familiar。　A　flash　of　memory　took　Ruth　back　to　the　note　she　had　found　in　the　dresser　drawer；beginning：　〃I　thank　you　from　my　heart　for　understanding　me。〃　So　it　was　Miss　Ainslie　who　had　sent　the　mysterious　message　to　Aunt　Jane。

〃You're　not　paying　any　attention　to　me；〃　complained　Winfield。　〃I　suppose；　when　we're　married；　I'll　have　to　write　out　what　I　want　to　say　to　you；　and　put　it　on　file。〃

〃You're　a　goose；〃　laughed　Ruth。　〃We're　going　to　Miss　Ainslie's　to…night　for　tea。　Aren't　we　getting　gay？〃

〃Indeed　we　are！　Weddings　and　teas　follow　one　another　like　Regret　on　the　heels　of　Pleasure。〃

〃Pretty　simile；〃　commented　Ruth。　〃If　we　go　to　the　tea；　we'll　have　to　miss　the　wedding。〃

〃Well；　we've　been　to　a　wedding　quite　recently；　so　I　suppose　it's　better　to　go　to　the　tea。　Perhaps；　by　arranging　it；　we　might　be　given　nourishment　at　both　placesnot　that　I　pine　for　the　'Widder's'　cooking。　Anyhow；　we've　sent　our　gift；　and　they'd　rather　have　that　than　to　have　us；　if　they　were　permitted　to　choose。〃

〃Do　you　suppose　they'll　give　us　anything？〃

〃Let　us　hope　not。〃

〃I　don't　believe　we　want　any　at　all；〃　she　said。　〃Most　of　them　would　be　in　bad　taste；　and　you'd　have　to　bury　them　at　night；　one　at　a　time；　while　I　held　a　lantern。〃

〃The　policeman　on　the　beat　would　come　and　ask　us　what　we　were　doing；〃　he　objected；　〃and　when　we　told　him　we　were　only　burying　our　wedding　presents；　he　wouldn't　believe　us。　We'd　be　dragged　to　the　station　and　put　into　a　noisome　cell。　Wouldn't　it　make　a　pretty　story　for　the　morning　papers！　The　people　who　gave　us　the　things　would　enjoy　it　over　their　coffee。〃

〃It　would　be　pathetic；　wouldn't　it？〃

〃It　would；　Miss　Thorne。　I　think　we'd　better　not　tell　anybody　until　its　all　safely　over；　and　then　we　can　have　a　little　card　printed　to　go　with　the　announcement；　saying　that　if　anybody　is　inclined　to　give　us　a　present；　we'd　rather　have　the　money。〃

〃You're　a　very　practical　person；　Carl。　One　would　think　you　had　been　married　several　times。〃

〃We'll　be　married　as　often　as　you　like；　dear。　Judging　by　your　respected　aunt；　one　ceremony　isn't　'rightfully　bindin'；　and　I　want　it　done　often　enough　to　be　sure　that　you　can't　get　away　from　me。〃

As　they　entered　the　gate；　Uncle　James　approached　stealthily　by　a　roundabout　way　and　beckoned　to　them。　〃Excuse　me；〃　he　began；　as　they　came　within　speaking　distance；　〃but　has　Mis'　Ball　give　you　furniture？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Ruth；　in　astonishment；　〃why？〃

〃There's　clouds　to　starboard　and　she's　repentin'。　She's　been　admirin'　of　it　the　hull　mornin'　in　the　attic。　I　was　sot　in　the　kitchen　with　pertaters；〃　he　explained；　〃but　the　work　is　wearin'　and　a　feller　needs　fresh　air。〃

〃Thank　you　for　the　tip；　Uncle；〃　said　Winfield；　heartily。

The　old　man　glowed　with　gratification。　〃We　men　understand　each　other；〃　was　plainly　written　on　his　expressive　face；　as　he　went　noiselessly　back　to　the　kitchen。

〃You'd　better　go　home；　dear；〃　suggested　Ruth。

〃Delicate　hint；〃　replied　Winfield。　〃It　would　take　a　social　strategist　to　perceive　your　hidden　meaning。　Still；　my　finer　sensibilities　respond　instantly　to　your　touch；　and　I　will　go。　I　flatter　myself　that　I've　never　had　to　be　put　out　yet；　when　I've　been　calling　on　a　girl。　Some　subtle　suggestion　like　yours　has　always　been　sufficient。〃

〃Don't　be　cross；　dearlet's　see　how　soon　you　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　the　hill。　You　can　come　back　at　four　o'clock。〃

He　laughed　and　turned　back　to　wave　his　hand　at　her。　She　wafted　a　kiss　from　the　tips　of　her　fingers；　which　seemed　momentarily　to　impede　his　progress；　but　she　motioned　him　away　and　ran　into　the　house。

Aunt　Jane　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　so　she　went　on　into　the　kitchen　to　help　Uncle　James　with　the　potatoes。　He　had　peeled　almost　a　peck　and　the　thick　parings　lay　in　a　heap　on　the　floor。　〃My　goodness'〃　she　exclaimed。　〃You'd　better　throw　those　out；　Uncle；　and　I'll　put　the　potatoes　on　to　boil。〃

He　hastened　out；　with　his　arms　full　of　peelings。　〃You're　a　real　kind　woman；　Niece　Ruth；〃　he　said　gratefully；　when　he　came　in。　〃You　don't　favour　your　aunt　noneI　think　you're　more　like　me。〃

Mrs。　Ball　entered　the　kitchen　with　a　cloud　upon　her　brow；　and　in　one　of　those　rare　flashes　of　insight　which　are　vouchsafed　to　plodding　mortals；　a　plan　of　action　presented　itself　to　Ruth。　〃Aunty；〃　she　said；　before　Mrs。　Ball　had　time　to　speak；　〃you　know　I'm　going　back　to　the　city　to…morrow；　and　I'd　like　to　send　you　and　Uncle　James　a　wedding　presentyou've　been　so　good　to　me。　What　shall　it　be？〃

〃Well；　now；　I　don't　know；〃　she　answered；　visibly　softening；　〃but　I'll　think　it　over；　and　let　you　know。〃

〃What　would　you　like；　Uncle　James？〃

〃You　needn't　trouble　him　about　it；〃　explained　his　wife。　〃He'll　like　whatever　I　do；　won't　you；　James？〃

〃Yes'm；　just　as　you　say。〃

After　dinner；　when　Ruth　broached　the　suliject　of　furniture；　she　was　gratified　to　find　that　Aunt　Jane　had　no　serious　objections。　〃I　kinder　hate　to　part　with　it；　Ruth；〃　she　said；　〃but　in　a　way；　as　you　may　say；　it's　yours。〃

〃'Tisn't　like　giving　it　away；　Auntyit's　all　in　the　family；　and；　as　you　say；　you're　not　using　it。〃

〃That's　so；　and　then　James　and　me　are　likely　to　come　and　make　you　a　long　visit；　so　I'll　get　the　good　of　it；　too。〃

Ruth　was　momentarily　stunned；　but　rallied　enough　to　express　great　pleasure　at　the　prospect。　As　Aunt　Jane　began　to　clear　up　the　dishes；　Mr。　Ball　looked　at　his　niece；　with　a　certain　quiet　joy；　and　then；　unmistakably；　winked。

〃When　you　decide　about　the　wedding　present；　Aunty；　let　me　know；　won't　you？〃　she　asked；　as　Mrs。　Ball　came　in　after　the　rest　of　the　dishes。　〃Mr。　Winfield　would　like　to　send　you　a　remembrance　also。〃　Then　Ruth　added；　to　her　conscience；　〃I　know　he　would。〃

〃He　seems　like　a　pleasant…spoken　feller；〃　remarked　Aunt　Jane。　〃You　can　ask　him　to　supper　to…night；　if　you　like。〃

〃Thank　you；　Aunty；　but　we're　going　to　Miss　Ainslie's。〃

〃Huh！〃　snorted　Mrs。　Ball。　〃Mary　Ainslie　ain't　got　no　sperrit！〃　With　this　enigmatical　statement；　she　sailed　majestically　out　of　the　room。

During　the　afternoon；　Ruth　finished　her　packing；　leaving　out　a　white　shirt…waist　to　wear　to　Miss　Ainslie's。　When　she　went　down　to　the　parlour　to　wait　for　Winfield；　Aunt　Jane　appeared；　with　her　husband　in　her　wake。

〃Ruth；　〃she　announced；　〃me　and　James　have　decided　on　a　weddin'　present。　I　would　like　a　fine　linen　table…cloth　and　a　dozen　napkins。〃

〃All　right；　Aunty。〃

〃And　if　Mr。　Winfield　is　disposed　to　it；　he　can　give　me　a　lemonade　setone　of　them　what　has　different　coloured　tumblers　belongin'　to　it。〃

〃He'll　be　pleased　to　send　it；　Aunty；　I　know　he　will。〃

〃I'm　a…layin'　out　to　take　part　of　them　two　hundred　dollars　what's　sewed　up　in　James's　belt；　and　buy　me　a　new　black　silk；〃　she　went　on。　〃I've　got　some　real　lace　to　trim　it　with；　whet　dames　give　me　in　the　early　years　of　our　engagement。　Don't　you　think　a　black　silk　is　allers　nice；　Ruth？〃

〃Yes；　it　is；　Aunty；　and　just　now；　it's　very　stylish。〃

〃You　appear　to　know　about　such　things。　I　guess　I'll　let　you　get　it　for　me　in　the　city　when　you　buy　the　weddin'　present。　I'll　give　you　the　money；　and　you　can　get　the　linin's　too；　while　you're　about　it。〃

〃I'll　send　you　some　samples；　Aunty；　and　then　you　can　take　your　choice。〃

〃And〃　began　Mrs。　Ball。

〃Did　you　know　Mrs。　Pendleton　was　going　away；　Aunty？〃　asked　Ruth；　hastily。

〃Do　tell！　Elmiry　Peavey　goin'　travellin'？〃

〃Yes；　she's　going　somewhere　for　a　visitI　don't　know　just　where。〃

〃I　had　laid　out　to　take　James　and　call　on　Elmiry；〃　she　said；　stroking　herapron　thoughtfully；　while　a　shadow　crossed　Mr。　Ball's　expressive　face；　〃but　I　guess　I'll　wait　now　till　I　get　my　new　black　silk。　I　want　her　to　know　I've　done　well。〃

A　warning　hiss　from　the　kitchen　and　the　odour　of　burning　sugar　impelled　Aunt　Jane　to　a　hasty　exit　just　as　Winfield　came。　Uncle　James　followed　them　to　the　door。

〃Niece　Ruth；〃　he　said；　hesitating　and　fumbling　at　his　belt；　〃be　you　goin'　to　get　merried？〃

〃I　hope　so；　Uncle；〃　she　replied　kindly。

〃ThenthenI　wish　you'd　take　this　and　buy　you　sunthin'　to　remember　your　pore　old　Uncle　James　by。〃　He　thrust　a　trembling　hand　toward　her；　and　offered　her　a　twenty　dollar　bill。

〃Why；　Uncle！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　mustn't　take　this！　Thank　you　ever　so　much；　but　it　isn't　right！〃

〃I'd　be　pleased；〃　he　said　plaintively。　〃'Taint　as　if　I　wan's　accustomed　to　money。　My　store　was　wuth　five　or　six　hundred　dollars；　and　you've　been　real　pleasant　to　me；　Niece　Ruth。　Buy　a　hair　wreath　for　the　parlour；　or　sunthin'　to　remind　you　of　your　pore　old　Uncle。〃

Winfield　pressed　her　arm　warningly；　and　she　tucked　the　bill　into　her　chatelaine　bag。　〃Thank　you；　Uncle！〃　she　said；　then；　of　her　own　accord；　she　stooped　and　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek。

A　mist　came