lavender and old lace-第24节

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　she　said；　then；　of　her　own　accord；　she　stooped　and　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek。

A　mist　came　into　the　old　man's　eyes；　and　he　put　his　hand　to　his　belt　again；　but　she　hurriedly　led　Winfield　away。　〃Ruth；〃　he　said；　as　they　went　down　the　hill；　〃you're　a　sweet　girl。　That　was　real　womanly　kindness　to　the　poor　devil。〃

〃Shall　I　be　equally　kind　to　all　'poor　devils'？〃

〃There's　one　more　who　needs　youif　you　attend　to　him　properly；　it　will　be　enough。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　they're　going　to　get　Aunty's　silk　gown　and　a　ring　like　mine　and　a　haircloth　parlour　suit　and　publish　a　book　with　less　than　two　hundred　dollars；　do　you？〃

〃HardlyJoe　says　that　he　gave　Hepsey　ten　dollars。　There's　a　great　discussion　about　the　spending　of　it。〃

〃I　didn't　knowI　feel　guilty。〃

〃You　needn't；　darling。　There　was　nothing　else　for　you　to　do。　How　did　you　succeed　with　your　delicate　mission？〃

〃I　managed　it；〃　she　said　proudly。　〃I　feel　that　I　was　originally　destined　for　a　diplomatic　career。〃　He　laughed　when　she　described　the　lemonade　set　which　she　had　promised　in　his　name。

〃I'll　see　that　the　furniture　is　shipped　tomorrow；〃　he　assured　her；　〃and　then　I'll　go　on　a　still　hunt　for　the　gaudy　glassware。　I'm　blessed　if　I　don't　give　'em　a　silver　ice　pitcher；　too。〃

〃I'm　in　for　a　table…cloth　and　a　dozen　napkins；〃　laughed　Ruth；　〃but　I　don't　mind。　We　won't　bury　Uncle's　wedding　present；　will　we？〃

〃I　should　say　not！　Behold　the　effect　of　the　card；　long　before　it's　printed。〃

〃I　know；　〃said　Ruth；　seriously；　〃I'll　get　a　silver　spoon　or　something　like　that　out　of　the　twenty　dollars；　and　then　I'll　spend　the　rest　of　it　on　something　nice　for　Uncle　James。　The　poor　soul　isn't　getting　any　wedding　present；　and　he'll　never　know。〃

〃There's　a　moral　question　involved　in　that；〃　replied　Winfield。　〃Is　it　right　to　use　his　money　in　that　way　and　assume　the　credit　yourself？〃

〃We'll　have　to　think　it　over；〃　Ruth　answered。　〃It　isn't　so　very　simple　after　all。〃


Miss　Ainslie　was　waiting　for　them　in　the　garden　and　came　to　the　gate　to　meet　them。　She　wore　a　gown　of　lavender　taffeta；　vhich　rustled　and　shone　in　the　sunlight。　Th　skirt　was　slightly　trained；　with　a　dust　ruffle　underneath；　and　the　waist　was　made　in　surplice　fashion；　open　at　the　throat。　A　bertha　of　rarest　Brussels　lace　was　fastened　at　her　neck　with　the　amethyst　pin；　inlaid　with　gold　and　surrounded　by　baroque　pearls。　The　ends　of　the　bertha　hung　loosely　and　under　it　she　had　tied　an　apron　of　sheerest　linen；　edged　with　narrow　Duchesse　lace。　Her　hair　was　coiled　softly　on　top　of　her　head；　with　a　string　of　amethysts　and　another　of　pearls　woven　among　the　silvery　strands。

〃Welcome　to　my　house；〃　she　said；　smiling；　Winfield　at　once　became　her　slave。　She　talked　easily；　with　that　exquisite　cadence　which　makes　each　word　seem　like　a　gift；　but　there　was　a　certain　subtle　excitement　in　her　manner；　which　Ruth　did　not　fail　to　perceive。　When　Winfield　was　not　looking　at　Miss　Ainslie；　her　eyes　rested　upon　him　with　a　wondering　hunger；　mingled　with　tenderness　and　fear。

Midsummer　lay　upon　the　garden　and　the　faint　odour　of　mignonette　and　lavender　came　with　every　wandering　wind。　White　butterflies　and　thistledown　floated　in　the　air；　bees　hummed　drowsily；　and　fhe　stately　hollyhocks　swayed　slowly　back　and　forth。

〃Do　you　know　why　I　asked　you　to　come　today？〃　She　spoke　to　Ruth；　but　looked　at　Winfield。

〃Why；　Miss　Ainslie？〃

〃Because　it　is　my　birthdayI　am　fifty…five　years　old。〃

Ruth's　face　mirrored　her　astonishment。　〃You　don't　look　any　older　than　I　do；〃　she　said。

Except　for　the　white　hair；　it　was　true。　Her　face　was　as　fresh　as　a　rose　with　the　morning　dew　upon　it；　and　even　on　her　neck；　where　the　folds　of　lace　revealed　a　dazzling　whiteness；　there　were　no　lines。

〃Teach　us　how　to　live；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　said　Winfield；　softly；　〃that　the　end　of　half　a　century　may　find　us　young。〃

A　delicate　pink　suffused　her　cheeks　and　she　turned　her　eyes　to　his。　〃I've　just　been　happy；　that's　all；〃　she　answered。

〃It　needs　the　alchemist's　touch；〃　he　said；　〃to　change　our　sordid　world　to　gold。〃

〃We　can　all　learn；〃　she　replied；　〃and　even　if　we　don't　try；　it　comes　to　us　once。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Ruth。

〃Happinesseven　if　it　isn't　until　the　end。　In　every　life　there　is　a　perfect　moment；　like　a　flash　of　sun。　We　can　shape　our　days　by　that；　if　we　willbefore　by　faith；　and　afterward　by　memory。〃

The　conversation　drifted　to　less　serious　things。　Ruth；　remembering　that　Miss　Ainslie　did　not　hear　the　village　gossip；　described　her　aunt's　home…coming；　the　dismissal　of　Hepsey；　and　told　her　of　the　wedding　which　was　to　take　place　that　evening。　Winfield　was　delighted；　for　he　had　never　heard　her　talk　so　well；　but　Miss　Ainslie　listened　with　gentle　displeasure。

〃I　did　not　think　Miss　Hathaway　would　ever　be　married　abroad；〃　she　said。　〃I　think　she　should　have　waited　until　she　came　home。　It　would　have　been　more　delicate　to　let　him　follow　her。　To　seem　to　pursue　a　gentleman；　however　innocent　one　may　be；　isis　unmaidenly。〃

Winfield　choked；　then　coughed　violently。

〃Understand　me；　dear；〃　Miss　Ainslie　went　on；　〃I　do　not　mean　to　criticise　your　auntshe　is　one　of　my　dearest　friends。　Perhaps　I　should　not　have　spoken　at　all；〃　she　concluded　in　genuine　distress。

〃It's　all　right；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　Ruth　assured　her；　〃I　know　just　how　you　feel。〃

Winfield；　having　recovered　his　composure；　asked　a　question　about　the　garden；　and　Miss　Ainslie　led　them　in　triumph　around　her　domain。　She　gathered　a　little　nosegay　of　sweet…williams　for　Ruth；　who　was　over　among　the　hollyhocks；　then　she　said　shyly：　〃What　shall　I　pick　for　you？〃

〃Anything　you　like；　Miss　Ainslie。　I　am　at　a　loss　to　choose。〃

She　bent　over　and　plucked　a　leaf　of　rosemary；　looking　at　him　long　and　searchingly　as　she　put　it　into　his　hand。

〃For　remembrance；〃　she　said；　with　the　deep　fire　burning　in　her　eyes。　Then　she　added；　with　a　pitiful　hunger　in　her　voice：

〃Whatever　happens；　you　won't　forget　me？〃

〃Never！〃　he　answered；　strangely　stirred。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　whispered　brokenly；　drawing　away　from　him。　〃You　look　so　much　likelike　some　one　I　used　to　know。〃

At　dusk　they　went　into　the　house。　Except　for　the　hall；　it　was　square；　with　two　partitions　dividing　it。　The　two　front　rooms　were　separated　by　an　arch；　and　the　dining…room　and　kitchen　were　similarly　situated　at　the　back　of　the　house；　with　a　china　closet　and　pantry　between　them。

Miss　Ainslie's　table；　of　solid　mahogany；　was　covered　only　with　fine　linen　doilies；　after　a　modern　fashion；　and　two　quaint　candlesticks；　of　solid　silver；　stood　opposite　each　other。　In　the　centre；　in　a　silver　vase　of　foreign　pattern；　there　was　a　great　bunch　of　asterswhite　and　pink　and　blue。

The　repast　was　simplechicken　fried　to　a　golden　brown；　with　creamed　potatoes；　a　salad　made　of　fresh　vegetables　from　the　garden；　hot　biscuits；　deliciously　light；　and　the　fragrant　Chinese　tea；　served　in　the　Royal　Kaga　cups；　followed　by　pound　cake；　and　pears　preserved　in　a　heavy　red　syrup。

The　hostess　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　dispensing　a　graceful　hospitality。　She　made　no　apology；　such　as　prefaced　almost　every　meal　at　Aunt　Jane's。　It　was　her　best；　and　she　was　proud　to　give　itsuch　was　the　impression。

Afterward；　when　Ruth　told　her　that　she　was　going　back　to　the　city；　Miss　Ainslie's　face　grew　sad。

〃Whywhy　must　you　go？〃　she　asked。

〃I'm　interrupting　the　honeymoon；〃　Ruth　answered；　〃and　when　I　suggested　departure；　Aunty　agreed　to　it　immediately。　I　can't　very　well　stay　now；　can　I？〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　laying　her　hand　upon　Ruth's；　〃if　you　could；　if　you　only　wouldwon't　you　come　and　stay　with　me？〃

〃I'd　love　to；〃　replied　Ruth；　impetuously；　〃but　are　you　sure　you　want　me？〃

〃Believe　me；　my　dear；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　simply；　〃it　will　give　me　great　happiness。〃

So　it　was　arranged　that　the　next　day　Ruth's　trunk　should　be　taken　to　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　that　she　would　stay　until　the　first　of　October。　Winfield　was　delighted；　since　it　brought　Ruth　nearer　to　him　and　involved　no　long　separation。

They　went　outdoors　again；　where　the　crickets　and　katydids　were　chirping　in　the　grass；　and　the　drowsy　twitter　of　birds　came　from　the　maples　above。　The　moon；　at　its　full；　swung　slowly　over　the　hill；　and　threads　of　silver　light　came　into　the　fragrant　dusk　of　the　garden。　Now　and　then　the　moonlight　shone　full　upon　Miss　Ainslie's　face；　touching　her　hair　as　if　with　loving　tenderness　and　giving　her　an　unearthly　beauty。　It　was　the　face　of　a　saint。

Winfield；　speaking　reverently；　told　her　of　their　betrothal。　She　leaned　forward；　into　the　light；　and　put　one　hand　caressingly　upon　the　arm　of　each。

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　she　said；　with　her　face　illumined。　Through　the　music　of　her　voice　ran　lights　and　shadows；　vague；　womanly　appeal；　and　a　haunting　sweetness　neither　could　ever　forget。

That　night；　the　gates　of　Youth　turned　on　their　silent　hinges　for　Miss　Ainslie。　Forgetting　the　hoary　frost　that　the　years　had　laid　upon　her　hair；　she　walked；　hand　in　hand　with　them；　through　the　clover　fields　which　lay　fair　before　them　and　by　the　silvered　reaches　of　the　River　of　Dreams。　Into　their　love　came　something　sweet　that　they　had　not　found　beforethe　absolute　need　of　sharing　life　together；　whether　it　should　be　joy　or　pain。　Unknowingly；　they　rose　to　that　height　which　makes　sacrifice　the　soul's　dearest　offering；　as　the　chrysalis；　brown　and　unbeautiful