lavender and old lace-第27节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
l me； and that in a little while afterward； we should be together。〃
The dying embers cast a glow upon her face。 It was almost waxen in its purity； she seemed transfigured with the light of another world。 〃Last night； he came to mein a dream。 He is deadhe has been dead for a long time。 He was trying to explain something to meI suppose he was trying to tell me why he had not come before。 He was oldan old man； Ruth； and I have always thought of him as young。 He could not say anything but my name'MaryAbbyMary Abby' over and over again； and； once； 'mother。' I was christened 'Mary Abigail；' but I never liked the middle name； so I dropped it； and he used to tease me sometimes by calling me 'Abby。' Andfrom his saying 'mother；' I know that he； too； wherever he may be； has had that dream of of our child。〃
Ruth was cold from head to foot； and her senses reeled。 Every word that Winfield had said in the morning sounded again in her ears。 What was it that went on around her； of which she had no ken？ It seemed as though she stood absolutely alone； in endless space； while planets swept past； out of their orbits； with all the laws of force set suddenly aside。
Miss Ainslie felt her shuddering fear。 〃Don't be afraid； dear；〃 she said again； 〃everything is right。 I kept my promise； and he kept his。 He is sufferinghe is very lonely without me； but in a little while we shall be together。〃
The fire died out and left the room in darkness； broken only by the last fitful glow。 Ruth could not speak； and Miss Ainslie sat quietly in her chair。 〃Come；〃 she said at last； stretching out her hand； 〃let's go upstairs。 I have kept you up； deary； and I know you must be very tired。〃
The house seemed filled with a shadowy presencesomething intangible； but portentous； for both good and ill。 Ruth took down the heavy mass of white hair and brushed it back； tying it at the neck with a ribbon； in girlish fashion； as Miss Ainslie always did。 Her night gown； of sheerest linen； was heavy with Valenciennes lace； and where it fell back from her throat； it revealed the flesh； exquisitely white； set in gracious curves and womanly softness； as if by a sculptor who loved his clay。
The sweet； wholesome scent of the lavender flowers breathed from the folds of Miss Ainslie's gown； as she stood there in the candle light； smiling； with the unearthly glow still upon her face。
〃Good night； deary；〃 she said； 〃you'll kiss me； won't you？〃
For a moment the girl's face was buried among Miss Ainslie's laces； then their lips met。 Ruth was trembling and she hurried away； swallowing the lump in her throat and trying to keep back the tears。
The doors were open； and there was no sound save Miss Ainslie's deep breathing； but Ruth kept a dreary vigil till almost dawn。
XVI。 Some One Who Loved Her
The summer waned and each day； as it slipped away； took a little of Miss Ainslie's strength with it。 There was neither disease nor painit was simply a letting go。 Carl sent to the city for a physician of wide repute； but he shook his head。 〃There's nothing the matter with her；〃 he said； 〃but she doesn't want to live。 Just keep her as happy as you can。〃
For a time she went about the house as usual； but； gradually； more and more of her duties fell to Ruth。 Hepsey came in every day after breakfast； and again in the late afternoon。
Ruth tried to get her to go out for a drive； but she refused。 〃No； deary；〃 she said； smiling； 〃I've never been away； and I'm too old to begin now。〃 Neighbours； hearing of her illness； came to offer sympathy and help； but she would see none of themnot even Aunt Jane。
One night； she sat at the head of the table as usual； for she would not surrender her place as hostess； even though she ate nothing； and afterward a great weakness came upon her。 〃I don't know how I'll ever get upstairs；〃 she said； frightened； 〃it seems such a long way！〃
Winfield took her in his arms and carried her up； as gently and easily as if she had been a child。 Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright when he put her down。 〃I never thought it would be so easy；〃 she said； in answer to his question。 〃You'll stay with me； won't you； Carl？ I don't want you to go away。〃
〃I'll stay as long as you want me； Miss Ainslie； and Ruth will； too。 We couldn't do too much for you。〃
That night； as they sat in front of the fire； while Miss Ainslie slept upstairs； Ruth told him what she had said about leaving him the house and the little income and giving her the beautiful things in the house。
〃Bless her sweet heart；〃 he said tenderly； 〃we don't want her thingswe'd rather have her。〃
〃Indeed we would；〃 she answered quickly。
Until the middle of September she went back and forth from her own room to the sitting…room with comparative ease。 They took turns bringing dainties to tempt her appetite； but； though she ate a little of everything and praised it warmly； especially if Ruth had made it； she did it； evidently； only out of consideration for them。
She read a little； talked a little； and slept a great deal。 One day she asked Carl to pull the heavy sandal wood chest over near her chair； and give her the key； which hung behind a picture。
〃Will you please go away now；〃 she asked； with a winning smile； 〃for just a little while？〃
He put the bell on a table within her reach and asked her to ring if she wanted anything。 The hours went by and there was no sound。 At last he went up； very quietly； and found her asleep。 The chest was locked and the key was not to be found。 He did not know whether she had opened it or not； but she let him put it in its place again； without a word。
Sometimes they read to her； and she listened patiently； occasionally asking a question； but more often falling asleep。
〃I wish；〃 she said one day； when she was alone with Carl； 〃that I could hear something you had written。〃
〃Why； Miss Ainslie；〃 he exclaimed； in astonishment； 〃you wouldn't be interested in the things I writeit's only newspaper stuff。〃
〃Yes； I would；〃 she answered softly； 〃yes； I would。〃
Something in the way she said it brought the mist to his eyes。
She liked to have Ruth brush her hair； but her greatest delight was in hearing Winfield talk about her treasures。
〃Won't you tell me about the rug； Carl； the one on the sandal wood chest？〃 she asked； for the twentieth time。
〃It's hundreds of years old；〃 he began； 〃and it came from Persia； far； far beyond the sea。 The shepherds watched their flocks night and day； and saved the finest fleeces for the rug。 They made colour from flowers and sweet herbs； from strange things that grew on the mountain heights； where only the bravest dared to go。 The sumac that flamed on the hills； the rind of the swaying pomegranates； lichens that grew on the rocks by the Eastern sea； berries； deep…sea treasures； vine leaves； the juice of the grapethey all made colours for the rug； and then ripened； like old wine。
〃After a long time； when everything was ready； the Master Craftsman made the design； writing strange symbols into the margin； eloquent with hidden meanings； that only the wisest may understand。 〃They all worked upon it； men and women and children。 Deep voices sang love songs and the melody was woven into the rug。 Soft eyes looked love in answer and the softness and beauty went in with the fibre。 Baby fingers clutched at it and were laughingly untangled。 At night； when the fires of the village were lighted； and the crimson glow was reflected upon it； strange tales of love and war were mingled with the thread。 〃The nightingale sang into it； the roses from Persian gardens breathed upon it； the moonlight put witchery into it； the tinkle of the gold and silver on the women's dusky ankles； the scent of sandal wood and attar of roseit all went into the rug。
〃Poets repeated their verses to it； men knelt near it to say their prayers； and the soft wind； rising from the sea； made faintest music among the threads。
〃Sometimes a workman made a mistake； and the Master Craftsman put him aside。 Often； the patient fingers stopped weaving forever； and they found some one else to go on with it。 Sometimes they went from one place to another； but the frame holding the rug was not injured。 From mountain to valley and back again； urged by some strange instinct； past flowing rivers and over the golden sands of the desert； even to the deep blue waters that broke on the shorethey took the rug。
〃The hoof…beats of Arabian horses； with white…robed Bedouins flashing their swords； all the glitter and splendour of war were woven into it。 Songs of victory； the rush of a cavalry charge； the faith of a dying warrior； even the slow marches of defeatit all went into the rug。
〃Perhaps the Master Craftsman died； but the design was left； and willing fingers toiled upon it； through the long years； each day putting new beauty into it and new dreams。 Then； one day； the final knot was tied； by a Veiled Lady； who sighed softly in the pauses of her song； and wondered at its surpassing loveliness。〃 〃And〃 said Miss Ainslie； gently。
〃Some one who loved you brought it to you。〃
〃Yes；〃 she repeated； smiling； 〃some one who loved me。 Tell me about this；〃 she pleaded； touching a vase of Cloisonne。
〃It came from Japan；〃 he said； 〃a strange world of people like those p
