lavender and old lace-第28节
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〃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 painted on a fan。 The streets are narrow and there are quaint houses on either side。 The little ladies flit about in gay attire； like so many butterfliesthey wear queer shoes on their dainty feet。 They're as sweet as their own cherry blossoms。
〃The little man who made this vase； wore a blue tunic and had no robes of state； because he was poor。 He loved the daughter of a nobleman and she loved him； too； though neither dared to say so。 〃So he sat in front of his house and worked on this vase。 He made a model of clay； shaping it with his fingers until it was perfect。 Then a silver vase was cast from it and over and over it he went； very carefully； making a design with flat； silver wire。 When he was satisfied with it； he filled it in with enamel in wonderful colours； making even the spots on the butterflies' wings like those he had seen in the fields。 Outside the design； he covered the vase with dark enamel； so the bright colours would show。
〃As he worked； the little lady he loved came and watched him sometimes for a moment or two； and then he put a tiny bit of gold into the vase。 He put a flower into the design； like those she wore in her hair； and then another； like the one she dropped at his feet one day； when no one was looking。
〃The artist put all his love into the vase； and he hoped that when it was done； he could obtain a Court position。 He was very patient with the countless polishings； and one afternoon； when the air was sweet with the odour of the cherry blossoms； the last touches were put upon it。
〃It was so beautiful that he was commissioned to make some great vases for the throne room； and then； with joy in his heart； he sought the hand of the nobleman's daughter。
〃The negotiations were conducted by another person； and she was forced to consent； though her heart ached for the artist in the blue tunic； whose name she did not know。 When she learned that her husband was to be the man she had loved for so long； tears of happiness came into her dark eyes。
〃The vase had disappeared； mysteriously； and he offered a large reward for its recovery。 At last they were compelled to give up the hope of finding it； and he promised to make her another one； just like it； with the same flowers and butterflies and even the little glints of gold that marked the days she came。 So she watched him； while he made the new one； and even more love went into it than into the first one。〃
〃And〃 began Miss Ainslie。
〃Some one who loved you brought it to you。〃
〃Yes；〃 she repeated； smiling； 〃some one who loved me。〃
Winfield fitted a story to every object in the room。 Each rug had a different history and every bit of tapestry its own tale。 He conjured up an Empress who had once owned the teakwood chair； and a Marquise； with patches and powdered hair； who wrote love letters at the marquetry table。
He told stories of the sea shells； and of the mermaids who brought them to the shore； that some one who loved her might take them to her；and that the soft sound of the sea might always come to her ears； with visions of blue skies and tropic islands； where the sun forever shone。
The Empress and the Marquise became real people to Miss Ainslie； and the Japanese lovers seemed to smile at her from the vase。 Sometimes； holding the rug on her lap； she would tell them how it was woven； and repeat the love story of a beautiful woman who had worked upon the tapestry。 Often； in the twilight； she would sing softly to herself； snatches of forgotten melodies； and； once； a lullaby。 Ruth and Carl sat by； watching for the slightest change； but she never spoke of the secret in her heart。
Ruth had the north room； across the hall； where there were two dressers。 One of them had been empty； until she put her things into it； and the other was locked。 She found the key； one day； hanging behind it； when she needed some things for Miss Ainslie。
As she had half expected； the dresser was full of lingerie； of the finest lawn and linen。 The dainty garments were edged with real laceBrussels； Valenciennes； Mechlin； Point d'Alencon； and the fine Irish laces。 Sometimes there was a cluster of tucks； daintily run by hand； but； usually； only the lace； unless there was a bit of insertion to match。 The buttons were mother of pearl； and the button holes were exquisitely made。 One or two of the garments were threaded with white ribbon； after a more modern fashion； but most of them were made according to the quaint old patterns。 There was a dozen of everything。
The dried lavender flowers rustled faintly as Ruth reverently lifted the garments； giving out the long…stored sweetness of Summers gone by。 The white had changed to an ivory tint； growing deeper every day。 There were eleven night gowns； all made exactly alike； with high neck and long sleeves； trimmed with tucks and lace。 Only one was in any way elaborate。 The sleeves were short； evidently just above the elbow； and the neck was cut off the shoulders like a ball gown。 A deep frill of Venetian point； with narrower lace at the sleeves； of the same pattern； was the only trimming； except a tiny bow of lavender ribbon at the fastening； pinned on with a little gold heart。
When Ruth went in； with one of the night gowns over her arm； a faint colour came into Miss Ainslie's cheeks。
〃Diddidyou find those？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 answered Ruth； 〃I thought you'd like to wear them。〃
Miss Ainslie's colour faded and it was some time before she spoke again。
〃Diddid you find the otherthe one with Venetian point？〃 〃Yes； Miss Ainslie； do you want that one It's beautiful。〃
〃No；〃 she said； 〃not now； but I thought that I'd like to wear thatafterward； you know。〃
A shadow crossed Ruth's face and her lips tightened。
〃Don't； dear；〃 said Miss Ainslie； gently。
〃Do you think he would think it was indelicate ifif my neck were bare then？〃
〃Who； Miss Ainslie？〃
〃Carl。 Would he think it was wrong if I wore that afterward； and my neck and shoulders showed？ Do you think he would？〃
〃No！〃 cried Ruth； 〃I know he wouldn't！ Oh； Miss Ainslie； you break my heart！〃
〃Ruth；〃 said Miss Ainslie； gently； 〃Ruth； dear； don't cry！ I won't talk about it any more； deary； I promise you； but I wanted to know so much！〃
Ruth kissed her and went away； unable to bear more just then。 She brought her chair into the hall； to be near her if she were needed。 Miss Ainslie sighed； and then began to croon a lullaby。
XVII。 Dawn
As Miss Ainslie became weaker； she clung to Carl； and was never satisfied when he was out of her sight。 When she was settled in bed for the night； he went in to sit by her and hold her hand until she dropped asleep。 If she woke during the night she would call Ruth and ask where he was。
〃He'll come over in the morning； Miss Ainslie；〃 Ruth always said； 〃you know it's night now。〃
〃Is it？〃 she would ask； drowsily。 〃I must go to sleep； then； deary； so that I may be quite rested and refreshed when he comes。〃
Her room； in contrast to the rest of the house； was almost Puritan in its simplicity。 The bed and dresser were mahogany； plain； but highly polished； and she had a mahogany rocker with a cushion of old blue tapestry。 There was a simple white cover on the bed and another on the dresser； but the walls were dead white； unrelieved by pictures or draperies。 In the east window was a long； narrow footstool； and a prayer book and hymnal lay on the window sill； where this maiden of half a century； looking seaward； knelt to say her prayers。
One morning； when Ruth went in； she said： 〃I think I won't get up this morning； dear； I am so very tired。 If Carl should come over； will you say that I should like to see him？〃
She would see no one but Carl and Ruth； and Mrs。 Ball was much offended because her friend did not want her to come upstairs。 〃Don't be harsh with her； Aunt Jane；〃 pleaded Ruth； 〃you know people often have strange fancies when they are ill。 She sent her love to you； and asked me to say that she thanked you； but you need not put the light in the attic window any more。〃
Mrs。 Ball gazed at her niece long and earnestly。 〃Be you tellin' me the truth？〃 she asked。
〃Why； of course； Aunty。〃
〃Then Mary Ainslie has got sense from somewheres。 There ain't never been no need for that lamp to set in the winder； and when she gets more sense； I reckon she'll be willin' to see her friends。〃 With evident relief upon her face； Mrs。 Ball departed。
But Miss Ainslie seemed quite satisfied； and each day spoke more lovingly to Ruth and Carl。 He showed no signs of impatience； but spent his days with her cheerfully。 He read to her； held her hand； and told her about the rug； the Marquise； and the Japanese lovers。 At the end she would always say； with a quiet tenderness： 〃and some one who loved me brought it to me！〃
〃Yes； Miss Ainslie； some one who loved you。 Everybody loves you； don't you know that？〃
〃Do you？〃 she asked once； suddenly and yet shyly。
〃Indeed I do； Miss AinslieI love you with all my heart。〃
She smiled happily and her eyes filled。 〃Ruth；〃 she called softly； 〃he says he loves me！〃
〃Of course he does；〃
