lavender and old lace-第30节

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There　was　a　sudden　movement　in　the　room　and　they　turned；　to　see　Miss　Ainslie　sitting　up；　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　the　letters　scattered　around　her。　The　ribbon　had　slipped　away；　and　her　heavy　white　hair　fell　over　her　shoulders。　Ruth　went　to　her；　to　tie　it　back　again；　but　she　put　her　away；　very　gently；　without　speaking。

Carl　stood　by　the　window；　thinking；　and　Miss　Ainslie's　eyes　rested　upon　him；　with　wonder　and　love。　The　sunrise　stained　her　white　face　and　her　eyes　shone　brightly；　as　sapphires　touched　with　dawn。　The　first　ray　of　the　sun　came　into　the　little　room　and　lay　upon　her　hair；　changing　its　whiteness　to　gleaming　silver。　Then　all　at　once　her　face　illumined；　as　from　a　light　within。

Carl　moved　away　from　the　window；　strangely　drawn　toward　her；　and　her　face　became　radiant　with　unspeakable　joy。　Then　the　passion　of　her　denied　motherhood　swelled　into　a　cry　of　longing〃My　son！〃

〃Mother！〃　broke　from　his　lips　in　answer　He　went　to　her　blindly；　knowing　only　that　they　belonged　to　each　other；　and　that；　in　some　inscrutable　way；　they　had　been　kept　apart　until　it　was　too　late。　He　took　her　into　his　arms；　holding　her　close；　and　whispering；　brokenly；　what　only　she　and　God　might　hear！　Ruth　turned　away；　sobbing；　as　if　it　was　something　too　holy　for　her　to　see。

Miss　Ainslie；　transfigured　with　unearthly　light；　lifted　her　face　to　his。　Her　lips　quivered　for　an　instant；　then　grew　cold　beneath　his　own。　She　sank　back　among　the　pillows；　with　her　eyes　closed；　but　with　yet　another　glory　upon　the　marble　whiteness　of　her　face；　as　though　at　the　end　of　her　journey；　and　beyond　the　mists　that　divided　them；　her　dream　had　become　divinely　true。

Then　he；　who　should　have　been　her　son；　bent　down；　the　tears　falling　unheeded　upon　her　face；　and　kissed　her　again。





End