lavender and old lace-第7节

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Hepsey's　face　took　on　its　old；　impenetrable　calm。

〃Don't　you　think　so？〃　asked　Miss　Thorne；　after　a　long　pause。

〃Yes'm。〃

〃It's　all　very　reasonable；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes'm。〃

In　spite　of　the　seeming　assent；　she　knew　that　Hepsey　was　not　convinced；　and　afterward；　when　she　came　into　the　room　with　the　attic　lamp　and　a　box　of　matches；　the　mystery　returned　to　trouble　Ruth　again。

〃If　I　don't　take　up　tatting；〃　she　thought；　as　she　went　upstairs；　〃or　find　something　else　to　do；　I'll　be　a　meddling　old　maid　inside　of　six　months。〃



IV。　A　Guest

As　the　days　went　by；　Ruth　had　the　inevitable　reaction。　At　first　the　country　brought　balm　to　her　tired　nerves；　and　she　rested　luxuriously；　but　she　had　not　been　at　Miss　Hathaway's　a　fortnight　before　she　bitterly　regretted　the　step　she　had　taken。

Still　there　was　no　going　back；　for　she　had　given　her　word；　and　must　stay　there　until　October。　The　months　before　her　stretched　out　into　a　dreary　waste。　She　thought　of　Miss　Ainslie　gratefully；　as　a　redeeming　feature；　but　she　knew　that　it　was　impossible　to　spend　all　of　her　time　in　the　houseit　the　foot　of　the　hill。

Half　past　six　had　seemed　an　unearthly　hour　for　breakfast；　and　yet　more　than　once　Ruth　had　been　downstairs　at　five　o'clock；　before　Hepsey　was　stiring。　There　was　no　rest　to　be　had　anywhere；　even　after　a　long　walk　through　the　woods　and　fields。　Inaction　became　irritation；　and　each　day　was　filled　with　a　thousand　unbearable　annoyances。　She　was　fretful；　moody；　and　restless；　always　wishing　herself　back　in　the　office；　yet　knowing　that　she　could　not　do　good　work；　even　if　she　were　there。

She　sat　in　her　room　one　afternoon；　frankly　miserable；　when　Hepsey　stalked　in；　unannounced；　and　gave　her　a　card。

〃Mr。　Carl　Winfield！〃　Ruth　repeated　aloud。　〃Some　one　to　see　me；　Hepsey？〃　she　asked；　in　astonishment。

〃Yes'm。　He's　a…waitin'　on　the　piazzer。〃

〃Didn't　you　ask　him　to　come　in？〃

〃No'm。　Miss　Hathaway；　she　don't　want　no　strangers　in　her　house。〃

〃Go　down　immediately；〃　commanded　Ruth；　sternly；　〃ask　him　into　the　parlour；　and　say　that　Miss　Thorne　will　be　down　in　a　few　moments。〃

〃Yes'm。〃

Hepsey　shuffled　downstairs　with　comfortable　leisure；　opened　the　door　with　aggravating　slowness；　then　said；　in　a　harsh　tone　that　reached　the　upper　rooms　distinctly：　〃Miss　Thorne；　she　says　that　you　can　come　in　and　set　in　the　parlour　till　she　comes　down。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　responded　a　masculine　voice；　in　quiet　amusement；　〃Miss　Thorne　is　kindand　generous。〃

Ruth's　cheeks　flushed　hotly。　〃I　don't　know　whether　Miss　Thorne　will　go　down　or　not；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃It's　probably　a　book…agent。〃

She　rocked　pensively　for　a　minute　or　two；　wondering　what　would　happen　if　she　did　not　go　down。　There　was　no　sound　from　the　parlour　save　a　subdued　clearing　of　the　throat。　〃He's　getting　ready　to　speak　his　piece；〃　she　thought；　〃and　he　might　as　well　do　it　now　as　to　wait　for　me。〃

Though　she　loathed　Mr。　Carl　Winfield　and　his　errand；　whatever　it　might　prove　to　be；　she　stopped　before　her　mirror　long　enough　to　give　a　pat　or　two　to　her　rebellious　hair。　On　the　way　down　she　determined　to　be　dignified；　icy；　and　crushing。

A　tall　young　fellow　with　a　pleasant　face　rose　to　greet　her　as　she　entered　the　room。　〃Miss　Thorne？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yesplease　sit　down。　I　am　very　sorry　that　my　maid　should　have　been　so　inhospitable。〃　It　was　not　what　she　had　meant　to　say。

〃Oh；　that's　all　right；〃　he　replied；　easily；　〃I　quite　enjoyed　it。　I　must　ask　your　pardon　for　coming　to　you　in　this　abrupt　way；　but　Carlton　gave　me　a　letter　to　you；　and　I've　lost　it。〃　Carlton　was　the　managing　editor；　and　vague　expectations　of　a　summons　to　the　office　came　into　Ruth's　mind。

〃I'm　on　The　Herald；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　is；　I　was；　until　my　eyes　gave　out；　and　then　they　didn't　want　me　any　more。　Newspapers　can't　use　anybody　out　of　repair；〃　he　added；　grimly。

〃I　know；〃　Ruth　answered；　nodding。

〃Of　course　the　office　isn't　a　sanitarium；　though　they　need　that　kind　of　an　annex；　nor　yet　a　literary　kindergarten；　which　I've　known　it　to　be　taken　for；　butwell；　I　won't　tell　you　my　troubles。　The　oculist　said　I　must　go　to　the　country　for　six　months；　stay　outdoors；　and　neither　read　nor　write。　I　went　to　see　Carlton；　and　he　promised　me　a　berth　in　the　Fallthey're　going　to　have　a　morning　edition；　too；　you　know。〃

Miss　Thorne　did　not　know；　but　she　was　much　interested。

〃Carlton　advised　me　to　come　up　here；〃　resumed　Winfield。　〃He　said　you　were　here；　and　that　you　were　going　back　in　the　Fall。　I'm　sorry　I've　lost　his　letter。〃

〃What　was　in　it？〃　inquired　Ruth；　with　a　touch　of　sarcasm。　〃You　read　it；　didn't　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　read　itthat　is；　I　tried　to。　The　thing　looked　like　a　prescription；　but；　as　nearly　as　I　could　make　it　out；　it　was　principally　a　description　of　the　desolation　in　the　office　since　you　left　it。　At　the　end　there　was　a　line　or　two　commending　me　to　your　tender　mercies；　and　here　I　am。〃

〃Commending　yourself。〃

〃Now　what　in　the　dickens　have　I　done？〃　thought　Winfield。　〃That's　it　exactly；　Miss　Thorne。　I've　lost　my　reference；　and　I'm　doing　my　best　to　create　a　good　impression　without　it。　I　thought　that　as　long　as　we　were　going　to　be　on　the　same　paper；　and　were　both　exiles〃

He　paused；　and　she　finished　the　sentence　for　him：　〃that　you'd　come　to　see　me。　How　long　have　you　been　in　town？〃

〃'In　town'　is　good；〃　he　said。　〃I　arrived　in　this　desolate；　God…forsaken　spot　just　ten　days　ago。　Until　now　I've　hunted　and　fished　every　day；　but　I　didn't　get　anything　but　a　cold。　It　was　very　good；　of　its　kindI　couldn't　speak　above　a　whisper　for　three　days。〃

She　had　already　recognised　him　as　the　young　man　she　saw　standing　in　the　road　the　day　she　went　to　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　mentally　asked　his　pardon　for　thinking　he　was　a　book…agent。　He　might　become　a　pleasant　acquaintance；　for　he　was　tall；　clean　shaven；　and　well　built。　His　hands　were　white　and　shapely　and　he　was　well　groomed；　though　not　in　the　least　foppish。　The　troublesome　eyes　were　dark　brown；　sheltered　by　a　pair　of　tinted　glasses。　His　face　was　very　expressive；　responding　readily　to　every　change　of　mood。

They　talked　〃shop〃　for　a　time；　discovering　many　mutual　friends；　and　Ruth　liked　him。　He　spoke　easily；　though　hurriedly；　and　appeared　to　be　somewhat　cynical；　but　she　rightly　attributed　it　to　restlessness　like　her　own。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　on　The　Tribune？〃　she　asked。

〃Anything；〃　he　answered；　with　an　indefinable　shrug。　〃'Theirs　not　to　reason　why；　theirs　but　to　do　and　die。'　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃The　same；〃　replied　Ruth。　〃'Society；''Mother's　Corner；''Under　the　Evening　Lamp；'　and'In　the　Kitchen　with　Aunt　Jenny。'〃

He　laughed　infectiously。　〃I　wish　Carlton　could　hear　you　say　that。〃

〃I　don't；〃　returned　Ruth；　colouring　faintly。

〃Why；　are　you　afraid　of　him？〃

〃Certainly　I　am。　If　he　speaks　to　me；　I'm　instantly　stiff　with　terror。〃

〃Oh；　he　isn't　so　bad；〃　said　Winfield；　reassuringly；　〃He's　naturally　abrupt；　that's　all；　and　I'll　venture　he　doesn't　suspect　that　he　has　any　influence　over　you。　I'd　never　fancy　that　you　were　afraid　of　anybody　or　anything　on　earth。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid　of　anything　else；〃　she　answered；　〃except　burglars　and　green　worms。〃

〃Carlton　would　ernjoy　the　classificationreally；　Miss　Thorne；　somebody　should　tell　him；　don't　you　think？　So　much　innocent　pleasure　doesn't　often　come　into　the　day　of　a　busy　man。〃

For　a　moment　Ruth　was　angry；　and　then；　all　at　once；　she　knew　Winfield　as　if　he　had　always　been　her　friend。　Conventionality；　years；　and　the　veneer　of　society　were　lightly　laid　upon　one　who　would　always　be　a　boy。　Some　men　are　old　at　twenty；　but　Winfield　would　be　young　at　seventy。

〃You　can　tell　him　if　you　want　to；〃　Ruth　rejoined；　calmly。　〃He'll　be　so　pleased　that　he'll　double　your　salary　on　the　spot。〃

〃And　you？〃　he　asked；　his　eyes　twinkling　with　fun。

〃I'll　be　pensioned；　of　course。〃

〃You're　all　right；〃　he　returned；　〃but　I　guess　I　won't　tell　him。　Riches　lead　to　temptation；　and　if　I'm　going　to　be　on　The　Tribune　I'd　hate　to　have　you　pensioned。〃

Hepsey　appeared　to　have　a　great　deal　of　employment　in　the　dining…room；　and　was　very　quiet　about　it；　with　long　pauses　between　her　leisurely　movements。　Winfield　did　not　seem　to　notice　it；　but　it　jarred　upon　Ruth；　and　she　was　relieved　when　he　said　he　must　go。

〃You'll　come　again；　won't　you？〃　she　asked。

〃I　will；　indeed。〃

She　stood　at　the　window；　unconsciously　watching　him　as　he　went　down　the　hill　with　a　long；　free　stride。　She　liked　the　strength　in　his　broad　shoulders；　his　well　modulated　voice；　and　his　clear；　honest　eyes；　but　after　all　he　was　nothing　but　a　boy。

〃Miss　Thorne；〃　said　Hepsey；　at　her　elbow；　〃is　that　your　beau？〃　It　was　not　impertinence；　but　sheer　friendly　interest　which　could　not　be　mistaken　for　anything　else。

〃No；〃　she　answered；　〃of　course　not。〃

〃He's　real　nice…lookin'；　ain't　he？

〃Yes。〃

〃Have　you　got　your　eye　on　anybody　else？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then；　Miss　Thorne；　I　don't　know's　you　could　do　better。〃

〃Perhaps　not。〃　She　was　thinking；　and　spoke　mechanically。　From　where　she　stood　she　could　still　see　him　walking　rapidly　down　the　hill。

〃Ain't　you　never　seen　him　before？〃

Miss　Thorne　turned。　〃Hepsey；〃　she　said；　coldly；　〃please　go　into　the　kitchen　and　attend　to　your　work。　And　the　next　time　I　have　company；　please　stay　in　the　kitchennot　in　the　dining…room。〃

〃Yes'm；〃　replied　Hepsey