lavender and old lace-第8节

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〃Yes'm；〃　replied　Hepsey；　meekly；　hastening　to　obey。

She　was　not　subtle；　but　she　understood　that　in　some　way　she　had　offended　Miss　Thorne；　and　racked　her　brain　vainly。　She　had　said　nothing　that　she　would　not　have　said　to　Miss　Hathaway；　and　had　intended　nothing　but　friendliness。　As　for　her　being　in　the　dining…roomwhy；　very　often；　when　Miss　Hathaway　had　company；　she　was　called　in　to　give　her　version　of　some　bit　of　village　gossip。　Miss　Hathaway　scolded　her　when　she　was　displeased；　but　never　before　had　any　one　spoken　to　Hepsey　in　a　measured；　icy　tone　that　was　at　once　lady…like　and　commanding。　Tears　came　into　her　eyes；　for　she　was　sensitive；　after　all。

A　step　sounded　overhead；　and　Hepsey　regained　her　self…possession。　She　had　heard　nearly　all　of　the　conversation　and　could　have　told　Miss　Thorne　a　great　deal　about　the　young　man。　For　instance；　he　had　not　said　that　he　was　boarding　at　Joe's；　across　the　road　from　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　that　he　intended　to　stay　all　Summer。　She　could　have　told　her　of　an　uncertain　temper；　peculiar　tastes；　and　of　a　silver　shaving…cup　which　Joe　had　promised　her　a　glimpse　of　before　the　visitor　went　back　to　the　city；　but　she　decided　to　let　Miss　Thorne　go　on　in　her　blind　ignorance。

Ruth；　meanwhile；　was　meditating；　with　an　aggravated　restlessness。　The　momentary　glimpse　of　the　outer　world　had　stung　her　into　a　sense　of　her　isolation；　which　she　realised　even　more　keenly　than　before。　It　was　because　of　this；　she　told　herself；　that　she　hoped　Winfield　liked　her；　for　it　was　not　her　wont　to　care　about　such　trifles。　He　thought　of　her；　idly；　as　a　nice　girl；　who　was　rather　pretty　when　she　was　interested　in　anything；　but；　with　a　woman's　insight；　influenced　insensibly　by　Hepsey's　comment；　Ruth　scented　possibilities。

She　wanted　him　to　like　her；　to　stay　in　that　miserable　village　as　long　as　she　did；　and　keep　her　mind　from　stagnationher　thought　went　no　further　than　that。　In　October；　when　they　went　back；　she　would　thank　Carlton；　prettily；　for　sending　her　a　friendprovided　they　did　not　quarrel。　She　could　see　long　days　of　intimate　companionship；　of　that　exalted　kind　which　is；　possible　only　when　man　and　woman　meet　on　a　high　plane。　〃We're　both　too　old　for　nonsense；〃　she　thought；　and　then　a　sudden　fear　struck　her；　that　Winfield　might　be　several　years　younger　than　she　was。

Immediately　she　despised　herself。　〃I　don't　care　if　he　is；〃　she　thought；　with　her　cheeks　crimson；　〃it's　nothing　to　me。　He's　a　nice　boy；　and　I　want　to　be　amused。〃

She　went　to　her　dresser；　took　out　the　large　top　drawer；　and　dumped　its　contents　on　the　bed。　It　was　a　desperate　measure；　for　Ruth　hated　to　put　things　in　order。　The　newspaper　which　had　lain　in　the　bottom　of　it　had　fallen　out　also；　and　she　shook　it　so　violently　that　she　tore　it。

Then　ribbons；　handkerchiefs；　stocks；　gloves；　and　collars　were　unceremoniously　hustled　back　into　the　drawer；　for　Miss　Thorne　was　at　odds　with　herself　and　the　world。　She　was　angry　with　Hepsey；　she　hated　Winfield；　and　despised　herself。　She　picked　up　a　scrap　of　paper　which　lay　on　a　glove；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　unfamiliar　penmanship。

It　was　apparently　the　end　of　a　letter；　and　the　rest　of　it　was　gone。　〃At　Gibraltar　for　some　time；〃　she　read；　〃keeping　a　shop；　but　will　probably　be　found　now　in　some　small　town　on　the　coast　of　Italy。　Very　truly　yours。〃　The　signature　had　been　torn　off。

〃Why；　that　isn't　mine；〃　she　thought。　〃It　must　be　something　of　Aunt　Jane's。〃　Another　bit　of　paper　lay　near　it；　and；　unthinkingly；　she　read　a　letter　which　was　not　meant　for　her。

〃I　thank　you　from　my　heart；〃　it　began；　〃for　understanding　me。　I　could　not　put　it　into　words；　but　I　believe　you　know。　Perhaps　you　think　it　is　uselessthat　it　is　too　late；　but　if　it　was；　I　would　know。　You　have　been　very　kind；　and　I　thank　you。〃

　There　was　neither　date；　address；　nor　signature。　The　message　stood　alone；　as　absolutely　as　some　far…off　star　whose　light　could　not　be　seen　from　the　earth。　Some　one　understood　ittwo　understood　itthe　writer　and　Aunt　Jane。

Ruth　put　it　back　under　the　paper；　with　the　scrap　of　the　other　letter；　and　closed　the　drawer　with　a　bang。　〃I　hope；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃that　while　I　stay　here　I'll　be　mercifully　preserved　from　finding　things　that　are　none　of　my　business。〃　Then；　as　in　a　lightning　flash；　for　an　instant　she　saw　clearly。

Fate　plays　us　many　tricks　and　assumes　strange　forms；　but　Ruth　knew　that　some　day；　on　that　New　England　hill；　she　would　come　face　to　face　with　a　destiny　that　had　been　ordained　from　the　beginning。　Something　waited　for　her　theresome　great　change。　She　trembled　at　the　thought；　but　was　not　afraid。


V。　The　Rumours　of　the　Valley

〃Miss　Thorne；〃　said　Hepsey；　from　the　doorway　of　Ruth's　room；　〃that　feller's　here　again。〃　There　was　an　unconscious　emphasis　on　the　last　word；　and　Ruth　herself　was　someewhat　surprised；　for　she　had　not　expected　another　call　so　soon。

〃He's　a…settinn'　in　the　parlour；〃continued　Hepsey；　〃when　he　ain't　a…walkin'　around　it　and　wearin'　out　the　carpet。　I　didn't　come　up　when　he　first　come；　on　account　of　my　pie　crust　bein'　all　ready　to　put　in　the　oven。〃

〃How　long　has　he　been　here？〃　asked　Ruth；　dabbing　a　bit　of　powder　on　her　nose　and　selecting　a　fresh　collar。

〃Oh；　p'raps　half　an　hour。〃

〃That　isn't　right；　Hepsey；　when　anyone　comes　you　must　tell　me　immediately。　Never　mind　the　pie　crust　next　time。〃　Ruth　endeavoured　to　speak　kindly；　but　she　was　irritated　at　the　necessity　of　making　another　apology。

When　she　went　down；　Winfield　dismissed　her　excuses　with　a　comprehensive　wave　of　the　hand。　〃I　always　have　to　wait　when　I　go　to　call　on　a　girl；〃　he　said；　〃it's　one　of　the　most　charming　vagaries　of　the　ever…feminine。　I　used　to　think　that　perhaps　I　wasn't　popular；　but　every　fellow　I　know　has　the　same　experience。〃

〃I'm　an　exception；〃　explained　Ruth；　〃I　never　keep　any　one　waiting。　Of　my　own　volition；　that　is；〃　she　added；　hastily；　feeling　his　unspoken　comment。

〃I　came　up　this　afternoon　to　ask　a　favour　of　you；〃　he　began。　〃Won't　you　go　for　a　walk　with　me？　It's　wrong　to　stay　indoors　on　a　day　like　this。〃

〃Wait　till　I　get　my　hat；〃　said　Ruth；　rising。

〃Fifteen　minutes　is　the　limit；〃　he　called　to　her；　as　she　went　upstairs。

She　was　back　again　almost　immediately；　and　Hepsey　watched　them　in　wide…mouthed　astonishment　as　they　went　down　hill　together；　for　it　was　not　in　her　code　of　manners　that　〃walking　out〃　should　begin　so　soon。　When　they　approached　Miss　Ainslie's　he　pointed　out　the　brown　house　across　from　it；　on　the　other　side　of　the　hill。

〃Yonder　palatial　mansion　is　my　present　lodging；〃　he　volunteered；　〃and　I　am　a　helpless　fly　in　the　web　of　the　'Widder'　Pendleton。〃

〃Pendleton；〃　repeated　Ruth；　〃why；　that's　Joe's　name。〃

〃It　is；〃　returned　Winfield；　concisely。　〃He　sits　opposite　me　at　the　table；　and　wonders　at　my　use　of　a　fork。　It　is　considered　merely　a　spear　for　bread　and　meat　at　the　'Widder's。'　I　am　observed　closely　at　all　times；　and　in　some　respects　Joe　admires　me　enough　to　attempt　imitation；　which；　as　you　know；　is　the　highest　form　of　flattery。　For　instance；　this　morning　he　wore　not　only　a　collar　and　tie；　but　a　scarf　pin。　It　was　a　string　tie；　and　I've　never　before　seen　a　pin　worn　in　one；　but　it's　interesting。〃

〃It　must　be。〃

〃He　has　a　sweetheart；〃　Winfield　went　on；　〃and　I　expect　she'll　be　dazzled。〃

〃My　Hepsey　is　his　lady　love；〃　Ruth　explained。

〃What？　The　haughty　damsel　who　wouldn't　let　me　in？　Do　tell！〃

〃You're　imitating　now；〃　laughed　Ruth；　〃but　I　shouldn't　call　it　flattery。〃

For　a　moment；　there　was　a　chilly　silence。　Ruth　did　not　look　at　him；　but　she　bit　her　lip　and　then　laughed；　unwillingly。　〃'It's　all　true；〃　she　said；　〃I　plead　guilty。〃

〃You　see；　I　know　all　about　you；〃　he　went　on。　〃You　knit　your　brows　in　deep　thought；　do　not　hear　when　you　are　spoken　to；　even　in　a　loud　voice；　and　your　mail　consists　almost　entirely　of　bulky　envelopes；　of　a　legal　nature；　such　as　came　to　the　'Widder'　Pendleton　from　the　insurance　people。〃

〃Returned　manuscripts；〃　she　interjected。

〃Possiblyfar　be　it　from　me　to　say　they're　not。　Why；　I've　had　'em　myself。〃

〃You　don't　mean　it！〃　she　exclaimed；　ironically。

〃You　seek　out；　as　if　by　instinct；　the　only　crazy　person　in　the　village；　and　come　home　greatly　perturbed。　You　ask　queer　questions　of　your　humble　serving…maid；　assume　a　skirt　which　is　shorter　than　the　approved　model；　speaking　from　the　village　standpoint；　and　unhesitatingly　appear　on　the　public　streets。　You　go　to　the　attic　at　night　and　search　the　inmost　recesses　of　many　old　trunks。〃

〃Yes；〃　sighed　Ruth；　〃I've　done　all　that。〃

〃At　breakfast　you　refuse　pie；　and　complain　because　the　coffee　is　boiled。　Did　anybody　ever　hear　of　coffee　that　wasn't　boiled？　Is　it　eaten　raw　in　the　city？　You　call　supper'dinner；'　and　have　been　known　to　seek　nourishment　at　nine　o'clock　at　night；　when　all　respectable　people　are　sound　asleep。　In　your　trunk；　you　have　vainly　attempted　to　conceal　a　large　metal　object；　the　use　of　which　is　unknown。〃

〃Oh；　my　hapless　chafing…dish！〃　groaned　Ruth。

〃Chafing…dish？〃　repeated　Winfield；　brightening　visibly。　〃And　I　eating　sole　leather　and　fried　potatoes？　From　this　hour　I　am　your　slaveyou　can't　lose　me　now！

〃Go　on；〃　she　commanded。

〃I　can'tthe　flow　of　my　eloquence　is　stopped　by　rapturous　anticipation。　Suffice　it　to　say　that　the　people　of　this　enterprising　city　are　well　up　in　the　ways　of　th