the village watch-tower- 第19部分

and　took　wing　like　birds　startled　from　their　nests。



V。





〃Nor　scour　the　seas；　nor　sift　mankind；

A　poet　or　a　friend　to　find：

Behold；　he　watches　at　the　door！

Behold　his　shadow　on　the　floor！〃



Emerson's　_Saadi。_





Lyddy　Butterfield's　hen　turkey　was　of　a　roving　disposition。

She　had　never　appreciated　her　luxurious　country　quarters　in　Edgewood；　and　was

seemingly　anxious　to　return　to　the　modest　back　yard　in　her　native　city。

At　any　rate；　she　was　in　the　habit　of　straying　far　from　home；　and　the　habit

was　growing　upon　her　to　such　an　extent　that　she　would　even　lead　her　docile

little　gobblers　down　to　visit　Anthony　Croft's　hens　and　share　their　corn。



Lyddy　had　caught　her　at　it　once；　and　was　now　pursuing　her　to　that

end　for　the　second　time。　　She　paused　in　front　of　the　house；

but　there　were　no　turkeys　to　be　seen。　　Could　they　have　wandered　up

the　hill　road；the　discontented；　〃traipsing；〃　exasperating　things？

She　started　in　that　direction；　when　she　heard　a　crash　in　the　Croft　kitchen；

and　then　the　sound　of　a　boy's　voice　coming　from　an　inner　room；

a　weak　and　querulous　voice；　as　if　the　child　were　ill。



She　drew　nearer；　in　spite　of　her　dread　of　meeting　people；

or　above　all　of　intruding；　and　saw　Anthony　Croft　standing　over　the　stove；

with　an　expression　of　utter　helplessness　on　his　usually　placid　face。

She　had　never　really　seen　him　before　in　the　daylight；

and　there　was　something　about　his　appearance　that　startled　her。

The　teakettle　was　on　the　floor；　and　a　sea　of　water　was　flooding

the　man's　feet；　yet　he　seemed　to　be　gazing　into　vacancy。

Presently　he　stooped；　and　fumbled　gropingly　for　the　kettle。

It　was　too　hot　to　be　touched　with　impunity；　and　he　finally　left　it

in　a　despairing　sort　of　way；　and　walked　in　the　direction　of　a　shelf；

from　under　which　a　row　of　coats　was　hanging。　　The　boy　called　again　in　a

louder　and　more　insistent　tone；　ending　in　a　whimper　of　restless　pain。

This　seemed　to　make　the　man　more　nervous　than　ever。

His　hands　went　patiently　over　and　over　the　shelf；　then　paused

at　each　separate　nail。



〃Bless　the　poor　dear！〃　thought　Lyddy。　　〃Is　he　trying　to　find

his　hat；　or　what　is　he　trying　to　do？　　I　wonder　if　he　is　music　mad？〃

and　she　drew　still　nearer　the　steps。



At　this　moment　he　turned　and　came　rapidly　toward　the　door。

She　looked　straight　in　his　face。　　There　was　no　mistaking　it：

he　was　blind。　　The　magician　who　had　told　her　through　his　violin

secrets　that　she　had　scarcely　dreamed　of；　the　wizard　who　had　set

her　heart　to　throbbing　and　aching　and　longing　as　it　had　never

throbbed　and　ached　and　longed　before；　the　being　who　had　worn　a　halo

of　romance　and　genius　to　her　simple　mind；　was　stone…blind！　A　wave

of　impetuous　anguish；　as　sharp　and　passionate　as　any　she　had　ever

felt　for　her　own　misfortunes；　swept　over　her　soul　at　the　spectacle

of　the　man's　helplessness。　　His　sightless　eyes　struck　her　like　a　blow。

But　there　was　no　time　to　lose。　　She　was　directly　in　his　path：

if　she　stood　still　he　would　certainly　walk　over　her；　and　if　she

moved　he　would　hear　her；　so；　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；　she　gave

a　nervous　cough　and　said；　〃Good…morning；　Mr。　Croft。〃



He　stopped　short。　　〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked。



〃I　amit　isI　amyour　new　neighbor；〃　said　Lyddy；

with　a　trembling　attempt　at　cheerfulness。



〃Oh；　Miss　Butterfield！　　I　should　have　called　up　to　see

you　before　this　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　boy's　sickness。

But　I　am　a　good…for…nothing　neighbor；　as　you　have　doubtless　heard。

Nobody　expects　anything　of　me。〃



（〃Nobody　expects　anything　of　me。〃　　Her　own　plaint；

uttered　in　her　own　tone！）



〃I　don't　know　about　that；〃　she　answered　swiftly。

〃You've　given　me；　for　one；　a　great　deal　of　pleasure　with　your

wonderful　music。　　I　often　hear　you　as　you　play　after　supper；

and　it　has　kept　me　from　being　lonesome。　　That　isn't　very　much；

to　be　sure。〃



〃You　are　fond　of　music；　then？〃



〃I　didn't　know　I　was；　I　never　heard　any　before；〃　said　Lyddy　simply；

〃but　it　seems　to　help　people　to　say　things　they　couldn't　say　for　themselves；

don't　you　think　so？　　It　comforts　me　even　to　hear　it；　and　I　think　it　must

be　still　more　beautiful　to　make　it。〃



Now；　Lyddy　Ann　Butterfield　had　no　sooner　uttered　this

commonplace　speech　than　the　reflection　darted　through

her　mind　like　a　lightning　flash　that　she　had　never　spoken

a　bit　of　her　heart　out　like　this　in　all　her　life　before。

The　reason　came　to　her　in　the　same　flash：　　she　was　not　being

looked　at；　her　disfigured　face　was　hidden。　　This　man；　at　least；

could　not　shrink；　turn　away；　shiver；　affect　indifference；

fix　his　eyes　on　hers　with　a　fascinated　horror；　as　others　had　done。

Her　heart　was　divided　between　a　great　throb　of　pity　and　sympathy

for　him　and　an　irresistible　sense　of　gratitude　for　herself。

Sure　of　protection　and　comprehension；　her　lovely　soul

came　out　of　her　poor　eyes　and　sat　in　the　sunshine。

She　spoke　her　mind　at　ease；　as　we　utter　sacred　things　sometimes

under　cover　of　darkness。



〃You　seem　to　have　had　an　accident；　what　can　I　do　to　help　you？〃　she　asked。



〃Nothing；　thank　you。　　The　boy　has　been　sick　for　some　days；

but　he　seems　worse　since　last　night。　　Nothing　is　in　its　right

place　in　the　house；　so　I　have　given　up　trying　to　find　anything；

and　am　just　going　to　Edgewood　to　see　if　somebody　will　help　me

for　a　few　days。〃



〃Uncle　Tony！　　Uncle　To…ny！　where　are　you？　　Do　give　me　another　drink；

I'm　so　hot！〃　came　the　boy's　voice　from　within。



〃Coming；　laddie！　　I　don't　believe　he　ought　to　drink　so　much　water；

but　what　can　I　do？　　He　is　burning　up　with　fever。〃



〃Now　look　here；　Mr。　Croft；〃　and　Lydia's　tone　was　cheerfully　decisive。

〃You　sit　down　in　that　rocker；　please；　and　let　me　command　the　ship

for　a　while。　　This　is　one　of　the　cases　where　a　woman　is　necessary。

First　and　foremost；　what　were　you　hunting　for？〃



〃My　hat　and　the　butter；〃　said　Anthony　meekly；

and　at　this　unique　combination　they　both　laughed。

Lyddy's　laugh　was　particularly　fresh；　childlike；　and　pleased；

one　that　would　have　astonished　the　Reynolds　children。

She　had　seldom　laughed　heartily　since　little　Rufus　had　cried

and　told　her　she　frightened　him　when　she　twisted　her　face　so。



〃Your　hat　is　in　the　wood…box；　and　I'll　find　the　butter　in　the　twinkling

of　an　eye；　though　why　you　want　it　now　is　more　thanMy　patience；　Mr。　Croft；

your　hand　is　burned　to　a　blister！〃



〃Don't　mind　me。　　Be　good　enough　to　look　at　the　boy　and　tell

me　what　ails　him；　nothing　else　matters　much。〃



〃I　will　with　pleasure；　but　let　me　ease　you　a　little　first。

Here's　a　rag　that　will　be　just　the　thing；〃　and　Lyddy；

suiting　the　pretty　action　to　the　mendacious　worn；　took　a

good　handkerchief　from　her　pocket　and　tore　it　in　three　strips；

after　spreading　it　with　tallow　from　a　candle　heated　over　the　stove。

This　done；　she　hound　up　the　burned　hand　skillfully；　and；　crossing　the

dining…room；　disappeared　within　the　little　chamber　door　beyond。

She　came　out　presently；　and　said　half　hesitatingly；

〃Would　youmind　going　out　in　the　orchard　for　an　hour　or　so？

You　seem　to　be　rather　in　the　way　here；　and　I　should　like

the　place　to　myself；　if　you'll　excuse　me　for　saying　so。

I'm　ever　so　much　more　capable　than　Mrs。　Buck；　won't　you

give　me　a　trial；　sir？　　Here's　your　violin　and　your　hat。

I'll　call　you　if　you　can　help　or　advise　me。〃



〃But　I　can't　let　a　stranger　come　in　and　do　my　housework；〃　he　objected。

〃I　can't；　you　know；　though　I　appreciate　your　kindness　all　the　same。〃



〃I　am　your　nearest　neighbor；　and　your　only　one；　for　that　matter；〃

said　Lyddy　firmly；　〃its　nothing　more　than　right　that　I　should　look　after　that

sick　child；　and　I　must　do　it。　　I　haven't　got　a　thing　to　do　in　my　own　house。

I　am　nothing　but　a　poor　lonely　old　maid；　who's　been　used　to　children

all　her　life；　and　likes　nothing　better　than　to　work　over　them。〃



A　calm　settled　upon　Anthony's　perturbed　spirit；　as　he　sat　under

the　apple…trees　and　heard　Lyddy　going　to　and　fro　in　the　cottage。

〃She　isn't　any　old　maid；〃　he　thought；　〃she　doesn't　step　like　one；

she　has　soft　shoes　and　a　springy　walk。　　She　must　be　a　very

handsome　woman；　with　a　hand　like　that；　and　such　a　voice！

I　knew　the　moment　she　spoke　that　she　didn't　belong　in　this　village。〃



As　a　matter　of　fact；　his　keen　ear　had　caught　the　melody　in

Lyddy's　voice；　a　voice　full　of　dignity；　sweetness；　and　reserve　power。

His　sense　of　touch；　too；　had　captured　the　beauty　of　her　hand；

and　held　it　in　remembrance；the　soft　palm；　the　fine　skin；

supple　fingers；　smooth　nails；　and　firm　round　wrist。

These　charms　would　never　have　been　noted　by　any　seeing

man　in　Edgewood；　but　they　were　revealed　to　Anthony　Croft

while　Lyddy；　like　the　good　Samaritan；　bound　up　his　wounds。

It　is　these　saving　stars　that　light　the　eternal　darkness

of　the　blind。



Lyddy　thought　she　had　met　her　Waterloo　when；　with　arms　akimbo；

she　gazed　about　the　Croft　establishment；　which　was　a　scene

of　desolation　for　the　moment。　　Anthony's　cousin　from

Bridgton　was　in　the　habit　of　visiting　him　every　two　months

for　a　solemn　house…cleaning；　and　Mrs。　Buck　from　Pleasant

River　came　every　Saturday　and　Monday　for　baking　and　washing。

Between　times　Davy　and　his　uncle　did　the　housework　together；

and　although　it　was　respectably　done；　there　was　no　pink…and…white

daintiness　about　it；　you　may　be　sure。



Lyddy　came　out　to　the　apple…trees　in　about　an　hour；

laughing　a　little　nervously　as　she　said；　〃I'm　sorry　to

have　taken　a　mean　advantage　of　you；　Mr。　Croft；　but　I　know

everything　you've　got　in　your　house；　and　exactly　where　it　is。

I　couldn't　help　it；　you　see；　when　I　was　making　things　tidy。

It　would　do　you　good　to　see　the　boy。　　His　room　was　too　light；

and　the　flies　were　devouring　him。　　I　swept　him　and　dusted　him；

put　on　clean　sheets　and　pillow　slips；　sponged　him　with　bay　rum；

brushed　his　hair；　drove　out　the　flies；　and　tacked　a　green

curtain　up　to　the　window。　　Fifteen　minutes　after　he　was　sleeping

like　a　kitten。　　He　has　a　sore　throat　and　considerable　fever。

Could　youcan　youat　least；　will　you；　go　up　t