a girl of the limberlost- 第39部分

〃They　are；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃Most　I　have　I　took　there。　

A　few　nights　ago　my　mother　caught　a　number；　but　we

don't　dare　go　alone。〃



〃All　the　more　reason　why　you　need　me。　　Where　do

you　live？　　I　can't　get　an　answer　from　you；　I'll　go　tell

your　mother　who　I　am　and　ask　her　if　I　may　help　you。　

I　warn　you；　young　lady；　I　have　a　very　effective　way

with　mothers。　　They　almost　never　turn　me　down。〃



〃Then　it's　probable　you　will　have　a　new　experience

when　you　meet　mine；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃She　never　was

known　to　do　what　any　one　expected　she　surely　would。〃



The　cocoon　came　loose。　　Philip　Ammon　stepped　down

the　embankment　turning　to　offer　his　hand　to　Elnora。　

She　ran　down　as　she　would　have　done　alone；　and　taking

the　cocoon　turned　it　end　for　end　to　learn　if　the　imago　it

contained　were　alive。　　Then　Ammon　took　back　the　cocoon

to　smooth　the　edges。　　Mrs。　Comstock　gave　them　one

long　look　as　they　stood　there；　and　returned　to

her　dandelions。　　While　she　worked　she　paused　occasionally；

listening　intently。　　Presently　they　came　down　the　creek；

the　man　carrying　the　cocoon　as　if　it　were　a　jewel；　while

Elnora　made　her　way　along　the　bank；　taking　a　lesson　in　casting。　

Her　face　was　flushed　with　excitement；　her　eyes　shining；

the　bushes　taking　liberties　with　her　hair。　　For　a　picture

of　perfect　loveliness　she　scarcely　could　have　been　surpassed；

and　the　eyes　of　Philip　Ammon　seemed　to　be　in　working　order。



〃Moth…er！〃　called　Elnora。



There　was　an　undulant；　caressing　sweetness　in　the　girl's

voice；　as　she　sung　out　the　call　in　perfect　confidence

that　it　would　bring　a　loving　answer；　that　struck　deep　in

Mrs。　Comstock's　heart。　　She　never　had　heard　that　word

so　pronounced　before　and　a　lump　arose　in　her　throat。



〃Here！〃　she　answered；　still　cleaning　dandelions。



〃Mother；　this　is　Mr。　Philip　Ammon；　of　Chicago；〃

said　Elnora。　　〃He　has　been　ill　and　he　is　staying　with

Dr。　Ammon　in　Onabasha。　　He　came　down　the　creek

fishing　and　cut　this　cocoon　from　under　the　bridge　for　me。　

He　feels　that　it　would　be　better　to　hunt　moths　than　to

fish；　until　he　is　well。　　What　do　you　think　about　it？〃



Philip　Ammon　extended　his　hand。　　〃I　am　glad　to

know　you；〃　he　said。



〃You　may　take　the　hand…shaking　for　granted；〃　replied

Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Dandelions　have　a　way　of　making

fingers　sticky；　and　I　like　to　know　a　man　before　I

take　his　hand；　anyway。　　That　introduction　seems　mighty

comprehensive　on　your　part；　but　it　still　leaves

me　unclassified。　　My　name　is　Comstock。〃



Philip　Ammon　bowed。



〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　you　have　been　sick；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃But　if　people　will　live　where　they　have　such　vile　water　as

they　do　in　Chicago；　I　don't　see　what　else　they　are　to　expect。〃



Philip　studied　her　intently。



〃I　am　sure　I　didn't　have　a　fever　on　purpose；〃　he　said。



〃You　do　seem　a　little　wobbly　on　your　legs；〃　she　observed。　

〃Maybe　you　had　better　sit　and　rest　while　I　finish

these　greens。　　It's　late　for　the　genuine　article；　but

in　the　shade；　among　long　grass　they　are　still　tender。〃



〃May　I　have　a　leaf？〃　he　asked；　reaching　for　one　as　he　sat

on　the　bank；　looking　from　the　little　creek　at　his　feet；　away

through　the　dim　cool　spaces　of　the　June　forest　on　the

opposite　side。　　He　drew　a　deep　breath。　　〃Glory；　but　this

is　good　after　almost　two　months　inside　hospital　walls！〃



He　stretched　on　the　grass　and　lay　gazing　up　at　the

leaves；　occasionally　asking　the　interpretation　of　a　bird　note

or　the　origin　of　an　unfamiliar　forest　voice。　　Elnora　began

helping　with　the　dandelions。



〃Another；　please；〃　said　the　young　man；　holding　out　his　hand。



〃Do　you　suppose　this　is　the　kind　of　grass　Nebuchadnezzar

ate？〃　Elnora　asked；　giving　the　leaf。



〃He　knew　a　good　thing　if　it　is。〃



〃Oh；　you　should　taste　dandelions　boiled　with　bacon　and

served　with　mother's　cornbread。〃



〃Don't！　　My　appetite　is　twice　my　size　now。　　While　it

ishow　far　is　it　to　Onabasha；　shortest　cut？〃



〃Three　miles。〃



The　man　lay　in　perfect　content；　nibbling　leaves。



〃This　surely　is　a　treat；〃　he　said。　　〃No　wonder　you　find

good　hunting　here。　　There　seems　to　be　foliage　for　almost

every　kind　of　caterpillar。　　But　I　suppose　you　have　to

exchange　for　northern　species　and　Pacific　Coast　kinds？〃



〃Yes。　　And　every　one　wants　Regalis　in　trade。　　I　never

saw　the　like。　　They　consider　a　Cecropia　or　a　Polyphemus

an　insult；　and　a　Luna　is　barely　acceptable。〃



〃What　authorities　have　you？〃



Elnora　began　to　name　text…books　which　started　a　discussion。　

Mrs。　Comstock　listened。　　She　cleaned　dandelions　with　greater

deliberation　than　they　ever　before　were　examined。　

In　reality　she　was　taking　stock　of　the　young　man's　long；

well…proportioned　frame；　his　strong　hands；　his　smooth；

fine…textured　skin；　his　thick　shock　of　dark　hair；

and　making　mental　notes　of　his　simple　manly　speech　and

the　fact　that　he　evidently　did　know　much　about　moths。　

It　pleased　her　to　think　that　if　he　had　been　a　neighbour　boy

who　had　lain　beside　her　every　day　of　his　life　while　she

worked；　he　could　have　been　no　more　at　home。　　She　liked

the　things　he　said；　but　she　was　proud　that　Elnora　had　a

ready　answer　which　always　seemed　appropriate。



At　last　Mrs。　Comstock　finished　the　greens。



〃You　are　three　miles　from　the　city　and　less　than　a　mile

from　where　we　live；〃　she　said。　　〃If　you　will　tell　me　what

you　dare　eat；　I　suspect　you　had　best　go　home　with　us　and

rest　until　the　cool　of　the　day　before　you　start　back。　

Probably　some　one　that　you　can　ride　in　with　will　be　passing

before　evening。〃



〃That　is　mighty　kind　of　you；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　think　I　will。　

It　doesn't　matter　so　much　what　I　eat；　the　point　is　that

I　must　be　moderate。　　I　am　hungry　all　the　time。〃



〃Then　we　will　go；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock；　〃and　we　will

not　allow　you　to　make　yourself　sick　with　us。〃



Philip　Ammon　arose：　picking　up　the　pail　of　greens　and

his　fishing　rod；　he　stood　waiting。　　Elnora　led　the　way。　

Mrs。　Comstock　motioned　Philip　to　follow　and　she　walked

in　the　rear。　　The　girl　carried　the　cocoon　and　the　box　of

moths　she　had　taken；　searching　every　step　for　more。　

The　young　man　frequently　set　down　his　load　to　join　in

the　pursuit　of　a　dragonfly　or　moth；　while　Mrs。　Comstock　watched

the　proceedings　with　sharp　eyes。　　Every　time　Philip　picked

up　the　pail　of　greens　she　struggled　to　suppress　a　smile。



Elnora　proceeded　slowly；　chattering　about　everything

beside　the　trail。　　Philip　was　interested　in　all　the　objects

she　pointed　out；　noticing　several　things　which　escaped　her。　

He　carried　the　greens　as　casually　when　they　took　a　short

cut　down　the　roadway　as　on　the　trail。　　When　Elnora

turned　toward　the　gate　of　her　home　Philip　Ammon

stopped；　took　a　long　look　at　the　big　hewed　log　cabin；　the

vines　which　clambered　over　it；　the　flower　garden　ablaze

with　beds　of　bright　bloom　interspersed　with　strawberries

and　tomatoes；　the　trees　of　the　forest　rising　north　and　west

like　a　green　wall　and　exclaimed：　　〃How　beautiful！〃



Mrs。　Comstock　was　pleased。　　〃If　you　think　that；〃　she

said；　〃perhaps　you　will　understand　how；　in　all　this　present…

day　rush　to　be　modern；　I　have　preferred　to　remain　as　I　began。　

My　husband　and　I　took　up　this　land；　and　enough

trees　to　build　the　cabin；　stable；　and　outbuildings　are

nearly　all　we　ever　cut。　　Of　course；　if　he　had　lived；

I　suppose　we　should　have　kept　up　with　our　neighbours。　　I　hear

considerable　about　the　value　of　the　land；　the　trees　which

are　on　it；　and　the　oil　which　is　supposed　to　be　under　it；

but　as　yet　I　haven't　brought　myself　to　change　anything。　

So　we　stand　for　one　of　the　few　remaining　homes　of　first

settlers　in　this　region。　　Come　in。　　You　are　very　welcome

to　what　we　have。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　stepped　forward　and　took　the　lead。　

She　had　a　bowl　of　soft　water　and　a　pair　of　boots　to　offer

for　the　heavy　waders；　for　outer　comfort；　a　glass　of　cold

buttermilk　and　a　bench　on　which　to　rest；　in　the　circular

arbour　until　dinner　was　ready。　　Philip　Ammon　splashed

in　the　water。　　He　followed　to　the　stable　and　exchanged

boots　there。　　He　was　ravenous　for　the　buttermilk；　and

when　he　stretched　on　the　bench　in　the　arbour　the

flickering　patches　of　sunlight　so　tantalized　his　tired　eyes；

while　the　bees　made　such　splendid　music；　he　was　soon

sound　asleep。　　When　Elnora　and　her　mother　came　out　with　a

table　they　stood　a　short　time　looking　at　him。　　It　is　probable

Mrs。　Comstock　voiced　a　united　thought　when　she　said：　　〃What　a

refined；　decent　looking　young　man！　　How　proud　his　mother　must

be　of　him！　　We　must　be　careful　what　we　let　him　eat。〃



Then　they　returned　to　the　kitchen　where　Mrs。　Comstock

proceeded　to　be　careful。　　She　broiled　ham　of　her　own

sugar…curing；　creamed　potatoes；　served　asparagus　on

toast；　and　made　a　delicious　strawberry　shortcake。　　As　she

cooked　dandelions　with　bacon；　she　feared　to　serve　them　to

him；　so　she　made　an　excuse　that　it　took　too　long　to　prepare

them；　blanched　some　and　made　a　salad。　　When　everything

was　ready　she　touched　Philip's　sleeve。



〃Best　have　something　to　eat；　lad；　before　you　get　too

hungry；〃　she　said。



〃Please　hurry！〃　he　begged　laughingly　as　he　held　a　plate

toward　her　to　be　filled。　　〃I　thought　I　had　enough　self…

restraint　to　start　out　alone；　but　I　see　I　was　mistaken。　

If　you　would　allow　me；　just　now；　I　am　afraid　I　should　start

a　fever　again。　　I　never　did　smell　food　so　good　as　this。　

It's　mighty　kind　of　you　to　take　me　in。　　I　hope　I　will　be　man

enough　in　a　few　days　to　do　something　worth　while　in　return。〃



Spots　of　sunshine　fell　on　the　white　cloth　and　blue　china；

the　bees　and　an　occasional　stray　butterfly　came　searching

for　food。　　A　rose…breasted　grosbeak；　released　from　a　three

hours'　siege　of　brooding；　while　his　independent　mate　took

her　bath　and　recreation；　mounted　the　top　branch　of　a

maple　in　the　west　woods　from　which　he　serenaded　the

dinner　party　with　a　joyful　chorus　in　celebration　of　his　freedom。　

Philip's　eyes　strayed　to　the　beautiful　cabin；　to　the

mixture　of　flowers　and　veget