a girl of the limberlost- 第42部分

can't　understand　is　how　you　can　be　in〃　　She　stopped　in

confusion；　but　she　saw　that　he　had　finished　the　sentence　as

she　had　intended。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　she　cried。　　〃I　didn't

intend　to　say　that。　　But　I　cannot　understand　these　people

I　hear　about　who　live　only　for　their　own　amusement。　

Perhaps　it　is　very　great；　I'll　never　have　a　chance　to　know。　

To　me；　it　seems　the　only　pleasure　in　this　world　worth

having　is　the　joy　we　derive　from　living　for　those　we　love；

and　those　we　can　help。　　I　hope　you　are　not　angry　with　me。〃



Philip　sat　silently　looking　far　away；　with　deep　thought

in　his　eyes。



〃You　are　angry；〃　faltered　Elnora。



His　look　came　back　to　her　as　she　knelt　before　him　among

the　flowers　and　he　gazed　at　her　steadily。



〃No　doubt　I　should　be；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　fact　is　I

am　not。　　I　cannot　understand　a　life　purely　for　personal

pleasure　myself。　　But　she　is　only　a　girl；　and　this　is

her　playtime。　　When　she　is　a　woman　in　her　own　home；　then

she　will　be　different；　will　she　not？〃



Elnora　never　resembled　her　mother　so　closely　as　when

she　answered　that　question。



〃I　would　have　to　be　well　acquainted　with　her　to　know；

but　I　should　hope　so。　　To　make　a　real　home　for　a　tired

business　man　is　a　very　different　kind　of　work　from　that

required　to　be　a　leader　of　society。　　It　demands　different

talent　and　education。　　Of　course；　she　means　to　change；　or

she　would　not　have　promised　to　make　a　home　for　you。　　I　suspect

our　dope　is　cool　now；　let's　go　try　for　some　butterflies。〃



As　they　went　along　the　path　together　Elnora　talked　of

many　things　but　Philip　answered　absently。　　Evidently　he

was　thinking　of　something　else。　　But　the　moth　bait

recalled　him　and　he　was　ready　for　work　as　they　made　their

way　back　to　the　woods。　　He　wanted　to　try　the　Limberlost；

but　Elnora　was　firm　about　remaining　on　home　ground。　

She　did　not　tell　him　that　lights　hung　in　the　swamp　would

be　a　signal　to　call　up　a　band　of　men　whose　presence

she　dreaded。　　So　they　started；　Ammon　carrying　the　dope；

Elnora　the　net；　Billy　and　Mrs。　Comstock　following　with

cyanide　boxes　and　lanterns。



First　they　tried　for　butterflies　and　captured　several　fine

ones　without　trouble。　　They　also　called　swarms　of　ants；

bees；　beetles；　and　flies。　　When　it　grew　dusk；　Mrs。　Comstock

and　Philip　went　to　prepare　supper。　　Elnora　and　Billy

remained　until　the　butterflies　disappeared。　　Then　they

lighted　the　lanterns；　repainted　the　trees　and　followed

the　home　trail。



〃Do　you　'spec　you'll　get　just　a　lot　of　moths？〃　asked

Billy；　as　he　walked　beside　Elnora。



〃I　am　sure　I　hardly　know；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃This　is　a

new　way　for　me。　　Perhaps　they　will　come　to　the　lights；　but

few　moths　eat；　and　I　have　some　doubt　about　those　which

the　lights　attract　settling　on　the　right　trees。　　Maybe　the

smell　of　that　dope　will　draw　them。　　Between　us；　Billy；　I

think　I　like　my　old　way　best。　　If　I　can　find　a　hidden　moth；

slip　up　and　catch　it　unawares；　or　take　it　in　full　flight；

it's　my　captive；　and　I　can　keep　it　until　it　dies　naturally。　

But　this　way　you　seem　to　get　it　under　false　pretences；　it　has　no

chance；　and　it　will　probably　ruin　its　wings　struggling　for

freedom　before　morning。〃



〃Well；　any　moth　ought　to　be　proud　to　be　taken　anyway；

by　you；〃　said　Billy。　　〃Just　look　what　you　do！　　You　can

make　everybody　love　them。　　People　even　quit　hating

caterpillars　when　they　see　you　handle　them　and　hear　you

tell　all　about　them。　　You　must　have　some　to　show　people

how　they　are。　　It's　not　like　killing　things　to　see　if　you

can；　or　because　you　want　to　eat　them；　the　way　most　men

kill　birds。　　I　think　it　is　right　for　you　to　take　enough　for

collections；　to　show　city　people；　and　to　illustrate　the

Bird　Woman's　books。　　You　go　on　and　take　them！　　The　moths

don't　care。　　They're　glad　to　have　you。　　They　like　it！〃



〃Billy；　I　see　your　future；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃We　will

educate　you　and　send　you　up　to　Mr。　Ammon　to　make　a

great　lawyer。　　You'd　beat　the　world　as　a　special　pleader。



You　actually　make　me　feel　that　I　am　doing　the　moths　a

kindness　to　take　them。〃



〃And　so　you　are！〃　cried　Billy。　　〃Why；　just　from　what

you　have　taught　them　Uncle　Wesley　and　Aunt　Margaret

never　think　of　killing　a　caterpillar　until　they　look　whether

it's　the　beautiful　June　moth　kind；　or　the　horrid　tent　ones。　

That's　what　you　can　do。　　You　go　straight　ahead！〃



〃Billy；　you　are　a　jewel！〃　cried　Elnora；　throwing　her　arm

across　his　shoulders　as　they　came　down　the　path。



〃My；　I　was　scared！〃　said　Billy　with　a　deep　breath。　



〃Scared？〃　questioned　Elnora。



〃Yes　sir…ee！　　Aunt　Margaret　scared　me。　　May　I　ask

you　a　question？〃



〃Of　course；　you　may！〃



〃Is　that　man　going　to　be　your　beau？〃



〃Billy！　　No！　　What　made　you　think　such　a　thing？〃



〃Aunt　Margaret　said　likely　he　would　fall　in　love　with

you；　and　you　wouldn't　want　me　around　any　more。　　Oh；　but

I　was　scared！　　It　isn't　so；　is　it？〃



〃Indeed；　no！〃



〃I　am　your　beau；　ain't　I？〃



〃Surely　you　are！〃　said　Elnora；　tightening　her　arm。



〃I　do　hope　Aunt　Kate　has　ginger　cookies；〃　said　Billy

with　a　little　skip　of　delight。









CHAPTER　XV





WHEREIN　MRS。　COMSTOCK　FACES　THE　ALMIGHTY；

AND　PHILIP　AMMON　WRITES　A　LETTER





Mrs。　Comstock　and　Elnora　were　finishing　breakfast

the　following　morning　when　they　heard　a　cheery　whistle

down　the　road。　　Elnora　with　surprised　eyes　looked　at

her　mother。



〃Could　that　be　Mr。　Ammon？〃　she　questioned。



〃I　did　not　expect　him　so　soon；〃　commented　Mrs。　Comstock。



It　was　sunrise；　but　the　musician　was　Philip　Ammon。　

He　appeared　stronger　than　on　yesterday。



〃I　hope　I　am　not　too　early；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　consumed

with　anxiety　to　learn　if　we　have　made　a　catch。　　If　we

have；　we　should　beat　the　birds　to　it。　　I　promised　Uncle

Doc　to　put　on　my　waders　and　keep　dry　for　a　few　days　yet；

when　I　go　to　the　woods。　　Let's　hurry！　　I　am　afraid　of　crows。　

There　might　be　a　rare　moth。〃



The　sun　was　topping　the　Limberlost　when　they　started。　

As　they　neared　the　place　Philip　stopped。



〃Now　we　must　use　great　caution；〃　he　said。　　〃The　lights

and　the　odours　always　attract　numbers　that　don't　settle

on　the　baited　trees。　　Every　bush；　shrub；　and　limb　may

hide　a　specimen　we　want。〃



So　they　approached　with　much　care。



〃There　is　something；　anyway！〃　cried　Philip。



〃There　are　moths！　　I　can　see　them！〃　exulted　Elnora。



〃Those　you　see　are　fast　enough。　　It's　the　ones　for

which　you　must　search　that　will　escape。　　The　grasses

are　dripping；　and　I　have　boots；　so　you　look　beside　the

path　while　I　take　the　outside；〃　suggested　Ammon。



Mrs。　Comstock　wanted　to　hunt　moths；　but　she　was

timid　about　making　a　wrong　movement；　so　she　wisely

sat　on　a　log　and　watched　Philip　and　Elnora　to　learn　how

they　proceeded。　　Back　in　the　deep　woods　a　hermit　thrush

was　singing　his　chant　to　the　rising　sun。　　Orioles　were

sowing　the　pure；　sweet　air　with　notes　of　gold；　poured　out

while　on　wing。　　The　robins　were　only　chirping　now；　for

their　morning　songs　had　awakened　all　the　other　birds　an

hour　ago。　　Scolding　red…wings　tilted　on　half　the　bushes。　

Excepting　late　species　of　haws；　tree　bloom　was　almost

gone；　but　wild　flowers　made　the　path　border　and　all　the

wood　floor　a　riot　of　colour。　　Elnora；　born　among　such

scenes；　worked　eagerly；　but　to　the　city　man；　recently　from

a　hospital；　they　seemed　too　good　to　miss。　　He　frequently

stooped　to　examine　a　flower　face；　paused　to　listen

intently　to　the　thrush　or　lifted　his　head　to　see　the

gold　flash　which　accompanied　the　oriole's　trailing　notes。　

So　Elnora　uttered　the　first　cry；　as　she　softly　lifted

branches　and　peered　among　the　grasses。



〃My　find！〃　she　called。　　〃Bring　the　box；　mother！〃



Philip　came　hurrying　also。　　When　they　reached　her

she　stood　on　the　path　holding　a　pair　of　moths。　　Her　eyes

were　wide　with　excitement；　her　cheeks　pink；　her　red

lips　parted；　and　on　the　hand　she　held　out　to　them

clung　a　pair　of　delicate　blue…green　moths；　with　white

bodies；　and　touches　of　lavender　and　straw　colour。　

All　around　her　lay　flower…brocaded　grasses；　behind　the

deep　green　background　of　the　forest；　while　the　sun　slowly

sifted　gold　from　heaven　to　burnish　her　hair。　　Mrs。　Comstock

heard　a　sharp　breath　behind　her。



〃Oh；　what　a　picture！〃　exulted　Philip　at　her　shoulder。　

〃She　is　absolutely　and　altogether　lovely！　　I'd　give　a

small　fortune　for　that　faithfully　set　on　canvas！〃



He　picked　the　box　from　Mrs。　Comstock's　fingers　and

slowly　advanced　with　it。　　Elnora　held　down　her　hand

and　transferred　the　moths。　　Philip　closed　the　box

carefully；　but　the　watching　mother　saw　that　his　eyes　were

following　the　girl's　face。　　He　was　not　making　the　slightest

attempt　to　conceal　his　admiration。



〃I　wonder　if　a　woman　ever　did　anything　lovelier　than

to　find　a　pair　of　Luna　moths　on　a　forest　path；　early　on

a　perfect　June　morning；〃　he　said　to　Mrs。　Comstock；

when　he　returned　the　box。



She　glanced　at　Elnora　who　was　intently　searching　the　bushes。



〃Look　here；　young　man；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃You　seem

to　find　that　girl　of　mine　about　right。〃



〃I　could　suggest　no　improvement；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　never

saw　a　more　attractive　girl　anywhere。　　She　seems　absolutely

perfect　to　me。〃



〃Then　suppose　you　don't　start　any　scheme　calculated

to　spoil　her！〃　proposed　Mrs。　Comstock　dryly。　　〃I　don't

think　you　can；　or　that　any　man　could；　but　I'm　not　taking

any　risks。　　You　asked　to　come　here　to　help　in　this　work。　

We　are　both　glad　to　have　you；　if　you　confine　yourself　to　work；

but　it's　the　least　you　can　do　to　leave　us　as　you　find　us。〃



〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　intended　no　offence。　

I　admire　her　as　I　admire　any　perfect　creation。〃



〃And　nothing　in　all　this　world　spoils　the　average　girl

so　quickly　and　so　surely；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　She　raised

her　voice。　　〃Elnora；　fasten　up　that　tag　of　hair　over　your

left　ear。　　These　bushes　muss　you　so　you　remind　me　of　a

sheep　poking　its　nose　through　a　hedge　fence。