lavender and old lace- 第22部分

Midsummer　lay　upon　the　garden　and　the　faint　odour　of　mignonette　and　lavender　came　with　every　wandering　wind。　White　butterflies　and　thistledown　floated　in　the　air；　bees　hummed　drowsily；　and　fhe　stately　hollyhocks　swayed　slowly　back　and　forth。

〃Do　you　know　why　I　asked　you　to　come　today？〃　She　spoke　to　Ruth；　but　looked　at　Winfield。

〃Why；　Miss　Ainslie？〃

〃Because　it　is　my　birthdayI　am　fifty…five　years　old。〃

Ruth's　face　mirrored　her　astonishment。　〃You　don't　look　any　older　than　I　do；〃　she　said。

Except　for　the　white　hair；　it　was　true。　Her　face　was　as　fresh　as　a　rose　with　the　morning　dew　upon　it；　and　even　on　her　neck；　where　the　folds　of　lace　revealed　a　dazzling　whiteness；　there　were　no　lines。

〃Teach　us　how　to　live；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　said　Winfield；　softly；　〃that　the　end　of　half　a　century　may　find　us　young。〃

A　delicate　pink　suffused　her　cheeks　and　she　turned　her　eyes　to　his。　〃I've　just　been　happy；　that's　all；〃　she　answered。

〃It　needs　the　alchemist's　touch；〃　he　said；　〃to　change　our　sordid　world　to　gold。〃

〃We　can　all　learn；〃　she　replied；　〃and　even　if　we　don't　try；　it　comes　to　us　once。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Ruth。

〃Happinesseven　if　it　isn't　until　the　end。　In　every　life　there　is　a　perfect　moment；　like　a　flash　of　sun。　We　can　shape　our　days　by　that；　if　we　willbefore　by　faith；　and　afterward　by　memory。〃

The　conversation　drifted　to　less　serious　things。　Ruth；　remembering　that　Miss　Ainslie　did　not　hear　the　village　gossip；　described　her　aunt's　home…coming；　the　dismissal　of　Hepsey；　and　told　her　of　the　wedding　which　was　to　take　place　that　evening。　Winfield　was　delighted；　for　he　had　never　heard　her　talk　so　well；　but　Miss　Ainslie　listened　with　gentle　displeasure。

〃I　did　not　think　Miss　Hathaway　would　ever　be　married　abroad；〃　she　said。　〃I　think　she　should　have　waited　until　she　came　home。　It　would　have　been　more　delicate　to　let　him　follow　her。　To　seem　to　pursue　a　gentleman；　however　innocent　one　may　be；　isis　unmaidenly。〃

Winfield　choked；　then　coughed　violently。

〃Understand　me；　dear；〃　Miss　Ainslie　went　on；　〃I　do　not　mean　to　criticise　your　auntshe　is　one　of　my　dearest　friends。　Perhaps　I　should　not　have　spoken　at　all；〃　she　concluded　in　genuine　distress。

〃It's　all　right；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　Ruth　assured　her；　〃I　know　just　how　you　feel。〃

Winfield；　having　recovered　his　composure；　asked　a　question　about　the　garden；　and　Miss　Ainslie　led　them　in　triumph　around　her　domain。　She　gathered　a　little　nosegay　of　sweet…williams　for　Ruth；　who　was　over　among　the　hollyhocks；　then　she　said　shyly：　〃What　shall　I　pick　for　you？〃

〃Anything　you　like；　Miss　Ainslie。　I　am　at　a　loss　to　choose。〃

She　bent　over　and　plucked　a　leaf　of　rosemary；　looking　at　him　long　and　searchingly　as　she　put　it　into　his　hand。

〃For　remembrance；〃　she　said；　with　the　deep　fire　burning　in　her　eyes。　Then　she　added；　with　a　pitiful　hunger　in　her　voice：

〃Whatever　happens；　you　won't　forget　me？〃

〃Never！〃　he　answered；　strangely　stirred。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　whispered　brokenly；　drawing　away　from　him。　〃You　look　so　much　likelike　some　one　I　used　to　know。〃

At　dusk　they　went　into　the　house。　Except　for　the　hall；　it　was　square；　with　two　partitions　dividing　it。　The　two　front　rooms　were　separated　by　an　arch；　and　the　dining…room　and　kitchen　were　similarly　situated　at　the　back　of　the　house；　with　a　china　closet　and　pantry　between　them。

Miss　Ainslie's　table；　of　solid　mahogany；　was　covered　only　with　fine　linen　doilies；　after　a　modern　fashion；　and　two　quaint　candlesticks；　of　solid　silver；　stood　opposite　each　other。　In　the　centre；　in　a　silver　vase　of　foreign　pattern；　there　was　a　great　bunch　of　asterswhite　and　pink　and　blue。

The　repast　was　simplechicken　fried　to　a　golden　brown；　with　creamed　potatoes；　a　salad　made　of　fresh　vegetables　from　the　garden；　hot　biscuits；　deliciously　light；　and　the　fragrant　Chinese　tea；　served　in　the　Royal　Kaga　cups；　followed　by　pound　cake；　and　pears　preserved　in　a　heavy　red　syrup。

The　hostess　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　dispensing　a　graceful　hospitality。　She　made　no　apology；　such　as　prefaced　almost　every　meal　at　Aunt　Jane's。　It　was　her　best；　and　she　was　proud　to　give　itsuch　was　the　impression。

Afterward；　when　Ruth　told　her　that　she　was　going　back　to　the　city；　Miss　Ainslie's　face　grew　sad。

〃Whywhy　must　you　go？〃　she　asked。

〃I'm　interrupting　the　honeymoon；〃　Ruth　answered；　〃and　when　I　suggested　departure；　Aunty　agreed　to　it　immediately。　I　can't　very　well　stay　now；　can　I？〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　laying　her　hand　upon　Ruth's；　〃if　you　could；　if　you　only　wouldwon't　you　come　and　stay　with　me？〃

〃I'd　love　to；〃　replied　Ruth；　impetuously；　〃but　are　you　sure　you　want　me？〃

〃Believe　me；　my　dear；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　simply；　〃it　will　give　me　great　happiness。〃

So　it　was　arranged　that　the　next　day　Ruth's　trunk　should　be　taken　to　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　that　she　would　stay　until　the　first　of　October。　Winfield　was　delighted；　since　it　brought　Ruth　nearer　to　him　and　involved　no　long　separation。

They　went　outdoors　again；　where　the　crickets　and　katydids　were　chirping　in　the　grass；　and　the　drowsy　twitter　of　birds　came　from　the　maples　above。　The　moon；　at　its　full；　swung　slowly　over　the　hill；　and　threads　of　silver　light　came　into　the　fragrant　dusk　of　the　garden。　Now　and　then　the　moonlight　shone　full　upon　Miss　Ainslie's　face；　touching　her　hair　as　if　with　loving　tenderness　and　giving　her　an　unearthly　beauty。　It　was　the　face　of　a　saint。

Winfield；　speaking　reverently；　told　her　of　their　betrothal。　She　leaned　forward；　into　the　light；　and　put　one　hand　caressingly　upon　the　arm　of　each。

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　she　said；　with　her　face　illumined。　Through　the　music　of　her　voice　ran　lights　and　shadows；　vague；　womanly　appeal；　and　a　haunting　sweetness　neither　could　ever　forget。

That　night；　the　gates　of　Youth　turned　on　their　silent　hinges　for　Miss　Ainslie。　Forgetting　the　hoary　frost　that　the　years　had　laid　upon　her　hair；　she　walked；　hand　in　hand　with　them；　through　the　clover　fields　which　lay　fair　before　them　and　by　the　silvered　reaches　of　the　River　of　Dreams。　Into　their　love　came　something　sweet　that　they　had　not　found　beforethe　absolute　need　of　sharing　life　together；　whether　it　should　be　joy　or　pain。　Unknowingly；　they　rose　to　that　height　which　makes　sacrifice　the　soul's　dearest　offering；　as　the　chrysalis；　brown　and　unbeautiful；　gives　the　radiant　creature　within　to　the　light　and　freedom　of　day。

When　the　whistle　sounded　fcr　the　ten　o'clock　train；　Ruth　said　it　was　late　and　they　must　go。　Miss　Ainslie　went　to　the　gate　with　them；　her　lavender　scented　gown　rustling　softly　as　she　walked；　and　the　moonlight　making　new　beauty　of　the　amethysts　and　pearls　entwined　in　her　hair。

Ruth；　aglow　with　happiness；　put　her　arms　around　Miss　Ainslie's　neck　and　kissed　her　tenderly。　　　〃May　I；　too？〃　asked　Winfield。

He　drew　her　toward　him；　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　and　Miss　Ainslie　trembled　from　head　to　foot　as　she　lifted　her　face　to　his。

Across　the　way　the　wedding　was　in　full　blast；　but　neither　of　them　cared　to　go。　Ruth　turned　back　for　a　last　glimpse　of　the　garden　and　its　gentle　mistress；　but　she　was　gone；　and　the　light　from　her　candle　streamed　out　until　it　rested　upon　a　white　hollyhock；　nodding　drowsily。

To　Ruth；　walking　in　the　starlight　with　her　lover；　it　seemed　as　if　the　world　had　been　made　new。　The　spell　was　upon　Winfield　for　a　long　time；　but　at　last　he　spoke。

〃If　I　could　have　chosen　my　mother；〃　he　said；　simply；　〃she　would　have　been　like　Miss　Ainslie。〃



XV。　The　Secret　and　the　Dream

Ruth　easily　became　accustomed　to　the　quiet　life　at　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　gradually　lost　all　desire　to　go　back　to　the　city。　〃You're　spoiling　me；〃　she　said；　one　day。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　back　to　town；　I　don't　want　to　work；　I　don't　want　to　do　anything　but　sit　still　and　look　at　you。　I　didn't　know　I　was　so　lazy。〃

〃You're　not　lazy；　dear；〃　answered　Miss　Ainslie；　〃you　were　tired；　and　you　didn't　know　how　tired　you　were。〃

Winfield　practically　lived　there。　In　the　morning；　he　sat　in　the　garden；　reading　the　paper；　while　Ruth　helped　about　the　house。　She　insisted　upon　learning　to　cook；　and　he　ate　many　an　unfamiliar　dish；　heroically　proclaiming　that　it　was　good。　〃You　must　never　doubt　his　love；〃　Miss　Ainslie　said；　〃for　those　biscuitswell；　dear；　you　know　they　werewere　not　just　right。〃

The　amateur　cook　laughed　outright　at　the　gentle　criticism。　〃They　were　awful；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　I'm　going　to　keep　at　it　until　I　learn　how。〃

The　upper　part　of　the　house　was　divided　into　four　rooms；　with　windows　on　all　sides。　One　of　the　front　rooms；　with　north　and　east　windows；　was　Miss　Ainslie's；　while　the　one　just　back　of　it；　with　south　and　east　windows；　was　a　sitting…room。

〃I　keep　my　prettiest　things　up　here；　dear；〃　she　explained　to　Ruth；　〃for　I　don't　want　people　to　think　I'm　crazy。〃　Ruth　caught　her　breath　as　she　entered　the　room；　for　rare　tapestries　hung　on　the　walls　and　priceless　rugs　lay　on　the　floor。　The　furniture；　like　that　downstairs；　was　colonial　mahogany；　highly　polished；　with　here　and　there　a　chair　or　table　of　foreign　workmanship。　There　was　a　cabinet；　filled　with　rare　china；　a　marquetry　table；　and　a　chair　of　teakwood；　inlaid　with　mother　of　pearl。　In　one　corner　of　the　room　was　a　large　chest　of　sandal　wood；　inlaid　with　pearl　and　partly　covered　by　a　wonderful　antique　rug。

The　world　had　seemingly　given　up　its　beauty　to　adorn　Miss　Ainslie's　room。　She　had　pottery　from　Mexico；　China　and　Japan；　strange　things　from　Egypt　and　the　Nile；　and　all　the　Oriental　splendour　of　India　and　Persia。　Ruth　wisely　asked　no　questions；　but　once；　as　before；　she　said　hesitating；　〃they　were　given　to　me　by　aa　friend。〃

After　much　pleading　on　Ruth's　part；　Winfield　was　allowed　to　come　to　the　sitting　room。　〃He'll　think　I'm　silly；　dear；〃　she　said；　flushing；　but；　on　the　contrary；　he　shared　Ruth's　delight；　and　won　Miss　Ainslie's　gratitude　by　his　appreciation　of　her　treasures。

Day　by　day；　the　singular　attraction　grew　between　them。　She　loved　Ruth；　but　she　took　him　unreservedly　into　her　heart。　Ruth　observed；　idly；　that　she　never　called　him　〃Mr。　Winfield。〃　At　first　she　spoke　of　him　as　〃your　friend〃　and　afterward；　when　he　had　asked　her　to；　she　yielded；　with　an　adorable　shyness；　and　called　him　Carl。

He；　too；　had　eaten　of　the　lotus　and　lost　the　desire　to　go　back　to　town。　From　the　hilltop　they　could　see　the　yellow　fields　and　hear　the　soft　melody　of　re