lavender and old lace- 第6部分

A　young　man　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　looked　at　Miss　Ainslie's　house；　and　then　at　the　brown　one　across　the　hill。　From　her　position　in　the　window；　Ruth　saw　him　plainly。　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　went　toward　the　brown　house。　She　noted　that　he　was　a　strangerthere　was　no　such　topcoat　in　the　village。

〃Was　his　name　Winfield？〃　she　asked　suddenly；　then　instantly　hated　herself　for　the　question。

The　ambrotype　fell　to　the　floor。　Miss　Ainslie　stooped　to　pick　it　up　and　Ruth　did　not　see　her　face。　〃Perhaps；〃　she　said；　in　a　strange　tone；　〃but　I　never　have　asked　a　lady　the　name　of　her　friend。〃

Gentle　as　it　was；　Ruth　felt　the　rebuke　keenly。　An　apology　was　on　her　lips；　but　only　her　flushed　cheeks　betrayed　any　emotion。　Miss　Ainslie's　face　was　pale；　and　there　was　unmistakable　resentment　in　her　eyes。

〃I　must　go；〃　Ruth　said；　after　an　awkward　silence；　and　in　an　instant　Miss　Ainslie　was　herself　again。

〃No…you　mustn't　go；　deary。　You　haven't　seen　my　garden　yet。　I　have　planted　all　the　seeds　and　some　of　them　are　coming　up。　Isn't　it　beautiful　to　see　things　grow？〃

〃It　is　indeed；〃　Ruth　assented；　forgetting　the　momentary　awkwardness；　〃and　I　have　lived　for　a　long　time　where　I　have　seen　nothing　grow　but　car　tracks　and　high　buildings。　May　I　come　again　and　see　your　garden？〃

〃I　shall　be　so　glad　to　have　you；〃　replied　Miss　Ainslie；　with　a　quaint　stateliness。　〃I　have　enjoyed　your　visit　so　much　and　I　hope　you　will　come　again　very　soon。〃

〃Thank　youI　will。〃

Her　hostess　had　opened　the　door　for　her；　but　Ruth　stood　in　the　hall；　waiting；　in　obedience　to　some　strange　impulse。　Then　she　stepped　outside；　but　something　held　her　back…something　that　lay　unspoken　between　them。　Those　unfathomable　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her；　questioning；　pleading；　and　searching　her　inmost　soul。

Ruth　looked　at　her；　wondering；　and　striving　to　answer　the　mute　appeal。　Then　Miss　Ainslie　laid　her　hand　upon　her　arm。　〃My　dear；〃　she　asked；　earnestly；　〃do　you　light　the　lamp　in　the　attic　window　every　night？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　she　answered；　quickly。

The　older　woman　caught　her　breath；　as　if　in　relief；　and　then　the　deep　crimson　flooded　her　face。

〃Hepsey　told　me　and　Aunt　Jane　left　a　letter　about　it；〃　Ruth　continued；　hastily；　〃and　I　am　very　glad　to　do　it。　It　would　be　dreadful　to　have　a　ship　wrecked；　almost　at　our　door。〃

〃Yes；〃　sighed　Miss　Ainslie；　her　colour　receding；　〃I　have　often　thought　of　'those　who　go　down　to　the　sea　in　ships。'　It　is　so　terrible；　and　sometimes；　when　I　hear　the　surf　beating　against　the　cliff；　II　am　afraid。〃

Ruth　climbed　the　hill；　interested；　happy；　yet　deeply　disturbed。　Miss　Ainslie's　beautiful；　changing　face　seemed　to　follow　her；　and　the　exquisite　scent　of　the　lavender；　which　had　filled　the　rooms；　clung　to　her　senses　like　a　benediction。

Hepsey　was　right；　and　unquestionably　Miss　Ainslie　had　something　to　do　with　the　light；　but　no　deep　meaning　lay　behind　itso　much　was　certain。　She　had　lived　alone　so　long　that　she　had　grown　to　have　a　great　fear　of　shipwreck；　possibly　on　account　of　her　friend；　the　〃seafaring　gentleman；〃　and　had　asked　Miss　Hathaway　to　put　the　light　in　the　windowthat　was　all。

Ruth's　reason　was　fully　satisfied；　but　something　else　was　not。　〃I'm　not　going　to　think　about　it　any　more；〃　she　said　to　herself；　resolutely；　and　thought　she　meant　it。

She　ate　her　dinner　with　the　zest　of　hunger；　while　Hepsey　noiselessly　served　her。　〃I　have　been　to　Miss　Ainslie's；　Hepsey；〃　she　said　at　length；　not　wishing　to　appear　unsociable。

The　maid's　clouded　visage　cleared　for　an　instant。　〃Did　you　find　out　about　the　lamp？〃　she　inquired；　eagerly。

〃No；　I　didn't；　Hepsey；　but　I'll　tell　you　what　I　think。　Miss　Ainslie　has　read　a　great　deal　and　has　lived　alone　so　much　that　she　has　become　very　much　afraid　of　shipwreck。　You　know　all　of　us　have　some　one　fear。　For　instance；　I　am　terribly　afraid　of　green　worms；　though　a　green　worm　has　never　harmed　me。　I　think　she　asked　Miss　Hathaway　to　put　the　lamp　in　the　window；　and　possibly　told　her　of　something　she　had　read　which　made　her　feel　that　she　should　have　done　it　before。〃

Hepsey's　face　took　on　its　old；　impenetrable　calm。

〃Don't　you　think　so？〃　asked　Miss　Thorne；　after　a　long　pause。

〃Yes'm。〃

〃It's　all　very　reasonable；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes'm。〃

In　spite　of　the　seeming　assent；　she　knew　that　Hepsey　was　not　convinced；　and　afterward；　when　she　came　into　the　room　with　the　attic　lamp　and　a　box　of　matches；　the　mystery　returned　to　trouble　Ruth　again。

〃If　I　don't　take　up　tatting；〃　she　thought；　as　she　went　upstairs；　〃or　find　something　else　to　do；　I'll　be　a　meddling　old　maid　inside　of　six　months。〃



IV。　A　Guest

As　the　days　went　by；　Ruth　had　the　inevitable　reaction。　At　first　the　country　brought　balm　to　her　tired　nerves；　and　she　rested　luxuriously；　but　she　had　not　been　at　Miss　Hathaway's　a　fortnight　before　she　bitterly　regretted　the　step　she　had　taken。

Still　there　was　no　going　back；　for　she　had　given　her　word；　and　must　stay　there　until　October。　The　months　before　her　stretched　out　into　a　dreary　waste。　She　thought　of　Miss　Ainslie　gratefully；　as　a　redeeming　feature；　but　she　knew　that　it　was　impossible　to　spend　all　of　her　time　in　the　houseit　the　foot　of　the　hill。

Half　past　six　had　seemed　an　unearthly　hour　for　breakfast；　and　yet　more　than　once　Ruth　had　been　downstairs　at　five　o'clock；　before　Hepsey　was　stiring。　There　was　no　rest　to　be　had　anywhere；　even　after　a　long　walk　through　the　woods　and　fields。　Inaction　became　irritation；　and　each　day　was　filled　with　a　thousand　unbearable　annoyances。　She　was　fretful；　moody；　and　restless；　always　wishing　herself　back　in　the　office；　yet　knowing　that　she　could　not　do　good　work；　even　if　she　were　there。

She　sat　in　her　room　one　afternoon；　frankly　miserable；　when　Hepsey　stalked　in；　unannounced；　and　gave　her　a　card。

〃Mr。　Carl　Winfield！〃　Ruth　repeated　aloud。　〃Some　one　to　see　me；　Hepsey？〃　she　asked；　in　astonishment。

〃Yes'm。　He's　a…waitin'　on　the　piazzer。〃

〃Didn't　you　ask　him　to　come　in？〃

〃No'm。　Miss　Hathaway；　she　don't　want　no　strangers　in　her　house。〃

〃Go　down　immediately；〃　commanded　Ruth；　sternly；　〃ask　him　into　the　parlour；　and　say　that　Miss　Thorne　will　be　down　in　a　few　moments。〃

〃Yes'm。〃

Hepsey　shuffled　downstairs　with　comfortable　leisure；　opened　the　door　with　aggravating　slowness；　then　said；　in　a　harsh　tone　that　reached　the　upper　rooms　distinctly：　〃Miss　Thorne；　she　says　that　you　can　come　in　and　set　in　the　parlour　till　she　comes　down。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　responded　a　masculine　voice；　in　quiet　amusement；　〃Miss　Thorne　is　kindand　generous。〃

Ruth's　cheeks　flushed　hotly。　〃I　don't　know　whether　Miss　Thorne　will　go　down　or　not；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃It's　probably　a　book…agent。〃

She　rocked　pensively　for　a　minute　or　two；　wondering　what　would　happen　if　she　did　not　go　down。　There　was　no　sound　from　the　parlour　save　a　subdued　clearing　of　the　throat。　〃He's　getting　ready　to　speak　his　piece；〃　she　thought；　〃and　he　might　as　well　do　it　now　as　to　wait　for　me。〃

Though　she　loathed　Mr。　Carl　Winfield　and　his　errand；　whatever　it　might　prove　to　be；　she　stopped　before　her　mirror　long　enough　to　give　a　pat　or　two　to　her　rebellious　hair。　On　the　way　down　she　determined　to　be　dignified；　icy；　and　crushing。

A　tall　young　fellow　with　a　pleasant　face　rose　to　greet　her　as　she　entered　the　room。　〃Miss　Thorne？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yesplease　sit　down。　I　am　very　sorry　that　my　maid　should　have　been　so　inhospitable。〃　It　was　not　what　she　had　meant　to　say。

〃Oh；　that's　all　right；〃　he　replied；　easily；　〃I　quite　enjoyed　it。　I　must　ask　your　pardon　for　coming　to　you　in　this　abrupt　way；　but　Carlton　gave　me　a　letter　to　you；　and　I've　lost　it。〃　Carlton　was　the　managing　editor；　and　vague　expectations　of　a　summons　to　the　office　came　into　Ruth's　mind。

〃I'm　on　The　Herald；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　is；　I　was；　until　my　eyes　gave　out；　and　then　they　didn't　want　me　any　more。　Newspapers　can't　use　anybody　out　of　repair；〃　he　added；　grimly。

〃I　know；〃　Ruth　answered；　nodding。

〃Of　course　the　office　isn't　a　sanitarium；　though　they　need　that　kind　of　an　annex；　nor　yet　a　literary　kindergarten；　which　I've　known　it　to　be　taken　for；　butwell；　I　won't　tell　you　my　troubles。　The　oculist　said　I　must　go　to　the　country　for　six　months；　stay　outdoors；　and　neither　read　nor　write。　I　went　to　see　Carlton；　and　he　promised　me　a　berth　in　the　Fallthey're　going　to　have　a　morning　edition；　too；　you　know。〃

Miss　Thorne　did　not　know；　but　she　was　much　interested。

〃Carlton　advised　me　to　come　up　here；〃　resumed　Winfield。　〃He　said　you　were　here；　and　that　you　were　going　back　in　the　Fall。　I'm　sorry　I've　lost　his　letter。〃

〃What　was　in　it？〃　inquired　Ruth；　with　a　touch　of　sarcasm。　〃You　read　it；　didn't　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　read　itthat　is；　I　tried　to。　The　thing　looked　like　a　prescription；　but；　as　nearly　as　I　could　make　it　out；　it　was　principally　a　description　of　the　desolation　in　the　office　since　you　left　it。　At　the　end　there　was　a　line　or　two　commending　me　to　your　tender　mercies；　and　here　I　am。〃

〃Commending　yourself。〃

〃Now　what　in　the　dickens　have　I　done？〃　thought　Winfield。　〃That's　it　exactly；　Miss　Thorne。　I've　lost　my　reference；　and　I'm　doing　my　best　to　create　a　good　impression　without　it。　I　thought　that　as　long　as　we　were　going　to　be　on　the　same　paper；　and　were　both　exiles〃

He　paused；　and　she　finished　the　sentence　for　him：　〃that　you'd　come　to　see　me。　How　long　have　you　been　in　town？〃

〃'In　town'　is　good；〃　he　said。　〃I　arrived　in　this　desolate；　God…forsaken　spot　just　ten　days　ago。　Until　now　I've　hunted　and　fished　every　day；　but　I　didn't　get　anything　but　a　cold。　It　was　very　good；　of　its　kindI　couldn't　speak　above　a　whisper　for　three　days。〃

She　had　already　recognised　him　as　the　young　man　she　saw　standing　in　the　road　the　day　she　went　to　Miss　Ainslie's；　and　mentally　asked　his　pardon　for　thinking　he　was　a　book…agent。　He　might　become　a　pleasant　acquaintance；　for　he　was　tall；　clean　shaven；　and　well　built。　His　hands　were　white　and　shapely　and　he　was　well　groomed；　though　not　in　the　least　foppish。　The　troublesome　eyes　were　dark　brown；　sheltered　by　a　pair　of　tinted　glasses。　His　face　was　very　expressive；　responding　readily　to　every　change　of　mood。

They　talked　〃shop〃　for　a　time；　discovering　many　mutual　friends；　and　Ruth　liked　him。　He　spoke　easily；　though　hurriedly；　and　appeared　to　be　somewhat　cynical；　but　she　rightly　attributed　it　to　restlessnes