lavender and old lace-第20章

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oo；　but　I　thought　it　was　too　good　to　be　true。〃

〃I　had　toto　let　you；〃　she　explained；　crimsoning；　〃but　nobody　ever　did　before。　I　always　thought〃　Then　Ruth　hid　her　face　against　his　shoulder；　in　maidenly　shame。

When　they　came　to　the　log　across　the　path；　they　sat　down；　very　close　together。　〃You　said　we'd　fight　if　we　came　here；〃　Ruth　whispered。

〃We're　not　going　to；　though。　I　want　to　tell　you　something；　dear；　and　I　haven't　had　the　words　for　it　till　now。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked；　in　alarm。

〃It's　only　that　I　love　you；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　holding　her　closer；　〃and　when　I've　said　that；　I've　said　all。　It　isn't　an　idle　word；　it's　all　my　life　that　I　give　you；　to　do　with　as　you　will。　It　isn't　anything　that's　apart　from　you；　or　ever　could　be；　it's　as　much　yours　as　your　hands　or　eyes　are。　I　didn't　know　it　for　a　little　whilethat's　because　I　was　blind。　To　think　that　I　should　go　up　to　see　you；　even　that　first　day；　without　knowing　you　for　my　sweetheartmy　wife！〃

〃No；　don't　draw　away　from　me。　You　little　wild　bird；　are　you　afraid　of　Love？　It's　the　sweetest　thing　God　ever　let　a　man　dream　of；　Ruththere's　nothing　like　it　in　all　the　world。　Look　up；　Sweet　Eyes；　and　say　you　love　me！〃

Ruth's　head　drooped；　and　he　put　his　hand　under　her　chin；　turning　her　face　toward　him；　but　her　eyes　were　downcast　still。　〃Say　it；　darling；〃　he　pleaded。

〃II　can't；〃　she　stammered。

〃Why；　dear？〃

〃Becausebecauseyou　know。〃

〃I　want　you　to　say　it；　sweetheart。　Won't　you？〃

〃Sometime；　perhaps。〃

〃When？〃

〃Whenwhen　it's　dark。〃

〃It's　dark　now。〃

〃No　it　isn't。　How　did　you　know？〃

〃How　did　I　know　what；　dear？〃

〃That　Ithat　Icared。〃

〃I　knew　the　day　you　cried。　I　didn't　know　myself　until　then；　but　it　all　came　in　a　minute。〃

〃I　was　afraid　you　were　going　to　stay　away　a　whole　week。〃

〃I　couldn't；　darlingI　just　had　to　come。〃

〃Did　you　see　everybody　you　wanted　to　see？〃

〃I　couldn't　see　anything　but　your　face；　Ruth；　with　the　tears　on　it。　I've　got　to　go　back　to…morrow　and　have　another　try　at　the　oculist。〃

〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　acute　disappointment。

〃It's　the　last　time；　sweetheart；　we'll　never　be　separated　again。〃

〃Never？〃

〃Never　in　all　the　worldnor　afterward。〃

〃I　expect　you　think　I'm　silly；〃　she　said；　wiping　her　eyes；　as　they　rose　to　go　home；　〃but　I　don't　want　you　to　go　away。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go；　dearest。　If　you're　going　to　cry；　you'll　have　me　a　raving　maniac。　I　can't　stand　it；　now。〃

〃I'm　not　going　to；〃　she　answered；　smiling　through　her　tears；　〃but　it's　a　blessed　privilege　to　have　a　nice　stiff　collar　and　a　new　tie　to　cry　on。〃

〃They're　at　your　service；　dear；　for　anything　but　that。　I　suppose　we're　engaged　now；　aren't　we？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ruth；　in　a　low　tone；　〃you　haven't　asked　me　to　marry　you。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to？〃

〃It's　time；　isn't　it？〃

Winfield　bent　over　and　whispered　to　her。

〃I　must　think　about　it；〃　said　Ruth；　very　gravely；　〃it's　so　sudden。〃

〃Oh；　you　sweet　girl；〃　he　laughed；　〃aren't　you　going　to　give　me　any　encouragement？〃

〃You've　had　some。〃

〃I　want　another；〃　he　answered；　purposely　misunderstanding　her；　〃and　besides；　it's　dark　now。〃

The　sweet…scented　twilight　still　lingered　on　the　hillside；　and　a　star　or　two　gleamed　through　the　open　spaces　above。　A　moment　later；　Ruth；　in　her　turn；　whispered　to　him。　It　was　only　a　word　or　two；　but　the　bright…eyed　robins　who　were　peeping　at　them　from　the　maple　branches　must　have　observed　that　it　was　highly　satisfactory。



XII。　Bride　and　Groom

Though　Winfield　had　sternly　determined　to　go　back　to　town　the　following　day；　he　did　not　achieve　departure　until　later。　Ruth　went　to　the　station　with　him；　and　desolation　came　upon　her　when　the　train　pulled　out；　in　spite　of　the　new　happiness　in　her　heart。

She　had　little　time　to　miss　him；　however；　for；　at　the　end　of　the　week；　and　in　accordance　with　immemorial　custom；　the　Unexpected　happened。

She　was　sitting　at　her　window　one　morning；　trying　to　sew；　when　the　village　chariot　stopped　at　the　gate　and　a　lady　descended。　Joe　stirred　lazily　on　the　front　seat；　but　she　said；　in　a　clear；　high…pitched　voice：　〃You　needn't　trouble　yourself；　Joe。　He'll　carry　the　things。〃

She　came　toward　the　house；　fanning　herself　with　a　certain　stateliness；　and　carrying　her　handkerchief　primly；　by　the　exact　centre　of　it。　In　her　wake　was　a　little　old　gentleman；　with　a　huge　bundle；　surrounded　by　a　shawl…strap；　a　large　valise；　much　the　worse　for　wear；　a　telescope　basket　which　was　expanded　to　its　full　height；　and　two　small　parcels。　A　cane　was　tucked　under　one　arm　and　an　umbrella　under　the　other。　He　could　scarcely　be　seen　behind　the　mountain　of　baggage。

Hepsey　was　already　at　the　door。　〃Why；　Miss　Hathaway！〃　she　cried；　in　astonishment。

〃'T　ain't　Miss　Hathaway；〃　rejoined　the　visitor；　with　some　asperity；　〃it's　Mrs。　Ball；　and　this　is　my　husband。　Niece　Ruth；　I　presume；〃　she　added；　as　Miss　Thorne　appeared。　〃Ruth；　let　me　introduce　you　to　your　Uncle　James。〃

The　bride　was　of　medium　height　and　rather　angular。　Her　eyes　were　small；　dark；　and　so　piercingly　brilliant　that　they　suggested　jet　beads。　Her　skin　was　dark　and　her　lips　had　been　habitually　compressed　into　a　straight　line。　None　the　less；　it　was　the　face　that　Ruth　had　seen　in　the　ambrotype　at　Miss　Ainslie's；　with　the　additional　hardness　that　comes　to　those　who　grow　old　without　love。　Her　bearing　was　that　of　a　brisk；　active　woman；　accustomed　all　her　life　to　obedience　and　respect。

Mr。　Ball　was　two　or　three　inches　shorter　than　his　wife；　and　had　a　white　beard；　irregularly　streaked　with　brown。　He　was　baldheaded　in　front；　had　scant；　reddish　hair　in　the　back；　and　his　faded　blue　eyes　were　tearful。　He　had　very　small　feet　and　the　unmistakable　gait　of　a　sailor。　Though　there　was　no　immediate　resemblance；　Ruth　was　sure　that　he　was　the　man　whose　picture　was　in　Aunt　Jane's　treasure　chest　in　the　attic。　The　daredevil　look　was　gone；　however；　and　he　was　merely　a　quiet；　inoffensive　old　gentleman；　for　whom　life　had　been　none　too　easy。

〃Welcome　to　your　new　home；　James；〃　said　his　wife；　in　a　crisp；　businesslike　tone；　which　but　partially　concealed　a　latent　tenderness。　He　smiled；　but　made　no　reply。

Hepsey　still　stood　in　the　parlour；　in　wide　mouthed　astonishment；　and　it　was　Ruth's　good　fortune　to　see　the　glance　which　Mrs。　Ball　cast　upon　her　offending　maid。　There　was　no　change　of　expression　except　in　the　eyes；　but　Hepsey　instantly　understood　that　she　was　out　of　her　place；　and　retreated　to　the　kitchen　with　a　flush　upon　her　cheeks；　which　was　altogether　foreign　to　Ruth's　experience。

〃You　can　set　here；　James；〃　resumed　Mrs。　Ball；　〃until　I　have　taken　off　my　things。〃

The　cherries　on　her　black　straw　bonnet　were　shaking　on　their　stems　in　a　way　which　fascinated　Ruth。　〃I'll　take　my　things　out　of　the　south　room；　Aunty；〃　she　hastened　to　say。

〃You　won't；　neither；〃　was　the　unexpected　answer；　〃that's　the　spare　room；　and；　while　you　stay；　you'll　stay　there。〃

Ruth　was　wondering　what　to　say　to　her　new　uncle　and　sat　in　awkward　silence　as　Aunt　Jane　ascended　the　stairs。　Her　step　sounded　lightly　overhead　and　Mr。　Ball　twirled　his　thumbs　absently。　　　〃Youyou've　come　a　long　way；　haven't　you？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes'm；　a　long　way。〃　Then；　seemingly　for　the　first　time；　he　looked　at　her；　and　a　benevolent　expression　came　upon　his　face。　〃You've　got　awful　pretty　hair；　Niece　Ruth；〃　he　observed；　admiringly；　〃now　Mis'　Ball；　she　wears　a　false　front。〃

The　lady　of　the　house　returned　at　this　juncture；　with　the　false　front　a　little　askew。　〃I　was　just　a…sayin'；〃　Mr。　Ball　continued；　〃that　our　niece　is　a　real　pleasant　lookin'　woman。〃

〃She's　your　niece　by　marriage；〃　his　wife　replied；　〃but　she　ain't　no　real　relative。〃

〃Niece　by　merriage　is　relative　enough；〃　said　Mr。Ball；　〃and　I　say　she's　a　pleasant　lookin'　woman；　ain't　she；　now？〃

〃She'll　do；　I　reckon。　She　resembles　her　Ma。〃　Aunt　Jane　looked　at　Ruth；　as　if　pitying　the　sister　who　had　blindly　followed　the　leadings　of　her　heart　and　had　died　unforgiven。

〃Why　didn't　you　let　me　know　you　were　coming；　Aunt　Jane？〃　asked　Ruth。　〃I've　been　looking　for　a　letter　every　day　and　I　understood　you　weren't　coming　back　until　October。〃

〃I　trust　I　am　not　unwelcome　in　my　own　house；〃　was　the　somewhat　frigid　response。

〃No　indeed；　AuntyI　hope　you've　had　a　pleasant　time。〃

〃We've　had　a　beautiful　time；　ain't　we；　Jame