lavender and old lace-第24章

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th　your　love　in　my　heart；　with　you　at　home；　to　be　proud　of　me　when　I　succeed　and　to　give　me　new　courage　when　I　fail；　why；　it's　the　sweetest　thing　I've　ever　known。〃

〃I'll　have　to　go　back　to　town　very　soon；　though；〃　she　said；　a　little　later；　〃I　am　interrupting　the　honeymoon。〃

〃We'll　have　one　of　our　own　very　soon　that　you　can't　interrupt；　and；　when　you　go　back；　I'm　going　with　you。　We'll　buy　things　for　the　house。〃

〃We　need　lots　of　things；　don't　we？〃　she　asked。

〃I　expect　we　do；　darling；　but　I　haven't　the　least　idea　what　they　are。　You'll　have　to　tell　me。〃

〃Oriental　rugs；　for　one　thing；〃　she　said；　〃and　a　mahogany　piano；　and　an　instrument　to　play　it　with；　because　I　haven't　any　parlour　tricks；　and　some　good　pictures；　and　a　waffle　iron　and　a　porcelain　rolling　pin。〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　rolling　pins　and　waffle　irons？〃　he　asked　fondly。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　she　replied；　patronisingly；　　〃you　forget　that　in　the　days　when　I　was　a　free　and　independent　woman；　I　was　on　a　newspaper。　I　know　lots　of　things　that　are　utterly　strange　to　you；　because；　in　all　probability；　you　never　ran　a　woman's　department。　If　you　want　soup；　you　must　boil　meat　slowly；　and　if　you　want　meat；　you　must　boil　it　rapidly；　and　if　dough　sticks　to　a　broom　straw　when　you　jab　it　into　a　cake；　it　isn't　done。〃

He　laughed　joyously。　〃How　about　the　porcelain　rolling　pin？〃

〃It's　germ　proof；〃　she　rejoined；　soberly。

〃Are　we　going　to　keep　house　on　the　antiseptic　plan？〃

〃We　areit's　better　than　the　installment　plan；　isn't　it？　Oh；　Carl！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I've　had　the　brightest　idea！〃

〃Spring　it！〃　he　demanded。

〃Why；　Aunt　Jane's　attic　is　full　of　old　furniture；　and　I　believe　she'll　give　it　to　us！〃

His　face　fell。　〃How　charming；〃　he　said；　without　emotion。

〃Oh；　you　stupid；〃　she　laughed；　〃it's　colonial　mahogany；　every　stick　of　it！　It　only　needs　to　be　done　over！〃

〃Ruth；　you're　a　genius。〃

〃Wait　till　I　get　it；　before　you　praise　me。　Just　stay　here　a　minute　and　I'll　run　up　to　see　what　frame　of　mind　she's　in。〃

When　she　entered　the　kitchen；　the　bride　was　busily　engaged　in　getting　supper。　Uncle　James；　with　a　blue　gingham　apron　tied　under　his　arms；　was　awkwardly　peeling　potatoes。　〃Oh；　how　good　that　smells！〃　exclaimed　Ruth；　as　a　spicy　sheet　of　gingerbread　was　taken　out　of　the　oven。

Aunt　Jane　looked　at　her　kindly；　with　gratified　pride　beaming　from　every　feature。　〃I　wish　you'd　teach　me　to　cook；　Aunty；〃　she　continued；　following　up　her　advantage；　〃you　know　I'm　going　to　marry　Mr。　Winfield。〃

〃Why；　yes；　I'll　teach　youwhere　is　he？〃

〃He's　outsideI　just　came　in　to　speak　to　you　a　minute。〃

〃You　can　ask　him　to　supper　if　you　want　to。〃

〃Thank　you；　Aunty；　that's　lovely　of　you。　I　know　he'll　like　to　stay。〃

〃James；〃　said　Mrs。　Ball；　〃you're　peelin'　them　pertaters　with　thick　peelins'and　you'll　land　in　the　poorhouse。　I've　never　knowed　it　to　fail。〃

〃I　wanted　to　ask　you　something；　Aunty；〃　Ruth　went　on　quickly；　though　feeling　that　the　moment　was　not　auspicious；　〃you　know　all　that　old　furniture　up　in　the　attic？〃

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃

〃Whywhyyou　aren't　using　it；　you　know；　and　I　thought　perhaps　you'd　be　willing　to　give　it　to　us；　so　that　we　can　go　to　housekeeping　as　soon　as　we're　married。〃

〃It　was　your　grandmother's；〃　Aunt　Jane　replied　after　long　thought；　〃and；　as　you　say；　I　ain't　usin'　it。　I　don't　know　but　what　you　might　as　well　have　it　as　anybody　else。　I　lay　out　to　buy　me　a　new　haircloth　parlour　suit　with　that　two　hundred　dollars　of　James'she　give　the　minister　the　hull　four　dollars　over　and　above　thatandyes；　you　can　have　it；〃　she　concluded。

Ruth　kissed　her；with　real　feeling。　〃Thank　you　so　much；　Aunty。　It　will　be　lovely　to　have　something　tlhat　was　my　grandmother's。〃

When　she　went　back　to　Winfield；　he　was　absorbed　in　a　calculation　he　was　making　on　the　back　of　an　envelope。

〃You're　not　to　use　your　eyes；〃　she　said　warningly；　〃and；　oh　Carl！　It　was　my　grandmother's　and　she's　given　us　every　bit　of　it；　and　you're　to　stay　to　supper！〃

〃Must　be　in　a　fine　humour；〃　he　observed。　〃I'm　ever　so　glad。　Come　here；　darling；　you　don't　know　how　I've　missed　you。〃

〃I've　been　earning　furniture；〃　she　said；　settling　down　beside　him。　〃People　earn　what　they　get　from　AuntyI　won't　say　that；　though；　because　it's　mean。〃

〃Tell　me　about　this　remarkable　furniture。　What　is　it；　and　how　much　of　it　is　destined　to　glorify　our　humble　cottage？〃

〃It's　all　ours；〃　she　returned　serenely；　〃but　I　don't　know　just　how　much　there　is。　I　didn't　look　at　it　closely；　you　know；　because　I　never　expected　to　have　any　of　it。　Let's　seethere's　a　heavy　dresser；　and　a　large；　round　table；　with　claw　feetthat's　our　dining…table；　and　there's　a　bed；　just　like　those　in　the　windows　in　town；　when　it's　done　over；　and　there's　a　big　old…fashioned　sofa；　and　a　spinning…wheel〃

〃Are　you　going　to　spin？〃

〃Hush；　don't　interrupt。　There　are　five　chairsdining…room　chairs；　and　two　small　tables；　and　a　card　table　with　a　leaf　that　you　can　stand　up　against　the　wall；　and　two　lovely　rockers；　and　I　don't　know　what　else。〃

〃That's　a　fairly　complete　inventory；　considering　that　you　'didn't　look　at　it　closely。'　What　a　little　humbug　you　are！〃

〃You　like　humbugs；　don't　you？〃

〃Some；　not　all。〃

There　was　a　long　silence；　and　then　Ruth　moved　away　from　him。　〃Tell　me　about　everything；〃　she　said。　〃Think　of　all　the　years　I　haven't　known　you！〃

〃There's　nothing　to　tell；　dear。　Are　you　going　to　conduct　an　excavation　into　my　'past？'〃

〃Indeed；　I'm　not！　The　present　is　enough　for　me；　and　I'll　attend　to　your　future　myself。〃

〃There's　not　much　to　be　ashamed　of；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　soberly。　〃I've　always　had　the　woman　I　should　marry　in　my　mind'the　not　impossible　she；'　and　my　ideal　has　kept　me　out　of　many　a　pitfall　I　wanted　to　go　to　her　with　clean　hands　and　a　clean　heart；　and　I　have。　I'm　not　a　saint；　but　I'm　as　clean　as　I　could　be；　and　live　in　the　world　at　all。〃

Ruth　put　her　hand　on　his。　〃Tell　me　about　your　mother。〃

A　shadow　crossed　his　face　and　he　waited　a　moment　before　speaking。　〃My　mother　died　when　I　was　born；〃　he　said　with　an　effort。　〃I　can't　tell　you　about　her；　Ruth；　sheshewasn't　a　very　good　woman。〃

〃Forgive　me；　dear；〃　she　answered　with　quick　sympathy；　〃I　don't　want　to　know！〃

〃I　didn't　know　about　it　until　a　few　years　ago；〃　he　continued；　〃when　some　kindly　disposed　relatives　of　father's　gave　me　full　particulars。　They're　dead　now；　and　I'm　glad　of　it。　Sheshedrank。〃

〃Don't；　Carl！〃　she　cried；　〃I　don't　want　to　know！〃

〃You're　a　sweet　girl；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　tenderly；　touching　her　hand　to　his　lips。　〃Father　died　when　I　was　ten　or　twelve　years　old　and　I　can't　remember　him　very　well；　though　I　have　one　picture；　taken　a　little　while　before　he　was　married。　He　was　a　moody；　silent　man；　who　hardly　ever　spoke　to　any　one。　I　know　now　that　he　was　broken…hearted。　I　can't　remember　even　the　tones　of　his　voice；　but　only　one　or　two　little　peculiarities。　He　couldn't　bear　the　smell　of　lavender　and　the　sight　of　any　shade　of　purple　actually　made　him　suffer。　It　was　very　strange。

〃I've　picked　up　what　education　I　have；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　have　nothing　to　give　you；　Ruth；　but　these〃　he　held　out　his　hands〃and　my　heart。〃

〃That's　all　I　want；　dearestdon't　tell　me　any　more！〃

A　bell　rang　cheerily；　and；　when　they　went　in；　Aunt　Jane　welcomed　him　with　apparent　cordiality；　though　a　close　observer　might　have　detected　a　tinge　of　suspicion。　She　liked　the　ring　on　Ruth's　finger；　which　she　noticed　for　the　first　time。　〃It's　real　pretty；　ain't　it；　James？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes'm；　't　is　so。〃

〃It's　just　come　to　my　mind　now　that　you　never　give　me　no　ring　except　this　here　one　we　was　married　with。　I　guess　we'd　better　take　some　of　that　two　hundred　dollars　you've　got　sewed　up　in　that　unchristian　belt　you　insist　on　wearin'　and　get　me　a　ring　like　Ruth's；　and　use　the　rest　for　furniture；　don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Yes'm；〃　he　replied。　〃Ring　and　furnitureor　anythin'　you'd　like。〃

〃James　is　real　indulgent；〃　she　said　to　Winfield；　with　a　certain　modest　pride　which　was　at　once　ludicrous　and　pathetic。

〃He　should　be；　Mrs。　Ball；〃　returned　the　young　man；　gallantly。

She　looked　at　him　closely；　as　if　to　discover　whether　he　was　in　earnest；　but　he　did　not　flinch。　〃Young　feller；〃　she　said；　〃you　ain't　layin'　out　to　take　no　excursions　on　the　water；　be　you？〃

〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　he　answered；　〃why？〃