lavender and old lace-第7章

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the　trees　cut　down　that　stood　on　the　hill　between　her　window　and　mine；　and　had　a　key　made　to　my　lower　door；　and　made　me　promise　that　if　I　was　ill　at　any　time；　I　would　put　a　signal　in　my　windowa　red　shawl　in　the　daytime　and　a　light　at　night。　I　hadn't　any　red　shawl　and　she　gave　me　hers。

〃One　nightI　shall　never　forget　itI　had　a　terrible　attack　of　neuralgia；　during　the　worst　storm　I　have　ever　known。　I　didn't　even　know　that　I　put　the　light　in　the　windowI　was　so　beside　myself　with　painbut　she　came；　at　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　stayed　with　me　until　I　was　all　right　again。　She　was　so　gentle　and　so　tender　I　shall　always　love　her　for　that。〃

The　sweet　voice　vibrated　with　feeling；　and　Ruth's　thoughts　flew　to　the　light　in　the　attic　window；　but；　noit　could　not　be　seen　from　Miss　Ainslie's。　〃What　does　Aunt　Jane　look　like？〃　she　asked；　after　a　pause。

〃I　haven't　a　picture；　except　one　that　was　taken　a　long　time　ago；　but　I'll　get　that。〃　She　went　upstairs　and　returned；　presently；　putting　an　old…fashioned　ambrotype　into　Ruth's　hand。

The　velvet…lined　case　enshrined　Aunt　Jane　in　the　bloom　of　her　youth。　It　was　a　young　woman　of　twenty　or　twenty…five；　seated　in　a　straight…backed　chair；　with　her　hands　encased　in　black　lace　mitts　and　folded　in　the　lap　of　her　striped　silk　gown。　The　forehead　was　high；　protruding　slightly；　the　eyes　rather　small；　and　very　dark；　the　nose　straight；　and　the　little　chin　exceedingly　firm　and　determined。　There　was　an　expression　of　maidenly　wistfulness　somewhere；　which　Ruth　could　not　definitely　locate；　but　there　was　no　hint　of　it　in　the　chin。

〃Poor　little　Aunt　Jane；　〃　said　Ruth。　〃Life　never　would　be　easy　for　her。〃

〃No；〃　returned　Miss　Ainslie；　〃but　she　would　not　let　anyone　know。〃

Ruth　strolled　over　to　the　window；　thinking　that　she　must　be　going；　and　Miss　Ainslie　still　held　the　picture　in　her　hand。　〃She　had　a　lover；　didn't　she？〃　asked　Ruth；　idly。

〃I…I…think　so；〃　answered　the　other；　unwillingly。　〃You　remember　we　quarrelled。〃

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