a girl of the limberlost-第49章

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〃Three　miles。〃



The　man　lay　in　perfect　content；　nibbling　leaves。



〃This　surely　is　a　treat；〃　he　said。　　〃No　wonder　you　find

good　hunting　here。　　There　seems　to　be　foliage　for　almost

every　kind　of　caterpillar。　　But　I　suppose　you　have　to

exchange　for　northern　species　and　Pacific　Coast　kinds？〃



〃Yes。　　And　every　one　wants　Regalis　in　trade。　　I　never

saw　the　like。　　They　consider　a　Cecropia　or　a　Polyphemus

an　insult；　and　a　Luna　is　barely　acceptable。〃



〃What　authorities　have　you？〃



Elnora　began　to　name　text…books　which　started　a　discussion。　

Mrs。　Comstock　listened。　　She　cleaned　dandelions　with　greater

deliberation　than　they　ever　before　were　examined。　

In　reality　she　was　taking　stock　of　the　young　man's　long；

well…proportioned　frame；　his　strong　hands；　his　smooth；

fine…textured　skin；　his　thick　shock　of　dark　hair；

and　making　mental　notes　of　his　simple　manly　speech　and

the　fact　that　he　evidently　did　know　much　about　moths。　

It　pleased　her　to　think　that　if　he　had　been　a　neighbour　boy

who　had　lain　beside　her　every　day　of　his　life　while　she

worked；　he　could　have　been　no　more　at　home。　　She　liked

the　things　he　said；　but　she　was　proud　that　Elnora　had　a

ready　answer　which　always　seemed　appropriate。



At　last　Mrs。　Comstock　finished　the　greens。



〃You　are　three　miles　from　the　city　and　less　than　a　mile

from　where　we　live；〃　she　said。　　〃If　you　will　tell　me　what

you　dare　eat；　I　suspect　you　had　best　go　home　with　us　and

rest　until　the　cool　of　the　day　before　you　start　back。　

Probably　some　one　that　you　can　ride　in　with　will　be　passing

before　evening。〃



〃That　is　mighty　kind　of　you；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　think　I　will。　

It　doesn't　matter　so　much　what　I　eat；　the　point　is　that

I　must　be　moderate。　　I　am　hungry　all　the　time。〃



〃Then　we　will　go；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock；　〃and　we　will

not　allow　you　to　make　yourself　sick　with　us。〃



Philip　Ammon　arose：　picking　up　the　pail　of　greens　and

his　fishing　rod；　he　stood　waiting。　　Elnora　led　the　way。　

Mrs。　Comstock　motioned　Philip　to　follow　and　she　walked

in　the　rear。　　The　girl　carried　the　cocoon　and　the　box　of

moths　she　had　taken；　searching　every　step　for　more。　

The　young　man　frequently　set　down　his　load　to　join　in

the　pursuit　of　a　dragonfly　or　moth；　while　Mrs。　Comstock　watched

the　proceedings　with　sharp　eyes。　　Every　time　Philip　picked

up　the　pail　of　greens　she　struggled　to　suppress　a　smile。



Elnora　proceeded　slowly；　chattering　about　everything

beside　the　trail。　　Philip　was　interested　in　all　the　objects

she　pointed　out；　noticing　several　things　which　escaped　her。　

He　carried　the　greens　as　casually　when　they　took　a　short

cut　down　the　roadway　as　on　the　trail。　　When　Elnora

turned　toward　the　gate　of　her　home　Philip　Ammon

stopped；　took　a　long　look　at　the　big　hewed　log　cabin；　the

vines　which　clambered　over　it；　the　flower　garden　ablaze

with　beds　of　bright　bloom　interspersed　with　strawberries

and　tomatoes；　the　trees　of　the　forest　rising　north　and　west

like　a　green　wall　and　exclaimed：　　〃How　beautiful！〃



Mrs。　Comstock　was　pleased。　　〃If　you　think　that；〃　she

said；　〃perhaps　you　will　understand　how；　in　all　this　present…

day　rush　to　be　modern；　I　have　preferred　to　remain　as　I　began。　

My　husband　and　I　took　up　this　land；　and　enough

trees　to　build　the　cabin；　stable；　and　outbuildings　are

nearly　all　we　ever　cut。　　Of　course；　if　he　had　lived；

I　suppose　we　should　have　kept　up　with　our　neighbours。　　I　hear

considerable　about　the　value　of　the　land；　the　trees　which

are　on　it；　and　the　oil　which　is　supposed　to　be　under　it；

but　as　yet　I　haven't　brought　myself　to　change　anything。　

So　we　stand　for　one　of　the　few　remaining　homes　of　first

settlers　in　this　region。　　Come　in。　　You　are　very　welcome

to　what　we　have。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　stepped　forward　and　took　the　lead。　

She　had　a　bowl　of　soft　water　and　a　pair　of　boots　to　offer

for　the　heavy　waders；　for　outer　comfort；　a　glass　of　cold

buttermilk　and　a　bench　on　which　to　rest；　in　the　circular

arbour　until　dinner　was　ready。　　Philip　Ammon　splashed

in　the　water。　　He　followed　to　the　stable　and　exchanged

boots　there。　　He　was　ravenous　for　the　buttermilk；　and

when　he　stretched　on　the　bench　in　the　arbour　the

flickering　patches　of　sunlight　so　tantalized　his　tired　eyes；

while　the　bees　made　such　splendid　music；　he　was　soon

sound　asleep。　　When　Elnora　and　her　mother　came　out　with　a

table　they　stood　a　short　time　looking　at　him。　　It　is　probable

Mrs。　Comstock　voiced　a　united　thought　when　she　said：　　〃What　a

refined；　decent　looking　young　man！　　How　proud　his　mother　must

be　of　him！　　We　must　be　careful　what　we　let　him　eat。〃



Then　they　returned　to　the　kitchen　where　Mrs。　Comstock

proceeded　to　be　careful。　　She　broiled　ham　of　her　own

sugar…curing；　creamed　potatoes；　served　asparagus　on

toast；　and　made　a　delicious　strawberry　shortcake。　　As　she

cooked　dandelions　with　bacon；　she　feared　to　serve　them　to

him；　so　she　made　an　excuse　that　it　took　too　long　to　prepare

them；　blanched　some　and　made　a　salad。　　When　everything

was　ready　she　touched　Philip's　sleeve。



〃Best　have　something　to　eat；　lad；　before　you　get　too

hungry；〃　she　said。



〃Please　hurry！〃　he　begged　laughingly　as　he　held　a　plate

toward　her　to　be　filled。　　〃I　thought　I　had　enough　self…

restraint　to　start　out　alone；　but　I　see　I　was　mistaken。　

If　you　would　allow　me；　just　now；　I　am　afraid　I　should　start

a　fever　again。　　I　never　did　smell　food　so　good　as　this。　

It's　mighty　kind　of　you　to　take　me　in。　　I　hope　I　will　be　man

enough　in　a　few　days　to　do　something　worth　while　in　return。〃



Spots　of　sunshine　fell　on　the　white　cloth　and　blue　china；

the　bees　and　an　occasional　stray　butterfly　came　searching

for　food。　　A　rose…breasted　grosbeak；　released　from　a　three

hours'　siege　of　brooding；　while　his　independent　mate　took

her　bath　and　recreation；　mounted　the　top　branch　of　a

maple　in　the　west　woods　from　which　he　serenaded　the

dinner　party　with　a　joyful　chorus　in　celebration　of　his　freedom。　

Philip's　eyes　strayed　to　the　beautiful　cabin；　to　the

mixture　of　flowers　and　vegetables　stretching　down　to　the

road；　and　to　the　singing　bird　with　his　red…splotched　breast

of　white　and　he　said：　　〃I　can't　realize　now　that　I　ever　lay　in

ice　packs　in　a　hospital。　　How　I　wish　all　the　sick　folks　could

come　here　to　grow　strong！〃



The　grosbeak　sang　on；　a　big　Turnus　butterfly　sailed

through　the　arbour　and　poised　over　the　table。　　Elnora　held

up　a　lump　of　sugar　and　the　butterfly；　clinging　to　her

fingers；　tasted　daintily。　　With　eager　eyes　and　parted

lips；　the　girl　held　steadily。　　When　at　last　it　wavered

away；　〃That　made　a　picture！〃　said　Philip。　　〃Ask　me　some

other　time　how　I　lost　my　illusions　concerning　butterflies。　

I　always　thought　of　them　in　connection　with　sunshine；

flower　pollen；　and　fruit　nectar；　until　one　sad　day。〃



〃I　know！〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃I've　seen　that；　too；　but

it　didn't　destroy　any　illusion　for　me。　　I　think　quite　as

much　of　the　butterflies　as　ever。〃



Then　they　talked　of　flowers；　moths；　dragonflies；　Indian

relics；　and　all　the　natural　wonders　the　swamp　afforded；

straying　from　those　subjects　to　books　and　school　work。　

When　they　cleared　the　table　Philip　assisted；　carrying

several　tray　loads　to　the　kitchen。　　He　and　Elnora　mounted

specimens　while　Mrs　Comstock　washed　the　dishes。　　Then　she

came　out　with　a　ruffle　she　was　embroidering。



〃I　wonder　if　I　did　not　see　a　picture　of　you　in　Onabasha

last　night；〃　Philip　said　to　Elnora。　　〃Aunt　Anna　took　me

to　call　on　Miss　Brownlee。　　She　was　showing　me　her

crowdof　course；　it　was　you！　　But　it　didn't　half　do　you

justice；　although　it　was　the　nearest　human　of　any　of　them。　

Miss　Brownlee　is　very　fond　of　you。　　She　said　the　finest　things。〃



Then　they　talked　of　Commencement；　and　at　last　Philip　said

he　must　go　or　his　friends　would　become　anxious　about　him。



Mrs。　Comstock　brought　him　a　blue　bowl　of　creamy　milk

and　a　plate　of　bread。　　She　stopped　a　passing　team　and

secured　a　ride　to　the　city　for　him；　as　his　exercise　of　the

morning　had　been　to