a girl of the limberlost-第3章

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busy　times；　what　you've　earned　must　amount　to　quite　a　sum。　

You　can　get　yourself　a　good　many　clothes　with　it。〃



〃Don't　mention　clothes；　Uncle　Wesley；〃　sobbed　Elnora；

〃I　don't　care　now　how　I　look。　　If　I　don't　go　back　all　of　them

will　know　it's　because　I　am　so　poor　I　can't　buy　my　books。〃



〃Oh；　I　don't　know　as　you　are　so　dratted　poor；〃　said

Sinton　meditatively。　　〃There　are　three　hundred　acres

of　good　land；　with　fine　timber　as　ever　grew　on　it。〃



〃It　takes　all　we　can　earn　to　pay　the　tax；　and　mother

wouldn't　cut　a　tree　for　her　life。〃



〃Well　then；　maybe；　I'll　be　compelled　to　cut　one　for　her；〃

suggested　Sinton。　　〃Anyway；　stop　tearing　yourself　to

pieces　and　tell　me。　　If　it　isn't　clothes；　what　is　it？〃



〃It's　books　and　tuition。　　Over　twenty　dollars　in　all。〃



〃Humph！　　First　time　I　ever　knew　you　to　be　stumped　by

twenty　dollars；　Elnora；〃　said　Sinton；　patting　her　hand。



〃It's　the　first　time　you　ever　knew　me　to　want　money；〃

answered　Elnora。　　〃This　is　different　from　anything　that　ever

happened　to　me。　　Oh；　how　can　I　get　it；　Uncle　Wesley？〃



〃Drive　to　town　with　me　in　the　morning　and　I'll　draw　it

from　the　bank　for　you。　　I　owe　you　every　cent　of　it。〃



〃You　know　you　don't　owe　me　a　penny；　and　I　wouldn't

touch　one　from　you；　unless　I　really　could　earn　it。　

For　anything　that's　past　I　owe　you　and　Aunt　Margaret　for

all　the　home　life　and　love　I've　ever　known。　　I　know　how

you　work；　and　I'll　not　take　your　money。〃



〃Just　a　loan；　Elnora；　just　a　loan　for　a　little　while

until　you　can　earn　it。　　You　can　be　proud　with　all　the

rest　of　the　world；　but　there　are　no　secrets　between　us；

are　there；　Elnora？〃



〃No；〃　said　Elnora；　〃there　are　none。　　You　and　Aunt

Margaret　have　given　me　all　the　love　there　has　been

in　my　life。　　That　is　the　one　reason　above　all　others　why

you　shall　not　give　me　charity。　　Hand　me　money　because

you　find　me　crying　for　it！　　This　isn't　the　first　time　this

old　trail　has　known　tears　and　heartache。　　All　of　us　know

that　story。　　Freckles　stuck　to　what　he　undertook　and

won　out。　　I　stick；　too。　　When　Duncan　moved　away　he

gave　me　all　Freckles　left　in　the　swamp；　and　as　I　have

inherited　his　property　maybe　his　luck　will　come　with　it。　

I　won't　touch　your　money；　but　I'll　win　some　way。　　First；　I'm

going　home　and　try　mother。　　It's　just　possible　I　could

find　second…hand　books；　and　perhaps　all　the　tuition　need

not　be　paid　at　once。　　Maybe　they　would　accept　it　quarterly。　

But　oh；　Uncle　Wesley；　you　and　Aunt　Margaret　keep　on　loving　me！　

I'm　so　lonely；　and　no　one　else　cares！〃



Wesley　Sinton's　jaws　met　with　a　click。　　He　swallowed

hard　on　bitter　words　and　changed　what　he　would　have

liked　to　say　three　times　before　it　became　articulate。



〃Elnora；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃if　it　hadn't　been　for　one

thing　I'd　have　tried　to　take　legal　steps　to　make　you

ours　when　you　were　three　years　old。　　Maggie　said　then

it　wasn't　any　use；　but　I've　always　held　on。　　You　see；

I　was　the　first　man　there；　honey；　and　there　are　things

you　see；　that　you　can't　ever　make　anybody　else　understand。　

She　loved　him　Elnora；　she　just　made　an　idol　of　him。　

There　was　that　oozy　green　hole；　with　the　thick

scum　broke；　and　two　or　three　big　bubbles　slowly　rising

that　were　the　breath　of　his　body。　　There　she　was　in

spasms　of　agony；　and　beside　her　the　great　heavy　log　she'd

tried　to　throw　him。　　I　can't　ever　forgive　her　for　turning

against　you；　and　spoiling　your　childhood　as　she　has；

but　I　couldn't　forgive　anybody　else　for　abusing　her。　

Maggie　has　got　no　mercy　on　her；　but　Maggie　didn't　see　what

I　did；　and　I've　never　tried　to　make　it　very　clear　to　her。　

It's　been　a　little　too　plain　for　me　ever　since。　　Whenever　I

look　at　your　mother's　face；　I　see　what　she　saw；　so

I　hold　my　tongue　and　say；　in　my　heart；　‘Give　her　a　mite

more　time。'　　Some　day　it　will　come。　　She　does　love　you；

Elnora。　　Everybody　does；　honey。　　It's　just　that　she's

feeling　so　much；　she　can't　express　herself。　　You　be　a

patient　girl　and　wait　a　little　longer。　　After　all；　she's

your　mother；　and　you're　all　she's　got；　but　a　memory；　and

it　might　do　her　good　to　let　her　know　that　she　was　fooled

in　that。〃



〃It　would　kill　her！〃　cried　the　girl　swiftly。　　〃Uncle　Wesley；

it　would　kill　her！　　What　do　you　mean？〃



〃Nothing；〃　said　Wesley　Sinton　soothingly。　　〃Nothing；　honey。　

That　was　just　one　of　them　fool　things　a　man　says；

when　he　is　trying　his　best　to　be　wise。　　You　see；

she　loved　him　mightily；　and　they'd　been　married　only

a　year；　and　what　she　was　loving　was　what　she　thought

he　was。　　She　hadn't　really　got　acquainted　with　the　man　yet。　

If　it　had　been　even　one　more　year；　she　could　have

borne　it；　and　you'd　have　got　justice。　　Having　been

a　teacher　she　was　better　educated　and　smarter　than

the　rest　of　us；　and　so　she　was　more　sensitive　like。　

She　can't　understand　she　was　loving　a　dream。　　So　I　say

it　might　do　her　good　if　somebody　that　knew；　could　tell

her；　but　I　swear　to　gracious；　I　never　could。　　I've　heard

her　out　at　the　edge　of　that　quagmire　calling　in　them

wild　spells　of　hers　off　and　on　for　the　last　sixteen　years；

and　imploring　the　swamp　to　give　him　back　to　her；　and

I've　got　out　of　bed　when　I　was　pretty　tired；　and　come

down　to　see　she　didn't　go　in　herself；　or　harm　you。　　What

she　feels　is　too　deep　for　me。　　I've　got　to　respectin'　her

grief；　and　I　can't　get　over　it。　　Go　home　and　tell　your

ma；　honey；　and　ask　her　nice　and　kind　to　help　you。　　If　she

won't；　then　you　got　to　swallow　that　little　lump　of

pride　in　your　neck；　and　come　to　Aunt　Maggie；　like　you

been　a…coming　all　your　life。〃



〃I'll　ask　mother；　but　I　can't　take　your　money；　Uncle

Wesley；　indeed　I　can't。　　I'll　wait　a　year；　and　earn　some；

and　enter　next　year。〃



〃There's　one　thing　you　don't　consider；　Elnora；〃　said

the　man　earnestly。　　〃And　that's　what　you　are　to　Maggie。　

She's　a　little　like　your　ma。　　She　hasn't　given　up　to　it；

and　she's　struggling　on　brave；　but　when　we　buried　our

second　little　girl　the　light　went　out　of　Maggie's　eyes；　and

it's　not　come　back。　　The　only　time　I　ever　see　a　hint　of

it　is　when　she　thinks　she's　done　something　that　makes　you

happy；　Elnora。　　Now；　you　go　easy　about　refusing　her

anything　she　wants　to　do　for　you。　　There's　times　in　this

world　when　it's　our　bounden　duty　to　forget　ourselves；　and

think　what　will　help　other　people。　　Young　woman；　you

owe　me　and　Maggie　all　the　comfort　we　can　get　out　of　you。　

There's　the　two　of　our　own　we　can't　ever　do　anything　for。　

Don't　you　get　the　idea　into　your　head　that　a　fool　thing

you　call　pride　is　going　to　cut　us　out　of　all　the　pleasure

we　have　in　life　beside　ourselves。〃



〃Uncle　Wesley；　you　are　a　dear；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃Just　a　dear！　

If　I　can't　possibly　get　that　money　any　way　else　on　earth；

I'll　come　and　borrow　it　of　you；　and　then　I'll　pay　it

back　if　I　must　dig　ferns　from　the　swamp　and　sell　them

from　door　to　door　in　the　city。　　I'll　even　plant　them；

so　that　they　will　be　sure　to　come　up　in　the　spring。　　I　have

been　sort　of　panic　stricken　all　day　and　couldn't　think。　

I　can　gather　nuts　and　sell　them。　　Freckles　sold　moths

and　butterflies；　and　I've　a　lot　collected。　　Of　course；

I　am　going　back　to…morrow！　　I　can　find　a　way　to　get　the　books。　

Don't　you　worry　about　me。　　I　am　all　right！



〃Now；　what　do　you　think　of　that？〃　inquired　Wesley

Sinton　of　the　swamp　in　general。　　〃Here's　our　Elnora

come　back　to　stay。　　Head　high　and　right　as　a　trivet！　

You've　named　three　ways　in　three　minutes　that　you

could　earn　ten　dollars；　which　I　figure　would　be　enough；

to　start　you。　　Let's　go　to　supper　and　stop　worrying！〃



Elnora　unlocked　the　case；　took　out　the　pail；　put　the

napkin　in　it；　pulled　the　ribbon　from　her　hair；　binding　it

down　tightly　again　and　followed　to　the　road。　　From　afar

she　could　see　her　mother　in　the　doorway。　　She　blinked

her　eyes；　and　tried　to　smile　as　she　answered　Wesley

Sinton；　and　indeed　she　did　feel　better。　　She　knew　now

what　she　had　to　expect；　where　to　go；　and　what　to　do。　

Get　the　books　she　must；　when　she　had　them；　she　would　show

those　city　girls　and　boys　how　to　prepare　and　recite　lessons；

how　to　walk　with　a　brave　heart；　and　they　could　show　her

how　to　wear　pretty　clothes　and　have　good　times。



As　she　neared　the　door　her　mother　reached　for　the　pail。　

〃I　forgot　to　tell　you　to　bring　home　your　scraps　for

the　chickens；〃　she　said。



Elnora　entered。　　〃There　weren't　any　scraps；　and　I'm

hungry　again　as　I　ever　was　in　my　life。〃



〃I　thought　likely　you　would　be；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock；

〃and　so　I　got　supper　ready。　　We　can　eat　first；　and　do　the

work　afterward。　　What　kept　you　so？　　I　expected　you　an

hour　ago。〃



Elnora　looked　into　her　mother's　face　and　smiled。　　It　was

a　queer　sort　of　a　little　smile；　and　would　have　reached

the　depths　with　any　normal　mother。



〃I　see　you've　been　bawling；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃I　thought　you'd　get　your　fill　in　a　hurry。　　That's　why

I　wouldn't　go　to　any　expense。　　If　we　keep　out　of　the　poor…

house　we　have　to　cut　the　corners　close。　　It's　likely　this

Brushwood　road　tax　will　eat　up　all　we've　saved　in　years。　

Where　the　land　tax　is　to　come　from　I　don't　know。　　It　gets

bigger　every　year。　　If　they　are　going　to　dredge　the　swamp

ditch　again　they'll　just　have　to　take　the　land　to　pay　for　it。　

I　can't；　that's　all！　　We'll　get　up　early　in　the　morning　and

gather　and　hull　the　beans　for　winter；　and　put　in　the　rest

of　the　day　hoeing　the　turnips。〃



Elnora　again　smiled　that　pitiful　smile。



〃Do　you　think　I　didn't　know　that　I　was　funny　and

would　be　laughed　at？〃　she　asked。



〃Funny？〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock　hotly。



〃Yes；　funny！　　A　regular　caricature；〃　answered　Elnora。　

〃No　one　else　wore　calico；　not　even　one　other。　　No　one

else　wore　high　heavy　shoes；　not　even　one。　　No　one

else　had　such　a　funny　little　old　hat；　my　hair　was　not

right；　my　ribbon　invisible　compared　with　the　others；

I　did　not　know　where　to　go；　or　what　to　do；　and　I　had

no　books。　　What　a　spectacle　I　made　for　them！〃　

Elnora　laughed　nervously　at　her　own　picture。　　〃But　there

are　always　two　sides！　　The　professor　said　in　the　algebra

class　that　he　never　had　a　better　solution　and　explanation

than　mine　of　the　proposition　he　gave　me；　which　scored

one　for　me　in　spite　of　my　clothes。〃



〃Well；　I　wouldn't　brag　on　myself！〃



〃That　was　poor　taste；〃　admitted　Elnora。　　〃But；　you　see；

it　is　a　case　of　whistling　to　keep　up　my　courage。　

I　honestly　could　see　that　I　would　have　looked　just　as

well　as　the　rest　of　them　if　I　had　been　dressed　as

they　were。　　We　can't　afford　that；　so　I　have　to　find

something　else　to　brace　me。　　It　was　rather　bad；　mother！〃



〃Well；　I'm　glad　you　got　enough　of　it！〃



〃Oh；　but　I　haven't〃　hurried　in　Elnora。　　〃I　just　got

a　start。　　The　hardest　is　over。　　To…morrow　they　won't

be　surprised。　　They　will　know　what　to　expect。　　I　am

sorry　to　hear　about　the　dredge。　　Is　it　really　going　through？〃



〃Yes。　　I　got　my　notification　today。　　The　tax　will

be　something　enormous。　　I　don't　know　as　I　can　spare

you；　even　if　you　are　willing