lavender and old lace-第23章

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　the　frame　holding　the　rug　was　not　injured。　From　mountain　to　valley　and　back　again；　urged　by　some　strange　instinct；　past　flowing　rivers　and　over　the　golden　sands　of　the　desert；　even　to　the　deep　blue　waters　that　broke　on　the　shorethey　took　the　rug。

〃The　hoof…beats　of　Arabian　horses；　with　white…robed　Bedouins　flashing　their　swords；　all　the　glitter　and　splendour　of　war　were　woven　into　it。　Songs　of　victory；　the　rush　of　a　cavalry　charge；　the　faith　of　a　dying　warrior；　even　the　slow　marches　of　defeatit　all　went　into　the　rug。

〃Perhaps　the　Master　Craftsman　died；　but　the　design　was　left；　and　willing　fingers　toiled　upon　it；　through　the　long　years；　each　day　putting　new　beauty　into　it　and　new　dreams。　Then；　one　day；　the　final　knot　was　tied；　by　a　Veiled　Lady；　who　sighed　softly　in　the　pauses　of　her　song；　and　wondered　at　its　surpassing　loveliness。〃　〃And〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　gently。

〃Some　one　who　loved　you　brought　it　to　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　repeated；　smiling；　〃some　one　who　loved　me。　Tell　me　about　this；〃　she　pleaded；　touching　a　vase　of　Cloisonne。

〃It　came　from　Japan；〃　he　said；　〃a　strange　world　of　people　like　those　painted　on　a　fan。　The　streets　are　narrow　and　there　are　quaint　houses　on　either　side。　The　little　ladies　flit　about　in　gay　attire；　like　so　many　butterfliesthey　wear　queer　shoes　on　their　dainty　feet。　They're　as　sweet　as　their　own　cherry　blossoms。

〃The　little　man　who　made　this　vase；　wore　a　blue　tunic　and　had　no　robes　of　state；　because　he　was　poor。　He　loved　the　daughter　of　a　nobleman　and　she　loved　him；　too；　though　neither　dared　to　say　so。　〃So　he　sat　in　front　of　his　house　and　worked　on　this　vase。　He　made　a　model　of　clay；　shaping　it　with　his　fingers　until　it　was　perfect。　Then　a　silver　vase　was　cast　from　it　and　over　and　over　it　he　went；　very　carefully；　making　a　design　with　flat；　silver　wire。　When　he　was　satisfied　with　it；　he　filled　it　in　with　enamel　in　wonderful　colours；　making　even　the　spots　on　the　butterflies'　wings　like　those　he　had　seen　in　the　fields。　Outside　the　design；　he　covered　the　vase　with　dark　enamel；　so　the　bright　colours　would　show。

〃As　he　worked；　the　little　lady　he　loved　came　and　watched　him　sometimes　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　he　put　a　tiny　bit　of　gold　into　the　vase。　He　put　a　flower　into　the　design；　like　those　she　wore　in　her　hair；　and　then　another；　like　the　one　she　dropped　at　his　feet　one　day；　when　no　one　was　looking。

〃The　artist　put　all　his　love　into　the　vase；　and　he　hoped　that　when　it　was　done；　he　could　obtain　a　Court　position。　He　was　very　patient　with　the　countless　polishings；　and　one　afternoon；　when　the　air　was　sweet　with　the　odour　of　the　cherry　blossoms；　the　last　touches　were　put　upon　it。

〃It　was　so　beautiful　that　he　was　commissioned　to　make　some　great　vases　for　the　throne　room；　and　then；　with　joy　in　his　heart；　he　sought　the　hand　of　the　nobleman's　daughter。

〃The　negotiations　were　conducted　by　another　person；　and　she　was　forced　to　consent；　though　her　heart　ached　for　the　artist　in　the　blue　tunic；　whose　name　she　did　not　know。　When　she　learned　that　her　husband　was　to　be　the　man　she　had　loved　for　so　long；　tears　of　happiness　came　into　her　dark　eyes。

〃The　vase　had　disappeared；　mysteriously；　and　he　offered　a　large　reward　for　its　recovery。　At　last　they　were　compelled　to　give　up　the　hope　of　finding　it；　and　he　promised　to　make　her　another　one；　just　like　it；　with　the　same　flowers　and　butterflies　and　even　the　little　glints　of　gold　that　marked　the　days　she　came。　So　she　watched　him；　while　he　made　the　new　one；　and　even　more　love　went　into　it　than　into　the　first　one。〃

〃And〃　began　Miss　Ainslie。

〃Some　one　who　loved　you　brought　it　to　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　repeated；　smiling；　〃some　one　who　loved　me。〃

Winfield　fitted　a　story　to　every　object　in　the　room。　Each　rug　had　a　different　history　and　every　bit　of　tapestry　its　own　tale。　He　conjured　up　an　Empress　who　had　once　owned　the　teakwood　chair；　and　a　Marquise；　with　patches　and　powdered　hair；　who　wrote　love　letters　at　the　marquetry　table。

He　told　stories　of　the　sea　shells；　and　of　the　mermaids　who　brought　them　to　the　shore；　that　some　one　who　loved　her　might　take　them　to　her；and　that　the　soft　sound　of　the　sea　might　always　come　to　her　ears；　with　visions　of　blue　skies　and　tropic　islands；　where　the　sun　forever　shone。

The　Empress　and　the　Marquise　became　real　people　to　Miss　Ainslie；　and　the　Japanese　lovers　seemed　to　smile　at　her　from　the　vase。　Sometimes；　holding　the　rug　on　her　lap；　she　would　tell　them　how　it　was　woven；　and　repeat　the　love　story　of　a　beautiful　woman　who　had　worked　upon　the　tapestry。　Often；　in　the　twilight；　she　would　sing　softly　to　herself；　snatches　of　forgotten　melodies；　and；　once；　a　lullaby。　Ruth　and　Carl　sat　by；　watching　for　the　slightest　change；　but　she　never　spoke　of　the　secret　in　her　heart。

Ruth　had　the　north　room；　across　the　hall；　where　there　were　two　dressers。　One　of　them　had　been　empty；　until　she　put　her　things　into　it；　and　the　other　was　locked。　She　found　the　key；　one　day；　hanging　behind　it；　when　she　needed　some　things　for　Miss　Ainslie。

As　she　had　half　expected；　the　dresser　was　full　of　lingerie；　of　the　finest　lawn　and　linen。　The　dainty　garments　were　edged　with　real　laceBrussels；　Valenciennes；　Mechlin；　Point　d'Alencon；　and　the　fine　Irish　laces。　Sometimes　there　was　a　cluster　of　tucks；　daintily　run　by　hand；　but；　usually；　only　the　lace；　unless　there　was　a　bit　of　insertion　to　match。　The　buttons　were　mother　of　pearl；　and　the　button　holes　were　exquisitely　made。　One　or　two　of　the　garments　were　threaded　with　white　ribbon；　after　a　more　modern　fashion；　but　most　of　them　were　made　according　to　the　quaint　old　patterns。　There　was　a　dozen　of　everything。

The　dried　lavender　flowers　rustled　faintly　as　Ruth　reverently　lifted　the　garments；　giving　out　the　long…stored　sweetness　of　Summers　gone　by。　The　white　had　changed　to　an　ivory　tint；　growing　deeper　every　day。　There　were　eleven　night　gowns；　all　made　exactly　alike；　with　high　neck　and　long　sleeves；　trimmed　with　tucks　and　lace。　Only　one　was　in　any　way　elaborate。　The　sleeves　were　short；　evidently　just　above　the　elbow；　and　the　neck　was　cut　off　the　shoulders　like　a　ball　gown。　A　deep　frill　of　Venetian　point；　with　narrower　lace　at　the　sleeves；　of　the　same　pattern；　was　the　only　trimming；　except　a　tiny　bow　of　lavender　ribbon　at　the　fastening；　pinned　on　with　a　little　gold　heart。

When　Ruth　went　in；　with　one　of　the　night　gowns　over　her　arm；　a　faint　colour　came　into　Miss　Ainslie's　cheeks。

〃Diddidyou　find　those？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Ruth；　〃I　thought　you'd　like　to　wear　them。〃

Miss　Ainslie's　colour　faded　and　it　was　some　time　before　she　spoke　again。

〃Diddid　you　find　the　otherthe　one　with　Venetian　point？〃　〃Yes；　Miss　Ainslie；　do　you　want　that　one　It's　beautiful。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃not　now；　but　I　thought　that　I'd　like　to　wear　thatafterward；　you　know。〃

A　shadow　crossed　Ruth's　face　and　her　lips　tightened。

〃Don't；　dear；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　gently。

〃Do　you　think　he　would　think　it　was　indelicate　ifif　my　neck　were　bare　then？〃

〃Who；　Miss　Ainslie？〃

〃Carl。　Would　he　think　it　was　wrong　if　I　wore　that　afterward；　and　my　neck　and　shoulders　showed？　Do　you　think　he　would？〃

〃No！〃　cried　Ruth；　〃I　know　he　wouldn't！　Oh；　Miss　Ainslie；　you　break　my　heart！〃

〃Ruth；〃　said　Miss　Ainslie；　gently；　〃Ruth；　dear；　don't　cry！　I　won't　talk　about　it　any　more；　deary；　I　promise　you；　but　I　wanted　to　know　so　much！〃

Ruth　kissed　her　and　went　away；　unable　to　bear　more　just　then。　She　brought　her　chair　into　the　hall；　to　be　near　her　if　she　were　needed。　Miss　Ainslie　sighed；　and　then　began　to　croon　a　lullaby。



XVII。　Dawn

As　Miss　Ainslie　became　weaker；　she　clung　to　Carl；　and　was　never　satisfied　when　he　was　out　of　her　sight。　When　she　was　settled　in　bed　for　the　night；　he　went　in　to　sit　by　her　and　hold　her　hand　until　she　dropped　asleep。　If　she　woke　during　the　night　she　would　call　Ruth　and　ask　where　he　was。

〃He'll　come　over　in　the　morning；　Miss　Ainslie；〃　Ruth　always　said；　〃you　know　it's　night　now。〃

〃Is　it？〃　she　would　ask；　drowsily。　〃I　must　go　to　sleep；　then；　deary；　so　that　I　may　be　quite　rested　and　refreshed　when　he　comes。〃

Her　room；　in　contrast　to　the　rest　of　the　house；　was　almost　Puritan　in　its　simplicity。　The　bed　and　dresser　were　mahogany；　plain；　but　highly　polished；　and　she　had　a　mahogany　rocker　with　a　cushion　of　old　blue　tapestry。　There　was　a　simple　white　cover　on　the　bed　and　another　on　the　dresser；　but　the　walls　were　dead　white；　unrelieved　by　pictures　or　draperies。　In　the　east　window　was　a　long；　narrow　footstool；　and　a　prayer　book　and　hymnal　lay　on　the　window　sill；　where　this　maiden　of　half　a　century；　looking　seaward；　knelt　to　say　her　prayers。

One　morning；　when　Ruth　went　in；　she　said：　〃I　think　I　won't　get　up　this　morning；　dear；　I　am　so　very　tired。　If　Carl　should　come　over；　will　you　say　that　I　should　like　to　see　him？〃

She　would　see　no　one　but　Carl　and　Ruth；　and　Mrs。　Ball　was　much　offended　because　her　friend　did　not　want　her　to　come　upstairs。　〃Don't　be　harsh　with　her；　Aunt　Jane；〃　pleaded　Ruth；　〃you　know　people　often　have　strange　fancies　when　they　are　ill。　She　sent　her　love　to　you；　and　asked　me　to　say　that　she　thanked　you；　but　you　need　not　put　the　light　in　the　attic　window　any　more。〃

Mrs。　Ball　gazed　at　her　niece　long　and　earnestly。　〃Be　you　tellin'　me　the　truth？〃　she　asked。

〃Why；　of　course；　Aunty。〃

〃Then　Mary　Ainslie　has　got　sense　from　somewheres。　There　ain't　never　been　no　need　for　that　lamp　to　set　in　the　winder；　and　when　she　gets　more　sense；　I　reckon　she'll　be　willin'　to　see　her　friends。〃　With　evident　relief　upon　her　face；　Mrs。　Ball　departed。

But　Miss　Ainslie　seemed　quite　satisfied；　and　each　day　spoke　more　lovingly　to　Ruth　and　Carl。　He　showed　no　signs　of　impatience；　but　spent　his　days　with　her　cheerfully。　He　read　to　her；　held　her　hand；　and　told　her　about　the　rug；　the　Marquise；　and　the　Japanese　lovers。　At　the　end　she　would　always　say；　with　a　quiet　tenderness：　〃and　some　one　who　loved　me　brought　it　to　me！〃

〃Yes；　Miss　Ainslie；　some　one　who　loved　you。　Everybody　loves　you；　don't　you　know　that？〃

〃Do　you？〃　she　asked　once；　suddenly　and　yet　shyly。

〃Indeed　I　do；　Miss　AinslieI　love　you　with　all　my　heart。〃

She　smiled　happily　and　her　eyes　filled。　〃Ruth；〃　she　called　softly；　〃he　says　he　loves　me！〃

〃Of　course　he　does；〃　said　Ruth；　〃nobody　in　the　wide　world　could　help　loving　you。〃

She　put　out　her　left　hand　to　touch　Ruth；　and　the　amethyst　ring　slipped　off；　for　her　fingers　were　thin。　She　did　not　seem　to　notice　when　Ruth　slipped　it　on　again；　and；　shortly　afterward；　fell　asleep。

That　night　Winfield　stayed　very　late。　〃I　don't　want　to　leave　you；　dear；〃　he　said　to　Ruth。　〃I'm　afraid　something　is　going　to　happen。〃

〃I'm　not　afraidI　think　you'd　better　go。〃

〃Will　you　put　a　light　in　your　window　if　you　want　me；　darling？〃　〃Yes；　I　will。〃

〃I　can　see　it　from　my　room；　and　I'll　be　watching　for　it。　If　you　want　me；　I'll　come。〃

He　awoke　from　an　uneasy　sleep　with　the　feeling　that　Ruth　needed　him；　and　was　not　surprised　to　see　the　light　from　her　candle　streaming　out　into　the　darkness。　He　dressed　hurriedly；　glancing　at　his　watch　by　the　light　of　a　match。　It　was　just　three　o'clock。

Ruth　was　waiting　for　him　at　the　lower　door。　〃Is　sheis　she〃

〃No；　she　seems　to　be　just　the　same；　but　she　wants　you。　She's　been　calling　for　you　ever　since　you　went　away。〃

As　they　went　upstairs　Miss　Ainslie's　sweet　voice　came　to　them　in　pitiful