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a girl of the limberlost-第10部分
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From the Limberlost; did you say?〃
〃I live near the swamp;〃 replied Elnora。 〃Since it's
so cleared I dare go around the edge in daytime; though
we are all afraid at night。〃
〃What have you collected?〃 asked the Bird Woman;
as she helped Elnora to sandwiches unlike any she ever
before had tasted; salad that seemed to be made of many
familiar things; and a cup of hot chocolate that would have
delighted any hungry schoolgirl。
〃I am afraid I am bothering you for nothing; and imposing
on you;〃 she said。 〃That 'collected' frightens me。
I've only gathered。 I always loved everything outdoors;
so I made friends and playmates of them。 When I learned
that the moths die so soon; I saved them especially;
because there seemed no wickedness in it。〃
〃I have thought the same thing;〃 said the Bird
Woman encouragingly。 Then because the girl could
not eat until she learned about the moths; the Bird
Woman asked Elnora if she knew what kinds she had。
〃Not all of them;〃 answered Elnora。 〃Before Mr。
Duncan moved away he often saw me near the edge of
the swamp and he showed me the box he had fixed for
Freckles; and gave me the key。 There were some books
and things; so from that time on I studied and tried to
take moths right; but I am afraid they are not what you want。〃
〃Are they the big ones that fly mostly in June nights?〃
asked the Bird Woman。
〃Yes;〃 said Elnora。 〃Big gray ones with reddish
markings; pale blue…green; yellow with lavender; and red
and yellow。〃
〃What do you mean by ‘red and yellow?'〃 asked the
Bird Woman so quickly that the girl almost jumped
〃Not exactly red;〃 explained Elnora; with tremulous voice。
〃A reddish; yellowish brown; with canary…coloured spots
and gray lines on their wings。〃
〃How many of them?〃 It was the same quick question。
〃I had over two hundred eggs;〃 said Elnora; 〃but
some of them didn't hatch; and some of the caterpillars
died; but there must be at least a hundred perfect ones。〃
〃Perfect! How perfect?〃 cried the Bird Woman。
〃I mean whole wings; no down gone; and all their legs
and antennae;〃 faltered Elnora。
〃Young woman; that's the rarest moth in America;〃
said the Bird Woman solemnly。 〃If you have a hundred
of them; they are worth a hundred dollars according to
my list。 I can use all that are not damaged。〃
〃What if they are not pinned right;〃 quavered Elnora。
〃If they are perfect; that does not make the
slightest difference。 I know how to soften them so
that I can put them into any shape I choose。
Where are they? When may I see them?〃
〃They are in Freckles's old case in the Limberlost;〃
said Elnora。 〃I couldn't carry many for fear of breaking
them; but I could bring a few after school。〃
〃You come here at four;〃 said the Bird Woman; 〃and
we will drive out with some specimen boxes; and a price
list; and see what you have to sell。 Are they your very own?
Are you free to part with them?〃
〃They are mine;〃 said Elnora。 〃No one but God
knows I have them。 Mr。 Duncan gave me the books
and the box。 He told Freckles about me; and Freckles
told him to give me all he left。 He said for me to stick
to the swamp and be brave; and my hour would come; and
it has! I know most of them are all right; and oh; I
do need the money!〃
〃Could you tell me?〃 asked the Bird Woman softly。
〃You see the swamp and all the fields around it are so
full;〃 explained Elnora。 〃Every day I felt smaller and
smaller; and I wanted to know more and more; and pretty
soon I grew desperate; just as Freckles did。 But I am
better off than he was; for I have his books; and I have a
mother; even if she doesn't care for me as other girls'
mothers do for them; it's better than no one。〃
The Bird Woman's glance fell; for the girl was not
conscious of how much she was revealing。 Her eyes
were fixed on a black pitcher filled with goldenrod in
the centre of the table and she was saying what she thought。
〃As long as I could go to the Brushwood school I was
happy; but I couldn't go further just when things were
the most interesting; so I was determined I'd come to
high school and mother wouldn't consent。 You see
there's plenty of land; but father was drowned when I
was a baby; and mother and I can't make money as men do。
The taxes are higher every year; and she said it was
too expensive。 I wouldn't give her any rest; until at
last she bought me this dress; and these shoes and I came。
It was awful!〃
〃Do you live in that beautiful cabin at the northwest
end of the swamp?〃 asked the Bird Woman。
〃Yes;〃 said Elnora。
〃I remember the place and a story about it; now。
You entered the high school yesterday?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It was rather bad?〃
〃Rather bad!〃 echoed Elnora。
The Bird Woman laughed。
〃You can't tell me anything about that;〃 she said。
〃I once entered a city school straight from the country。
My dress was brown calico; and my shoes were heavy。〃
The tears began to roll down Elnora's cheeks。
〃Did they?〃 she faltered。
〃They did!〃 said the Bird Woman。 〃All of it。 I am
sure they did not miss one least little thing。〃
Then she wiped away some tears that began coursing
her cheeks; and laughed at the same time。
〃Where are they now?〃 asked Elnora suddenly。
〃They are widely scattered; but none of them have
attained heights out of range。 Some of the rich are
poor; and some of the poor are rich。 Some of the brightest
died insane; and some of the dullest worked out high
positions; some of the very worst to bear have gone out;
and I frequently hear from others。 Now I am here;
able to remember it; and mingle laughter with what
used to be all tears; for every day I have my beautiful
work; and almost every day God sends some one like you
to help me。 What is your name; my girl?〃
〃Elnora Comstock;〃 answered Elnora。 〃Yesterday on the
board it changed to Cornstock; and for a minute I
thought I'd die; but I can laugh over that already。〃
The Bird Woman arose and kissed her。 〃Finish your
lunch;〃 she said; 〃and I will bring my price lists; and
make a memorandum of what you think you have; so I
will know how many boxes to prepare。 And remember this:
What you are lies with you。 If you are lazy; and
accept your lot; you may live in it。 If you are willing
to work; you can write your name anywhere you choose;
among the only ones who live beyond the grave in this
world; the people who write books that help; make exquisite
music; carve statues; paint pictures; and work for others。
Never mind the calico dress; and the coarse shoes。
Work at your books; and before long you will hear
yesterday's tormentors boasting that they were once
classmates of yours。 ‘I could a tale unfold'!〃
She laughingly left the room and Elnora sat thinking;
until she remembered how hungry she was; so she ate the
food; drank the hot chocola
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