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a girl of the limberlost-第31部分
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thirty…six; although she appeared fifty。 But there
was an expression on her usually cold face that was
attractive just then; and Billy was in search of attractions。
〃Have I stayed too late; mother?〃 asked Elnora anxiously。
〃I truly intended to come straight back; but I thought
I could rock Billy to sleep first。 Everything is strange;
and he's so nervous。〃
〃Is that your ma?〃 demanded Billy。
〃Yes。〃
〃Does she love you?〃
〃Of course!〃
〃My mother didn't love me;〃 said Billy。 〃She went
away and left me; and never came back。 She don't care
what happens to me。 You wouldn't go away and leave
your little girl; would you?〃 questioned Billy。
〃No;〃 said Katharine Comstock; 〃and I wouldn't
leave a little boy; either。〃
Billy began sliding from Elnora's knees。
〃Do you like boys?〃 he questioned。
〃If there is anything I love it is a boy;〃 said Mrs。
Comstock assuringly。 Billy was on the floor。
〃Do you like dogs?〃
〃Yes。 Almost as well as boys。 I am going to buy a
dog as soon as I can find a good one。〃
Billy swept toward her with a whoop。
〃Do you want a boy?〃 he shouted。
Katharine Comstock stretched out her arms; and
gathered him in。
〃Of course; I want a boy!〃 she rejoiced。
〃Maybe you'd like to have me?〃 offered Billy。
〃Sure I would;〃 triumphed Mrs。 Comstock。 〃Any one
would like to have you。 You are just a real boy; Billy。〃
〃Will you take Snap?〃
〃I'd like to have Snap almost as well as you。〃
〃Mother!〃 breathed Elnora imploringly。 〃Don't! Oh; don't!
He thinks you mean it!〃
〃And so I do mean it;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I'll take
him in a jiffy。 I throw away enough to feed a little
tyke like him every day。 His chatter would be great
company while you are gone。 Blood soon can be purified
with right food and baths; and as for Snap; I meant to
buy a bulldog; but possibly Snap will serve just as well。
All I ask of a dog is to bark at the right time。 I'll do
the rest。 Would you like to come and be my boy; Billy?〃
Billy leaned against Mrs。 Comstock; reached his arms
around her neck and gripped her with all his puny might。
〃You can whip me all you want to;〃 he said。 〃I won't
make a sound。〃
Mrs。 Comstock held him closely and her hard face was
softening; of that there could be no doubt。
〃Now; why would any one whip a nice little boy like
you?〃 she asked wonderingly。
〃She〃Billy from his refuge waved toward Margaret
〃she was going to whip me 'cause her cats fought;
when I tied their tails together and hung them over the
line to dry。 How did I know her old cats would fight?〃
Mrs。 Comstock began to laugh suddenly; and try as
she would she could not stop so soon as she desired。
Billy studied her。
〃Have you got turkeys?〃 he demanded。
〃Yes; flocks of them;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock; vainly
struggling to suppress her mirth; and settle her face in
its accustomed lines。
〃Are their tails fast?〃 demanded Billy。
〃Why; I think so;〃 marvelled Mrs。 Comstock。
〃Hers ain't!〃 said Billy with the wave toward Margaret
that was becoming familiar。 〃Her turkey pulled;
and its tail comed right off。 She's going to whip me if he
lets her。 I didn't know the turkey would pull。 I didn't
know its tail would come off。 I won't ever touch one
again; will I?〃
〃Of course; you won't;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。 〃And what's
more; I don't care if you do! I'd rather have a fine
little man like you than all the turkeys in the country。
Let them lose their old tails if they want to; and let
the cats fight。 Cats and turkeys don't compare with boys;
who are going to be fine big men some of these days。〃
Then Billy and Mrs。 Comstock hugged each other
rapturously; while their audience stared in silent amazement。
〃You like boys!〃 exulted Billy; and his head dropped
against Mrs。 Comstock in unspeakable content。
〃Yes; and if I don't have to carry you the whole way
home; we must start right now;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。
〃You are going to be asleep before you know it。〃
Billy opened his eyes and braced himself。 〃I can
walk;〃 he said proudly。
〃All right; we must start。 Come; Elnora! Good…night; folks!〃
Mrs。 Comstock set Billy on the floor; and arose gripping
his hand。 〃You take the other side; Elnora; and we will
help him as much as we can;〃 she said。
Elnora stared piteously at Margaret; then at Wesley;
and arose in white…faced bewilderment。
〃Billy; are you going to leave without even saying good…
bye to me?〃 asked Wesley; with a gulp。
Billy held tight to Mrs。 Comstock and Elnora。
〃Good…bye!〃 he said casually。 〃I'll come and see you
some time。〃
Wesley Sinton gave a smothered sob; and strode from
the room。
Mrs。 Comstock started toward the door; dragging at
Billy while Elnora pulled back; but Mrs。 Sinton was before
them; her eyes flashing。
〃Kate Comstock; you think you are mighty smart;
don't you?〃 she cried。
〃I ain't in the lunatic asylum; where you belong;
anyway;〃said Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I am smart enough to tell
a dandy boy when I see him; and I'm good and glad to
get him。 I'll love to have him!〃
〃Well; you won't have him!〃 exclaimed Margaret Sinton。
〃That boy is Wesley's! He found him; and brought him here。
You can't come in and take him like that! Let go of him!〃
〃Not much; I won't!〃 cried Mrs。 Comstock。 〃Leave the
poor sick little soul here for you to beat; because he
didn't know just how to handle things! Of course; he'll
make mistakes。 He must have a lot of teaching; but not
the kind he'll get from you! Clear out of my way!〃
〃You let go of our boy;〃 ordered Margaret。
〃Why? Do you want to whip him; before he can go
to sleep?〃 jeered Mrs。 Comstock。
〃No; I don't!〃 said Margaret。 〃He's Wesley's; and
nobody shall touch him。 Wesley!〃
Wesley Sinton appeared behind Margaret in the doorway;
and she turned to him。 〃Make Kate Comstock let go of
our boy!〃 she demanded。
〃Billy; she wants you now;〃 said Wesley Sinton。 〃She won't
whip you; and she won't let any one else。 You can have
stacks of good things to eat; ride in the carriage; and have
a great time。 Won't you stay with us?〃
Billy drew away from Mrs。 Comstock and Elnora。
He faced Margaret; his eyes shrewd with unchildish wisdom。
Necessity had taught him to strike the hot iron; to
drive the hard bargain。
〃Can I have Snap to live here always?〃 he demanded。
〃Yes; you can have all the dogs you want;〃 said Margaret Sinton。
〃Can I sleep close enough so's I can touch you?〃
〃Yes; you can move your lounge up so that you can
hold my hand;〃 said Margaret。
〃Do you love me now?〃 questioned Billy。
〃I'll try to love you; if you are a good boy;〃 said Margaret。
〃Then I guess I'll stay;〃 said Billy; walking over to her。
Out in the night Elnora and her mother went down the
road in the moonl
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