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a girl of the limberlost-第73部分

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did wonderful things to the hearts of the country…bred women。 

A restlessness began on bright February days; calmed during

March storms and attacked full force in April。  When neither

could bear it any longer they were forced to discuss the matter

and admit they were growing ill with pure homesickness。 

They decided to keep the city house during the summer;

but to return to the farm to live as soon as school closed。



So Mrs。 Comstock would prepare breakfast and lunch

and then slip away to the farm to make up beds in her

ploughed garden; plant seeds; trim and tend her flowers;

and prepare the cabin for occupancy。  Then she would go

home and make the evening as cheerful as possible for

Elnora; in these days she lived only for the girl。



Both of them were glad when the last of May came and the

schools closed。  They packed the books and clothing they

wished to take into a wagon and walked across the fields

to the old cabin。  As they approached it; Mrs。 Comstock

said to Elnora:  〃You are sure you won't be lonely here?〃



Elnora knew what she really meant。



〃Quite sure;〃 she said。  〃For a time last fall I was

glad to be away; but that all wore out with the winter。 

Spring made me homesick as I could be。  I can scarcely wait

until we get back again。〃



So they began that summer as they had begun all others

with work。  But both of them took a new joy in everything;

and the violin sang by the hour in the twilight。









CHAPTER XIX





WHEREIN PHILIP AMMON GIVES A BALL IN HONOUR OF EDITH CARR;

AND HART HENDERSON APPEARS ON THE SCENE





Edith Carr stood in a vine…enclosed side veranda

of the Lake Shore Club House waiting while Philip

Ammon gave some important orders。  In a few days

she would sail for Paris to select a wonderful trousseau

she had planned for her marriage in October。  To…night

Philip was giving a club dance in her honour。  He had

spent days in devising new and exquisite effects in

decorations; entertainment; and supper。  Weeks before the

favoured guests had been notified。  Days before they had

received the invitations asking them to participate in this

entertainment by Philip Ammon in honour of Miss Carr。 

They spoke of it as 〃Phil's dance for Edith!〃



She could hear the rumble of carriages and the panting

of automobiles as in a steady stream they rolled to the

front entrance。  She could catch glimpses of floating

draperies of gauze and lace; the flash of jewels; and the

passing of exquisite colour。  Every one was newly arrayed

in her honour in the loveliest clothing; and the most

expensive jewels they could command。  As she thought of it

she lifted her head a trifle higher and her eyes flashed proudly。



She was robed in a French creation suggested and designed

by Philip。  He had said to her:  〃I know a competent

judge who says the distinctive feature of June is her

exquisite big night moths。  I want you to be the very

essence of June that night; as you will be the embodiment

of love。  Be a moth。  The most beautiful of them is either

the pale…green Luna or the Yellow Imperialis。  Be my

moon lady; or my gold Empress。〃



He took her to the museum and showed her the moths。 

She instantly decided on the yellow。  Because she knew

the shades would make her more startlingly beautiful than

any other colour。  To him she said:  〃A moon lady seems

so far away and cold。  I would be of earth and very near

on that night。  I choose the Empress。〃



So she matched the colours exactly; wrote out the idea

and forwarded the order to Paquin。  To…night when

Philip Ammon came for her; he stood speechless a minute

and then silently kissed her hands。



For she stood tall; lithe; of grace inborn; her dark waving

hair high piled and crossed by gold bands studded with

amethyst and at one side an enamelled lavender orchid

rimmed with diamonds; which flashed and sparkled。  The soft

yellow robe of lightest weight velvet fitted her form

perfectly; while from each shoulder fell a great velvet wing

lined with lavender; and flecked with embroidery of that

colour in imitation of the moth。  Around her throat was a

wonderful necklace and on her arms were bracelets of gold

set with amethyst and rimmed with diamonds。  Philip had said

that her gloves; fan; and slippers must be lavender; because

the feet of the moth were that colour。  These accessories

had been made to order and embroidered with gold。  It had

been arranged that her mother; Philip's; and a few best

friends should receive his guests。  She was to appear when

she led the grand march with Philip Ammon。  Miss Carr was

positive that she would be the most beautiful; and most

exquisitely gowned woman present。  In her heart she thought

of herself as 〃Imperialis Regalis;〃 as the Yellow Empress。 

In a few moments she would stun her world into feeling it as

Philip Ammon had done; for she had taken pains that the

history of her costume should be whispered to a few who

would give it circulation。  She lifted her head proudly and

waited; for was not Philip planning something unusual and

unsurpassed in her honour?  Then she smiled。



But of all the fragmentary thoughts crossing her brain the

one that never came was that of Philip Ammon as the Emperor。 

Philip the king of her heart; at least her equal in all things。 

She was the Empressyes; Philip was but a mere man; to

devise entertainments; to provide luxuries; to humour whims;

to kiss hands!



〃Ah; my luck!〃 cried a voice behind her。



Edith Carr turned and smiled。



〃I thought you were on the ocean;〃 she said。



〃I only reached the dock;〃 replied the man; 〃when I had

a letter that recalled me by the first limited。〃



〃Oh!  Important business?〃



〃The only business of any importance in all the world

to me。  I'm triumphant that I came。  Edith; you are the

most superb woman in every respect that I have ever seen。 

One glimpse is worth the whole journey。〃



〃You like my dress?〃  She moved toward him and turned;

lifting her arms。  〃Do you know what it is intended

to represent?〃



〃Yes; Polly Ammon told me。  I knew when I heard

about it how you would look; so I started a sleuth hunt;

to get the first peep。  Edith; I can become intoxicated

merely with looking at you to…night。〃



He half…closed his eyes and smilingly stared straight at her。 

He was taller than she; a lean man; with close…cropped light

hair; steel…gray eyes; a square chin and 〃man of the world〃

written all over him。



Edith Carr flushed。  〃I thought you realized when you

went away that you were to stop that; Hart Henderson;〃

she cried。



〃I did; but this letter of which I tell you called me back

to start it all over again。〃



She came a step closer。  〃Who wrote that letter; and

what did it contain concerning me?〃 she demanded。



〃One of your most intimate chums wrote it。  It contained

the hazard that possibly I had given up too soon。  It said

that in a fit o
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