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a girl of the limberlost-第79部分
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did not appear at all the same woman; but Philip saw only
Elnora; heard only her greeting。 He caught both hands
where she offered but one。
〃Elnora;〃 he cried; 〃if you were engaged to me; and we
were at a ball; among hundreds; where I offended you very
much; and didn't even know I had done anything; and if I
asked you before all of them to allow me to explain;
to forgive me; to wait; would your face grow distorted
and unfamiliar with anger? Would you drop my ring on the
floor and insult me repeatedly? Oh Elnora; would you?〃
Elnora's big eyes seemed to leap; while her face grew
very white。 She drew away her hands。
〃Hush; Phil! Hush!〃 she protested。 〃That fever has
you again! You are dreadfully ill。 You don't know
what you are saying。〃
〃I am sleepless and exhausted; I'm heartsick; but I am
well as I ever was。 Answer me; Elnora; would you?〃
〃Answer nothing!〃 cried Mrs。 Comstock。 〃Answer nothing!
Hang your coat there on your nail; Phil; and come split
some kindling。 Elnora; clean away that stuff; and set
the table。 Can't you see the boy is starved and tired?
He's come home to rest and eat a decent meal。 Come on; Phil!〃
Mrs。 Comstock marched away; and Philip hung his coat
in its old place and followed。 Out of sight and hearing
she turned on him。
〃Do you call yourself a man or a hound?〃 she flared。
〃I beg your pardon〃 stammered Philip Ammon。
〃I should think you would!〃 she ejaculated。 〃I'll admit
you did the square thing and was a man last summer;
though I'd liked it better if you'd faced up and told
me you were promised; but to come back here babying;
and take hold of Elnora like that; and talk that way
because you have had a fuss with your girl; I don't tolerate。
Split that kindling and I'll get your supper; and then you
better go。 I won't have you working on Elnora's big
heart; because you have quarrelled with some one else。
You'll have it patched up in a week and be gone again; so
you can go right away。〃
〃Mrs。 Comstock; I came to ask Elnora to marry me。〃
〃The more fool you; then!〃 cried Mrs。 Comstock。
〃This time yesterday you were engaged to another woman;
no doubt。 Now; for some little flare…up you come racing
here to use Elnora as a tool to spite the other girl。
A week of sane living; and you will be sorry and ready to
go back to Chicago; or; if you really are man enough to be
sure of yourself; she will come to claim you。 She has
her rights。 An engagement of years is a serious matter; and
not broken for a whim。 If you don't go; she'll come。
Then; when you patch up your affairs and go sailing away
together; where does my girl come in?〃
〃I am a lawyer; Mrs。 Comstock;〃 said Philip。 〃It appeals
to me as beneath your ordinary sense of justice to decide
a case without hearing the evidence。 It is due me that
you hear me first。〃
〃Hear your side!〃 flashed Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I'd a
heap sight rather hear the girl!〃
〃I wish to my soul that you had heard and seen her last
night; Mrs。 Comstock;〃 said Ammon。 〃Then; my way
would be clear。 I never even thought of coming
here to…day。 I'll admit I would have come in time;
but not for many months。 My father sent me。〃
〃Your father sent you! Why?〃
〃Father; mother; and Polly were present last night。
They; and all my friends; saw me insulted and disgraced
in the worst exhibition of uncontrolled temper any of us
ever witnessed。 All of them knew it was the end。
Father liked what I had told him of Elnora; and he
advised me to come here; so I came。 If she does not
want me; I can leave instantly; but; oh I hoped she
would understand!〃
〃You people are not splitting wood;〃 called Elnora。
〃Oh yes we are!〃 answered Mrs。 Comstock。 〃You set
out the things for biscuit; and lay the table。〃 She turned
again to Philip。 〃I know considerable about your father;〃
she said。 〃I have met your Uncle's family frequently
this winter。 I've heard your Aunt Anna say that she
didn't at all like Miss Carr; and that she and all your
family secretly hoped that something would happen to
prevent your marrying her。 That chimes right in with
your saying that your father sent you here。 I guess you
better speak your piece。〃
Philip gave his version of the previous night。
〃Do you believe me?〃 he finished。
〃Yes;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。
〃May I stay?〃
〃Oh; it looks all right for you; but what about her?〃
〃Nothing; so far as I am concerned。 Her plans were all
made to start to Europe to…day。 I suspect she is on the
way by this time。 Elnora is very sensible; Mrs。 Comstock。
Hadn't you better let her decide this?〃
〃The final decision rests with her; of course;〃 admitted
Mrs。 Comstock。 〃But look you one thing! She's all I have。
As Solomon says; ‘she is the one child; the only child
of her mother。' I've suffered enough in this world
that I fight against any suffering which threatens her。
So far as I know you've always been a man; and you
may stay。 But if you bring tears and heartache to her;
don't have the assurance to think I'll bear it tamely。
I'll get right up and fight like a catamount; if things
go wrong for Elnora!〃
〃I have no doubt but you will;〃 replied Philip; 〃and I
don't blame you in the least if you do。 I have the utmost
devotion to offer Elnora; a good home; fair social position;
and my family will love her dearly。 Think it over。 I know
it is sudden; but my father advised it。〃
〃Yes; I reckon he did!〃 said Mrs。 Comstock dryly。 〃I guess
instead of me being the catamount; you had the genuine
article up in Chicago; masquerading in peacock feathers;
and posing as a fine lady; until her time came to scratch。
Human nature seems to be the same the world over。 But I'd
give a pretty to know that secret thing you say you don't;
that set her raving over your just catching a moth for Elnora。
You might get that crock of strawberries in the spring house。〃
They prepared and ate supper。 Afterward they sat in
the arbour and talked; or Elnora played until time for
Philip to go。
〃Will you walk to the gate with me?〃 he asked Elnora
as he arose。
〃Not to…night;〃 she answered lightly。 〃Come early in
the morning if you like; and we will go over to Sleepy
Snake Creek and hunt moths and gather dandelions for dinner。〃
Philip leaned toward her。 〃May I tell you to…morrow
why I came?〃 he asked。
〃I think not;〃 replied Elnora。 〃The fact is; I don't
care why you came。 It is enough for me that we are your
very good friends; and that in trouble; you have found us
a refuge。 I fancy we had better live a week or two before
you say anything。 There is a possibility that what you
have to say may change in that length of time。
〃It will not change one iota!〃 cried Philip。
〃Then it will have the grace of that much age to give it
some small touch of flavour;〃 said the girl。 〃Come early
in the morn
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