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a girl of the limberlost-第89部分
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the aristocratic little nose。
〃The supply of freckles holds out in my family; you see!〃
she said。 〃Both of the girls will have them; and the
second boy a few。〃
She stood an instant longer; then bending; ran her hand
caressingly down a rosy bare leg; while she kissed the
babyish red mouth。 There had been some reason for
touching all of them; the kiss fell on the lips which were
like Freckles's。
To Elnora she said a tender good…night; whispering
brave words of encouragement and making plans to fill
the days to come。 Then she went away。 An hour later
there was a light tap on the girl's door。
〃Come!〃 she called as she lay staring into the dark。
The Angel felt her way to the bedside; sat down and
took Elnora's hands。
〃I just had to come back to you;〃 she said。 〃I have
been telling Freckles; and he is almost hurting himself
with laughing。 I didn't think it was funny; but he does。
He thinks it's the funniest thing that ever happened。
He says that to run away from Mr。 Ammon; when you
had made him no promise at all; when he wasn't sure of
you; won't send him home to her; it will set him hunting you!
He says if you had combined the wisdom of Solomon;
Socrates; and all the remainder of the wise men; you
couldn't have chosen any course that would have sealed
him to you so surely。 He feels that now Mr。 Ammon will
perfectly hate her for coming down there and driving
you away。 And you went to give her the chance she wanted。
Oh; Elnora! It is becoming funny! I see it; too!〃
The Angel rocked on the bedside。 Elnora faced the
dark in silence。
〃Forgive me;〃 gulped the Angel。 〃I didn't mean to laugh。
I didn't think it was funny; until all at once it
came to me。 Oh; dear! Elnora; it funny! I've got
to laugh!〃
〃Maybe it is;〃 admitted Elnora 〃to others; but it
isn't very funny to me。 And it won't be to Philip; or
to mother。〃
That was very true。 Mrs。 Comstock had been slightly
prepared for stringent action of some kind; by what Elnora
had said。 The mother instantly had guessed where the
girl would go; but nothing was said to Philip。 That would
have been to invalidate Elnora's test in the beginning; and
Mrs。 Comstock knew her child well enough to know that
she never would marry Philip unless she felt it right that
she should。 The only way was to find out; and Elnora
had gone to seek the information。 There was nothing to
do but wait until she came back; and her mother was not
in the least uneasy but that the girl would return brave and
self…reliant; as always。
Philip Ammon hurried back to the Limberlost; strong
in the hope that now he might take Elnora into his arms
and receive her promise to become his wife。 His first
shock of disappointment came when he found her gone。
In talking with Mrs。 Comstock he learned that Edith Carr
had made an opportunity to speak with Elnora alone。
He hastened down the road to meet her; coming back alone;
an agitated man。 Then search revealed the notes。 His read:
DEAR PHILIP:
I find that I am never going to be able to answer your question of
this afternoon fairly to all of us; when you are with me。 So I am going
away a few weeks to think over matters alone。 I shall not tell you;
or even mother; where I am going; but I shall be safe; well cared for;
and happy。 Please go back home and live among your friends; just
as you always have done; and on or before the first of September; I
will write you where I am; and what I have decided。 Please do not
blame Edith Carr for this; and do not avoid her。 I hope you will call
on her and be friends。 I think she is very sorry; and covets your
friendship at least。 Until September; then; as ever;
ELNORA。
Mrs。 Comstock's note was much the same。 Philip was
ill with disappointment。 In the arbour he laid his head on
the table; among the implements of Elnora's loved work; and
gulped down dry sobs he could not restrain。 Mrs。 Comstock
never had liked him so well。 Her hand involuntarily crept
toward his dark head; then she drew back。 Elnora would not
want her to do anything whatever to influence him。
〃What am I going to do to convince Edith Carr that I
do not love her; and Elnora that I am hers?〃 he demanded。
〃I guess you have to figure that out yourself;〃 said
Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I'd be glad to help you if I could;
but it seems to be up to you。〃
Philip sat a long time in silence。 〃Well; I have decided!〃
he said abruptly。 〃Are you perfectly sure Elnora had
plenty of money and a safe place to go?〃
〃Absolutely!〃 answered Mrs。 Comstock。 〃She has
been taking care of herself ever since she was born; and she
always has come out all right; so far; I'll stake all I'm
worth on it; that she always will。 I don't know where she
is; but I'm not going to worry about her safety。〃
〃I can't help worrying!〃 cried Philip。 〃I can think of
fifty things that may happen to her when she thinks she
is safe。 This is distracting! First; I am going to run
up to see my father。 Then; I'll let you know what we
have decided。 Is there anything I can do for you?〃
〃Nothing!〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。
But the desire to do something for him was so strong
with her she scarcely could keep her lips closed or her
hands quiet。 She longed to tell him what Edith Carr had
said; how it had affected Elnora; and to comfort him as she
felt she could。 But loyalty to the girl held her。 If Elnora
truly felt that she could not decide until Edith Carr was
convinced; then Edith Carr would have to yield or triumph。
It rested with Philip。 So Mrs。 Comstock kept silent; while
Philip took the night limited; a bitterly disappointed man。
By noon the next day he was in his father's offices。 They had
a long conference; but did not arrive at much until the elder
Ammon suggested sending for Polly。 Anything that might have
happened could be explained after Polly had told of the
private conference between Edith and Elnora。
〃Talk about lovely woman!〃 cried Philip Ammon。 〃One would
think that after such a dose as Edith gave me; she would
be satisfied to let me go my way; but no! Not caring for
me enough herself to save me from public disgrace; she must
now pursue me to keep any other woman from loving me。
I call that too much! I am going to see her; and I want
you to go with me; father。〃
〃Very well;〃 said Mr。 Ammon; 〃I will go。〃
When Edith Carr came into her reception…room that
afternoon; gowned for conquest; she expected only Philip;
and him penitent。 She came hurrying toward him; smiling;
radiant; ready to use every allurement she possessed; and
paused in dismay when she saw his cold face and his father。
〃Why; Phil!〃 she cried。 〃When did you come home?〃
〃I am not at home;〃 answered Philip。 〃I merely ran up
to see my father on business; and to inquire of you what
it was you said to
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