a girl of the limberlost-第98部分

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prove　whether　I　am　sincere。　　This　is　my　test；　Hart！　　Don't

you　see　it？　　If　I　am　big　enough　to　carry　that　to　her；　you

will　believe　that　there　is　some　good　in　me。　　You　will　not

be　loving　me　in　vain。　　This　is　an　especial　Providence；　man！　

Be　my　strength！　　Help　me；　as　you　always　have　done！〃



Henderson　arose　and　shook　the　leaves　from　his　clothing。　

He　drew　Edith　Carr　to　her　feet　and　carefully　picked　the

mosses　from　her　skirts。　　He　went　to　the　water　and

moistened　his　handkerchief　to　bathe　her　face。



〃Now　a　dust　of　powder；〃　he　said　when　the　tears　were

washed　away。



From　a　tiny　book　Edith　tore　leaves　that　she　passed　over

her　face。



〃All　gone！〃　cried　Henderson；　critically　studying　her。　

〃You　look　almost　half　as　lovely　as　you　really　are！〃



Edith　Carr　drew　a　wavering　breath。　　She　stretched　one

hand　to　him。



〃Hold　tight；　Hart！〃　she　said。　　〃I　know　they　handle

these　things；　but　I　would　quite　as　soon　touch　a　snake。〃



Henderson　clenched　his　teeth　and　held　steadily。　　The　moth

had　emerged　too　recently　to　be　troublesome。　　It　climbed

on　her　fingers　quietly　and　obligingly　clung　there

without　moving。　　So　hand　in　hand　they　went　down　the

dark　forest　path。　　When　they　came　to　the　avenue；　the　first

person　they　met　paused　with　an　ejaculation　of　wonder。　

The　next　stopped　also；　and　every　one　following。　　They　could

make　little　progress　on　account　of　marvelling；

interested　people。　　A　strange　excitement　took　possession

of　Edith。　　She　began　to　feel　proud　of　the　moth。



〃Do　you　know；〃　she　said　to　Henderson；〃　this　is　growing

easier　every　step。　　Its　clinging　is　not　disagreeable　as　I

thought　it　would　be。　　I　feel　as　if　I　were　saving　it；

protecting　it。　I　am　proud　that　we　are　taking　it　to　be　put

into　a　collection　or　a　book。　　It　seems　like　doing　a　thing

worth　while。　　Oh；　Hart；　I　wish　we　could　work　together　at

something　for　which　people　would　care　as　they　seem　to

for　this。　　Hear　what　they　say！　　See　them　lift　their

little　children　to　look　at　it！〃



〃Edith；　if　you　don't　stop；〃　said　Henderson；　〃I　will　take

you　in　my　arms　here　on　the　avenue。　　You　are　adorable！〃



〃Don't　you　dare！〃　laughed　Edith　Carr。　　The　colour

rushed　to　her　cheeks　and　a　new　light　leaped　in　her　eyes



〃Oh；　Hart！〃　she　cried。　　〃Let's　work！　　Let's　do　something！　

That's　the　way　she　makes　people　love　her　so。　　There's　the

place；　and　thank　goodness；　there　is　a　crowd。〃



〃You　darling！〃　whispered　Henderson　as　they　passed　up

the　walk。　　Her　face　was　rose…flushed　with　excitement　and

her　eyes　shone。



〃Hello；　every；　one！〃　she　cried　as　she　came　on　the　wide　veranda。　

〃Only　see　what　we　found　up　in　the　forest！　　We　thought　you

might　like　to　have　it　for　some　of　your　collections。〃



She　held　out　the　moth　as　she　walked　straight　to　Elnora；

who　arose　to　meet　her；　crying：　　〃How　perfectly　splendid！

I　don't　even　know　how　to　begin　to　thank　you。〃



Elnora　took　the　moth。　　Edith　shook　hands　with　all　of

them　and　asked　Philip　if　he　were　improving。　　She　said　a　few

polite　words　to　Freckles　and　the　Angel；　declined　to　remain

on　account　of　an　engagement；　and　went　away；　gracefully。



〃Well　bully　for　her！〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃She's　a

little　thoroughbred　after　all！〃



〃That　was　a　mighty　big　thing　for　her　to　be　doing；〃

said　Freckles　in　a　hushed　voice。



〃If　you　knew　her　as　well　as　I　do；〃　said　Philip　Ammon；

〃you　would　have　a　better　conception　of　what　that　cost。〃



〃It　was　a　terror！〃　cried　the　Angel。　　〃I　never　could　have　done　it。〃



〃‘Never　could　have　done　it！'〃　echoed　Freckles。　　〃Why；　Angel；

dear；　that　is　the　one　thing　of　all　the　world　you　would　have　done！〃



〃I　have　to　take　care　of　this；〃　faltered　Elnora；　hurrying

toward　the　door　to　hide　the　tears　which　were　rolling　down

her　cheeks。



〃I　must　help；〃　said　Philip；　disappearing　also。　　〃Elnora；〃

he　called；　catching　up　with　her；　〃take　me　where　I　may　cry；　too。　

Wasn't　she　great？〃



〃Superb！〃　exclaimed　Elnora。　　〃I　have　no　words。　　I　feel　so　humbled！〃



〃So　do　I；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　think　a　brave　deed　like　that

always　makes　one　feel　so。　　Now　are　you　happy？〃



〃Unspeakably　happy！〃　answered　Elnora。









The　End