a girl of the limberlost-第38部分

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〃I　wish　you　could　realize　how　young　you　are；〃　said　Elnora。　

〃I　know　women　in　Onabasha　who　are　ten　years　older　than　you；

yet　they　look　twenty　years　younger。　　So　could　you；　if　you

would　dress　your　hair　becomingly；　and　wear　appropriate　clothes。〃



〃I　think　my　hair　puts　me　in　the　old　woman　class　permanently；〃

said　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃Well；　it　doesn't！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃There　is　a　woman

of　twenty…eight　who　has　hair　as　white　as　yours　from　sick

headaches；　but　her　face　is　young　and　beautiful。　　If　your

face　would　grow　a　little　fuller　and　those　lines　would　go

away；　you'd　be　lovely！〃



〃You　little　pig！〃　laughed　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Any　one

would　think　you　would　be　satisfied　with　having　a　splinter

new　mother；　without　setting　up　a　kick　on　her　looks；

first　thing。　　Greedy！〃



〃That　is　a　good　word；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　admit　the　charge。　

I　am　greedy　over　every　wasted　year。　　I　want　you　young；

lovely；　suitably　dressed　and　enjoying　life　like　the

other　girls'　mothers。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　laughed　softly　as　she　pushed　back　her

sunbonnet　so　that　shrubs　and　bushes　beside　the　way　could

be　scanned　closely。　　Elnora　walked　ahead　with　a　case　over

her　shoulder；　a　net　in　her　hand。　　Her　head　was　bare；　the

rolling　collar　of　her　lavender　gingham　dress　was　cut　in　a　V

at　the　throat；　the　sleeves　only　reached　the　elbows。　　Every　few

steps　she　paused　and　examined　the　shrubbery　carefully；

while　Mrs。　Comstock　was　watching　until　her　eyes　ached；

but　there　were　no　dandelions　in　the　pail　she　carried。



Early　June　was　rioting　in　fresh　grasses；　bright　flowers；

bird　songs；　and　gay…winged　creatures　of　air。　　Down　the

footpath　the　two　went　through　the　perfect　morning；　the

love　of　God　and　all　nature　in　their　hearts。　　At　last　they

reached　the　creek；　following　it　toward　the　bridge。　　Here　Mrs。

Comstock　found　a　large　bed　of　tender　dandelions　and　stopped

to　fill　her　pail。　　Then　she　sat　on　the　bank；　picking　over　the

greens；　while　she　listened　to　the　creek　softly　singing　its　June　song。



Elnora　remained　within　calling　distance；　and　was　having

good　success。　　At　last　she　crossed　the　creek；　following

it　up　to　a　bridge。　　There　she　began　a　careful　examination

of　the　under　sides　of　the　sleepers　and　flooring　for　cocoons。　

Mrs。　Comstock　could　see　her　and　the　creek　for　several

rods　above。　　The　mother　sat　beating　the　long　green　leaves

across　her　hand；　carefully　picking　out　the　white　buds；

because　Elnora　liked　them；　when　a　splash　up　the　creek

attracted　her　attention。



Around　the　bend　came　a　man。　　He　was　bareheaded；

dressed　in　a　white　sweater；　and　waders　which　reached

his　waist。　　He　walked　on　the　bank；　only　entering　the

water　when　forced。　　He　had　a　queer　basket　strapped　on

his　hip；　and　with　a　small　rod　he　sent　a　long　line　spinning

before　him　down　the　creek；　deftly　manipulating　with

it　a　little　floating　object。　　He　was　closer　Elnora　than

her　mother；　but　Mrs。　Comstock　thought　possibly　by

hurrying　she　could　remain　unseen　and　yet　warn　the　girl

that　a　stranger　was　coming。　　As　she　approached　the

bridge；　she　caught　a　sapling　and　leaned　over　the　water　to

call　Elnora。　　With　her　lips　parted　to　speak　she　hesitated

a　second　to　watch　a　sort　of　insect　that　flashed　past　on　the

water；　when　a　splash　from　the　man　attracted　the　girl。



She　was　under　the　bridge；　one　knee　planted　in　the

embankment　and　a　foot　braced　to　support　her。　　Her　hair

was　tousled　by　wind　and　bushes；　her　face　flushed；

and　she　lifted　her　arms　above　her　head；　working　to　loosen

a　cocoon　she　had　found。　　The　call　Mrs。　Comstock　had

intended　to　utter　never　found　voice；　for　as　Elnora　looked

down　at　the　sound；　〃Possibly　I　could　get　that　for　you；〃

suggested　the　man。



Mrs。　Comstock　drew　back。　　He　was　a　young　man　with　a

wonderfully　attractive　face；　although　it　was　too

white　for　robust　health；　broad　shoulders；　and　slender；

upright　frame。



〃Oh；　I　do　hope　you　can！〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃It's　quite

a　find！　　It's　one　of　those　lovely　pale　red　cocoons

described　in　the　books。　　I　suspect　it　comes　from　having

been　in　a　dark　place　and　screened　from　the　weather。〃



〃Is　that　so？〃　cried　the　man。　　〃Wait　a　minute。　　I've　never

seen　one。　　I　suppose　it's　a　Cecropia；　from　the　location。〃



〃Of　course；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃It's　so　cool　here　the　moth

hasn't　emerged。　　The　cocoon　is　a　big；　baggy　one；　and　it

is　as　red　as　fox　tail。〃



〃What　luck！〃　he　cried。　　〃Are　you　making　a　collection？〃



He　reeled　in　his　line；　laid　his　rod　across　a　bush　and

climbed　the　embankment　to　Elnora's　side；　produced　a

knife　and　began　the　work　of　whittling　a　deep　groove

around　the　cocoon。



〃Yes。　　I　paid　my　way　through　the　high　school　in

Onabasha　with　them。　　Now　I　am　starting　a　collection

which　means　college。〃



〃Onabasha！〃　said　the　man。　　〃That　is　where　I　am　visiting。　

Possibly　you　know　my　peopleDr。　Ammon's？　　The　doctor　is

my　uncle。　　My　home　is　in　Chicago。　　I've　been　having　typhoid

fever；　something　fierce。　　In　the　hospital　six　weeks。　

Didn't　gain　strength　right；　so　Uncle　Doc　sent　for　me。　

I　am　to　live　out　of　doors　all　summer；　and　exercise　until

I　get　in　condition　again。　　Do　you　know　my　uncle？〃



〃Yes。　　He　is　Aunt　Margaret's　doctor；　and　he　would

be　ours；　only　we　are　never　ill。〃



〃Well；　you　look　it！〃　said　the　man；　appraising　Elnora

at　a　glance。



〃Strangers　always　mention　it；〃　sighed　Elnora。　　〃I　wonder

how　it　would　seem　to　be　a　pale；　languid　lady　and　ride

in　a　carriage。〃



〃Ask　me！〃　laughed　the　man。　　〃It　feels　like　thedickens！　

I'm　so　proud　of　my　feet。　　It's　quite　a　trick　to　stand

on　them　now。　　I　have　to　keep　out　of　the　water　all　I　can

and　stop　to　baby　every　half…mile。　　But　with　interesting

outdoor　work　I'll　be　myself　in　a　week。〃



〃Do　you　call　that　work？〃　　Elnora　indicated　the　creek。



〃I　do；　indeed！　　Nearly　three　miles；　banks　too　soft　to　brag

on　and　never　a　strike。　　Wouldn't　you　call　that　hard　labour？〃



〃Yes；〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃Work　at　which　you　might

kill　yourself　and　never　get　a　fish。　　Did　any　one　tell　you

there　were　trout　in　Sleepy　Snake　Creek？〃



〃Uncle　said　I　could　try。〃



〃Oh；　you　can；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃You　can　try　no　end；

but　you'll　never　get　a　trout。　　This　is　too　far　south　and

too　warm　for　them。　　If　you　sit　on　the　bank　and　use

worms　you　might　catch　some　perch　or　catfish。〃



〃But　that　isn't　exercise。〃



〃Well；　if　you　only　want　exercise；　go　right　on　fishing。

You　will　have　a　creel　full　of　invisible　results　every　night。〃



〃I　object；〃　said　the　man　emphatically。　　He　stopped

work　again　and　studied　Elnora。　　Even　the　watching

mother　could　not　blame　him。　　In　the　shade　of　the　bridge

Elnora's　bright　head　and　her　lavender　dress　made　a

picture　worthy　of　much　contemplation。



〃I　object！〃　repeated　the　man。　　〃When　I　work　I　want

to　see　results。　　I'd　rather　exercise　sawing　wood；　making

one　pile　grow　little　and　the　other　big　than　to　cast　all　day

and　catch　nothing　because　there　is　not　a　fish　to　take。　

Work　for　work's　sake　doesn't　appeal　to　me。〃



He　digged　the　groove　around　the　cocoon　with　skilled　hand。　

〃Now　there　is　some　fun　in　this！〃　he　said。　　It's　going　to

be　a　fair　job　to　cut　it　out；　but　when　it　comes；　it　is

not　only　beautiful；　but　worth　a　price；　it　will　help　you　on

your　way。　　I　think　I'll　put　up　my　rod　and　hunt　moths。　

That　would　be　something　like！　　Don't　you　want　help？〃



Elnora　parried　the　question。　　〃Have　you　ever　hunted

moths；　Mr。　Ammon？



〃Enough　to　know　the　ropes　in　taking　them　and　to

distinguish　the　commonest　ones。　　I　go　wild　on　Catocalae。　

There's　too　many　of　them；　all　too　much　alike　for　Philip；

but　I　know　all　these　fellows。　　One　flew　into　my　room　when

I　was　about　ten　years　old；　and　we　thought　it　a　miracle。　

None　of　us　ever　had　seen　one　so　we　took　it　over　to　the

museum　to　Dr。　Dorsey。　　He　said　they　were　common　enough；

but　we　didn't　see　them　because　they　flew　at　night。　

He　showed　me　the　museum　collection；　and　I　was　so

interested　I　took　mine　back　home　and　started　to　hunt　them。　

Every　year　after　that　we　went　to　our　cottage　a　month

earlier；　so　I　could　find　them；　and　all　my　family　helped。　

I　stuck　to　it　until　I　went　to　college。　　Then；　keeping

the　little　moths　out　of　the　big　ones　was　too　much　for　the

mater；　so　father　advised　that　I　donate　mine　to　the　museum。　

He　bought　a　fine　case　for　them　with　my　name　on　it；

which　constitutes　my　sole　contribution　to　science。　　I　know

enough　to　help　you　all　right。〃



〃Aren't　you　going　north　this　year？〃



〃All　depends　on　how　this　fever　leaves　me。　　Uncle　says

the　nights　are　too　cold　and　the　days　too　hot　there

for　me。　　He　thinks　I　had　better　stay　in　an　even

temperature　until　I　am　strong　again。　　I　am　going　to　stick

pretty　close　to　him　until　I　know　I　am。　　I　wouldn't　admit

it　to　any　one　at　home；　but　I　was　almost　gone。　　I　don't

believe　anything　can　eat　up　nerve　much　faster　than　the

burning　of　a　slow　fever。　　No；　thanks；　I　have　enough。

I　stay　with　Uncle　Doc；　so　if　I　feel　it　coming　again　he　can

do　something　quickly。〃



〃I　don't　blame　you；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　never　have　been

sick；　but　it　must　be　dreadful。　　I　am　afraid　you　are　tiring

yourself　over　that。　　Let　me　take　the　knife　awhile。〃



〃Oh；　it　isn't　so　bad　as　that！　　I　wouldn't　be　wading

creeks　if　it　were。　　I　only　need　a　few　more　days　to　get

steady　on　my　feet　again。　　I'll　soon　have　this　out。〃



〃It　is　kind　of　you　to　get　it；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　should

have　had　to　peel　it；　which　would　spoil　the　cocoon　for　a'

specimen　and　ruin　the　moth。〃



〃You　haven't　said　yet　whether　I　may　help　you　while

I　am　here。〃



Elnora　hesitated。



〃You　better　say　‘yes；'〃　he　persisted。　　〃It　would　be　a

real　kindness。　　It　would　keep　me　outdoors　all　day　and

give　an　incentive　to　work。　　I'm　good　at　it。　　I'll　show　you

if　I　am　not　in　a　week　or　so。　　I　can　‘sugar；'　manipulate

lights；　and　mirrors；　and　all　the　expert　methods。　　I'll　wager；

moths　are　numerous　in　the　old　swamp　over　there。〃



〃They　are；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃Most　I　have　I　took　there。　

A　few　nights　ago　my　mother　caught　a　numb