Всего за 0.01 руб. Купить полную версию
Here Patty came in with a pan full of greens and the sisters sat down in the sunny window to get them ready for the pot.
Im calmer, the little rebel allowed. Thats generally the way it turns out with me. I get into a rage, but I can generally sing it off!
You certainly must have got rid of a good deal of temper this morning, by the way your voice sounded.
Nobody can hear us in this out-of-the-way place. Its easy enough to see that the women werent asked to say anything when the men settled where the houses should be built! The men werent content to stick them on the top of a high hill, or half a mile from the stores, but put them back to the main road, taking due care to cut the sink-window where their wives couldnt see anything even when they were washing dishes.
I dont know that I ever thought about it in that way; and Waitstill looked out of the window in a brown study while her hands worked with the dandelion greens. Ive noticed it, but I never supposed the men did it intentionally.
No, you wouldnt, said Patty with the pessimism of a woman of ninety, as she stole an admiring glance at her sister. Pattys own face, irregular, piquant, tantalizing, had its peculiar charm, and her brilliant skin and hair so dazzled the masculine beholder that he took note of no small defects; but Waitstill was beautiful; beautiful even in her working dress of purple calico. Her single braid of hair, the Foxwell hair, that in her was bronze and in Patty pale auburn, was wound once around her fine head and made to stand a little as it went across the front. It was a simple, easy, unconscious fashion of her own, quite different from anything done by other women in her time and place, and it just suited her dignity and serenity. It looked like a coronet, but it was the way she carried her head that gave you the fancy, there was such spirit and pride in the poise of it on the long graceful neck. Her eyes were as clear as mountain pools shaded by rushes, and the strength of the face was softened by the sweetness of the mouth.
Patty never let the conversation die out for many seconds at a time and now she began again. My sudden rages dont match my name very well, but, of course, mother didnt know how I was going to turn out when she called me Patience, for I was nothing but a squirming little bald, red baby; but my name really is too ridiculous when you think about it.
Waitstill laughed as she said: It didnt take you long to change it! Perhaps Patience was a hard word for a baby to say, but the moment you could talk you said, Patty wants this and Patty wants that.
Did Patty ever get it? She never has since, thats certain! And look at your name: its Waitstill, yet you never stop a moment. When youre not in the shed or barn, or chicken-house, or kitchen or attic, or garden-patch, you are working in the Sunday School or the choir.
It seemed as if Waitstill did not intend to answer this arraignment of her activities. She rose and crossed the room to put the pan of greens in the sink, preparing to wash them.
Taking the long-handled dipper from the nail, she paused a moment before plunging it into the water pail; paused, and leaning her elbow on a corner of the shelf over the sink, looked steadfastly out into the orchard.
Patty watched her curiously and was just going to offer a penny for her thoughts when Waitstill suddenly broke the brief silence by saying: Yes, I am always busy; its better so, but all the same, Patty, Im waiting,inside! I dont know for what, but I always feel that I am waiting!
VI. A KISS
SHALL we have our walk in the woods on the Edgewood side of the river, just for a change, Patty? suggested her sister. The water is so high this year that the river will be splendid. We can gather our flowers in the hill pasture and then youll be quite near Mrs. Boyntons and can carry the nosegay there while I come home ahead of you and get supper. Ill take to-days eggs to fathers store on the way and ask him if he minds our having a little walk. Ive an errand at Aunt Abbys that would take me down to the bridge anyway.
Very well, said Patty, somewhat apathetically. I always like a walk with you, but I dont care what becomes of me this afternoon if I cant go to Ellens party.
The excursion took place according to Waitstills plan, and at four oclock she sped back to her night work and preparations for supper, leaving Patty with a great bunch of early wildflowers for Ivorys mother. Patty had left them at the Boyntons door with Rodman, who was picking up chips and volunteered to take the nosegay into the house at once.
Wont you step inside? the boy asked shyly, wishing to be polite, but conscious that visitors, from the village very seldom crossed the threshold.
Id like to, but I cant this afternoon, thank you. I must run all the way down the hill now, or I shant be in time to supper.
Do you eat meals together over to your house? asked the boy.
Were all three at the table if that means together.
We never are. Ivory goes off early and takes lunch in a pail. So do I when I go to school. Aunt Boynton never sits down to eat; she just stands at the window and takes a bite of something now and then. You havent got any mother, have you?
No, Rodman.
Neither have I, nor any father, nor any relations but Aunt Boynton and Ivory. Ivory is very good to me, and when hes at home Im never lonesome.
I wish you could come over and eat with sister and me, said Patty gently. Perhaps sometime, when my father is away buying goods and we are left alone, you could join us in the woods, and we would have a picnic? We would bring enough for you; all sorts of good things; hard-boiled eggs, doughnuts, apple-turnovers, and bread spread with jelly.
Id like it fine! exclaimed Rodman, his big dark eyes sparkling with anticipation. I dont have many boys to play with, and I never went to a picnic Aunt Boynton watches for uncle most all the time; she doesnt know he has been away for years and years. When she doesnt watch, she prays. Sometimes she wants me to pray with her, but praying dont come easy to me.
Neither does it to me, said Patty.
Im good at marbles and checkers and back-gammon and jack-straws, though.
So am I, said Patty, laughing, so we should be good friends. Ill try to get a chance to see you soon again, but perhaps I cant; Im a good deal tied at home.
Your father doesnt like you to go anywheres, I guess, interposed Rodman. Ive heard Ivory tell Aunt Boynton things, but I wouldnt repeat them. Ivorys trained me years and years not to tell anything, so I dont.
Thats a good boy! approved Patty. Then as she regarded him more closely, she continued, Im sorry youre lonesome, Rodman, Id like to see you look brighter.
You think Ive been crying, the boy said shrewdly. So I have, but not because Ive been punished. The reason my eyes are so swollen up is because I killed our old toad by mistake this morning. I was trying to see if I could swing the scythe sos to help Ivory in haying-time. Ive only raked after and I want to begin on mowing soons I can. Then somehow or other the old toad came out from under the steps; I didnt see him, and the scythe hit him square. I cried for an hour, thats what I did, and I dont care who knows it except I wouldnt like the boys at school to hector me. Ive buried the toad out behind the barn, and I hope Ivoryll let me keep the news from Aunt Boynton. She cries enough now without my telling her theres been a death in the family. She set great store by the old toad, and so did all of us.