twilight stories-第21部分

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humor　the　gay　little　heart；　and　tapping　her　cheek　as　the　young

girl　settled　the　cap　on　the　lovely　gray　hair。



〃Everything　must　be　best　to…day；〃　cried　Caryl　recklessly。　　〃It's

all　fresh　and　new　and　fine！　　All　the　world　is　made　just　for　us。〃



Maum　Patty　saw　Caryl　run　down　the　dirty　little　brick　path　that

served　for　all　the　lodgers　in　the　old　house　as　a　walk　to　the

broken…down　gate；　with　her　color…box　under　her　arm；　and　her

little　roll　of　pictures　in　her　hand；　and　heaved　a　sigh　from　her

ample　bosom。



〃Dat　chile　can't　make　no　fortin'　like　she's　a…tinkin'　of；　but

laws！　　let　her　try。　　Here；　yer　Viny；　yer；　be　off　up　to　de　Missis'

room。　　Scat　now！　　De　pore　lettle　lamb；〃　she　mourned；　as　her

hopeful　grandchild　unwillingly　dragged　her　recreant　feet　off　to

her　duties；　leaving　her　grandmother　to　pursue　her　reflections　in

peace；　〃it　mos'　busts　my　heart　to　see　her　a…workin'　an'　de　Missis

keepin'　up　an'　pretendin'　she's　as　fine　as　a　queen。　　'Twarn't　so

in　ole　Patty's　day。　　Den　dar　wos　plenty…pies　and　turkeys。　　Lors；

what　stumpers！　　An'　hull　bar'ls　o'　flour；　an'　sugar；　an'　a

creation　sight　of　eberyting　in　de　beyeutiful　house；　an'　now　look

at　dis　ole　shell！〃



Maum　Patty　tossed　her　turban　in　intense　scorn　at　each　of　the　dark

soot…begrimed　walls　of　the　place　called　kitchen。



〃Missis　ud　feel　more　like　folks；〃　she　said　at　each　disdainful

scrutiny；　〃an'　like　as　not　git　well；　ef　we　cud　cut　sticks　inter

anudder　home。　　Ef　de　chile　only　CUD　do　it！〃



She　peered　anxiously　down　the　dirty　little　brick　walk　again；　then

fetched　a　still　longer　sigh。



〃I　don't　darst　to！〃　she　declared　in　a　mighty　burst　at　last。　　〃I

don't；　cos　wot　ud　keep　us　all　from　the　pore…'us　den。　　It's　every

speck　I　kin　do　ter　keep　along　of　de　Miss　an'　Car'l　an'　take　keer

of　'em　wi'dout　a　cent　o'　pay；　I　don't　darst　tech　my　stockin'　bag

in　de　bank。〃



Maum　Patty　always　spoke　of　her　scanty　savings　deposited　in　the

neighboring　bank；　in　this　way；　fondly　supposing　them　in　the

original　condition　in　which　ten　years　ago；　she　had　taken　them

there　for　future　shield　against　sickness　and　old　age。



Meantime　the　little　black　nurse　had　begun　her　work。



Peering　around　Miss　Sylvia's　half…closed　door；　Viny　exclaimed　to

herself；　〃Umph！　　she　don't　want　me；　guess　she's　a'readin'　now。　

I'll　git　into　Miss　Ca's　room　an'　try　on　all　her　clo'es　an'

pertend　I'm　makin'　calls；　an'　peek　inter　ebery　single　place　whar

I　kin；　an'　I'll　be　a　lady；　an'　dar　sha'n't　no　one　scold　Viny。〃



〃Viny；〃　called　Miss　Sylvia's　soft　voice；　hearing　a　rustle　at　the

door。



〃Dat's　Jip　she's　a…talkin'　ter；　I　reckon；〃　said　Viny；　stealing

off　on　her　tiptoes　down　the　hall；　and　sticking　her　fingers　in　her

ears　that　she　might　hear　no　more　troublesome　conscience　calls；　〃I

seen　him　on　de　rug　when　I　peeked　in　de　crack。　　Now　den　Whoop；

says　I；　WHOOP！〃



She　was　safe　now　in　Caryl's　room；　where　the　first　thing　she　did

was　to　indulge　in　a　series　of　somersaults　over　the　floor；　and

also；　for　variety；　over　the　neat　little　white　bed。　　These

afforded　her　intense　comfort。　　When　she　came　up　bright　and

shining　after　this　celebration　of　her　independence；　she　drew

herself　up　with　a　serious　face　and　proceeded　at　once　to　stern

business。



〃Two　hours　ain't　long；〃　she　observed　wisely；　〃an'　I　mus'　be　back

some　of　de　time。　　Jiminy！　　she's　forgot　de　key　again！〃　　In　truth；

Caryl　in　her　great　excitement　of　hunting　for　some　pictures　packed

away　in　her　precious　drawer；　had　forgotten　to　pocket　the　key　that

protected　her　few　treasures。



Ruthlessly；　then；　they　were　pulled　out　and　overhauled；　while　Viny

reveled　in　each　new　discovery；　chattering　softly　to　herself　in

glee。　　She　tied　on　all　the　bright　bits　of　ribbons　she　could　lay

her　hands　on；　to　the　little　tiny　tails　adorning　her　head。　　She

twisted　with　great　difficulty　into　a　delicate　white　spenser　that

Caryl's　mother　had　worn　when　a　girl；　saved　for　its　tender

reminiscence；　and　for　the　soft；　fine　old　lace　that　would　be　of

use　to　the　young　daughter　by　and　by。　　Viny　was　nowise　disturbed

in　her　enjoyment　at　certain　ominous　crackings　and　creakings　that

proclaimed　the　giving　way　of　the　delicate　material。　　Arrayed　at

last　to　her　satisfaction；　although　the　lace　did　hang　down　in　some

shreds　where　her　impatient　fingers　had　clutched　it；　she　whirled

and　whirled　in　front　of　the　old…fashioned　glass　with　many

grimaces；　trying　the　effect　of　her　new　costume。



〃I　want　sumfin　to　shine；〃　she　said　at　last；　tired　of　this；　〃jew…

EL…lery　an'　stuns。　　Le's　see　ef　she's　got　any。〃



Now　in　one　corner　of　Caryl's　drawer　was　a　small　black　box；

unfortunately；　the　lock　was　broken　in　childhood；　and　there　had

been　no　money　to　spare　for　repairs　of　anything　of　that　sort；　so

she　had　tied　it　securely　with　the　strongest　of　twine；　and　written

on　the　cover　in　big　schoolgirl　hand　the　words；　〃DON'T　ANY　ONE

DARE　TO　TOUCH！〃　　Although　Viny　was　unable　to　decipher　the　writing

in　the　least；　it　was　fun　enough　to　attack　the　string；　which

presently　succumbed　to　the　violent　onslaught　of　tooth　and　nail；

and　the　precious；　precious　bits　of　brightness　were　soon　at　the

mercy　of　the　little　black　fingers。



Maum　Patty　was　droning　away　in　the　kitchen　some　old　Methodist

hymns。　　Viny　was　dimly　conscious　of　a　faint　call　from　the

invalid's　room；　as　she　drew　out　in　the　utmost　delight　an

old…fashioned　brooch　with　a　green　centre　around　which　were　some

little　sparkling　things。



She　couldn't　even　say　〃Jiminy！〃　but　simply　held　the　pretty　thing

which　seemed　glad　of　its　freedom　from　solitary　confinement；　and

thus　delighted　to　sparkle　more　than　ever　in　its　resting…place　in

the　little　black　hand。　　With　trembling　fingers　she　fastened　it

into　the　centre　of　the　lace　spenser；　above　her　naughty　little

bosom；　hurrying　to　the　glass　to　do　so；　and　had　just　taken　one

look；　when　a　low　cry　of　distress　struck　upon　her　ear。



It　filled　her　whole　soul　with　dismay；　rooting　her　like　a　little

frozen　thing　to　the　spot。　　It　was　Miss　Sylvia；　she　knew。



With　one　mighty　effort　she　tore　herself　from　the　spot；　and　rushed

headlong　into　the　hall。　　〃OhohOH！〃　came　from　the　invalid's

room。



At　that　Viny　wrung　her　hands　and　writhed　in　dire　distress。



〃She's　a…dyin'！〃　she　gasped；　her　knees　knocking　together　in　a

lively　manner；　〃I　don't　darst　to　lookI　don't！I've　killed

her！〃　And　the　whole　flood　of　remorse　sweeping　her　very　soul；　she

turned　and　scuttled　down　the　crooked　little　stairs　and　into　the

street。



〃A　doctor！〃　was　all　her　thought。　　She　remembered　hearing　Caryl

say　he　lived　in　a　big　brown　house　that　had　lots　of　flowers　in　the

windows。　　But　where　upon　the　face　of　the　earth　the　house　was

situated；　Viny　knew　no　more　than　a　bird。　　However；　she　must　get

him；　so　she　dashed　blindly　on；　turning　the　first　corner　to　run

headlong　into　the　arms　of　a　portly　old　lady　who　was　placidly

enjoying　the　fresh　air　and　sunshine　at　the　same　time　that　she

displayed　her　rich　street　attire。



〃Oh；　my　goodness！〃　cried　the　old　lady；　startled　out　of　all　fine

speeches　by　the　collision；　and　jumping　in　fright　to　the　extreme

edge　of　the　curbstone。　　Then　seeing　the　cause；　she　cried　in

anger；　〃You　miserable；　dirty　little　thing　you；　you　ve　nearly

killed　me！〃



At　the　word　〃killed；〃　Viny　began　to　dance　in　terror　on　the

sidewalk。　　〃I　know　it；〃　she　cried；　〃oh；　dear；　I　know　it！　　she's

dead；　an'　grandma　'll　beat　me。〃



〃And　if　you　don't　know　any　better；〃　cried　the　old　lady；　vainly

trying　to　settle　her　gray　puffs　as　they　were　before；　〃than　to　run

into　people　in　this　way；　I'll　have　you　arrested；　I　will！〃



At　this　Viny　was　completely　overcome。　　Her　guilty　conscience

pictured　all　sorts　of　punishments；　worse；　far　worse；　than

〃grandma's〃　judgments；　and；　falling　on　her　knees；　she　grasped　the

old　lady's　black　satin　gown　and　implored　for　mercy。



The　old　lady；　now　her　attention　was　drawn　off　from　her　own

annoyance；　settled　her　eyes　on　the　brooch　half　concealed　by　a

fold　of　the　little　lace　spenser。



〃You　wicked；　bad　child！〃　she　exclaimed；　seizing　her　arm　and

pouncing　one　stiffly　gloved　hand　on　the　sparkling　brooch；　〃you've

stolen　that！　　It's　bad　enough　to　be　run　into　by　a　dirty　little

thing　fresh　from　Bedlam；　without　being　wicked　into　the　bargain。　

That's　TOO　much！〃



The　little　black　figure　being　too　wretched　to　hear　this　tirade；

could　only　mumble　and　wail　and　wriggle　closer　and　closer　into　the

folds　of　the　rich　gown。



〃Get　out　of　my　dress！〃　cried　the　old　lady　excitedly。　　〃Here；　I'll

call　the　police；　if　you　don't　let　go　of　me　this　instant！　　Stop；　I

say！　　Po…o…lice！〃



Viny　gave　one　violent　jerk　that　brought　her　up　to　her　feet；　and

with　eyes　distended　in　terror；　started　in　wild　despair　across　the

street。　　A　pair　of　handsome　bays　were　coming　in　their　best　step

down　from　the　Square；　drawing　a　carriage　full　of　people　who

seemed　in　the　very　best　of　spirits。



〃WHOA…A！〃　　A　click；　a　rapid　pull…up　with　all　Thomas's　best

strength；　and　the　horses　fell　back　on　their　haunches　just　in　time

for　the　little　lithe　figure　to　dart　under　their　pawing　hoofs　and

be　saved！　　Everybody　leaned　out　of　the　carriage　for　a　glimpse　of

the　child。



〃Whywhy〃　A　young　girl's　face　paled；　while　the　gray　eyes

flashed；　and　with　one　spring　she　was　out　and　rushing　after　the

small　flying　figure　who　in　her　fright　had　turned　to　flee　the

other　way。



〃Look　out；　Caryl！〃　called　the　others　in　the　carriage　after　her。



〃Oh；　she'll　be　killed；〃　moaned　a　little　girl　leaning　out　as　far

as　she　dared　over　the　wheels。



〃And　then　she　can't　ever　get　into　the　pretty　new　house；〃　wailed

another。　　〃Oh；　what　shall　we　do！　　Come　back；　Bessie！〃　she　cried；

tugging　at　her　sister's　skirts。　　〃Grandmamma；　make　her　come　into

the　carriage；　I　can't　hold　her！〃



But　a　crowd　of　people　surging　up　around　them　at　this　moment；　took

off　all　attention　from　Bessie　and　everybody　else　but　the　little

fugitive　and　her　kind　pursuer。　　Caryl　made　her　way　through　the

crowd　with　flushed