CHAPTER XLIV
關燈
小
中
大
Tom’sfatherwascuttingthebigmeadow.Hepassedagainandagainamidwhirringbladesandsweetodoursofgrass,encompassingwithnarrowingcirclesthesacredcentreofthefield.TomwasnegotiatingwithHelen.“Ihaven’tanyidea,”shereplied.“Doyousupposebabymay,Meg?”
Margaretputdownherworkandregardedthemabsently.“Whatwasthat?”sheasked.
“Tomwantstoknowwhetherbabyisoldenoughtoplaywithhay?”
“Ihaven’ttheleastnotion,”answeredMargaret,andtookupherworkagain.
“Now,Tom,babyisnottostandheisnottolieonhisfaceheisnottoliesothathisheadwagsheisnottobeteasedortickledandheisnottobecutintotwoormorepiecesbythecutter.Willyoubeascarefulasallthat?”
Tomheldouthisarms.
“Thatchildisawonderfulnursemaid,”remarkedMargaret.
“Heisfondofbaby.That’swhyhedoesit!”wasHelen’sanswer.“They’regoingtobelifelongfriends.”
“Startingattheagesofsixandone?”
“Ofcourse.ItwillbeagreatthingforTom.”
“Itmaybeagreaterthingforbaby.”
Fourteenmonthshadpassed,butMargaretstillstoppedatHowardsEnd.Nobetterplanhadoccurredtoher.Themeadowwasbeingrecut,thegreatredpoppieswerereopeninginthegarden.Julywouldfollowwiththelittleredpoppiesamongthewheat,Augustwiththecuttingofthewheat.Theselittleeventswouldbecomepartofheryearafteryear.Everysummershewouldfearlestthewellshouldgiveout,everywinterlestthepipesshouldfreezeeverywesterlygalemightblowthewych-elmdownandbringtheendofallthings,andsoshecouldnotreadortalkduringawesterlygale.Theairwastranquilnow.SheandhersisterweresittingontheremainsofEvie’srockery,wherethelawnmergedintothefield.
“Whatatimetheyallare!”saidHelen.“Whatcantheybedoinginside?”Margaret,whowasgrowinglesstalkative,madenoanswer.Thenoiseofthecuttercameintermittently,likethebreakingofwaves.Closebythemamanwaspreparingtoscytheoutoneofthedell-holes.
“IwishHenrywasouttoenjoythis,”saidHelen.“Thislovelyweatherandtobeshutupinthehouse!It’sveryhard.”
“Ithastobe,”saidMargaret.“Thehayfeverishischiefobjectionagainstlivinghere,buthethinksitworthwhile.”
“Meg,isorisn’theill?Ican’tmakeout.”
“Notill.Eternallytired.Hehasworkedveryhardallhislife,andnoticednothing.Thosearethepeoplewhocollapsewhentheydonoticeathing.”
“Isupposeheworriesdreadfullyabouthispartofthetangle.”
“Dreadfully.ThatiswhyIwishDollyhadnotcome,too,to-day.Still,hewantedthemalltocome.Ithastobe.”
“Whydoeshewantthem?”
Margaretdidnotanswer.
“Meg,mayItellyousomething?IlikeHenry.”
“You’dbeoddifyoudidn’t,”saidMargaret.
“Iusen’tto.”
“Usen’t!”Sheloweredherey
