CHAPTER XXII
關燈
小
中
大
hewouldlieinherbreeze-rockedcradle,doingnothingexceptsingingoldsongs—mynurserylore—toherself,orwatchingthebirds,jointtenants,feedandenticetheiryoungonestofly:ornestlingwithclosedlids,halfthinking,halfdreaming,happierthanwordscanexpress.
“Look,Miss!”Iexclaimed,pointingtoanookundertherootsofonetwistedtree.“Winterisnothereyet.There’salittleflowerupyonder,thelastbudfromthemultitudeofbluebellsthatcloudedthoseturfstepsinJulywithalilacmist.Willyouclamberup,andpluckittoshowtopapa?”
Cathystaredalongtimeatthelonelyblossomtremblinginitsearthyshelter,andreplied,atlength—“No,I’llnottouchit:butitlooksmelancholy,doesitnot,Ellen?”
“Yes,”Iobserved,“aboutasstarvedandsacklessasyou:yourcheeksarebloodlessletustakeholdofhandsandrun.You’resolow,IdaresayIshallkeepupwithyou.”
“No,”sherepeated,andcontinuedsaunteringon,pausingatintervalstomuseoverabitofmoss,oratuftofblanchedgrass,orafungusspreadingitsbrightorangeamongtheheapsofbrownfoliageand,everandanon,herhandwasliftedtoheravertedface.
“Catherine,whyareyoucrying,love?”Iasked,approachingandputtingmyarmoverhershoulder.“Youmustn’tcrybecausepapahasacoldbethankfulitisnothingworse.”
Shenowputnofurtherrestraintonhertearsherbreathwasstifledbysobs.
“Oh,itwillbesomethingworse,”shesaid.“AndwhatshallIdowhenpapaandyouleaveme,andIambymyself?Ican’tforgetyourwords,Ellentheyarealwaysinmyear.Howlifewillbechanged,howdrearytheworldwillbe,whenpapaandyouaredead.”
“Nonecantellwhetheryouwon’tdiebeforeus,”Ireplied.“It’swrongtoanticipateevil.We’llhopethereareyearsandyearstocomebeforeanyofusgo:masterisyoung,andIamstrong,andhardlyforty-five.Mymotherlivedtilleighty,acantydametothelast.AndsupposeMr.Lintonweresparedtillhesawsixty,thatwouldbemoreyearsthanyouhavecounted,Miss.Andwoulditnotbefoolishtomournacalamityabovetwentyyearsbeforehand?”
“ButAuntIsabellawasyoungerthanpapa,”sheremarked,gazingupwithtimidhopetoseekfurtherconsolation.
“AuntIsabellahadnotyouandmetonurseher,”Ireplied.“Shewasn’tashappyasMaster:shehadn’tasmuchtolivefor.Allyouneeddo,istowaitwellonyourfather,andcheerhimbylettinghimseeyoucheerfulandavoidgivinghimanxietyonanysubject:mindthat,Cathy!I’llnot
