I thanked her, stammering foolishly. I was going to get myself some new
things soon. There was no hurry; I didn't need....
"Of course, I know you can get things yourself. But when your friend is
so ... so ... oh, take these."
And she ran away indoors again, the very fashion of a young girl fearing
to be caught doing something over-kind. I had to call my last thanks after
her.
When the Captain came out next evening with my wheels and rollers, I took
the opportunity of thanking him for the clothes.
"Oh--er--yes," he answered. "It was my wife that.... Do they fit you all
right?"
"Yes; many thanks."
"That's all right, then. Yes; it was my wife that ... well, here are the
things for your machine, and the tools. Good-night."
It seemed, then, as if the two of them were equally ready to do an act of
kindness. And when it was done, each would lay the blame on the other.
Surely this must be the perfect wedded life, that dreamers dreamed of here
on earth....
XIX
The woods are stripped of leaf now, and the bird sounds are gone; only the
crows rasp out their screeching note at five in the morning, when they
spread out over the fields.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100