第66章

’Youkeepyouropinionstoyourself，’Ireplied；

becauseIknewthedear，andherlittlebitsofjealousy；’ithappensthatyouarequitewrong，thistime。Lorna，comewithme，mydarling。’

’Ohyes，Lorna；gowithhim，’criedLizzie，droppingherlip，inawaywhichyoumustseetoknowitsmeaning；’Johnwantsnobodynowbutyou；andnonecanfindfaultwithhistaste，dear。’

’Youlittlefool，Ishouldthinknot，’Ianswered，veryrudely；for，betwixtthelotofthem，myLorna’seyelasheswerequivering；’now，dearestangel，comewithme；andsnapyourhandsatthewholeofthem。’

Myangeldidcome，withasigh，andthenwithasmile，whenwewerealone；butwithoutanyunangelicattemptatsnappinghersweetwhitefingers。

TheselittlethingsareenoughtoshowthatwhileeveryonesoadmiredLorna，andsokindlytooktoher，stilltherewould，justnowandthen，bepettyandpaltryflashesofjealousyconcerningher；andperhapsitcouldnotbeotherwiseamongsomanywomen。However，wewerealwaysdoublykindtoherafterwards；andalthoughhermindwassosensitiveandquickthatshemusthavesuffered，sheneverallowedustoperceiveit，norloweredherselfbyresentingit。

PossiblyImayhavementionedthatlittleRuthHuckabackhadbeenasked，andhadevenpromisedtospendherChristmaswithus；andthiswasthemoredesirable，becauseshehadleftusthroughsomeoffence，orsorrow，aboutthingssaidofher。Nowmydearmother，beingthekindestandbest-heartedofallwomen，couldnotbearthatpoordearRuth(whowouldsomedayhavesuchafortune)，shouldbeentirelylosttous。’Itisourduty，mydearchildren，’shesaidmorethanonceaboutit，’toforgiveandforget，asfreelyaswehopetohaveitdonetous。IfdearlittleRuthhasnotbehavedquiteaswemighthaveexpected，greatallowanceshouldbemadeforagirlwithsomuchmoney。Designingpeoplegetholdofher，andflatterher，andcoaxher，toobtainabaseinfluenceoverher；sothatwhenshefallsamongsimplefolk，whospeakthehonesttruthofher，nowonderthepoorchildisvexed，andgivesherselfairs，andsoon。

Ruthcanbeveryusefultousinanumberoflittleways；andIconsideritquiteadutytopardonherfreakofpetulance。’

NowoneofthelittlewaysinwhichRuthhadbeenveryuseful，wasthepurchaseofthescarletfeathersoftheflamingbird；andnowthatthehousewasquitesafefromattack，andthemarkonmyforeheadwashealing，I

wasbegged，overandoveragain，togoandseeRuth，andmakeallthingsstraight，andpayforthegorgeousplumage。ThislastIwasverydesiroustodo，thatI

mightknowthepriceofit，havingmadeasmallbetonthesubjectwithAnnie；andhavingheldcounselwithmyself，whetherornotitwerepossibletogetsomethingofthekindforLorna，ofstillmoredistinguishedappearance。Ofcourseshecouldnotwearscarletasyet，evenifIhadwishedit；butIbelievedthatpeopleoffashionoftenworepurpleformourning；

purpletoowastheroyalcolour，andLornawasbyrightaqueen；thereforeIwasquiteresolvedtoransackUncleReuben’sstores，insearchofsomebrightpurplebird，ifnaturehadkindlyprovidedone。

Allthis，however，Ikepttomyself，intendingtotrustRuthHuckaback，andnooneelseinthematter。Andso，onebeautifulspringmorning，whenalltheearthwaskissedwithscent，andalltheaircaressedwithsong，upthelaneIstoutlyrode，wellarmed，andwellprovided。

Nowthoughitispartofmylifetoheed，itisnopartofmytaletotell，howthewheatwascomingon。I

reckonthatyou，whoreadthisstory，afterIamdeadandgone(andbeforethatnoneshallreadit)，willsay，’Tush!Whatishiswheattous？Wearenotwheat：

wearehumanbeings：andallwecareforishumandoings。’Thismaybeverygoodargument，andinthemain，Ibelievethatitisso。Nevertheless，ifamanistotellonlywhathethoughtanddid，andnotwhatcamearoundhim，hemustnotmentionhisownclothe