Saturdays were now thrice blessed, for the factory shut down from six o'clock Saturday evening until midnight Sunday, leaving the whole of Saturday free for me, if I kept Sunday for sleeping. We therefore reserved Saturdays for our longer expeditions into the rolling hill country behind us. (In the geography of Deep Harbor "the front" was the lake.) Soon hard frosts would come to make the roads impassable; we strove to do all the exploring possible before that should happen. I had found another horse which a modest weekly payment reserved for my exclusive use. He was a small Western pony16, young and hard as nails. On frosty days he often tried to climb into the upper air, but he was to be preferred to the misanthropic17 Satan, who had fallen to the sad fate of hauling a grocer's wagon18. Nevertheless Helen and I retained a warm spot in our hearts for old Satan and often carried him apples and sugar. In a large measure we owed him our friendship. It was an undeserved misfortune that it had come too late in life for Satan to keep up with. Helen named the new pony Starbright, because of the white star in the centre of his dark chestnut19 forehead. We both agreed that the name revealed no great powers of originality20.
On the second Saturday in November we planned one of our longest quests. We both regretfully admitted it would probably be the last until spring; either snow or frozen ground was due at any time. The day was gusty21 and overcast22; "Mother" tried every whine23 in her repertoire24 to dissuade25 us from going. Helen's obstinacy26 refused to yield, and off we went, taking our luncheons27 with us. On a hillside, by the edge of the wood, several miles away, we dismounted and built a camp fire against a large boulder28. Helen endeavoured to instruct me in the art of camp cooking, a skill which she maintained she had learned one summer in the woods. It consisted principally of trying to balance a flimsy piece of bacon on a forked stick. The instant the heat reached the meat it would curl up and fall into the redhot coals. It then became my duty to burn my fingers in an attempt at rescue before the bacon turned to a cinder29. In this way we spoiled a fair amount by the time we had each eaten two or three scorched30 slices. I commented on the fact that camp cooking seemed uneconomical, to say nothing of its lack of finesse31. Helen laughingly guessed she was "out of practice," so we toasted marshmallows instead, a form of cooking in which we were more proficient32. The warmth of the fire was pleasant, and we lingered on, careless of our original purpose to penetrate33 far into the hills. It was Helen's turn to tell me of herself, which she did, half shyly, half whimsically.
The eighteen years of her life had been passed in Deep Harbor, except for two winters at a large New England boarding-school, or during brief visits to school friends in New York. At school she had had the good fortune to come under the influence of a rare kind of teacher—one with the power of revealing the world. Helen spoke35 of her with dreamy affection, as of one who had opened a gate and shown the beauty of an unsuspected garden lying beyond. Having shown it, she had left Helen to wander in it at will. Thus it came about that this young girl, native of a provincial36 town, had found the path leading to citizenship37 of the world. The maturity38 of her judgment39 was astonishing; it implied an experience of life which I knew was impossible. I often found myself deferring40 to her opinion or leaning upon her advice, for her calm, level decisions brushed aside my cobwebs of sentiment and substituted truth for the meshes41 of whim34 or impulse. Day by day I had grown more dependent upon her until I expressed no opinion, even concerning business, without first submitting it for her approval. With all this she was a fun-loving child, full of mischief42 and humour, or occasionally tempest-swept by sudden child-like anger, when the storm clouds in her eyes would frighten me. After anger would follow such a melting tenderness as made me long to kneel at her feet and beg forgiveness for having caused her displeasure.
Curiously43 enough we neither of us analyzed44 what was happening to us. It seemed natural that we preferred to be together—even to be alone—and we were content with the word "friendship" as a complete explanation. Neither of us questioned it or looked beyond our next Saturday together. We must have been very young and inexperienced. Once in a while Knowlton had asked me, with his Harlequin's grin, how I was getting on; old Hemphill at the factory had stumbled his way through a clumsy joke aimed at me: neither followed the subject very far. Helen was not a topic I would allow discussed; there was something so far beyond the comprehension of the world in our attitude toward each other. Helen's own friends, I discovered, had passed from teasing to regard us as a fait accompli, and thereafter held their peace. Here again we looked upon their behaviour as simply caused by their lack of understanding. Poor old world, how we pitied it!
Today we were playing one of our new games—I don't know which of us thought of it first. The game was founded upon the Morte d'Arthur, and we were in search of the questing beast. Helen stretched comfortably before the camp fire and read aloud to me from her Mallory, which I carried in my coat pocket, the description of this mediaeval animal. As she finished we listened for the noise to come from the woodland on the edge of the hillside pasture in which we were. It sounds ridiculous to tell of it now, but it was as real to us as the play of children is to them. Beyond the edge of the wood there lay strange adventures—we had no doubt of it. Deep Harbor faded from us like a conjurer's vision, and the fields, hills and woods became the enchanted47 reality. We peopled it with all the crew of fairy folk and ourselves assumed r?les appropriate to our fellowship. How could ordinary Deep Harborites understand such a game or dream that this was one of the secrets of our friendship—they who thought only of such mundane48 things as love and marriage? Would they not laugh at the Lady Grey Eyes on her cream-coloured palfrey, escorted by her trusty knight49, Edward of Over-Seas? To be sure the Lady Helen's horse was light chestnut, not cream, but in her magic capacity the mare50 assumed a new tint51.
As we scanned the woodland, wondering what castle it hid or whether a hermit52 dwelt in its shade, we were aware of a tawny53 yellow animal approaching us. By his manner it should have been a dog, but the peculiarity54 of its build and complexion55 left some doubt. On the other hand, he was not the questing beast, for his coming was silent. Helen clung to me with delight; the creature was unusual enough, seen through our imagination, to look like the bearer of adventure. Carefully he circled us with an upstanding waving yellow signal of friendly purpose. I whistled. It awoke a sympathetic response, for he bounded up to us and laid his head in the Lady Grey Eyes' lap in token of obeisance56. Dog there was no denying he was, but one whose ancestors had mingled57 with strange company. Chief among his forebears had been a bull dog; the others had been of that cadium-hued race to be found sleeping in the dust of village streets. From ear to ear of his square bulldog head there spread an expansive smile, whence depended a most liquid tongue. He kissed my hand, thus completing his homage58.
"Ted7, I want him. He's mine!" the Lady Grey Eyes declared.
"On my honour as a knight, you shall have him, if no farmer catches us in the theft, or if he does, we'll try what filthy59 lucre60 will accomplish," I replied, somewhat diverging61 from the purity of Mallory's style. I made fast the prize with a piece of string. There seemed no need, for he accepted gratefully whatever command we laid upon him.
"What name shall our new companion bear?" I asked. Helen regarded her treasure trove15 critically. In spite of the misalliance of one of his ancestors, our friend was unquestionably mainly plebeian62 except for the sternness of his tenacious63 profile. The latter gave him an air unlike any other dog. His amiability64, however, was unquenchable.
"He ought to be called 'Bill' if it wasn't for his face," mused65 Helen. "What do you say to 'Sir Leonidas de la Patte Jaune'?"
"It strikes me as a bit beyond his linguistic66 ability; however, just as you say."
"He is lion-coloured—hence 'Leonidas.'" she explained—I had same doubts concerning this etymology—"and yellow paws are undoubtedly67 characteristic of the majority of his family." I nodded, for her latter argument was flawless.
"What shall we call him for short?" The practical world would assert itself at times.
"Leonidas, of course," said Helen with dignity. "The rest of his name is part of our secret."
I sprang to my feet. "The questing beast!" I exclaimed. "Let's test Sir Leonidas on an adventure. Let him track the questing beast through the forest!"
Helen gave a little cry of joy, her eyes shining.
"Come, Sir Leonoidas de la Patte Jaune!" she called. "We are about to lay a high adventure upon thee!" Leonidas tilted68 his head, listening to her, and wagged his tail at varying speeds. "Over there in yonder woods is a marvellous questing beast which we have taken an oath to bring to Arthur's Court ere a year and a day have passed. Thou shalt aid us in the quest. It is only fair to warn thee that this task is fraught69 with dire peril70, but thy cheerful soul shall carry thee safely through all. Sir Edward of Over-Seas and I, the Lady Grey Eyes, shall be ever at thy side." She untied71 the string.
"Go get him! Sic 'em!" I said. Which of us he understood the better, I do not know. At any rate he was off at a bound toward the woods, and Helen followed with speed afoot.
Back and forth72 we ranged through dense73 underbrush, Leonidas making noise enough, as he crashed over dry twigs74, to frighten away a menagerie of wild animals. Helen shouted with laughter at his clumsy eagerness to serve us. We worked our way into a clearing, and here Leonidas' excitement redoubled. This time he was clearly on the track of something. Helen was just a trifle nervous at the change from make-believe.
"What may one expect in these woods?" I asked.
"Nothing but woodchucks and rabbits, unless—" and she gave a scream that startled me. "Call him quick, Ted, quick!" she implored75. What unknown danger were we walking into? I wondered, but I called Leonidas, and none too soon. There emerged from a thicket76 a small black and white animal.
"Run—run for your life, Ted!" The tone of her voice brought instant obedience77. We fled in miserable78 panic back to our pasture, followed, luckily, by Leonidas. As we reached the remains79 of our camp fire, Helen sank exhausted80 with laughter, great tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Ted, it was a skunk," she gasped81, much as Mrs. Siddons must have spoken a famous line of Lady Macbeth's. Leonidas lay panting, his nose between his paws. I wiped the sweat of exertion82 and relief from my forehead.
"That's the worst of adventures," I said, after a pause. "The stories never mention the unpleasant odour one is apt to encounter by the way."
"Ted, that's the narrowest escape we ever had. What would mother have said?" and she rocked again with laughter.
"My immediate83 concern would not have been 'mother,' if anything had happened," I commented reflectively. "Leonidas," and I turned to him, "I hope you have learned the lesson of never overplaying your hand. We sent you on one adventure, and you got us into one not on the orthodox list." Leonidas cocked one eye at me and feebly wagged his tail.
"Ted, those bushes have made my hair a sight," Helen said, and without more ado, tumbled it all down on her shoulders. Something caught my throat; I had never seen her with her hair down, and the added beauty it gave her almost hurt. I sat silent and motionless, staring at her while she combed it out as if she were doing the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Don't put it up—just yet," and I made a slight gesture to stop her, as she began to twist it into a mass.
"Why not, Ted? It's untidy enough as it is," and her grey eyes opened wide at me. I couldn't explain.
"Please leave it."
"Silly boy, if you want me to," she laughed, and tossed it back with a shake of her head.
"May I touch it?" I begged, stretching forth my hand. Instinctively84 she drew away slightly.
"I don't know, Ted," and we looked at each other a long minute.
"Please," I coaxed85. She hesitated and then she began to do it up.
"I don't think you'd better," she said so low I could scarcely hear her. "It isn't like us, Ted." That answer was so final that I did not dream of questioning it.
"I'm sorry I asked—forgive me, Helen dear," and I got up to gather sticks with which to revive our fire. Leonidas remained on guard by Helen's side. While I was away I led the horses over to a pond at the foot of the hill and watered them. Upon my return Helen was looking her imperturbable86 neat self. We read the Mallory together before the fire until the sinking November sun warned us to go. The problem arose: would Leonidas follow our horses? He could not be led on a leash87, and without Leonidas Helen refused to return. Experiment was necessary; to our joy Leonidas remained indifferent whether we rode or walked afoot. He was content to follow either way. With some trepidation88 we picked our way by the first farm-house we passed, expecting either to be challenged to surrender the dog or else to see Leonidas dash home; neither of these things happened. It was impossible to canvass89 the countryside, house by house, looking for his owner—at least, I thus stifled90 Helen's conscience on this point, for, faced with the necessity of carrying him off, she suddenly felt we ought to pay for him. Leonidas simply came.
The air grew chillier91 and chillier; Helen started off on a brisk canter to warm us up. Along a soft dirt road we went at a good clip, Leonidas trailing desperately92 in the rear. We were on the crest93 of a hill overlooking distant Deep Harbor and the lake. The soft coal smoke lay black over the town, blending with the lighter94 greys of the water and sky. All outlines were blurred95 and softened96 in the half light, and Deep Harbor might have been a city of dreams. Ahead of me, Helen must have been thinking something the same, for she pointed97 toward it with a sweeping98 gesture of her arm.
As she did so her horse caught a loose stone, stumbled, and fell. I had one glimpse of her lying motionless in the road, after her horse scrambled99 up and dashed on, riderless; the next I knew, I was at her side, my own horse abandoned, holding her tightly in my arms.
I was dazed with the suddenness of it all; for a moment I could not think and did nothing but hug her close, her head against my shoulder, as I bent100 over her face and whispered, "Helen, dear! Helen!" over and over again.
At last she opened her eyes of her own accord, for I had taken no rational steps to aid her, and smiled at me. I held her still more closely, delirious101 with joy; her eyes grew serious as she looked back at me, until they melted into the tenderest grey any man has ever seen. Then we both understood; there was no need of further words; her hand sought mine and rested there with quiet confidence.
"It's my knee, Ted. I've wrenched102 it," she whispered. "I must have fainted—that wasn't like me, Teddy dear, was it?" Again she smiled such a happy little smile that actually a tear from my eyes fell upon her cheek.
I laid her gently down, roused to some vague trace of commonsense103. "I'll get some water," I said, looking helplessly around at an arid104 country road.
"It's much more important, Ted, to catch the horses." There was truth in this. Mine was quietly cropping grass a few yards away; Helen's was doing the same about a hundred yards further on. Leonidas joined us, evidently in deep concern. It was a simple matter to catch my horse, for he had been trained to come at command. Helen refused again to let me help her until I had made a try for her animal. I mounted and rode cautiously up to the mare; she gave a toss of her head and was off for a few yards further. We repeated this several times with the same results. Next I dismounted and advanced with elaborate flattery. Useless; the beast would not allow herself to be caught. I was in despair, imagining Helen to be suffering pain which somehow my presence might alleviate105, while this confounded horse was taking me straight away. Apparently106, however, the horse tired of the game after a few more minutes, or else her feminine nature desired to assert itself in a new way; as I was about to give it up as a bad job she unexpectedly permitted me to walk right up to her and seize the bridle107. Needless to say, the three of us were not long in returning to Helen.
She was sitting up with one foot straight out in front of her, Leonidas proudly beside her. "I can stand on it, Ted," she called out, "but riding is out of the question." It was rapidly growing dark, and we were several miles from home. The roads we chose for riding were the unfrequented by-ways; it seemed unlikely, therefore, that there was much hope of anything passing. Also it was cold. These things we ruefully enumerated108 to each other.
"Do you feel much pain?" I asked when we had exhausted the list of other disadvantages in the situation. We both avoided reference to what we knew had happened when she first opened her eyes in my arms.
"It hurts only if I bend it. I don't dare take my riding boot off for fear I couldn't get it on again. It's only a twist—nothing broken, or I couldn't stand. Isn't it ridiculous, Ted?" and she laughed.
"I don't want to leave you here alone—in the dark—while I get help, dearest—and yet I don't see what else to do."
"Indeed, you won't leave me alone, Ted, if I stay here all night. We'll just wait. Perhaps I'll be able to walk after a little rest."
"There ought to be a farm near by—I could telephone from there—"
"You'll sit right here with me, dear," she said with finality. "This whole country is full of tramps—they're all making for the big cities at this time of the year."
I knew this to be true; they were to be seen everywhere. Deep Harbor's freight yards were a kind of clearing house for tramps stealing rides east and west. They camped, by night, for miles about the town. The mere109 thought of them made me sit promptly110 by Helen's side. We sat for a long time in silence.
"It is true, Ted, isn't it?" she said.
"Yes."
"And to think we never guessed it!"
"Not until I saw you lying in the road," I said with a slight catch in my voice, as the picture flashed through my mind again. Her warm, womanly hand crept into mine, and once more there was silence. We were both too overwhelmed with this new miracle to talk about it. I could not see her face, for the night was too dark. I don't think it occurred to either of us that we had not as yet exchanged a lovers' kiss or even mentioned the word "love." We both wanted a little time to think about and feel our happiness. Leonidas curled up at our feet and slept. She reached down and stroked his head gently.
"You won't laugh at me for wanting to keep Sir Leonidas do la Patte Jaune now, will you, Ted dear?"
"No," I answered, smiling in spite of myself to think what strange forms the bearers of romance could take. Then came a different mood. The world was glowing, building beautiful fantastic shapes and sounds in my mind, in which there swirled111 black smoke from factory chimneys, grey eyes and flowing hair, the clatter112 of horses' hoofs113, Helen's laugh, the ugly square face of a yellow dog—a tumbling, changing medley114 of sound and colour, half ecstatic, half terrible, for through it all darted115 again and again the vision of Helen lying still and motionless upon the road—an insistent116 bass117 accompaniment striving to drown the shriller, sweeter notes of joy. I could not speak. I tried to say something to Helen, to tell her something of what I felt, but I could only press her hand and hold it tight. "Here is the true beginning of life," my thoughts cried to me. "Remember that with the beginning of life also begins the end," rumbled118 that terrifying bass. Why—why should fear come to me on this day of all days? Was it some ancient racial superstition119 of primitive120 man's that when the gods smiled then they plotted evil?—was it such a childish inherited instinct as this that had seized me? But dread121 would not shake off. "The Greeks believed great happiness to be dangerous; the mediaeval monks122 scourged123 it from their bodies; the Puritans cursed it," thundered that bass, crying down the "I love her" singing in my ears.
"If you will let me lean upon your shoulder, I think I can walk now," came Helen's gentle voice, bringing me with a start from the whirlpool of my thoughts. I stood up. "What were you thinking, Teddy?" she asked shyly as I stooped to help her to her feet.
"You know the Tannh?user overture124?" I whispered.
"Yes."
"Listen to it and you'll guess a little how my head sounds."
I put one arm around her and led the horses as best I could with my left hand. We made slow and painful progress down the road. Helen was as plucky125 as I knew she would be; although each step was agony, not a whimper came from her lips. About half a mile from where we started the light of a farm appeared; we staggered through the little swinging gate, arousing a pack of dogs which made more noise than the Seven Champions of Christendom. With difficulty we restrained Leonidas from going to a noble death in single combat against the lot. It took as heavy knocking as upon the gates of Macbeth's castle to arouse the farmer within, who finally opened the door a distrustful crack and stood surveying us by the light of a glass oil lamp held above his head. He was clad in rubber boots, trousers, and a night shirt; the expression upon his face did not indicate any anxiety to ask us to partake of bread and salt with him.
"Have you a telephone?" I asked. "This lady was thrown from her horse and hurt. I want to get help."
He reflectively turned all this over in his mind, evidently considering the request and its accompanying statement from all conceivable angles. Leonidas tactlessly growled126 at him and incurred127 severe reproof128 from Helen.
"Please let me in," she pleaded. "I want very much to sit down." I was meditating129 choking consent out of the impassive sour-faced old man. A high-pitched nasal voice called out from the head of the stairs: "Henery, don't you dast to give no tramps anything to eat."
"I'll pay you for your trouble," I said, producing a few bills.
"I reckon I don't have to be paid for no trouble," the old codger snarled130. I saw that I had made another error of tact8. "What you doing out gallivantin' around this time of night?" he added.
"We are not out from choice," I reminded him. "This lady has had an accident and is seriously hurt. All we ask is to be allowed to stay here until we get help from town."
"Mary!" he turned and shouted, "c'mon down here a minute." All this time he carefully guarded the door so that entrance was not possible. I had the intelligence at last to seat Helen on the porch steps while "Mary" made suitable toilet above stairs. The old woman came down in a red flannel131 mother Hubbard, from which stray ruffles132 of her nightgown protruded133.
"What's all this foolishness about, Henry?" she inquired sharply.
"Young fellow and his girl—says she's hurt," Henry replied.
"Are they married?"
"Dunno. I don't take much stock in the story myself."
"If you'll allow me to explain—" I ventured, thinking it about time I took a hand in the dialogue.
"Tell them my name, Ted. Every one around here knows father," Helen suggested. Why had I not thought of this before?
"Miss Claybourne has had a fall from her horse and is hurt," I began.
"Martin Claybourne's girl?" the old woman interrupted.
"Yes."
"Lives on Myrtle Boulevard?"
"Yes."
"Henery, you old dumbhead, open that door and get a light in the parlour. Land sakes, men is fools. Bring the child right in here. Dear, dear, Martin Claybourne's little girl hurt and you standing46 there shutting the door in her face—how you expect to answer to your Maker134 on the great day, the Lord only knows. Where are you hurt, darling?" This to Helen as I almost carried her in and laid her on the best horsehair sofa.
"I've only wrenched my knee, thank you," Helen smiled.
"I'll get you a hot poultice just as soon as I get a fire in the stove. We'll fix you all up while the men folks are telephoning. I do believe I've got a bottle of arnica up in the store closet," and she shooed "Henery" and me out of the room. I had the luck to get Mr. Claybourne on the telephone almost immediately, and partly explained to him the situation, as far as the accident was concerned, while "Henery" contributed directions where to reach us: "Tell him it's Five Mile Farm on South Ridge—Henery Tyler's place." This done, "Henery" assisted me to put the horses in the barn and to make Leonidas fast to a post. I was now anxious to return to Helen, but "Henery" put obstacles in the way: "Better leave the womenfolk alone—pertickly as you ain't married, till Mary gets that poultice fixed135." I brushed his objections aside and went into the parlour. Mrs. Tyler let out a piercing shriek136, for poor Helen's bare and badly swollen137 knee was exposed to view. Helen laughed: "It's all right, Mrs. Tyler—Ted and I—well, I want him to help."
"Land sakes!" exclaimed Mrs. Tyler, "I remember you in short dresses—seems like it was only yesterday, walkin' down Myrtle Boulevard with your dad—and do you mean to say you and him—?"
"Yes," Helen said with a dear look at me, covering her knee shyly. I rushed to her side, seizing the arnica bottle to disguise my confusion.
"My, my, how time flies!" Mrs. Tyler continued, moralizing the spectacle from beneath her curl papers. "Why, you ain't no more'n a child. How long you been keepin' company?"
"Not very long," Helen replied, her hand in mine. "You won't let that poultice burn, will you, Mrs. Tyler?"
"Land sakes, no! Clean forgot all about it. To think that numbskull Henery tried to shut the door in your face, and the minister preachin' about the good Samaritan only last Sunday—" and she mercifully departed in search of the poultice. We could hear her in the kitchen giving "Henery" an additional "piece of her mind," as she would have called it.
"Why didn't you tell me at first that you knew these people, sweetheart?" I asked. "It would have saved you some of the pain of standing." I tried to be reproachful.
Helen giggled138 happily. "I wanted to see if you could manage it, Ted. It was too delicious to watch you lose your temper on my account because you went at 'Henery' Tyler the wrong way. I'll never again send you as ambassador to one of our farmers. You even offered him money!" and she laughed. I, felt there was a defence to my actions, but could think of none.
"Now, Ted, do you think we ought to leave my knee alone until we see a doctor, or shall we try the arnica and Mrs. Tyler's poultice?"
"I don't know," I said. "I hate to experiment with a knee without expert advice, but I don't believe arnica will do any harm, and the poultice will be warming."
Helen promptly displayed her knee again, and I gingerly applied139 the arnica. Mrs. Tyler returned with a steaming poultice.
"Now, dearie, you must have it on just as hot as you can stand it," she said, making a great bustle140 of preparation.
"Feel it, Ted, and see if I can stand it. I don't want to be blistered," Helen whispered. I seized the poultice as Mrs. Tyler held it in mid-air ready to apply it violently. I gave an involuntary "Ouch!" it was so hot. Mrs. Tyler refused to yield without a struggle.
"It's what I always do for Henery's rheumatics—catches him in the back when he's splittin' wood for the kitchen stove. Once I give him a good hot poultice he never complains of his back again that season." Poor man, with such a dire penalty instantly exacted, who would commit a second offence? Under further protests I got the poultice sufficiently141 cool, and I bound it in place with quite a workmanlike-looking bandage. When all had been put to rights as well as it could be, "Henery" was admitted. He bore a tray of biscuits, a pitcher142 of milk, and pie. Both Helen and I recalled with a laugh that we hadn't thought of food since our campfire of the early afternoon.
"We can't eat in the parlour," said the tactful Helen, aware of how great an enormity this must seem to a farmer's wife.
"Now, dearie, don't you fret10 yourself. You ain't agoin' to stir, not if I can help it. I guess the parlour can put up with it for once, if a certain long-faced fool will wipe his feet before he comes trapesin' in." The latter part of this remark was directed at "Henery" who promptly retreated and was heard vigorously scraping in the passage.
"I don't suppose you have any spirits—whisky, for instance? I think a drink would do Miss Claybourne good after the shock she's had." I noticed Helen's eyes dance as I said this, and she leaned forward eagerly to hear the reply.
"Spirits!" gasped Mrs. Tyler. "You mean rum?"
"Well," I said, "rum will do, if it's all you have." Helen made a mysterious and unaccountable noise—something like a choke.
"Praise the Lord, there ain't no liquor ever passed my lips—let 'lone45 my threshold!" she ejaculated. "Henery" stuck his head in at the door: "I've got a little somethin' I keep for my backache up in the hayloft," he ventured timorously143. "If Miss Helen needs a little for medicinal purposes, same as I do occasionally, she's welcome," and he disappeared rather hastily. "There goes an example of true courage," I thought, "for it's ten to one he's sacrificing the future as well as the present." The look on Mrs. Tyler's face was awe-inspiring; her lips closed in a firm, tight line and no sound came from them. Under all the circumstances, however, I didn't envy "Henery." Helen and I did not dare exchange glances; she hurriedly nibbled144 a biscuit, and I studied a cabinet full of polished sea-shells. Mrs. Tyler suddenly left the room like a shot from a gun. I turned and went to Helen. She put her arms around my neck and kissed me.
"You dear, dear Ted," she laughed. "I'm going to have such fun watching you put your foot in it all your life!"
"But—but—," I sputtered145.
"Yes, darling, I know. You did it for me and with the best intentions. That will always be your reason, you delicious thing."
"You know—that was our first kiss," I said with an abrupt146 change of subject.
"Oh, Ted, and I had to kiss you first after all!"
"I seem to flub everything," I remarked, unaccountably nettled147. Helen laughed: "If I didn't love you so, Ted, I'd shake you. There now! I've said 'I love you' first, too."
"Henery" entered with a familiar looking bottle, closely followed by Mrs. Tyler.
"There ain't more'n a thimbleful left," he apologized holding it to the light. "My back's been kind of bad during the damp spell."
"Henery Tyler, it ain't rained a mite148 for six weeks," Mrs. Tyler snapped. I took the bottle from "Henery" and smelt149 the contents; it was a cheap whisky.
"Will you take a little, Helen?" I asked. "Just to pull you together."
"I don't think I need it, Ted, unless you tell me to take it." I started to hand it back to "Henery," but Mrs. Tyler was too quick for me. She snatched the bottle: "I'll just lock this away in the medicine closet, and when Henery's back troubles him again, he can have it along with one of my hot poultices."
"Henery" looked truly woeful; it was an awful price to ask a man to pay for a drink. As Helen finished the biscuit and milk we heard a carriage outside, and Mr. Claybourne came rushing in. He was greatly relieved at seeing Helen about to eat a large slice of apple pie instead of lying crippled, as he evidently expected.
"Well, Ted, what have you been doing to my little girl?" he asked, kissing Helen and shaking hands with me all in one move.
"It wasn't all Ted's fault," Helen smiled, her eyes shining. But Mr. Claybourne was too relieved and excited to notice anything.
"I'll arrange the cushions in the carriage, and you and I will carry her out, Ted," he shouted and dashed out again. Helen beckoned150 me to her.
"Don't say anything tonight, dear," she whispered. "I'm too tired to face mother. Come to Sunday dinner tomorrow," and she hugged my hand against her shoulder. "Let it be another of our secrets until then." I bent over her and kissed her hair. The Tylers were discreetly151 busy.
"Ted, dear?"
"Yes?"
"I'm so glad I hurt my knee!"
Mr. Claybourne appeared at the door.
"The carriage is ready, Ted. You'll have to take the horses in by yourself. Help me to carry the patient. I couldn't get Dr. Sinclair, but he'll be waiting for us at the house when we get back." We gathered Helen up between us and carried her out.
"You'll look after Leonidas too, won't you, Ted?" she said. "My knee will be enough for mother for one day."
The carriage drove away with Mr. Claybourne still shouting his thanks at the Tylers, with an "If I can do anything for you, Henry, look in at my office Monday." As "Henery" and I made our way to the barn to get Leonidas and the horses I said: "Mr. Tyler, if you will also stop at my office on Monday, you'll find a package of excellent medicine for rheumatism152."
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1
shrilled
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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3
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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4
inferno
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| n.火海；地狱般的场所 | |
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5
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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6
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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7
ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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8
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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9
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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10
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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11
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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12
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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13
utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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14
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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15
trove
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| n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西 | |
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16
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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17
misanthropic
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| adj.厌恶人类的，憎恶（或蔑视）世人的；愤世嫉俗 | |
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18
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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19
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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20
originality
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| n.创造力，独创性；新颖 | |
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21
gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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22
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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23
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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24
repertoire
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| n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表 | |
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25
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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26
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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27
luncheons
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| n.午餐，午宴( luncheon的名词复数 ) | |
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28
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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29
cinder
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| n.余烬，矿渣 | |
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30
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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31
finesse
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| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
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32
proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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33
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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34
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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35
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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36
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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37
citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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38
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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39
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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40
deferring
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| v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的现在分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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41
meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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42
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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43
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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44
analyzed
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| v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析 | |
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45
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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46
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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47
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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49
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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50
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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51
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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52
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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53
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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54
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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55
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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56
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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57
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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58
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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59
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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60
lucre
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| n.金钱，财富 | |
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61
diverging
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| 分开( diverge的现在分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
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62
plebeian
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| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
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63
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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64
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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65
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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66
linguistic
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| adj.语言的，语言学的 | |
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67
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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68
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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69
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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70
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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71
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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72
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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73
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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74
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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75
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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77
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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78
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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79
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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80
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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81
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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82
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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83
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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84
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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85
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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86
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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87
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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88
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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89
canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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90
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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91
chillier
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| adj.寒冷的，冷得难受的( chilly的比较级 ) | |
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92
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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93
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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94
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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95
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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96
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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97
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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98
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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99
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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100
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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101
delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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102
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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103
commonsense
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| adj.有常识的；明白事理的；注重实际的 | |
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104
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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105
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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106
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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107
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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108
enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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110
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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111
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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113
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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114
medley
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| n.混合 | |
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115
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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116
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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117
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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118
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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119
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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120
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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121
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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122
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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128
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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129
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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130
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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131
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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132
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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133
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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137
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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138
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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140
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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142
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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143
timorously
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| adv.胆怯地，羞怯地 | |
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144
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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148
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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149
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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150
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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152
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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