Ruth pushed her chair back and stood at the dining-room window a moment,looking out into the yard.The valley was in shadow,but the last light still lingered on the hill."What's that,Hepsey?"she asked.
"What's what?"
"That--where the evergreen is coming up out of the ground,in the shape of a square.""That's the cat's grave,mum.She died jest afore Miss Hathaway went away,and she planted the evergreen.""I thought something was lacking,"said Ruth,half to herself.
"Do you want a kitten,Miss Thorne?"inquired Hepsey,eagerly."Ireckon I can get you one--Maltese or white,just as you like.""No,thank you,Hepsey;I don't believe I'll import any pets.""Jest as you say,mum.It's sorter lonesome,though,with no cat;and Miss Hathaway said she didn't want no more."Speculating upon the departed cat's superior charms,that made substitution seem like sacrilege to Miss Hathaway,Ruth sat down for a time in the old-fashioned parlour,where the shabby haircloth furniture was ornamented with "tidies"to the last degree.There was a marble-topped centre table in the room,and a basket of wax flowers under a glass case,Mrs.Hemans's poems,another book,called The Lady's Garland,and the family Bible were carefully arranged upon it.
A hair wreath,also sheltered by glass,hung on the wall near another collection of wax flowers suitably framed.There were various portraits of people whom Miss Thorne did not know,though she was a near relative of their owner,and two tall,white china vases,decorated with gilt,flanked the mantel-shelf.The carpet,which was once of the speaking variety,had faded to the listening point.Coarse lace curtains hung from brass rings on wooden poles,and red cotton lambrequins were festooned at the top.
Hepsey came in to light the lamp that hung by chains over the table,but Miss Thorne rose,saying:"You needn't mind,Hepsey,as I am going upstairs.""Want me to help you unpack?she asked,doubtless wishing for a view of "city clothes.""No,thank you."
"I put a pitcher of water in your room,Miss Thorne.Is there anything else you would like?""Nothing more,thank you."
She still lingered,irresolute,shifting from one foot to the other."Miss Thorne--"she began hesitatingly.
"Yes?"
"Be you--be you a lady detective?"Ruth's clear laughter rang out on the evening air."Why,no,you foolish girl;I'm a newspaper woman,and I've earned a rest--that's all.You mustn't read books with yellow covers."Hepsey withdrew,muttering vague apologies,and Ruth found her at the head of the stairs when she went up to her room."How long have you been with Miss Hathaway?"she asked.
"Five years come next June."
"Good night,Hepsey."
"Good night,Miss Thorne."
From sheer force of habit,Ruth locked her door.Her trunk was not a large one,and it did not take her long to put her simple wardrobe into the capacious closet and the dresser drawers.As she moved the empty trunk into the closet,she remembered the box of money that she had left in the attic,and went up to get it.
When she returned she heard Hepsey's door close softly.
"Silly child,"she said to herself.I might just as well ask her if she isn't a'lady detective.'They'll laugh about that in the office when I go back."She sat down,rocking contentedly,for it was April,and she would not have to go back until Aunt Jane came home,probably about the first of October.She checked off the free,health-giving months on her tired fingers,that would know the blue pencil and the typewriter no more until Autumn,when she would be strong again and the quivering nerves quite steady.
She blessed the legacy which had fallen into Jane Hathaway's lap and led her,at fifty-five,to join a "personally conducted"party to the Old World.Ruth had always had a dim yearning for foreign travel,but just now she felt no latent injustice,such as had often rankled in her soul when her friends went and she remained at home.
Thinking she heard Hepsey in the hall,and not caring to arouse further suspicion,she put out her light and sat by the window,with the shutters wide open.
Far down the hill,where the road became level again,and on the left as she looked toward the village,was the white house,surrounded by a garden and a hedge,which she supposed was Miss Ainslie's.A timid chirp came from the grass,and the faint,sweet smell of growing things floated in through the open window at the other end of the room.
A train from the city sounded a warning whistle as it approached the station,and then a light shone on the grass in front of Miss Ainslie's house.It was a little gleam,evidently from a candle.
"So she's keeping a lighthouse,too,"thought Ruth.The train pulled out of the station and half an hour afterward the light disappeared.
She meditated upon the general subject of illumination while she got ready for bed,but as soon as her head touched the pillow she lost consciousness and knew no more until the morning light crept into her room.
