Jennette Lee

“ Why had he come, with his glasses and violin and his cigars? Who asked him to come? She gathered up a handful of rabbits and thrust them sharply into place. Did he think anybody wanted him? Ethelberta never played like that before. She rested her chin on her hand and gazed gloomily into the wool-lined basket. The yellow cat looked out at her with large, one-sided, dispassionate gaze till she clapped the cover on the basket and stood up, yawning. It was that stupid music. How it tagged her about! She raised her head with a swift breath and listened. ”

“ It was a low, rambling room, with gables jutting into it and dormer-windows jutting out from it, and it was devoted to Henrietta's enthusiasms. Branches of pine thrust into the angles gave out a breath of woods, and trailing vines ran along the windows and walls. On the table at the left were three miniature rabbits and a yellow china cat. The cat was very large and had a head that waggled when you touched it. Under the table was a dark-green alligator, stuffed, and on each side the mirror a Barye lion and a tiger confronted each other. ”

“ And the Scientist, who was not stupid, but only very ignorant, grew rapidly wise. The halo of degrees about his head dwindled in his eyes to the smallest-sized type known to civilized man, and the joy in his heart sang so loud that he was half ashamed, and tried to pretend to himself that it was the altitude. ”

“ In the curve of a branch a Scarberus rested, his wings opening and closing in softest rhythm. The Scientist raised a hand, but she caught it to her side, and drew him away. Her eyes laughed at him, but she shook her head slowly. "There are hundreds, but you must not touch them—not one of them. They come out only at night." ”

“ Tryon's two daughters were very different. The one that sat opposite her mother at the end of the table must be the elder, he decided, though age could hardly be associated with either of them. They were like wood-nymphs that had drifted in for a casual meal, catching their drapery as they came, and wearing it with modesty but not of necessity. ”

“ I can only mention that, although during thirty years' pursuit of bugs and moths he had lived almost constantly in the woods, the Scientist had never before encountered a wood-nymph or dreamed of one. To meet two at a first encounter was naturally somewhat embarrassing.
He took a safe moment to look again at the elder of the two. She was big and gentle, and the hair on her low forehead was of the softest brown. It occurred to the Scientist that one might like to touch it. His second thought was that it was the color of the moth he had come to find. ”

“ Old John, the forester, had made her a camp not a stone's throw from his own, and she came and went as she pleased. Old John, who had had the care of the woods for twenty-five years, kept faithful guard over her. Henrietta had trotted at his heels as a child, and all the wood-lore she knew he had taught her. And then, too, she had Buff. Nothing could hurt her with Buff to protect her. Mrs. Tryon explained these unconventional details a little anxiously. The Scientist might think her remiss in letting Henrietta camp alone in the woods. ”

“ Henrietta patted his head and sat up, looking vaguely about. The music was full of witchery. It played among the half-lighted shadows. She rose, stretched herself, and wandered across the room, standing for a moment by the door and looking into the darkness. The great dog followed her, leaping upon her.
"Down, Buff!" she said softly.
II When Mrs. Tryon opened her eyes she looked about with a little expression of dismay.
"Where is Henrietta?" she demanded.
The music had ceased, and the players came across to the fire. Ethelberta glanced at the low seat.
"She's run away," she said, smiling. ”

“ She looked at him with wide eyes.
"I hate music," she said.
"Henrietta!" murmured her mother. "Not hate—you don't mean that you hate it."
The girl shook her head perversely.
"I do. I hate it."
Her mother looked at her helplessly for a minute. Then her face relaxed.
"She does n't hate it," she said confidingly; "she has n't, perhaps, Ethelberta's touch—"
Both the girls laughed outright, and even the Scientist smiled.
"Then it is yours?" he said, turning to the other.
"The andante? Yes. I was trying to play it before dinner, but it needs the violin."
"Yes. It needs the violin." ”

“ Mrs. Tryon and Ethelberta drew a sigh of relief. Henrietta was a trifle difficult at times, and it would have been too bad to break up the sense of good-fellowship that had come to pass among them.
After breakfast the Scientist was closeted with Mrs. Tryon in the library for half an hour, and when he came out she went straight to Henrietta's room. The girl stood by the wool-lined basket, taking out her pets and arranging them in place. ”

“ She was digging a stick into the moss, and the words came in jerks as she dug.
He dropped on his knees.
"And you don't care? " The near-sighted eyes came very close to her, pleadingly.
"Why should I care!" She tried to look stern; but her lip played her false, and she looked helplessly away, winking fast. ”

“ The nights are very beautiful with us, so dry and clear. Henrietta is constantly roaming about in them." There was half-apology and half-pride in the tone.
"Is it quite safe?" ventured the Scientist.
"Safe? Oh, perfectly! She always has Buff, and this is America, you know." ”

“ The pursuit of bugs and moths, while it may call one's attention to beauties of structure and rouse one's admiration for the marvels of anatomy, does not tend to a belief in spiritism or telepathy or second sight or elective affinities. ”

“ She lifted the yellow cat and placed it carefully on the table. The yellow head waggled comfortably from side to side.
Her mother nodded to her sagely. "Of course I expected it; but he's not just like other men, and I was n't sure he—cared."
Henrietta lifted her hand to her forehead, looking at her mother with clear, transparent eyes. "Has he told you?" she said wonderingly.
"Just this minute. And I 've given him my blessing. They are just suited to each other."
The girl's hand dropped slowly. "They—are—" She was staring into her mother's face. ”