第25章

“IhopeI’llbealivewhenshereturns，“saidClaudegloomily。

NaturallyhehadalittlemoretimetogivetoNinaandherremarkabledoings，whichhadsetthewholeneighborhoodtowondering“whathadcomeoverthegirl。“

Shenolongerworkedinthefield。Shedressedbetter，andhadtakentogoingtothemostfashionablechurchintown。Shewasawomantransformed。Nothingwasabletopreventhersteadyprogressionandbloom。ShegrewplumperandfairerandbecamesomuchmoreattractivethattheyoungGermansthickenedroundher，andoneortwoYankeeboyslookedherway。ThroughitallClaudekeptuphishalf-humorousbanterandaltogetherseriousdailyadvice，withoutoncerealizingthatany-thingsentimentalconnectedhimwithitall。Heknewshelikedhim，andsometimeshefeltalittleannoyedbyherattemptstopleasehim，butthatshewasdoingallthatshedidandorderingherwholelifetopleasehimneverenteredhisself-sufficienthead。

Therewasn’tmuchroomleftinthatheadforanyoneelseexceptLucindy，andhisplansforwiningher。Planashemight，hesawnowayofmakingmorethanthetwodollarsadayhewasearningasacreamcollector。

ThingsranalongthusfromweektoweektillitwasnearlytimeforLucindytoreturn。ClaudewashavinghistopbuggyrepaintedandwaspreparingforavigorouscampaignwhenLucindyshouldbeathomeagain。Heownedhisteamandwagonandthebuggy-nothingmore。

OneSaturdayMr。Kennedysaid，“Lucindy’scominghome。I’mgoingdownafterhertonight。“

“Letmebringherup，“saidClaudewithsuspiciouseagerness。

Mr。Kennedyhesitated。“No，IguessI’llgomyself。Iwanttogototown，anyway。“

ClaudewasinhighspiritsashedroveintoHaldeman’syardthatafternoon。

Ninawasleaningoverthefencesingingsoftlytoherself，butafiercealtercationwasgoingoninsidethehouse。Thewallsresounded。ItwasallDutchtoClaude，butheknewtheoldpeoplewerequarreling。

NinasmiledandcoloredasClaudedrewupatthesidegate。Sheseemednottoheartheeloquentdiscussioninside。

“What’sgoingon？“askedClaude。

“DeytinkIaminhouse。“

“How’sthat？“

“Mymuddershelockmeup。“

Claudestared。“Lockedyouup？Whatfor？“

“ShetondtlikeitdotIcomeouttoseeyou。“

“Oh，shedon’t？“saidClaude。“What’sthemattero’me？Iain’tadangerouschap。Iain’teatin’uplittle。girls。“

Ninawentonplacidly。“Shesaidtdotyouwasgoin’tomarrymeundt’getthefarm。“

Claudegrinned，thenchuckied，andatlastroaredandwhoopedwiththedelightofit。Hetookoffhishatandsaid：

“Shesaidthat，didshe？Why，blessheroldcabbagehead-“

TheopeningofthedoorandthesuddenirruptionofFrauHaldemaninterruptedhim。Shecamerushingtowardhimlikeashegrizzlybear，utteringatorrentofGermanexpletives，andhurledherselfuponhim，clutchingathishairandthroat。Heleapedasideandstruckdownherhandswithasweepofhishardrightarm。Assheturnedtocomeagainheshouted，“Keepoff!orI’llknockyoudown!“

ButbeforetheblowcameNinaseizedtheinfuriatedwomanfrombehindandthrewherdown，andheldhertilltheoldmancamehobblingtotherescue。HeseemedalittledazedbyitallandmadenoefforttoassaultClaude。

Theoldwoman，whowasalreadyblackinthefacewithrage，suddenlyfelllimp，andNina，kneelingbesideher，grewwhitewithfear。

“Oh，vatisthematter!Ihatkildther!“

Clauderushedforabucketofwateranddasheditintheoldwoman’s？ace。Hefloodedherwithslashingsofit，especiallyafterhesawheropenhereyes，endingbyemptyingthebucketinherface。Hewasalittlemaliciousaboutthat。

Themothersatupsoon，wet，scared，bewildered，gasping。

“MeinGott!MeinGotdIchbinertrinken!“

“Whatdoesshesay-she’sbeendrinkin’？Well，thatlooksreasonable。“

“No，no-shethinkssheistrouned。“

“Oh，drowned!“Clauderoaredagain。“Notmuchsheain’t。She’sonlyjustgettingcooledoff。“

Hehelpedthegirlgethermothertothehouseandstretchheroutonabed。Theoldwomanseemedtohavecompletelyexhaustedherselfwithhereffortandsubmittedlikeachildtobewaitedupon。Hersuddenfaintinghadsubduedher

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