English
I
Carol'sliveliestinterestwasinherwalkswiththebaby.
Hughwantedtoknowwhatthebox–eldertreesaid,andwhattheFordgaragesaid,andwhatthebigcloudsaid,andshetoldhim,withafeelingthatshewasnotintheleastmakingupstories,butdiscoveringthesoulsofthings.
Theyhadanespecialfondnessforthehitching–postinfrontofthemill.
Itwasabrownpost,stoutandagreeable;thesmoothlegofitheldthesunlight,whileitsneck,groovedbyhitching–straps,tickledone'sfingers.
Carolhadneverbeenawaketotheearthexceptasashowofchangingcolorandgreatsatisfyingmasses;shehadlivedinpeopleandinideasabouthavingideas;butHugh'squestionsmadeherattentivetothecomediesofsparrows,robins,bluejays,yellowhammers;sheregainedherpleasureinthearchingflightofswallows,andaddedtoitasolicitudeabouttheirnestsandfamilysquabbles.
Sheforgotherseasonsofboredom.ShesaidtoHugh,"We'retwofatdisreputableoldminstrelsroamingroundtheworld,"andheechoedher,"Roamin'round—roamin'round."
Thehighadventure,thesecretplacetowhichtheybothfledjoyously,wasthehouseofMilesandBeaandOlafBjornstam.
KennicottsteadilydisapprovedoftheBjornstams.
Heprotested,"Whatdoyouwanttotalktothatcrankfor?"
Hehintedthataformer"Swedehiredgirl"waslowcompanyforthesonofDr.WillKennicott.Shedidnotexplain.
Shedidnotquiteunderstanditherself;didnotknowthatintheBjornstamsshefoundherfriends,herclub,hersympathyandherrationofblessedcynicism.
ForatimethegossipofJuanitaHaydockandtheJollySeventeenhadbeenarefugefromthedroningofAuntBessie,butthereliefhadnotcontinued.Theyoungmatronsmadehernervous.Theytalkedsoloud,alwayssoloud.
Theyfilledaroomwithclashingcackle;theirjestsandgagstheyrepeatedninetimesover.
Unconsciously,shehaddiscardedtheJollySeventeen,GuyPollock,Vida,andeveryonesaveMrs.Dr.Westlakeandthefriendswhomshedidnotclearlyknowasfriends—theBjornstams.
ToHugh,theRedSwedewasthemostheroicandpowerfulpersonintheworld.
WithunrestrainedadorationhetrottedafterwhileMilesfedthecows,chasedhisonepig—ananimaloflaxandmigratoryinstincts—ordramaticallyslaughteredachicken.
AndtoHugh,Olafwaslordamongmortalmen,lessstalwartthantheoldmonarch,KingMiles,butmoreunderstandingoftherelationsandvaluesofthings,ofsmallsticks,loneplaying–cards,andirretrievablyinjuredhoops.
Carolsaw,thoughshedidnotadmit,thatOlafwasnotonlymorebeautifulthanherowndarkchild,butmoregracious.
OlafwasaNorsechieftain:straight,sunny–haired,large–limbed,resplendentlyamiabletohissubjects.
Hughwasavulgarian;abustlingbusinessman.
ItwasHughthatbouncedandsaid"Let'splay";Olafthatopenedluminousblueeyesandagreed"Allright,"incondescendinggentleness.
IfHughbattedhim—andHughdidbathim—Olafwasunafraidbutshocked.
Inmagnificentsolitudehemarchedtowardthehouse,whileHughbewailedhissinandtheovercloudingofaugustfavor.
ThetwofriendsplayedwithanimperialchariotwhichMileshadmadeoutofastarch–boxandfourredspools;togethertheystuckswitchesintoamouse–hole,withvastsatisfactionthoughentirelywithoutknownresults.
Bea,thechubbyandhummingBea,impartiallygavecookiesandscoldingstobothchildren,andifCarolrefusedacupofcoffeeandawaferofbutteredknackebrod,shewasdesolated.
Mileshaddonewellwithhisdairy.Hehadsixcows,twohundredchickens,acreamseparator,aFordtruck.
Inthespringhehadbuiltatwo–roomadditiontohisshack.
ThatillustriousbuildingwastoHughacarnival.
UncleMilesdidthemostspectacular,unexpectedthings:ranuptheladder;stoodontheridge–pole,wavingahammerandsingingsomethingabout"Toarms,mycitizens";nailedshinglesfasterthanAuntBessiecouldironhandkerchiefs;andliftedatwo–by–sixwithHughridingononeendandOlafontheother.
UncleMiles'smostecstatictrickwastomakefiguresnotonpaperbutrightonanewpineboard,withthebroadestsoftestpencilintheworld.Therewasathingworthseeing!
Thetools!InhisofficeFatherhadtoolsfascinatingintheirshininessandcuriousshapes,buttheyweresharp,theyweresomethingcalledsterized,andtheydistinctlywerenotforboystotouch.
Infactitwasagooddodgetovolunteer"Imustnottouch,"whenyoulookedatthetoolsontheglassshelvesinFather'soffice.
ButUncleMiles,whowasapersonaltogethersuperiortoFather,letyouhandleallhiskitexceptthesaws.
Therewasahammerwithasilverhead;therewasametalthinglikeabigL;therewasamagicinstrument,veryprecious,madeoutofcostlyredwoodandgold,withatubewhichcontainedadrop—no,itwasn'tadrop,itwasanothing,whichlivedinthewater,butthenothingLOOKEDlikeadrop,anditraninafrightenedwayupanddownthetube,nomatterhowcautiouslyyoutiltedthemagicinstrument.
Andtherewerenails,verydifferentandclever—bigvaliantspikes,middle–sizedoneswhichwerenotveryinteresting,andshingle–nailsmuchjollierthanthefussed–upfairiesintheyellowbook.
II
WhilehehadworkedontheadditionMileshadtalkedfranklytoCarol.
HeadmittednowthatsolongashestayedinGopherPrairiehewouldremainapariah.
Bea'sLutheranfriendswereasmuchoffendedbyhisagnosticgibesasthemerchantsbyhisradicalism.
"AndIcan'tseemtokeepmymouthshut.
IthinkI'mbeingabaa–lamb,andnotspringinganytheorieswilderthan'c–a–tspellscat,'butwhenfolkshavegone,Ire'lizeI'vebeensteppingontheirpetreligiouscorns.
Oh,themillforemankeepsdroppingin,andthatDanishshoemaker,andonefellowfromElder'sfactory,andafewSvenskas,butyouknowBea:biggood–heartedwenchlikeherwantsalotoffolksaround—likestofussover'em—neversatisfiedunlessshetiringherselfoutmakingcoffeeforsomebody.
"OnceshekidnappedmeanddrugmetotheMethodistChurch.
Igoesin,piousasWidowBogart,andsitsstillandnevercracksasmilewhilethepreacherisfavoringuswithhismisinformationonevolution.
Butafterwards,whentheoldstalwartswerepumphandlingeverybodyatthedoorandcalling'em'Brother'and'Sister,'theyletmesailrightbywithnaryaclinch.TheyfigureI'mthetownbadman.Alwayswillbe,Iguess.It'llhavetobeOlafwhogoeson.
'Andsometimes—BlamedifIdon'tfeellikecomingoutandsaying,'I'vebeenconservative.Nothingtoit.
NowI'mgoingtostartsomethingintheserottenone–horselumber–campswestoftown.'ButBea'sgotmehypnotized.
Lord,Mrs.Kennicott,doyoure'lizewhatajolly,square,faithfulwomansheis?
AndIloveOlaf—Ohwell,Iwon'tgoandgetsentimentalonyou.
"CourseI'vehadthoughtsofpullingupstakesandgoingWest.
Maybeiftheydidn'tknowitbeforehand,theywouldn'tfindoutI'deverbeenguiltyoftryingtothinkformyself.
But—oh,I'veworkedhard,andbuiltupthisdairybusiness,andIhatetostartalloveragain,andmoveBeaandthekidintoanotherone–roomshack.That'showtheygetus!
Encourageustobethriftyandownourownhouses,andthen,bygolly,they'vegotus;theyknowwewon'tdareriskeverythingbycommittinglez—whatisit?lezmajesty?
—Imeantheyknowwewon'tbehintingaroundthatifwehadaco–operativebank,wecouldgetalongwithoutStowbody.
Well—AslongasIcansitandplaypinochlewithBea,andtellwhopperstoOlafabouthisdaddy'sadventuresinthewoods,andhowhesnaredawapaloosieandknewPaulBunyan,why,Idon'tmindbeingabum.It'sjustforthemthatImind.Say!Say!
Don'twhisperawordtoBea,butwhenIgetthisadditiondone,I'mgoingtobuyheraphonograph!"
Hedid.
Whileshewasbusywiththeactivitiesherwork–hungrymusclesfound—washing,ironing,mending,baking,dusting,preserving,pluckingachicken,paintingthesink;taskswhich,becauseshewasMiles'sfullpartner,wereexcitingandcreative—Bealistenedtothephonographrecordswithrapturelikethatofcattleinawarmstable.
Theadditiongaveherakitchenwithabedroomabove.
Theoriginalone–roomshackwasnowaliving–room,withthephonograph,agenuineleather–upholsteredgolden–oakrocker,andapictureofGovernorJohnJohnson.
InlateJulyCarolwenttotheBjornstams'desirousofachancetoexpressheropinionofBeaversandCalibreesandJoralemons.
ShefoundOlafabed,restlessfromaslightfever,andBeaflushedanddizzybuttryingtokeepupherwork.SheluredMilesasideandworried:
"Theydon'tlookatallwell.What'sthematter?"
"Theirstomachsareoutofwhack.IwantedtocallinDocKennicott,butBeathinksthedocdoesn'tlikeus—shethinksmaybehe'ssorebecauseyoucomedownhere.ButI'mgettingworried."
"I'mgoingtocallthedoctoratonce."
SheyearnedoverOlaf.Hislambenteyeswerestupid,hemoaned,herubbedhisforehead.
"Havetheybeeneatingsomethingthat'sbeenbadforthem?"sheflutteredtoMiles.
"Mightbebumwater.I'lltellyou:WeusedtogetourwateratOscarEklund'splace,overacrossthestreet,butOscarkeptdingingatme,andhintingIwasatightwadnottodigawellofmyown.
Onetimehesaid,'Sure,yousocialistsaregreatondivvyingupotherfolks'money—andwater!'
Iknewifhekeptitupthere'dbeafuss,andIain'tsafetohavearound,onceafussstarts;I'mlikelytoforgetmyselfandletloosewithapunchinthesnoot.
IofferedtopayOscarbutherefused—he'dratherhavethechancetokidme.
SoIstartsgettingwaterdownatMrs.Fageros's,inthehollowthere,andIdon'tbelieveit'srealgood.Figuringtodigmyownwellthisfall."
OnescarletwordwasbeforeCarol'seyeswhileshelistened.ShefledtoKennicott'soffice.Hegravelyheardherout;nodded,said,"Berightover."
HeexaminedBeaandOlaf.Heshookhishead."Yes.Lookstomeliketyphoid."
"Golly,I'veseentyphoidinlumber–camps,"groanedMiles,allthestrengthdrippingoutofhim."Havetheygotitverybad?"
"Oh,we'lltakegoodcareofthem,"saidKennicott,andforthefirsttimeintheiracquaintancehesmiledonMilesandclappedhisshoulder.
"Won'tyouneedanurse?"demandedCarol.
"Why—"ToMiles,Kennicotthinted,"Couldn'tyougetBea'scousin,Tina?"
"She'sdownattheoldfolks',inthecountry."
"Thenletmedoit!"Carolinsisted."Theyneedsomeonetocookforthem,andisn'titgoodtogivethemspongebaths,intyphoid?"
"Yes.Allright."
Kennicottwasautomatic;hewastheofficial,thephysician.
"Iguessprobablyitwouldbehardtogetanursehereintownjustnow.
Mrs.Stiverisbusywithanobstetricalcase,andthattownnurseofyoursisoffonvacation,ain'tshe?
Allright,Bjornstamcanspellyouatnight."
Allweek,fromeighteachmorningtillmidnight,Carolfedthem,bathedthem,smoothedsheets,tooktemperatures.Milesrefusedtolethercook.
Terrified,pallid,noiselessinstockingfeet,hedidthekitchenworkandthesweeping,hisbigredhandsawkwardlycareful.
Kennicottcameinthreetimesaday,unchanginglytenderandhopefulinthesick–room,evenlypolitetoMiles.
Carolunderstoodhowgreatwasherloveforherfriends.
Itboreherthrough;itmadeherarmsteadyandtirelesstobathethem.
WhatexhaustedherwasthesightofBeaandOlafturnedintoflaccidinvalids,uncomfortablyflushedaftertakingfood,beggingforthehealingofsleepatnight.
DuringthesecondweekOlaf'spowerfullegswereflabby.
Spotsofaviciouslydelicatepinkcameoutonhischestandback.Hischeekssank.Helookedfrightened.Histonguewasbrownandrevolting.
Hisconfidentvoicedwindledtoabewilderedmurmur,ceaselessandracking.
Beahadstayedonherfeettoolongatthebeginning.
ThemomentKennicotthadorderedhertobedshehadbeguntocollapse.
Oneearlyeveningshestartledthembyscreaming,inanintenseabdominalpain,andwithinhalfanhourshewasinadelirium.
TilldawnCarolwaswithher,andnotallofBea'sgropingthroughtheblacknessofhalf–deliriouspainwassopitifultoCarolasthewayinwhichMilessilentlypeeredintotheroomfromthetopofthenarrowstairs.
Carolsleptthreehoursnextmorning,andranback.
Beawasaltogetherdeliriousbutshemutterednothingsave,"Olaf—vehavesuchagoodtime—"
Atten,whileCarolwaspreparinganice–baginthekitchen,Milesansweredaknock.
AtthefrontdoorshesawVidaSherwin,MaudDyer,andMrs.Zitterel,wifeoftheBaptistpastor.
Theywerecarryinggrapes,andwomen's–magazines,magazineswithhigh–coloredpicturesandoptimisticfiction.
"Wejustheardyourwifewassick.We'vecometoseeifthereisn'tsomethingwecando,"chirrupedVida.
Mileslookedsteadilyatthethreewomen."You'retoolate.Youcan'tdonothingnow.
Bea'salwayskindofhopedthatyoufolkswouldcomeseeher.
Shewantedtohaveachanceandbefriends.
Sheusedtositwaitingforsomebodytoknock.I'veseenhersittinghere,waiting.Now—Oh,youain'tworthGod–damning."Heshutthedoor.
AlldayCarolwatchedOlaf'sstrengthoozing.Hewasemaciated.
Hisribsweregrimclearlines,hisskinwasclammy,hispulsewasfeeblebutterrifyinglyrapid.
Itbeat—beat—beatinadrum–rollofdeath.
Latethatafternoonhesobbed,anddied.
Beadidnotknowit.Shewasdelirious.
Nextmorning,whenshewent,shedidnotknowthatOlafwouldnolongerswinghislathswordonthedoor–step,nolongerrulehissubjectsofthecattle–yard;thatMiles'ssonwouldnotgoEasttocollege.
Miles,Carol,Kennicottweresilent.Theywashedthebodiestogether,theireyesveiled.
"Gohomenowandsleep.You'reprettytired.Ican'teverpayyoubackforwhatyoudone,"MileswhisperedtoCarol.
"Yes.ButI'llbebackheretomorrow.Gowithyoutothefuneral,"shesaidlaboriously.
Whenthetimeforthefuneralcame,Carolwasinbed,collapsed.Sheassumedthatneighborswouldgo.
TheyhadnottoldherthatwordofMiles'srebufftoVidahadspreadthroughtown,acyclonicfury.
Itwasonlybychancethat,leaningonherelbowinbed,sheglancedthroughthewindowandsawthefuneralofBeaandOlaf.Therewasnomusic,nocarriages.
TherewasonlyMilesBjornstam,inhisblackwedding–suit,walkingquitealone,headdown,behindtheshabbyhearsethatborethebodiesofhiswifeandbaby.
Anhourafter,Hughcameintoherroomcrying,andwhenshesaidascheerilyasshecould,"Whatisit,dear?"hebesought,"Mummy,IwanttogoplaywithOlaf."
ThatafternoonJuanitaHaydockdroppedintobrightenCarol.
Shesaid,"ToobadaboutthisBeathatwasyourhiredgirl.
ButIdon'twasteanysympathyonthatmanofhers.
Everybodysayshedranktoomuch,andtreatedhisfamilyawful,andthat'showtheygotsick."
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