第72章 CHAPTER XIV(3)

A few decaying logs were scattered around,the grass grew in tufts long and fine.Blue flags waved,clusters of cowslips nodded gold heads,but the whole earth was purple with a thick blanket of violets nodding from stems a foot in length.Elnora knelt and slipping her fingers between the leaves and grasses to the roots,gathered a few violets and gave them to Philip.

"Can your city greenhouses surpass them?"she asked.

He sat on a log to examine the blooms.

"They are superb!"he said."I never saw such length of stem or such rank leaves,while the flowers are the deepest blue,the truest violet I ever saw growing wild.

They are coloured exactly like the eyes of the girl I am going to marry."Elnora handed him several others to add to those he held.

"She must have wonderful eyes,"she commented.

"No other blue eyes are quite so beautiful,"he said.

"In fact,she is altogether lovely."

"Is it customary for a man to think the girl he is going to marry lovely?I wonder if I should find her so.""You would,"said Philip."No one ever fails to.She is tall as you,very slender,but perfectly rounded;you know about her eyes;her hair is black and wavy--while her complexion is clear and flushed with red.""Why,she must be the most beautiful girl in the whole world!"she cried.

"No,indeed!"he said."She is not a particle better looking in her way than you are in yours.She is a type of dark beauty,but you are equally as perfect.She is unusual in her combination of black hair and violet eyes,although every one thinks them black at a little distance.

You are quite as unusual with your fair face,black brows,and brown hair;indeed,I know many people who would prefer your bright head to her dark one.It's all a question of taste--and being engaged to the girl,"he added.

"That would be likely to prejudice one,"laughed Elnora.

"Edith has a birthday soon;if these last will you let me have a box of them to send her?""I will help gather and pack them for you,so they will carry nicely.Does she hunt moths with you?"Back went Philip Ammon's head in a gale of laughter.

"No!"he cried."She says they are `creepy.'She would go into a spasm if she were compelled to touch those caterpillars I saw you handling yesterday.""Why would she?"marvelled Elnora."Haven't you told her that they are perfectly clean,helpless,and harmless as so much animate velvet?""No,I have not told her.She wouldn't care enough about caterpillars to listen.""In what is she interested?"

"What interests Edith Carr?Let me think!First,Ibelieve she takes pride in being a little handsomer and better dressed than any girl of her set.She is interested in having a beautiful home,fine appointments,in being petted,praised,and the acknowledged leader of society.

"She likes to find new things which amuse her,and to always and in all circumstances have her own way about everything.""Good gracious!"cried Elnora,staring at him."But what does she do?How does she spend her time?""Spend her time!"repeated Philip."Well,she would call that a joke.Her days are never long enough.There is endless shopping,to find the pretty things;regular visits to the dressmakers,calls,parties,theatres,entertainments.

She is always rushed.I never am able to be with her half as much as I would like.""But I mean work,"persisted Elnora."In what is she interested that is useful to the world?""Me!"cried Philip promptly.

"I can understand that,"laughed Elnora."What Ican't understand is how you can be in----"She stopped in confusion,but she saw that he had finished the sentence as she had intended."I beg your pardon!"she cried."I didn't intend to say that.But I cannot understand these people I hear about who live only for their own amusement.

Perhaps it is very great;I'll never have a chance to know.

To me,it seems the only pleasure in this world worth having is the joy we derive from living for those we love,and those we can help.I hope you are not angry with me."Philip sat silently looking far away,with deep thought in his eyes.

"You are angry,"faltered Elnora.