按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
floury hand on her hip。 Then she went to the pantry shelf and took out a
clean white saucer。 She selected from the brown jar on the table three of
the brownest； crumbliest； most perfect cookies； with a walnut meat
perched atop of each； placed them temptingly on the saucer and；
descending the steps； came swiftly across the grass to the triumphant
Snooky。 Blanche Devine held out the saucer； her lips smiling； her eyes
tender。 Snooky reached up with one plump white arm。
〃Snooky！〃 shrilled a high voice。 〃Snooky！〃 A voice of horror and
of wrath。 〃Come here to me this minute！ And don't you dare to touch
those！〃 Snooky hesitated rebelliously； one pink finger in her pouting
mouth。
〃Snooky！ Do you hear me？〃
And the Very Young Wife began to descend the steps of her back porch。
Snooky； regretful eyes on the toothsome dainties； turned away aggrieved。
The Very Young Wife； her lips set； her eyes flashing； advanced and seized
the shrieking Snooky by one arm and dragged her away toward home and
9
… Page 10…
ONE BASKET
safety。
Blanche Devine stood there at the fence； holding the saucer in her
hand。 The saucer tipped slowly； and the three cookies slipped off and fell
to the grass。 Blanche Devine stood staring at them a moment。 Then she
turned quickly； went into the house； and shut the door。
It was about this time we noticed that Blanche Devine was away much
of the time。 The little white cottage would be empty for weeks。 We
knew she was out of town because the expressman would come for her
trunk。 We used to lift our eyebrows significantly。 The newspapers and
handbills would accumulate in a dusty little heap on the porch； but when
she returned there was always a grand cleaning； with the windows open；
and Blancheher head bound turbanwise in a towelappearing at a
window every few minutes to shake out a dustcloth。 She seemed to put
an enormous amount of energy into those cleaningsas if they were a sort
of safety valve。
As winter came on she used to sit up before her grate fire long； long
after we were asleep in our beds。 When she neglected to pull down the
shades we could see the flames of her cosy fire dancing gnomelike on the
wall。 There came a night of sleet and snow； and wind and rattling hail
one of those blustering； wild nights that are followed by morning…paper
reports of trains stalled in drifts； mail delayed； telephone and telegraph
wires down。 It must have been midnight or past when there came a
hammering at Blanche Devine's doora persistent； clamorous rapping。
Blanche Devine； sitting before her dying fire half asleep； started and
cringed when she heard it； then jumped to her feet； her hand at her breast
her eyes darting this way and that； as though seeking escape。
She had heard a rapping like that before。 It had meant bluecoats
swarming up the stairway； and frightened cries and pleadings； and wild
confusion。 So she started forward now； quivering。 And then she
remembered； being wholly awake nowshe remembered； and threw up
her head and smiled a little bitterly and walked toward the door。 The
hammering continued； louder than ever。 Blanche Devine flicked on the
porch light and opened the door。 The half…clad figure of the Very Young
Wife next door staggered into the room。 She seized Blanche Devine's
10
… Page 11…
ONE BASKET
arm with both her frenzied hands and shook her； the wind and snow
beating in upon both of them。
〃The baby！〃 she screamed in a high； hysterical voice。 〃The baby！
The baby！〃
Blanche Devine shut the door and shook the Young Wife smartly by
the shoulders。
〃Stop screaming；〃 she said quietly。 〃Is she sick？〃
The Young Wife told her； her teeth chattering：
〃Come quick！ She's dying！ Will's out of town。 I tried to get the
doctor。 The telephone wouldn't I saw your light！ For God's sake〃
Blanche Devine grasped the Young Wife's arm； opened the door； and
together they sped across the little space that separated the two houses。
Blanche Devine was a big woman； but she took the stairs like a girl and
found the right bedroom by some miraculous woman instinct。 A dreadful
choking； rattling sound was coming from Snooky's bed。
〃Croup；〃 said Blanche Devine； and began her fight。
It was a good fight。 She marshaled her inadequate forces； made up of
the half…fainting Young Wife and the terrified and awkward hired girl。
〃Get the hot water onlots of it！〃 Blanche Devine pinned up her
sleeves。 〃Hot cloths！ Tear up a sheetor anything！ Got an oilstove？ I
want a tea… kettle boiling in the room。 She's got to have the steam。 If
that don't do it we'll raise an umbrella over her and throw a sheet over； and
hold the kettle under till the steam gets to her that way。 Got any ipecac？〃
The Young Wife obeyed orders； white…faced and shaking。 Once
Blanche Devine glanced up at her sharply。
〃Don't you dare faint！〃 she commanded。
And the fight went on。 Gradually the breathing that had been so
frightful became softer； easier。 Blanche Devine did not relax。 It was
not until the little figure breathed gently in sleep that Blanche Devine sat
back； satisfied。 Then she tucked a cover at the side of the bed； took a last
satisfied look at the face on the pillow； and turned to look at the wan；
disheveled Young Wife。
〃She's all right now。 We can get the doctor when morning comes
though I don't know's you'll need him。〃
11
… Page 12…
ONE BASKET
The Young Wife came round to Blanche Devine's side of the bed and
stood looking up at her。
〃My baby died；〃 said Blanche Devine simply。 The Young Wife gave
a little inarticulate cry； put her two hands on Blanche Devine's broad
shoulders； and laid he