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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library-Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton


70

over myself.” He saw the rise of the colour in Mattie’s averted
cheek, and the quick lifting of Zeena’s head.

“I want you should stay here this afternoon, Ethan,” his wife said.
“Jotham can drive Mattie over.”

Mattie flung an imploring glance at him, but he repeated curtly:
“I’m going to drive her over myself.” Zeena continued in the same
even tone: “I wanted you should stay and fix up that stove in
Mattie’s room afore the girl gets here. It ain’t been drawing right
for nigh on a month now.” Ethan’s voice rose indignantly. “If it
was good enough for Mattie I guess it’s good enough for a hired
girl.” “That girl that’s coming told me she was used to a house
where they had a furnace,” Zeena persisted with the same
monotonous mildness.

“She’d better ha’ stayed there then,” he flung back at her; and
turning to Mattie he added in a hard voice: “You be ready by three,
Matt; I’ve got business at Corbury.” Jotham Powell had started for
the barn, and Ethan strode down after him aflame with anger. The
pulses in his temples throbbed and a fog was in his eyes.

He went about his task without knowing what force directed him,
or whose hands and feet were fulfilling its orders. It was not till he
led out the sorrel and backed him between the shafts of the sleigh
that he once more became conscious of what he was doing. As he
passed the bridle over the horse’s head, and wound the traces
around the shafts, he remembered the day when he had made the
same preparations in order to drive over and meet his wife’s cousin
at the Flats. It was little more than a year ago, on just such a soft
afternoon, with a “feel” of spring in the air. The sorrel, turning the
same big ringed eye on him, nuzzled the palm of his hand in the
same way; and one by one all the days between rose up and stood
before him...

He flung the bearskin into the sleigh, climbed to the seat, and
drove up to the house. When he entered the kitchen it was empty,
but Mattie’s bag and shawl lay ready by the door. He went to the
foot of the stairs and listened. No sound reached him from above,
but presently he thought he heard some one moving about in his
deserted study, and pushing open the door he saw Mattie, in her
hat and jacket, standing with her back to him near the table.

She started at his approach and turning quickly, said: “Is it time?”
“What are you doing here, Matt?” he asked her.

She looked at him timidly. “I was just taking a look round-that’s
all,” she answered, with a wavering smile.

They went back into the kitchen without speaking, and Ethan
picked up her bag and shawl.

“Where’s Zeena?” he asked.
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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library-Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton



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