the choir invisible-第3部分

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followed　that　in　its　westward　winding　through　thinner　undergrowth　under　the　dark　trees。

He　was　unarmed。　He　did　not　even　wear　a　knife。　But　the　thought　rose　in　his　mind　of　how　rapidly　the　forest　also　was　changing　its　character。　The　Indians　were　gone。　Two　years　had　passed　since　they　had　for　the　last　time　flecked　the　tender　green　with　tender　blood。　And　the　deadly　wild　creaturesthe　native　people　of　earth　and　treethey　likewise　had　fled　from　the　slaughter　and　starvation　of　their　kind。　A　little　while　back　and　a　maddened　buffalo　or　a　wounded　elk　might　have　trodden　him　down　and　gored　him　to　death　in　that　thicket　and　no　one　have　ever　learned　his　fateas　happened　to　many　a　solitary　hunter。　He　could　not　feel　sure　that　hiding　in　the　leaves　of　the　branches　against　which　his　hat　sometimes　brushed　there　did　not　lie　the　panther；　the　hungrier　for　the　fawns　that　had　been　driven　from　the　near　coverts。　A　swift　lowering　of　its　head；　a　tense　noiseless　spring；　its　fangs　buried　in　his　neck；with　no　knife　the　contest　would　not　have　gone　well　with　him。　But　of　deadly　big　game　he　saw　no　sign　that　day。　　Once　from　a　distant　brake　he　was　surprised　to　hear　the　gobble　of　the　wild　turkey；　and　more　surprised　stilland　delightedwhen　the　trail　led　to　a　twilight　gloom　and　coolness；　and　at　the　green　margin　of　a　little　spring　he　saw　a　stag　drinking。　It　turned　its　terrified　eyes　upon　him　for　an　instant　and　then　bounded　away　like　a　gray　shadow。

When　he　had　gone　about　two　miles；　keeping　his　face　steadily　toward　the　sun；　he　came　upon　evidences　of　a　clearing：　burnt　and　fallen　timber；　a　field　of　sprouting　maize；　another　of　young　wheat；　a　peach　orchard　flushing　all　the　green　around　with　its　clouds　of　pink；　beyond　this　a　garden　of　vegetables；　and　yet　farther　on；　a　log　house。

He　was　hurrying　on　toward　the　house；　but　as　he　passed　the　garden　he　saw　standing　in　one　corner；　with　a　rake　in　her　hand；　a　beautifully　formed　woman　in　homespun；　and　near　by　a　negro　lad　dropping　garden…seed。　His　eyes　lighted　up　with　pleasure；　and　changing　his　course　at　once；　he　approached　and　leaned　on　the　picket　fence。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mrs。　Falconer？〃

She　turned　with　a　cry；　dropping　her　rake　and　pushing　her　sun…bonnet　back　from　her　eyes。

〃How　unkind　to　frighten　me！〃　she　said；　laughing　as　she　recognized　him；　and　then　she　came　over　to　the　fence　and　gave　him　her　handbeautiful；　but　hardened　by　work。　　A　faint　colour　had　spread　over　her　face。

〃I　didn't　mean　to　frighten　you；〃　he　replied；　smiling　at　her　fondly。　〃But　I　had　rapped　on　the　fence　twice。　I　suppose　you　took　me　for　a　flicker。　Or　you　were　too　busy　with　your　gardening　to　hear　me。　Or；　may　be　you　were　too　deep　in　your　own　thoughts。〃

〃How　do　you　happen　to　be　out　of　school　so　early？〃　she　asked；　avoiding　the　subject。

〃I　was　through　with　the　lessons。〃

〃You　must　have　hurried。〃

〃I　did。〃

〃And　is　that　the　way　you　treat　people's　children？〃

〃That's　the　way　I　treated　them　to…day。〃

〃And　then　you　came　straight　out　here？〃

〃As　straight　and　fast　as　my　legs　could　carry　mewith　a　good　many　interruptions。〃

She　searched　his　face　eagerly　for　a　moment。　Then　her　eyes　fell　and　she　turned　back　to　the　seed…planting。　He　stood　leaning　over　the　fence　with　his　hat　in　his　hand；　glancing　impatiently　at　the　house。

〃How　can　you　respect　yourself；　to　stand　there　idling　and　see　me　hard　at　work？〃　she　said　at　length；　without　looking；　at　him。

〃But　you　do　the　work　so　wellbetter　than　I　could！　Besides；　you　are　obeying　a　Divine　law。　I　have　no　right　to　keep　you　from　doing　the　will　of　God。　I　observe　you　as　one　of　the　daughters　of　Eveunder　the　curse　of　toil。〃

〃There's　no　Divine　command　that　I　should　plant　beans。　But　it　is　my　command　that　Amy　shall。　And　this　is　Amy's　work。　Aren't　you　willing　to　work　for　her？〃　she　asked；　slowly　raising　her　eyes　to　his　face。

〃I　am　willing　to　work　for　her；　but　I　am　not　willing　to　do　her　work！〃　he　replied。〃　If　the　queen　sits　quietly　in　the　parlour；　eating　bread　and　honey〃and　he　nodded；　protesting；　toward　the　house。

〃The　queen's　not　in　the　parlour；　eating　bread　and　honey。　She　has　gone　to　town　to　stay　with　Kitty　Poythress　till　after　the　ball。〃

She　noted　how　his　expression　instantly　changed；　and　how；　unconscious　of　his　own　action；　he　shifted　his　face　back　to　the　direction　of　the　town。

〃Her　uncle　was　to　take　her　in　to…morrow；〃　she　went　on；　still　watching　him；　〃but　no！　she　and　Kitty　must　see　each　other　to…night；　and　her　uncle　must　be　sure　to　bring　her　party　finery　in　the　gig　to…morrow。　I'm　sorry　you　had　your　walk　for　nothing；　but　you'll　stay　to　supper？〃

〃Thank　you；　I　must　go　back　presently。〃

〃Didn't　you　expect　to　stay　when　you　came？〃

　He　flushed　and　laughed　in　confusion。

〃If　you'll　stay；　I'll　make　you　a　johnny…cake　on　a　new　ash　shingle　with　my　own　hands。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　really　must　go　back。　But　if　there's　a　johnny…cake　already　made；　I　could　easily　take　it　along。〃

〃My　johnny…cakes　do　not　bear　transportation。〃

〃I　wouldn't　transport　it　far；　you　know。〃

〃Do　stay！　Major　Falconer　will　be　so　disappointed。　He　said　at　dinner　there　were　so　many　things　he　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about。　He　has　been　looking　for　you　to　come　out。　And；　then；　we　have　had　no　news　for　weeks。　The　major　has　been　too　busy　to　go　to　town；　and　I！I　am　as　dry　as　one　of　the　gourds　of　Confucius。〃

His　thoughts　settled　contentedly　upon　her　once　more　and　his　face　cleared。

〃I　can't　stay　to　supper；　but　I'll　keep　the　Indians　away　till　the　major　comes；〃　he　said。　〃What　were　you　thinking　of　when　I　surprised　you？〃

〃What　was　I　thinking　of？〃　She　stopped　working　while　she　repeated　his　words　and　folded　her　hands　about　the　handle　of　the　rake　as　if　to　rest　awhile。　A　band　of　her　soft；　shining　hair；　loosened　by　its　own　weight　when　she　had　bent　over　to　thin　some　seed　carelessly　scattered　in　the　furrow；　now　fell　across　her　forehead。　She　pushed　her　bonnet　back　and　stood　gathering　it　a　little　absently　into　its　place　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers。　Meanwhile　he　could　see　that　her　eyes　rested　upon　the　edge　of　the　wilderness。　It　seemed　to　him　that　she　must　be　thinking　of　that；　and　he　noted　with　pain；　as　often　before；　the　contrast　between　her　and　her　surroundings。　From　every　direction　the　forest　appeared　to　be　rushing　in　upon　that　perilous　little　reef　of　a　clearingthat　unsheltered　island　of　human　life；　newly　displaying　itself　amid　the　ancient；　blood…flecked；　horror…haunted　sea　of　woods。　And　shipwrecked　on　this　island；　tossed　to　it　by　one　of　the　long　tidal　waves　of　history；　there　to　remain　in　exile　from　the　manners；　the　refinement；　the　ease；　the　society　to　which　she　had　always　been　accustomed；　this　remarkable　gentlewoman。

III

HE　had　learned　a　great　deal　about　her　past；　and　held　it　mirrored　in　his　memory。　　The　general　picture　of　it　rose　before　his　eyes　now；　as　he　leaned　on　the　fence　this　pleasant　afternoon　in　May　and　watched　her　restoring　to　its　place；　with　delicate　strokes　of　her　finger…tips；　the　lock　of　her　soft；　shining　hair。How　could　any　one　so　fine　have　thriven　amid　conditions　so　exhausting？　Those　hard　toiling　fingers；　now　grasping　the　heavy　hoe；　once　used　to　tinkle　over　the　spinet；　the　small；　sensitive　feet；　now　covered　with　coarse　shoe…packs　tied　with　leather　thongs；　once　shone　in　rainbow　hues　of　satin　slippers　and　silken　hose。　　A　sunbonnet　for　the　tiara　of　osprey　plumes；　a　dress　spun　and　woven　by　her　own　hand　out　of　her　own　flax；　instead　of　the　stiff　brocade；　log　hut　for　manor…house；　one　negro　boy　instead　of　troops　of　servants：　to　have　possessed　all　that；　to　have　been　brought　down　to　all　this；　and　not　to　have　been　ruined　by　it；　never　to　have　lost　distinction　or　been　coarsened　by　coarseness　never　to　have　parted　with　grace　of　manner　or　grace　of　spirit；　or　been　bent　or　broken　or　overclouded　in　character　and　ideals；it　was　all　this　that　made　her　in　his　eyes　a　great　woman；　a　great　lady。

He　held　her　in　such　reverence　that；　as　he　caught　the　serious　look　in　her　eyes　at　his　impulsive　question；　he　was　sorry　he　had　asked　it：　the　last　thing　he　could　ever　have　thought　of　doing　would　have　been　to　intrude　upon　the　privacy　of　her　reflections。　〃What　was　I　thinking　of？〃

There　was　a　short　silence　and　then　she　turned　to　him　eagerly；　brightly；　with　an　entire　change　of　voice　and　expression　〃But　the　news　from　townyou　haven't　told　me　the　news。〃　〃Oh；　there　is　any　amount　of　news！〃　he　cried；　glad　of　a　chance　to　retreat　from　his　intrusion。　And　he　began　lightly；　recklessly：　〃A　bookbinder　has　opened　a　shop　on　Cross　Streeta　capital　hand　at　the　business；　by　the　name　of　Leischmanand　he　will　bind　books　at　the　regular　market　prices　in　exchange　for　linen　rags；　maple　sugar；　and　goose…quills。　I　advise　you　to　keep　an　eye　on　your　geese；　if　the　major　once　takes　a　notion　to　have　his　old　Shakespeare　and　his　other　volumes；　that　had　their　bindings　knocked　off　in　crossing　the　Alleghanies；　elegantly　rebound。　You　can　tell　him　also　that　after　a　squirrel…hunt　in　Bourbon　County　the　farmers　counted　scalps；　and　they　numbered　five　thousand　five　hundred　and　eighty…nine；　so　that　he　is　not　the　only　one　who　has　trouble　with　his　corn。　And　then　you　can　tell　him　that　on　the　common　the　other　day　Nelson　Tapp　and　Willis　Tandy　had　a　fearful　fight　over　a　land…suit。　Now　it　was　Tandy　and　Tapp；　now　it　was　Tapp　and　Tandy；　but　they　went　off　at　last　and　drowned　themselves　and　the　memory　of　the　suit　in　a　bowl　of　sagamity。〃〃And　there　is　no　news　for　me；　I　suppose？〃

〃Oh　yes！　I　am　happy　to　inform　you　that　at　McIllvain's　you　can　now　buy　the　finest　Dutch　and　English　letter…paper；　gilt；　embossed；　or　marbled。〃

〃That　is　not　very　important；　I　have　no　correspondents。〃　〃Well；　a　saddlery　has　been　opened　by　two　fellows　from　London；　England；　and　you　can　now　buy　Amy　a　new　side…saddle。　She　needs　one。〃　〃Nor　is　that！　The　major　buys　the　saddles　for　the　family。〃　〃Well；　then；　as　I　came　out　on　Alain　Street；　I　passed　some　ladies　who　accused　me　of　being　on　my　way　here；　and　who　impressed　it　upon　me　that　I　must　tell　you　of　the　last　displays　of　women…wear：　painted　and　velvet　ribbons；　I　think　they　said；　and　crepe　scarfs；　and　chintzes　and　nankeens　and　moreens　and　sarcenets；　andoh　yes！…some　muslinette　jackets　tamboured　with　gold　and　silver。　　They　said　we　were　becoming　civilizedthat　the　town　would　soon　be　as　good　as　Williamsburg；　or　Annapolis；　or　Philadelphia　for　such　things。　　You　see　I　am　like　my　children：　I　remember　what　I　don't　understand。〃

〃I　understa