the deliverance-第1部分

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！





The　Deliverance；　A　Romance　of　the　Virginia　Tobacco　Fields　

by　Ellen　Glasgow






CONTENTS

BOOK　I。　The　Inheritance

CHAPTER

I。　The　Man　in　the　Field

II。　The　Owner　of　Blake　Hall

III。　Showing　That　a　Little　Culture　Entails　Great　Care

IV。　Of　Human　Nature　in　the　Raw　State

V。　The　Wreck　of　the　Blakes

VI。　Carraway　Plays　Courtier

VII。　In　Which　a　Stand　Is　Made

VIII。　Treats　of　a　Passion　That　Is　Not　Love

IX。　Cynthia　X。　Sentimental　and　Otherwise

BOOK　II。　The　Temptation

I。　The　Romance　That　Might　Have　Been

II。　The　Romance　That　Was

III。　Fletcher's　Move　and　Christopher's　Counterstroke

IV。　A　Gallant　Deed　That　Leads　to　Evil

V。　The　Glimpse　of　a　Bride

VI。　Shows　Fletcher　in　a　New　Light

VII。　In　Which　Hero　and　Villain　Appear　as　One

VIII。　Between　the　Devil　and　the　Deep　Sea

IX。　As　the　Twig　Is　Bent

X。　Powers　of　Darkness

BOOK　III。　The　Revenge

I。　In　Which　Tobacco　Is　Hero

II。　Between　Christopher　and　Will

III。　Mrs。　Blake　Speaks　Her　Mind　on　Several　Matters

IV。　In　Which　Christopher　Hesitates

V。　The　Happiness　of　Tucker

VI。　The　Wages　of　Folly

VII。　The　Toss　of　a　Coin

VIII。　In　Which　Christopher　Triumphs

BOOK　IV。　The　Awakening

I。　The　Unforeseen

II。　Maria　Returns　to　the　Hall

III。　The　Day　Afterward

IV。　The　Meeting　in　the　Night

V。　Maria　Stands　on　Christopher's　Ground

VI。　The　Growing　Light

VII。　In　which　Carraway　Speaks　the　Truth　to　Maria

VIII。　Between　Maria　and　Christopher

IX。　Christopher　Faces　Himself

X。　By　the　Poplar　Spring

BOOK　V。　The　Ancient　Law

I。　Christopher　Seeks　an　Escape

II。　The　Measure　of　Maria

III。　Will's　Ruin

IV。　In　Which　Mrs。　Blake's　Eyes　are　Opened

V。　Christopher　Plants　by　Moonlight

VI。　Treats　of　the　Tragedy　Which　Wears　a　Comic　Mask

VII。　Will　Faces　Desperation　and　Stands　at　Bay

VIII。　How　Christopher　Comes　into　His　Revenge

IX。　The　Fulfilling　of　the　Law

X。　The　Wheel　of　Life


LIST　OF　CHARACTERS

CHRISTOPHER　BLAKE；　a　tobacco…grower

MRS。　BLAKE；　his　mother

TUCKER　CORBIN；　an　old　soldier

CYNTHIA　and　LILA　BLAKE；　sisters　of　Christopher

CARRAWAY；　a　lawyer

BILL　FLETCHER；　a　wealthy　farmer

MARIA　FLETCHER；　his　granddaughter

WILL　FLETCHER；　his　grandson

〃MISS　SAIDIE；〃　sister　of　Fletcher

JACOB　WEATHERBY；　a　tobacco…grower

JIM　WEATHERBY；　his　son

SOL　PETERKIN；　another　tobacco…grower

MOLLY　PETERKIN；　daughter　of　Sol

Tom　SPADE；　a　country　storekeeper

SUSAN；　his　wife

UNCLE　BOAZ；　a　Negro


Book　I

THE　INHERITANCE



CHAPTER　I。　The　Man　in　the　Field

When　the　Susquehanna　stage　came　to　the　daily　halt　beneath　the　blasted　pine　at　the　cross…roads；　an　elderly　man；　wearing　a　flapping　frock　coat　and　a　soft　slouch　hat；　stepped　gingerly　over　one　of　the　muddy　wheels；　and　threw　a　doubtful　glance　across　the　level　tobacco　fields；　where　the　young　plants　were　drooping　in　the　June　sunshine。

〃So　this　is　my　way；　is　it？〃　he　asked；　with　a　jerk　of　his　thumb　toward　a　cloud　of　blue…and…yellow　butterflies　drifting　over　a　shining　puddle〃five　miles　as　the　crow　flies；　and　through　a　bog？〃

For　a　moment　he　hung　suspended　above　the　encrusted　axle；　peering　with　blinking　pale…gray　eyes　over　a　pair　of　gold…rimmed　spectacles。　In　his　appearance　there　was　the　hint　of　a　scholarly　intention　unfulfilled；　and　his　dress；　despite　its　general　carelessness；　bespoke　a　different　standard　of　taste　from　that　of　the　isolated　dwellers　in　the　surrounding　fields。　A　casual　observer　might　have　classified　him　as　one　of　the　Virginian　landowners　impoverished　by　the　war；　in　reality；　he　was　a　successful　lawyer　in　a　neighbouring　town；　who；　amid　the　overthrow　of　the　slaveholding　gentry　some　twenty　years　before；　had　risen　into　a　provincial　prominence。

His　humour　met　with　a　slow　response　from　the　driver；　who　sat　playfully　flicking　at　a　horsefly　on　the　flank　of　a　tall；　raw…boned　sorrel。　〃Wall；　thar's　been　a　sight　of　rain　lately；〃　he　observed；　with　goodnatured　acquiescence；　〃but　I　don't　reckon　the　mud's　more'n　waist　deep；　an'　if　you　do　happen　to　git　clean　down；　thar's　Sol　Peterkin　along　to　pull　you　out。　Whar're　you　hidin'；　Sol？　Why；　bless　my　boots；　if　he　ain't　gone　fast　asleep！〃

At　this　a　lean　and　high…featured　matron；　encased　in　the　rigidity　of　her　Sunday　bombazine；　gave　a　prim　poke　with　her　umbrella　in　the　ribs　of　a　sparrow…like　little　man；　with　a　discoloured；　scraggy　beard；　who　nodded　in　one　corner　of　the　long　seat。

〃I'd　wake　up　if　I　was　you；〃　she　remarked　in　the　voice　her　sex　assumes　when　virtue　lapses　into　severity。

Starting　from　his　doze；　the　little　man　straightened　his　wiry；　sunburned　neck　and　mechanically　raised　his　hand　to　wipe　away　a　thin　stream　of　tobacco　juice　which　trickled　from　his　half…open　mouth。

〃Hi！we　ain't　got　here　a'ready！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　spat　energetically　into　the　mud。　〃I　d'clar　if　it　don't　beat　allone　minute　we're　thar　an'　the　next　we're　here。　It's　a　movin'　world　we　live　in；　ain't　that　so；　mum？〃　Then；　as　the　severe　matron　still　stared　unbendingly　before　her；　he　descended　between　the　wheels；　and　stood　nervously　scraping　his　feet　in　the　long　grass　by　the　roadside。

〃This　here's　Sol　Peterkin；　Mr。　Carraway；〃　said　the　driver；　bowing　his　introduction　as　he　leaned　forward　to　disentangle　the　reins　from　the　sorrel's　tail；　〃an'　I　reckon　he　kin　pint　out　Blake　Hall　to　you　as　well　as　another；　seem'　as　he　was　under…overseer　thar　for　eighteen　years　befo'　the　war。　Now　you'd　better　climb　in　agin；　folks；　it's　time　we　were　off。〃

He　gave　an　insinuating　cluck　to　the　horses；　while　several　passengers；　who　had　alighted　to　gather　blackberries　from　the　ditch；　scrambled　hurriedly　into　their　places。　With　a　single　clanking　wrench　the　stage　toiled　on；　plodding　clumsily　over　the　miry　road。

As　the　spattering　mud…drops　fell　round　him；　Carraway　lifted　his　head　and　sniffed　the　air　like　a　pointer　that　has　been　just　turned　afield。　For　the　moment　his　professional　errand　escaped　him　as　his　chest　expanded　in　the　light　wind　which　blew　over　the　radiant　stillness　of　the　Virginian　June。　From　the　cloudless　sky　to　its　pure　reflection　in　the　rain…washed　roads　there　was　barely　a　descending　shade；　and　the　tufts　of　dandelion　blooming　against　the　rotting　rail　fence　seemed　but　patches　of　the　clearer　sunshine。

〃Bless　my　soul；　it's　like　a　day　out　of　Scripture！〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　tone　that　was　half…apologetic；　then　raising　his　walking…stick　he　leisurely　swept　it　into　space。　〃There's　hardly　another　crop；　I　reckon；　between　here　and　the　Hall？〃

Sol　Peterkin　was　busily　cutting　a　fresh　quid　of　tobacco　from　the　plug　he　carried　in　his　pocket；　and　there　was　a　brief　pause　before　he　answered。　Then；　as　he　carefully　wiped　the　blade　of　his　knife　on　the　leg　of　his　blue　jean　overalls；　he　looked　up　with　a　curious　facial　contortion。

〃Oh；　you'll　find　a　corn　field　or　two　somewhar　along；〃　he　replied；　〃but　it's　a　lanky；　slipshod　kind　of　crop　at　best；　for　tobaccy's　king　down　here；　an'　no　mistake。　We've　a　sayin'　that　the　man　that　ain't　partial　to　the　weed　can't　sleep　sound　even　in　the　churchyard；　an'　thar's　some　as　'ill　swar　to　this　day　that　Willie　Moreen　never　rested　in　his　grave　because　he　didn't　chaw；　an'　the　soil　smelt　jest　like　a　plug。　Oh；　it's　a　great　plant；　I　tell　you；　suh。　Look　over　thar　at　them　fields；　they've　all　been　set　out　sence　the　spell　o'　rain。〃

The　road　they　followed　crawled　like　a　leisurely　river　between　the　freshly　ploughed　ridges；　where　the　earth　was　slowly　settling　around　the　transplanted　crop。　In　the　distance；　labourers　were　still　at　work；　passing　in　dull…blue　blotches　between　the　rows　of　bright…green　leaves　that　hung　limply　on　their　slender　stalks。

〃You've　lived　at　the　Hall；　I　hear；〃　said　Carraway；　suddenly　turning　to　look　at　his　companion　over　his　lowered　glasses。

〃When　it　was　the　Hall；　suh；〃　replied　Sol；　with　a　tinge　of　bitterness　in　his　chuckle。　〃Why；　in　my　day；　an'　that　was　up　to　the　very　close　of　the　war；　you　might　stand　at　the　big　gate　an'　look　in　any　direction　you　pleased　till　yo'　eyes　bulged　fit　to　bust；　but　you　couldn't　look　past　the　Blake　land　for　all　yo'　tryin'。　These　same　fields　here　we're　passin'　through　I've　seen　set　out　in　Blake　tobaccy　time　an'　agin；　an'　the　farm　I　live　on　three　miles　beyond　the　Hall　belonged　to　the　old　gentleman；　God　bless　him！　up　to　the　day　he　died。　Lord　save　my　soul！　three　hunnard　as　likely　niggers　as　you　ever　clap　sight　on；　an'　that　not　countin'　a　good　fifty　that　was　too　far　gone　to　work。〃

〃All　scattered　now；　I　suppose？〃

〃See　them　little　cabins　over　yonder？〃　With　a　dirty　forefinger　he　pointed　to　the　tiny　trails　of　smoke　hanging　low　above　the　distant　tree…tops。　〃The　county's　right　speckled　with　'em　an'　with　thar　childrenall　named　Blake　arter　old　marster；　as　they　called　him；　or　Corbin　arter　old　miss。　When　leetle　Mr。　Christopher　got　turned　out　of　the　Hall　jest　befo'　his　pa　died；　an'　was　shuffled　into　the　house　of　the　overseer；　whar　Bill　Fletcher　used　to　live　himself；　the　darkies　all　bought　bits　o'land　here　an'　thar　an'　settled　down　to　do　some　farmin'　on　a　free　scale。　Stuck　up；　suh！　Why；　Zebbadee　Blake　passed　me　yestiddy　drivin'　his　own　mule…team；　an'　I　heard　him　swar　he　wouldn't　turn　out　o'　the　road　for　anybody　less'n　God　A'mighty　or　Marse　Christopher！〃

〃A…ahem！〃　exclaimed　Carraway；　with　relish；　〃and　in　the　meantime；　the　heir　to　all　this　high…handed　authority　is　no　better　than　an　illiterate　day…labourer。〃

Peterkin　snorted。　〃Who？　Mr。　Christopher？　Well；　he　warn't　more'n　ten　years　old　when　his　pa　went　doty　an'　died；　an'　I　don't　reckon　he's　had　much　larnin'　sence。　I've　leant　on　the　gate　myself　an'　watched　the　nigger　children　traipsin'　by　to　the　Yankee　woman's　school；　an'　he　drivin'　the　plough　when　he　didn't　reach　much　higher　than　the　handle。　He'　used　to　be　the　darndest　leetle　brat；　too；　till　his　sperits　got　all　freezed　out　o'　him。　Lord！　Lord！　thar's　such　a　sight　of　meanness　in　this　here　world　that　it　makes　a　body　b'lieve　in　Providence　whether　or　no。〃

Carraway　meditatively　twirled　his　walking…stick。　〃Raises　tobacco　now　like　the　rest；　doesn't　he？〃

〃Not　like　the　restbless　you；　no；　suh。　Why；　the　weed　thrives　under　his　very　touch；　though　he　can't　abide　the　smell　of　it；　an'　thar's　not　a　farmer　in　the　county　that　wouldn't　ruther　have　him　to　plant；　cut；　or　cure　than　any　ten　men　round　about。　They　do　say　that　his　pa　went　clean　crazy　about　tobaccy　jest　befo'　he　died；　an'　that　M