the deliverance-第11部分

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〃Do　you　wish　anything；　mother？〃

〃Only　to　present　Mr。　Carraway；　my　child。　He　will　be　with　us　at　dinner。〃

Cynthia　came　forward　smiling　and　held　out　her　hand　with　the　cordial　hospitality　which　she　had　inherited　with　the　family　portraits　and　the　good　old　name。　She　wore　this　morning　a　dress　of　cheap　black　calico；　shrunken　from　many　washings；　and　beneath　the　scant　sleeves　Carraway　saw　her　thin　red　wrists；　which　looked　as　if　they　had　been　soaking　in　harsh　soapsuds。　Except　for　a　certain　ease　of　manner　which　she　had　not　lost　in　the　drudgery　of　her　life；　she　might　have　been　sister　to　the　toilworn　slattern　he　had　noticed　in　one　of　the　hovels　across　the　country。

〃We　shall　be　very　glad　to　have　you；〃　she　said；　with　quiet　dignity。

〃It　is　ready　now；　I　think。〃

〃Be　sure　to　make　him　try　the　port；　Cynthia；〃　called　Mrs。　Blake；　as　Carraway　followed　the　daughter　across　the　threshold。

In　the　kitchen　they　found　Tucker　and　Lila　and　a　strange　young　man　in　overalls；　who　was　introduced　as　〃one　of　the　Weatherbys　who　live　just　up　the　road。〃　He　was　evidently　one　of　their　plainer　neighbours　for　Carraway　detected　a　constraint　in　Cynthia's　manner　which　Lila　did　not　appear　to　share。　The　girl；　dressed　daintily　in　a　faded　muslin；　with　an　organdy　kerchief　crossed　over　her　swelling　bosom；　flashed　upon　Carraway's　delighted　vision　like　one　of　the　maidens　hanging；　gilt…framed；　in　the　old　lady's　parlour。　That　she　was　the　particular　pride　of　the　familythe　one　luxury　they　allowed　themselves　besides　their　costly　motherthe　lawyer　realised　upon　the　instant。　Her　small　white　hands　were　unsoiled　by　any　work；　and　her　beautiful；　kindly　face　had　none　of　the　nervous　dread　which　seemed　always　lying　behind　Cynthia's　tired　eyes。　With　the　high　devotion　of　a　martyr；　the　elder　sister　must　have　offered　herself　a　willing　sacrifice；　winning　for　the　younger　an　existence　which；　despite　its　gray　monotony；　showed　fairly　rose…coloured　in　comparison　with　her　own。　She　herself　had　sunk　to　the　level　of　a　servant；　but　through　it　all　Lila　had　remained　〃the　lady；〃　preserving　an　equable　loveliness　to　which　Jim　Weatherby　hardly　dared　lift　his　wistful　gaze。

As　for　the　young　man　himself；　he　had　a　blithe；　open　look　which　Carraway　found　singularly　attractive；　the　kind　of　look　it　warms　one's　heart　to　meet　in　the　long　road　on　a　winter's　day。　Leaning　idly　against　the　lintel　of　the　door；　and　fingering　a　bright　axe　which　he　was　apparently　anxious　that　they　should　retain；　he　presented　a　pleasant　enough　picture　to　the　attentive　eyes　within　the　kitchen。

〃You'd　as　well　keep　this　axe　as　long　as　you　want　it；〃　he　protested　earnestly。　〃　It's　an　old　one；　anyway；　that　I　sharpened　when　you　asked　for　it；　and　we've　another　at　home；　that's　all　we　need。〃

〃It's　very　kind　of　you；　Jim；　but　ours　is　mended　now；〃　replied　Cynthia；　a　trifle　stiffly。

〃If　we　need　one　again；　we'll　certainly　borrow　yours；　〃added　Lila；　smiling　as　she　looked　up　from　the　glasses　she　was　filling　with　fresh　buttermilk。

〃Sit　down；　Jim；　and　have　dinner　with　us；　there's　no　hurry；〃　urged　Tucker　hospitably；　with　a　genial　wave　toward　the　meagerly　spread　table。　〃Jim's　a　great　fellow；　Mr。　Carraway；　you　ought　to　know　him。　He　can　manage　anything　from　a　Sunday…school　to　the　digging　of　a　well。　I've　always　said　that　if　he'd　had　charge　of　the　children　of　Israel's　journey　to　the　promised　land　he'd　have　had　them　there；　flesh…pots　and　all；　before　the　week　was　up。〃

〃I　can　see　he　is　a　useful　neighbour；〃　observed　Carraway；　glancing　at　the　axe。

〃Well；　I'm　glad　I　come　handy；　〃　replied　Jim　in　his　hearty　way；　〃and　are　you　sure　you　don't　want　me　to　split　up　that　big　oak　log　at　the　woodpile？　I　can　do　it　in　a　twinkling。〃

Cynthia　declined　his　knightly　offer；　to　be　overruled　again　by　Lila's　smiling　lips。

〃Christopher　will　have　to　do　it　when　he　comes　in；　〃　she　said；　〃poor　Christopher；　he　never　has　a　single　moment　of　his　own。〃

Jim　Weatherby　looked　at　her　eagerly；　his　blue　eyes　full　of　sparkle。　〃Why；　I　can　do　it　in　no　time；〃　he　declared；　shouldering　his　axe；　and　a　moment　afterward　they　heard　his　merry　strokes　from　the　woodpile。

〃Are　you　interested　in　tobacco；　Mr。　Carraway？〃　inquired　Tucker；　as　they　seated　themselves　at　the　pine　table　without　so　much　as　an　apology　for　the　coarseness　of　the　fare　or　an　allusion　to　their　fallen　fortunes。　〃If　so；　you've　struck　us　at　the　time　when　every　man　about　here　is　setting　out　his　next　winter's　chew。　Sol　Peterkin；　by　the　way；　has　planted　every　square　inch　of　his　land　in　tobacco；　and　when　I　asked　him　what　market　he　expected　to　send　it　to　he　answered　that　he　only　raised　a　little　for　his　own　use。〃

〃Is　that　the　Peterkin　who　has　the　pretty　daughter？〃　asked　Cynthia；　slicing　a　piece　of　bacon。　〃May　I　help　you　to　turnip　salad；　Mr。　Carraway？〃　Uncle　Boaz；　hobbling　with　rheumatism；　held　out　a　quaint　old　tray　of　inlaid　woods；　and　the　lawyer；　as　he　placed　his　plate　upon　it；　heaved　a　sigh　of　gratitude　for　the　utter　absence　of　vulgarity。　He　could　fancy　dear　old　Miss　Saidie　puffing　apologies　over　the　fat　bacon；　and　Fletcher　profanely　deploring　the　sloppy　coffee。

〃The　half…grown　girl　with　the　bunch　of　flaxen　curls　tied　with　a　blue　ribbon？〃　returned　Tucker；　while　Lila　cut　up　his　food　as　if　he　were　a　child。　〃Yes；　that's　Molly　Peterkin；　though　it's　hard　to　believe　she's　any　kin　to　Sol。　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　she　turned　into　a　bouncing　beauty　a　few　years　further　on。〃

〃It　was　her　father；　then；　that　I　walked　over　with　from　the　cross…roads；〃　said　Carraway。　〃He　struck　me　as　a　shrewd　man　of　his　sort。〃

〃Oh；　he's　shrewd　enough；〃　rejoined　Tucker；　〃and　the　proof　of　it　is　that　he's　outlived　three　wives　and　is　likely　to　outlive　a　fourth。　I　met　him　in　the　road　yesterday；　and　he　told　me　that　he　had　just　been　off　again　to　get　married。　'Good　luck　to　you　this　time；　Sol'；　said　I。　'Wal；　it　ought　to　be；　sir；'　said　he；　'seeing　as　marrying　has　got　to　be　so　costly　in　these　days。　Why；　my　first　wife　didn't　come　to　more　than　ten　dollars；　counting　the　stovepipe　hat　and　all；　and　this　last　one's　mounted　up　to　'most　a　hundred。'　'Try　and　take　good　care　of　her；　then；'　I　cautioned；　〃they　come　too　high　to　throw　away。〃　〃That's　true；　sir；〃　he　answered；　with　a　sorrowful　shake　of　his　head。　〃But　the　trouble　is　that　as　the　price　goes　up　the　quality　gets　poorer。　My　first　one　lasted　near　on　to　thirty　years；　and　did　all　the　chores　about　the　house；　to　say　nothing　of　the　hog…pen；　and　if　you'll　believe　me；　sir；　the　one　before　this　stuck　at　the　hog…feeding　on　her　wedding　day；　and　then　wore　out　before　twelve　months　were　up。'〃

He　finished　with　his　humorous　chuckle　and　lifted　his　fork　skilfully　in　his　left　hand。

〃I　dare　say　he　overvalues　himself　as　a　husband；〃　remarked　Carraway；　joining　in　the　laugh；　〃but　he　has　at　least　the　merit　of　being　loyal　to　your　family。〃

〃Well；　I　believe　he　has；　but　then；　he　doesn't　like　new　folks　or　new　things；　I　reckon。　There's　a　saying　that　his　hatred　of　changes　keeps　him　from　ever　changing　his　clothes。〃

Christopher　came　in　at　the　moment；　and　with　a　slight　bow　to　Carraway；　slipped　into　his　place。

〃What's　Jim　Weatherby　chopping　up　that　log　for？〃　he　asked；　glancing　in　the　direction　of　the　ringing　strokes。

Cynthia　looked　at　him　almost　grimly；　and　there　was　a　contraction　of　the　muscles　about　her　determined　mouth。

〃Ask　Lila；〃　she　responded　quietly。　As　Christopher's　questioning　gaze　turned　to　her；　Lila　flushed　rose…pink　and　played　nervously　with　the　breadcrumbs　on　the　table。

〃He　said　he　had　nothing　else　to　do；〃　she　answered；　with　an　effort；　〃and　he　knew　you　were　so　busythat　was　all。〃

〃Well；　he's　a　first　rate　fellow；〃　commented　Christopher；　as　he　reached　for　the　pitcher　of　buttermilk；　〃but　I　don't　see　what　makes　him　so　anxious　to　do　my　work。〃

〃Oh；　that's　Jim's　way；　you　know；〃　put　in　Tucker　with　his　offhand　kindliness。　〃He's　the　sort　of　old　maid　who　would　undertake　to　straighten　the　wilderness　if　he　could　get　the　job。　Why；　I　actually　found　him　once　chopping　off　dead　boughs　in　the　woods；　and　when　I　laughed　he　excused　himself　by　saying　that　he　couldn't　bear　to　see　trees　look　so　scraggy。〃

As　he　talked；　his　pleasant　pale　blue　eyes　twinkled　with　humour；　and　his　full　double　chin　shook　over　his　shirt　of　common　calico。　He　had　grown　very　large　from　his　long　inaction；　and　it　was　with　a　perceptible　effort　that　he　moved　himself　upon　his　slender　crutches。　Yet　despite　his　maimed　and　suffering　body　he　was　dressed　with　a　scrupulous　neatness　which　was　almost　like　an　air　of　elegance。　As　he　chatted　on　easily；　Carraway　forgot；　in　listening　to　him；　the　harrowing　details　in　the　midst　of　which　he　satforgot　the　overheated；　smoky　kitchen；　the　common　pine　table　with　its　broken　china；　and　the　sullen　young　savage　whom　he　faced。

For　Christopher　was　eating　his　dinner　hurriedly；　staring　at　his　plate　in　a　moodiness　which　he　did　not　take　the　trouble　to　conceal。　With　all　the　youthful　beauty　of　his　face；　there　was　a　boorishness　in　his　ill…humour　which　in　a　less　commanding　figure　would　have　been　repellentan　evident　pride　in　the　sincerity　of　the　scowl　upon　his　brow。　When　his　meal　was　over　he　rose　with　a　muttered　excuse　and　went　out　into　the　yard；　where　a　few　minutes　afterward　Carraway　was　bold　enough　to　follow　him。

The　afternoon　was　golden　with　sunshine；　and　every　green　leaf　on　the　trees　seemed　to　stand　out　clearly　against　the　bright　blue　sky。　In　the　rear　of　the　house　there　was　a　lack　of　the　careful　cleanliness　he　had　noticed　at　the　front；　and　rotting　chips　from　the　woodpile　strewed　the　short　grass　before　the　door；　where　a　clump　of　riotous　ailanthus　shoots　was　waging　a　desperate　battle　for　existence。　Beside　the　sunken　wooden　step　a　bare　brown　patch　showed　where　the　daily　splashes　of　hot　soapsuds　had　stripped　the　ground　of　even　the　modest　covering　that　it　wore。　Within　a　stone's　throw　of　the　threshold　the　half　of　a　broken　wheelbarrow；　white　with　mould；　was　fast　crumbling　into　earth；　and　a　little　farther　off　stood　a　disorderly　group　of　chicken　coops　before　which　lay　a　couple　of　dead　nestlings。　On　the　soaking　plank　ledge　around　the　well…brink；　where　fresh　water　was　slopping　from　the　overturned　bucket；　several　bedraggled　ducks　were　paddling　with　evident　enjoyment。　The　one　pleasant　sight　about　the　place　was　the　sturdy　figure　of　Jim　Weatherby；　still　at　work　upon　the　giant　body　of　a　dead　oak　tree。

When　Carraway　came　out；　Christopher　was　feeding　a　pack　of　hounds　fro