the deliverance-第14部分

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ortable　to　have　Christopher　around　when　she　did　the　family　washing；　and　when　it　was　possible　she　waited　to　dry　the　clothes　until　he　had　gone　back　to　the　field。　In　her　scant　calico　dress；　with　the　furrows　of　age　already　settling　about　her　mouth；　and　her　pale　brown　hair　strained　in　thin　peaks　back　from　her　forehead；　she　might　have　stood　as　the　world…type　of　toil…worn　womanhood；　for　she　was　of　the　stuff　of　martyrs；　and　the　dignity　of　their　high　resolve　was　her　one　outward　grace。　Life　had　been　revealed　to　her　as　something　to　be　endured　rather　than　enjoyed；　and　the　softer　adornments　of　her　sex　had　not　withstood　the　daily　splashes　of　harsh　soapsudsthey　had　faded　like　colours　too　delicate　to　stand　the　strain　of　ordinary　use。

As　she　lifted　one　of　her　mother's　full　white　petticoats　and　turned　to　wring　it　dry　with　her　red　and　blistered　hands；　a　look　that　was　perilously　near　disgust　was　on　her　facefor　though　she　had　done　her　duty　heroically　and　meant　to　do　it　until　the　end；　there　were　brief　moments　when　it　sickened　her　to　desperation。　She　was　the　kind　of　woman　whose　hands　perform　the　more　thoroughly　because　the　heart　revolts　against　the　task。

Lila；　in　her　faded　muslin　which　had　taken　the　colours　of　November　leaves；　came　to　the　kitchen　doorway　and　stood　watching　her　with　a　cheerful　face。

〃Has　Jim　Weatherby　gone；　Cynthia？〃

Cynthia　nodded　grimly；　turning　her　squinting　gaze　upon　her。　〃Do　you　think　I'd　let　him　see　me　hanging　out　the　clothes？〃　she　snapped。　Supreme　as　her　unselfishness　was；　there　were　times　when　she　appeared　to　begrudge　the　least　of　her　services；　and　after　the　manner　of　all　affection　that　comes　as　a　bounty；　the　unwilling　spirit　was　more　impressive　than　the　ready　hand。

〃I　do　wish　you　would　make　Docia　help　you；〃　said　Lila；　in　a　voice　that　sounded　as　if　she　were　speaking　in　her　own　defense。

Cynthia　wrung　out　a　blue　jean　shirt　of　Christopher's；　spread　it　on　an　old　lilac…bush；　and　pushed　a　stray　lock　of　hair　back　with　her　wrist。

〃There's　no　use　talking　like　that　when　you　know　Docia　has　heart　disease　and　can't　scrub　the　clothes　clean；〃　she　responded。　〃If　she'd　drop　down　dead　I'd　like　to　know　what　we'd　do　with　mother。〃

〃Well；　I'd　help　you　if　you'd　only　let　me；〃　protested　Lila；　on　the　point　of　tears。　〃I've　darned　your　lavender　silk　the　best　I　could；　and　I'd　just　as　soon　iron　as　not。〃

〃And　get　your　hands　like　mine　in　a　week。　No；　I　reckon　it's　as　well　for　one　of　us　to　keep　decent。　My　hands　are　so　knotted　I　had　to　tell　mother　it　was　gout　in　the　joints；　and　she　said　I　must　have　been　drinking　too　much　port。〃　She　laughed；　but　her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　she　wiped　them　with　hard　rubs　on　a　twisted　garment；　which　she　afterward　shook　in　the　air　to　dry。

〃Well；　you're　a　saint；　Cynthia；　and　I　wish　you　weren't；〃　declared　Lila　almost　impatiently。　〃It　makes　me　feel　uncomfortable；　as　if　it　were　somehow　my　fault　that　you　had　to　be　so　good。〃

〃Being　a　saint　is　a　good　deal　like　being　a　woman；　I　reckon；〃　returned　Cynthia　dryly。　〃There's　a　heap　in　having　been　born　to　it。　Aunt　Polly；　have　you　put　the　irons　on　the　fire？　The　first　batch　of　clothes　is　almost　dry。〃

Aunt　Polly；　an　aged　crone；　already　stumbling　into　her　dotage；　hobbled　from　the　kitchen　and　gathered　up　an　armful　of　resinous　pine　from　a　pile　beside　the　steps。　〃Dey's　'mos'　es　hot　es　de　debbil's　wood　en　iron　shovel；〃　she　replied；　with　one　foot　on　the　step；　adding　in　a　piercing　whisper：　〃I　know　dat　ar　shovel；　honey；　'caze　de　debbil　he　done　come　fur　me　in　de　daid　er　de　night；　lookin'　moughty　peart；　too；　but　I　tole　'im　he　des　better　bide　aw'ile　'caze　I　'uz　leanin'　sorter　favo'bly　to'ad　de　Lawd。〃

〃Aunt　Polly；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself。　Take　those　irons　off　and　let　them　cool。〃

〃Dat's　so；　Miss　Cynthy；　en　I'se　right　down　'shamed　er　myse'f；　sho'　'nough；　but　de　shame　er　hit　cyarn　tu'n　de　heart　er　'ooman。

De　debbil　he　sutnev　did　look　young　en　peart；　dat　he　diden　de　Lawd　He　knows；　Miss　Cynthy；　I　allers　did　like　'em　young！　I　'uz　done　had　nine　un　um　in　all；　countin'　de　unen　he　wuz　Cephus　dat　run　off　'fo'　de　mah'age　wid　my　bes'　fedder　baid　made　outer　de　gray　goose　fedders　ole　miss　done　throwed　away　'caze　dey　warn'　w'ite。　Yes；　Lawd；　dar's　done　been　nine　un　um；　black　en　yaller；　en　dar　ain'　nuver　been　en　ole　'un　in　de　hull　lot。　Whew！　I　ain'　nuver　stood　de　taste　er　nuttin'　ole　lessen　he　be　a　'possum；　en　w'en　hit　comes　ter　en　ole　man；　I　d'clar　hit　des　tuns　my　stomick　clean　inside　out。〃

〃But；　Aunt　Polly；　you're　old　yourself…it's　disgraceful。〃

Aunt　Polly　chuckled　with　flattered　vanity。

〃I　know　I　is；　honeyI　know　I　is；　but　I'se　gwine　ter　hev　a　young　husban'　at　de　een　ef　hit　tecks　de　ve'y　las'　cent　I'se　got。　De　las'　un　he　come　monst'ous　high；　en　mo'n　dat；　he　wuz　sech　en　outlandish　nigger　dat　he'd　a…come　high　ef　I'd　got　'im　as　a　Christmas　gif'。　I　had　ter　gin　'im　dat　burey　wid　de　bevel　glass　I　bought　wid　all　my　savin's；　en　des　es　soon　es　I　steps　outside　de　do'　he　up　en　toted　hit　all　de　way　ter　de　cabin　er　dat　lowlifeted；　savigorous；　yaller　hussy　Delphy。　Men　sutney　are　tuh'ble　slippery　folks；　Miss　Cynthy；　en　y'all　des　better　look　out　how　you　monkey

wid　'em；　'caze　I'se　done　hed　nine；　en　I　knows　'em　thoo　en　thoo。　De　mo'　you　git；　de　likelier　'tis　you　gwine　git　one　dat's　worth　gittin'；　dat's　vat　I　'low。〃

Cynthia　gathered　up　the　scattered　garments；　which　had　been　left　carelessly　from　the　day　before；　and　carried　them　into　the　kitchen；　where　a　pine　ironing　board　was　supported　by　two　empty　barrels。　Lila　was　busily　preparing　a　bowl　of　gruel　for　one　of　the　sick　old　Negroes　who　still　lived　upon　the　meager　charity　of　the　Blakes。

〃Mother　wants　you；　Cynthia；〃　she　said。　〃I　won't　do　at　all；　for　she　can't　be　persuaded　that　I'm　really　grown　up；　you　know。　Here；　give　me　some　of　those　clothes。　It　won't　hurt　my　hands　a　bit。〃

Cynthia　piled　the　clothes　upon　the　board；　and　moistening　her　finger；　applied　it　to　the　bottom　of　the　iron。　Then　she　handed　it　to　Lila　with　a　funny　little　air　of　anxiety。　〃This　is　just　right；〃　she　said；　〃be　careful　not　to　get　your　fingers　burned；　and　remember　to　sprinkle　the　clothes　well。　Do　you　know　what　mother　wants？〃

〃I　think　it's　about　taking　something　to　Aunt　Dinah。　Docia　told　her　she　was　sick。〃

〃Then　I　wish　Docia　would　learn　to　hold　her　tongue；〃　commented　Cynthia；　as　she　left　the　kitchen。

She　found　Mrs。　Blake　looking　slightly　irritated　as　she　wound　a　ball　of　white　yarn　from　a　skein　that　Docia　was　holding　between　her　outstretched　hands。

〃I　hear　Dinah　is　laid　up　with　a　stitch　in　her　chest；　Cynthia；〃　she　said。　〃You　must　look　in　the　medicine　closet　and　give　her　ten　grains　of　quinine　and　a　drink　of　whisky。　Tell　her　to　keep　well　covered　up；　and　see　that　Polly　makes　her　hot　flaxseed　tea　every　two　hours。〃

〃Lila　is　fixing　her　some　gruel　now；　mother。〃

〃I　said　flaxseed　tea；　my　dear。　I　am　almost　seventy　years　old；　and　I　have　treated　three　hundred　servants　and　seen　sixty　laid　in　their　graves；　but　if　you　think　you　are　a　better　doctor　than　I　am；　of　course　there's　nothing　to　be　said。　Docia；　hold　the　yarn　a　little　tighter。〃

〃We'll　make　the　flaxseed　tea　at　once；　and　I'll　carry　it　right　overa　breath　of　air　will　do　me　good。〃

Mrs。　Blake　sighed。　〃You　mustn't　stay　too　closely　with　me；〃　she　said；　〃you　will　grow　old　before　your　time；　I　fear。　As　it　is　you　have　given　up　your　young　life　to　my　poor　old　one。〃

〃I　had　nothing　to　give　up；　mother；〃　replied　Cynthia　quietly；　and　in　the　few　words　her　heart's　tragedy　was　writtensince　of　all　lives；　the　saddest　is　the　one　that　can　find　nothing　worthy　of　renouncement。　There　were　hours　when　she　felt　that　any　bitter　personal　pastthat　the　recollection　of　a　single　despairing　kiss　or　a　blighted　love　would　have　filled　her　days　with　happiness。　What　she　craved　was　the　conscious　dignity　of　a　broken　heartsome　lofty　memory　that　she　might　rest　upon　in　her　hours　of　weakness。

〃Well；　you　might　have　had；　my　child；〃　returned　her　mother。

Cynthia's　only　answer　was　to　smooth　gently　the　pillows　in　the　old　lady's　chair。　〃If　you　could　learn　to　lean　back；　dearest；　it　would　rest　you　so；〃　she　said。

〃I　have　never　slouched　in　my　life；〃　replied　Mrs。　Blake　decisively；　〃and　I　do　not　care　to　fall　into　the　habit　in　my　seventieth　year。　When　my　last　hour　comes；　I　hope　at　least　to　meet　my　God　in　the　attitude　becoming　a　lady；　and　in　my　day　it　would　have　been　considered　the　height　of　impropriety　to　loll　in　a　chair　or　even　to　rock　in　the　presence　of　gentlemen。　Your　Greataunt　Susannah；　one　of　the　most　modest　women　of　her　time；　has　often　told　me　that　once；　having　unfortunately　crossed　her　knees　in　the　parlour　after　supper；　she　suffered　untold　tortures　from　〃budges〃　for　three　mortal　hours　rather　than　be　seen　to　do　anything　so　indelicate　as　to　uncross　them。　Well；　well；　ladies　were　ladies　in　those　days；　and　now　Lila　tells　me　it　is　quite　customary　for　them　to　sit　like　men。　My　blindness　has　spared　me　many　painful　sights；　I　haven't　a　doubt。〃

〃Things　have　changed；　dear。　I　wish　they　hadn't。　I　liked　the　old　days；　too。〃

〃I'm　glad　at　least　to　hear　you　say　so。　Your　Aunt　Susannahand　she　was　the　one　who　danced　a　minuet　with　General　Lafayette；　you　knowused　to　say　that　patience　and　humility　became　a　gentlewoman　better　than　satin　and　fine　lace。　She　was　a　lady　of　fashion　and　a　great　beauty；　so　I　suppose　her　opinion　counts　for　something　especially　as　she　was　noted　for　being　the　proudest　woman　of　her　day；　and　it　was　said　that　she　never　danced　with　a　gentleman　who　hadn't　fought　a　duel　on　her　account。　When　she　went　to　a　ball　it　took　six　small　darkies　to　carry　her　train；　and　her　escort　was　always　obliged　to　ride　on　top　of　the　coach　to　keep　from　rumpling　the　flounces　of　her　petticoat。　They　always　said　that　I　had　inherited　something　of　her　face　and　step。〃

〃I'm　sure　she　was　never　so　beautiful　as　you；　mother。〃

〃Ah；　well；　every　one　to　his　taste；　my　child；　and　I　have　heard　that　she　wore　a　larger　shoe。　However；　this　is　foolish　chatter；　and　a　waste　of　time。　Go　and　carry　Dinah　the　medicine；　and　let　me　see　Christopher　as　soon　as　he　comes　in。　By　the　way；　Cynthia；　have　you　noticed　whether　he　seeks　the　society　of　ladies？　Do　you　think　it　likely　that　his　affections　are　engaged？〃

〃No；　no；　not　at　all。　He　doesn't　care　for　girls；　I'm　sure　of　it。〃

〃That　seems　very　strange。　Why；　at　his　age；　his　father　had　been　the　object　of　a　dozen　love　affairs；　and　been　jilted　twice；　report　went；　t