the deliverance-第16部分

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　to　hobble　along　with　you。〃　〃Oh；　but　you　couldn't；　dearand　the　worst　of　it　is　having　to　wait　so　long　in　town　for　the　afternoon　stage。　I　get　my　sewing；　and　then　I　eat　my　lunch　on　the　old　church　steps；　and　then　there　are　four　mortal　hours　when　I　walk　about　aimlessly　in　the　sun。〃　〃And　you　wouldn't　go　to　see　anybody？〃　〃With　my　bundle　of　work；　and　in　this　alpaca？　Not　for　worlds！〃　He　sighed；　not　reproachfully；　but　with　the　sympathy　which　projects　itself　into　states　of　feeling　other　than　its　own。　〃Well；　I　wish　all　the　same　you'd　let　Lila　go　in　with　you。　I　think　you　make　a　mistake　about　her；　Cynthia；　she　wouldn't　feel　the　strain　of　it　half　so　much　as　you　do。〃

〃But　I'd　feel　it　for　her。　No；　no；　it's　better　as　it　is；　and　she　does　walk　to　the　cross…roads　with　me；　you　know。　Old　Jacob　Weatherby　brings　her　back　in　his　wagon。　Christopher　can't　get　off；　but　he'll　come　for　me　at　sundown。〃　〃Are　you　sure　it　isn't　young　Jim　who　fetches　Lila？〃　She　frowned。　〃If　it　were　young　Jim；　her　going　would　be　impossiblebut　the　old　man　knows　his　place　and　keeps　it。〃　〃It's　a　better　place　than　ours　to…day；　I　reckon；〃　returned　Tucker；　smiling。　〃To　an　observer　across　the　road　I　dare　say　the　odds　would　seem　considerably　in　his　favour。　I　met　him　in　the　turnpike　last　Sunday　in　a　brand　new　broadcloth。〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　bear　to　hear　you；〃　returned　Cynthia　passionately。　〃If　we　must　go　to　the　dogs；　for　heaven's　sake；　let's　go　remembering　that　we　are　Blakesor　Corbins；　if　you　like。〃

〃Bless　your　heart；　child；　I'd　just　as　lief　remember　I　was　a　Blake　or　even　a　Weatherby；　for　that　matter。　Why；　Jacob　Weatherby's　grandfather　was　an　honest；　self…respecting　tiller　of　the　soil　when　mine　used　to　fish　his　necktie　out　of　the　punch　bowl　every　Saturday　night；　people　said。〃

She　lifted　her　black　skirt　above　her　knees；　and　pinned　it　tightly　at　her　back　with　a　large　safety　pin　she　had　taken　from　her　bosom。　Then　kneeling　on　the　hearth；　she　laid　the　knots　of　resinous　pine　on　a　crumpled　newspaper　in　the　great　stone　fireplace。

〃I　don't　mind　your　picking　flaws　in　me；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃but　I　do　wish　you　would　let　my　great　grandfather　rest　in　his　grave。　He's　about　all　I've　got。〃

〃Well；　I　beg　his　pardon　for　speaking　the　truth　about　him；〃　returned　Tucker　penitently；　〃and　now　my　swallows　are　so　noisy　I　must　stop　their　mouths。〃

He　went　out　humming　a　tune；　while　Cynthia　hung　the　boiler　from　the　crane　and　mixed　the　corn…meal　dough　in　a　wooden　tray。

When　breakfast　was　on　the　table　Lila　appeared　with　a　reproachful　face；　hurriedly　knotting　her　kerchief　as　she　entered。

〃Oh；　Cynthia；　you　promised　to　let　me　get　breakfast；〃　she　said。　〃Mother　was　very　restless　all　nightshe　dreamed　that　she　was　being　married　over　againso　I　slept　too　late。〃

〃It　didn't　matter；　dear；　I　was　awake；　and　I　didn't　mind　getting　up。　Are　you　ready　to　go？〃

〃All　except　my　hat。〃　Yawning　slightly；　she　raised　her　hands　and　pushed　up　her　clustering　hair　that　was　but　a　shade　darker　than　Christopher's。　Trivial　as　the　likeness　was；　it　began　and　ended　with　her　heavy　curls；　for　her　hazel　eyes　held　a　peculiar　liquid　beam；　and　her　face；　heart…shaped　in　outline；　had　none　of　the　heaviness　of　jaw　which　marred　the　symmetry　of　his。　A　little　brown　mole　beside　the　dimple　in　her　cheek　gave　the　finishing　touch　of　coquetry　to　the　old…world　quaintness　of　her　appearance。

As　she　passed　the　window　on　her　way　to　the　table　she　threw　a　drowsy　glance　out　into　the　yard。

〃Why；　there's　Uncle　Tucker　sitting　on　the　ground；〃　she　said；　〃he　must　be　crazy。〃

Cynthia　was　pouring　the　hastily　made　coffee　from　the　steaming　boiler；　and　she　did　not　look　up　as　she　answered。

〃You'd　better　go　out　and　help　him　up。　He's　digging　worms　for　some　swallows　that　fell　down　his　chimney。〃

〃Well；　of　all　the　ideas！〃　exclaimed　Lila；　laughing；　but　she　went　out　with　cheerful　sweetness　and　assisted　him　to　his　crutches。

A　half…hour　later；　when　the　meal　was　over　and　Christopher　had　gone　out　to　the　stable；　the　two　women　tied　on　their　bonnets　and　went　softly　through　the　hall。　As　they　passed　Mrs。　Blake's　door　she　awoke　and　called　out　sharply。　〃Cynthia；　is　that　you？　What　are　you　doing　up　so　early？〃　Cynthia　paused　at　strained　attention　on　the　threshold。　〃I'm　going　to　the　Morrisons'；　mother；　to　spend　the　day。　You　know　I　told　you　Miss　Martha　had　promised　to　teach　me　that　new　fancy　stitch。〃　〃But；　my　dear；　surely　it　is　bad　manners　to　arrive　before　eleven　o'clock。　I　remember　once　when　I　was　a　girl　that　we　went　over　to　Meadow　Hall　before　ten　in　the　morning；　and　found　old　Mrs。　Dudley　just　putting　on　her　company　cap。〃　〃But　they　begged　me　to　come　to　breakfast；　dear。〃　〃Well；　customs　change；　of　course；　but　be　sure　to　take　Mrs。　Morrison　a　jar　of　the　green　tomato　catchup。　You　know　she　always　fancied　it。〃　〃Yes；　yes；　good…by　till　evening。〃　She　moved　on　hurriedly；　her　clumsy　shoes　creaking　on　the　bare　planks；　and　a　moment　afterward　as　the　door　closed　behind　them　they　passed　out　into　the　first　sunbeams。　Beyond　the　whitewashed　fence　the　old　field　was　silvered　by　the　heavy　dew；　and　above　it　the　great　pine　towered　like　a　burnished　cross　upon　the　western　sky。　To　the　eastward　a　solitary　thrush　was　singinga　golden　voice　straight　from　out　the　sunrise。　〃This　is　worth　getting　up　for！〃　said　Lila；　with　a　long；　joyful　breath；　and　she　broke　into　a　tender　carolling　as　spontaneous　as　the　bird's。　The　bloom　of　the　summer　was　in　her　face；　and　as　she　moved　with　her　buoyant　step　along　the　red　clay　road　she　was　like　a　rare　flower　blown　lightly　by　the　wind。　To　Cynthia's　narrowed　eyes　she　seemed；　indeed；　a　heroine　descended　from　old　romancea　maiden　to　whom；　even　in　these　degenerate　modern　days；　there　must　at　last　arrive　a　noble　destiny。　That　Lila　at　the　end　of　her　twenty…six　years　should　have　wearied　of　her　long　waiting　and　grown　content　to　compromise　with　fate　would　have　appeared　to　her　impossibleas　impossible　as　the　transformation　of　young　Jim　Weatherby　into　the　fairy　prince。

〃Hush！〃　she　said　suddenly；　shifting　her　bundle　of　sewing　from　one　arm　to　the　other；　〃there's　a　wagon　turning　from　the　branch　road。〃　They　had　reached　the　first　bend　beyond　the　gate；　and　as　they　rounded　the　long　curve；　hidden　by　honey…locusts；　a　light　spring　wagon　came　rapidly　toward　them；　with　Jim　Weatherby；　in　his　Sunday　clothes；　on　the　driver's　seat。　〃Father's　rheumatism　is　so　bad　he　couldn't　get　out　to…day；〃　he　explained；　as　he　brought　the　horses　to　a　stand；　〃so　as　long　as　I　had　to　take　the　butter　over；　I　thought　I　might　save　you　the　five　miles。〃　He　spoke　to　Cynthia；　and　she　drew　back　stiffly。　〃It　is　a　pleasant　day　for　a　walk；〃　she　returned　dryly。　〃But　it's　going　to　be　hot；〃　he　urged；　〃I　can　tell　by　the　way　the　sun　licks　up　the　dew。〃　A　feathery　branch　of　the　honey…locust　was　in　his　face；　and　he　pushed　it　impatiently　aside　as　he　looked　at　Lila。　〃I　waited　late　just　to　take　you；〃　he　added　wistfully；　jumping　from　his　seat　and　going　to　the　horses'　heads。　〃Won't　you　get　in？〃　〃You　will　be　so　tired；　Cynthia；〃　Lila　persuaded。　〃Think　of　the　walking　you　have　to　do　in　town。〃　As　Jim　Weatherby　glanced　up　brightly　from　the　strap　he　was　fastening；　the　smile　in　his　blue　eyes　was　like　a　song　of　love；　and　when　the　girl　met　it　she　heard　again　the　solitary　thrush　singing　in　the　sunrise。　〃You　will　come？〃　he　pleaded；　and　this　time　he　looked　straight　at　her。

〃Well；　I　reckon　I　will；　if　you're　going　anyway；〃　said　Cynthia　at　last；　〃and　if　I　drive　with　you　there'll　be　no　use　for　Lila　to　go　she　can　stay　with　mother。〃

〃But　mother　doesn't　need　me；〃　said　Lila；　in　answer　to　Jim's　wistful　eyes；　〃and　it's　such　a　lovely　dayafter　getting　up　so　early　I　don't　want　to　stay　indoors。〃

Without　a　word　Jim　held　out　his　band　to　Cynthia；　and　she　climbed；　with　unbending　dignity；　to　the　driver's　seat。　〃You　know　you've　got　that　dress　to　turn；　Lila；〃　she　said；　as　she　settled　her　stiff　skirt　primly　over　her　knees。

〃I　can　do　it　when　I　get　home；〃　answered　Lila；　laying　her　hand　on　the　young　man's　arm　and　stepping　upon　the　wheel。　〃Where　shall　I　sit；　Jim？〃

Cynthia　turned　and　looked　at　her　coldly。

〃You'd　be　more　comfortable　in　that　chair　at　the　back；〃　she　suggested；　and　Lila　sat　down　obediently　in　the　little　splitbottomed　chair　between　a　brown　stone　jar　of　butter　and　a　basket　filled　with　new…laid　eggs。　The　girl　folded　her　white　hands　in　the　lap　of　her　faded　muslin　and　listened　patiently　to　the　pleasant　condescension　in　Cynthia's　voice　as　she　discussed　the　belated　planting　of　the　crops。　As　the　spring　wagon　rolled　in　the　shade　of　the　honey…locusts　between　the　great　tobacco　fields；　striped　with　vivid　green；　the　June　day　filled　the　younger　sister's　eyes　with　a　radiance　that　seemed　but　a　reflection　of　its　own　perfect　beauty。　Not　once　did　her　lover　turn　from　Cynthia　to　herself；　but　she　was　conscious；　sitting　quietly　beside　the　great　brown　jar；　that　for　him　she　filled　the　morning　with　her　presencethat　he　saw　her　in　the　blue　sky；　in　the　sunny　fields；　and　in　the　long　red　road　with　the　delicate　shadowing　of　the　locusts。　In　her　cramped　life　there　had　been　so　little　room　in　which　her　dreams　might　wander　that　gradually　the　romantic　devotion　of　her　old　playmate　had　grown　to　represent　the　measure　of　her　emotional　ideal。　In　spite　of　her　poetic　face　she　was　in　thought　soundly　practical；　and　though　the　plain　Cynthia　might　send　a　fanciful　imagination　in　pursuit　of　the　impossible；　to　Lila　the　only　destiny　worth　cherishing　at　heart　was　the　one　that　drew　its　roots　deep　from　the　homely　soil　about　her。　The　stern　class　distinctions　which　had　always　steeled　Cynthia　against　the　friendly　advances　of　her　neighbours　troubled　the　younger　sister　not　at　all。　She　remembered　none　of　the　past　grandeur；　the　old　Blake　power　of　rule；　and　the　stories　of　gallant　indiscretions　and　powdered　beaux　seemed　to　her　as　worthless　as　the　moth…eaten　satin　rags　which　filled　the　garret。　She　loved　the　familiar　country　children；　the　making　of　fresh　butter；　and　honest　admiration　of　her　beauty；　and　except　for　the　colourless　poverty　in　which　they　lived；　she　might　easily　have　found　her　placid　happiness　on　the　little　farm。　With　ambitionthe　bitter；　agonised　ambition　that　Cynthia　felt　for　hershe　was　as　unconcerned　as　was　her　blithe　young　lover　chatting　so　merrily　in　the　driver's　seat。　The　very　dullness　of　her　imagination　had　saved　her　from　the　awakening　that　follows　wasted　hopes。

〃The　tobacco　looks　well；〃　Cynthia　was　saying　in　her　formal　ton