the deliverance-第17部分

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akening　that　follows　wasted　hopes。

〃The　tobacco　looks　well；〃　Cynthia　was　saying　in　her　formal　tones；　〃all　it　needs　now　is　a　rain　to　start　it　growing。　You've　got　yours　all　in　by　now；　I　suppose。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　mine　was　put　in　before　Christopher's；〃　responded　Jim；　feeling　instantly　that　the　woman　beside　him　flinched　at　his　unconscious　use　of　her　brother's　name。

〃He　is　always　late；〃　she　remarked　with　forced　politeness；　and　the　conversation　dragged　until　they　reached　the　cross…roads　and　she　climbed　into　the　stage。

〃Be　sure　to　hurry　back；〃　were　her　last　words　as　she　rumbled　off；　and　when；　in　looking　over　her　shoulder　at　the　first　curve；　she　saw　Lila　lift　her　beaming　eyes　to　Jim　Weatherby's　face；　the　protest　of　all　the　dust　in　the　old　graveyard　was　in　the　groan　that　hovered　on　her　lips。　She　herself　would　have　crucified　her　happiness　with　her　own　loyal　hands　rather　than　have　dishonoured　by　so　much　as　an　unspoken　hope　the　high　excellences　inscribed　upon　the　tombstones　of　those　mouldered　dead。

In　her　shabby　black　dress；　with　her　heavy　bundle　under　her　arm；　she　passed；　a　lonely；　pathetic　figure；　through　the　streets　of　the　little　town。　The　strange　smells　fretted　her；　the　hot　bricks　tired　her　feet；　and　the　jarring　noises　confused　her　hazy　ideas　of　direction。　On　the　steps　of　the　old　church；　where　she　ate　her　lunch；　she　found　a　garrulous　blind　beggar　with　whom　she　divided　her　slender　meal　of　bacon　and　cornbread。　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　she　bought　a　couple　of　bananas　for　a　few　cents　from　a　fruit…stand　at　the　corner；　and　coming　back；　gave　the　larger　one　to　the　beggar　who　sat　complaining　in　the　sun。　Then；　withdrawing　to　a　conventional　distance　in　the　shadow　of　the　steeple；　she　waited　patiently　for　the　slow　hours　to　wear　away。　Not　until　the　long　shadow　pointed　straight　from　west　to　east　did　the　ancient　vehicle　rattle　down　the　street　and　the　driver　pull　up　for　her　at　the　old　church　steps。　Then　it　was　that　with　her　first　sigh　of　relief　she　awoke　to　the　realisation　that　through　all　the　trying　day　her　heaviest　burden　was　the　memory　of　Lila's　morning　look　into　the　face　of　the　man　whose　father　had　been　a　common　labourer　at　Blake　Hall。

Three　hours　later；　when；　pale　and　exhausted；　with　an　aching　head；　she　found　the　stage　halting　beneath　the　blasted　pine；　her　pleasantest　impression　was　of　Christopher　standing　in　the　yellow　afterglow　beside　the　old　spring　wagon。　The　driver　spoke　to　him；　and　then；　as　the　horses　stopped；　turned　to　toss　the　weather…beaten　mail…bag　to　the　porch　of　the　country　store；　where　a　group　of　men　were　lounging。　Among　them　Cynthia　saw　the　figure　of　a　girl　in　a　riding　habit；　who；　as　the　stage　halted；　gathered　up　her　long　black　skirt　and　ran　hastily　to　the　roadside　to　speak　to　some　one　who　remained　still　seated　in　the　vehicle。

That　Christopher's　eyes　followed　the　graceful　figure　in　its　finely　fitting　habit　Cynthia　noticed　with　a　sudden　jealous　pang；　detecting　angrily　the　warmth　of　the　admiration　in　his　gaze。　The　girl　had　met　his　look；　she　knew；　for　when　she　lifted　her　face　to　her　companion　it　was　bright　with　a　winter's　glow；　though　the　day　was　warm。　She　spoke　almost　breathlessly；　too；　as　if　she　had　been　running；　and　Cynthia　overhearing　her　first　low　words；　held　her　prim　skirt　aside；　and　descended　awkwardly　over　the　wheel。　She　stumbled　in　reaching　the　ground；　and　the　girl　with　a　kindly　movement　turned　to　help　her。　〃I　hope　you　aren't　hurt；〃　she　said　in　crisp；　clearcut　tones；　but　the　elder　woman；　recovering　herself　with　an　effort；　passed　on　after　an　ungracious　bow。　When　she　reached　Christopher　he　was　still　standing　motionless　beside　the　wagon；　and　at　her　first　words　he　started　like　one　awaking　from　a　pleasant　daydream。　〃So　you　came；　after　all；〃　he　remarked　in　an　absent…minded　manner。　〃Of　course　I　came。〃　She　was　conscious　that　she　almost　snapped　the　reply。　〃Did　you　expect　me　to　spend　the　night　in　town？〃　〃In　town？　Hardly。〃　He　laughed　gaily　as　he　helped　her　into　the　wagon；　then；　with　the　reins　in　his　hands；　he　turned　for　a　last　glance　at　the　stage。　〃Why；　what　did　you　think　I　was　waiting　for？〃　〃What　you　are　waiting　for　now　is　more　to　the　purpose；〃　she　retorted；　pressing　her　fingers　upon　her　aching　temples。　〃The　afterglow　is　fading；　come；　get　in。〃

Without　a　word　he　seated　himself　beside　her；　and　as　he　touched　the　horses　lightly　with　the　whip　the　wagon　rolled　between　the　green　tobacco　fields。　〃How　delicious　the　wild　grape　is！〃　exclaimed　Cynthia；　drawing　her　breath；　〃I　hope　the　horses　aren't　tired。　Have　they　been　at　the　plough？〃　〃Not　since　dinner　time。〃　It　was　clear　that　his　mind　was　still　abstracted；　and　he　kept　his　face　turned　toward　the　pale　red　line　that　lingered　on　the　western　horizon。　〃This　is　a　queer　kind　of　life；〃　he　said　presently；　still　looking　away　from　her。　〃We　are　so　poor　and　so　shut　in　that　we　have　no　idea　what　people　of　the　world　are　really　like。　That　girl　out　there　at　the　cross…roads；　now；　she　was　different　from　any　one　I'd　ever　seen。　Did　you　hear　where　she　came　from？〃　〃I　didn't　ask；〃　Cynthia　replied；　compressing　her　lips。　〃I　didn't　like　the　way　she　stared。〃　〃Stared？　At　you？〃　〃No；　at　you。　I'm　glad　you　didn't　notice　it。　It　was　bold；　to　say　the　least。〃　Throwing　back　his　head；　he　laughed　with　boyish　merriment；　and　she　saw；　as　he　turned　his　face　toward　her；　that　his　heavy　hair　had　fallen　low　across　his　forehead；　giving　him　a　youthful　look　that　became　him　strangely。　At　the　instant　she　softened　in　her　judgment　of　the　unknown　woman　at　the　cross…roads。　〃Why；　she　thought　I　was　some　queer　beast　of　burden；　I　reckon；〃　he　returned；　〃some　new　farm　animal　that　made　her　a　little　curious。　Well；　whoever　she　may　be；　she　walked　as　if　she　felt　herself　a　princess。〃　Cynthia　snorted。　〃Her　habit　fitted　her　like　a　glove；〃　was　her　comment；　to　which　she　added　after　a　pause：　〃As　things　go；　it's　just　as　well　you　didn't　hear　what　she　said；　I　reckon。〃　〃About　me；　do　you　mean？〃　〃She　came　down　to　meet　another　girl；〃　pursued　Cynthia　coolly。　〃I　was　getting　out；　so　I　don't　suppose　they　noticed　mea　shabby　old　creature　with　a　bundle。　At　any　rate；　when　she　kissed　the　other；　she　whispered　something　I　didn't　hear；　and　then；　'I've　seen　that　man　beforelook！'　That　was　when　I　stumbled；　and　that　made　me　catch　the　next　'Where？'　her　friend　asked　her　quickly；　and　she　answered。。。。〃　There　was　a　pause；　in　which　the　warm　dusk　was　saturated　with　the　fragrance　of　the　grape　blossoms　on　the　fence。　〃She　answered？〃　repeated　Christopher　slowly。　Cynthia　looked　up　and　down　the　road；　and　then　gave　the　words　as　if　they　were　a　groan：　〃In　my　dreams。〃


BOOK　II　。　THE　TEMPTATION



CHAPTER　I。　The　Romance　that　Might　have　Been

With　July　there　came　a　long　rain；　and　in　the　burst　of　sunshine　which　followed　it　the　young　tobacco　shot　up　fine　and　straight　and　tall；　clothing　the　landscape　in　a　rich；　tropical　green。

》From　morning　till　night　the　men　worked　now　in　the　great　fields；　removing　the　numerous　〃suckers〃　from　the　growing　plants；　and　pinching　off　the　slender　tops　to　prevent　the　first　beginnings　of　a　flower；　except　where；　at　long　spaces；　a　huge　pink　cluster　would　be　allowed　to　blossom　and　come　to　seed。

Christopher；　toiling　all　day　alone　in　his　own　field；　felt　the　clear　summer　dawn　break　over　him；　the　golden　noon　gather　to　full　heat；　and　the　coming　night　envelop　him　like　a　purple　mist。　Living；　as　he　did；　so　close　to　the　earth；　himself　akin　to　the　strong　forces　of　the　soil；　he　had　grown　gradually　from　his　childhood　into　a　rare　physical　expression　of　the　large　freedom　of　natural　things。

It　was　an　unusually　hot　day　in　mid…Augustthe　time　of　the　harvest　moon　and　of　the　dreaded　tobacco　flythat　he　came　home　at　the　dinner　hour　to　find　Cynthia　standing；　spent　and　pale；　beside　the　well。

〃The　sun　is　awful；　Christopher；　I　don't　see　how　you　bear　it　but　it　makes　your　hair　the　colour　of　ripe　wheat。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mind　the　sun；〃　he　answered；　laughing　as　he　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　face　and　stooped　for　a　drink　from　the　tilted　bucket。　〃I'm　too　much　taken　up　just　now　with　fighting　those　confounded　tobacco　flies。　They　were　as　thick　as　thieves　last　night。〃

〃Uncle　Boaz　is　going　to　send　the　little　darkies　out　to　hunt　them　at　sundown；〃　returned　Cynthia。　〃I've　promised　them　an　apple　for　every　one　they　catch。〃

Her　gaze　wandered　over　the　broad　fields；　rich　in　promise；　and　she　added　after　a　moment；　〃Fletcher's　crop　has　come　on　splendidly。〃

〃The　more's　the　pity。〃

For　a　long　breath　she　looked　at　him　in　silence；　at　the　massive　figure；　the　face　burned　to　the　colour　of　terra…cotta；　the　thick；　wheaten…brown　hair　then；　with　an　impulsive　gesture；　she　spoke　in　her　wonderful　voice；　which　held　so　many　possibilities　of　passion：

〃I　didn't　tell　you；　Christopher；　that　I'd　found　out　the　name　of　the　girl　at　the　cross…roads。　She　went　away　the　day　afterward　and　just　got　back　yesterday。〃

Something　in　her　tone　made　the　young　man　look　up　quickly；　his　face　paling　beneath　the　sunburn。

All　the　boyish　cheerfulness　he　had　worn　of　late　faded　suddenly　from　his　look。

〃Who　is　she？〃　he　asked。

〃Jim　Weatherby　knew。　He　had　seen　her　several　times　on　horseback；　and　he　says　she's　Maria　Fletcher；　that　ugly　little　girl；　grown　up。　She　hates　the　life　here；　he　says；　and　they　think　she　is　going　to　marry　before　the　winter。　Fletcher　was　talking　down　at　the　store　about　a　rich　man　who　is　in　love　with　her。〃

Christopher　stooped　to　finish　his　drink；　and　then　rose　slowly　to　his　full　height。

〃Well；　one　Fletcher　the　less　will　be　a　good　riddance；〃　he　said　harshly；　as　he　went　into　the　house。

In　the　full　white　noon　he　returned　to　the　field；　working　steadily　on　his　crop　until　the　sunset。　Back　and　forth　among　the　tall　green　plants；　waist　deep　in　their　rank　luxuriance；　he　passed　with　careful　steps　and　attentive　eyes；　avoiding　the　huge　〃sand　leaves〃　spreading　upon　the　ground　and　already　yellowing　in　the　August　weather。　As　he　searched　for　the　hidden　〃suckers〃　along　the　great　juicy　stalks；　he　removed　his　hat　lest　it　should　bruise　the　tender　tops；　and　the　golden　sunshine　shone　full　on　his　bared　head。

Around　him　the　landscape　swept　like　an　emerald　sea；　over　which　the　small　shadows　rippled　in　passing　waves；　beginning　at　the　rail　fence　skirting　the　red　clay　road　and　breaking　at　last　upon　the　darker　green　of　the　far…off　pines。　Here　and　there　a　tall　pink　blossom　rose　like　a　fantastic　sail　from　the　deep　and　rocked　slowly　to　and　fro