the deliverance-第27部分

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〃Oh；　lots！〃　agreed　the　boy　with　enthusiasm；　〃you'll　let　me　chase　rabbits　with　you　every　daywon't　you？　and　teach　me　to　shoot？　and　we'll　go　'possum　hunting　one　night　and　not　get　home　till　morning。　It　will　be　easy　enough　to　fool　grandpa。　I'll　take　care　of　that；　and　if　Aunt　Saidie　finds　it　out　she'll　never　tell　himshe　never　does　tell　on　me。　Here；　let　me　take　the　gun　awhile；　will　you？〃

Christopher　handed　him　the　gun；　and　they　went　on　rapidly　along　the　old　road　under　the　honey　locusts　that　grew　beyond　the　bend。　They　were　nearing　the　place　where　Christopher；　as　a　child　of　twelve；　had　waited　with　his　birdgun　in　the　bushes　to　shoot　Fletcher　when　he　came　in　sight；　and　now　as　the　recollection　returned　to　him　he　unconsciously　slackened　his　pace　and　cast　his　eyes　about　for　the　spot　where　he　had　stood。　It　was　all　there　just　as　it　had　been　that　morningthe　red　clumps　of　sumach　covered　with　gray　dust；　the　dried　underbrush　piled　along　the　fence；　and　the　brown　honeyshucks　strewn　in　the　sunny　road。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　was　glad　at　this　instant　that　he　had　not　killed　Fletcher　thenthat　his　hand　had　been　stayed　that　day　to　fall　the　heavier；　it　might　be；　at　the　appointed　time。　The　boy　still　chatted　eagerly；　and　when　presently　the　hounds　scented　a　rabbit　in　the　sassafras　beyond　the　fence；　he　started　with　a　shout　at　the　heels　of　the　pursuing　pack。　Swinging　himself　over　the　brushwood；　Christopher　followed　slowly　across　the　waste　of　lifeeverlasting；　tearing　impatiently　through　the　flowering　net　which　the　wild　potato　vine　cast　about　his　feet。

Through　the　brilliant　October　day　they　hunted　over　the　ragged　fields；　resting　at　noon　to　eat　the　slices　of　bread　and　bacon　which　Christopher　had　brought　in　his　pocket。　As　they　lay　at　full　length　in　the　sunshine　upon　the　lifeeverlasting；　the　young　man's　gaze　flew　like　a　bird　across　the　landscapewhere　the　gaily　decorated　autumn　fallows　broke　in　upon　the　bare　tobacco　fields　like　gaudy　patches　on　a　homely　garmentto　rest　upon　the　far…off　huddled　chimneys　of　Blake　Hall。　For　a　time　he　looked　steadily　upon　them；　then；　turning　on　his　side；　he　drew　his　harvest　hat　over　his　eyes　and　began　a　story　of　his　early　adventures　behind　the　hounds；　speaking　in　half…gay；　half…bitter　tones。

In　the　mild　autumn　weather　a　faint　haze　overhung　the　landscape；　changing　from　violet　to　gray　as　the　shadows　rose　or　fell。　Around　them　the　unploughed　wasteland　swept　clear　to　the　distant　road；　which　wound　like　a　muddy　river　beside　the　naked　tobacco　fields。　Lying　within　the　slight　depression　of　a　hilltop；　the　two　were　buried　deep　amid　the　lifeeverlasting；　which　shed　its　soft　dust　upon　them　and　filled　their　nostrils　with　its　ghostly　fragrance。

As　he　went　on；　Christopher　found　a　savage　delight　in　mocking　the　refinements　of　the　boy's　language；　in　tossing　him　coarse　expressions　and　brutal　oaths　much　as　he　tossed　scraps　to　the　hounds；　in　touching　with　vulgar　scorn　all　the　conventional　ideals　of　the　householdobedience；　duty；　family　affection；　religion　even。　While　he　sank　still　lower　in　that　defiant　self…respect　to　which　he　had　always　clung　doggedly　until　to…day；　there　was　a　fierce　satisfaction　in　the　knowledge　that　as　he　fell　he　dragged　Will　Fletcher　with　himthat　he　had　sold　himself　to　the　devil　and　got　his　price。

This　unholy　joy　was　still　possessing　him　when　at　nightfall；　exhausted；　dirty；　brier…scratched；　and　bearing　their　strings　of　game；　they　reached　Tom　Spade's；　and　Christopher　demanded　raw　whisky　in　the　little　room　behind　the　store。　Sol　Peterkin　was　there；　astride　his　barrel；　and　as　they　entered　he　gave　breath　to　a　low　whistle　of　astonishment。

〃Why；　your　grandpa's　been　sweepin'　up　the　county　for　you！〃　he　exclaimed　to　Will。

〃So　he's　found　out　I　wasn't　at　the　Morrisons'；〃　said　the　boy　a　little　nervously。　〃I'd　better　be　going　home；　I　reckon；　and　get　it　over。〃

Christopher　drained　his　glass　of　whisky；　and　then；　refilling　it；　pushed　it　across　the　table。

〃What！　Aren't　you　man　enough　to　swallow　a　thimbleful？〃　he　asked；　with　a　laugh。　His　face　was　flushed；　and　the　dust　of　the　roads　showed　in　streaks　upon　his　forehead；　where　the　crown　of　his　straw　hat　had　drawn　a　circle　around　his　moist　fair　hair。　The　hand　with　which　he　touched　the　glass　trembled　slightly；　and　his　eyes　were　so　reckless　that；　after　an　instants'　frightened　silence。　Peterkin　cried　out　in　alarm：　〃For　the　Lord's　sake；　Mr。　Christopher；　you're　not　yourselfit's　the　way　his　father　went；　you　know！〃

〃What　of　it？〃　demanded　Christopher；　turning　his　dangerous　look　upon　the　little　man。　〃If　there's　a　merrier　way　to　go；　I'd　like　to　know　it。〃

Peterkin　drew　over　to　the　table　and　laid　a　restraining　hold　on　the　boy's　arm。　〃Put　that　down；　sonny；〃　he　said。　〃I　couldn't　stand　it；　and　you　may　be　sure　it'll　do　you　no　good。　It　will　turn　your　stomach　clean　inside　out。〃

〃He　took　it；〃　replied　the　boy　stubbornly；　〃and　I'll　drink　it　if　he　says　so。〃　He　lifted　the　glass　and　stood　looking　inquiringly　at　the　man　across　from　him。　〃Shall　I　drink　it？〃　he　asked；　and　waited　with　a　boyish　swagger。

Christopher　gave　a　short　nod。　〃Oh；　not　if　you're　afraid　of　it；〃　he　responded　roughly；　and　then；　as　Will　threw　back　his　head　and　the　whisky　touched　his　lips；　the　other　struck　out　suddenly　and　sent　the　glass　shivering　to　the　floor。　〃Go　home；　you　fool！〃　he　cried；　〃and　keep　clear　of　me　for　good　and　all。〃

A　moment　afterward　he　had　passed　from　the　room；　through　the　store；　and　was　out　upon　the　road。



CHAPTER　VIII。　Between　the　Devil　and　the　Deep　Sea

There　was　a　cheerful　blaze　in　the　old　lady's　parlour；　and　she　was　sitting　placidly　in　her　Elizabethan　chair；　the　yellow　cat　dozing　at　her　footstool。　Lila　paced　slowly　up　and　down　the　room；　her　head　bent　a　little　sideways；　as　she　listened　to　Tucker's　cheerful　voice　reading　the　evening　chapter　from　the　family　Bible。　His　crutch；　still　strapped　to　his　right　shoulder；　trailed　behind　him　on　the　floor；　and　the　smoky　oil　lamp　threw　his　eccentric　shadow　on　the　whitewashed　wall；　where　it　hung　grimacing　like　a　grotesque　from　early　Gothic　art。

〃Many　waters　cannot　quench　love；　neither　can　the　floods　drown　it；〃　he　read　in　his　even　tones；　〃if　a　man　would　give　all　the　substance　of　his　house　for　love；　it　would　utterly　be　condemned。〃

The　old　lady　tapped　the　arm　of　her　chair　and　turned　her　sightless　eyes　upon　the　Bible；　as　if　Solomon　in　person　stood　there　awaiting　judgment。

〃I　always　liked　that　verse；　brother；〃　she　remarked；　〃though　I　am　not　sure　that　I　consider　it　entirely　proper　reading　for　the　young。　Aren't　you　tired　walking；　Lila？〃

〃Oh；　no；　mother。〃

〃Well；　we　mustn't　take　the　Scriptures　literally；　you　know；　my　child；　if　we　did；　I　fear　a　great　deal　of　trouble　would　come　of　itand　surely　it　is　a　pity　to　magnify　the　passion　of　love　when　so　very　many　estimable　persons　get　along　quite　comfortably　without　it。　You　remember　my　remarking　how　happy　Miss　Belinda　Morrison　always　appeared　to　be；　and　so　far　as　I　know　she　never　had　a　suitor　in　her　life；　though　she　lived　to　be　upward　of　eighty。〃

〃Oh；　mother！　and　yet　you　were　so　madly　in　love　with　fatheryou　remember　the　fancy　ball。〃

〃The　fancy　ball　occupied　only　one　night；　my　dear；　and　I've　had　almost　seventy　years。　I　married　for　love；　as　you　certainly　knowat　my　age；　I　suppose　I　might　as　well　admit　itbut　the　marriage　happened　to　be　also　entirely　suitable；　and　I　hope　that　I　should　never　have　been　guilty　of　anything　so　indelicate　as　to　fall　in　love　with　a　gentleman　who　wasn't　a　desirable　match。〃

Lila　flushed　and　bit　her　lip。

〃I　don't　care　about　stations　in　life；　nor　blood；　nor　anything　like　that；〃　she　protested。

The　old　lady　sighed。　〃We　won't　have　any　more　of　Solomon；　Tucker；　〃she　observed。　〃I　fear　he　will　put　notions　into　the　child's　head。　Not　care　about　blood；　indeed！　What　are　we　coming　to；　I　wonder？　Well；　well；　I　suppose　it　is　what　I　deserve　for　allowing　myself　to　fall　so　madly　in　love　with　your　father。　When　I　look　back　now　it　seems　to　me　that　I　could　have　achieved　quite　as　much　with　a　great　deal　less　expenditure　of　emotion。〃

〃Now；　now；　Lucy；　〃　said　Tucker；　closing　the　gilt　clasps　of　the　Bible；　〃you're　not　yet　seventy；　and　by　the　time　you　reach　eighty　you　will　see　things　clearer。　I'm　a　good　deal　younger　than　you；　but　I'm　two…thirds　in　the　grave　already；　which　makes　a　difference。　My　life's　been　long　and　pleasant　as　it　is；　but　when　I　glance　back　upon　it　now　I　tell　you　the　things　I　regret　least　in　it　are　my　youthful　follies。　A　man　must　be　very　far　in　his　dotage；　indeed；　when　he　begins　to　wear　a　long　face　over　the　sharp　breaths　that　he　drew　in　youth。　I　came　very　near　ruining　myself　for　a　woman　once；　and　the　fact　that　I　was　ready　to　do　iteven　though　I　didn'tis　what　in　the　past　I　like　best　to　recall　to…day。　It　makes　it　all　easier　and　better；　somehow；　and　it　seems　to　put　a　zest　into　the　hours　I　spend　now　on　my　old　bench。　To　have　had　one　emotion　that　was　bigger　than　you　or　your　universe　is　to　have　had　life；　my　dear。〃

The　old　lady　wiped　her　eyes。　〃It　may　be　so；　brother；　it　may　be　so；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　not　before　Lila。　Is　that　you；　Christopher？〃

The　young　man　came　in　and　crossed　slowly　to　the　fire；　bending　for　an　instant　over　her　chair。　He　was　conscious　suddenly　that　his　clothes　smelled　of　the　fields　and　that　the　cold　water　of　the　well　had　not　cleansed　his　face　and　hands。　All　at　once　it　came　to　him　with　something　of　a　shock　that　this　bare；　refined　poverty　was　beyond　his　levelthat　about　himself　there　was　a　coarseness；　a　brutality　even；　that　made　him　shrink　from　contact　with　these　otherswith　his　mother；　with　Lila；　with　poor；　maimed　Tucker　in　his　cotton　suit。　Was　it　only　a　distinction　in　manner；　he　wondered　resentfully；　or　did　the　difference　lie　still　deeper　in　some　unlikeness　of　soul？　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　felt　ill　at　ease　in　the　presence　of　those　he　loved；　and　as　his　eyes　dwelt　moodily　on　Lila's　graceful　figureupon　the　swell　of　her　low　bosom；　her　swaying　hips；　and　the　free　movement　of　her　limbshe　asked　himself　bitterly　if　he　had　aught　in　common　with　so　delicate　and　rare　a　thing？　And　she？　Was　her　blithe　acquiescence；　after　all；　but　an　assumed　virtue；　to　whose　outward　rags　she　clung？　Was　it　possible　that　there　was　here　no　inward　rebellion；　none　of　that　warfare　against　Destiny　which　at　once　inspirited　and　embittered　his　heart？

His　face　grew　dark；　and　Uncle　Boaz；　coming　in　to　stir　the　fire；　glanced　up　a