the deliverance-第37部分

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Christopher　stooped　and　pulled　Spy's　ears。

〃That's　as　good　a　way　to　look　at　it　as　any　other；　I　reckon；〃　he　remarked；　〃and　now　I've　got　to　hurry　the　shoeing　of　the　mare。〃

He　crossed　over　and　joined　Lila　and　Jim　before　the　henhouse　door；　where　he　put　the　big　fowls　to　noisy　flight。

〃Well；　you're　a　trusty　neighbour；　〃　he　cried　good…humoredly；　striking　Jim　a　friendly　blow　that　sent　him　reeling　out　into　the　path。

Lila　passed　her　hand　in　a　sweeping　movement　round　the　inside　of　the　basin　and　flirted　the　last　drops　of　dough　from　her　finger…tips。

〃A　few　of　your　pats　will　cripple　Jim　for　a　week；〃　she　observed；　〃so　you'd　better　be　careful；　he's　too　useful　a　friend　to　lose　while　there　are　any　jobs　to　do。〃

〃Why；　if　I　had　that　muscle　I　could　run　a　farm　with　one　hand；〃　said　Jim。　〃Give　a　plough　a　single　push；　Christopher；　and　I　believe　it　would　run　as　long　as　there　was　level　ground。〃

Cynthia；　standing　at　the　kitchen　window　with　a　cuptowel　slung　across　her　arm；　watched　the　three　chatting　merrily　in　the　sunshine；　and　the　look　of　rigid　resentment　settled　like　a　mask　upon　her　face。　She　was　still　gazing　out　upon　them　when　Docia　opened　the　door　behind　her　and　informed　her　in　a　whisper　that　〃Ole　miss　wanted　her　moughty　quick。〃

〃All　right；　Docia。　Is　anything　the　matter？〃

〃Naw'm；　'tain'　nuttin'　'tall　de　matter。　She's　des　got　fidgetty。〃

〃Well；　I'll　come　in　a　minute。　Are　you　better　to…day？　How's　your　heart？〃

〃Lawd；　Miss　Cynthia；　hit's　des　bruised　all　over。　Ev'y　breaf　I　draw　hits　it　plum　like　a　hammer。　I　hyear　hit　thump；　thump；　thump　all　de　blessed　time。〃

〃Be　careful；　then。　Tell　mother　I'm　coming　at　once。〃

She　hung　the　cup…towel　on　the　rack；　and；　taking　off　her　blue　checked　apron；　went　along　the　little　platform　to　the　main　part　of　the　house　and　into　the　old　lady's　parlour；　where　the　morning　sunshine　fell　across　the　faces　of　generations　of　dead　Blakes。　The　room　was　still　furnished　with　the　old　rosewood　furniture；　and　the　old　damask　curtains　hung　before　the　single　window；　which　gave　on　the　overgrown　front　yard　and　the　twisted　aspen。　Though　the　rest　of　the　house　suggested　only　the　direst　poverty；　the　immediate　surroundings　of　Mrs。　Blake　revealed　everywhere　the　lavish　ease　so　characteristic　of　the　old　order　which　had　passed　away。　The　carving　on　the　desk；　on　the　book…cases；　on　the　slender　sofa；　was　all　wrought　by　tedious　handwork；　the　delicate　damask　coverings　to　the　chairs　were　still　lustrous　after　almost　half　a　century；　and　the　few　vases　scattered　here　and　there　and　filled　with　autumn　flowers　were；　for　the　most　part；　rare　pieces　of　old　royal　Worcester。　While　it　was　yet　Indian　summer；　there　was　no　need　of　fires；　and　the　big　fireplace　was　filled　with　goldenrod；　which　shed　a　yellow　dust　down　on　the　rude　brick　hearth。

The　old　lady；　inspired　by　her　indomitable　energy；　was　already　dressed　for　the　day　in　her　black　brocade；　and　sat　bolt　upright　among　the　pillows　in　her　great　oak　chair。

〃Some　one　passed　the　window　whistling；　Cynthia。　Who　was　it？　The　whistle　had　a　pleasant；　cheery　sound。〃

〃It　must　have　been　Jim　Weatherby；　I　think：　old　Jacob's　son。〃

〃Is　he　over　here？〃

〃To　see　Christopheryes。〃

〃Well；　be　sure　to　remind　the　servants　to　give　him　something　to　eat　in　the　kitchen　before　he　goes　back；　and　I　think；　if　he's　a　decent　young　man；　I　should　like　to　have　a　little　talk　with　him　about　his　family。　His　father　used　to　be　one　of　our　most　respectable　labourers。〃

〃It　would　tire　you；　I　fear；　mother。　Shall　I　give　you　your　knitting　now？〃

〃You　have　a　most　peculiar　idea　about　me；　my　child。　I　have　not　yet　reached　my　dotage；　and　I　don't　think　that　a　little　talk　with　young　Weatherby　could　possibly　be　much　of　an　ordeal。　Is　he　an　improper　person？〃

〃No；　no；　of　course　not；　you　shall　see　him　whenever　you　like。　I　was　only　thinking　of　you。〃

〃Well；　I'm　sure　I　am　very　grateful　for　your　consideration；　my　dear；　but　there　are　times；　occasionally；　you　know；　when　it　is　better　for　one　to　judge　for　oneself。　I　sometimes　think　that　your　only　fault；　Cynthia；　is　that　you　are　a　littlejust　a　very　little　bit；　you　understandinclined　to　manage　things　too　much。　Your　poor　father　used　to　say　that　a　domineering　woman　was　like　a　kicking　cow；　but　this　doesn't　apply　to　you；　of　course。〃

〃Shall　I　call　Jim　now；　mother？〃

〃You　might　as　well；　dear。　Place　a　chair　for　him；　a　good　stout　one；　and　be　sure　to　make　him　wipe　his　feet　before　he　comes　in。　Does　he　appear　to　be　clean？〃

〃Oh；　perfectly。〃

〃I　remember　his　father　always　wasunusually　so　for　a　common　labourer。　Those　people　sometimes　smell　of　cattle；　you　know；　and　besides；　my　nose　has　grown　extremely　sensitive　in　the　years　since　I　lost　my　eyesight。　Perhaps　it　would　be　as　well　to　hand　me　the　bottle　of　camphor。　I　can　pretend　I　have　a　headache。〃

〃There's　no　need；　really；　he　isn't　a　labourer　at　all；　you　know；　and　he　looks　quite　a　gentleman。　He　is；　I　believe；　considered　a　very　handsome　young　man。〃

Mrs。　Blake　waved　toward　the　door　and　the　piece　of　purple　glass　flashed　in　the　sunlight。　〃In　that　case；　I　might　offer　him　some　sensible　advice；〃　she　said。　〃The　Weatherbys；　I　remember；　always　showed　a　very　proper　respect　for　gentle　people。　I　distinctly　recall　how　well　Jacob　behaved　when　on　one　occasion　Micajah　Blaira　dreadful；　dissolute　character；　though　of　a　very　old　family　and　an　intimate　friend　of　your　father'stook　decidedly　too　much　egg…nog　one　Christmas　when　he　was　visiting　us；　and　insisted　upon　biting　Jacob's　cheek　because　it　looked　so　like　a　winesap。　Jacob　had　come　to　see　your　father　on　business；　and　I　will　say　that　he　displayed　a　great　deal　of　good　sense　and　dignity；　he　said　afterward　that　he　didn't　mind　the　bite　on　his　cheek　at　all；　but　that　it　pained　him　terribly　to　see　a　Virginia　gentleman　who　couldn't　balance　a　bowl　of　egg…nog。　Well；　well；　Micajah　was　certainly　a　rake；　I　fear；　and　for　that　matter；　so　was　his　father　before　him。〃

〃Father　had　queer　friends；〃　observed　Cynthia　sadly。　〃I　remember　his　telling　me　when　I　was　a　little　girl　that　he　preferred　that　family　to　any　in　the　county。〃

〃Oh；　the　family　was　all　right；　my　dear。　I　never　heard　a　breath　against　the　women。　Now　you　may　fetch　Jacob。　Is　that　his　name？〃

〃No；　Jim。〃

〃Dear　me；　that's　very　odd。　He　certainly　should　have　been　called　after　his　father。　I　wonder　how　they　could　have　been　so　thoughtless。〃

Cynthia　drew　forward　an　armchair；　stooped　and　carefully　arranged　the　ottoman；　and　then　went　with　stern　determination　to　look　for　Jim　Weatherby。

He　was　sitting　in　the　stable　doorway；　fitting　a　shoe　on　the　old　mare；　while　Lila　leaned　against　an　overturned　barrel　in　the　sunshine　outside。　At　Cynthia's　sudden　appearance　they　both　started　and　looked　up　in　amazement；　the　words　dying　slowly　on　their　lips。

〃Why；　whatever　is　the　matter；　Cynthia？〃　cried　Lila；　as　if　in　terror。

Cynthia　came　forward　until　she　stood　directly　at　the　mare's　head；　where　she　delivered　her　message　with　a　gasp：

〃Mother　insists　upon　talking　to　Jim。　There's　no　help　for　it；　he　must　come。〃

Weatherby　dropped　the　mare's　hoof　and　raised　a　breathless　question　to　Cynthia's　face；　while　Lila　asked　quickly：

〃Does　she　know？〃

〃Know　what？〃　demanded　Cynthia；　turning　grimly　upon　her。　〃Of　course　she　knows　that　Jim　is　his　father's　son。〃

The　young　man　rose　and　laid　the　hammer　down　on　the　overturned　barrel；　then　he　led　the　mare　back　to　her　stall；　and　coming　out　again；　washed　his　hands　in　a　tub　of　water　by　the　door。

〃Well；　I'm　ready；〃　he　observed　quietly。　〃Shall　I　go　in　alone？〃

〃Oh；　we　don't　ask　that　of　you；〃　said　Lila；　laughing。　〃Come；　I'll　take　you。〃　She　slipped　her　hand　under　his　arm　and　they　went　gaily　toward　the　house；　leaving　Cynthia　to　pick　up　the　horseshoe　nails　lying　loose　upon　the　ground。

Hearing　the　young　man's　step　on　the　threshold；　Mrs。　Blake　turned　her　head　with　a　smile　of　pleasant　condescension　and　stretched　out　her　delicate　yellowed　hand。

〃This　is　Jim　Weatherby；　mother；〃　said　Lila　in　her　softest　voice。　〃Cynthia　says　you　want　to　talk　to　him。〃

〃I　know；　my　child；　I　know；〃　returned　Mrs。　Blake；　with　an　animated　gesture。　〃Come　in；　Jim；　and　don't　trouble　to　stand。　Find　him　a　chair；　Lila。　I　knew　your　father　long　before　you　were　born；〃　she　added；　turning　to　the　young　man；　〃and　I　knew　only　good　of　him。　I　suppose　he　has　often　told　you　of　the　years　he　worked　for　us？〃

Jim　held　her　hand　for　an　instant　in　his　own；　and　then；　bending　over；　raised　it　to　his　lips。

〃My　father　never　tires　of　telling　us　about　the　old　times；　and　about　Mr。　Blake　and　yourself；〃　he　answered　in　his　precise　English；　and　with　the　simple　dignity　which　he　never　lost。　Lila；　watching　him；　prayed　silently　that　a　miracle　might　open　the　old　lady's　eyes　and　allow　her　to　see　the　kind；　manly　look　upon　his　face。

Mrs。　Blake　nodded　pleasantly；　with　evident　desire　to　put　him　wholly　at　his　ease。

〃Well；　his　son　is　becoming　quite　courtly；〃　she　responded；　smiling；　〃and　I　know　Jacob　is　proud　of　youor　he　ought　to　be；　which　amounts　to　the　same　thing。　There's　nothing　I　like　better　than　to　see　a　good；　hard…working　family　prosper　in　life　and　raise　its　station。　Not　that　I　mean　to　put　ideas　into　your　head；　of　course；　for　it　is　a　ridiculous　sight　to　see　a　person　dissatisfied　with　the　position　in　which　the　good　Lord　has　placed　him。　That　was　what　I　always　liked　about　your　mother；　and　I　remember　very　well　her　refusing　to　wear　some　of　my　old　finery　when　she　was　married；　on　the　ground　that　she　was　a　plain；　honest　woman；　and　wanted　to　continue　so　when　she　was　a　wife。　I　hope；　by　the　way；　that　she　is　well。〃

〃Oh；　quite。　She　does　not　walk　much；　though；　her　joints　have　been　troubling　her。〃

To　Lila's　surprise；　he　was　not　the　least　embarrassed　by　the　personal　tone　of　the　conversation；　and　his　sparkling　blue　eyes　held　their　usual　expression　of　blithe　good…humour。

〃Indeed！〃　Mrs。　Blake　pricked　at　the　subject　in　her　sprightly　way。　〃Well；　you　must　persuade　her　to　use　a　liniment　of　Jamestown　weed　steeped　in　whisky。　There　is　positively　nothing　like　it　for　rheumatism。　Lila；　do　we　still　make　it　for　the　servants？　If　so；　you　might　send　Sarah　Weatherby　a　bottle。〃

〃I'll　see　about　it；　mother。　Aren't　you　tired？　Shall　I　take　Jim　away？〃

〃Not　just　yet；　child。　I　am　interested　in　seeing　what　a　promising　young　man　he　has　become。　How　old　are　you；　Jim？〃

〃Twenty…nine　next　February。　There　are　two　of　us；　you　knowI've　a　sister　Molly。