the deliverance-第39部分

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sked　himself　almost　angrily；　in　an　effort　to　divert　his　thoughts；　if　it　were　possible　that　he　was　weakening　in　his　purpose；　since　he　no　longer　found　the　old　zest　in　his　hatred　of　Fletcher。　The　deadness　of　his　emotions　had　then　affected　this　one　alsothe　single　feeling　which　he　had　told　himself　would　be　eternal；　and　the　old　nervous　thrill；　so　like　the　thrill　of　violent　love；　no　longer　troubled　him　when　he　chanced　to　meet　his　enemy　face　to　face。　To…day　he　held　Will　Fletcher　absolutely　in　his　hand；　he　knew；　in　a　few　year's　at　most　his　debt　to　Fletcher　would　probably　be　cancelled；　the　man　and　the　boy　would　then　be　held　together　by　blood　ties　like　two　snarling　hounds　in　the　leashand　yet；　when　all　was　said；　what　would　the　final　outcome　yield　of　satisfaction？　As　he　put　the　question　he　knew　that　he　could　meet　it　only　by　evasion；　and　his　inherited　apathy　enfeebled　him　even　while　he　demanded　an　answer　of　himself。

As　the　months　went　on；　his　indifference　to　success　or　failure　pervaded　him　like　a　physical　lethargy；　and　he　played　his　game　so　recklessly　at　last　that　he　sometimes　caught　himself　wondering　if　it　were；　after　all；　worth　a　single　flicker　of　the　candle。　He　still　saw　Will　Fletcher　daily；　but　when　the　spring　came　he　ceased　consciously；　rather　from　weariness　than　from　any　nobler　sentiment；　to　exert　an　influence　which　he　felt　to　be　harmful　to　the　boy。　For　four　years　he　had　wrought　tirelessly　to　compass　the　ruin　of　Fletcher's　ambition；　and　now；　when　he　had　but　to　stretch　forth　his　arm　for　the　final　blow；　he　admitted　impatiently　that　what　he　lacked　was　the　impulsive　energy　the　deed　required。

He　was　still　in　this　mood　when；　one　afternoon　in　April；　as　he　was　driving　his　oxen　to　the　store；　he　met　Fletcher　in　the　road　behind　the　pair　of　bays。　At　sight　of　him　the　old　man's　temper　slipped　control；　and　at　the　end　of　a　few　minutes　they　were　quarrelling　as　to　who　should　be　the　one　to　turn　aside。

〃Git　out　of　the　road；　will　you？〃　cried　Fletcher；　half　rising　from　his　seat　and　jerking　at　the　reins　until　the　horses　reared。　〃Drive　your　brutes　into　the　bushes　and　let　me　pass！〃

〃If　you　think　I'm　going　to　swerve　an　inch　out　of　my　road　to　oblige　you；　Bill　Fletcher；　you　are　almost　as　big　a　fool　as　you　are　a　rascal；〃　replied　Christopher　in　a　cool　voice；　as　he　brought　his　team　to　a　halt　and　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　it　with　his　long　rawhide　whip　in　his　hand。

As　he　stood　there　he　had　the　appearance　of　taking　his　time　as　lightly　as　did　the　Olympian　deities；　and　it　was　clear　that　he　would　wait　patiently　until　the　sun　set　and　rose　again　rather　than　yield　one　jot　or　tittle　of　his　right　upon　the　muddy　road。　While　he　gazed　placidly　over　Fletcher's　head　into　the　golden　distance；　he　removed　his　big　straw　hat　and　began　fanning　his　heated　face。

There　followed　a　noisy　upbraiding　from　Fletcher；　which　ended　by　his　driving　madly　into　the　underbrush　and　almost　overturning　the　heavy　carriage。　As　he　passed；　he　leaned　from　his　seat　and　slashed　his　whip　furiously　into　Christopher's　face；　then　he　drove　on　at　a　wild　pace；　bringing　the　horses　in　a　shiver；　and　flecked　with　foam；　into　the　gravelled　drive　before　the　Hall。

The　bright　flower…beds　and　the　calm　white　pillars　were　all　in　sunshine；　and　Miss　Saidie；　with　a　little；　green　wateringpot　in　her　hand；　was　sprinkling　a　tub　of　crocuses　beside　the　steps。

〃You　look　flustered；　Brother　Bill；〃　she　observed；　as　Fletcher　threw　the　reins　to　a　Negro　servant　and　came　up　to　where　she　stood。

〃Oh；　I've　just　had　some　words　with　that　darned　Blake；〃　returned　Fletcher；　chewing　the　end　of　his　mustache；　as　he　did　when　he　was　in　a　rage。　〃I　met　him　as　I　drove　up　the　road　and　he　had　the　impudence　to　keep　his　ox…cart　standing　plumb　still　while　I　tore　through　the　briers。　It's　the　third　time　this　thing　has　happened；　and　I'll　be　even　with　him　for　it　yet。〃

〃I'm　sure　he　must　be　a　very　rude　person；〃　remarked　Miss　Saidie；　pinching　off　a　withered　blossom　and　putting　it　in　her　pocket　to　keep　from　throwing　it　on　the　trim　grass。　〃For　my　part；　I've　never　been　able　to　see　what　satisfaction　people　git　out　of　being　ill…mannered。　It　takes　twice　as　long　as　it　does　to　be　polite；　and　it's　not　nearly　so　good　for　the　digestion　afterward。〃

Fletcher　listened　to　her　with　a　scowl。　〃Well；　if　you　ever　get　anything　but　curses　from　Christopher　Blake；　I'd　like　to　hear　of　it；〃　he　said；　with　a　coarse　laugh。

Why；　he　was　really　quite　civil　to　me　the　other　day　when　I　passed　him；〃　replied　Miss　Saidie；　facing　Fletcher　with　her　hand　resting　on　the　belt　of　her　apron。　〃I　was　in　the　phaeton；　and　he　got　down　off　his　wagon　and　picked　up　my　whip。　I　declare；　it　almost　took　my　breath　away；　but　when　I　thanked　him　he　raised　his　hat　and　spoke　very　pleasantly。〃

〃Oh；　you　and　your　everlasting　excuses！〃　sneered　Fletcher；　going　up　the　steps　and　turning　on　the　porch　to　look　down　upon　her。　〃I　tell　you　I've　had　as　many　of　'em　as　I'm　going　to　stand。　This　is　my　house；　and　what　I　say　in　it　has　got　to　be　the　last　word。　If　you　squirt　any　more　of　that　blamed　water　around　here　the　place　will　rot　to　pieces　under　our　very　feet。〃

Miss　Saidie　placed　her　watering…pot　on　the　step　and　lifted　to　him　the　look　of　amiable　wonder　which　he　found　more　irritating　than　a　sharp　retort。

〃I　forgot　to　tell　you　that　Susan　Spade　has　been　waiting　to　speak　to　you；〃　she　remarked；　as　if　their　previous　conversation　had　been　of　the　friendliest　nature。

〃Oh；　drat　her！　What　does　she　want？〃

〃She　wouldn't　tell　meit　was　for　you　alone；　she　said。　That　was　a　good　half…hour　ago；　and　she's　been　waiting　in　your　setting…room　ever　sence。　She's　such　a　sharp…tongued　woman　I　wonder　how　Tom　manages　to　put　up　with　her。〃

〃Well；　if　he　does；　I　won't；〃　growled　Fletcher；　as　he　went　in　to　meet　his　visitor。

Mrs。　Spade；　wearing　a　severe　manner　and　a　freshly　starched　purple　calico；　was　sitting　straight　and　stiff　on　the　edge　of　the　cretonne…covered　lounge；　and　as　he　entered　she　rose　to　receive　him　with　a　visible　unbending　of　her　person。　She　was　a　lank　woman；　with　a　long；　scrawny　figure　which　appeared　to　have　run　entirely　to　muscle；　and　very　full　skirts　that　always　sagged　below　the　belt…line　in　the　back。　Her　face　was　like　that　of　a　man　large…featured；　impressive；　and　not　without　a　ruddy　masculine　comeliness。

〃It's　my　duty　that's　brought　me；　Mr。　Fletcher；〃　she　began；　as　they　shook　hands。　〃You　kin　see　very　well　yo'self　that　it's　not　a　pleasure；　as　far　as　that　goes；　for　if　it　had　been　I　never　should　have　come…not　if　I　yearned　and　pined　till　I　was　sore。　I　never　saw　a　pleasure　in　my　life　that　didn't　lead　astray；　an'　I've　got　the　eye　of　suspicion　on　the　most　harmless…lookin'　one　that　goes。　As　I　tell　Tomthough　he　won't　believe　itthe　only　way　to　be　sartain　you're　followin'　yo'　duty　in　this　world　is　to　find　out　the　thing　you　hate　most　to　do　an'　then　do　it　with　all　yo'　might。　That　rule　has　taken　me　through　life；　suh：　it　married　me　to　Tom　Spade；　an'　it's　brought　me　here　to…day。　'Don't　you　go　up　thar　blabbin'　on　Will　Fletcher；'　said　Tom；　when　I　was　tyin'　on　my　bonnet。　'You　needn't　say　one　word　mo'　about　it；'　was　my　reply。　'I　know　the　Lord's　way；　an'　I　know　mine。　I've　wrastled　with　this　in　pra'r；　an'　I　tell　you　when　the　Lord　turns　anybody's　stomach　so　dead　agin　a　piece　of　business；　it　means　most　likely　that　it's　the　very　thing　they've　got　to　swallow　down。〃

〃Oh；　Will！〃　gasped　Fletcher；　dropping　suddenly　into　his　armchair。　〃Please　come　to　the　point　at　once；　ma'am；　and　let　me　hear　what　the　rascal　has　done　last。〃

〃I'm　comin'；　suh；　I'm　comin'；〃　Mrs。　Spade　hastened　to　assure　him。　〃Yes；　Tom　an'　I　hev　talked　it　all　down　to　the　very　bone；　but　I　wouldn't　trust　a　man's　judgment　on　morals　any　mo'　than　I　would　on　matchin'　calico。　Right　an'　wrong　don't　look　the　same　to　'em　by　lamplight　as　they　do　by　day；　an'　if　thar　conscience　ain't　set　plum'　in　the　pupils　of　thar　eyes；　I　don't　know　whar　'tis；　that's　sho'。　But；　thank　heaven；　I　ain't　one　of　those　that's　always　findin'　an　excuse　for　peoplenot　even　if　the　backslider　be　my　own　husband。　Thar's　got　to　be　some　few　folks　on　the　side　of　decency；　an'　I'm　one　of　'em。　Virtue's　a　slippery　thingthat's　how　I　look　at　itan'　if　you　don't　git　a　good　grip　on　it　an'　watch　it　with　a　mighty　stern　eye　it's　precious　apt　to　wriggle　through　yo'　fingers。　I'm　an　honest　woman；　Mr。　Fletcher；　an'　I　wouldn't　blush　to　own　it　in　the　presence　of　the　King　of　England

〃Great　Scott！〃　exclaimed　Fletcher；　with　a　brutal　laugh；　〃do　you　mean　to　tell　me　the　precious　young　fool　has　fallen　in　love　with　you？〃

〃Me；　suh？　If　he　had；　a　broomstick　an'　a　spar'　rib　or　so　would　have　been　all　you'd　ever　found　of　him　agin。　I've　never　yit　laid　eyes　on　the　man　I　couldn't　settle　with　a　single　sweep；　an'　when　a　lone　woman　comes　to　wantin'　a　protector；　I've　never　seen　the　husband　that　could　hold　a　candle　to　a　good　stout　broom。　That's　what　I　said　to　Jinnie　when　she　got　herself　engaged　to　Fred　Boxley。　'Married　or　single；'　I　said；　'gal；　wife；　or　widow；　a　broom　is　yo'　best　friend。'〃

Fletcher　twisted　impatiently　in　his　chair。

〃Oh；　for　heaven's　sake；　stop　your　drivelling；〃　he　blurted　out　at　last；　〃and　tell　me　in　plain　language　what　the　boy　has　done。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　what　he's　done　or　what　he　hasn't；〃　rejoined　Mrs。　Spade；　〃but　I've　watched　him　courtin'　Molly　Peterkin　till　I　told　Tom　this　thing　had　to　stop　or　I　would　stop　it。　If　thar's　a　p'isonous　snake　or　lizard　in　this　country；　suh；　it's　that　tow…headed　huzzy　of　Sol　Peterkin's；　an'　if　thar's　a　sex　on　this　earth　that　I　ain't　go　no　patience　with；　it's　the　woman　sex。　A　man　may　slip　an'　slide　a　little　because　he　was　made　that　way；　but　when　it　comes　to　a　woman　she's　got　to　w'ar　whalebones　in　her　clothes　when　I'm　aroun'。　Lord！　Lord！　What's　the　use　of　bein'　honest　if　you　can't　p'int　yo'　finger　at　them　that　ain't？　Virtue　gits　mighty　little　in　the　way　of　gewgaws　in　this　world；　an'　I　reckon　it's　got　to　make　things　up　in　the　way　it　feels　when　it　looks　at　them　that's　gone　astray〃

〃Molly　Peterkin！〃　gasped　Fletcher；　striking　the　arm　of　his　chair　a　blow　that　almost　shattered　it。　〃Christopher　Blake　was　bad　enough；　and　now　it's　Molly　Peterkin！　Out　of　the　frying…pan　right　spang　into　the　fire。　Oh；　you　did　me　a　good　turn　in　coming；　Mrs。　Spade。　I'll　forgive　you　the　news　you　brought；　and　I'll　even　forgive　you　your　blasted　chatter。　How　long　has　this　thing　been　going　on；　do　you　know？〃

〃That　I　don't；　suh；　that　I　don't；　t