the deliverance-第42部分

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The　spring　dragged　slowly；　and　with　June　came　the　transplanting　of　the　young　tobacco。　This　was　the　busiest　season　of　the　year　with　Christopher；　and　so　engrossed　was　he　in　his　work　that　for　a　week　at　the　end　of　the　month　he　did　not　go　down　for　the　county　news　at　Tom　Spade's　store。　Fletcher　was　at　home；　he　knew；　but　he　had　heard　nothing　of　Will；　and　it　was　through　the　storekeeper　at　last　that　he　learned　definitely　of　the　boy's　withdrawal　from　the　university。　Returning　from　the　field　one　afternoon　at　sunset；　he　saw　Tom　sitting　beside　Tucker　in　the　yard；　and　in　response　to　a　gesture　he　crossed　the　grass　and　stopped　beside　the　long　pine　bench。

〃I　say；　Mr。　Christopher；　I've　brought　you　a　bit　of　news；〃　called　the　storekeeper　at　the　young　man's　approach。

〃Well；　let's　have　it；〃　returned　Christopher；　laughing。　〃If　you're　going　to　tell　me　that　Uncle　Tucker　has　discovered　a　rare　weed；　though；　I　warn　you　that　I　can't　support　it。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　in　this；　thank　heaven；〃　protested　Tucker；　〃but　to　tell　the　truth；　I'm　downright　sorry　for　the　boyFletcher　or　no　Fletcher；〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Christopher　under　his　breath；　〃so　it's　Will　Fletcher？〃

〃He's　in　a　jolly　scrape　this　time；　an'　no　mistake；〃　replied　Tom。　〃He's　been　leadin'　a　wild　life　at　the　university；　it　seems；　an'　to…day　Fletcher　got　a　telegram　saying　that　the　boy　had　been　caught　cheatin'　in　his　examinations。　The　old　man　left　on　the　next　train；　as　mad　as　a　hornet；　I　can　tell　you。　He　swore　he'd　bring　the　young　scamp　back　an'　put　him　to　the　plough。　Well；　well；　thar　are　worse　dangers　than　a　pretty　gal；　though　Susan　won't　believe　it。〃

〃Then　he'll　bring　him　home？〃　asked　Christopher；　blinking　in　the　sunlight。　At　the　instant　it　seemed　to　him　that　sky　and　field　whirled　rapidly　before　his　eyes；　and　a　strange　noise　started　in　his　ears　which　he　found　presently　to　be　the　throbbing　of　his　arteries。

〃Oh；　he's　been　given　a　hard　push　down　the　wrong　road；〃　answered　Tom；　〃an'　it's　more　than　likely　he'll　never　pull　up　till　he　gits　clean　to　the　bottom。〃



CHAPTER　VI。　The　Wages　of　Folly

Two　days　later　Fletcher's　big　new　carriage　crawled　over　the　muddy　road；　and　Christopher；　looking　up　from　his　work　in　the　field；　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　sullen　face　Will　turned　on　the　familiar　landscape。　The　younger　Fletcher　had　come　home　evidently　nursing　a　grievance　at　his　heart；　his　eyes　held　a　look　of　dogged　resentment；　and　the　hand　in　which　he　grasped　the　end　of　the　linen　dust…robe　was　closed　in　an　almost　convulsive　grip。　When　he　met　Christopher's　gaze　he　glanced　angrily　away　without　speaking；　and　then　finding　himself　face　to　face　with　his　grandfather's　scowl　he　jerked　impatiently　in　the　opposite　direction。　It　was　clear　that　the　tussle　of　wills　had　as　yet　wrung　only　an　enforced　submission　from　the　younger　man。

Lifting　his　head；　Christopher　stood　idly　watching　the　carriage　until　it　disappeared　between　the　rows　of　flowering　chestnuts；　then；　returning　in　a　half…hearted　fashion　to　his　work；　he　found　himself　wondering　curiously　if　Fletcher's　wrath　and　Will's　indiscretions　were　really　so　great　as　public　rumour　might　lead　one　to　suppose。

An　answer　to　his　question　came　the　next　evening；　when　he　heard　a　light；　familiar　whistle　outside　the　stable　where　he　was　at　work；　and　a　moment　afterward　Will　appeared　in　the　shadow　of　the　doorway。

〃So　it　wasn't　a　cut；　after　all？〃　said　Christopher　with　a　laugh；　as　he　held　out　his　hand。

〃I'll　be　hanged　if　I　know　what　it　was；〃　was　Will's　response；　turning　away　after　a　limp　grasp　and　seating　himself　upon　the　big　box　in　the　corner。　〃To　tell　the　truth；　grandpa　has　put　me　into　such　a　fluster　that　I　hardly　know　my　head　from　my　heels。　There's　one　thing　certain；　though；　if　he　doesn't　take　his　eye　off　me　for　a　breathing　space　he'll　send　me　to　the　dogs　before　he　knows　it。〃

His　face　had　lost　its　boyish　freshness　of　complexion　and　his　weak　mouth　had　settled　into　lines　of　sullen　discontent。　Even　his　dress　displayed　the　carelessness　which　is　one　of　the　outward　marks　of　a　disordered　mind；　and　his　bright　blue　tie　was　loosely　knotted　in　unequal　lengths。

〃What's　the　trouble　now？〃　demanded　Christopher；　coming　from　the　stall　and　hanging　his　lantern　from　a　nail　beside　the　ladder；　where　the　light　fell　full　on　Will's　face。　〃Out　with　it　and　have　done。　I　thought　yesterday　that　you　had　been　driving　a　hard　bargain　with　the　old　man　on　my　account。〃

〃Oh；　it's　not　you　this　time；　thank　heaven；〃　returned　Will。　〃It's　all　about　that　confounded　scrape　I　got　into　at　the　university。　I　told　him　it　would　mean　trouble　if　he　sent　me　there；　but　he　would　do　it　whether　or　no。　He　dragged　me　away　from　here；　you　remember；　and　had　me　digging　at　my　books　with　a　scatter…brained　tutor　for　a　good　six　months；　then　when　I　knew　just　about　enough　to　start　at　the　university　he　hauled　me　there　with　his　own　hands　and　kept　watch　over　me　for　several　weeks。　I'm　quick　at　most　things　like　that；　so　after　he　went　away　I　thought　I'd　have　a　little　fun　and　trust　luck　to　make　it　up　to　me　at　the　endbut　it　all　went　against　me　somehow；　and　then　they　stirred　up　that　blamed　rumpus　about　the　examinations。〃

Yawning　more　in　disgust　than　in　drowsiness；　he　struck　a　match　on　the　edge　of　the　box　and　lighted　a　cigarette。　His　flippant　manner　was　touched　with　the　conscious　resentment　which　still　lingered　in　his　eyes；　and　from　the　beginning　to　the　end　of　his　account　he　betrayed　no　hint　of　a　regret　for　his　own　shabby　part　in　the　affair。　When　it　was　not　possible　to　rest　the　blame　upon　his　grandfather；　he　merely　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　lightly　tossed　the　responsibility　to　fate。

〃This　is　one　of　the　things　I　daren't　do　at　the　house；〃　he　remarked　after　a　moment；　inhaling　a　cloud　of　smoke　and　blowing　it　in　spirals　through　his　nostrils；　〃the　old　man　won't　tolerate　anything　more　decent　than　a　pipe；　unless　it　happens　to　be　a　chew。　Oh；　I'm　sick　to　death　of　the　whole　business；〃　he　burst　out　suddenly。　〃When　I　woke　up　this　morning　I　had　more　than　half　a　mind　to　break　loose　and　go　abroad　to　Maria。　By　the　way；　Wyndham's　dead；　you　know；　he　died　last　fall　just　after　we　went　away。〃

〃Ah；　is　that　so！〃　exclaimed　Christopher。　〃She'll　come　home；　then；　will　she？〃

〃That's　the　queer　partshe　won't；　and　nobody　knows　why。　Wyndham　turned　out　to　be　a　regular　scamp；　of　course；　he　treated　her　abominably　and　all　that；　but　he　no　sooner　died　than　she　turned　about　and　picked　up　one　of　his　sisters　to　nurse　and　coddle。　Oh；　it's　all　foolishness；　but　I've　half　a　mind　to　run　away；　all　the　same。　A　life　like　this　will　drive　me　crazy　in　six　months；　and　I'll　be　hanged　if　it　is　my　fault；　after　all。　He　knew　I　never　had　a　head　for　books；　but　he　drove　me　at　them　as　if　I　were　no　better　than　a　black　slave。　Things　have　all　been　against　me　from　the　start；　and　yet　I　used　to　think　that　I　was　born　to　be　lucky〃

〃What　does　he　mean　to　do　with　you　now？〃　inquired　Christopher。

〃Put　me　to　the　plough；　he　says；　but　I　can't　stand　itI　haven't　the　strength。　Why；　this　morning　he　made　me　hang　around　that　tobacco　field　in　the　blazing　sun　for　two　mortal　hours；　minding　those　shiftless　darkies。　If　I　complain；　or　even　go　off　to　sit　down　in　a　bit　of　shade；　he　rushes　up　and　blusters　about　kicking　me　out　of　doors　unless　I　earn　my　bread。　Oh；　his　temper　is　simply　awful；　and　he　gets　worse　every　day。　He's　growing　stingy；　too；　and　makes　us　live　like　beggars。　All　the　vegetables　go　to　market　now；　and　most　of　the　butter；　and　this　morning　he　blew　Aunt　Saidie's　head　off　because　she　had　spring　chickens　on　the　breakfast　table。　I　don't　dare　ask　him　for　a　penny；　and　yet　he's　richone　of　the　richest　men　in　the　State；　they　say。〃

〃Well；　it　sounds　jolly；〃　observed　Christopher；　smiling。

〃Oh；　you　can't　imagine　the　state　of　things；　and　you'd　never　believe　it　if　I　told　you。　It's　worse　than　any　fuss　you　ever　heard　of　or　ever　saw。　I　used　to　be　able　to　twist　him　round　my　finger；　you　know；　and　now　he　hates　me　worse　than　he　does　a　snake。　He　hasn't　spoken　a　word　to　me　since　that　scene　we　had　at　the　university；　except　to　order　me　to　go　out　and　watch　the　Negroes　plant　tobacco。　If　he　finds　out　I　want　a　thing　he'll　move　heaven　and　earth　to　keep　me　from　getting　itand　then　sit　by　and　grin。　He's　got　a　devil　in　him；　that's　the　truth；　and　there's　nothing　to　do　except　keep　out　of　his　way　as　much　as　possible。　I'm　patient；　tooAunt　Saidie　knows　itand　the　only　time　I　ever　hit　back　was　when　he　jumped　on　you　the　other　day。　Then　I　got　mad　and　struck　out　hard；　I　tell　you。〃

Christopher　leaned　over　and　began　buckling　and　unbuckling　a　leather　strap　in　the　harness…box。

〃Don't　get　into　hot　water　on　my　account；〃　he　returned；　〃the　more　he　abuses　me；　you　know；　the　better　I　like　it。　But　it's　odd　that　after　all　these　years　he　should　want　to　turn　you　into　an　overseer。〃

〃Well；　he　shan't　do　it；　that's　certain。　It　will　be　a　cold　day　when　he　gets　me　masquerading　in　the　family　character。　Let　him　go　just　one　step　too　far　and　I'll　shake　him　off　for　good；　and　strike　out　on　a　freight…train。　Life　couldn't　be　any　worse　than　it　is　now；　and　it　might　be　a　great　deal　better。　As　to　my　hanging　round　like　this　much　longer　and　swearing　at　a　pack　of　worthless　darkieswell；　it's　more　than　I　bargain　for；　that's　all。〃

〃There's　not　much　excitement　in　it；　to　be　sure。　I　would　rather　be　a　freight…hand　myself；　I　think；　when　all　is　said。〃

〃Oh；　you　needn't　joke。　You　were　brought　up　to　it　and　it　doesn't　come　so　hard。〃

〃Doesn't　it？〃

〃Not　so　hard　as　it　does　to　me；　at　any　rate。　There's　got　to　be　some　dash　about　life；　I　tell　you；　to　make　it　suit　my　taste。　I　wasn't　born　to　settle　down　and　count　my　money　and　my　tobacco　from　morning　till　night。　It's　spice　I　want　in　things；　andhang　it！　I　don't　believe　there's　a　pretty　woman　in　the　county。〃

For　a　moment　Christopher　stared　silently　down　at　the　matted　straw。　His　face　had　grown　dark；　and　the　reckless　lines　about　his　mouth　became　suddenly　prominent。

〃Why；　where's　Molly　Peterkin？〃　he　asked　abruptly；　with　a　laugh　that　seemed　to　slip　from　him　against　his　will。

The　other　broke　into　a　long　whistle　and　tossed　the　end　of　his　cigarette　through　the　doorway。

〃You　needn't　think　I've　forgotten　her；〃　he　replied；　〃she's　the　one　bright　spot　I　see　in　this　barren　hole。　By　the　way；　why　do　you　think　her　a　fool？〃

〃Because　she　is　one。〃

〃And　you're　a　brute。　What　does　a　man　want　with　brains　in　a　woman；　anyway。　Maria　had　them　and　they　didn't　keep