the deliverance-第55部分

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r　black　dress；　her　fervent　eyes　under　the　grave　pallor　of　her　brow；　her　passionate；　kind　voice；　and　her　mouth　with　the　faint　smile　which　seemed　never　to　fade　utterly　away。　Love；　which　is　revealed　usually　as　a　pleasant　disturbing　sentiment　resulting　from　the　ordinary　purposes　of　life；　had　come　to　him　in　the　form　of　a　great　regenerating　force；　destroying　but　that　it　might　rebuild　anew。



CHAPTER　VII。　In　Which　Carraway　Speaks　the　Truth　to　Maria

During　the　first　week　in　April　Carraway　appeared　at　the　Hall　in　answer　to　an　urgent　request　from　Fletcher　that　he　should；　without　delay；　put　the　new　will　into　proper　form。

On　the　morning　after　his　arrival；　Carraway　had　a　long　conversation　with　the　old　man　in　his　sitting…room；　and　when　it　was　over　he　came　out　with　an　anxious　frown　upon　his　brow　and　went　upstairs　to　the　library　which　Maria　had　fitted　up　in　the　spare　room　next　her　chamber。　It　was　the　pleasantest　spot　in　the　house；　he　had　concluded　last　evening；　and　the　impression　returned　to　him　as　he　entered　now　and　saw　the　light　from　the　wood　fire　falling　on　the　shining　floor；　which　reflected　the　stately　old　furniture；　and　the　cushions；　and　the　window　curtains　of　faded　green。　Books　were　everywhere；　and　he　noticed　at　once　that　they　were　not　the　kind　read　by　the　women　whom　he　knewbig　leather　volumes　on　philosophy；　yellow…covered　French　novels；　and　curled　edges　of　what　he　took　to　be　the　classic　poets。　It　was　almost　with　relief　that　he　noticed　a　dainty　feminine　touch　here　and　therea　work…　bag　of　flowered　silk　upon　the　sofa；　a　bowl　of　crocuses　among　the　papers　on　the　old　mahogany　desk；　and　clinging　to　each　bit　of　well…worn　drapery　in　the　room　a　faint　and　delicate　fragrance。

Maria　was　lying　drowsily　in　a　low　chair　before　the　fire；　and　as　he　entered　she　looked　up　with　a　smile　and　motioned　to　a　comfortable　seat　across　the　hearth。　A　book　was　on　her　knees；　but　she　had　not　been　reading；　for　her　fingers　were　playing　carelessly　with　the　uncut　leaves。　Against　her　soft　black　dress　the　whiteness　of　her　face　and　hands　showed　almost　too　intense　a　contrast；　and　yet　there　was　no　hint　of　fragility　in　her　appearance。　From　head　to　foot　she　was　abounding　with　energy；　throbbing　with　life；　and　though　Carraway　would　still；　perhaps；　have　hesitated　to　call　her　beautiful；　his　eyes　dwelt　with　pleasure　on　the　noble　lines　of　her　relaxed　figure。　Better　than　beauty；　he　admitted　the　moment　afterward；　was　the　charm　that　shone　for　him　in　her　wonderfully　expressive　facea　face　over　which　the　experiences　of　many　lives　seemed　to　ripple　faintly　in　what　was　hardly　more　than　the　shadow　of　a　smile。　She　had　loved　and　suffered；　he　thought；　with　his　gaze　upon　her；　and　from　both　love　and　suffering　she　had　gained　that　fulness　of　nature　which　is　the　greatest　good　that　either　has　to　yield。

〃So　it　is　serious；〃　she　said　anxiously；　as　he　sat　down。

〃I　fear　soat　least；　where　your　brother　is　concerned。　I　can't　say　just　what　the　terms　of　the　will　are；　of　course；　but　he　made　no　secret　at　breakfast　of　his　determination　to　leave　half　of　his　propertywhich　the　result　of　recent　investments　has　made　very　largeto　the　cause　of　foreign　missions。〃

〃Yes；　he　has　told　me　about　it。〃

〃Then　there's　nothing　more　to　be　said；　unless　you　can　persuade　him　for　your　brother's　sake　to　destroy　the　will　when　his　anger　has　blown　over。　I　used　every　argument　I　could　think　of；　but　he　simply　wouldn't　listen　to　meswept　my　advice　aside　as　if　it　was　so　much　wasted　breath〃

He　paused　as　Maria　bent　her　ear　attentively。

〃He　is　coming　upstairs　now！〃　she　exclaimed；　amazed。

There　was　a　heavy　tread　on　the　staircase；　and　a　little　later　Fletcher　came　in　and　turned　to　close　the　door　carefully　behind　him。　He　had　recovered　for　a　moment　his　air　of　bluff　good…humour；　and　his　face　crinkled　into　a　ruddy　smile。

〃So　you're　hatching　schemes　between　you；　I　reckon；〃　he　observed；　and；　crossing　to　the　hearth；　pushed　back　a　log　with　the　toe　of　his　heavy　boot。

〃It　looks　that　way；　certainly；〃　replied　Carraway；　with　his　pleasant　laugh。　〃But　I　must　confess　that　I　was　doing　nothing　more　interesting　than　admiring　Mrs。　Wyndham's　taste　in　books。〃

Fletcher　glanced　round　indifferently。

〃Well；　I　haven't　any　secrets；〃　he　pursued；　still　under　the　pressure　of　the　thought　which　had　urged　him　upstairs；　〃and　as　far　as　that　goes；　I　can　tear　up　that　piece　of　paper　and　have　it　done　with　any　day　I　please。〃

〃So　I　had　the　honour　to　advise；〃　remarked　Carraway。

〃That's　neither　here　nor　thar；　I　reckonit's　made　now；　and　so　it's　likely　to　stand　until　I　die；　though　I　don't　doubt　you'll　twist　and　split　it　then　as　much　as　you　can。　However；　I　reckon　the　foreign　missions　will　look　arter　the　part　that　goes　to　them；　and　if　Maria's　got　the　sense　I　credit　her　with　she'll　look　arter　hers。〃

〃After　mine？〃　exclaimed　Maria；　lifting　her　head　to　return　his　gaze。　〃Why；　I　thought　you　gave　me　my　share　when　I　married。〃

〃So　I　didso　I　did；　and　you　let　it　slip　like　water　through　your　fingers；　but　you've　grown　up；　I　reckon；　sence　you　were　such　a　fool　as　to　have　your　head　turned　by　Wyndham；　and　if　you　don't　hold　on　to　this　tighter　than　you　did　to　the　last　you　deserve　to　lose　it；　that's　all。　You're　a　good　womanI　ain't　lived　a　month　in　the　house　with　you　and　not　found　that　outbut　if　you　hadn't　had　something　more　than　goodness　inside　your　head　you　wouldn't　have　got　so　much　as　a　cent　out　of　me　again。　Saidie's　a　good　woman　and　a　blamed　fool；　too；　but　you're　different；　you've　got　a　backbone　in　your　body；　and　I'll　be　hanged　if　that　ain't　why　I'm　leaving　the　Hall　to　you。〃

〃The　Hall？〃　echoed　Maria；　rising　impulsively　from　her　chair　and　facing　him　upon　the　hearthrug。

〃The　Hall　and　Saidie　and　the　whole　lot；〃　returned　Fletcher；　chuckling；　〃and　I　may　as　well　tell　you　now；　that；　for　all　your　spendthrift　notions　about　wages；　you're　the　only　woman　I　ever　saw　who　was　fit　to　own　a　foot　of　land。　But　I　like　the　quiet　way　you　manage　things；　somehow；　and；　bless　my　soul；　if　you　were　a　man　I'd　leave　you　the　whole　business　and　let　the　missions　hang。〃

〃There's　time　yet；〃　observed　Carraway　beneath　his　breath。

〃No；　no；　it's　settled　now；〃　returned　Fletcher；　〃and　she'll　have　more　than　she　can　handle　as　it　is。　Most　likely　she'll　marry　again；　being　a　woman；　and　a　man　will　be　master　here；　arter　all。　If　you　do；〃　he　added；　turning　angrily　upon　his　granddaughter；　〃for　heaven's　sakes；　don't　let　it　be　another　precious　scamp　like　your　first！〃

With　a　shiver　Maria　caught　her　breath　and　bent　toward　him　with　an　appealing　gesture　of　her　arms。

〃But　you　must　not　do　it；　grandfather；　it　isn't　right。　The　place　was　never　meant　to　belong　to　me。〃

〃Well；　it　belongs　to　me；　I　reckon；　and　confound　your　silly　puritanical　fancies；　I'll　leave　it　where　I　please；〃　retorted　Fletcher；　and　strode　from　the　room。

Throwing　herself　back　into　her　chair；　Maria　lay　for　a　time　looking　thoughtfully　at　the　hickory　log；　which　crumbled　and　threw　out　a　shower　of　red　sparks。　Her　face　was　grave；　but　there　was　no　hint　of　indecision　upon　it；　and　it　struck　Carraway　very　forcibly　at　the　instant　that　she　knew　her　own　mind　quite　clearly　and　distinctly　upon　this　as　upon　most　other　matters。

〃It　may　surprise　you；〃　she　said　presently；　speaking　with　sudden　passion；　〃but　by　right　the　Hall　ought　not　to　be　mine；　and　I　do　not　want　it。　I　have　never　loved　it　because　it　has　never　for　a　moment　seemed　home　to　me；　and　our　people　have　always　appeared　strangers　upon　the　land。　How　we　came　here　I　do　not　know；　but　it　has　not　suited　us；　and　we　have　only　disfigured　a　beauty　into　which　we　did　not　fit。　Its　very　age　is　a　reproach　to　us；　for　it　shows　off　our　newnessour　lack　of　any　past　that　we　may　call　our　own。　Will　might　feel　himself　master　here；　but　I　cannot。〃

Carraway　took　off　his　glasses　and　rubbed　patiently　at　the　ridge　they　had　drawn　across　his　nose。

〃And　yet；　why　not？〃　he　asked。　〃The　place　has　been　in　your　grandfather's　possession　now　for　more　than　twenty　years。〃

〃For　more　than　twenty　years；〃　repeated　Maria　scornfully；　〃and　before　that　the　Blakes　lived　herehow　long？〃

He　met　her　question　squarely。　〃For　more　than　two　hundred。〃

Without　shifting　her　steady　gaze　which　she　turned　upon　his　face；　she　leaned　forward；　clasping　her　hands　loosely　upon　the　knees。

〃There　are　things　that　I　want　to　know；　Mr。　Carraway；〃　she　said；　〃many　things；　and　I　believe　that　you　can　tell　me。　Most　of　all；　I　want　to　know　why　we　ever　came　to　Blake　Hall？　Why　the　Blakes　ever　left　it？　And；　above　all；　why　they　have　hated　us　so　heartily　and　so　long？〃

She　paused　and　sat　motionless；　while　she　hung　with　suspended　breath　upon　his　reply。

For　a　moment　the　lawyer　hesitated；　nervously　twirling　his　glasses　between　his　thumb　and　forefinger；　then　he　slowly　shook　his　head　and　looked　from　her　to　the　fire。

〃Twenty　years　are　not　as　a　day；　despite　your　scorn；　my　dear　young　lady；　and　many　facts　become　overlaid　with　fiction　in　a　shorter　time。〃

〃But　you　know　somethingand　you　believe　still　more。〃

〃God　forbid　that　I　should　convert　you　to　any　belief　of　mine。〃

She　put　out　a　protesting　hand；　her　eyes　still　gravely　insistent。　〃Tell　me　allI　demand　it。　It　is　my　right；　you　must　see　that。〃

〃A　right　to　demolish　sand　housesto　scatter　old　dust。〃

〃A　right　to　hear　the　truth。　Surely　you　will　not　withhold　it　from　me？〃

〃I　don't　know　the　truth；　so　I　can't　enlighten　you。　I　know　only　the　stories　of　both　sides；　and　they　resemble　each　other　merely　in　that　they　both　center　about　the　same　point　of　interest。〃

〃Then　you　will　tell　them　to　meyou　must；〃　she　said　earnestly。　〃Tell　me　first；　word　for　word；　all　that　the　Blakes　believe　of　us。〃

With　a　laugh；　he　put　on　his　glasses　that　he　might　bring　her　troubled　face　the　more　clearly　before　him。

〃A　high　spirit　of　impartiality；　I　admit；〃　he　observed。

〃That　I　should　want　to　hear　the　other　side？〃

〃That；　being　a　woman；　you　should　take　for　granted　the　existence　of　the　other　side。〃

She　shook　her　head　impatiently。　〃You　can't　evade　me　by　airing　camphor…scented　views　of　my　sex；〃　she　returned。　〃What　I　wish　to　knowand　I　still　stick　to　my　point；　you　seeis　the　very　thing　you　are　so　carefully　holding　back。〃

〃I　am　holding　back　nothing；　on　my　honour；〃　he　assured　her。　〃If　you　want　the　impression　which　still　exists　in　the　countyonly　an　impressionI　must　make　plain　to　you　at　the　start　（for　the　events　happened　when　the　State　was　in　the　thro