the deliverance-第56部分

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ressionI　must　make　plain　to　you　at　the　start　（for　the　events　happened　when　the　State　was　in　the　throes　of　reconstruction；　when　each　man　was　busy　rebuilding　his　own　fortunes；　and　when　tragedies　occurred　without　notice　and　were　hushed　up　without　remark）if　you　want　merely　an　impression；　I　repeat；　then　you　may　have　it；　my　dear　lady；　straight　from　the　shoulder。〃

〃Well？〃　her　voice　rose　inquiringly；　for　he　had　paused。

〃There　is　really　nothing　definite　known　of　the　affair；〃　he　resumed　after　a　moment；　〃even　the　papers　which　would　have　thrown　light　into　the　darkness　were　destroyedburned；　it　is　said；　in　an　old　office　which　the　Federal　soldiers　fired。　It　is　all　mystery　grim　mystery　and　surmise；　and　when　there　is　no　chance　of　either　proving　or　disproving　a　case　I　dare　say　one　man's　word　answers　quite　as　well　as　another's。　At　all　events；　we　have　your　grandfather's　testimony　as　chief　actor　and　eye…witness　against　the　inherited　convictions　of　our　somewhat　Homeric　young　neighbour。　For　eighteen　years　before　the　war　Mr。　Fletcher　was　sole　agenta　queer　selection；　certainlyfor　old　Mr。　Blake；　who　was　known　to　have　grown　very　careless　in　the　confidence　he　placed。　When　the　crash　came；　about　three　years　after　the　war；　the　old　gentleman's　mind　was　much　enfeebled；　and　it　was　generally　rumoured　that　his　children　were　kept　in　ignorance　that　the　place　was　passing　from　them　until　it　was　auctioned　off　over　their　heads　and　Mr。　Fletcher　became　the　purchaser。　How　this　was；　of　course；　I　do　not　pretend　to　say；　but　when　the　Hall　finally　went　for　the　absurd　sum　of　seven　thousand　dollars　life　was　at　best　a　hard　struggle　in　the　State；　and　I　imagine　there　was　less　surprise　at　the　sacrifice　of　the　place　than　at　the　fact　that　your　grandfather　should　have　been　able　to　put　down　the　ready　money。　The　making　of　a　fortune　is　always；　I　suppose；　more　inexplicable　than　the　losing　of　one。　The　Blakes　had　always　been　accounted　people　of　great　wealth　and　wastefulness；　but　within　five　years　from　the　close　of　the　war　they　had　sunk　to　the　position　in　which　you　find　them　now　a　change；　I　dare　say；　from　which　it　is　natural　much　lingering　bitterness　should　result。　The　old　man　died　almost　penniless；　and　his　children　were　left　to　struggle　on　from　day　to　day　as　best　they　could。　It　is　a　sad　tale；　and　I　do　not　wonder　that　it　moves　you；〃　he　finished　slowly；　and　looked　down　to　wipe　his　glasses。

〃And　grandfather？〃　asked　the　girl　quietly。　Her　gaze　had　not　wavered　from　his　face；　but　her　eyes　shone　luminous　through　the　tears　which　filled　them。

〃He　became　rich　as　suddenly　as　the　Blakes　became　poor。　Where　his　money　came　from　no　one　asked；　and　no　one　cared　except　the　Blakes；　who　were　helpless。　They　made　some　small　attempts　at　law　suits；　I　believe；　but　Christopher　was　only　a　child　then；　and　there　was　nobody　with　the　spirit　to　push　the　case。　Then　money　was　needed；　and　they　were　quite　impoverished。〃

Maria　threw　out　her　hands　with　a　gesture　of　revolt。

〃Oh；　it　is　a　terrible　story；〃　she　said；　〃a　terrible　story。〃

〃It　is　an　old　one；　and　belongs　to　terrible　times。　You　have　drawn　it　from　me　for　your　own　purpose；　and　be　that　as　it　may；　I　have　always　believed　in　giving　a　straight　answer　to　a　straight　question。　Now　such　things　would　be　impossible；〃　he　added　cheerfully；　〃then；　I　fear；　they　were　but　too　probable。〃

〃In　your　heart　you　believe　that　it　is　true？〃　He　did　not　flinch　from　his　response。　〃In　my　heart　I　believe　that　there　is　more　in　it　than　a　lie。〃

Rising　from　her　chair；　she　turned　from　him　and　walked　rapidly　up　and　down　the　room；　through　the　firelight　which　shimmered　over　the　polished　floor。　Once　she　stopped　by　the　window；　and；　drawing　the　curtains　aside；　looked　out　upon　the　April　sunshine　and　upon　the　young　green　leaves　which　tinted　the　distant　woods。　Then　coming　back　to　the　hearthrug；　she　stood　gazing　down　upon　him　with　a　serene　and　resolute　expression。

〃I　am　glad　now　that　the　Hall　will　be　mine；〃　she　said；　〃glad　even　that　it　wasn't　left　to　Will；　for　who　knows　how　he　would　have　looked　at　it。　There　is　but　one　thing　to　be　done：　you　must　see　that　yourself。　At　grandfather's　death　the　place　must　go　back　to　its　rightful　owners。〃

〃To　its　rightful　owners！〃　he　repeated　in　amazement；　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃To　the　Blakes。　Oh；　don't　you　see　itcan't　you　see　that　there　is　nothing　else　to　do　in　common　honesty？〃

He　shook　his　head；　smiling。

〃It　is　very　beautiful；　my　child；　but　is　it　reasonable；　after　all？〃　he　asked。

〃Reasonable？〃　The　fine　scorn　he　had　heard　before　in　her　voice　thrilled　her　from　head　to　foot。　〃Shall　I　stop　to　ask　what　is　reasonable　before　doing　what　is　right？〃

Without　looking　at　her；　he　drew　a　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　and　shook　it　slowly　out　from　its　folds。

〃Well；　I'm　not　sure　that　you　shouldn't；〃　he　rejoined。

〃Then　I　shan't　be　reasonable。　I'll　be　wise；〃　she　said；　〃for　surely；　if　there　is　any　wisdom　upon　earth；　it　is　simply　to　do　right。　It　may　be　many　years　off；　and　I　may　be　an　old　woman；　but　when　the　Hall　comes　to　me　at　grandfather's　death　I　shall　return　it　to　the　Blakes。〃

In　the　silence　which　followed　he　found　himself　looking　into　her　ardent　face　with　a　wonder　not　unmixed　with　awe。　To　his　rather　cynical　view　of　the　Fletchers　such　an　outburst　came　as　little　less　than　a　veritable　thunderclap；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　felt　a　need　to　modify　his　conservative　theories　as　to　the　necessity　of　blue　blood　to　nourish　high　ideals。　Maria；　indeed；　seemed　to　him　as　she　stood　there；　drawn　fine　and　strong　against　the　curtains　of　faded　green；　to　hold　about　her　something　better　than　that　aroma　of　the　past　which　he　had　felt　to　be　the　intimate　charm　of　all　exquisite　things；　and　it　was　at　the　moment　the　very　light　and　promise　of　the　future　which　he　saw　in　the　broad　intelligence　of　her　brow。　Was　it　possible；　after　all；　he　questioned；　that　out　of　the　tragic　wreck　of　old　claims　and　old　customs　which　he　had　witnessed　there　should　spring　creatures　of　even　finer　fiber　than　those　who　had　gone　before？

〃So　this　is　your　last　word？〃　he　inquired　helplessly。

〃My　last　word　to　youyes。　In　a　moment　I　am　going　out　to　see　the　Blakesto　make　them　understand。〃

He　put　out　his　hand　as　if　to　detain　her　by　a　feeble　pull　at　her　skirt。　〃At　least；　you　will　sleep　a　night　upon　your　resolution？〃

〃How　can　my　sleeping　alter　things？　My　waking　may。〃

〃And　you　will　sweep　the　claims　of　twenty　years　aside　in　an　hour？〃

〃They　are　swept　aside　by　the　claims　of　two　hundred。〃

With　a　courteous　gesture　he　bent　over　her　hand　and　raised　it　gravely　to　his　lips。

〃My　dear　young　friend；　you　are　very　lovely　and　very　unreasonable；〃　he　said。



CHAPTER　VIII　。　Between　Maria　and　Christopher

A　little　later；　Maria；　with　a　white　scarf　thrown　over　her　head；　came　out　of　the　Hall　and　passed　swiftly　along　the　road　under　the　young　green　leaves　which　were　putting　out　on　the　trees。　When　she　reached　the　whitewashed　gate　before　the　Blake　cottage　she　saw　Christopher　ploughing　in　the　field　on　the　left　of　the　house；　and　turning　into　the　little　path　which　trailed　through　the　tall　weeds　beside　the　〃worm〃　fence；　she　crossed　the　yard　and　stood　hesitating　at　the　beginning　of　the　open　furrow　he　had　left　behind　him。　His　gaze　was　bent　upon　the　horses；　and　for　a　moment　she　watched　him　in　attentive　silence；　her　eyes　dwelling　on　his　massive　figure；　which　cast　a　gigantic　blue…black　shadow　across　the　April　sunbeams。　She　saw　him　at　the　instant　with　a　distinctness；　a　clearness　of　perception；　that　she　had　never　been　conscious　of　until　to…day；　as　if　each　trivial　detail　in　his　appearance　was　magnified　by　the　pale　yellow　sunshine　through　which　she　looked　upon　it。　The　abundant　wheaten…brown　hair；　waving　from　the　moist　circle　drawn　by　the　hat　he　had　thrown　aside；　the　strong　masculine　profile　burned　to　a　faint　terracotta　shade　from　wind　and　sun；　and　the　powerful　hands　knotted　and　roughened　by　heavy　labour；　all　stood　out　vividly　in　the　mental　image　which　remained　with　her　when　she　lowered　her　eyes。

Aroused　by　a　sound　from　the　house；　he　looked　up　and　saw　her　standing　on　the　edge　of　the　ploughed　field；　her　lace　scarf　blown　softly　in　the　April　wind。　After　a　single　minute　of　breathless　surprise　he　tossed　the　long　ropes　on　the　ground；　and；　leaving　the　plough；　came　rapidly　across　the　loose　clods　of　upturned　earth。

〃Did　you　come　because　I　was　thinking　of　you？〃　he　asked　simply；　with　the　natural　directness　which　had　appealed　so　strongly　to　her　fearless　nature。

〃Were　you　thinking　of　me？〃　her　faint　smile　shone　on　him　for　an　instant；　〃and　were　your　thoughts　as　grave；　I　wonder；　as　my　reason　for　coming？〃

〃So　you　have　a　reason；　then？〃

〃Did　you　think　I　should　dare　to　come　without　one？〃

The　light　wind　caught　her　scarf；　blowing　the　long　ends　about　her　head。　From　the　frame　of　soft　white　lace　her　eyes　looked　dark　and　solemn　and　very　distant。

〃I　had　hoped　that　you　had　no　other　reason　than　kindness。〃　He　had　lost　entirely　the　rustic　restraint　he　had　once　felt　in　her　presence；　and；　as　he　stood　there　in　his　clothes　of　dull　blue　jean；　it　was　easy　to　believe　in　the　gallant　generations　at　his　back。　Was　the　fret　of　their　gay　adventures　in　his　blood？　she　wondered。

〃You　will　see　the　kindness　in　my　reason；　I　hope；〃　she　answered　quietly；　while　the　glow　of　her　sudden　resolution　illumined　her　face；　〃and　at　least　you　will　admit　the　justicethough　belated。〃

He　drew　a　step　nearer。　〃And　it　concerns　youand　me？〃　he　asked。

〃It　concerns　youoh；　yes；　yes；　and　me　also；　though　very　slightly。　I　have　just　learnedjust　a　moment　agowhat　you　must　have　thought　I　knew　all　along。〃

As　he　fell　back　she　saw　that　he　paled　slowly　beneath　his　sunburn。

〃You　have　just　learnedwhat？〃　he　demanded。

〃The　truth；〃　she　replied；　〃as　much　of　the　truth　as　one　may　learn　in　an　hour：　how　it　came　that　you　are　here　and　I　am　thereat　the　Hall。〃

〃At　the　Hall？〃　he　repeated；　and　there　was　relief　in　the　quick　breath　he　drew；　〃I　had　forgotten　the　Hall。〃

〃Forgotten　it？　Why；　I　thought　it　was　your　dream；　your　longing；　your　one　great　memory。〃

Smiling　into　her　eyes；　he　shook　his　head　twice　before　he　answered。

〃It　was　all　thatonce。〃

〃Then　it　is　not　so　now？〃　she　asked；　disappointed；　〃and　what　I　have　to　tell　you　will　lose　half　its　value。〃

〃So　it　is　about　the　Hall？〃

With　one　hand　she　held　back　the　fluttering　lace　upon　her　bosom；　while　lifting　the　other　she　pointed　across　the