the deliverance-第60部分

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're　always　getting　into　trouble　and　wanting　you　to　pull　them　out。〃　The　descendants　of　the　old　Blake　slaves　were　still　spoken　of　by　Cynthia　as　〃the　servants；〃　though　they　had　been　free　men　and　women　for　almost　thirty　years。

Christopher　started　from　his　abstraction　and　turned　toward　her　with　a　gesture　of　annoyance。

〃Well；　I'll　have　to　go　down；　I　suppose；〃　he　said。　〃Has　mother　asked　for　me　to…day？〃

〃Only　for　Jim　againit's　always　Jim　now。　I　declare；　I　believe　we　might　all　move　away　and　she'd　never　know　the　difference　so　long　as　he　was　left。　She　forgets　us　entirely　sometimes；　and　fancies　that　father　is　alive　again。〃

〃It's　a　good　thing　Jim　amuses　her；　at　any　rate。〃

An　expression　of　anger　drew　Cynthia's　brows　together。　〃Oh；　I　dare　say；　but　it　does　seem　hard　that　she　should　have　grown　to　dislike　me　after　all　I've　done　for　her。　There　are　times　when　she　won't　let　me　even　come　in　the　roomwhen　she's　not　herself；　you　know。〃

Her　words　were　swallowed　in　a　sob；　and　he　stood　staring　at　her　in　an　amazement　too　sudden　to　be　mixed　with　pity。

〃And　you　have　given　up　your　whole　life　to　her；〃　he　exclaimed。　appalled　by　the　injustice　of　the　god　of　sacrifice。

Cynthia　put　up　one　knotted　hand　and　stroked　back　the　thin　hair　upon　her　temples。　〃It　was　all　I　had　to　give；〃　she　answered；　and　went　out　into　the　yard。

He　let　her　go　from　him　without　replying；　and　before　her　pathetic　figure　had　reached　the　house　she　was　blotted　entirely　from　his　thoughts；　for　it　was　a　part　of　the　tragedy　of　her　unselfishness　that　she　had　never　existed　as　a　distinct　personality　even　in　the　minds　of　those　who　knew　and　loved　her。

When　presently　he　passed　through　the　yard　on　his　way　to　the　store；　he　saw　her　taking　in　the　dried　clothes　from　the　old　lilac…bushes　and　called　back　carelessly　that　he　would　be　home　to　supper。　Then；　forgetting　her　lesser　miseries　in　his　own　greater　one；　he　fell　into　his　troubled　brooding　as　he　swung　rapidly　along　the　road。

At　the　store　the　usual　group　of　loungers　welcomed　him；　and　among　them　he　saw　to　his　surprise　the　cheerful　face　of　Jim　Weatherby；　a　little　clouded　by　the　important　news　he　was　evidently　seeking　to　hold　back。

〃I　tried　to　keep　them　from　sending　for　you；　Christopher；〃　the　young　man　explained。　〃It　is　no　business　of　yoursthat　is　what　I　said。〃

〃Well；　it　seems　that　every　thriftless　nigger　in　the　county　thinks　he's　got　a　claim　upon　you；　sho'　enough；〃　put　in　Tom　Spade。　〃It　warn't　mo'n　last　week　that　I　had　a　letter　from　the　grandson　of　yo'　pa's　old　blacksmith　Buck；　sayin'　he　was　to　hang　in　Philadelphia　for　somebody's　murder；　an'　that　I　must　tell　Marse　Christopher　to　come　an'　git　him　off。　Thar's　a　good　six　hunnard　of　'em；　black　an'　yaller　an'　it's　God　A'mighty　or　Marse　Christopher　to　'em　every　one。〃

〃What　is　it　now？〃　asked　Christopher　a　little　wearily；　taking　off　his　hat　and　running　his　hand　through　his　thick；　fair　hair。　〃If　anybody's　been　stealing　chickens　they've　got　to　take　the　consequences。〃

〃Oh；　it's　not　chicken　stealin'　this　time；　it's　a　blamed　sight　worse。　They　want　you　to　send　somebody　over　to　Uncle　Isam'syou　remember　his　little　cabin；　five　miles　off　in　Alorse's　woodsto　help　him　bury　his　children　who　have　died　of　smallpox。　There　are　four　of　'em　dead；　it　seems；　an'　the　rest　are　all　down　with　the　disease。　Thar's　not　a　morsel　of　food　in　the　house；　an'　not　a　livin'　nigger　will　go　nigh　'em。〃

〃Uncle　Isam！〃　repeated　Christopher；　as　if　trying　to　recall　the　name。　〃Why；　I　haven't　laid　eyes　upon　the　man　for　years。〃

〃Very　likely；　but　he's　sent　you　a　message　by　a　boy　who　was　gathering　pine　knots　at　the　foot　of　his　hill。　He　was　to　tell　Marse　Christopher　that　he　had　had　nothing　to　eat　for　two　whole　days　an'　his　children　were　unburied。　Then　the　boy　got　scared　an'　scampered　off；　an'　that　was　all。〃

Christopher's　laugh　sounded　rather　brutal。

〃So　he　used　to　belong　to　us；　did　he？〃　he　inquired。

〃He　was　yo'　pa's　own　coachman。　I　recollect　him　plain　as　day；〃　answered　Tom。　〃I　warn't　'mo'n　a　child　then；　an'　he　used　to　flick　his　whip　at　my　bare　legs　whenever　he　passed　me　in　the　road。〃

〃Well；　what　is　to　be　done？〃　asked　Christopher；　turning　suddenly　upon　him。

〃The　Lord　He　knows；　suh。　Thar's　not　a　nigger　as　will　go　nigh　him；　an'　I'm　not　blamin'　'em；　not　I。　Jim's　filled　his　cart　with　food；　an'　he's　goin'　to　dump　the　things　out　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　then　maybe　Uncle　Isam　can　crawl　down　an'　drag　'em　back。　His　wife's　down　with　it；　too；　they　say。　She　was　workin'　here　not　mo'n　six　months　ago；　but　she　left　her　place　of　a　sudden　an'　went　back　again。〃

Christopher　glanced　carelessly　at　the　little　cart　waiting　in　the　road；　and　then　throwing　off　his　coat　tossed　it　on　the　seat。

〃I'll　trouble　you　to　lend　me　your　overalls；　Tom；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　can　send　a　boy　up　to　the　house　and　get　mine　in　exchange。　Put　what　medicines　you　have　in　the　cart；　I'll　take　them　over　to　the　old　fool。〃

〃Good　Lord！〃　said　Tom；　and　mechanically　got　out　of　his　blue　jean　clothes。

〃Now　don't　be　a　downright　ass；　Christopher；〃　put　in　Jim　Weatherby。　〃You've　got　your　mother　on　your　hands；　you　know；　and　what　under　heaven　have　you　to　do　with　Uncle　Isam？　I　knew　some　foolishness　would　most　likely　come　of　it　if　they　sent　up　for　you。〃

〃Oh；　he　used　to　belong　to　us；　you　see；〃　explained　Christopher　carelessly。

〃And　he's　been　an　ungrateful；　thriftless　free　Negro　for　nearly　thirty　years〃

〃That's　just　itfor　not　quite　thirty　years。　Look　here；　if　you'll　drive　me　over　in　the　cart　and　leave　the　things　at　the　foot　of　the　hill　I'll　be　obliged　to　you。　I'll　probably　have　to　stay　out　a　couple　of　weeksuntil　there's　no　danger　of　my　bringing　back　the　diseaseso　I'll　wear　Tom's　overalls　and　leave　my　clothes　somewhere　in　the　woods。　Oh；　I'll　take　care；　of　course；　I'm　no　fool。〃

〃You're　surer　of　that　than　I　am；〃　returned　Jim；　thinking　of　Lila。　〃I　can't　help　feeling　that　there's　some　truth　in　father's　saying　that　a　man　can't　be　a　hero　without　being　a　bit　of　a　fool　as　well。　For　God's　sake；　don't；　Christopher。　You　have　no　right〃

〃No；　I　have　no　right；〃　repeated　Christopher；　as　he　got　into　the　cart　and　took　up　the　hanging　reins。　A　sudden　animation　had　leaped　into　his　face　and　his　eyes　were　shining。　It　was　the　old　love　of　a　〃risk　for　the　sake　of　the　risk〃　which　to　Tucker　had　always　seemed　to　lack　the　moral　elements　of　true　courage；　and　the　careless　gaiety　with　which　he　spoke　robbed　the　situation　of　its　underlying　somber　horror。

Jim　swung　himself　angrily　upon　the　seat　and　touched　the　horse　lightly　with　the　whip。　〃And　there's　your　mother　sitting　at　homeand　Cynthiaand　Lila；〃　he　said。

Christopher　turned　on　him　a　face　in　whose　expression　he　found　a　mystery　that　he　could　not　solve。

〃I　can't　help　it；　Jim；　to　save　my　life　I　can't；〃　he　answered。　〃It　isn't　anything　heroic；　you　know　that　as　well　as　I。　I　don't　care　a　straw　for　Uncle　Isam　and　his　children；　but　if　I　didn't　go　up　there　and　bury　those　dead　darkies　I'd　never　have　a　moment's　peace。　I've　been　everything　but　a　skulking　coward；　and　I　can't　turn　out　to　be　that　at　the　end。　It's　the　way　I'm　made。〃

〃Well；　I　dare　say　we're　made　different；〃　responded　Jim　rather　dryly；　for　it　was　his　wedding　day　and　he　was　going　farther　from　his　bride。　〃But　for　my　part；　I　can't　help　thinking　of　that　poor　blind　old　lady；　and　how　helpless　they　all　are。　Yes；　we're　made　different。　I　reckon　that's　what　it　means。〃

The　cart　jogged　on　slowly　through　the　fading　sunshine；　and　when　at　last　it　came　to　the　foot　of　the　hill　where　Uncle　Isam　lived　Christopher　got　out　and　shouldered　a　bag　of　meal。

〃You'll　run　the　place；　I　know；　and　look　after　mother　while　I'm　away；〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　I　suppose　I'll　have　to；〃　returned　Jim；　and　then　his　ill…　humour　vanished　and　he　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Good…by；　old　man。　God　bless　you；〃　he　said　heartily。

Sitting　there　in　the　road；　he　watched　Christopher　pass　out　of　sight　under　the　green　leaves；　stooping　slightly　beneath　the　bag　of　meal　and　whistling　a　merry　scrap　of　an　old　song。　At　the　instant　it　came　to　Jim　with　the　force　of　a　blow　that　this　was　the　first　cheerful　sound　he　had　heard　from　him　for　weeks；　and；　still　pondering；　he　turned　the　horse's　head　and　drove　slowly　home　to　his　own　happiness。



CHAPTER　II。　The　Measure　of　Maria

When；　two　weeks　later；　Christopher　reached　home　again；　he　was　met　by　Tucker's　gentle　banter　and　Lila's　look　of　passionate　reproach。

〃Oh；　dear；　you　might　have　died！〃　breathed　the　girl　with　a　shudder。

Christopher　laughed。

〃So　might　Uncle　Tucker　when　he　went　into　the　war；〃　was　his　retort。　He　was　a　little　thinner；　a　little　graver；　and　the　sunburn　upon　his　face　had　faded　to　a　paler　shade。　After　the　short　absence　his　powerful　figure　struck　them　as　almost　gigantic；　physically；　he　had　never　appeared　more　impressive　than　he　did　standing　there　in　the　sunlight　that　filled　the　kitchen　doorway。

〃But　that　was　different；〃　protested　Lila；　flushing；　〃and　this…　thiswhy；　you　hardly　knew　Uncle　Isam　when　you　passed　him　in　the　road。〃

〃And　half　the　time　forgot　to　speak　to　him；〃　added　Tucker；　laughing。　His　eyes　were　on　the　young　man's　figure；　and　they　grew　a　little　wistful；　as　they　always　did　in　the　presence　of　perfect　masculine　strength。　〃Well；　I'm　glad　your　search　for　adventures　didn't　end　in　disaster；〃　he　added　pleasantly。

To　Christopher's　surprise；　Cynthia　was　the　single　member　of　the　family　who　showed　a　sympathy　with　his　reckless　knight　errantry。　〃There　was　nothing　else　for　you　to　do；　of　course；〃　she　said　in　a　resolute　voice；　lifting　her　worn　face　where　the　lines　had　deepened　in　his　absence；　〃he　used　to　be　father's　coachman　before　the　war。〃

She　had　gone　from　the　kitchen　as　she　spoke；　and　Christopher；　following　her；　threw　an　anxious　glance　along　the　little　platform　to　the　closed　door　of　the　house。

〃And　mother；　Cynthia？〃　he　asked　quickly。

〃Her　mind　still　wanders；　but　at　times　she　seems　to　come　back　to　herself　for　a　little　while；　and　only　this　morning　she　awoke　from　a　nap　and　asked　for　you　quite　clearly。　We　told　her　you　had　gone　hunting。〃

〃May　I　see　her　now？　Who　is　with　her？〃

〃Jim。　He　has　been　so　good。〃

The　admission　was　wrung　shortly　from　her　rigid　honesty；　and　there　was　no　visible　softening　of　her　grim　reserve；　when；　entering　the　house　with　Christopher；　she　found　herself　presently　beside　Jim　Weatherby；　who　was　chatting　merrily　in　Mrs。　Blake's　room。

The　old　lady；　s