the deliverance-第62部分

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〃And　it　was　different？〃　she　repeated　beneath　her　breath。

〃Oh；　there's　nothing　to　say　that　will　make　things　better；　I　know　that。　If　you　had　not　come　I　should　never　have　known　myself　nor　what　I　had　been。　It　was　like　a　thunderclapthe　whole　thing；　it　shook　me　off　my　feet　before　I　saw　what　it　meantbefore　I　would　acknowledge　even　to　myself　that〃

〃That？〃　she　questioned　in　a　whisper；　for　he　had　bitten　back　the　words。

〃That　I　love　you。〃

As　he　spoke　she　slipped　suddenly　to　her　knees　and　lay　with　her　face　hidden　on　the　old　log；　while　her　smothered　sobs　ran　in　long　shudders　through　her　body。　A　murmur　reached　him　presently；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　she　was　praying　softly　in　her　clasped　hands；　but　when　in　a　new　horror　of　himself　he　made　a　movement　to　rise　and　slip　away；　she　looked　up　and　gently　touched　him　detainingly　on　the　arm。

〃Oh；　how　unhappyhow　unhappy　you　have　been！〃　she　said。

〃It　is　not　that　I　mind；〃　he　answered。　〃If　I　could　take　all　the　misery　of　it　I　shouldn't　care；　but　I　have　made　you　suffer；　and　for　the　sin　that　is　mine　alone。〃

For　a　moment　she　was　silent；　breathing　quickly　between　parted　lips；　then　turning　with　an　impulsive　gesture；　she　laid　her　cheek　upon　the　hand　hanging　at　his　side。

〃Not　yours　alone；〃　she　said　softly；　〃for　it　has　become　mine；　too。〃

Before　the　wonder　of　her　words　he　stared　at　her　with　dazed　eyes；　while　their　meaning　shook　him　slowly　to　his　senses。

〃Maria！〃　he　called　out　sharply　in　the　voice　of　one　who　speaks　from　a　distance。

She　met　his　appeal　with　a　swift　outward　movement　of　her　arms；　and；　bending　over；　laid　her　hands　gently　upon　his　head。

〃Mine；　too；　Christophermine；　too；〃　she　repeated；　〃for　I　take　the　blame　of　it；　and　I　will　share　in　the　atonement。　My　dear；　my　dear；　is　love　so　slight　a　thing　that　it　would　share　the　joy　and　leave　the　sorrowthat　it　would　take　the　good　and　reject　the　evil？　Why；　it　is　all　mine！　All！　All！　What　you　have　been　I　was　also；　what　I　am　to…day　you　will　be。　I　have　been　yours　since　the　first　instant　you　looked　upon　me。〃

With　a　sob　he　caught　her　hands　and　crushed　them　in　his　own。

〃Then　this　is　love；　Maria？〃

〃It　has　been　lovealways。〃

〃From　the　firstas　with　me？〃

〃As　with　you。　Beloved；　there　is　not　a　wrong　on　this　earth　that　could　come　between　us　now；　for　there　is　no　room　in　my　heart　where　it　might　enter。　There　can　be　no　sin　against　love　which　love　does　not　acknowledge。〃

Falling　apart；　their　hands　dropped　before　them；　and　they　stood　looking　at　each　other　in　a　silence　that　went　deeper　than　words。　She　felt　his　gaze　enveloping　her　in　warmth　from　head　to　foot；　but　he　still　made　no　movement　to　draw　nearer；　for　there　are　moments　when　the　touch　of　the　flesh　grows　meaningless　before　the　mute　appeal　of　the　spirit。　In　that　one　speechless　instant　there　passed　between　them　the　pledges　and　the　explanations　of　years。

Suddenly　the　light　flamed　in　his　face；　and　opening　his　arms；　he　made　a　single　step　toward　her；　but　melting　into　tears；　she　turned　from　him　and　ran　out　into　the　road。



CHAPTER　III。　Will's　Ruin

Blinded　by　tears；　she　went　swiftly　back　along　the　road　into　the　shadows　which　thickened　beyond　the　first　short　bend。　Will　must　be　saved　at　any　cost；　by　any　sacrifice；　she　told　herself　with　passionate　insistence。　He　must　be　saved　though　she　gave　up　her　whole　life　to　the　work　of　his　redemption；　though　she　must　stand　daily　and　hourly　guard　against　his　weakness。　He　must　be　saved；　not　for　his　own　sake　alone；　but　because　it　was　the　one　way　in　which　she　might　work　out　Christopher's　salvation。　As　she　went　on；　scheme　after　scheme　beckoned　and　repelled　her；　plan　after　plan　was　caught　at　only　to　be　rejected；　and　it　was　at　last　with　a　sinking　heart；　though　still　full　of　high　resolves；　that　she　turned　from　the　lane　into　a　strip　of　〃corduroy　road；〃　and　so　came　quickly　to　the　barren　little　farm　adjoining　Sol　Peterkin's。

Will　was　sitting　idly　on　an　overturned　wheelbarrow　beside　the　woodpile；　and　as　she　approached　him　she　assumed　with　an　effort　a　face　of　cheerful　courage。

〃Oh；　Will；　I　thought　you'd　gone　to　work。　You　promised　me！〃

〃Well；　I　haven't；　and　there's　an　end　of　it；〃　he　returned　irritably；　chewing　hard　on　a　chip　he　had　picked　up　from　the　ground；　〃and　what's　more；　I　shan't　go　till　I　see　the　use。　It's　killing　me　by　inches。　I　tell　you　I'm　not　strong　enough　to　stand　a　life　like　this。　Drudge；　drudge；　drudge；　there's　nothing　else　except　the　little　spirit　I　get　from　drink。〃

〃And　that　ruins　you。　Oh；　don't；　don't。　I'll　go　on　my　knees　to　you；　I'll　work　for　you　like　a　servant　day　and　night；　I'll　sell　my　very　clothes　to　help　you；　if　you'll　only　promise　me　never　to　drink　again。〃

〃You　a　servant！〃　said　Will；　and　laughed　shortly　while　he　looked　her　over　with　raised　eyebrows。　〃Why；　your　stockings　would　keep　me　in　cigarettes　for　a　week。〃

A　flush　crossed　Maria's　face；　and　she　glanced　down　guiltily；　letting　her　black　skirt　fall　above　the　lace　upon　her　petticoat。　〃I　have　bought　nothing　since　coming　home；〃　she　responded　presently　with　quiet　dignity；　〃these　belong；　with　my　old　luxuries；　to　a　past　life。　There　were　a　great　many　of　them；　and　it　will　fortunately　take　me　a　long　time　to　wear　them　out。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　begrudge　them；〃　returned　Will；　a　little　ashamed　of　his　show　of　temper；　〃fine　clothes　suit　you；　and　I　hope　you　will　squeeze　them　out　of　grandpa　all　you　can。　It's　as　good　a　way　for　him　to　spend　his　money　as　any　other；　and　it　doesn't　hurt　me　so　long　as　he'll　never　let　me　see　the　colour　of　a　cent。〃

〃But　your　promise；　dear？　Will　you　promise　me？〃

He　lifted　his　sullen　face　toward　her　kind　eyes；　then　turning　away；　kicked　listlessly　at　the　rotting　chips。

〃What's　the　use　in　promising？　I　wouldn't　keep　it；〃　he　replied。　〃Why；　there　are　times　when　but　for　whisky　I'd　go　mad。　It's　the　life；　I　tell　you；　that's　killing　me；　not　drink。　If　things　were　different　I　shouldn't　crave　itI　shouldn't　miss　it；　even。　Why；　for　three　months　after　I　married　Molly　I　didn't　touch　a　single　drop；　and　I'd　have　kept　it　up；　too；　except　for　grandpa's　devilment。　It's　his　fault；　he　drove　me　back　to　it　as　clear　as　day。〃

His　weak　mouth　quivered；　and　he　sucked　in　his　breath　in　the　way　he　had　inherited　from　Fletcher。　The　deep　flush　across　his　face　faded　slowly；　and　dropping　his　restless；　bloodshot　eyes；　he　dug　his　foot　into　the　mould　with　spasmodic　twitches　of　his　body。　His　clothes　appeared　to　have　been　flung　upon　him；　and　his　cravat　and　loosened　collar　betrayed　the　lack　of　neatness　which　had　always　repelled　Maria　so　strongly　in　her　grandfather。　As　she　watched　him　she　wondered　with　a　pang　that　she　had　never　noticed　until　to…day　the　resemblance　he　bore　to　the　old　man　at　the　Hall。

〃But　one　must　be　patient；　Will；〃　she　said　helplessly　after　a　moment's　thought；　〃there's　always　hope　of　a　mendingand　as　far　as　that　goes；　grandfather　may　relent　tomorrow。〃

〃Relent？　Pshaw！　I'd　like　to　see　him　do　it　this　side　of　hell。　Let　him　die；　that's　all　I　ask　of　him。　His　room　is　a　long　sight　better　than　his　company；　and　you　may　tell　him　I　said　so。〃

〃What　good　would　come　of　that？〃

〃I　don't　want　any　good　to　come　of　it。　Why　should　I？　He's　brought　me　to　this　pass　with　his　own　hand。〃

〃But　surely　it　was　partly　your　fault。　He　loved　you　once。〃

〃Nonsense。　He　wanted　a　dog　to　badger；　that　was　all。　Christopher　Blake　said　so。〃

〃Christopher　Blake！　Oh；　Will；　Will；　if　you　could　only　understand！〃

She　turned　hopelessly　away　from　him　and　looked　with　despairing　eyes　over　the　ploughed　fields　which　blushed　faintly　in　the　sunshine。

〃So　your　spring　ploughing　is　all　done；〃　she　said　at　last；　desisting　from　her　attempt　to　soften　his　sullen　obduracy；　〃and　you　have　been　working　harder　than　I　knew。〃

〃Oh；　it's　not　I；〃　returned　Will　promptly；　his　face　clearing　for　the　first　time。　〃It's　all　Christopher's　work；　he　ploughed　that　field　just　before　he　went　away。　Do　you　see　that　new　cover　over　the　well？　He　knocked　that　up　the　last　morning　he　was　here；　and　made　those　steps　before　the　front　door　at　the　same　time。　Now；　he's　the　kind　of　friend　worth　having；　and　no　mistake。　But　for　him　I'd　have　landed　in　the　poorhouse　long　ago。〃

Maria's　gaze　left　the　field　and　returned　to　Will's　face；　where　it　lingered　wistfully。

〃Have　you　ever　heard　what　it　was　all　about；　Will？〃　she　asked；　〃the　old　trouble　between　him　and　grandfather？〃

〃Some　silly　property　right；　I　believe；　I　can't　remember。　Did　you　ever　see　anybody　yet　with　whom　grandpa　was　on　decent　terms？〃

〃He　used　to　be　with　you；　Will。〃

〃Only　so　long　as　I　wore　short　breeches　and　he　could　whack　me　over　the　head　whenever　he　had　a　mind　to。　I　tell　you　I'd　rather　try　to　get　along　with　Beelzebub　himself。〃

〃Have　you　ever　tried　peace…making　in　earnest；　I　wonder？〃

Twirling　a　chip　between　his　thumb　and　forefinger；　he　flirted　it　angrily　at　a　solitary　hen　scratching　in　the　mould。

〃Why；　shortly　after　my　marriage　I　went　over　there　and　positively　wiped　up　the　floor　with　myself。　I　offered　him　everything　under　heaven　in　the　shape　of　good　behaviour；　and；　by　Jove！　I　meant　it；　too。　I'd　have　stopped　drinking　then；　I'd　even　have　given　up　Christopher　Blake〃

〃Did　you　tell　him　that？〃

〃Did　I　ever　tell　a　thunderstorm　I'd　run　indoors？　It　was　enough　to　get　away　with　a　whole　skinhe　left　me　little　more。　And　the　day　afterward；　by　the　way；　he　sent　me　the　deeds　to　this　rotten　farm；　and　warned　me　that　he'd　shoot　me　down　if　I　ever　set　foot　at　the　Hall。〃

〃And　there　has　been　no　softeningno　wavering　since？〃

Will　shook　his　head　with　a　brutal　laugh。　〃Oh；　you　heard　of　our　meeting　in　the　road　and　what　came　of　it。　I　told　him　I　was　starving：　he　answered　that　he　wasn't　responsible　for　all　the　worthless　paupers　in　the　county。　Then　I　cursed　him；　and　he　broke　his　stick　on　my　shoulders。　I　say；　Maria；〃　he　wound　up　desperately；　〃do　you　think　he'll　live　forever？〃

She　kept　her　eyes　upon　him　without　answering；　fearing　to　tell　him　that　by　the　terms　of　the　new　will　he　could　never　come　into　his　share　of　Fletcher's　wealth。

〃Has　he　ever　seen　Molly？〃　she　asked　suddenly；　while　an　unreasonable　hope　shot　through　her　heart。　〃Does　he　know　about　the　child？〃

〃He　may　have　seen　herI　don't　know；　but　she's　not　so　much　to　look　at　now：　she's　gone　all　to　pieces　under　this　awful　worry。　It　isn't　my　fault；　God　knows；　but　she　expected　different　things　when　she　married　me。　She　thought　we'd　live　somewhere　in　the　city　and　that　sh