the deliverance-第67部分

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〃Oh；　Will；　Will；　be　a　man　for　her　sake！〃

〃I　can't；　I　can't；〃　he　protested；　his　voice　rising　in　anger。　〃I　can't　stand　the　squalor　of　this　life；　it's　killing　me。　Why；　look　at　the　way　I　was　brought　up；　never　stopping　an　instant　to　ask　whether　I　could　have　a　thing　I　wanted。　He　had　no　right　to　accustom　me　to　luxuries　till　I　couldn't　do　without　them　and　then　throw　me　out　upon　the　world　like　this！〃

〃Hush！　Hush！　Your　voice　is　too　loud。　It　will　bring　him　down。〃

〃I'll　be　hanged　if　I　care！〃　he　retorted；　but　involuntarily　he　lowered　his　tone。

〃You　mustn't　stay　here　five　minutes　longer；〃　urged　Maria。　〃I'll　give　you　a　diamond　brooch　I　still　have　left；　and　you　may　take　it　to　town　yourself　and　sell　it。　Only　promise　me　on　your　honour　that　you　will　spend　the　money　on　the　things　Molly　needs。〃

〃Oh；　I　promise；〃　he　replied　roughly。　〃Where　is　it？〃

〃In　my　room。　I　must　get　it　now。　Be　perfectly　quiet　until　I　return。〃

Opening　the　door　and　closing　it　carefully　behind　her；　she　stole　noiselessly　up　the　dark　staircase；　while　Will；　twitching　nervously；　paced　restlessly　up　and　down　the　brick　floor。　A　pile　of　walnuts　which　Miss　Saidie　had　been　shelling　for　cake　lay　on　the　hearth；　and；　picking　up　the　heavy　old　hammer　she　had　used；　he　cracked　a　nut　and　ate　it　hurriedly。　Hungry　as　he　wasfor　he　had　not　been　home　to　supperhe　found　difficulty　in　swallowing；　and；　laying　the　hammer　down　upon　the　bricks；　he　rose　and　stood　waiting　beside　the　stove。　Though　the　night　was　warm；　a　shiver　ran　suddenly　through　him；　and；　stirring　the　fading　embers　with　a　splinter　of　resinous　pine；　he　held　out　his　shaking　hands　to　the　blaze。

In　a　moment　Maria　entered　and　handed　him　the　brooch　in　a　little　box。

〃Try　to　keep　up　courage；　Will；〃　she　said；　pushing　him　into　the　area　under　the　back　steps；　〃and　above　all　things；　do　not　come　here　again。　It　is　so　unsafe。〃

He　promised　lightly　that　he　would　not；　and　then　told　her　good…by　with　an　affectionate　pat　upon　the　arm。

〃Well；　you　are　a　bully　good　chap；　after　all；〃　he　added；　as　he　stepped　out　into　the　night。

For　a　while　Maria　stood　looking　after　him　across　the　moonlit　fields；　and　then；　even　as　she　turned　to　enter　the　house；　the　last　troubled　hour　was　blotted　from　her　consciousness；　and　she　lived　over　again　the　moment　of　Christopher's　embrace。　With　that　peculiar　power　to　revive　and　hold　within　the　memory　an　instant's　emotion　which　is　possessed　by　ardent　and　imaginative　women；　she　experienced　again　all　the　throbbing　exhilaration；　all　the　fulness　of　being；　which　had　seemed　to　crowd　the　heartbeats　of　so　many　ordinary　years　into　the　single　minute　that　was　packed　with　life。　That　minute　was　hers　now　for　all　time；　it　was　a　possession　of　which　no　material　loss；　no　untoward　fate　could　defraud　her；　and　as　she　felt　her　steps　softly　up　the　dark　staircase；　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　saw　her　way　by　the　light　of　the　lamp　that　was　burning　in　her　bosom。

To　her　surprise；　as　she　reached　the　dining…room　a　candle　was　thrust　out　before　her；　and；　illuminated　by　the　trembling　flame；　she　saw　the　face　of　Fletcher；　hairy；　bloated；　sinister；　with　the　shadow　of　evil　impulses　worked　into　the　mouth　and　eyes。　For　a　moment　he　wagged　at　her　in　silence；　and　in　the　flickering　radiance　she　saw　each　swollen　vein；　each　gloomy　furrow；　with　exaggerated　distinctness。　He　reminded　her　vaguely　of　some　hideous　gargoyle　she　had　seen　hanging　from　an　early　Gothic　cathedral。

〃So　you've　taken　to　gallivanting；　like　the　rest；〃　he　observed　with　coarse　pleasantry。　〃I'd　thought　you　were　a　staid　and　sober…minded　woman　for　your　years；　but　it　seems　that　you　are　of　a　bunch　with　all　the　others。〃

〃I've　been　out　in　the　moonlight；〃　answered　Maria；　while　a　sensation　of　sickness　stole　over　her。

〃It　is　as　bright　as　day；　but　I　thought　you　were　in　bed　long　ago。〃

〃Thar's　not　much　sleep　for　me　during　tobacco　planting；　I　kin　tell　you；〃　rejoined　Fletcher；　〃but　as　for　you；　I　reckon　thar's　more　beneath　your　words　than　you　like　to　own　to。　You've　been　over　to　see　that　young　scamp；　ain't　you？〃

〃I　saw　him；　but　I　did　not　go　out　for　that　purpose。〃

〃It's　the　truth；　I　reckon；　for　I've　never　known　you　to　lie；　and　I'll　be　hanged　if　it　ain't　that　I　like　about　you；　after　all。　You're　the　only　person　I　kin　spot；　man　or　woman；　who　speaks　the　truth　jest　for　the　darn　love　of　it。〃

〃And　yet　I　lived　a　lie　for　five　years；〃　returned　Maria　quietly。

〃Maybe　so；　maybe　so；　but　it　set　on　you　like　the　burr　on　a　chestnut；　somehow；　and　when　it　rolled　off　thar　you　were；　as　clean　as　ever。　Well；　you're　an　honest　and　spunky　woman；　and　I　can't　help　your　traipsing　over　thar　even　if　I　wanted　to。　But　thar's　one　thing　I　tell　you　now　right　flatif　that　young　rascal　wants　to　keep　a　whole　skin　he'd　better　stay　off　this　place。　I'd　shoot　him　down　as　soon　as　I　would　a　sheep…killing　hound。〃

〃Oh；　he　won't　come　here；〃　said　Maria　faintly；　and；　going　into　the　dining…room；　she　dropped　into　a　chair　and　lay　with　her　arms　outstretched　upon　the　table。　The　second　shock　to　her　emotional　ecstasy　had　been　too　much；　and　the　furniture　and　Fletcher's　face　and　the　glare　of　the　candle　all　spun　before　her　in　a　sickening　confusion。

After　looking　at　her　anxiously　an　instant；　Fletcher　poured　out　a　glass　of　water　and　begged　her　to　take　a　swallow。　〃Thar；　thar；　I　didn't　mean　to　skeer　you；〃　he　said　kindly。　〃You　mustn't　mind　my　rough…and…ready　ways；　for　I'm　a　plain　man；　God　knows。　If　you　are　sure　you　feel　fainty；〃　he　added；　〃I'll　git　you　a　sip　of　whisky；　but　it's　a　pity　to　waste　it　unless　you　have　a　turn。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　answered　Maria；　sitting　up；　and　returning　his　inquiring　gaze　with　a　shake　of　the　head。　〃My　ankle　is　still　weak；　you　know；　and　I　felt　a　sudden　twinge　from　standing　on　it。　What　were　you　looking　for　at　this　hour？〃

〃Well；　I've　been　out　in　the　air　sense　supper；　and　I　feel　kind　of　gone。　I　thought　I'd　like　a　bite　of　somethingmaybe　a　scrap　of　that　cold　jowl　we　had　for　dinner。　But　I　can't　find　it。　Do　you　reckon　Saidie　is　such　a　blamed　fool　as　to　throw　the　scraps　away？〃

〃There's　Malindy；　you　know；　she　must　eat。〃

〃I'd　like　to　see　one　nigger　eat　up　half　a　jowl；〃　grumbled　Fletcher；　rooting　among　the　dishes　in　the　sideboard。　〃Thar　was　a　good　big　hunk　of　it　left；　for　you　didn't　touch　it。　You　don't　seem　to　thrive　on　our　victuals；〃　he　added　bluntly；　turning　to　peer　into　her　face。

〃I'm　a　small　eater；　it　makes　little　difference。〃

〃Well；　we　mustn't　starve　you；〃　he　said；　as　he　went　back　to　his　search；　〃and　if　it's　a　matter　of　a　pound　of　fresh　butter；　or　a　spring　chicken；　even；　I　won't　let　it　stand　in　your　way。　Why；　what's　this；　I　wonder？〃

Ripping　out　an　oath　with　an　angry　snort；　he　drew　forth　Miss　Saidie's　walnut　cake　and　held　it　squarely　before　the　candle。　〃I　declar；　if　she　ain't　been　making　walnut　cake　agin；　and　I　told　her　last　week　I　wan't　going　to　have　her　wasting　all　my　eggs。　Look　at　it；　will　you？　If　she's　beat　up　one　egg　in　that　cake　she's　beat　up　a　dozen；　to　say　nothing　of　the　sugar！〃

〃Don't　scold　her；　grandfather。　She　has　a　sweet　tooth；　you　know；　and　it's　so　hard　for　her　not　to　make　desserts。〃

〃Pish！　Tush！　I　don't　reckon　her　tooth's　any　sweeter　than　mine。　I've　a　powerful　taste　for　trash　myself；　and　always　had　since　the　time　I　overate　ripe　honey…shucks　when　I　was　six　months　old；　but　the　taste　don't　make　me　throw　away　good　money。　I'll　have　no　more　of　this；　I　tell　you；　and　I've　said　my　say。　She　can　bake　a　bit　of　cake　once　a　week　if　she'll　stint　herself　to　an　egg　or　two；　but　when　it　comes　to　mixing　up　a　dozen　at　a　time；　I'll　be　darned　if　I'll　allow　it。〃

Lifting　the　plate　in　one　hand；　he　stood　surveying　the　big　cake　with　disapproving　yet　admiring　eyes。　〃It　would　serve　her　right　if　I　was　to　eat　up　every　precious　crumb；〃　he　remarked　at　last。

〃Suppose　you　try　it；〃　suggested　Maria　pleasantly。　〃It　would　please　Aunt　Saidie。〃

〃It　ain't　to　please　her；〃　sourly　responded　Fletcher；　as　he　drove　the　knife　with　a　lunge　into　the　yellow　loaf。　〃She's　a　thriftless；　no…account　housekeeper；　and　I'll　tell　her　so　tomorrow。〃

Still　holding　the　knife　in　his　clenched　fist；　he　sat　munching　the　cake　with　a　relish　which　brought　a　smile　to　Maria's　tired　eves。

〃Yes；　I've　a　powerful　sweet　tooth　myself；〃　he　added；　as　he　cut　another　slice。



CHAPTER　VII。　Will　Faces　Desperation　and　Stands　at　Bay

Rising　at　daybreak　next　morning；　Will's　eyes　lighted　in　his　first　glance　from　the　window　on　Christopher's　blue…clad　figure　commanding　the　ploughed　field　on　the　left　of　the　house。　In　the　distance　towered　the　black　pines；　and　against　them　the　solitary　worker　was　relieved　in　the　slanting　sunbeams　which　seemed　to　arrest　and　hold　his　majestic　outline。　The　split　basket　of　plants　was　on　his　arm；　and　he　was　busily　engaged　in　〃setting　out〃　Will's　neglected　crop　of　tobacco。

Leaving　Molly　still　asleep；　Will　dressed　himself　hurriedly；　and；　putting　the　diamond　brooch　in　his　pocket；　ran　out　to　where　Christopher　was　standing　midway　of　the　bare　field。

〃So　you're　doing　my　work　again；〃　he　said；　not　ungratefully。

〃If　I　didn't　I'd　like　to　know　who　would；〃　responded　Christopher　with　rough　kindliness；　as　he　dropped　a　wilted　plant　into　a　hole。　〃You're　up　early　this　morning。　Where　are　you　off　to？〃

Will　drew　the　brooch　from　his　pocket　and　held　it　up　with　a　laugh。

〃Maria　gave　me　this；〃　he　explained；　〃and　I'm　going　to　town　to　turn　it　into　money。〃

〃Well；　I'll　keep　an　eye　on　the　place　while　you　are　away；〃　returned　Christopher；　without　looking　at　the　trinket。　〃Go　about　your　business；　and　for　heaven's　sake　don't　stop　to　drink。　Some　men　can　stand　liquor；　you　can't。　It　makes　a　beast　of　you。〃

〃And　not　of　you；　eh？〃

〃It　never　gets　the　chance。　I　know　when　to　stop。　That's　the　difference　between　us。〃

〃Of　course　that's　the　difference；〃　rejoined　Will　a　little　doggedly。　〃I　never　know　when　to　stop　about　anything；　I'll　be　hanged　if　I　do。　It's　my　cursed　luck　to　go　at　a　headlong　gait。〃

〃And　some　day　you'll　get　your　neck　broken。　Well；　be　off　now；　or　you'll　most　likely　miss　the　stage。〃

He　turned　away　to　sort　the　young　plants　in　his　basket；　while　Will　started　at　a　brisk　pace　for　the　cross…roads。

The　planting　was　tedious　work；　and　it　was　almost　evening　before　Christopher　reached　the　end　of　the　field　and　started　home　along　the　little　winding　lane。　He　had　eaten　a　scant　dinner　with　Molly；　who　had　worried　him　by　tearful　complaints　across　the　turnip　sala