the deliverance-第9部分

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rth　and　dropped　his　clasped　hands　between　his　open　knees。

Christopher　nodded　carelessly。　〃Glad　to　see　you；　Isam；〃　Tucker　cordially　responded。　〃Times　have　changed　since　you　used　to　live　over　here。〃

〃Days　so；　suh；　dot's　so。　Times　dey's　done　change；　but　I　ain'tI'se　des　de　same。　Dat's　de　tribble　wid　dis　yer　worl'；　w'en　hit　change　yo'　fortune　hit　don'　look　ter　changin'　yo'　skin　es　well。〃

〃That's　true；　but　you're　doing　all　right；　I　hope？〃

〃I　dunno；　Marse　Tuck；〃　replied　Uncle　Isam；　coughing　as　a　sudden　spurt　of　smoke　issued　from　the　old　stone　chimney。　〃I　dunno　'bout　dat。　Times　dey's　right　peart；　but　I　ain't。　De　vittles　dey's　ready　ter　do　dar　tu'n；　but　de　belly；　hit　ain't。〃

〃Whatare　you　sick？〃　asked　Cynthia；　with　interest；　rising　from　the　table。

Uncle　Isam　sighed。　〃I'se　got　a　tur'able　peskey　feelin'；　Miss　Cynthy；　days　de　gospel　trufe；〃　he　returned。　〃I　dunno　whur　hit's　de　lungs　er　de　liver；　but　one　un　um　done　got　moughty　sassy　ter　de　yuther　'en　he　done　flung　de　reins　right　loose。　Hit　looks　pow'ful　like　dey　wuz　gwine　ter　run　twel　dey　bofe　drap　down　daid；　so　I　done　come　all　dis　way　atter　a　dose　er　dem　bitters　ole　miss　use　ter　gin　us　befo'　de　wah。〃

〃Well；　I　never！〃　said　Cynthia；　laughing。　〃I　believe　he　means　the　brown　bitters　mother　used　to　make　for　chills　and　fever。　I'm　very　sorry；　Uncle　Isam；　but　we　haven't　any。　We　don't　keep　it　any　longer。〃

Leaning　over　his　gnarled　palms；　the　old　man　shook　his　head　in　sober　reverie。

〃Dar　ain'　nuttin'　like　dem　bitters　in　dese　yer　days；〃　he　reflected　sadly；　〃'caze　de　smell　er　dem　use　ter　mos'　knock　you　flat　'fo'　you　done　taste　'em；　en　all　de　way　ter　de　belly　dey　use　ter　keep　a…wukin'　fur　dey　livin'。　Lawd！　Lawd！　I'se　done　bought　de　biggest　bottle　er　sto'　stuff　in　de　sto'；　en　hit　slid　right　spang　down　'fo'　I　got　a　grip　er　de　taste　er　hit。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　how　to　mix　it；　〃　said　Cynthia　sympathetically。　〃It's　very　easy；　I　know　Aunt　Eve　can　brew　it。〃

〃Go　'way；　Miss　Cynthy；　huccome　you　don'　know　better'n　dat？　Dar　ain'　no　Eve。　She's　done　gone。〃

〃Gone！　Is　she　dead？〃

〃Naw'm；　she　aint　daid　dat　I　knowsshe's　des　gone。

Hit　all　come　along　er　dem　highfalutin'　notions　days　struttin'　roun'　dese　days　'bout　prancin'　up　de　chu'ch　aisle　en　bein'　mah'ed　by　de　preacher；　stedder　des　totin'　all　yo'　belongin's　f'om　one　cabin　ter　anurr；　en　roas'in'　yo'　ash…cake　in　de　same　pile　er　ashes。　You　see；　me　en　Eve　we　hed　done　'sperunce　mah'age　gwine　n　fifty　years；　but　we　ain'　nuver　'sperunce　de　ceremony　twel　las'　watermillion　time。〃

〃Why；　Uncle　Isam；　did　she　leave　you　because　of　that？　Here；　draw　up　to　the　table　and　eat　your　supper；　while　I　get　down　the　age…book　and　find　your　birth。〃

She　reached　for　a　dusty　account　book　on　one　of　the　kitchen　shelves；　and；　bringing　it　to　the　table；　began　slowly　turning　the　yellowed　leaves。　For　more　than　two　hundred　years　the　births　of　all　the　Blake　slaves　had　been　entered　in　the　big　volume。

〃You　des　wait；　Miss　Cynthy；　you　des　wait　twel　I　git　dar；〃　remonstrated　Uncle　Isam；　as　he　stirred　his　coffee。　〃I　ain'　got　no　use　fur　dese　yer　newfangle　fashions；　dot's　wat　I　tell　de　chillun　w'en　dey　begin　a…pesterin'　me　ter　mah'y　EveI　ain'　got　no　use　fur　dem　no　way　hit's　putI　ain'　got　no　use　fur　dis　yer　struttin'　up　de　aisle　bus'ness；　ner　fur　dis　yer　w'arin'　er　sto'…made　shoes；　ner　fur　dis　yer　leavin'　er　de　hyar　unwropped；　needer。　Hit　looks　pisonous　tickly　ter　me；　days　wat　I　sez；　but　w'en　dey　keep　up　dey　naggin'　day　in　en　day　out；　en　I　carn'　git　shunt　er　um；　I　hop　right　up　en　put　on　my　Sunday　bes'　en　go　'long　wid　'em　ter　de　chu'chme　en　Eve　bofe　a…mincin'　des　like　peacocks。　'You　des　pay　de　preacher；'　days　wat　I　tell　'em；　'en　I'se　gwine　do　all　de　mah'yin'　days　ter　be　done'；　en　w'en　de　preacher　done　got　thoo　wid　me　en　Eve；　I　stood　right　up　in　de　chu'ch　an　axed　ef　dey　wus　any　udder　nigger　'ooman　es　'ud　like　ter　do　a　little　mah'yin'？　'Hit's　es　easy　ter　mah'y　a　dozen　es　ter　mah'y　one；'　I　holler　out。〃

〃Oh；　Uncle　Isam！　No　wonder　Aunt　Eve　was　angry。　Here　we　are'Isam；　son　of　Docia；　born　August　12；　18。〃

〃Lawd；　Miss　Cynthy；　'twan'　me　dat　mek　Eve　madtwuz　de　preacher；　'caze　atter　we　got　back　ter　de　cabin　en　eat　de　watermillion　ter　de　rin'；　she　up　en　tied　her　bonnet　on　tight　es　a　chestnut　burr　en　made　right　fur　de　do'。　De　preacher　done　tote　'er；　she　sez；　dat　Eve　'uz　in　subjection　ter　her　husban'；　en　she'd　let　'im　see　she　warn'　gwine　be　subjected　unner　no　man；　she　warn't。　'Fo'　de　Lawd；　Miss　Cynthy；　dat　ar　Eve　sutney　wuz　a　high…sperited　'ooman！〃

〃But；　Uncle　Isam；　it　was　so　silly。　Why；　she'd　been　married　to　you　already　for　a　lifetime。〃

〃Dat's　so；　Miss　Cynthy；　dat's　so；　'caze　'twuz　dem　ar　wuds　dat　rile　'er　mos'。　She　'low　she　done　been　in　subjection　fur　gwine　on　fifty　years　widout　knowin'　hit。〃

He　finished　his　coffee　at　a　gulp　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。

〃En　now　des　fem　me　hyear　how　ole　I　is；〃　he　wound　up　sorrowfully。

〃The　twelfth　of　August；　18　（that's　the　date　of　your　birth）；　makes　youlet　me　seeyou'll　be　seventy　years　old　next　summer。　There；　now；　since　you've　found　out　what　you　wanted；　you'd　better　spend　the　night　with　Uncle　Boaz。〃

〃Thanky；　ma'am；　but　I　mus'　be　gwine　back　agin；〃　responded　Uncle　Isam；　shuffling　to　his　feet；　〃en　ef　you　don'　min'；　Marse　Christopher；　I'd　like　a　wud　wid　you　outside　de　do'。〃

Laughing；　Christopher　rose　from　his　chair　and；　with　a　patriarchal　dignity　of　manner；　followed　the　old　man　into　the　moonlight。



CHAPTER　VI。　Carraway　Plays　Courtier

At　twelve　o'clock　the　next　day；　Carraway；　walking　in　the　June　brightness　along　the　road　to　the　Blake　cottage；　came　suddenly；　at　the　bend　of　the　old　icepond；　upon　Maria　Fletcher　returning　from　a　morning　ride。　The　glow　of　summer　was　in　her　eyes；　and　though　her　face　was　still　pale；　she　seemed　to　him　a　different　creature　from　the　grave；　repressed　girl　of　the　night　before。　He　noticed　at　once　that　she　sat　her　horse　superbly；　and　in　her　long　black　habit　all　the　sinuous　lines　of　her　figure　moved　in　rhythm　with　the　rapid　pace。

As　she　neared　him；　and　apparently　before　she　had　noticed　his　approach；　he　saw　her　draw　rein　quickly；　and；　screened　by　the　overhanging　boughs　of　a　blossoming　chestnut；　send　her　glance　like　a　hooded　falcon　across　the　neighbouring　field。　Following　the　aim　of　her　look；　he　saw　Christopher　Blake　walking　idly　among　the　heavy　furrows；　watching；　with　the　interest　of　a　born　agriculturist；　the　busy　transplanting　of　Fletcher's　crop。　He　still　wore　his　jean　clothes；　which；　hanging　loosely　upon　his　impressive　figure；　blended　harmoniously　with　the　dull…purple　tones　of　the　upturned　soil。　Beyond　him　there　was　a　background　of　distant　wood；　still　young　in　leaf；　and　his　bared　head；　with　the　strong；　sunburned　line　of　his　profile；　stood　out　as　distinctly　as　a　portrait　done　in　early　Roman　gold。

That　Maria　had　seen　in　him　some　higher　possibility　than　that　of　a　field　labourer　was　soon　evident　to　Carraway；　for　her　horse　was　still　standing　on　the　slight　incline；　and　as　he　reached　her　side　she　turned　with　a　frank　question　on　her　lips。

〃Is　that　one　of　the　labourersthe　young　giant　by　the　fence？〃

〃Well；　I　dare　say　he　labours；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　He's　young　Blake；　you　know。〃

〃Young　Blake？〃　She　bent　her　brows；　and　it　was　clear　that　the　name　suggested　only　a　trivial　recollection　to　her　mind。　〃There　used　to　be　some　Blake　children　in　the　old　overseer's　houseis　this　one　of　them。〃

〃Possibly；　they　live　in　the　overseer's　house。〃

She　leaned　over；　fastening　her　heavy　gauntlet。　〃They　wouldn't　play　with　me；　I　remember；　I　couldn't　understand　why。　Once　I　carried　my　dolls　over　to　their　yard；　and　the　boy　set　a　pack　of　hounds　on　me。　I　screamed　so　that　an　old　Negro　ran　out　and　drove　them　off；　and　all　the　time　the　boy　stood　by；　laughing　and　calling　me　names。　Is　that　he；　do　you　think？〃

〃I　dare　say。　It　sounds　like　him。〃

〃Is　he　so　cruel？〃　she　asked　a　little　wistfully。

〃I　don't　know　about　thatbut　he　doesn't　like　your　people。　Your　grandfather　had　some　trouble　with　him　a　long　time　ago。〃

〃And　he　wanted　to　punish　me？how　cowardly。〃

〃It　does　sound　rather　savage；　but　it　isn't　an　ordinary　case；　you　know。　He's　the　kind　of　person　to　curse　'root　and　branch；'　from　all　I　hear；　in　the　good　old　Biblical　fashion。〃

〃Oh；　well；　he's　certainly　very　large；　isn't　he？〃

〃He's　superb；〃　said　Carraway；　with　conviction。

〃At　a　distanceso　is　that　great　pine　over　there；〃　she　lifted　her　whip　and　pointed　across　the　field；　then　as　Carraway　made　no　answer；　she　smiled　slightly　and　rode　rapidly　toward　the　Hall。

For　a　few　minutes　the　lawyer　stood　where　she　had　left　him；　watching　in　puzzled　thought　her　swaying　figure　on　the　handsome　horse。　The　girl　fretted　him；　and　yet　he　felt　that　he　liked　her　almost　in　spite　of　himselfliked　something　fine　and　fearless　he　found　in　her　dark　eyes；　liked；　too；　even　while　he　sneered；　her　peculiar　grace　of　manner。　There　was　the　making　of　a　woman　in　her　after　all；　he　told　himself；　as　he　turned　into　the　sunken　road；　where　he　saw　Christopher　already　moving　homeward。　He　had　meant　to　catch　up　with　him　and　join　company　on　the　way；　but　the　young　man　covered　ground　so　quickly　with　his　great　strides　that　at　last　Carraway；　losing　sight　of　him　entirely；　resigned　himself　to　going　leisurely　about　his　errand。

When；　a　little　later；　he　opened　the　unhinged　whitewashed　gate　before　the　cottage；　the　place；　as　he　found　it；　seemed　to　be　tenanted　solely　by　a　family　of　young　turkeys　scratching　beneath　the　damask　rose…bushes　in　the　yard。　From　a　rear　chimney　a　dark　streak　of　smoke　was　rising；　but　the　front　of　the　house　gave　no　outward　sign　of　life；　and　as　there　came　no　answer　to　his　insistent　knocks　he　at　last　ventured　to　open　the　door　and　pass　into　the　narrow　hall。　From　the　first　room　on　the　right　a　voice　spoke　at　his　entrance；　and　following　the　sound　he　found　himself　face　to　face　with　Mrs。　Blake　in　her　massive　Elizabethan　chair。

〃There　is　a　stranger　in　the　room；〃　she　said　rigidly；　turning　her　sightless　eyes；　〃speak　at　once。〃

〃I　beg　pardon　most　humbly　for　my　intrusion；〃　replied　Carraway；　conscious　of　stammering　like　an　offending　schoolboy；　〃but　as　no　one　answered　my　knock；　I　committed　the　indiscretion　of　opening　a　closed　door。〃

Awed　as　much　by　the　stricken　pallor　of　her　appearance　as　by　the　inappropriate　grandeur　of　her　black　brocade　and　her　thread　lace　cap；　he　advanced　slowly　and　stood　awaiting　his　dismissal。

〃What　door