the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第3部分
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but a stronger counter…motive prevailed。 With a great effort he restrained
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
himself； and after a momentary pause； walked slowly on past the house；
with a backward glance； which he turned away when he saw that it was
observed。
Warwick's attention had been so fully absorbed by the house behind
the cedars and the women there； that he had scarcely noticed； on the other
side of the neglected by…street； two men working by a large open window；
in a low； rude building with a clapboarded roof； directly opposite the back
piazza occupied by the two women。 Both the men were busily engaged
in shaping barrel…staves； each wielding a sharp…edged drawing…knife on a
piece of seasoned oak clasped tightly in a wooden vise。
〃I jes' wonder who dat man is； an' w'at he 's doin' on dis street；〃
observed the younger of the two； with a suspicious air。 He had noticed
the gentleman's involuntary pause and his interest in the opposite house；
and had stopped work for a moment to watch the stranger as he went on
down the street。
〃Nev' min' 'bout dat man；〃 said the elder one。 〃You 'ten' ter yo' wuk
an' finish dat bairl…stave。 You spen's enti'ely too much er yo' time
stretchin' yo' neck atter other people。 An' you need n' 'sturb yo'se'f 'bout
dem folks 'cross de street； fer dey ain't yo' kin'； an' you're wastin' yo' time
both'in' yo' min' wid 'em； er wid folks w'at comes on de street on account
of 'em。 Look sha'p now； boy； er you'll git dat stave trim' too much。〃
The younger man resumed his work； but still found time to throw a
slanting glance out of the window。 The gentleman； he perceived； stood
for a moment on the rotting bridge across the old canal； and then walked
slowly ahead until he turned to the right into Back Street； a few rods
farther on。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
II
AN EVENING VISIT
Toward evening of the same day； Warwick took his way down Front
Street in the gathering dusk。 By the time night had spread its mantle over
the earth； he had reached the gate by which he had seen the girl of his
morning walk enter the cedar… bordered garden。 He stopped at the gate
and glanced toward the house； which seemed dark and silent and deserted。
〃It's more than likely；〃 he thought； 〃that they are in the kitchen。 I
reckon I'd better try the back door。〃
But as he drew cautiously near the corner； he saw a man's figure
outlined in the yellow light streaming from the open door of a small house
between Front Street and the cooper shop。 Wishing； for reasons of his
own； to avoid observation； Warwick did not turn the corner； but walked on
down Front Street until he reached a point from which he could see； at a
long angle； a ray of light proceeding from the kitchen window of the house
behind the cedars。
〃They are there；〃 he muttered with a sigh of relief； for he had feared
they might be away。 〃I suspect I'll have to go to the front door； after all。
No one can see me through the trees。〃
He retraced his steps to the front gate； which he essayed to open。
There was apparently some defect in the latch； for it refused to work。
Warwick remembered the trick； and with a slight sense of amusement；
pushed his foot under the gate and gave it a hitch to the left； after which it
opened readily enough。 He walked softly up the sanded path； tiptoed up
the steps and across the piazza； and rapped at the front door； not too loudly；
lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street。 There
was no response to his rap。 He put his ear to the door and heard voices
within； and the muffled sound of footsteps。 After a moment he rapped
again； a little louder than before。
There was an instant cessation of the sounds within。 He rapped a
third time； to satisfy any lingering doubt in the minds of those who he felt
sure were listening in some trepidation。 A moment later a ray of light
streamed through the keyhole。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃Who's there？〃 a woman's voice inquired somewhat sharply。
〃A gentleman；〃 answered Warwick； not holding it yet time to reveal
himself。 〃Does Mis' Molly Walden live here？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the guarded answer。 〃I'm Mis' Walden。 What's yo'r
business？〃
〃I have a message to you from your son John。〃
A key clicked in the lock。 The door opened； and the elder of the
two women Warwick had seen upon the piazza stood in the doorway；
peering curiously and with signs of great excitement into the face of the
stranger。
〃You 've got a message from my son； you say？〃 she asked with
tremulous agitation。 〃Is he sick； or in trouble？〃
〃No。 He's well and doing well； and sends his love to you； and hopes
you've not forgotten him。〃
〃Fergot him？ No； God knows I ain't fergot him！ But come in； sir；
an' tell me somethin' mo' about him。〃
Warwick went in； and as the woman closed the door after him； he
threw a glance round the room。 On the wall； over the mantelpiece； hung
a steel engraving of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans； and； on
the opposite wall； a framed fashion…plate from 〃Godey's Lady's Book。〃
In the middle of the room an octagonal centre…table with a single leg；
terminating in three sprawling feet； held a collection of curiously shaped
sea…shells。 There was a great haircloth sofa； somewhat the worse for
wear； and a well…filled bookcase。 The screen standing before the
fireplace was covered with Confederate bank…notes of various
denominations and designs； in which the heads of Jefferson Davis and
other Confederate leaders were conspicuous。
〃Imperious Caesar； dead； and turned to clay； Might
stop a hole to keep the wind away；〃
murmured the young man； as his eye fell upon this specimen of
decorative art。
The woman showed her visitor to a seat。 She then sat down facing
him and looked at him closely。 〃When did you last see my son？〃 she
asked。
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〃I've never met your son；〃 he replied。
Her face fell。 〃Then the message comes through you from somebody
else？〃
〃No； directly from your son。〃
She scanned his face with a puzzled look。 This bearded young
gentleman； who spoke so politely and was dressed so well； surelyno； it
could not be！ and yet
Warwick was smiling at her through a mist of tears。 An electric spark
of sympathy flashed between them。 They rose as if moved by one
impulse； and were clasped in each other's arms。
〃John； my John！ It IS John！〃
〃Mothermy dear old mother！〃
〃I didn't think；〃 she sobbed； 〃that I'd ever see you again。〃
He smoothed her hair and kissed her。 〃And are you glad to see me；
mother？〃
〃Am I glad to see you？ It's like the dead comin' to life。 I thought I'd
lost you forever； John； my son； my darlin' boy！〃 she answered； hugging
him strenuously。
〃I couldn't live without seeing you； mother；〃 he said。 He meant it； too；
or thought he did； although he had not seen her for ten years。
〃You've grown so tall； John； and are such a fine gentleman！ And you
ARE a gentleman now； John； ain't yousure enough？ Nobody knows the
old story？〃
〃Well； mother； I've taken a man's chance in life； and have tried to make
the most of it； and I haven't felt under any obligation to spoil it by raking
up old stories that are best forgotten。 There are the dear old books： have
they been read since I went away？〃
〃No； honey； there's be'n nobody to read 'em； excep' Rena； an' she don't
take to books quite like you did。 But I've kep' 'em dusted clean； an' kep'
the moths an' the bugs out； for I hoped you'd come back some day； an'
knowed you'd like to find 'em all in their places； jus' like you left 'em。〃
〃That's mighty nice of you； mother。 You could have done no more if
you had loved them for themselves。 But where is Rena？ I saw her on
the street to…day； but she didn't know me from Adam； nor did I guess it
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was she until she opened the gate and came into the yard。〃
〃I've be'n so glad to see you that I'd fergot about her；〃 answered the
mother。 〃Rena； oh； Ren
