the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第39部分
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companion saw Frank Fowler behind the chinquapin bush at the foot of
the hill； nor the gaze of mute love and longing with which he watched the
buggy mount the long incline。 He had not been able to trust himself to
bid her farewell。 He had seen her go away once before with every
prospect of happiness； and come back； a dove with a wounded wing； to the
old nest behind the cedars。 She was going away again； with a man whom
he disliked and distrusted。 If she had met misfortune before； what were
her prospects for happiness now？
The buggy paused at the top of the hill； and Frank； shading his eyes
with his hand； thought he could see her turn and look behind。 Look back；
dear child； towards your home and those who love you！ For who knows
more than this faithful worshiper what threads of the past Fate is weaving
into your future； or whether happiness or misery lies before you？
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XXV
BALANCE ALL
The road to Sampson County lay for the most part over the pine…clad
sandhills；an alternation of gentle rises and gradual descents； with now
and then a swamp of greater or less extent。 Long stretches of the
highway led through the virgin forest； for miles unbroken by a clearing or
sign of human habitation。
They traveled slowly； with frequent pauses in shady places； for the
weather was hot。 The journey； made leisurely； required more than a day；
and might with slight effort be prolonged into two。 They stopped for the
night at a small village； where Wain found lodging for Rena with an
acquaintance of his； and for himself with another； while a third took
charge of the horse； the accommodation for travelers being limited。
Rena's appearance and manners were the subject of much comment。 It
was necessary to explain to several curious white people that Rena was a
woman of color。 A white woman might have driven with Wain without
attracting remark；most white ladies had negro coachmen。 That a
woman of Rena's complexion should eat at a negro's table； or sleep
beneath a negro's roof； was a seeming breach of caste which only black
blood could excuse。 The explanation was never questioned。 No white
person of sound mind would ever claim to be a negro。
They resumed their journey somewhat late in the morning。 Rena
would willingly have hastened； for she was anxious to plunge into her new
work； but Wain seemed disposed to prolong the pleasant drive； and
beguiled the way for a time with stories of wonderful things he had done
and strange experiences of a somewhat checkered career。 He was shrewd
enough to avoid any subject which would offend a modest young woman；
but too obtuse to perceive that much of what he said would not commend
him to a person of refinement。 He made little reference to his
possessions； concerning which so much had been said at Patesville； and
this reticence was a point in his favor。 If he had not been so much upon
his guard and Rena so much absorbed by thoughts of her future work； such
a drive would have furnished a person of her discernment a very fair
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measure of the man's character。 To these distractions must be added the
entire absence of any idea that Wain might have amorous designs upon her；
and any shortcomings of manners or speech were excused by the broad
mantle of charity which Rena in her new…found zeal for the welfare of her
people was willing to throw over all their faults。 They were the victims
of oppression； they were not responsible for its results。
Toward the end of the second day； while nearing their destination； the
travelers passed a large white house standing back from the road at the
foot of a lane。 Around it grew widespreading trees and well…kept
shrubbery。 The fences were in good repair。 Behind the house and
across the road stretched extensive fields of cotton and waving corn。
They had passed no other place that showed such signs of thrift and
prosperity。
〃Oh； what a lovely place！〃 exclaimed Rena。 〃That is yours； isn't it？〃
〃No； we ain't got to my house yet；〃 he answered。 〃Dat house b'longs
ter de riches' people roun' here。 Dat house is over in de nex' county。
We're right close to de line now。〃
Shortly afterwards they turned off from the main highway they had
been pursuing； and struck into a narrower road to the left。
〃De main road；〃 explained Wain； 〃goes on to Clinton； 'bout five miles
er mo' away。 Dis one we're turnin' inter now will take us to my place；
which is 'bout three miles fu'ther on。 We'll git dere now in an hour er so。〃
Wain lived in an old plantation house； somewhat dilapidated； and
surrounded by an air of neglect and shiftlessness； but still preserving a
remnant of dignity in its outlines and comfort in its interior arrangements。
Rena was assigned a large room on the second floor。 She was somewhat
surprised at the make…up of the household。 Wain's mother an old
woman； much darker than her sonkept house for him。 A sister with two
children lived in the house。 The element of surprise lay in the presence
of two small children left by Wain's wife； of whom Rena now heard for the
first time。 He had lost his wife； he informed Rena sadly； a couple of
years before。
〃Yas； Miss Rena；〃 she sighed； 〃de Lawd give her； an' de Lawd tuck her
away。 Blessed be de name er de Lawd。〃 He accompanied this
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sententious quotation with a wicked look from under his half…closed
eyelids that Rena did not see。
The following morning Wain drove her in his buggy over to the county
town； where she took the teacher's examination。 She was given a seat in
a room with a number of other candidates for certificates； but the fact
leaking out from some remark of Wain's that she was a colored girl；
objection was quietly made by several of the would…be teachers to her
presence in the room； and she was requested to retire until the white
teachers should have been examined。 An hour or two later she was given
a separate examination； which she passed without difficulty。 The
examiner； a gentleman of local standing； was dimly conscious that she
might not have found her exclusion pleasant； and was especially polite。
It would have been strange； indeed； if he had not been impressed by her
sweet face and air of modest dignity； which were all the more striking
because of her social disability。 He fell into conversation with her；
became interested in her hopes and aims； and very cordially offered to be
of service； if at any time he might； in connection with her school。
〃You have the satisfaction；〃 he said； 〃of receiving the only first…grade
certificate issued to…day。 You might teach a higher grade of pupils than
you will find at Sandy Run； but let us hope that you may in time raise
them to your own level。〃
〃Which I doubt very much；〃 he muttered to himself； as she went away
with Wain。 〃What a pity that such a woman should be a nigger！ If she
were anything to me； though； I should hate to trust her anywhere near that
saddle…colored scoundrel。 He's a thoroughly bad lot； and will bear
watching。〃
Rena； however； was serenely ignorant of any danger from the
accommodating Wain。 Absorbed in her own thoughts and plans； she had
not sought to look beneath the surface of his somewhat overdone
politeness。 In a few days she began her work as teacher； and sought to
forget in the service of others the dull sorrow that still gnawed at her heart。
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XXVI
THE SCHOOLHOUSE IN THE WOODS
Blanche Leary； closely observant of Tryon's moods； marked a
decided change in his manner after his return from his trip to Patesville。
His former moroseness had given way to a certain defiant lightness；
broken now and then by an involuntary sigh； but maintained so well； on
the whole； that his mother detected no lapses whatever。 The change was
characterized by another feature agreeabl
