the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第4部分
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〃I've be'n so glad to see you that I'd fergot about her；〃 answered the
mother。 〃Rena； oh； Rena！〃
The girl was not far away； she had been standing in the next room；
listening intently to every word of the conversation； and only kept from
coming in by a certain constraint that made a brother whom she had not
met for so many years seem almost as much a stranger as if he had not
been connected with her by any tie。
〃Yes； mamma；〃 she answered； coming forward。
〃Rena； child； here's yo'r brother John； who's come back to see us。
Tell 'im howdy。〃
As she came forward； Warwick rose； put his arm around her waist；
drew her toward him； and kissed her affectionately； to her evident
embarrassment。 She was a tall girl； but he towered above her in quite a
protecting fashion； and she thought with a thrill how fine it would be to
have such a brother as this in the town all the time。 How proud she
would be； if she could but walk up the street with such a brother by her
side！ She could then hold up her head before all the world； oblivious to
the glance of pity or contempt。 She felt a very pronounced respect for
this tall gentleman who held her blushing face between his hands and
looked steadily into her eyes。
〃You're the little sister I used to read stories to； and whom I promised
to come and see some day。 Do you remember how you cried when I
went away？〃
〃It seems but yesterday；〃 she answered。 〃I've still got the dime you
gave me。〃
He kissed her again； and then drew her down beside him on the sofa；
where he sat enthroned between the two loving and excited women。 No
king could have received more sincere or delighted homage。 He was a
man； come into a household of women；a man of whom they were proud；
and to whom they looked up with fond reverence。 For he was not only a
son；a brotherbut he represented to them the world from which circum
stances had shut them out； and to which distance lent even more than its
usual enchantment； and they felt nearer to this far…off world because of the
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glory which Warwick reflected from it。
〃You're a very pretty girl；〃 said Warwick； regarding his sister
thoughtfully。 〃I followed you down Front Street this morning； and
scarcely took my eyes off you all the way； and yet I didn't know you； and
scarcely saw your face。 You improve on acquaintance； to…night； I find
you handsomer still。〃
〃Now； John；〃 said his mother； expostulating mildly； 〃you'll spile her； if
you don't min'。〃
The girl was beaming with gratified vanity。 What woman would not
find such praise sweet from almost any source； and how much more so
from this great man； who； from his exalted station in the world； must
surely know the things whereof he spoke！ She believed every word of it；
she knew it very well indeed； but wished to hear it repeated and itemized
and emphasized。
〃No； he won't； mamma；〃 she asserted； 〃for he's flattering me。 He
talks as if I was some rich young lady； who lives on the Hill；〃the Hill
was the aristocratic portion of the town； 〃instead of a poor〃
〃Instead of a poor young girl； who has the hill to climb；〃 replied her
brother； smoothing her hair with his hand。 Her hair was long and smooth
and glossy； with a wave like the ripple of a summer breeze upon the
surface of still water。 It was the girl's great pride； and had been
sedulously cared for。 〃What lovely hair！ It has just the wave that yours
lacks； mother。〃
〃Yes；〃 was the regretful reply； 〃I've never be'n able to git that wave out。
But her hair's be'n took good care of； an' there ain't nary gal in town that's
got any finer。〃
〃Don't worry about the wave； mother。 It's just the fashionable ripple；
and becomes her immensely。 I think my little Albert favors his Aunt
Rena somewhat。〃
〃Your little Albert！〃 they cried。 〃You've got a child？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 he replied calmly； 〃a very fine baby boy。〃
They began to purr in proud contentment at this information； and made
minute inquiries about the age and weight and eyes and nose and other
important details of this precious infant。 They inquired more coldly
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about the child's mother； of whom they spoke with greater warmth when
they learned that she was dead。 They hung breathless on Warwick's
words as he related briefly the story of his life since he had left； years
before； the house behind the cedarshow with a stout heart and an
abounding hope he had gone out into a seemingly hostile world； and made
fortune stand and deliver。 His story had for the women the charm of an
escape from captivity； with all the thrill of a pirate's tale。 With the whole
world before him； he had remained in the South； the land of his fathers；
where； he conceived； he had an inalienable birthright。 By some good
chance he had escaped military service in the Confederate army； and； in
default of older and more experienced men； had undertaken； during the
rebellion； the management of a large estate； which had been left in the
hands of women and slaves。 He had filled the place so acceptably； and
employed his leisure to such advantage； that at the close of the war he
found himselfhe was modest enough to think； too； in default of a better
manthe husband of the orphan daughter of the gentleman who had
owned the plantation； and who had lost his life upon the battlefield。
Warwick's wife was of good family； and in a more settled condition of
society it would not have been easy for a young man of no visible
antecedents to win her hand。 A year or two later； he had taken the oath of
allegiance； and had been admitted to the South Carolina bar。 Rich in his
wife's right； he had been able to practice his profession upon a high plane；
without the worry of sordid cares； and with marked success for one of his
age。
〃I suppose；〃 he concluded； 〃that I have got along at the bar； as
elsewhere； owing to the lack of better men。 Many of the good lawyers
were killed in the war； and most of the remainder were disqualified； while
I had the advantage of being alive； and of never having been in arms
against the government。 People had to have lawyers； and they gave me
their business in preference to the carpet… baggers。 Fortune； you know；
favors the available man。〃
His mother drank in with parted lips and glistening eyes the story of
his adventures and the record of his successes。 As Rena listened； the
narrow walls that hemmed her in seemed to draw closer and closer； as
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though they must crush her。 Her brother watched her keenly。 He had
been talking not only to inform the women； but with a deeper purpose；
conceived since his morning walk； and deepened as he had followed；
during his narrative； the changing expression of Rena's face and noted her
intense interest in his story； her pride in his successes； and the occasional
wistful look that indexed her self…pity so completely。
〃An' I s'pose you're happy； John？〃 asked his mother。
〃Well； mother； happiness is a relative term； and depends； I imagine；
upon how nearly we think we get what we think we want。 I have had my
chance and haven't thrown it away； and I suppose I ought to be happy。
But then； I have lost my wife； whom I loved very dearly； and who loved
me just as much； and I'm troubled about my child。〃
〃Why？〃 they demanded。 〃Is there anything the matter with him？〃
〃No； not exactly。 He's well enough； as babies go； and has a good
enough nurse； as nurses go。 But the nurse is ignorant； and not always
careful。 A child needs some woman of its own blood to love it and look
after it intelligently。〃
Mis' Molly's eyes were filled with tearful yearning。 She would have
given all the world to warm her son's child upon her bosom； but she knew
this could not be。
〃Did your wife leave any kin？〃 she asked with an effort。
〃No near kin； she was an only child。〃
〃You'll be gettin' married again；〃 suggested his mother。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I think not。〃
Warwick was still reading his sister's face； and saw the spark of hope
that gleamed in her expressive eye。
〃If I had some relation of my own that I could take into
