the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第41部分
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in the neighborhood and am interested in the colored peoplea good many
of them once belonged to me。 I heard something of your school； and
thought I should like to make your acquaintance。〃
〃It is very kind of you； indeed；〃 murmured Rena respectfully。
〃Yes；〃 continued the lady； 〃I am not one of those who sit back and
blame their former slaves because they were freed。 They are free now；
it is all decided and settled；and they ought to be taught enough to enable
them to make good use of their freedom。 But really； my dear；you
mustn't feel offended if I make a mistake；I am going to ask you
something very personal。〃 She looked suggestively at the gaping pupils。
〃The school may take the morning recess now；〃 announced the teacher。
The pupils filed out in an orderly manner； most of them stationing
themselves about the grounds in such places as would keep the teacher and
the white lady in view。 Very few white persons approved of the colored
schools； no other white person had ever visited this one。
〃Are you really colored？〃 asked the lady； when the children had
withdrawn。
A year and a half earlier； Rena would have met the question by some
display of self…consciousness。 Now； she replied simply and directly。
〃Yes； ma'am； I am colored。〃
The lady； who had been studying her as closely as good manners
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would permit； sighed regretfully。
〃Well； it's a shame。 No one would ever think it。 If you chose to
conceal it； no one would ever be the wiser。 What is your name； child；
and where were you brought up？ You must have a romantic history。〃
Rena gave her name and a few facts in regard to her past。 The lady
was so much interested； and put so many and such searching questions；
that Rena really found it more difficult to suppress the fact that she had
been white； than she had formerly had in hiding her African origin。
There was about the girl an air of real refinement that pleased the lady；
the refinement not merely of a fine nature； but of contact with cultured
people； a certain reserve of speech and manner quite inconsistent with Mrs。
Tryon's experience of colored women。 The lady was interested and
slightly mystified。 A generous； impulsive spirit；her son's own mother；
she made minute inquiries about the school and the pupils； several of
whom she knew by name。 Rena stated that the two months' term was
nearing its end； and that she was training the children in various
declamations and dialogues for the exhibition at the close。
〃I shall attend it；〃 declared the lady positively。 〃I'm sure you are
doing a good work； and it's very noble of you to undertake it when you
might have a very different future。 If I can serve you at any time； don't
hesitate to call upon me。 I live in the big white house just before you
turn out of the Clinton road to come this way。 I'm only a widow； but my
son George lives with me and has some influence in the neighborhood。
He drove by here yesterday with the lady he is going to marry。 It was she
who told me about you。〃
Was it the name； or some subtle resemblance in speech or feature； that
recalled Tryon's image to Rena's mind？ It was not so far awaythe
image of the loving Tryonthat any powerful witchcraft was required to
call it up。 His mother was a widow； Rena had thought； in happier days；
that she might be such a kind lady as this。 But the cruel Tryon who had
left herhis mother would be some hard； cold； proud woman； who would
regard a negro as but little better than a dog； and who would not soil her
lips by addressing a colored person upon any other terms than as a servant。
She knew； too； that Tryon did not live in Sampson County； though the
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exact location of his home was not clear to her。
〃And where are you staying； my dear？〃 asked the good lady。
〃I'm boarding at Mrs。 Wain's；〃 answered Rena。
〃Mrs。 Wain's？〃
〃Yes； they live in the old Campbell place。〃
〃Oh； yesAunt Nancy。 She's a good enough woman； but we don't
think much of her son Jeff。 He married my Amanda after the warshe
used to belong to me； and ought to have known better。 He abused her
most shamefully； and had to be threatened with the law。 She left him a
year or so ago and went away； I haven't seen her lately。 Well； good…by；
child； I'm coming to your exhibition。 If you ever pass my house； come in
and see me。〃
The good lady had talked for half an hour； and had brought a ray of
sunshine into the teacher's monotonous life； heretofore lighted only by the
uncertain lamp of high resolve。 She had satisfied a pardonable curiosity；
and had gone away without mentioning her name。
Rena saw Plato untying the pony as the lady climbed into the phaeton。
〃Who was the lady； Plato？〃 asked the teacher when the visitor had
driven away。
〃Dat 'uz my ole mist'iss； ma'm；〃 returned Plato proudly； 〃ole Mis'
'Liza。〃
〃Mis' 'Liza who？〃 asked Rena。
〃Mis' 'Liza Tryon。 I use' ter b'long ter her。 Dat 'uz her son； my
young Mars Geo'ge； w'at driv pas' hyuh yistiddy wid 'is sweetheart。〃
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XXVIII
THE LOST KNIFE
Rena had found her task not a difficult one so far as discipline was
concerned。 Her pupils were of a docile race； and school to them had all
the charm of novelty。 The teacher commanded some awe because she
was a stranger； and some； perhaps； because she was white； for the theory
of blackness as propounded by Plato could not quite counter… balance in
the young African mind the evidence of their own senses。 She combined
gentleness with firmness； and if these had not been sufficient； she had
reserves of character which would have given her the mastery over much
less plastic material than these ignorant but eager young people。 The
work of instruction was simple enough； for most of the pupils began with
the alphabet； which they acquired from Webster's blue…backed spelling…
book； the palladium of Southern education at that epoch。 The much
abused carpet…baggers had put the spelling…book within reach of every
child of school age in North Carolina；a fact which is often overlooked
when the carpet…baggers are held up to public odium。 Even the devil
should have his due； and is not so black as he is painted。
At the time when she learned that Tryon lived in the neighborhood；
Rena had already been subjected for several weeks to a trying ordeal。
Wain had begun to persecute her with marked attentions。 She had at first
gone to board at his house；or； by courtesy； with his mother。 For a week
or two she had considered his attentions in no other light than those of a
member of the school committee sharing her own zeal and interested in
seeing the school successfully carried on。 In this character Wain had
driven her to the town for her examination； he had busied himself about
putting the schoolhouse in order； and in various matters affecting the
conduct of the school。 He had jocularly offered to come and whip the
children for her； and had found it convenient to drop in occasionally；
ostensibly to see what progress the work was making。
〃Dese child'en；〃 he would observe sonorously； in the presence of the
school； 〃oughter be monst'ous glad ter have de chance er settin' under yo'
instruction； Miss Rena。 I'm sho' eve'body in dis neighbo'hood 'preciates
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de priv'lege er havin' you in ou' mids'。〃
Though slightly embarrassing to the teacher； these public
demonstrations were endurable so long as they could be regarded as mere
official appreciation of her work。 Sincerely in earnest about her
undertaking； she had plunged into it with all the intensity of a serious
nature which love had stirred to activity。 A pessimist might have sighed
sadly or smiled cynically at the notion that a poor； weak girl； with a
dangerous beauty and a sensitive soul； and troubles enough of her own；
should hope to accomplish anything appreciable toward lifting the black
mass still floundering in the mud where slavery had left it； and
