options-第10章

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One　afternoon　at　four　o'clock；　in　the　private　office　of　the　firm；　　Blandford　Carteret　opened　a　letter　that　a　clerk　had　just　brought　to　　his　desk。　　After　reading　it；　he　chuckled　audibly　for　nearly　a　minute。　　　John　looked　around　from　his　desk　inquiringly。

〃It's　from　mother；〃　said　Blandford。　　〃I'll　read　you　the　funny　part　of　　it。　　She　tells　me　all　the　neighborhood　news　first；　of　course；　and　then　　cautions　me　against　getting　my　feet　wet　and　musical　comedies。　　After　　that　come　some　vital　statistics　about　calves　and　pigs　and　an　estimate　　of　the　wheat　crop。　　And　now　I'll　quote　some：

〃'And　what　do　you　think！　Old　Uncle　Jake；　who　was　seventy…six　last　　Wednesday；　must　go　travelling。　　Nothing　would　do　but　he　must　go　to　New　　York　and　see　his　〃young　Marster　Blandford。〃　　Old　as　he　is；　he　has　a　　deal　of　common　sense；　so　I've　let　him　go。　　I　couldn't　refuse　himhe　　seemed　to　have　concentrated　all　his　hopes　and　desires　into　this　one　　adventure　into　the　wide　world。　　You　know　he　was　born　on　the　　plantation；　and　has　never　been　ten　miles　away　from　it　in　his　life。　　　And　he　was　your　father's　body　servant　during　the　war；　and　has　been　　always　a　faithful　vassal　and　servant　of　the　family。　　He　has　often　seen　　the　gold　watchthe　watch　that　was　your　father's　and　your　father's　　father's。　　I　told　him　it　was　to　be　yours；　And　he　begged　me　to　allow　　him　to　take　it　to　you　and　to　put　it　into　your　hands　himself。

〃'So　he　has　it；　carefully　inclosed　in　a　buck…skin　case；　and　is　　bringing　it　to　you　with　all　the　pride　and　importance　of　a　king's　　messenger。　　I　gave　him　money　for　the　round　trip　and　for　a　two　weeks'　　stay　in　the　city。　　I　wish　you　would　see　to　it　that　he　gets　comfortable　　quartersJake　won't　need　much　looking　afterhe's　able　to　take　care　　of　himself。　　But　I　have　read　in　the　papers　that　African　bishops　and　　colored　potentates　generally　have　much　trouble　in　obtaining　food　and　　lodging　in　the　Yankee　metropolis。　　That　may　be　all　right；　but　I　don't　　see　why　the　best　hotel　there　shouldn't　take　Jake　in。　　Still；　I　suppose　　it's　a　rule。

〃'I　gave　him　full　directions　about　finding　you；　and　packed　his　valise　　myself。　　You　won't　have　to　bother　with　him；　but　I　do　hope　you'll　see　　that　he　is　made　comfortable。　　Take　the　watch　that　he　brings　youit's　　almost　a　decoration。　　It　has　been　worn　by　true　Carterets；　and　there　　isn't　a　stain　upon　it　nor　a　false　movement　of　the　wheels。　　Bringing　it　　to　you　is　the　crowning　joy　of　old　Jake's　life。　　I　wanted　him　to　have　　that　little　outing　and　that　happiness　before　it　is　too　late。　　You　have　　often　heard　us　talk　about　how　Jake；　pretty　badly　wounded　himself；　　crawled　through　the　reddened　grass　at　Chancellorsville　to　where　your　　father　lay　with　the　bullet　in　his　dear　heart；　and　took　the　watch　from　　his　pocket　to　keep　it　from　the　〃Yanks。〃

〃'So；　my　son；　when　the　old　man　comes　consider　him　as　a　frail　but　　worthy　messenger　from　the　old…time　life　and　home。

〃'You　have　been　so　long　away　from　home　and　so　long　among　the　people　　that　we　have　always　regarded　as　aliens　that　I'm　not　sure　that　Jake　　will　know　you　when　he　sees　you。　　But　Jake　has　a　keen　perception；　and　I　　rather　believe　that　he　will　know　a　Virginia　Carteret　at　sight。　　I　　can't　conceive　that　even　ten　years　in　Yankee…land　could　change　a　boy　　of　mine。　　Anyhow；　I'm　sure　you　will　know　Jake。　　I　put　eighteen　collars　　in　his　valise。　　If　he　should　have　to　buy　others；　he　wears　a　number　15　　1/2。　　Please　see　that　he　gets　the　right　ones。　　He　will　be　no　trouble　　to　you　at　all。

〃'If　you　are　not　too　busy；　I'd　like　for　you　to　find　him　a　place　to　　board　where　they　have　white…meal　corn…bread；　and　try　to　keep　him　from　　taking　his　shoes　off　in　your　office　or　on　the　street。　　His　right　foot　　swells　a　little；　and　he　likes　to　be　comfortable。

〃'If　you　can　spare　the　time；　count　his　handkerchiefs　when　they　come　　back　from　the　wash。　　I　bought　him　a　dozen　new　ones　before　he　left。　　He　　should　be　there　about　the　time　this　letter　reaches　you。　　I　told　him　to　　go　straight　to　your　office　when　he　arrives。'〃

As　soon　as　Blandford　had　finished　the　reading　of　this；　something　　happened　（as　there　should　happen　in　stories　and　must　happen　on　the　　stage）。

Percival；　the　office　boy；　with　his　air　of　despising　the　world's　output　　of　mill　supplies　and　leather　belting；　came　in　to　announce　that　a　　colored　gentleman　was　outside　to　see　Mr。　　Blandford　Carteret。

〃Bring　him　in；〃　said　Blandford；　rising。

John　Carteret　swung　around　in　his　chair　and　said　to　Percival：　　〃Ask　　him　to　wait　a　few　minutes　outside。　　We'll　let　you　know　when　to　bring　　him　in。〃

Then　he　turned　to　his　cousin　with　one　of　those　broad；　slow　smiles　that　　was　an　inheritance　of　all　the　Carterets；　and　said：

〃Bland；　　I've　　always　had　a　consuming　curiosity　to　understand　the　　differences　that　you　haughty　Southerners　believe　to　exist　between　'you　　all　'　and　the　people　of　the　North。　　Of　course；　I　know　that　you　　consider　yourselves　made　out　of　finer　clay　and　look　upon　Adam　as　only　　a　collateral　branch　of　your　ancestry；　but　I　don't　know　why。　　I　never　　could　understand　the　differences　between　us。〃

〃Well；　John；〃　said　Blandford；　laughing；　〃what　you　don't　understand　　about　it　is　just　the　difference；　of　course。　　I　suppose　it　was　the　　feudal　way　in　which　we　lived　that　gave　us　our　lordly　baronial　airs　and　　feeling　of　superiority。〃

〃But　you　are　not　feudal；　now；〃　went　on　John。　　〃Since　we　licked　you　and　　stole　your　cotton　and　mules　you've　had　to　go　to　work　just　as　we　　'damyankees；'　as　you　call　us；　have　always　been　doing。　　And　you're　just　　as　proud　and　exclusive　and　upper…classy　as　you　were　before　the　war。　　　So　it　wasn't　your　money　that　caused　it。〃

〃Maybe　it　was　the　climate；〃　said　Blandford；　lightly；　〃or　maybe　our　　negroes　spoiled　us。　　I'll　call　old　Jake　in；　now。　　I'll　be　glad　to　see　　the　old　villain　again。〃

〃Wait　just　a　moment；〃　said　John。　　〃I've　got　a　little　theory　I　want　to　　test。　　You　and　I　are　pretty　much　alike　in　our　general　appearance。　　Old　　Jake　hasn't　seen　you　since　you　were　fifteen。　　Let's　have　him　in　and　　play　fair　and　see　which　of　us　gets　the　watch。　　The　old　darky　surrey　　ought　to　be　able　to　pick　out　his　'young　marster'　without　any　trouble。　　　The　alleged　aristocratic　superiority　of　a　'reb'　ought　to　be　visible　to　　him　at　once。　　He　couldn't　make　the　mistake　of　handing　over　the　　timepiece　to　a　Yankee；　of　course。　　The　loser　buys　the　dinner　this　　evening　and　two　dozen　15　1/2　collars　for　Jake。　　Is　it　a　go？〃

Blandford　agreed　heartily。　　Percival　was　summoned；　and　told　to　usher　　the　〃colored　gentleman〃　in。

Uncle　Jake　stepped　inside　the　private　office　cautiously。　　He　was　a　　little　old　man；　as　black　as　soot；　wrinkled　and　bald　except　for　a　　fringe　of　white　wool；　cut　decorously　short；　that　ran　over　his　ears　and　　around　his　head。　　There　was　nothing　of　the　stage　〃uncle〃　about　him：　　his　black　suit　nearly　fitted　him；　his　shoes　shone；　and　his　straw　hat　　was　banded　with　a　gaudy　ribbon。　　In　his　right　hand　he　carried　　something　carefully　concealed　by　his　closed　fingers。

Uncle　Jake　stopped　a　few　steps　from　the　door。　　Two　young　men　sat　in　　their　revolving　desk…chairs　ten　feet　apart　and　looked　at　him　in　　friendly　silence。　　His　gaze　slowly　shifted　many　times　from　one　to　the　　other。　　He　felt　sure　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　one；　at　least；　of　　the　revered　family　among　whose　fortunes　his　life　had　begun　and　was　to　　end。

One　had　the　pleasing　but　haughty　Carteret　air；　the　other　had　the　　unmistakable　straight；　long　family　nose。　　Both　had　the　keen　black　　eyes；　horizontal　brows；　and　thin；　smiling　lips　that　had　distinguished　　both　the　Carteret　of　the　Mayflower　and　him　of　the　brigantine。　　Old　　Jake　had　thought　that　he　could　have　picked　out　his　young　master　　instantly　from　a　thousand　Northerners；　but　he　found　himself　in　　difficulties。　　The　best　he　could　do　was　to　use　strategy。

〃Howdy；　Marse　Blandfordhowdy；　suh　？〃　he　said；　looking　midway　between　　the　two　young　men。

〃Howdy；　Uncle　Jake？〃　they　both　answered　pleasantly　and　in　unison。　　　〃Sit　down。　　Have　you　brought　the　watch　？〃

Uncle　Jake　chose　a　hard…bottom　chair　at　a　respectful　distance；　sat　on　　the　edge　of　it；　and　laid　his　hat　carefully　on　the　floor。　　The　watch　in　　its　buckskin　case　he　gripped　tightly。　　He　had　not　risked　his　life　on　　the　battle…field　to　rescue　that　watch　from　his　〃old　marster's〃　foes　to　　hand　it　over　again　to　the　enemy　without　a　struggle。

〃Yes；　suh；　I　got　it　in　my　hand；　suh。　　I'm　gwine　give　it　to　you　right　　away　in　jus'　a　minute。　　Old　Missus　told　me　to　put　it　in　young　Marse　　Blandford's　hand　and　tell　him　to　wear　it　for　the　family　pride　and　　honor。　　It　was　a　mighty　longsome　trip　for　an　old　nigger　man　to　make　ten　thousand　miles；　it　must　be；　back　to　old　Vi'ginia；　suh。　　You've　　growed　mightily；　young　marster。　　I　wouldn't　have　reconnized　you　but　　for　yo'　powerful　resemblance　to　old　marster。〃

With　admirable　diplomacy　the　old　man　kept　his　eyes　roaming　in　the　　space　between　the　two　men。　　His　words　might　have　been　addressed　to　　either。　　Though　neither　wicked　nor　perverse；　he　was　seeking　for　a　　sign。

Blandford　and　John　exchanged　winks。

〃I　reckon　you　done　got　you　ma's　letter；〃　went　on　Uncle　Jake。　　〃She　　said　she　was　gwine　to　write　to　you　'bout　my　comin'　along　up　this　er…　way。

〃Yes；　yes；　Uncle　Jake；〃　said　John　briskly。　　〃My　cousin　and　I　have　just　　been　notified　to　expect　you。　　We　are　both　Carterets；　you　know。〃

〃Although　one　of　us；〃　said　Blandford；　〃was　born　and　raised　in　the　　North。〃

〃So　if　you　will　hand　over　the　watch〃　said　John。

〃My　cousin　and　I…〃　said　Blandford。

'Will　then　see　to　it〃　said　John。

〃That　comfortable　quarters　are　found　for　you；〃　said　Blandford。

With　creditable　ingenuity；　old　Jake　set　up　a　cackling；　high…pitched；　　protracted　laugh。　　He　beat　his　knee；　picked　up　his　hat　and　bent　the　　brim　in　an　apparent　paroxysm　of　humorous　appreciation。　　The　seizure　　afforded　him　a　mask　behind　which　he　could　roll　his　eyes　impartially　　between；　above；　and　beyond　his　two　tormentors。

〃I　sees　what！〃　he　chuckled；　after　a　while。　　〃You　gen'lemen　is　tryin'　　to　have　fun　with　the　po'　old　nigger。　　But　you　can't　fool　old　Jake。　　I　　knowed　you；　Marse　Blandford；　the　minute　I　sot　eyes　on　you。　　You　was　a　　po'　skimpy　little　boy　no　mo'　than　about　fo'teen　when　you　lef'　home　to　　come　No'th；　but　I　knowed　you　the　minute　I　sot　eyes　on　you。　　You　is　the　　mawtal　image　of　old　marster。　　The　other　gen'leman　resembles　you　　mightily；　suh；　but　you　can't　fool　old　Jake　on　a　member　of　the　old　　Vi'ginia　family。　　No　suh。〃

At　exactly　the　same　time　both　Carterets　smiled　and　extended　a　hand　for　　the　watch。

Uncle　Jake's　wrinkled；　black　face　lost　the　expression　of　amusement　to　　which　he　had　vainly　twisted　it。　　He　knew　that　he　was　being　teased；　and　　that　it　made　little　real　difference；　as　far　as　its　safety　went；　into　　which　of　those　outstretched　hands　he　placed　the　family　treasure。　　But　　it　seemed　to　him　that　not　only　his　own　pride　and　loyalty　but　much　of　　the　Virginia　Carterets'　was　at　stake。　　He　had　heard　down　South　during　　the　war　about　that　other　branch　of　the　family　that　lived　in　the　North　　and　fought　on　〃the　yuther　side；〃　and　it　had　always　grieved　him。　　He　　had　followed　his　〃old　marster's〃　fortunes　from　stately　luxury　through　　war　to　almost　poverty。　　And　now；　with　the　last　relic　and　reminder　of　　him；　blessed　by　〃old　missus；〃　and　intrusted　implicitly　to　his　care；　he　　had　come　ten　thousand　miles　（as　it　seemed）　to　deliver　it