by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第6章
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shoulders； he could read the words but not the notes； yet； having a quick
ear for rhythm； he presently joined in with a deep but uncultivated
baritone。 Together they forgot everything else； and at the end of an hour
were only recalled by the presence of a silently admiring concourse of
votive…offering friends who had gathered round them。
The funeral took place the next day at the grave dug in the public
cemeterya green area fenced in by the palisading tules。 The words of
Gideon were brief but humble； the strongest partisan of the dead man
could find no fault in a confession of human frailty in which the speaker
humbly confessed his share； and when the hymn was started by Hamlin
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and taken up by Gideon； the vast multitude； drawn by interest and
curiosity； joined as in a solemn Amen。
Later； when those two strangely…assorted friends had returned to Mr。
Hamlin's rooms previous to Gideon's departure； the former； in a manner
more serious than his habitual cynical good…humor； began： 〃I said I had to
talk business with you。 The boys about here want to build a church for you；
and are ready to plank the money down if you'll say it's a go。 You
understand they aren't asking you to run in opposition to that Gospel
sharpexcuse methat's here now； nor do they want you to run a side
show in connection with it。 They want you to be independent。 They don't
pin you down to any kind of religion； you know； whatever you care to
give themMethodist； Roman Catholic； Presbyterian…is mighty good
enough for them； if you'll expound it。 You might give a little of each； or
one on one day and one anotherthey'll never know the difference if you
only mix the drinks yourself。 They'll give you a house and guarantee you
fifteen hundred dollars the first year。〃
He stopped and walked towards the window。 The sunlight that fell
upon his handsome face seemed to call back the careless smile to his lips
and the reckless fire to his brown eyes。 〃I don't suppose there's a man
among them that wouldn't tell you all this in a great deal better way than I
do。 But the darned foolsexcuse mewould have ME break it to you。
Why； I don't know。 I needn't tell you I like younot only for what you did
for Georgebut I like you for your stylefor yourself。 And I want you to
accept。 You could keep these rooms till they got a house ready for you。
Together you and mewe'd make that organ howl。 But because I like it
because it's everything to usand nothing to you； it don't seem square for
me to ask it。 Does it？〃
Gideon replied by taking Hamlin's hand。 His face was perfectly pale；
but his look collected。 He had not expected this offer； and yet when it was
made he felt as if he had known it beforeas if he had been warned of it
as if it was the great temptation of his life。 Watching him with an
earnestness only slightly overlaid by his usual manner； Hamlin went on。
〃I know it would be lonely here； and a man like you ought to have a
wife for〃 he slightly lifted his eyebrows〃for example's sake。 I heard
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there was a young lady in the case over there in Tasajara but the old
people didn't see it on account of your position。 They'd jump at it now。 Eh？
No？ Well；〃 continued Jack； with a decent attempt to conceal his cynical
relief； 〃perhaps those boys have been so eager to find out all they could do
for you that they've been sold。 Perhaps we're making equal fools of
ourselves now in asking you to stay。 But don't say no just yettake a day
or a week to think of it。〃
Gideon still pale but calm； cast his eyes around the elegant room； at
the magic organ； then upon the slight handsome figure before him。 〃I
WILL think of it；〃 he said； in a low voice； as he pressed Jack's hand。 〃And
if I accept you will find me here to…morrow afternoon at this time； if I do
not you will know that I keep with me wherever I go the kindness； the
brotherly love； and the grace of God that prompts your offer； even though
He withholds from me His blessed light； which alone can make me know
His wish。〃 He stopped and hesitated。 〃If you love me； Jack； don't ask me
to stay； but pray for that light which alone can guide my feet back to you；
or take me hence for ever。〃
He once more tightly pressed the hand of the embarrassed man before
him and was gone。
Passers…by on the Martinez road that night remembered a mute and
ghostly rider who； heedless of hail or greeting； moved by them as in a
trance or vision。 But the Widow Hiler the next morning； coming from the
spring； found no abstraction or preoccupation in the soft eyes of Gideon
Deane as he suddenly appeared before her； and gently relieved her of the
bucket she was carrying。 A quick flash of color over her brow and cheek…
bone； as if a hot iron had passed there； and a certain astringent coyness；
would have embarrassed any other man than him。
〃Sho； it's YOU。 I reck'ned I'd seen the last of you。〃
〃You don't mean that； Sister Hiler？〃 said Gideon； with a gentle smile。
〃Well； what with the report of your goin's on at Martinez and
improvin' the occasion of that sinner's death； and leadin' a revival； I
reckoned you'ld hev forgotten low folks at Tasajara。 And if your goin' to
be settled there in a new church； with new hearers； I reckon you'll want
new surroundings too。 Things change and young folks change with 'em。〃
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They had reached the house。 Her breath was quick and short as if she
and not Gideon had borne the burden。 He placed the bucket in its
accustomed place； and then gently took her hand in his。 The act
precipitated the last drop of feeble coquetry she had retained； and the old
tears took its place。 Let us hope for the last time。 For as Gideon stooped
and lifted her ailing babe in his strong arms； he said softly； 〃Whatever God
has wrought for me since we parted； I know now He has called me to but
one work。〃
〃And that work？〃 she asked； tremulously。
〃To watch over the widow and fatherless。 And with God's blessing；
sister； and His holy ordinance； I am here to stay。〃
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SARAH WALKER
It was very hot。 Not a breath of air was stirring throughout the
western wing of the Greyport Hotel； and the usual feverish life of its four
hundred inmates had succumbed to the weather。 The great veranda was
deserted； the corridors were desolated； no footfall echoed in the passages；
the lazy rustle of a wandering skirt； or a passing sigh that was half a pant；
seemed to intensify the heated silence。 An intoxicated bee； disgracefully
unsteady in wing and leg； who had been holding an inebriated
conversation with himself in the corner of my window pane； had gone to
sleep at last and was snoring。 The errant prince might have entered the
slumberous halls unchallenged； and walked into any of the darkened
rooms whose open doors gaped for more air； without awakening the
veriest Greyport flirt with his salutation。 At times a drowsy voice； a lazily
interjected sentence； an incoherent protest； a long…drawn phrase of
saccharine tenuity suddenly broke off with a gasp； came vaguely to the ear；
as if indicating a half…suspended； half…articulated existence somewhere；
but not definite enough to indicate conversation。 In the midst of this； there
was the sudden crying of a child。
I looked up from my work。 Through the camera of my jealously
guarded window I could catch a glimpse of the vivid； quivering blue of the
sky； the glittering intensity of the ocean； the long motionless leaves of the
horse…chestnut in the road；all utterly inconsistent with anything as active
as this lamentation。 I stepped to the open door and into the silent hall。
Apparently the noise had attracted the equal attention of my neighbors。
A vague chorus of 〃Sarah Walker；〃 in querulous recognition； of 〃O Lord！
that child again！〃 in hopeless protest； rose faintly from the different rooms。
As the lamentations seemed to approach nearer； the visitors' doors were
successively shut； swift footsteps hurried along the hall； past my open
door came a momentary vision of a heated nursemaid carrying a
tumultuous chaos of frilled skirts； flying sash； rebellious slippers； and
tossing curls； there was a moment's rallying struggle before the room
nearly opposite mine； and then a door opened and shut upon the vision。 It
was Sarah Walker！
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Everybody knew her； few had ever seen more of her than this passing
vision。 In the great hall； in the dining…room； in the vast parlors； in the
garden； in the avenue； on the beach； a sound of lamentation had always
been followed by this same brief apparition。 Was there a sudden pause
among the dancers and a subjugation of the loudest bassoons in the early
evening 〃hop；〃 the explanation was given in the words 〃Sarah Walker。〃
Was there a wild confusion among the morning bathers on the sands；
people whispered 〃Sarah Walker。〃 A panic among the waiters at dinner； an
interruption in the Sunday sacred concert； a disorganization of the after…
dinner promenade on the veranda； was instantly referred to Sarah Walker。
Nor were her efforts confined entirely to
