the friendly road(友好的路)-第34章
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long draw at it； blew the smoke before him with an incredible air of
satisfaction。
〃Solid comfort this herehey！〃 he exclaimed。
We had some further talk； but for so jovial a specimen he was
surprisingly uncommunicative。 Indeed； I think he soon decided that I
somehow did not belong to the fraternity； that I was a 〃farmer〃in the
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most opprobrious senseand he soon began to drowse； rousing himself
once or twice to roll another cigarette； but finally dropping （apparently； at
least） fast asleep。
I was glad enough of the rest and quiet after the strenuous experience
of the last ； two daysand I； too； soon began to drowse。 It didn't seem to
me then that I lost consciousness at all； but I suppose I must have done so；
for when I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up my companion had
vanished。 How he succeeded in gathering up his pail and packages so
noiselessly and getting away so quickly is a mystery to me。
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃that's odd。〃
Rousing myself deliberately I put on my hat and was about to take up
my bag when I suddenly discovered that it was open。 My rain…cape was
missing！ It wasn't a very good rain…cape； but it was missing。
At first I was inclined to be angry； but when I thought of my jovial
companion and the cunning way in which he had tricked me； I couldn't
help laughing。 At the same time I jumped up quickly and ran down the
road。
〃I may get him yet；〃 I said。
Just as I stepped out of the woods I caught a glimpse of a man some
hundreds of yards away； turning quickly from the main road into a lane or
by…path。 I wasn't altogether sure that he was my man； but I ran across the
road and climbed the fence。 I had formed the plan instantly of cutting
across the field and so striking the by…road farther up the hill。 I had a
curious sense of amused exultation； the very spirit of the chase； and my
mind dwelt with the liveliest excitement on what I should say or do if I
really caught that jolly spark of impudence
So I came by way of a thicket along an old stone fence to the by…road；
and there； sure enough； only a little way ahead of me； was my man with
the shaggy little dog close at his heels。 He was making pretty good time；
but I skirted swiftly along the edge of the road until I had nearly overtaken
him。 Then I slowed down to a walk and stepped out into the middle of the
road。 I confess my heart was pounding at a lively rate。 The next time he
looked behind himguiltily enough； too！I said in the calmest voice I
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could command：
〃Well； brother； you almost left me behind。〃
He stopped and I stepped up to him。
I wish I could describe the look in his facemingled astonishment；
fear； and defiance。
〃My friend；〃 I said； 〃I'm disappointed in you。〃
He made no reply。
〃Yes； I'm disappointed。 You did such a very poor job。〃
〃Poor job！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Yes；〃 I said； and I slipped my bag off my shoulder and began to
rummage inside。 My companion watched me silently and suspiciously。
〃You should not have left the rubbers。〃
With that I handed him my old rubbers。 A peculiar expression came
into the man's face。
〃Say； pardner； what you drivin' at？〃
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃I don't like to see such evidences of haste and
inefficiency。〃
He stood staring at me helplessly； holding my old rubbers at arm's
length。
〃Come on now；〃 I said； 〃that's over。 We'll walk along together。〃
I was about to take his arm； but quick as a flash he dodged； cast both
rubbers and rain…cape away from him； and ran down the road for all he
was worth； the little dog； looking exactly like a rolling ball of fur； pelting
after him。 He never once glanced back； but ran for his life。 I stood there
and laughed until the tears came； and ever since then； at the thought of the
expression on the jolly rover's face when I gave him my rubbers； I've had
to smile。 I put the rain…cape and rubbers back into my bag and turned
again to the road。
Before the afternoon was nearly spent I found myself very tired； for
my two days' experience in the city had been more exhausting for me； I
think； than a whole month of hard labour on my farm。 I found haven with
a friendly farmer； whom I joined while he was driving his cows in from
the pasture。 I helped him with his milking both that night and the next
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morning； and found his situation and family most interestingbut I shall
not here enlarge upon that experience。
It was late afternoon when I finally surmounted the hill from which I
knew well enough I could catch the first glimpse of my farm。 For a
moment after I reached the top I could not raise my eyes； and when finally
I was able to raise them I could not see。
〃There is a spot in Arcadya spot in Arcadya spot in Arcady〃 So
runs the old song。
There IS a spot in Arcady； and at the centre of it there is a weather…
worn old house； and not far away a perfect oak tree； and green fields all
about； and a pleasant stream fringed with alders in the little valley。 And
out of the chimney into the sweet； still evening air rises the slow white
smoke of the supper…fire。
I turned from the main road； and climbed the fence and walked across
my upper field to the old wood lane。 The air was heavy and sweet with
clover blossoms； and along the fences I could see that the raspberry bushes
were ripening their fruit。
So I came down the lane and heard the comfortable grunting of pigs in
the pasture lot and saw the calves licking one another as they stood at the
gate。
〃How they've grown！〃 I said。
I stopped at the corner of the barn for a moment。 From within I heard
the rattling of milk in a pail （a fine sound）； and heard a man's voice
saying：
〃Whoa； there！ Stiddy now！〃
〃Dick's milking；〃 I said。
So I stepped in at the doorway。
〃Lord； Mr。 Grayson！〃 exclaimed Dick； rising instantly and clasping my
hand like a long…lost brother。
〃I'm glad to see you！〃
〃I'm glad to see YOU！〃
The warm smell of the new milk； the pleasant sound of animals
stepping about in the stable； the old mare reaching her long head over the
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stanchion to welcome me； and nipping at my fingers when I rubbed her
nose
And there was the old house with the late sun upon it； the vines
hanging green over the porch； Harriet's trim flower bedI crept along
quietly。 to the corner。 The kitchen door stood open。
〃Well； Harriet！〃 I said； stepping inside。
〃Mercy！ David！〃
I have rarely known Harriet to be in quite such a reckless mood。 She
kept thinking of a new kind of sauce or jam for supper （I think there were
seven； or were there twelve？ on the table before I got through）。 And there
was a new rhubarb pie such as only Harriet can make； just brown enough
on top； and not too brown； with just the right sort of hills and hummocks
in the crust； and here and there little sugary bubbles where a suggestion of
the goodness came throughsuch a pie！ and such an appetite to go with
it！
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃you're spoiling me。 Haven't you heard how
dangerous it is to set such a supper as this before a man who is perishing
with hunger？ Have you no mercy for me？〃
This remark produced the most extraordinary effect。 Harriet was at
that moment standing in the corner near the pump。 Her shoulders suddenly
began to shake convulsively。
〃She's so glad I'm home that she can't help laughing；〃 I thought； which
shows how penetrating I really am。
She was crying。
〃Why； Harriet！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Hungry！〃 she burst out； 〃and j…joking about it！〃
I couldn't say a single word； somethingit must have been a piece of
the rhubarb piestuck in my throat。 So I sat there and watched her moving
quietly about in that immaculate kitchen。 After a time I walked over to
where she stood by the table and put my arm around her quickly。 She half
turned her head； in her quick； businesslike way。 I noted how firm and
clean and sweet her face was。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃you grow younger every year。〃
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No response。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃I haven't seen a single person anywhere on my
journey that I like as much as I do you。〃
The quick blood came up。
〃TherethereDavid！〃 she said。
So I stepped away。
〃And as for rhubarb pie； Harriet〃
When I first came to my farm years ago there were mornings when I
woke up with the strong impression that I had just been hearing the most
exquisite sounds of music。 I don't know whether this is at all a common
experience； but in those days （and farther back in my early boyhood） I had
it frequently。 It did not seem exactly like music either； but was rather a
sense of harmony； so wonderful； so pervasive that it cannot be described。 I
have not had it so often in recent years； but on the morning after I reached
home it came to me as I awakened with a strange depth and sweetness。 I
lay for a moment there in my clean bed。 The morning sun was up and
coming in cheerfully through the vines at the window； a gentle breeze
stirred the clean white curtains； and I could smell even there the odours of
the garden。
I wish I had room to tell； but I cannot； of all the crowded experiences
of that day； the renewal of acquaintance with the fields； the cattle； the
