black rock-第21章

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work　in　Black　Rock　she　had　hitherto　never　imagined；　but　there　was
other　work；　and　he　was　fit　for　good　work　anywhere。　　Why　should　he
not　go？　　I　saw　the　fear　in　her　face；　but　I　saw　more　than　fear　in
her　eyes；　as　for　a　moment　or　two　she　let　them　rest　upon　Craig's
face。　　I　read　her　story；　and　I　was　not　sorry　for　either　of　them。
But　she　was　too　much　a　woman　to　show　her　heart　easily　to　the　man
she　loved；　and　her　voice　was　even　and　calm　as　she　answered　his
question。

'Is　this　a　very　large　congregation？'

'One　of　the　finest　in　all　the　East；'　I　put　in　for　him。　　'It　will　be
a　great　thing　for　Craig。'

Craig　was　studying　her　curiously。　　I　think　she　noticed　his　eyes
upon　her；　for　she　went　on　even　more　quietly

'It　will　be　a　great　chance　for　work；　and　you　are　able　for　a　larger
sphere；　you　know；　than　poor　Black　Rock　affords。'

'Who　will　take　Black　Rock？'　he　asked。

'Let　some　other　fellow　have　a　try　at　it；'　I　said。　　'Why　should　you
waste　your　talents　here？'

'Waste？'　cried　Mrs。　Mavor　indignantly。

'Well；　〃bury；〃　if　you　like　it　better；'　I　replied。

'It　would　not　take　much　of　a　grave　for　that　funeral；'　said　Craig；
smiling。

'Oh；'　said　Mrs。　Mavor；　'you　will　be　a　great　man　I　know；　and　perhaps
you　ought　to　go　now。'

But　he　answered　coolly：　'There　are　fifty　men　wanting　that　Eastern
charge；　and　there　is　only　one　wanting　Black　Rock；　and　I　don't　think
Black　Rock　is　anxious　for　a　change；　so　I　have　determined　to　stay
where　I　am　yet　a　while。'

Even　my　deep　disgust　and　disappointment　did　not　prevent　me　from
seeing　the　sudden　leap　of　joy　in　Mrs。　Mavor's　eyes；　but　she；　with　a
great　effort；　answered　quietly

'Black　Rock　will　be　very　glad；　and　some　of　us　very；　very　glad。'

Nothing　could　change　his　mind。　　There　was　no　one　he　knew　who　could
take　his　place　just　now；　and　why　should　he　quit　his　work？　　It
annoyed　me　considerably　to　feel　he　was　right。　　Why　is　it　that　the
right　things　are　so　frequently　unpleasant？

And　if　I　had　had　any　doubt　about　the　matter　next　Sabbath　evening
would　have　removed　it。　　For　the　men　came　about　him　after　the
service　and　let　him　feel　in　their　own　way　how　much　they　approved
his　decision；　though　the　self…sacrifice　involved　did　not　appeal　to
them。　　They　were　too　truly　Western　to　imagine　that　any　inducements
the　East　could　offer　could　compensate　for　his　loss　of　the　West。　　It
was　only　fitting　that　the　West　should　have　the　best；　and　so　the
miners　took　almost　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　certainly　as　their
right；　that　the　best　man　they　knew　should　stay　with　them。　　But
there　were　those　who　knew　how　much　of　what　most　men　consider　worth
while　he　had　given　up；　and　they　loved　him　no　less　for　it。

Mrs。　Mavor's　call　was　not　so　easily　disposed　of。　　It　came　close
upon　the　other；　and　stirred　Black　Rock　as　nothing　else　had　ever
stirred　it　before。

I　found　her　one　afternoon　gazing　vacantly　at　some　legal　documents
spread　out　before　her　on　the　table；　and　evidently　overcome　by　their
contents。　　There　was　first　a　lawyer's　letter　informing　her　that　by
the　death　of　her　husband's　father　she　had　come　into　the　whole　of
the　Mavor　estates；　and　all　the　wealth　pertaining　thereto。　　The
letter　asked　for　instructions；　and　urged　an　immediate　return　with　a
view　to　a　personal　superintendence　of　the　estates。　　A　letter；　too；
from　a　distant　cousin　of　her　husband　urged　her　immediate　return　for
many　reasons；　but　chiefly　on　account　of　the　old　mother　who　had　been
left　alone　with　none　nearer　of　kin　than　himself　to　care　for　her　and
cheer　her　old　age。

With　these　two　came　another　letter　from　her　mother…in…law　herself。
The　crabbed；　trembling　characters　were　even　more　eloquent　than　the
words　with　which　the　letter　closed。

'I　have　lost　my　boy；　and　now　my　husband　is　gone；　and　I　am　a　lonely
woman。　　I　have　many　servants；　and　some　friends；　but　none　near　to
me；　none　so　near　and　dear　as　my　dead　son's　wife。　　My　days　are　not
to　be　many。　　Come　to　me；　my　daughter；　I　want　you　and　Lewis's
child。'

'Must　I　go？'　she　asked　with　white　lips。

'Do　you　know　her　well？'　I　asked。

'I　only　saw　her　once　or　twice；'　she　answered；　'but　she　has　been
very　good　to　me。'

'She　can　hardly　need　you。　　She　has　friends。　　And　surely　you　are
needed　here。'

She　looked　at　me　eagerly。

'Do　you　think　so？'　she　said。

'Ask　any　man　in　the　campShaw；　Nixon；　young　Winton；　Geordie。　　Ask
Craig；'　I　replied。

'Yes；　he　will　tell　me；'　she　said。

Even　as　she　spoke　Craig　came　up　the　steps。　　I　passed　into　my　studio
and　went　on　with　my　work；　for　my　days　at　Black　Rock　were　getting
few；　and　many　sketches　remained　to　be　filled　in。

Through　my　open　door　I　saw　Mrs。　Mavor　lay　her　letters　before　Mr。
Craig；　saying；　'I　have　a　call　too。'　　They　thought　not　of　me。

He　went　through　the　papers；　carefully　laid　them　down　without　a　word
while　she　waited　anxiously；　almost　impatiently；　for　him　to　speak。

'Well？'　she　asked；　using　his　own　words　to　her；　'should　I　go？'

'I　do　not　know；'　he　replied；　'that　is　for　you　to　decideyou　know
all　the　circumstances。'

'The　letters　tell　all。'　　Her　tone　carried　a　feeling　of
disappointment。　　He　did　not　appear　to　care。

'The　estates　are　large？'　he　asked。

'Yes；　large　enoughtwelve　thousand　a　year。'

'And　has　your　mother…in…law　any　one　with　her？'

'She　has　friends；　but；　as　she　says；　none　near　of　kin。　　Her　nephew
looks　after　the　worksiron　works；　you　knowhe　has　shares　in
them。'

'She　is　evidently　very　lonely；'　he　answered　gravely。

'What　shall　I　do？'　she　asked；　and　I　knew　she　was　waiting　to　hear
him　urge　her　to　stay；　but　he　did　not　see；　or　at　least　gave　no　heed。

'I　cannot　say；'　he　repeated　quietly。　　'There　are　many　things　to
consider；　the　estates'

'The　estates　seem　to　trouble　you；'　she　replied；　almost　fretfully。
He　looked　up　in　surprise。　　I　wondered　at　his　slowness。

'Yes；　the　estates；'　he　went　on；　'and　tenants；　I　supposeyour
mother…in…law；　your　little　Marjorie's　future；　your　own　future。'

'The　estates　are　in　capable　hands；　I　should　suppose；'　she　urged；
'and　my　future　depends　upon　what　I　choose　my　work　to　be。'

'But　one　cannot　shift　one's　responsibilities；'　he　replied　gravely。
'These　estates；　these　tenants；　have　come　to　you；　and　with　them　come
duties。'

'I　do　not　want　them；'　she　cried。

'That　life　has　great　possibilities　of　good；'　he　said　kindly。

'I　had　thought　that　perhaps　there　was　work　for　me　here；'　she
suggested　timidly。

'Great　work；'　he　hastened　to　say。　　'You　have　done　great　work。　　But
you　will　do　that　wherever　you　go。　　The　only　question　is　where　your
work　lies。'

'You　think　I　should　go；'　she　said　suddenly　and　a　little　bitterly。

'I　cannot　bid　you　stay；'　he　answered　steadily。

'How　can　I　go？'　she　cried；　appealing　to　him。　　'Must　I　go？'

How　he　could　resist　that　appeal　I　could　not　understand。　　His　face
was　cold　and　hard；　and　his　voice　was　almost　harsh　as　he　replied

'If　it　is　right；　you　will　goyou　must　go。'

Then　she　burst　forth

'I　cannot　go。　　I　shall　stay　here。　　My　work　is　here；　my　heart　is
here。　　How　can　I　go？　　You　thought　it　worth　your　while　to　stay　here
and　work；　why　should　not　I？'

The　momentary　gleam　in　his　eyes　died　out；　and　again　he　said　coldly

'This　work　was　clearly　mine。　　I　am　needed　here。'

'Yes；　yes！'　she　cried；　her　voice　full　of　pain；　'you　are　needed；　but
there　is　no　need　of　me。'

'Stop；　stop！'　he　said　sharply；　'you　must　not　say　so。'

'I　will　say　it；　I　must　say　it；'　she　cried；　her　voice　vibrating　with
the　intensity　of　her　feeling。　　'I　know　you　do　not　need　me；　you　have
your　work；　your　miners；　your　plans；　you　need　no　one；　you　are
strong。　　But；'　and　her　voice　rose　to　a　cry；　'I　am　not　strong　by
myself；　you　have　made　me　strong。　　I　came　here　a　foolish　girl；
foolish　and　selfish　and　narrow。　　God　sent　me　grief。　　Three　years
ago　my　heart　died。　　Now　I　am　living　again。　　I　am　a　woman　now；　no
longer　a　girl。　　You　have　done　this　for　me。　　Your　life；　your　words；
yourselfyou　have　showed　me　a　better；　a　higher　life；　than　I　had
ever　known　before；　and　now　you　send　me　away。'

She　paused　abruptly。

'Blind；　stupid　fool！'　I　said　to　myself。

He　held　himself　resolutely　in　hand；　answering　carefully；　but　his
voice　had　lost　its　coldness　and　was　sweet　and　kind。

'Have　I　done　this　for　you？　　Then　surely　God　has　been　good　to　me。
And　you　have　helped　me　more　than　any　words　could　tell　you。'

'Helped！'　she　repeated　scornfully。

'Yes；　helped；'　he　answered；　wondering　at　her　scorn。

'You　can　do　without　my　help；'　she　went　on。　　'You　make　people　help
you。　　You　will　get　many　to　help　you；　but　I　need　help；　too。'　　She
was　standing　before　him　with　her　hands　tightly　clasped；　her　face
was　pale；　and　her　eyes　deeper　than　ever。　　He　sat　looking　up　at　her
in　a　kind　of　maze　as　she　poured　out　her　words　hot　and　fast。

'I　am　not　thinking　of　you。'　　His　coldness　had　hurt　her　deeply。　　'I
am　selfish；　I　am　thinking　of　myself。　　How　shall　I　do？　　I　have　grown
to　depend　on　you；　to　look　to　you。　　It　is　nothing　to　you　that　I　go；
but　to　me'　　She　did　not　dare　to　finish。

By　this　time　Craig　was　standing　before　her；　his　face　deadly　pale。
When　she　came　to　the　end　of　her　words；　he　said；　in　a　voice　low；
sweet；　and　thrilling　with　emotion

'Ah；　if　you　only　knew！　　Do　not　make　me　forget　myself。　　You　do　not
guess　what　you　are　doing。'

'What　am　I　doing？　　What　is　there　to　know；　but　that　you　tell　me
easily　to　go？　　She　was　struggling　with　the　tears　she　was　too　proud
to　let　him　see。

He　put　his　hands　resolutely　behind　him；　looking　at　her　as　if
studying　her　face　for　the　first　time。　　Under　his　searching　look　she
dropped　her　eyes；　and　the　warm　colour　came　slowly　up　into　her　neck
and　face；　then；　as　if　with　a　sudden　resolve；　she　lifted　her　eyes　to
his；　and　looked　back　at　him　unflinchingly。

He　started；　surprised；　drew　slowly　near；　put　his　hands　upon　her
shoulders；　surprise　giving　place　to　wild　joy。　　She　never　moved　her
eyes；　they　drew　him　towards　her。　　He　took　her　face　between　his
hands；　smiled　into　her　eyes；　kissed　her　lips。　　She　did　not　move；　he
stood　back　from　her；　threw　up　his　head；　and　laughed　aloud。　　She
came　to　him；　put　her　head　upon　his　breast；　and　lifting　up　her　face
said；　'Kiss　me。'　　He　put　his　arms　about　her；　bent　down　and　kissed
her　lips　again；　and　then　reverently　her　brow。　　Then　putting　her
back　from　him；　but　still　holding　both　her　hands；　he　cried

'Not　you　shall　not　go。　　I　shall　never　let　you　go。'

She　gave　a　little　sigh　of　content；　and；　smiling　up　at　him；　said

'I　can　go　now'；　but　even　as　she　spoke　the　flush　died　from　her　face；
and　she　shuddered。

'Never！'　he　almost　shouted；　'nothing　shall　take　you　away。　　We　shall
work　here　together。'

'Ah；　if　we　could；　if　we　only　could；'　she　said　piteously。

'Why　not？'　he　demanded　fiercely。

'You　will　send　me　away。　　You　will　say　it　is　right　for　me　to　go；'
she　replied　sadly。

'Do　we　not　love　each　other？'　was　his　impatient　answer。

'Ah！　yes；　love；'　she　said；　'but　love　is　not　all。'

'No！'　cried　Craig；　'but　love　is　the　best'

'Yes！'　she　said　sadly；　'love　is　the　best；　and　it　is　for　love's　sake
we　will　do　the　best。'

'There　is　no　better　work　than　here。　　Surely　this　is　best；'　and　he
pictured　his　plans　before　her。　　She　listened　eagerly。

'Oh！　if　it　should　be　right；'　she　cried；　'I　will　do　what　you　say。
You　are　good；　you　are　wise；　you　shall　tell　me。'

She　could　not　have　recalled　him　better。　　He　stood　silent　s