the red acorn-第6章

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rivilege　to　indulge　in　at　her　own　sweet　will。

Harry　withdrew　from　the　mortifying　conference　under　the　plea　of　the　necessity　of　going　to　his　room　to　remove　the　grime　of　travel。

He　was　smarting　with　rage　and　humiliation。　　His　panoply　of　conceit　was　pierced　for　the　first　time　since　the　completion　of　his　collegiate　course　sent　him　forth　into　the　world　a　being　superior；　in　his　own　esteem；　to　the　accidents　and　conditions　that　the　mass　of　inferior　mortals　are　subject　to。　　Yet　he　found　reasons　to　account　for　his　parent's　defection　to　the　ranks　of　his　enemies。

〃It's　no　new　thing；〃　he　said；　while　carefully　dressing　for　a　call　upon　Rachel　in　the　evening；　〃for　father　to　be　harsh　and　unjust　to　me；　and　mother　has　one　of　her　nervous　spells；　when　everything　goes　wrong　with　her。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　he　continued；　〃there's　Ned　Burnleigh；　who　understands　me　and　will　do　me　justice；　and　he　amounts　to　more　than　all　of　Sardisexcept　Rachel；　who　loves　me　and　will　always　believe　that　what　I　do　is　right。〃

He　sat　down　at　his　desk　and　wrote　a　long　letter　to　Ned；　inveighing　bitterly　against　the　stupidity　and　malice　of　people　living　in　small　villages；　and　informing　him　of　his　intention　to　remove　to　Cincinnati　as　soon　as　an　opening　could　be　found　for　him　there；　which　he　begged　Ned　to　busy　himself　in　discovering。

Attired　in　his　most　becoming　garb；　and　neglecting　nothing　that　could　enhance　his　personal　appearance；　he　walked　slowly　up　the　hill　in　the　evening　to　Rachel　Bond's　house。　　The　shrinkage　which　his　self…sufficiency　had　suffered　had　left　room　for　a　wonderful　expansion　of　his　affection　for　Rachel；　whose　love　and　loyalty　were　now　essential　to　him；　to　compensate　for　the　falling　away　of　others。　The　question　of　whether　he　should　break　with　her　was　now　one　the　answering　of　which　could　be　postponed　indefinitely。　　There　was　no　reason　why　he　should　not　enjoy　the　sweet　privileges　of　an　affianced　lover　during　his　stay　in　Sardis。　　What　would　happen　afterward　would　depend　upon　the　shape　that　things　took　in　his　new　home。

He　found　Rachel　sitting　on　the　piazza。　　Though　dressed　in　the　deepest　and　plainest　black　she　had　never　looked　so　surpassingly　beautiful。　As　is　usually　the　case　with　young　women　of　her　type　of　beauty；　grief　had　toned　down　the　rich　coloring　that　had　at　times　seemed　almost　too　exuberant　into　that　delicate　shell…like　tint　which　is　the　perfection　of　nature's　painting。　　Her　round　white　arms　shone　like　Juno's；　as　the　outlines　were　revealed　by　the　graceful　motions　which　threw　back　the　wide　sleeves。　　Her　wealth　of　silken　black　hair　was　drawn　smoothly　back　from　her　white　forehead；　over　her　shapely　head；　and　gathered　into　a　simple　knot　behind。　　Save　a　black　brooch　at　her　throat；　she　wore　no　ornamentsnot　even　a　plain　ring。

She　rose　as　Harry　came　upon　the　piazza；　and　for　a　moment　her　face　was　rigid　with　intensity　of　feeling。　　This　evidence　of　emotion　went　as　quickly　as　it　came；　however；　and　she　extended　her　hand　with　calm　dignity；　saying　simply：

〃You　have　returned；　Mr。　Glen。〃

In　his　anxiety　to　so　play　the　impassioned　lover　as　to　conceal　the　recreancy　he　had　fostered　in　his　own　heart；　Harry　did　not　notice　the　coolness　of　this　greeting。　　Then；　too；　his　self…satisfaction　had　always　done　him　the　invaluable　service　of　preventing　a　ready　perception　of　the　repellant　attitudes　of　others。

He　came　forward　eagerly　to　press　a　kiss　upon　her　lips；　but　she　checked　him　with　uplifted　hand。

〃O；　the　family's　in　there；　are　they？〃　said　he；　looking　toward　the　open　windows　of　the　parlor。　　〃Well；　what　matter？　　Isn't　it　expected　that　a　fellow　will　kiss　his　affianced　wife　on　his　return；　and　not　care　who　knows　it？〃

He　pointed　to　the　old　apple…tree　where　they　had　plighted　their　troth　that　happy　night；　with　a　gesture　and　a　look　that　was　a　reminder　of　their　former　meeting　and　an　invitation　to　go　thither　again。　　She　comprehended；　but　refused　with　a　shudder；　and；　turning；　motioned　him　to　the　farther　end　of　the　piazza；　to　which　she　led　the　way；　moving　with　a　sweeping　gracefulness　of　carriage　that　Harry　thought　had　wonderfully　ripened　and　perfected　in　the　three　months　that　had　elapsed　since　their　parting。

〃'Fore　gad；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　（This　was　a　new　addition　to　his　expletory　vocabulary；　which　had　accrued　from　Ned　Burnleigh's　companionship。）　　〃I'd　like　to　put　her　alongside　of　one　of　the　girls　that　Ned's　always　talking　about。　　I　don't　believe　she's　got　her　equal　anywhere。〃

Arriving　at　the　end　of　the　piazza　he　impetuously　renewed　his　attempt　at　an　embrace；　but　her　repulse　was　now　unmistakable。

〃Sit　down；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　a　chair；　〃I　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃

Harry's　first　thought　was　a　rush　of　jealously。　　〃Some　rascal　has　supplanted　me；〃　he　said　bitterly；　but　under　his　breath。

She　took　a　chair　near　by；　put　away　the　arm　he　would　have　placed　about　her　waist；　drew　from　her　pocket　a　dainty　handkerchief　bordered　with　black；　and　opened　it　deliberately。　　It　shed　a　delicate　odor　of　violets。

Harry　waited　anxiously　for　her　to　speak。

〃This　mourning　which　I　wear；〃　she　began　gently；　〃I　put　on　when　I　received　the　news　of　your　downfall。〃

〃My　downfall？〃　broke　in　Harry　hotly。　　〃Great　heavens；　you　don't　say　that　you；　too；　have　been　carried　away　by　this　wretched　village　slander？〃

〃I　put　it　on；〃　she　continued；　unmindful　of　the　interruption；　〃because　I　suffered　a　loss　which　was　greater　than　any　merely　physical　death　could　have　occasioned。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you。〃

〃My　faith　in　you　as　a　man　superior　to　your　fellows　died　then。　　This　was　a　much　more　cruel　blow　than　your　bodily　death　would　have　been。〃

〃'Fore　gad；　you　take　a　pleasant　view　of　my　deceasea　much　cooler　one；　I　must　confess；　than　I　am　able　to　take　of　that　interesting　event　in　my　history。〃

Her　great　eyes　blazed；　and　she　seemed　about　to　reply　hotly；　but　she　restrained　herself　and　went　on　with　measured　calmness：

〃The　reason　I　selected　you　from　among　all　other　men；　and　loved　you；　and　joyfully　accepted　as　my　lot　in　life　to　be　your　devoted　wife　and　helpmate；　was　that　I　believed　you　superior　in　all　manly　things　to　other　men。　　Without　such　a　belief　I　could　love　no　man。〃

She　paused　for　an　instant；　and　Harry　managed　to　stammer：

〃But　what　have　I　done　to　deserve　being　thrown　over　in　this　unexpected　way？〃

〃You　have　not　done　anything。　　That　is　the　trouble。　　You　have　failed　to　do　that　which　was　rightfully　expected　of　you。　　You　have　allowed　others；　who　had　no　better　opportunities；　to　surpass　you　in　doing　your　manly　duty。　　Whatever　else　my　husband　may　not　be　he　must　not　fail　in　this。〃

〃Rachel；　you　are　hard　and　cruel。〃

〃No；　I　am　only　kind　to　you　and　to　myself。　　I　know　myself　too　well　to　make　a　mistake　in　this　respect。　　I　have　seen　too　many　women　who　have　been　compelled　to　defend；　apologize；　or　blush　for　their　husband's　acts；　and　have　felt　too　keenly　the　abject　misery　of　their　lives　to　take　the　least　chance　of　adding　myself　to　their　sorrowful　number。　　If　I　were　married　to　you　I　could　endure　to　be　beaten　by　you　and　perhaps　love　you　still；　but　the　moment　I　was　compelled　to　confess　your　inferiority　to　some　other　woman's　husband　I　should　hate　you；　and　in　the　end　drag　both　of　us　down　to　miserable　graves。〃

〃But　let　me　explain　this。〃

〃It　would　be　a　waste　of　time；〃　she　answered　coldly。　　〃It　is　sufficient　for　me　to　know　that　you　are　convicted　by　general　opinion　of　having　failed　where　a　number　of　commonplace　fellows　succeeded。　　You；　yourself；　admit　the　justice　of　this　verdict　by　tame　submission　to　it；　making　no　effort　to　retrieve　your　reputation。　　I　can　not　understand　how　this　could　be　so　if　you　had　any　of　the　qualities　that　I　fondly　imagined　you　possessed　in　a　high　degree。　　But　this　interview　is　being　protracted　to　a　painful　extent。　　Let　us　say　good　night　and　part。〃

〃Forever？〃　he　stammered。

〃Yes。〃

She　held　out　her　hand　for　farewell。　　Harry　caught　it　and　would　have　carried　it　to　his　lips；　but　she　drew　it　away。

〃No；　all　that　must　be　ended　now；〃　she　said；　with　the　first　touch　of　gentleness　that　had　shaded　her　sad；　serious　eyes。

〃Will　you　give　me　no　hope？〃　said　Harry；　pleadingly。

〃When　you　can　make　people　forget　the　pastif　ever〃　she　said；　〃then　I　will　change　this　dress　and　you　can　come　back　to　me。〃

She　bowed　and　entered　the　house。





Chapter　V。　　The　Lint…scraping　and　Bandage…making　Union。




At　length　I　have　acted　my　severest　part：　I　feel　the　woman　breaking　in　upon　me；　And　melt　about　my　heart：　　My　tears　will　flow。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Addison。


Rachel　Bond's　will　had　carried　her　triumphantly　through　a　terrible　ordealhow　terrible　no　one　could　guess；　unless　he　followed　her　to　her　room　after　the　interview　and　saw　her　alone　with　her　agony。　She　did　not　weep。　　Tears　did　not　lie　near　the　surface　with　her。　　The　lachrymal　glands　had　none　of　that　ready　sensitiveness　which　gives　many　superficial　women　the　credit　of　deep　feeling。　　But　when　she　did　weep　it　was　not　an　April　shower；　but　a　midsummer　tempest。

Now　it　was　as　if　her　intense　grief　were　a　powerful　cautery　which　seared　and　sealed　every　duct　of　the　fountain　of　tears　and　left　her　eyes　hot　and　dry　as　her　heart　was　ashes。

With　pallid　face　and　lips　set　until　the　blood　was　forced　from　them；　and　they　made　a　thin　purplish　line　in　the　pale　flesh；　she　walked　the　floor　back　and　forth；　ever　back　and　forth；　until　a　half…stumble；　as　she　was　turning　in　a　dreary　round；　revealed　to　her　that　she　was　almost　dropping　from　exhaustion。

She　had　thought　her　love　for　Harry　had　received　its　death…blow　when　her　pride　in　him　had　been　so　rudely　shattered。　　But　this　meeting；　in　which　she　played　the　part　set　for　herself　with　a　brave　perfection　that　she　had　hardly　deemed　possible；　had　resurrected　every　dear　memory；　and　her　passion　sprung　into　life　again　to　mock　and　jeer　at　her　efforts　to　throttle　it　out　of　existence。　　With　him　toppling　from　the　pedestal　on　which　her　husband　must　stand；　she　had　told　herself　that　there　was　naught　left　but　to　roll　a　great　stone　against　the　sepulcher　in　which　her　love　must　henceforth　lie　buried；　hopeless　of　the　coming　of　any　bright　angle　to　unseal　the　gloomy　vault。　　Yet；　despite　the　entire　approval　given　this　by　her　judgment；　her　woman's　heart　cried　bitterly　for　a　return　of　the　joys　out　of　which　the　beauty　had　fled　forever。

Hours　passed　in　this　wrestle　with　pain。　　How　many　she　did　not　know；　but　when　she　came　forth　it　was　with　the　composure　of　one　who　had　fought　the　fight　and　won　the　victory；　but　at　a　cost　that　forbade　exultation。

…

There　was　one　ordeal　that　thus　far　she　had　not　been　called　upon　to　endure。　　From　the　day　on　which　she　had　donned　her　sable　robes　to　that　of　Harry's　return　no　one　had　ventured　to　speak　his　name　in　her　presence。　　Even　her　father　and　mother；　after　the　first　burst　of　indignation；　had　kept　silence　in　pity　for　her　suffering；　and　there　was　that　in　her　bearing　that　forbade　others　touching　upon　a　subject　in　her　hearing　that　elsewhere　was　discussed　with　the　hungry　avidity　of　village　gossips　masticating　a　fresh　scandal。

But　she　could　not　be　always　spared　thus。　　She　had　not　been　so　careful　of　the　feelings　of　less　favored　women　and　girls；　inferior　to　her　in　brightness；　as　to　gain　any　claim　for　clement　treatment　now；　when　the　displacement　of　a　portion　of　her　armor　of　superiority　gave　those　who　envied　or　disliked　her　an　unprotected　spot　upon　which　to　launch　their　irritating　little　dart