the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第21章
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dere now。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XV
MINE OWN PEOPLE
The drive by which Dr。 Green took Tryon to his own house led up
Front Street about a mile； to the most aristocratic portion of the town；
situated on the hill known as Haymount； or； more briefly； 〃The Hill。〃
The Hill had lost some of its former glory； however； for the blight of a four
years' war was everywhere。 After reaching the top of this wooded
eminence； the road skirted for some little distance the brow of the hill。
Below them lay the picturesque old town； a mass of vivid green； dotted
here and there with gray roofs that rose above the tree…tops。 Two long
ribbons of streets stretched away from the Hill to the faint red line that
marked the high bluff beyond the river at the farther side of the town。
The market…house tower and the slender spires of half a dozen churches
were sharply outlined against the green background。 The face of the
clock was visible； but the hours could have been read only by eyes of
phenomenal sharpness。 Around them stretched ruined walls； dismantled
towers； and crumbling earthworksfootprints of the god of war； one of
whose temples had crowned this height。 For many years before the
rebellion a Federal arsenal had been located at Patesville。 Seized by the
state troops upon the secession of North Carolina； it had been held by the
Confederates until the approach of Sherman's victorious army； whereupon
it was evacuated and partially destroyed。 The work of destruction begun
by the retreating garrison was completed by the conquerors； and now only
ruined walls and broken cannon remained of what had once been the chief
ornament and pride of Patesville。
The front of Dr。 Green's spacious brick house； which occupied an
ideally picturesque site； was overgrown by a network of clinging vines；
contrasting most agreeably with the mellow red background。 A low brick
wall； also overrun with creepers； separated the premises from the street
and shut in a well…kept flower garden； in which Tryon； who knew
something of plants； noticed many rare and beautiful specimens。
Mrs。 Green greeted Tryon cordially。 He did not have the doctor's
memory with which to fill out the lady's cheeks or restore the lustre of her
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hair or the sparkle of her eyes； and thereby justify her husband's claim to
be a judge of beauty； but her kind…hearted hospitality was obvious； and
might have made even a plain woman seem handsome。 She and her two
fair daughters； to whom Tryon was duly presented； looked with much
favor upon their handsome young kinsman； for among the people of
Patesville； perhaps by virtue of the prevalence of Scottish blood； the ties of
blood were cherished as things of value； and never forgotten except in
case of the unworthyan exception； by the way； which one need hardly go
so far to seek。
The Patesville people were not exceptional in the weaknesses and
meannesses which are common to all mankind； but for some of the finer
social qualities they were conspicuously above the average。 Kindness；
hospitality； loyalty； a chivalrous deference to women；all these things
might be found in large measure by those who saw Patesville with the
eyes of its best citizens； and accepted their standards of politics； religion；
manners； and morals。
The doctor； after the introductions； excused himself for a moment。
Mrs。 Green soon left Tryon with the young ladies and went to look after
luncheon。 Her first errand； however； was to find the doctor。
〃Is he well off； Ed？〃 she asked her husband。
〃Lots of land； and plenty of money； if he is ever able to collect it。 He
has inherited two estates。〃
〃He's a good…looking fellow；〃 she mused。 〃Is he married？〃
〃There you go again；〃 replied her husband； shaking his forefinger at
her in mock reproach。 〃To a woman with marriageable daughters all
roads lead to matrimony； the centre of a woman's universe。 All men must
be sized up by their matrimonial availability。 No； he isn't married。〃
〃That's nice；〃 she rejoined reflectively。 〃I think we ought to ask him
to stay with us while he is in town； don't you？〃
〃He's not married；〃 rejoined the doctor slyly； 〃but the next best thing
he's engaged。〃
〃Come to think of it；〃 said the lady； 〃I'm afraid we wouldn't have the
room to spare； and the girls would hardly have time to entertain him。 But
we'll have him up several times。 I like his looks。 I wish you had sent
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me word he was coming； I'd have had a better luncheon。〃
〃Make him a salad；〃 rejoined the doctor； 〃and get out a bottle of the
best claret。 Thank God； the Yankees didn't get into my wine cellar！ The
young man must be treated with genuine Southern hospitality；even if he
were a Mormon and married ten times over。〃
〃Indeed； he would not； Ed；the idea！ I'm ashamed of you。 Hurry
back to the parlor and talk to him。 The girls may want to primp a little
before luncheon； we don't have a young man every day。〃
〃Beauty unadorned；〃 replied the doctor； 〃is adorned the most。 My
profession qualifies me to speak upon the subject。 They are the two
handsomest young women in Patesville； and the daughters of the most
beautiful〃
〃Don't you dare to say the word；〃 interrupted Mrs。 Green； with placid
good nature。 〃I shall never grow old while I am living with a big boy
like you。 But I must go and make the salad。〃
At dinner the conversation ran on the family connections and their
varying fortunes in the late war。 Some had died upon the battlefield； and
slept in unknown graves； some had been financially ruined by their faith in
the 〃lost cause；〃 having invested their all in the securities of the
Confederate Government。 Few had anything left but land； and land
without slaves to work it was a drug in the market。
〃I was offered a thousand acres； the other day； at twenty…five cents an
acre；〃 remarked the doctor。 〃The owner is so land…poor that he can't pay
the taxes。 They have taken our negroes and our liberties。 It may be
better for our grandchildren that the negroes are free； but it's confoundedly
hard on us to take them without paying for them。 They may exalt our
slaves over us temporarily； but they have not broken our spirit； and cannot
take away our superiority of blood and breeding。 In time we shall regain
control。 The negro is an inferior creature； God has marked him with the
badge of servitude； and has adjusted his intellect to a servile condition。
We will not long submit to his domination。 I give you a toast； sir： The
Anglo…Saxon race： may it remain forever； as now； the head and front of
creation； never yielding its rights； and ready always to die； if need be； in
defense of its liberties！〃
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〃With all my heart； sir；〃 replied Tryon； who felt in this company a
thrill of that pleasure which accompanies conscious superiority；〃with all
my heart； sir； if the ladies will permit me。〃
〃We will join you；〃 they replied。 The toast was drunk with great
enthusiasm。
〃And now； my dear George；〃 exclaimed the doctor； 〃to change one
good subject for another； tell us who is the favored lady？〃
〃A Miss Rowena Warwick； sir；〃 replied Tryon； vividly conscious of
four pairs of eyes fixed upon him； but； apart from the momentary
embarrassment； welcoming the subject as the one he would most like to
speak upon。
〃A good； strong old English name；〃 observed the doctor。
〃The heroine of ‘Ivanhoe'！〃 exclaimed Miss Harriet。
〃Warwick the Kingmaker！〃 said Miss Mary。 〃Is she tall and fair； and
dignified and stately？〃
〃She is tall； dark rather than fair； and full of tender grace and sweet
humility。〃
〃She should have been named Rebecca instead of Rowena；〃 rejoined
Miss Mary； who was well up in her Scott。
〃Tell us something about her people；〃 asked Mrs。 Green；to which
inquiry the young ladies looked assent。
In this meeting of the elect of his own class and kin Warwick felt a
certain strong illumination upon the value of birth and blood。 Finding
Rena among people of the best social standing； the subsequent intimation
that she was a girl of no family had seemed a small matter to one so much
in love。 Nevertheless； in his present company he felt a decided
satisfaction in being able to present for his future wife a clean bill of social
health。
〃Her brother is the most prominent lawyer of Clarence。 They live in
a fine old family mansion； and are among the best people of the town。〃
〃Quite right； my boy；〃 assented the doctor。 〃None but the best are
good enough for the best。 You must bring her to Patesville some day。
But bless my life！〃 he exclaimed； looking at his watch； 〃I must be going。
Will you stay with the ladies awhile； or go back down town with me？〃
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