the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第3章
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slowly ahead until he turned to the right into Back Street； a few rods
farther on。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
II
AN EVENING VISIT
Toward evening of the same day； Warwick took his way down Front
Street in the gathering dusk。 By the time night had spread its mantle over
the earth； he had reached the gate by which he had seen the girl of his
morning walk enter the cedar… bordered garden。 He stopped at the gate
and glanced toward the house； which seemed dark and silent and deserted。
〃It's more than likely；〃 he thought； 〃that they are in the kitchen。 I
reckon I'd better try the back door。〃
But as he drew cautiously near the corner； he saw a man's figure
outlined in the yellow light streaming from the open door of a small house
between Front Street and the cooper shop。 Wishing； for reasons of his
own； to avoid observation； Warwick did not turn the corner； but walked on
down Front Street until he reached a point from which he could see； at a
long angle； a ray of light proceeding from the kitchen window of the house
behind the cedars。
〃They are there；〃 he muttered with a sigh of relief； for he had feared
they might be away。 〃I suspect I'll have to go to the front door； after all。
No one can see me through the trees。〃
He retraced his steps to the front gate； which he essayed to open。
There was apparently some defect in the latch； for it refused to work。
Warwick remembered the trick； and with a slight sense of amusement；
pushed his foot under the gate and gave it a hitch to the left； after which it
opened readily enough。 He walked softly up the sanded path； tiptoed up
the steps and across the piazza； and rapped at the front door； not too loudly；
lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street。 There
was no response to his rap。 He put his ear to the door and heard voices
within； and the muffled sound of footsteps。 After a moment he rapped
again； a little louder than before。
There was an instant cessation of the sounds within。 He rapped a
third time； to satisfy any lingering doubt in the minds of those who he felt
sure were listening in some trepidation。 A moment later a ray of light
streamed through the keyhole。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃Who's there？〃 a woman's voice inquired somewhat sharply。
〃A gentleman；〃 answered Warwick； not holding it yet time to reveal
himself。 〃Does Mis' Molly Walden live here？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the guarded answer。 〃I'm Mis' Walden。 What's yo'r
business？〃
〃I have a message to you from your son John。〃
A key clicked in the lock。 The door opened； and the elder of the
two women Warwick had seen upon the piazza stood in the doorway；
peering curiously and with signs of great excitement into the face of the
stranger。
〃You 've got a message from my son； you say？〃 she asked with
tremulous agitation。 〃Is he sick； or in trouble？〃
〃No。 He's well and doing well； and sends his love to you； and hopes
you've not forgotten him。〃
〃Fergot him？ No； God knows I ain't fergot him！ But come in； sir；
an' tell me somethin' mo' about him。〃
Warwick went in； and as the woman closed the door after him； he
threw a glance round the room。 On the wall； over the mantelpiece； hung
a steel engraving of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans； and； on
the opposite wall； a framed fashion…plate from 〃Godey's Lady's Book。〃
In the middle of the room an octagonal centre…table with a single leg；
terminating in three sprawling feet； held a collection of curiously shaped
sea…shells。 There was a great haircloth sofa； somewhat the worse for
wear； and a well…filled bookcase。 The screen standing before the
fireplace was covered with Confederate bank…notes of various
denominations and designs； in which the heads of Jefferson Davis and
other Confederate leaders were conspicuous。
〃Imperious Caesar； dead； and turned to clay； Might
stop a hole to keep the wind away；〃
murmured the young man； as his eye fell upon this specimen of
decorative art。
The woman showed her visitor to a seat。 She then sat down facing
him and looked at him closely。 〃When did you last see my son？〃 she
asked。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃I've never met your son；〃 he replied。
Her face fell。 〃Then the message comes through you from somebody
else？〃
〃No； directly from your son。〃
She scanned his face with a puzzled look。 This bearded young
gentleman； who spoke so politely and was dressed so well； surelyno； it
could not be！ and yet
Warwick was smiling at her through a mist of tears。 An electric spark
of sympathy flashed between them。 They rose as if moved by one
impulse； and were clasped in each other's arms。
〃John； my John！ It IS John！〃
〃Mothermy dear old mother！〃
〃I didn't think；〃 she sobbed； 〃that I'd ever see you again。〃
He smoothed her hair and kissed her。 〃And are you glad to see me；
mother？〃
〃Am I glad to see you？ It's like the dead comin' to life。 I thought I'd
lost you forever； John； my son； my darlin' boy！〃 she answered； hugging
him strenuously。
〃I couldn't live without seeing you； mother；〃 he said。 He meant it； too；
or thought he did； although he had not seen her for ten years。
〃You've grown so tall； John； and are such a fine gentleman！ And you
ARE a gentleman now； John； ain't yousure enough？ Nobody knows the
old story？〃
〃Well； mother； I've taken a man's chance in life； and have tried to make
the most of it； and I haven't felt under any obligation to spoil it by raking
up old stories that are best forgotten。 There are the dear old books： have
they been read since I went away？〃
〃No； honey； there's be'n nobody to read 'em； excep' Rena； an' she don't
take to books quite like you did。 But I've kep' 'em dusted clean； an' kep'
the moths an' the bugs out； for I hoped you'd come back some day； an'
knowed you'd like to find 'em all in their places； jus' like you left 'em。〃
〃That's mighty nice of you； mother。 You could have done no more if
you had loved them for themselves。 But where is Rena？ I saw her on
the street to…day； but she didn't know me from Adam； nor did I guess it
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
was she until she opened the gate and came into the yard。〃
〃I've be'n so glad to see you that I'd fergot about her；〃 answered the
mother。 〃Rena； oh； Rena！〃
The girl was not far away； she had been standing in the next room；
listening intently to every word of the conversation； and only kept from
coming in by a certain constraint that made a brother whom she had not
met for so many years seem almost as much a stranger as if he had not
been connected with her by any tie。
〃Yes； mamma；〃 she answered； coming forward。
〃Rena； child； here's yo'r brother John； who's come back to see us。
Tell 'im howdy。〃
As she came forward； Warwick rose； put his arm around her waist；
drew her toward him； and kissed her affectionately； to her evident
embarrassment。 She was a tall girl； but he towered above her in quite a
protecting fashion； and she thought with a thrill how fine it would be to
have such a brother as this in the town all the time。 How proud she
would be； if she could but walk up the street with such a brother by her
side！ She could then hold up her head before all the world； oblivious to
the glance of pity or contempt。 She felt a very pronounced respect for
this tall gentleman who held her blushing face between his hands and
looked steadily into her eyes。
〃You're the little sister I used to read stories to； and whom I promised
to come and see some day。 Do you remember how you cried when I
went away？〃
〃It seems but yesterday；〃 she answered。 〃I've still got the dime you
gave me。〃
He kissed her again； and then drew her down beside him on the sofa；
where he sat enthroned between the two loving and excited women。 No
king could have received more sincere or delighted homage。 He was a
man； come into a household of women；a man of whom they were proud；
and to whom they looked up with fond reverence。 For he was not only a
son；a brotherbut he represented to them the world from which circum
stances had shut them out； and to which distance lent even more than its
usual enchantment； and they felt nearer to this far…off world because of the
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glory which Warwick reflected from it。
〃You're a very pretty girl；〃 said Warwick； regarding his sister
thoughtfully。 〃I followed you down Front Street this morning； and
scarcely took my eyes off you all the way； and yet I didn't know you； and
scarcely saw your face。 You improve on acquaintance； to…night； I find
you handsomer still。〃
〃Now； John；〃 said his mother； expostulating mildly； 〃you'll spile her； if
you don't min'。〃
The girl was beaming with gratified vanity。 What woman would not
find
