the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第35章
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purpose。 Who but a negro could have recovered so soon from what had
seemed a terrible bereavement？she herself must have felt it at the time；
for otherwise she would not have swooned。 A woman of sensibility； as
this one had seemed to be； should naturally feel more keenly； and for a
longer time than a man； an injury to the affections； but he； a son of the
ruling race； had been miserable for six weeks about a girl who had so far
forgotten him as already to plunge headlong into the childish amusements
of her own ignorant and degraded people。 What more； indeed； he asked
himself savagely；what more could be expected of the base…born child of
the plaything of a gentleman's idle hour； who to this ignoble origin added
the blood of a servile race？ And he； George Tryon； had honored her with
his love； he had very nearly linked his fate and joined his blood to hers by
the solemn sanctions of church and state。 Tryon was not a devout man；
but he thanked God with religious fervor that he had been saved a second
time from a mistake which would have wrecked his whole future。 If he
had yielded to the momentary weakness of the past night；the outcome of
a sickly sentimentality to which he recognized now； in the light of
reflection； that he was entirely too prone；he would have regretted it soon
enough。 The black streak would have been sure to come out in some
form； sooner or later； if not in the wife； then in her children。 He saw
clearly enough； in this hour of revulsion； that with his temperament and
training such a union could never have been happy。 If all the world had
been ignorant of the dark secret； it would always have been in his own
thoughts； or at least never far away。 Each fault of hers that the close
daily association of husband and wife might reveal；the most flawless of
sweethearts do not pass scathless through the long test of matrimony；
every wayward impulse of his children； every defect of mind； morals；
temper； or health； would have been ascribed to the dark ancestral strain。
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Happiness under such conditions would have been impossible。
When Tryon lay awake in the early morning； after a few brief hours of
sleep； the business which had brought him to Patesville seemed； in the
cold light of reason； so ridiculously inadequate that he felt almost ashamed
to have set up such a pretext for his journey。 The prospect； too； of
meeting Dr。 Green and his family； of having to explain his former sudden
departure； and of running a gauntlet of inquiry concerning his marriage to
the aristocratic Miss Warwick of South Carolina； the fear that some one at
Patesville might have suspected a connection between Rena's swoon and
his own flight；these considerations so moved this impressionable and
impulsive young man that he called a bell…boy； demanded an early
breakfast； ordered his horse； paid his reckoning； and started upon his
homeward journey forthwith。 A certain distrust of his own sensibility；
which he felt to be curiously inconsistent with his most positive
convictions； led him to seek the river bridge by a roundabout route which
did not take him past the house where； a few hours before； he had seen the
last fragment of his idol shattered beyond the hope of repair。
The party broke up at an early hour； since most of the guests were
working…people； and the travelers were to make an early start next day。
About nine in the morning； Wain drove round to Mis' Molly's。 Rena's
trunk was strapped behind the buggy； and she set out； in the company of
Wain； for her new field of labor。 The school term was only two months
in length； and she did not expect to return until its expiration。 Just before
taking her seat in the buggy； Rena felt a sudden sinking of the heart。
〃Oh； mother；〃 she whispered； as they stood wrapped in a close
embrace； 〃I'm afraid to leave you。 I left you once； and it turned out so
miserably。〃
〃It'll turn out better this time； honey；〃 replied her mother soothingly。
〃Good…by； child。 Take care of yo'self an' yo'r money； and write to yo'r
mammy。〃
One kiss all round； and Rena was lifted into the buggy。 Wain seized
the reins； and under his skillful touch the pretty mare began to prance and
curvet with restrained impatience。 Wain could not resist the opportunity
to show off before the party； which included Mary B。's entire family and
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several other neighbors； who had gathered to see the travelers off。
〃Good…by ter Patesville！ Good…by； folkses all！〃 he cried； with a wave
of his disengaged hand。
〃Good…by； mother！ Good…by； all！〃 cried Rena； as with tears in her
heart and a brave smile on her face she left her home behind her for the
second time。
When they had crossed the river bridge； the travelers came to a long
stretch of rising ground； from the summit of which they could look back
over the white sandy road for nearly a mile。 Neither Rena nor her
companion saw Frank Fowler behind the chinquapin bush at the foot of
the hill； nor the gaze of mute love and longing with which he watched the
buggy mount the long incline。 He had not been able to trust himself to
bid her farewell。 He had seen her go away once before with every
prospect of happiness； and come back； a dove with a wounded wing； to the
old nest behind the cedars。 She was going away again； with a man whom
he disliked and distrusted。 If she had met misfortune before； what were
her prospects for happiness now？
The buggy paused at the top of the hill； and Frank； shading his eyes
with his hand； thought he could see her turn and look behind。 Look back；
dear child； towards your home and those who love you！ For who knows
more than this faithful worshiper what threads of the past Fate is weaving
into your future； or whether happiness or misery lies before you？
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XXV
BALANCE ALL
The road to Sampson County lay for the most part over the pine…clad
sandhills；an alternation of gentle rises and gradual descents； with now
and then a swamp of greater or less extent。 Long stretches of the
highway led through the virgin forest； for miles unbroken by a clearing or
sign of human habitation。
They traveled slowly； with frequent pauses in shady places； for the
weather was hot。 The journey； made leisurely； required more than a day；
and might with slight effort be prolonged into two。 They stopped for the
night at a small village； where Wain found lodging for Rena with an
acquaintance of his； and for himself with another； while a third took
charge of the horse； the accommodation for travelers being limited。
Rena's appearance and manners were the subject of much comment。 It
was necessary to explain to several curious white people that Rena was a
woman of color。 A white woman might have driven with Wain without
attracting remark；most white ladies had negro coachmen。 That a
woman of Rena's complexion should eat at a negro's table； or sleep
beneath a negro's roof； was a seeming breach of caste which only black
blood could excuse。 The explanation was never questioned。 No white
person of sound mind would ever claim to be a negro。
They resumed their journey somewhat late in the morning。 Rena
would willingly have hastened； for she was anxious to plunge into her new
work； but Wain seemed disposed to prolong the pleasant drive； and
beguiled the way for a time with stories of wonderful things he had done
and strange experiences of a somewhat checkered career。 He was shrewd
enough to avoid any subject which would offend a modest young woman；
but too obtuse to perceive that much of what he said would not commend
him to a person of refinement。 He made little reference to his
possessions； concerning which so much had been said at Patesville； and
this reticence was a point in his favor。 If he had not been so much upon
his guard and Rena so much absorbed by thoughts of her future work； such
a drive would have furnished a person of her discernment a very fair
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measure of the man's character。 To these distractions must be added the
entire absence of any idea that Wain might have amorous designs upon her；
and any shortcomings of manners or speech were excused by the broad
mantle of charity which Rena in her new…found zeal for the welfare of her
people was willing to throw over all their faults。 They were the victims
of oppression； they were not responsible for its results。
Toward the end of the second day； while nearing their destination； the
travelers passed a large white house standing back from the road at the
foot of a lane。 Around it grew widespreading trees and well…kept
shrubbery。 The fences were in good repair。 Behind the house and
across the road stretched extensive fields of cotton and waving corn。
They had passed no other place that showed such signs of thrift and
prosperity。
〃Oh； what a lovely place！〃 exclaimed Rena。 〃That is yours； isn't it？〃
〃No； we ain't got to my house yet；〃
