the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第8章
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The judges entered the grand stand； and one of them； after looking at his
watch； gave a signal。 Immediately a herald； wearing a bright yellow sash；
blew a loud blast upon a bugle； and； big with the importance of his office；
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galloped wildly down the lists。 An attendant on horseback busied
himself hanging upon each of the pendent hooks an iron ring； of some two
inches in diameter； while another； on foot； placed on top of each of the
shorter posts a wooden ball some four inches through。
〃It's my first tournament；〃 observed a lady near the front of the grand
stand； leaning over and addressing John Warwick； who was seated in the
second row； in company with a very handsome girl。 〃It is somewhat
different from Ashby…de… la…Zouch。〃
〃It is the renaissance of chivalry； Mrs。 Newberry；〃 replied the young
lawyer； 〃and； like any other renaissance； it must adapt itself to new times
and circumstances。 For instance； when we build a Greek portico； having
no Pentelic marble near at hand； we use a pine…tree； one of nature's
columns； which Grecian art at its best could only copy and idealize。 Our
knights are not weighted down with heavy armor； but much more
appropriately attired； for a day like this； in costumes that recall the
picturesqueness； without the discomfort； of the old knightly harness。 For
an iron… headed lance we use a wooden substitute； with which we transfix
rings instead of hearts； while our trusty blades hew their way through
wooden blocks instead of through flesh and blood。 It is a South Carolina
renaissance which has points of advantage over the tournaments of the
olden time。〃
〃I'm afraid； Mr。 Warwick；〃 said the lady； 〃that you're the least bit
heretical about our chivalryor else you're a little too deep for me。〃
〃The last would be impossible； Mrs。 Newberry； and I'm sure our
chivalry has proved its valor on many a hard…fought field。 The spirit of a
thing； after all； is what counts； and what is lacking here？ We have the
lists； the knights； the prancing steeds； the trial of strength and skill。 If our
knights do not run the physical risks of Ashby… de…la…Zouch； they have all
the mental stimulus。 Wounded vanity will take the place of wounded
limbs； and there will be broken hopes in lieu of broken heads。 How
many hearts in yonder group of gallant horsemen beat high with hope！
How many possible Queens of Love and Beauty are in this group of fair
faces that surround us！〃
The lady was about to reply； when the bugle sounded again； and the
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herald dashed swiftly back upon his prancing steed to the waiting group of
riders。 The horsemen formed three abreast； and rode down the lists in
orderly array。 As they passed the grand stand； each was conscious of the
battery of bright eyes turned upon him； and each gave by his bearing some
idea of his ability to stand fire from such weapons。 One horse pranced
proudly； another caracoled with grace。 One rider fidgeted nervously；
another trembled and looked the other way。 Each horseman carried in his
hand a long wooden lance and wore at his side a cavalry sabre； of which
there were plenty to be had since the war； at small expense。 Several left
the ranks and drew up momentarily beside the grand stand； where they
took from fair hands a glove or a flower； which was pinned upon the
rider's breast or fastened upon his hata ribbon or a veil； which was tied
about the lance like a pennon； but far enough from the point not to
interfere with the usefulness of the weapon。
As the troop passed the lower end of the grand stand； a horse； excited
by the crowd； became somewhat unmanageable； and in the effort to curb
him； the rider dropped his lance。 The prancing animal reared； brought
one of his hoofs down upon the fallen lance with considerable force； and
sent a broken piece of it flying over the railing opposite the grand stand；
into the middle of a group of spectators standing there。 The flying
fragment was dodged by those who saw it coming； but brought up with a
resounding thwack against the head of a colored man in the second row；
who stood watching the grand stand with an eager and curious gaze。 He
rubbed his head ruefully； and made a good…natured response to the
chaffing of his neighbors； who； seeing no great harm done； made witty and
original remarks about the advantage of being black upon occasions where
one's skull was exposed to danger。 Finding that the blow had drawn
blood； the young man took out a red bandana handkerchief and tied it
around his head； meantime letting his eye roam over the faces in the grand
stand； as though in search of some one that he expected or hoped to find
there。
The knights； having reached the end of the lists； now turned and rode
back in open order； with such skillful horsemanship as to evoke a storm of
applause from the spectators。 The ladies in the grand stand waved their
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handkerchiefs vigorously； and the men clapped their hands。 The
beautiful girl seated by Warwick's side accidentally let a little square of
white lace…trimmed linen slip from her hand。 It fluttered lightly over the
railing； and； buoyed up by the air； settled slowly toward the lists。 A
young rider in the approaching rear rank saw the handkerchief fall； and
darting swiftly forward； caught it on the point of his lance ere it touched
the ground。 He drew up his horse and made a movement as though to
extend the handkerchief toward the lady； who was blushing profusely at
the attention she had attracted by her carelessness。 The rider hesitated a
moment； glanced interrogatively at Warwick； and receiving a smile in
return； tied the handkerchief around the middle of his lance and quickly
rejoined his comrades at the head of the lists。
The young man with the bandage round his head； on the benches
across the lists； had forced his way to the front row and was leaning
against the railing。 His restless eye was attracted by the falling
handkerchief； and his face； hitherto anxious； suddenly lit up with
animation。
〃Yas； suh； yas； suh； it's her！〃 he muttered softly。 〃It's Miss Rena；
sho's you bawn。 She looked lack a' angel befo'； but now； up dere 'mongs'
all dem rich； fine folks； she looks lack a whole flock er angels。 Dey ain'
one er dem ladies w'at could hol' a candle ter her。 I wonder w'at dat
man's gwine ter do wid her handkercher？ I s'pose he's her gent'eman
now。 I wonder ef she'd know me er speak ter me ef she seed me？ I
reckon she would； spite er her gittin' up so in de worl'； fer she wuz alluz
good ter ev'ybody； an' dat let even ME in；〃 he concluded with a sigh。
〃Who is the lady； Tryon？〃 asked one of the young men； addressing the
knight who had taken the handkerchief。
〃A Miss Warwick；〃 replied the knight pleasantly； 〃Miss Rowena
Warwick； the lawyer's sister。〃
〃I didn't know he had a sister；〃 rejoined the first speaker。 〃I envy you
your lady。 There are six Rebeccas and eight Rowenas of my own
acquaintance in the grand stand； but she throws them all into the shade。
She hasn't been here long； surely； I haven't seen her before。〃
〃She has been away at school； she came only last night；〃 returned the
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knight of the crimson sash； briefly。 He was already beginning to feel a
proprietary interest in the lady whose token he wore； and did not care to
discuss her with a casual acquaintance。
The herald sounded the charge。 A rider darted out from the group and
galloped over the course。 As he passed under each ring； he tried to catch
it on the point of his lance；a feat which made the management of the
horse with the left hand necessary； and required a true eye and a steady
arm。 The rider captured three of the twelve rings； knocked three others
off the hooks； and left six undisturbed。 Turning at the end of the lists； he
took the lance with the reins in the left hand and drew his sword with the
right。 He then rode back over the course； cutting at the wooden balls
upon the posts。 Of these he clove one in twain； to use the parlance of
chivalry； and knocked two others off their supports。 His performance
was greeted with a liberal measure of applause； for which he bowed in
smiling acknowledgment as he took his place among the riders。
Again the herald's call sounded； and the tourney went forward。 Rider
after rider； with varying skill； essayed his fortune with lance and sword。
Some took a liberal proportion of the rings； others merely knocked them
over the boundaries； where they were collected by agile little negro boys
and handed back to the attendants。 A balking horse caused the spectators
much amusement and his rider no little chagrin。
The lady who had dropped the handkerchief kept her eye upon the
knight who had bound it round his lance。 〃Who is he； John？〃 she asked
the gentleman beside her。
〃That； my dear Rowena； is my good friend and client； George
