a mountain europa-第5章

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　a　slumbering　sense；　perhaps　easily　awakened。　Perhaps　he　might　awaken　it。

The　drowsy　hum　of　the　spinning…wheel　ceased　suddenly；　and　his　dream　was　shattered。　He　wondered　how　long　they　had　sat　there　saying　nothing；　and　how　long　the　silence　might　continue。　Easter；　he　believed；　would　never　address　him。　　Even　the　temporary　intimacy　that　the　barter　of　the　gun　had　brought　about　was　gone。　The　girl　seemed　lost　in　unconsciousness。　The　mother　had　gone　to　her　loom；　　and　was　humming　softly　to　herself　as　she　passed　the　shuttle　to　and　fro。　　Clayton　turned　for　an　instant　to　watch　her；　and　the　rude　background；　　which　he　had　forgotten；　thrust　every　unwelcome　detail　upon　his　attention：　　the　old　cabin；　built　of　hewn　logs；　held　together　by　wooden　pin　and　　augur…hole；　and　shingled　with　rough　boards；　the　dark；　windowless　room；　　the　unplastered　walls；　the　beds　with　old…fashioned　high　posts；　　mattresses　of　straw；　and　cords　instead　of　slats；　the　home…made　chairs　　with　straight　backs；　tipped　with　carved　knobs；　the　mantel　filled　　with　utensils　and　overhung　with　bunches　of　drying　herbs；　a　ladder　　with　half　a　dozen　smooth…worn　steps　leading　to　the　loft；　and　a　wide；　　deep　fireplace…the　only　suggestion　of　cheer　and　comfort　in　the　gloomy　interior。　　An　open　porch　connected　the　single　room　with　the　kitchen。　　　Here；　too；　were　suggestions　of　daily　duties。　The　mother's　face　told　a　tale　　of　hardship　and　toil；　and　there　was　the　plough　in　the　furrow；　　and　the　girl's　calloused　hands　folded　in　her　lap。　With　a　thrill　　of　compassion　Clayton　turned　to　her。　What　a　pity！　what　a　pity！　　Just　now　her　face　had　the　peace　of　a　child's；　but　when　aroused；　　an　electric　fire　burned　from　her　calm　eyes　and　showed　the　ardent　temperament　that　really　lay　beneath。　If　she　were　quick　and　sympathetic…and　she　must　be；　he　who　could　tell　how　rich　the　development　possible　for　her？

〃You　hain't　seen　much　of　this　country；　I　reckon。　You　hain't　been　here　afore？

The　mother　had　broken　the　silence　at　last。

No；〃　said　Clayton；　〃but　I　like　it　very　much。〃

Do　ye？　〃　she　asked；　in　surprise。　　〃　Why；　I　'lowed　you　folks　from　the　settlemints　thought　hit　was　mighty　scraggy　down　hyeh。〃


〃Oh　no。　　These　mountains　and　woods　are　beautiful；　and　I　never　saw　lovelier　beech…trees。　The　coloring　of　their　trunks　is　so　exquisite；　and　the　shade　is　so　fine；〃　he　concluded；　lamely；　noticing　a　blank　look　on　the　old　woman's　face。　To　his　delight　the　girl；　half　turned　toward　him；　was　listening　with　puzzled　interest。

Well；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃　beeches　is　beautiful　to　me　when　they　has　mast　enough　to　feed　the　hogs。〃


Carried　back　to　his　train　of　speculations；　Clayton　started　at　this　abrupt　deliverance。　There　was　a　suspicion　of　humor　in　the　old　woman's　tone　that　showed　an　appreciation　of　their　different　standpoints。　　It　was　lost　on　Clayton；　however；　for　his　attention　had　been　caught　by　the　word　〃mast；〃　which；　by　some　accident；　he　I　had　never　heard　before。

〃　Mast；〃　he　asked；　〃　what　is　that？

The　girl　looked　toward　him　in　amazement；　and　burst　into　a　low；　suppressed　laugh。　　Her　mother　explained　the　word；　and　all　laughed　heartily。

Clayton　soon　saw　that　his　confession　of　ignorance　was　a　lucky　accident。　It　brought　Easter　and　himself　nearer　common　ground。　　She　felt　that　there　was　something；　after　all；　that　she　could　teach　him。　She　had　been　overpowered　by　his　politeness　and　deference　and　his　unusual　language；　and；　not　knowing　what　they　meant；　was　overcome　by　a　sense　of　her　inferiority。　　The　incident　gave　him　the　key　to　his　future　conduct。　A　moment　later　she　looked　up　covertly；　and；　meeting　his　eyes；　laughed　again。　　The　ice　was　broken。　He　began　to　wonder　if　she　really　had　noticed　him　so　little　at　their　first　meeting　as　not　to　recognize　him；　or　if　her　indifference　or　reserve　had　prevented　her　from　showing　the　recognition。　　He　pulled　out　his　note…book　and　began　sketching　rapidly；　conscious　that　the　girl　was　watching　him。　When　be　finished；　he　rose；　picking　up　the　old　flint…lock。

〃Won't　ye　stay　and　hev　some　dinner？；'　asked　the　old　woman。

〃No；　thank　you。〃

Come　ag'in；〃　she　said；　cordially；　adding　the　mountaineer's　farewell；　〃I　wish　ye　well。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　will。　　Good…day。〃

As　he　passed　the　girl　he　paused　a　moment　and　dropped　the　paper　into　her　lap。　　It　was　a　rude　sketch　of　their　first　meeting；　the　bull　coming　at　him　like　a　tornado。　The　color　came　to　her　face；　and　when　Clayton　turned　the　corner　of　the　house　he　heard　her　laughing。

〃What　you　laughin'　at；　Easter？〃　asked　the　mother；　stopping　her　work　and　looking　around。

For　answer　the　girl　rose　and　walked　into　the　house；　hiding　the　paper　in　her　bosom。　The　old　woman　watched　her　narrowly。

I　never　seed　ye　afeard　of　a　man　afore；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃No；　nur　so　tickled　'bout　one；　nother。　Well；　he　air　as　accommodatin'　a　feller　as　I　ever　see；　ef　he　air　a　furriner。　But　he　was　a　fool　to　swop　his　gun　fer　hem。〃

V

THEREAFTER　Clayton　saw　the　girl　whenever　possible。　If　she　came　to　the　camp；　he　walked　up　the　mountain　with　her。　No　idle　day　passed　that　he　did　not　visit　the　cabin；　and　it　was　not　long　before　he　found　himself　strangely　interested。　　Her　beauty　and　fearlessness　had　drawn　him　at　first；　her　indifference　and　stolidity　had　piqued　him；　and　now　the　shyness　that　displaced　these　was　inconsistent　and　puzzling。　This　he　set　himself　deliberately　at　work　to　remove；　and　the　conscious　effort　gave　a　peculiar　piquancy　to　their　intercourse。　　He　had　learned　the　secret　of　association　with　the　mountaineers…to　be　as　little　unlike　them　as　possible…and　he　put　the　knowledge　into　practice。　He　discarded　coat　and　waistcoat；　wore　a　slouched　hat；　and　went　unshaven　for　weeks。　He　avoided　all　conventionalities；　and　was　as　simple　in　manner　and　speech　as　possible。　Often　when　talking　with　Easter；　her　face　was　blankly　unresponsive；　and　a　question　would　sometimes　leave　her　in　confused　silence。　He　found　it　necessary　to　use　the　simplest　Anglo…Saxon　words；　and　he　soon　fell　into　many　of　the　quaint　expressions　of　the　mountaineers　and　their　odd；　slow　way　of　speech。　This　course　was　effective；　and　in　time　the　shyness　wore　away　and　left　between　them　a　comradeship　as　pleasant　as　unique。　Sometimes　they　took　long　walks　together　on　the　mountains。　This　was　contrary　to　mountain　etiquette；　but　they　were　remote　even　from　the　rude　conventionalities　of　the　life　below　them。　　They　even　went　hunting　together；　and　Easter　had　the　joy　of　a　child　when　she　discovered　her　superiority　to　Clayton　in　woodcraft　and　in　the　use　of　a　rifle。　If　he　could　tell　her　the　names　of　plants　and　flowers　they　found；　and　how　they　were　akin；　she　could　show　him　where　they　grew。　　If　he　could　teach　her　a　little　more　about　animals　and　their　habits　than　she　already　knew；　he　had　always　to　follow　her　in　the　search　for　game。　Their　fellowship　was；　in　consequence；　never　more　complete　than　when　they　were　roaming　the　woods。　In　them　Easter　was　at　home；　and　her　ardent　nature　came　to　the　surface　like　a　poetic　glow　from　her　buoyant　health　and　beauty。　Then　appeared　all　that　was　wayward　and　elfin…like　in　her　character；　and　she　would　be　as　playful；　wilful；　evanescent　as　a　wood…spirit。　Sometimes；　when　they　were　separated；　she　would　lead　him　into　a　ravine　by　imitating　a　squirrel　or　a　wild…turkey；　and；　as　he　crept　noiselessly　along　with　bated　breath　and　eyes　peering　eagerly　through　the　tree…tops　or　the　underbrush；　she　would　step　like　a　dryad　from　behind　some　tree　at　his　side；　with　a　ringing　laugh　at　his　discomfiture。　　Again；　she　might　startle　him　by　running　lightly　along　the　fallen　trunk　of　a　tree　that　lay　across　a　torrent；　or；　in　a　freak　of　wilfulness；　would　let　herself　down　the　bare　face　of　some　steep　cliff。　　If　he　scolded　her；　she　laughed。　　If　he　grew　angry；　she　was　serious　instantly；　and　once　she　fell　to　weeping　and　fled　home。　　He　followed　her；　but　she　barricaded　herself　in　her　room　in　the　loft；　and　would　not　be　coaxed　down。　　The　next　day　she　had　forgotten　that　she　was　angry。

Her　mother　showed　no　surprise　at　any　of　her　moods。　Easter　was　not　like　other　〃　gals；〃　she　said；　she　had　always　been〃　quar；〃　and　she　reckoned　would〃　al'ays　be　that　way。〃　She　objected　in　no　wise　to　Clayton's　intimacy　with　her。　The　furriner；〃　she　told　Raines；　was　the　only　man　who　had　ever　been　able　to　manage　her；　and　if　she　wanted　Easter　to　do　anything　〃　ag'in　her　will；　she　went　to　him　fust　〃…a　simple　remark　that　threw　the　mountaineer　into　deep　thoughtfulness。

Indeed；　this　sense　of　power　that　Clayton　felt　over　the　wilful；　passionate　creature　thrilled　him　with　more　pleasure　than　he　would　have　been　willing　to　admit；　at　the　same　time　it　suggested　to　him　a　certain　responsibility。　Why　not　make　use　of　it；　and　a　good　use？　The　girl　was　perhaps　deplorably　ignorant；　could　do　but　little　more　than　read　and　write；　but　she　was　susceptible　of　development；　and　at　times　apparently　conscious　of　the　need　of　it　and　desirous　for　it。　　Once　he　had　carried　her　a　handful　of　violets；　and　thereafter　an　old　pitcher　that　stood　on　a　shelf　blossomed　every　day　with　wild…flowers。　　He　had　transplanted　a　vine　from　the　woods　and　taught　her　to　train　it　over　the　porch；　and　the　first　hint　of　tenderness　he　found　in　her　nature　was　in　the　care　of　that　plant。　　He　had　taken　her　a　book　full　of　pictures　and　fashion…plates；　and　he　had　noticed　a　quick　and　ingenious　adoption　of　some　of　its　hints　in　her　dress。

One　afternoon；　as　he　lay　on　his　bed　in　a　darkened　corner　of　his　room；　a　woman's　shadow　passed　across　the　wall；　returned；　and　a　moment　later　he　saw　Easter's　face　at　the　window。　　He　had　lain　quiet；　and　watched　her　while　her　wondering　eyes　roved　from　one　object　to　another；　until　they　were　fastened　with　a　long；　intent　look　on　a　picture　that　stood　upon　a　table　near　the　window。　He　stirred；　and　her　face　melted　away　instantly。　A　few　days　later　he　was　sitting　with　Easter　and　Raines　at　the　cabin。　The　mother　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　porch；　talking　to　a　neighbor　who　had　stopped　to　rest　on　his　way　across　the　mountains。

Easter　air　a…gettin'　high　notions；〃　she　was　saying；　〃　'n'　she　air　a…spendin'　her　savin　's；　'n'　all　mine　she　kin　git　hold　of；　to　buy　fixin's　at　the　commissary。　　She　must　hev　white　crockery；　'n'　towels；　'n'　newfangled　forks；　'n'　sichlike。〃　　A　conscious　flush　came　into　the　girl's　face；　and　she　rose　hastily　and　went　into　the　house。

〃I　was　afeard；〃　continued　the　mother；　〃　that　she　would　hev　her　hair　cut　short；　'n'　be　a…flyin'　with　ribbons；　'n'　spangled　out　like　a　rainbow；　like　old　'Lige　Hicks's　gal；　ef　I　hadn't　heerd　the　furriner　tell　her　it　was　'　beastly。'　　Thar　ain't　no　fear　now；　fer　what　that　furriner　don't　like；　Easter　don't　nother。〃

For　an　instant　the　mountaineer's　eyes　had　flashed　on　Clayton；　but　when　the　latter；　a　trifle　embarrassed；　looked　up；　Raines　apparently　had　heard　nothing。　　Easter　did　not　reappear　until　the　mountaineer　was　gone。

There　were　othcr　hopeful　signs。　　Whenever　Clayton　spoke　of　his　friends；　she　always　listened　eagerly；　and　asked　innumerable　questions　about　them。　　If　his　attention　was　caught　by　any　queer　custom　or　phrase　of　the　mountain　dialect；　she　was　quick　to　ask　in　return　how　he　would　say　the　same　thing；　and　what　the　custom　was　in　the　settlemints。〃　　She　even　made　feeble　attempts　to　model　her　own　speech　after　his。

In　a　conscious　glow　that　he　imagined　was　philanthropy；　Clayton　began　his　task　of　elevation。　　She　was　not　so　ignorant　as　he　had　supposed。　　Apparently　she　had　been　taught　by　somebody；　but