the trees of pride-第4章

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fluence　his　flighty　host　for　such　reunions。　Even　Mr。　Ashe；　the　lawyer；　seemed　to　have　swallowed　his　half…humorous　prejudices；　and　the　doctor；　though　a　rather　sad　and　silent；　was　a　companionable　and　considerate　man。　Paynter　had　even　read　Treherne's　poetry　aloud；　and　he　read　admirably；　he　had　also　read　other　things；　not　aloud；　grubbing　up　everything　in　the　neighborhood；　from　guidebooks　to　epitaphs；　that　could　throw　a　light　on　local　antiquities。　And　it　was　that　evening　when　the　lamplight　and　the　last　daylight　had　kindled　the　colors　of　the　wine　and　silver　on　the　table　under　the　tree；　that　he　announced　a　new　discovery。

〃Say；　Squire；〃　he　remarked；　with　one　of　his　rare　Americanisms；　〃about　those　bogey　trees　of　yours；　I　don't　believe　you　know　half　the　tales　told　round　here　about　them。　　It　seems　they　have　a　way　of　eating　things。　Not　that　I　have　any　ethical　objection　to　eating　things；〃　he　continued；　helping　himself　elegantly　to　green　cheese。　　〃But　I　have　more　or　less；　broadly　speaking；　an　objection　to　eating　people。〃

〃Eating　people！〃　repeated　Barbara　Vane。

〃I　know　a　globe…trotter　mustn't　be　fastidious；〃　replied　Mr。　Paynter。　　〃But　I　repeat　firmly；　an　objection　to　eating　people。　　The　peacock　trees　seem　to　have　progressed　since　the　happy　days　of　innocence　when　they　only　ate　peacocks。　If　you　ask　the　people　herethe　fisherman　who　lives　on　that　beach；　or　the　man　that　mows　this　very　lawn　in　front　of　usthey'll　tell　you　tales　taller　than　any　tropical　one　I　brought　you　from　the　Barbary　Coast。　　If　you　ask　them　what　happened　to　the　fisherman　Peters；　who　got　drunk　on　All　Hallows　Eve；　they'll　tell　you　he　lost　his　way　in　that　little　wood；　tumbled　down　asleep　under　the　wicked　trees；　and　thenevaporated；　vanished；　was　licked　up　like　dew　by　the　sun。　If　you　ask　them　where　Harry　Hawke　is；　the　widow's　little　son；　they'll　just　tell　you　he's　swallowed；　that　he　was　dared　to　climb　the　trees　and　sit　there　all　night；　and　did　it。　　What　the　trees　did　God　knows；　the　habits　of　a　vegetable　ogre　leave　one　a　little　vague。　But　they　even　add　the　agreeable　detail　that　a　new　branch　appears　on　the　tree　when　somebody　has　petered　out　in　this　style。〃

〃What　new　nonsense　is　this？〃　cried　Vane。　　〃I　know　there's　some　crazy　yarn　about　the　trees　spreading　fever；　though　every　educated　man　knows　why　these　epidemics　return　occasionally。　　And　I　know　they　say　you　can　tell　the　noise　of　them　among　other　trees　in　a　gale；　and　I　dare　say　you　can。　But　even　Cornwall　isn't　a　lunatic　asylum；　and　a　tree　that　dines　on　a　passing　tourist〃

〃Well；　the　two　tales　are　reconcilable　enough；〃　put　in　the　poet　quietly。　〃If　there　were　a　magic　that　killed　men　when　they　came　close；　it's　likely　to　strike　them　with　sickness　when　they　stand　far　off。　In　the　old　romance　the　dragon；　that　devours　people；　often　blasts　others　with　a　sort　of　poisonous　breath。〃

Ashe　looked　across　at　the　speaker　steadily；　not　to　say　stonily。

〃Do　I　understand；〃　he　inquired；　〃that　you　swallow　the　swallowing　trees　too？〃

Treherne's　dark　smile　was　still　on　the　defensive；　his　fencing　always　annoyed　the　other；　and　he　seemed　not　without　malice　in　the　matter。

〃Swallowing　is　a　metaphor；〃　he　said；　〃about　me；　if　not　about　the　trees。　And　metaphors　take　us　at　once　into　dreamlandno　bad　place；　either。　This　garen；　I　think；　gets　more　and　more　like　a　dream　at　this　corner　of　the　day　and　night；　that　might　lead　us　anywhere。〃

The　yellow　horn　of　the　moon　had　appeared　silently　and　as　if　suddenly　over　the　black　horns　of　the　seaweed；　seeming　to　announce　as　night　something　which　till　then　had　been　evening。　A　night　breeze　came　in　between　the　trees　and　raced　stealthily　across　the　turf；　and　as　they　ceased　speaking　they　heard；　not　only　the　seething　grass；　but　the　sea　itself　move　and　sound　in　all　the　cracks　and　caves　round　them　and　below　them　and　on　every　side。　　They　all　felt　the　note　that　had　been　struck　the　American　as　an　art　critic　and　the　poet　as　a　poet；　and　the　Squire；　who　believed　himself　boiling　with　an　impatience　purely　rational；　did　not　really　understand　his　own　impatience。　In　him；　more　perhaps　than　the　othersmore　certainly　than　he　knew　himselfthe　sea　wind　went　to　the　head　like　wine。

〃Credulity　is　a　curious　thing；〃　went　on　Treherne　in　a　low　voice。　〃It　is　more　negative　than　positive；　and　yet　it　is　infinite。　Hundreds　of　men　will　avoid　walking　under　a　ladder；　they　don't　know　where　the　door　of　the　ladder　will　lead。　They　don't　really　think　God　would　throw　a　thunderbolt　at　them　for　such　a　thing。　　They　don't　know　what　would　happen；　that　is　just　the　point；　but　yet　they　step　aside　as　from　a　precipice。　So　the　poor　people　here　may　or　may　not　believe　anything；　they　don't　go　into　those　trees　at　night。〃

〃I　walk　under　a　ladder　whenever　I　can；〃　cried　Vane；　in　quite　unnecessary　excitement。

〃You　belong　to　a　Thirteen　Club；〃　said　the　poet。　　〃You　walk　under　a　ladder　on　Friday　to　dine　thirteen　at　a　table；　everybody　spilling　the　salt。　But　even　you　don't　go　into　those　trees　at　night。〃

Squire　Vane　stood　up；　his　silver　hair　flaming　in　the　wind。

〃I'll　stop　all　night　in　your　tomfool　wood　and　up　your　tomfool　trees；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　do　it　for　twopence　or　two　thousand　pounds；　if　anyone　will　take　the　bet。〃

Without　waiting　for　reply；　he　snatched　up　his　wide　white　hat　and　settled　it　on　with　a　fierce　gesture；　and　had　gone　off　in　great　leonine　strides　across　the　lawn　before　anyone　at　the　table　could　move。

The　stillness　was　broken　by　Miles；　the　butler；　who　dropped　and　broke　one　of　the　plates　he　carried。　　He　stood　looking　after　his　master　with　his　long；　angular　chin　thrust　out；　looking　yel…lower　where　it　caught　the　yellow　light　of　the　lamp　below。　His　face　was　thus　sharply　in　shadow；　but　Paynter　fancied　for　a　moment　it　was　convulsed　by　some　passion　passing　surprise。　But　the　face　was　quite　as　usual　when　it　turned；　and　Paynter　realized　that　a　night　of　fancies　had　begun；　like　the　cross　purposes　of　the　〃Midsummer　Night's　Dream。〃

The　wood　of　the　strange　trees；　toward　which　the　Squire　was　walking；　lay　so　far　forward　on　the　headland；　which　ultimately　almost　overhung　the　sea；　that　it　could　be　approached　by　only　one　path；　which　shone　clearly　like　a　silver　ribbon　in　the　twilight。　The　ribbon　ran　along　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　where　the　single　row　of　deformed　trees　ran　beside　it　all　the　way；　and　eventually　plunged　into　the　closer　mass　of　trees　by　one　natural　gateway；　a　mere　gap　in　the　wood；　looking　dark；　like　a　lion's　mouth。　What　became　of　the　path　inside　could　not　be　seen；　but　it　doubtless　led　round　the　hidden　roots　of　the　great　central　trees。　The　Squire　was　already　within　a　yard　or　two　of　this　dark　entry　when　his　daughter　rose　from　the　table　and　took　a　step　or　two　after　him　as　if　to　call　him　back。

Treherne　had　also　risen；　and　stood　as　if　dazed　at　the　effect　of　his　idle　defiance。　　When　Barbara　moved　he　seemed　to　recover　himself；　and　stepping　after　her；　said　something　which　Paynter　did　not　hear。　He　said　it　casually　and　even　distantly　enough；　but　it　clearly　suggested　something　to　her　mind；　for；　after　a　moment's　thought；　she　nodded　and　walked　back；　not　toward　the　table；　but　apparently　toward　the　house。　Paynter　looked　after　her　with　a　momentary　curiosity；　and　when　he　turned　again　the　Squire　had　vanished　into　the　hole　in　the　wood。

〃He's　gone；〃　said　Treherne；　with　a　clang　of　finality　in　his　tones；　like　the　slamming　of　a　door。

〃Well；　suppose　he　has？〃　cried　the　lawyer；　roused　at　the　voice。　〃The　Squire　can　go　into　his　own　wood；　I　suppose！　What　the　devil's　all　the　fuss　about；　Mr。　Paynter？　　Don't　tell　me　you　think　there's　any　harm　in　that　plantation　of　sticks。〃

〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　Paynter；　throwing　one　leg　over　another　and　lighting　a　cigar。　　〃But　I　shall　stop　here　till　he　comes　out。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Ashe　shortly；　〃I'll　stop　with　you；　if　only　to　see　the　end　of　this　farce。〃

The　doctor　said　nothing；　but　he　also　kept　his　seat　and　accepted　one　of　the　American's　cigars。　　If　Treherne　had　been　attending　to　the　matter　he　might　have　noted；　with　his　sardonic　superstition；　a　curious　factthat；　while　all　three　men　were　tacitly　condemning　themselves　to　stay　out　all　night　if　necessary；　all；　by　one　blank　omission　or　oblivion；　assumed　that　it　was　impossible　to　follow　their　host　into　the　wood　just　in　front　of　them。　　But　Treherne；　though　still　in　the　garden；　had　wandered　away　from　the　garden　table；　and　was　pacing　along　the　single　line　of　trees　against　the　dark　sea。　They　had　in　their　regular　interstices；　showing　the　sea　as　through　a　series　of　windows；　something　of　the　look　of　the　ghost　or　skeleton　of　a　cloister；　and　he；　having　thrown　his　coat　once　more　over　his　neck；　like　a　cape；　passed　to　and　fro　like　the　ghost　of　some　not　very　sane　monk。

All　these　men；　whether　skeptics　or　mystics；　looked　back　for　the　rest　of　their　lives　on　that　night　as　on　something　unnatural。　They　sat　still　or　started　up　abruptly；　and　paced　the　great　garden　in　long　detours；　so　that　it　seemed　that　no　three　of　them　were　together　at　a　time；　and　none　knew　who　would　be　his　companion；　yet　their　rambling　remained　within　the　same　dim　and　mazy　space。　They　fell　into　snatches　of　uneasy　slumber；　these　were　very　brief；　and　yet　they　felt　as　if　the　whole　sitting；　strolling；　or　occasional　speaking　had　been　parts　of　a　single　dream。

Paynter　woke　once；　and　found　Ashe　sitting　opposite　him　at　a　table　otherwise　empty；　his　face　dark　in　shadow　and　his　cigar…end　like　the　red　eye　of　a　Cyclops。　　Until　the　lawyer　spoke；　in　his　steady　voice；　Paynter　was　positively　afraid　of　him。　He　answered　at　random　and　nodded　again；　when　he　again　woke　the　lawyer　was　gone；　and　what　was　opposite　him　was　the　bald；　pale　brow　of　the　doctor；　there　seemed　suddenly　something　ominous　in　the　familiar　fact　that　he　wore　spectacles。　And　yet　the　vanishing　Ashe　had　only　vanished　a　few　yards　away；　for　he　turned　at　that　instant　and　strolled　back　to　the　table。　With　a　jerk　Paynter　realized　that　his　nightmare　was　but　a　trick　of　sleep　or　sleeplessness；　and　spoke　in　his　natural　voice；　but　rather　loud。

〃So　you've　joined　us　again；　where's　Treherne？〃

〃Oh；　still　revolving；　I　suppose；　like　a　polar　bear　under　those　trees　on　the　cliff；〃　replied　Ashe；　motioning　with　his　cigar；　〃looking　at　what　an　older　（and　you　will　forgive　me　for　thinking　a　somewhat　better）　poet　called　the　wine…dark　sea。　　It　really　has　a　sort　of　purple　shade；　look　at　it。〃

Paynter　looked；　he　saw　the　wine…dark　sea　and　the　fantastic　trees　that　fringed　it；　but　he　did　not　see　the　poet；　the　cloister　was　already　empty　of　its　restless　monk。

〃Gone　somewhere　else；〃　he　said；　with　futility　far　from　characteristic。　〃He'll　be　back　here　presently。　　This　is　an　interesting　vigil；　but　a　vigil　loses　some　of　its　intensity　when　you　can't　keep　awake。　　Ah！　　Here's　Treherne；　so　we're　all　mustered；　as　the　politician　said　when　Mr。　Colman　came　late　for　dinner。　No；　the　doctor's　off　again。　　how　restless　we　all　are！〃　The　poet　had　drawn　near；　his　feet　were　falling　soft　on　the　grass；　and　was　gazing　at　them　with　a　singular　attentiveness。

〃It　will　soon　be　over；〃　he　said。

〃What？〃　snapped　Ashe　very　abruptly。

〃The　night；　of　course；〃　replied　Treherne　in　a　motionless　manner。　〃The　darkest　hour　has　passed。〃

〃Didn't　some　other　minor　poet　remark；〃　inquired　Paynter　flippantly；　〃that　the　darkest　hour　before　the　dawn？　My　God；　what　was　that？　It　was　like　a　scream。〃

〃It　was　a　scream；〃　replied　the　poet。　　〃The　scream　of　a　peacock。〃

Ashe　stood　up；　h