cressy-第11章

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fondly　hoped　might　be　alone！　　At　the　end　of　half　an　hour　he　made　a

short　excursion　to　examine　the　condition　of　a　blackberry　bramble；

and　returned　to　his　post　of　observation。　　But　there　was　neither

sound　nor　motion　in　the　direction　of　the　cabin。　　When　another　ten

minutes　had　elapsed；　the　door　opened　and　to　Johnny's　intense

discomfiture；　Uncle　Ben　appeared　alone　and　walked　leisurely　towards

the　woods。　　Burning　with　anxiety　Johnny　threw　himself　in　Uncle

Ben's　way。　　But　here　occurred　one　of　those　surprising　inconsistencies

known　only　to　children。　　As　Uncle　Ben　turned　his　small　gray　eyes

upon　him　in　a　half　astonished；　half　questioning　manner；　the　potent

spirit　of　childish　secretiveness　suddenly　took　possession　of　the

boy。　　Wild　horses　could　not　now　have　torn　from　him　that　question

which　only　a　moment　before　was　on　his　lips。



〃Hullo；　Johnny！　　What　are　ye　doin'　here？〃　said　Uncle　Ben　kindly。



〃Nothin'。〃　　After　a　pause；　in　which　he　walked　all　round　Uncle　Ben's

large　figure；　gazing　up　at　him　as　if　he　were　a　monument；　he　added；

〃Huntin'　blackberrieth。〃



〃Why　ain't　you　over　at　the　collation？〃



〃Ruperth　there；〃　he　answered　promptly。



The　idea　of　being　thus　vicariously　present　in　the　person　of　his

brother　seemed　a　sufficient　excuse。　　He　leap…frogged　over　the　stump

on　which　he　had　been　sitting　as　an　easy　unembarrassing　pause　for

the　next　question。　　But　Uncle　Ben　was　apparently　perfectly

satisfied　with　Johnny's　reply；　and　nodding　to　him；　walked　away。



When　his　figure　had　disappeared　in　the　bushes；　Johnny　cautiously

approached　the　cabin。　　At　a　certain　distance　he　picked　up　a　stone

and　threw　it　against　the　door；　immediately　taking　to　his　heels　and

the　friendly　copse　again。　　No　one　appearing　he　repeated　the

experiment　twice　and　even　thrice　with　a　larger　stone　and　at　a

nearer　distance。　　Then　he　boldly　skirted　the　cabin　and　dropped　into

the　race…way　at　its　side。　　Following　it　a　few　hundred　yards　he　came

upon　a　long　disused　shaft　opening　into　it；　which　had　been　covered

with　a　rough　trap　of　old　planks；　as　if　to　protect　incautious

wayfarers　from　falling　in。　　Here　a　sudden　and　inexplicable　fear

overtook　Johnny；　and　he　ran　away。　　When　he　reached　the　hotel；　almost

the　first　sight　that　met　his　astounded　eyes　was　the　spectacle　of　the

paragon；　apparently　still　in　undisturbed　possession　of　all　his

perfectionsdriving　coolly　off　in　a　buggy　with　a　fresh　companion。



Meantime　Mr。　Ford；　however　touched　by　the　sentimental　significance

of　the　celebration；　became　slightly　wearied　of　its　details。　　As　his

own　room　in　the　Eureka　Hotel　was　actually　thrilled　by　the　brass

band　without　and　the　eloquence　of　speakers　below；　and　had　become

redolent　of　gunpowder　and　champagne　exploded　around　it；　he

determined　to　return　to　the　school…house　and　avail　himself　of　its

woodland　quiet　to　write　a　few　letters。



The　change　was　grateful；　the　distant　murmur　of　the　excited

settlement　came　only　as　the　soothing　sound　of　wind　among　the

leaves。　　The　pure　air　of　the　pines　that　filled　every　cranny　of　the

quiet　school…room；　and　seemed　to　disperse　all　taint　of　human

tenancy；　made　the　far…off　celebrations　as　unreal　as　a　dream。　　The

only　reality　of　his　life　was　here。



He　took　from　his　pocket　a　few　letters　one　of　which　was　worn　and

soiled　with　frequent　handling。　　He　re…read　it　in　a　half　methodical；

half　patient　way；　as　if　he　were　waiting　for　some　revelation　it

inspired；　which　was　slow　that　afternoon　in　coming。　　At　other　times

it　had　called　up　a　youthful　enthusiasm　which　was　wont　to　transfigure

his　grave　and　prematurely　reserved　face　with　a　new　expression。

To…day　the　revelation　and　expression　were　both　wanting。　　He　put　the

letter　back　with　a　slight　sigh；　that　sounded　so　preposterous　in　the

silent　room　that　he　could　not　forego　an　embarrassed　smile。　　But　the

next　moment　he　set　himself　seriously　to　work　on　his　correspondence。



Presently　he　stopped；　once　or　twice　he　had　been　overtaken　by　a

vague　undefinable　sense　of　pleasure；　even　to　the　dreamy　halting　of

his　pen。　　It　was　a　sensation　in　no　way　connected　with　the　subject

of　his　correspondence；　or　even　his　previous　reflectionsit　was

partly　physical；　and　yet　it　was　in　some　sense　suggestive。　　It　must

be　the　intoxicating　effect　of　the　woodland　air。　　He　even　fancied　he

had　noticed　it　before；　at　the　same　hour　when　the　sun　was　declining

and　the　fresh　odors　of　the　undergrowth　were　rising。　　It　certainly

was　a　perfume。　　He　raised　his　eyes。　　There　lay　the　cause　on　the

desk　before　hima　little　nosegay　of　wild　Californian　myrtle

encircling　a　rose…bud　which　had　escaped　his　notice。



There　was　nothing　unusual　in　the　circumstance。　　The　children　were

in　the　habit　of　making　their　offerings　generally　without　particular

reference　to　time　or　occasion；　and　it　might　have　been　overlooked　by

him　during　school…hours。　　He　felt　a　pity　for　the　forgotten　posy

already　beginning　to　grow　limp　in　its　neglected　solitude。　　He

remembered　that　in　some　folk…lore　of　the　children's；　perhaps　a

tradition　of　the　old　association　of　the　myrtle　with　Venus；　it　was

believed　to　be　emblematic　of　the　affections。　　He　remembered　also

that　he　had　even　told　them　of　this　probable　origin　of　their

superstition。　　He　was　still　holding　it　in　his　hand　when　he　was

conscious　of　a　silken　sensation　that　sent　a　magnetic　thrill　through

his　fingers。　　Looking　at　it　more　closely　he　saw　that　the　sprigs

were　bound　together；　not　by　thread　or　ribbon；　but　by　long　filaments

of　soft　brown　hair　tightly　wound　around　them。　　He　unwound　a　single

hair　and　held　it　to　the　light。　　Its　length；　color；　texture；　and

above　all　a　certain　inexplicable　instinct；　told　him　it　was　Cressy

McKinstry's。　　He　laid　it　down　quickly；　as　if　he　had；　in　that　act；

familiarly　touched　her　person。



He　finished　his　letter；　but　presently　found　himself　again　looking

at　the　myrtle　and　thinking　about　it。　　From　the　position　in　which　it

had　been　placed　it　was　evidently　intended　for　him；　the　fancy　of

binding　it　with　hair　was　also　intentional　and　not　a　necessity；　as

he　knew　his　feminine　scholars　were　usually　well　provided　with　bits

of　thread；　silk；　or　ribbon。　　If　it　had　been　some　new　absurdity　of

childish　fashion　introduced　in　the　school；　he　would　have　noticed　it

ere　this。　　For　it　was　this　obtrusion　of　a　personality　that　vaguely

troubled　him。　　He　remembered　Cressy's　hair；　it　was　certainly　very

beautiful；　in　spite　of　her　occasional　vagaries　of　coiffure。　　He

recalled　how；　one　afternoon；　it　had　come　down　when　she　was　romping

with　Octavia　in　the　play…ground；　and　was　surprised　to　find　what　a

vivid　picture　he　retained　of　her　lingering　in　the　porch　to　put　it

up；　her　rounded　arms　held　above　her　head；　her　pretty　shoulders；

full　throat；　and　glowing　face　thrown　back；　and　a　wisp　of　the　very

hair　between　her　white　teeth！　　He　began　another　letter。



When　it　was　finished　the　shadow　of　the　pine…branch　before　the

window；　thrown　by　the　nearly　level　sun　across　his　paper；　had　begun

slowly　to　reach　the　opposite　wall。　　He　put　his　work　away；　lingered

for　a　moment　in　hesitation　over　the　myrtle　sprays；　and　then　locked

them　in　his　desk　with　an　odd　feeling　that　he　had　secured　in　some

vague　way　a　hold　upon　Cressy's　future　vagaries；　then　reflecting

that　Uncle　Ben；　whom　he　had　seen　in　town；　would　probably　keep

holiday　with　the　others；　he　resolved　to　wait　no　longer；　but

strolled　back　to　the　hotel。　　The　act　however　had　not　recalled　Uncle

Ben　to　him　by　any　association　of　ideas；　for　since　his　discovery　of

Johnny　Filgee's　caricature　he　had　failed　to　detect　anything　to

corroborate　the　caricaturist's　satire；　and　had　dismissed　the

subject　from　his　mind。



On　entering　his　room　at　the　hotel　he　found　Rupert　Filgee　standing

moodily　by　the　window；　while　his　brother　Johnny；　overcome　by　a

repletion　of　excitement　and　collation；　was　asleep　on　the　single

arm…chair。　　Their　presence　was　not　unusual；　as　Mr。　Ford；　touched　by

the　loneliness　of　these　motherless　boys；　had　often　invited　them　to

come　to　his　rooms　to　look　over　his　books　and　illustrated　papers。



〃Well？〃　he　said　cheerfully。



Rupert　did　not　reply　or　change　his　position。　　Mr。　Ford；　glancing　at

him　sharply；　saw　a　familiar　angry　light　in　the　boy's　beautiful

eyes；　slightly　dimmed　by　a　tear。　　Laying　his　hand　gently　on

Rupert's　shoulder　he　said；　〃What's　the　matter；　Rupert？〃



〃Nothin'；〃　said　the　boy　doggedly；　with　his　eyes　still　fixed　on　the

pane。



〃HashasMrs。　Tripp〃　（the　fair　proprietress）　〃been　unkind？〃　he

went　on　lightly。



No　reply。



〃You　know；　Rupe；〃　continued　Mr。　Ford　demurely；　〃she　must　show　SOME

reserve　before　companylike　to…day。　　It　won't　do　to　make　a

scandal。〃



Rupert　maintained　an　indignant　silence。　　But　the　dimple　（which　he

usually　despised　as　a　feminine　blot）　on　the　cheek　nearer　the　master

became　slightly　accented。　　Only　for　a　moment；　the　dark　eyes　clouded

again。



〃I　wish　I　was　dead；　Mr。　Ford。〃



〃Hallo！〃



〃Ordoin'　suthin'。〃



〃That's　better。　　What　do　you　want　to　do？〃



〃To　workmake　a　livin'　myself。　　Quit　toten'　wood　and　water　at

home；　quit　cookin'　and　makin'　beds；　like　a　yaller　Chinaman；　quit

nussin'　babies　and　dressin'　'em　and　undressin'　'em；　like　a　girl。

Look　at　HIM　now；〃　pointing　to　the　sweetly　unconscious　Johnny；　〃look

at　him　there。　　Do　you　know　what　that　means？　　It　means　I've　got　to

pack　him　home　through　the　town　jist　ez　he　is　thar；　and　then　make　a

fire　and　bile　his　food　for　him；　and　wash　him　and　undress　him　and

put　him　to　bed；　and　'Now　I　lay　me　down　to　sleep'　him；　and　tuck　him

up；　and　Dad　all　the　while　'scootin'　round　town　with　other　idjits；

jawin'　about　'progress'　and　the　'future　of　Injin　Spring。'　　Much

future　we've　got　over　our　own　house；　Mr。　Ford。　　Much　future　he's

got　laid　up　for　me！〃



The　master；　to　whom　those　occasional　outbreaks　from　Rupert　were　not

unfamiliar；　smiled；　albeit　with　serious　eyes　that　belied　his　lips；

and　consoled　the　boy　as　he　had　often　done　before。　　But　he　was

anxious　to　know　the　cause　of　this　recent　attack　and　its　probable

relations　to　the　fascinating　Mrs。　Tripp。



〃I　thought　we　talked　all　that　over　some　time　ago；　Rupe。　　In　a　few

months　you'll　be　able　to　leave　school；　and　I'll　advise　your　father

about　putting　you　into　something　to　give　you　a　chance　for　yourself。

Patience；　old　fellow；　you're　doing　very　well。　　Considerthere's

your　pupil；　Uncle　Ben。〃



〃Oh；　yes！　　That's　another　big　baby　to　tot　round　in　school　when　I

ain't　niggerin'　at　home。〃



〃And　I　don't　see　exactly　what　else　you　could　do　at　Indian　Spring；〃

continued　Mr。　Ford。



〃No；〃　said　Rupert　gloomily；　〃but　I　could　get　away　to　Sacramento。

Yuba　Bill　says　they　take　boys　no　bigger　nor　me　in　thar　express

offices　or　banksand　in　a　year　or　two　they're　as　good　ez　anybody

and　get　paid　as　big。　　Why；　there　was　a　fellow　here；　just　now；　no

older　than　you；　Mr。　Ford；　and　not　half　your　learnin'；　and　he

dressed　to　death　with　jewelry；　and　everybody　bowin'　and　scrapin'　to

him；　that　it　was　perfectly　sickenin'。〃