cressy-第13章

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to　collect　his　thoughts。　　He　determined　to　make　a　tour　of　the　rooms

and　then　go　quietly　home。　　Those　who　recognized　him　made　way　for

him　with　passive　curiosity；　the　middle…aged　and　older　adding　a

confidential　sympathy　and　equality　that　positively　irritated　him。

For　an　instant　he　had　an　idea　of　seeking　out　Mrs。　Tripp　and

claiming　her　as　a　partner；　merely　to　show　her　that　he　danced。



He　had　nearly　made　the　circuit　of　the　room　when　he　was　surprised　by

the　first　strains　of　a　waltz。　　Waltzing　was　not　a　strong　feature　of

Indian　Spring　festivity；　partly　that　the　Church　people　had　serious

doubts　if　David's　saltatory　performances　before　the　Ark　included

〃round　dances；〃　and　partly　that　the　young　had　not　yet　mastered　its

difficulties。　　When　he　yielded　to　his　impulse　to　look　again　at　the

dancers　he　found　that　only　three　or　four　couples　had　been　bold

enough　to　take　the　floor。　　Cressy　McKinstry　and　her　former　partner

were　one　of　them。　　In　his　present　exaltation　he　was　not　astonished

to　find　that　she　had　evidently　picked　up　the　art　in　her　late　visit；

and　was　now　waltzing　with　quiet　grace　and　precision；　but　he　was

surprised　that　her　partner　was　far　from　being　equally　perfect；　and

that　after　a　few　turns　she　stopped　and　smilingly　disengaged　her

waist　from　his　arm。　　As　she　stepped　back　she　turned　with　unerring

instinct　to　that　part　of　the　room　where　the　master　stood；　and　raised

her　eyes　through　the　multitude　of　admiring　faces　to　his。　　Their　eyes

met　in　an　isolation　as　supreme　as　if　they　had　been　alone。　　It　was　an

attraction　the　more　dangerous　because　unformulateda　possession

without　previous　pledge；　promise；　or　even　intentiona　love　that　did

not　require　to　be　〃made。〃



He　approached　her　quietly　and　even　more　coolly　than　he　thought

possible。　　〃Will　you　allow　me　a　trial？〃　he　asked。



She　looked　in　his　face；　and　as　if　she　had　not　heard　the　question

but　was　following　her　own　thought；　said；　〃I　knew　you　would　come；　I

saw　you　when　you　first　came　in。〃　　Without　another　word　she　put　her

hand　in　his；　and　as　if　it　were　part　of　an　instinctive　action　of

drawing　closer　to　him；　caught　with　her　advancing　foot　the　accent　of

the　waltz；　and　the　next　moment　the　room　seemed　to　slip　away　from

them　into　whirling　space。



The　whole　thing　had　passed　so　rapidly　from　the　moment　he　approached

her　to　the　first　graceful　swing　of　her　full　skirt　at　his　side；　that

it　seemed　to　him　almost　like　the　embrace　of　a　lovers'　meeting。　　He

had　often　been　as　near　her　before；　had　stood　at　her　side　at　school；

and　even　leaned　over　her　desk；　but　always　with　an　irritated

instinct　of　reserve　that　had　equally　affected　her；　and　which　he　now

understood。　　With　her　conscious　but　pale　face　so　near　his　own；　with

the　faint　odor　of　her　hair　clinging　to　her；　and　with　the　sweet

confusion　of　the　half　lingering；　half　withheld　contact　of　her　hand

and　arm；　all　had　changed。　　He　did　not　dare　to　reflect　that　he　could

never　again　approach　her　except　with　this　feeling。　　He　did　not　dare

to　think　of　anything；　he　abandoned　himself　to　the　sense　that　had

begun　with　the　invasion　of　her　hair…bound　myrtle　in　the　silent

school…room；　and　seemed　to　have　at　last　led　her　to　his　arms。　　They

were　moving　now　in　such　perfect　rhythm　and　unison　that　they　seemed

scarcely　conscious　of　motion。　　Once　when　they　neared　the　open

window　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　round　moon　rising　above　the

solemn　heights　of　the　opposite　shore；　and　felt　the　cool　breath　of

mountain　and　river　sweep　his　cheek　and　mingle　a　few　escaped　threads

of　her　fair　hair　with　his　own。　　With　that　glimpse　and　that

sensation　the　vulgarity　and　the　tawdriness　of　their　surroundings；

the　guttering　candles　in　their　sconces；　the　bizarre　figures；　the

unmeaning　faces　seemed　to　be　whirled　far　into　distant　space。　　They

were　alone　with　night　and　nature；　it　was　they　who　were　still；　all

else　had　receded　in　a　vanishing　perspective　of　dull　reality；　in

which　they　had　no　part。



Play　on；　O　waltz　of　Strauss！　　Whirl　on；　O　love　and　youth！　　For　you

cannot　whirl　so　swiftly　but　that　this　receding　world　will　return

again　with　narrowing　circle　to　hem　you　in。　　Faster；　O　cracked

clarionet！　　Louder；　O　too　brazen　bassoon！　　Keep　back；　O　dull　and

earthy　environment；　till　master　and　pupil　have　dreamed　their

foolish　dream！



They　are　in　fancy　alone　on　the　river…bank；　only　the　round　moon

above　them　and　their　linked　shadows　faintly　fluttering　in　the

stream。　　They　have　drawn　so　closely　together　now　that　her　arm　is

encircling　his　neck；　her　soft　eyes　uplifted　like　the　moon's

reflection　and　drowning　into　his；　closer　and　closer　till　their

hearts　stop　beating　and　their　lips　have　met　in　a　first　kiss。

Faster；　O　little　feet！　swing　clear；　O　Cressy's　skirt　and　keep　the

narrowing　circle　back！　。　。　。　　They　are　again　alone；　the　judges'

dais　and　the　emblazoning　of　the　State　caught　in　a　single　whirling

flash　of　consciousness　are　changed　to　an　altar；　seen　dimly　through

the　bridal　veil　that　covers　her　fair　head。　　There　is　the　murmur　of

voices　mingling　two　lives　in　one。　　They　turn　and　pass　proudly　down

between　the　aisles　of　wondering　festal　faces。　　Ah！　the　circle　is

drawing　closer。　　One　more　quick　whirl　to　keep　them　back；　O　flying

skirt　and　dainty…winged　feet！　　Too　late！　　The　music　stops。　　The

tawdry　walls　shut　in　again；　the　vulgar　crowds　return；　they　stand

pale　and　quiet；　the　centre　of　a　ring　of　breathless　admiring；

frightened；　or　forbidding　faces。　　Her　arms　fold　like　wings　at　her

side。　　The　waltz　is　over。



A　shrill　feminine　chorus　assail　her　with　praises；　struck　here　and

there　with　a　metallic　ring　of　envy；　a　dozen　all…daring　cavaliers；

made　reckless　by　her　grace　and　beauty；　clamor　for　her　hand　in　the

next　waltz。　　She　replies；　not　to　them；　but　to　him；　〃Not　again；〃　and

slips　away　in　the　crowd　with　that　strange　new　shyness　that　of　all

her　transformations　seems　the　most　delicious。　　Yet　so　conscious　are

they　of　their　mutual　passion　that　they　do　not　miss　each　other；　and

he　turns　away　as　if　their　next　meeting　were　already　an　appointed

tryst。　　A　few　congratulate　him　on　his　skill。　　Johnny's　paragon

looks　after　him　curiously；　certain　elders　shake　hands　with　him

perplexedly；　as　if　not　quite　sure　of　the　professional　consistency

of　his　performance。　　Those　charming　tide…waiters　on　social　success；

the　fair；　artfully　mingling　expectation　with　compliment；　only

extract　from　him　the　laughing　statement　that　this　one　waltz　was　the

single　exception　allowed　him　from　the　rule　of　his　professional

conduct；　and　he　refers　them　to　his　elder　critics。　　A　single　face；

loutish；　looming；　and　vindictive；　stands　on　among　the　crowdthe

face　of　Seth　Davis。　　He　had　not　seen　him　since　he　left　the　school；

he　had　forgotten　his　existence；　even　now　he　only　remembered　his

successor；　Joe　Masters；　and　he　looked　curiously　around　to　see　if

that　later　suitor　of　Cressy's　was　present。　　It　was　not　until　he

reached　the　door　that　he　began　to　think　seriously　of　Seth　Davis's

jealous　face；　and　was　roused　to　a　singular　indignation。　　〃Why

hadn't　this　great　fool　vented　his　jealousy　on　the　openly

compromising　Masters；〃　he　thought。　　He　even　turned　and　walked　back

with　some　vaguely　aggressive　instinct；　but　the　young　man　had

disappeared。　　With　this　incident　still　in　his　mind　he　came　upon

Uncle　Ben　and　Hiram　McKinstry　standing　among　the　spectators　in　the

doorway。　　Why　might　not　Uncle　Ben　be　jealous　too？　and　if　his　single

waltz　had　really　appeared　so　compromising　why　should　not　Cressy's

father　object？　　But　both　menalbeit；　McKinstry　usually　exhibited　a

vague　unreasoning　contempt　for　Uncle　Benwere　unanimous　in　their

congratulations　and　outspoken　admiration。



〃When　I　see'd　you　sail　in；　Mr。　Ford；〃　said　Uncle　Ben；　with　abstract

reflectiveness；　〃I　sez　to　the　fellers；　'lie　low；　boys；　and　you'll

see　style。'　　And　when　you　put　on　them　first　steps；　I　sez；　'that's

Frenchthe　latest　high…toned　French　styleouter　the　best　masters；

andand　outer　the　best　books。　　For　why？'　sez　I。　　'It's　the　same

long；　sliding　stroke　you　see　in　his　copies。　　There's　that　long　up

sweep；　and　that　easy　curve　to　the　right　with　no　hitch。　　That's　the

sorter　swing　he　hez　in　readin'　po'try　too。　　That's　why　it's　called

the　po'try　of　motion；'　sez　I。　　'And　you　ken　bet　your　boots；　boys；

it's　all　in　the　trainin'　o'　education。'〃



〃Mr。　Ford；〃　said　Mr。　McKinstry　gravely；　slightly　waving　a　lavender…

colored　kid　glove；　with　which　he　had　elected　to　conceal　his　maimed

hand；　and　at　the　same　moment　indicate　a　festal　occasion：　〃I　hev　to

thank　ye　for　the　way　you　took　out　that　child　o'　mine；　like　ez　she

woz　an　ontried　filly；　and　put　her　through　her　paces。　　I　don't　dance

myself；　partikly　in　that　gaitwhich　I　take　to　be　suthin'　betwixt　a

lope　and　a　canter　and　I　don't　get　to　see　much　dancin'　nowadays　on

account　o'　bein'　worrited　by　stock；　but　seein'　you　two　together

just　now；　suthin'　came　over　me；　and　I　don't　think　I　ever　felt　so

kam　in　my　life。〃



The　blood　rushed　to　the　master's　cheek　with　an　unexpected

consciousness　of　guilt　and　shame。　　〃But；〃　he　stammered　awkwardly；

〃your　daughter　dances　beautifully　herself；　she　has　certainly　had

practice。〃



〃That；〃　said　McKinstry；　laying　his　gloved　hand　impressively　on　the

master's　shoulder；　with　the　empty　little　finger　still　more

emphasized　by　being　turned　backward　in　the　net；　〃that　may　be　ez　it

ez；　but　I　wanted　to　say　that　it　was　the　simple；　easy；　fammily　touch

that　you　gev　it；　that　took　me。　　Toward　the　end；　when　you　kinder

gathered　her　up　and　she　sorter　dropped　her　head　into　your　breast…

pocket；　and　seemed　to　go　to　sleep；　like　ez　ef　she　was　still　a

little　girl；　it　so　reminded　me　of　the　times　when　I　used　to　tote　her

myself　walkin'　by　the　waggin　at　Platt　River；　that　it　made　me　wish

the　old　woman　was　here　to　see　it。〃



Still　coloring；　the　master　cast　a　rapid；　sidelong　glance　at

McKinstry's　dark　red　face　and　beard；　but　in　the　slow　satisfaction

of　his　features　there　was　no　trace　of　that　irony　which　the　master's

self…consciousness　knew。



〃Then　your　wife　is　not　here？〃　said　Mr。　Ford　abstractedly。



〃She　war　at　church。　　She　reckoned　that　I'd　do　to　look　arter　Cressy

she　bein'；　so　to　speak；　under　conviction。　　D'ye　mind　walkin'　this

way　a　bit；　I　want　to　speak　a　word　with　ye？〃　　He　put　his　maimed　hand

through　the　master's　arm；　after　his　former　fashion；　and　led　him　to

a　corner。



〃Did　ye　happen　to　see　Seth　Davis　about　yer？〃



〃I　believe　I　saw　him　a　moment　ago；〃　returned　Mr。　Ford　half

contemptuously。



〃Did　he　get　off　anythin'　rough　on　ye？〃



〃Certainly　not；〃　said　the　master　haughtily。　　〃Why　should　he　dare？〃



〃That's　so；〃　said　McKinstry　meditatively。　　〃You　had　better　keep

right　on　in　that　line。　　That's　your　gait；　remember。　　Leave　himor

his　fatherit's　the　same　thingto　ME。　　Don't　YOU　let　yourself　be

roped　in　to　this　yer　row　betwixt　me　and　the　Davises。　　You　ain't　got

no　call　to　do　it。　　It's　already　been　on　my　mind　your　bringin'　that

gun　to　me　in　the　Harrison　row。　　The　old　woman　hadn't　oughter　let

youn