the riverman-第18章

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veil　that　held　close　her　hat。



〃Yes；〃　replied　Orde。　　〃The　lumber…jacks　say　that　the　woods　are　the　

poor　man's　overcoat。〃



She　paused　to　savour　this；　her　head　on　one　side；　her　arms　upraised　

to　the　knot。



〃Oh；　I　like　that！〃　said　she；　continuing　her　task。　　In　a　moment　or　so　

the　veil　hung　free。　　She　removed　it　and　the　hat；　and　swung　them　both　

from　one　finger；　and　threw　back　her　head。



〃Hear　all　the　birds！　〃　she　said。



Softly　she　began　to　utter　a　cheeping　noise　between　her　lips　and　

teeth；　low　and　plaintive。　　At　once　the　volume　of　bird…sounds　about　

increased；　the　half…seen　flashes　became　more　frequent。　　A　second　

later　the　twigs　were　alive　with　tiny　warblers　and　creepers；　flirting　

from　branch　to　branch；　with　larger；　more　circumspect　chewinks；　

catbirds；　and　finches　hopping　down　from　above；　very　silent；　very　

grave。　　In　the　depths　of　the　thickets　the　shyer　hermit　and　olive　

thrushes　and　the　oven　birds　revealed　themselves　ghost…like；　or　as　

sea…growths　lift　into　a　half　visibility　through　translucent　shadows　

the　colour　of　themselves。　　All　were　very　intent；　very　earnest；　very　

interested；　each　after　his　own　manner；　in　the　comradeship　of　the　

featherhood　he　imagined　to　be　uttering　distressful　cries。　　A　few；　

like　the　chickadees；　quivered　their　wings；　opened　their　little　

mouths；　fluttered　down　tiny　but　aggressive　against　the　disaster。　　

Others　hopped　here　and　there　restlessly；　uttering　plaintive；　low…

toned　cheeps。　　The　shyest　contented　themselves　by　a　discreet；　

silent；　and　distant　sympathy。　　Three　or　four　freebooting　Jays；　

attracted　not　so　much　by　the　supposed　calls　for　help　as　by　

curiosity；　fluttered　among　the　tops　of　the　trees；　uttering　their　

harsh　notes。



Finally；　the　girl　ended　her　performance　in　a　musical　laugh。



〃Run　away；　Brighteyes；〃　she　called。　　〃It's　all　right；　nobody's　

damaged。〃



She　waved　her　hand。　　As　though　at　a　signal；　the　host　she　had　evoked　

melted　back　into　the　shadows　of　the　forest。　　Only　the　chickadee；　

impudent　as　ever；　retreated　scolding　rather　ostentatiously；　and　the　

jays；　splendid　in　their　ornate　blue；　screamed　opinions　at　each　other　

from　the　tops　of　trees。



〃How　would　you　like　to　be　a　bird？〃　she　inquired。



〃Hadn't　thought；〃　replied　Orde。



〃Don't　you　ever　indulge　in　vain　and　idle　speculations？〃　she　

inquired。　　〃Never　mind；　don't　answer。　　It's　too　much　to　expect　of　a　

man。〃



She　set　herself　in　idle　motion　down　the　slope；　swinging　the　hat　at　

the　end　of　its　veil；　pausing　to　look　or　listen；　humming　a　little　

melody　between　her　closed　lips；　throwing　her　head　back　to　breathe　

deep　the　warm　air；　revelling　in　the　woods　sounds　and　woods　odours　

and　woods　life　with　entire　self…abandonment。　　Orde　followed　her　in　

silence。　　She　seemed　to　be　quite　without　responsibility　in　regard　to　

him；　and　yet　an　occasional　random　remark　thrown　in　his　direction　

proved　that　he　was　not　forgotten。　　Finally　they　emerged　from　the　

beach　woods。



They　faced　an　open　rolling　country。　　As　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　

were　the　old　stumps　of　pine　trees。　　Sometimes　they　stood　in　place；　

burned　and　scarred；　but　attesting　mutely　the　abiding　place　of　a　

spirit　long　since　passed　away。　　Sometimes　they　had　been　uprooted　and　

dragged　to　mark　the　boundaries　of　fields；　where　they　raised　an　

abatis　of　twisted　roots　to　the　sky。



The　girl　stopped　short　as　she　came　face　to　face　with　this　open　

country。　　The　inner　uplift；　that　had　lent　to　her　aspect　the　wide…

eyed；　careless　joy　of　a　child；　faded。　　In　its　place　came　a　new　and　

serious　gravity。　　She　turned　on　him　troubled　eyes。



〃You　do　this；〃　she　accused　him　quite　simply。



For　answer　he　motioned　to　the　left　where　below　them　lay　a　wide　and　

cultivated　countrysidefarmhouses　surrounded　by　elms；　compact　wood　

lots　of　hardwood；　crops　and　orchards；　all　fair　and　pleasant　across　

the　bosom　of　a　fertile　nature。



〃And　this；〃　said　he。　　〃That　valley　was　once　nothing　but　a　pine　

forestand　so　was　all　the　southern　part　of　the　State；　the　peach　

belt　and　the　farms。　　And　for　that　matter　Indiana；　too；　and　all　the　

other　forest　States　right　out　to　the　prairies。　　Where　would　we　be　

now；　if　we　HADN'T　done　that？〃　he　pointed　across　at　the　stump…covered　

hills。



Mischief　had　driven　out　the　gravity　from　the　girl's　eyes。　　She　had　

lowered　her　head　slightly　sidewise　as　though　to　conceal　their　

expression　from　him。



〃I　was　beginning　to　be　afraid　you'd　say　'yes…indeed；'〃　said　she。



Orde　looked　bewildered；　then　remembered　the　Incubus；　and　laughed。



〃I　haven't　been　very　conversational；〃　he　acknowledged。



〃Certainly　NOT！〃　she　said　severely。　　〃That　would　have　been　very　

disappointing。　　There　has　been　nothing　to　say。〃　　She　turned　and　

waved　her　hat　at　the　beech　woods　falling　sombre　against　the　lowering　

sun。



〃Good…bye；〃　she　said　gravely；　〃and　pleasant　dreams　to　you。　　I　hope　

those　very　saucy　little　birds　won't　keep　you　awake。〃　　She　looked　up　

at　Orde。　　〃He　was　rather　nice　to　us　this　afternoon；〃　she　explained；　

〃and　it's　always　well　to　be　polite　to　them　anyway。〃　　She　gazed　

steadily　at　Orde　for　signs　of　amusement。　　He　resolutely　held　his　

face　sympathetic。



〃Now　I　think　we'll　go　home；〃　said　she。



They　made　their　way　between　the　stumps　to　the　edge　of　the　sand…hill　

overlooking　the　village。　　With　one　accord　they　stopped。　　The　low…

slanting　sun　cast　across　the　vista　a　sleepy　light　of　evening。



〃How　would　you　like　to　live　in　a　place　like　that　all　your　life？〃　

asked　Orde。



〃I　don't　know。〃　　She　weighed　her　words　carefully。　　〃It　would　depend。　　

The　place　isn't　of　so　much　importance；　it　seems　to　me。　　It's　the　

life　one　is　called　to。　　It's　whether　one　finds　her　soul's　realm　or　

not　that　a　place　is　liveable　or　not。　　I　can　imagine　entering　my　

kingdom　at　a　railway　water…tank；〃　she　said　quaintly；　〃or　missing　it　

entirely　in　a　big　city。〃



Orde　looked　out　over　the　raw　little　village　with　a　new　interest。



〃Of　course　I　can　see　how　a　man's　work　can　lie　in　a　small　place；〃　

said　he；　〃but　a　woman　is　different。〃



〃Why　is　a　woman　different？〃　she　challenged。　　〃What　is　her　'work；'　as　

you　call　it；　and　why　shouldn't　it；　as　well　as　a　man's；　lie　in　a　

small　place？　　What　is　workoutside　of　drudgeryunless　it　is　

correspondence　of　one's　abilities　to　one's　task？〃



〃But　the　compensations〃　began　Orde　vaguely。



〃Compensations？〃　she　cried。　　〃What　do　you　mean？　　Here　are　the　woods　

and　fields；　the　river；　the　lake；　the　birds；　and　the　breezes。　　We'll　

check　them　off　against　the　theatre　and　balls。　　Books　can　be　had　here　

as　well　as　anywhere。　　As　to　people：　in　a　large　city　you　meet　a　great　

many；　and　they're　all　busy；　and　unless　you　make　an　especial　and　

particular　effortwhich　you're　not　likely　toyou'll　see　them　only　

casually　and　once　in　a　great　while。　　In　a　small　place　you　know　fewer　

people；　but　you　know　them　intimately。〃　　She　broke　off　with　a　half…

laugh。　　〃I'm　from　New　York；〃　she　stated　humorously；　〃and　you've　

magicked　me　into　an　eloquent　defense　of　Podunk！〃　　She　laughed　up　at　

Orde　quite　frankly。　　〃Giant　Strides！〃　she　challenged　suddenly。　　She　

turned　off　the　edge　of　the　sand…hill；　and　began　to　plunge　down　its　

slope；　leaning　far　back；　her　arms　extended；　increasing　as　much　as　

possible　the　length　of　each　step。　　Orde　followed　at　full　speed。　　

When　the　bottom　was　reached；　he　steadied　her　to　a　halt。　　She　shook　

herself；　straightened　her　hat；　and　wound　the　veil　around　it。　　Her　

whole　aspect　seemed　to　have　changed　with　the　descent　into　the　

conventionality　of　the　village　street。　　The　old；　gentle　though　

capable　and　self…contained　reserve　had　returned。　　She　moved　beside　

Orde　with　dignity。



〃I　came　down　with　Jane　and　Mrs。　Hubbard　to　see　Mr。　Hubbard　off　on　

the　boat　for　Milwaukee　last　night；〃　she　told　him。　　〃Of　course　we　had　

to　wait　over　Sunday。　　Mrs。　Hubbard　and　Jane　had　to　see　some　relative　

or　other；　but　I　preferred　to　take　a　walk。〃



〃Where　are　you　staying？〃　asked　Orde。



〃At　the　Bennetts'。　　Do　you　know　where　it　is？〃



〃Yes；〃　replied　Orde。



They　said　little　more　until　the　Bennetts'　gate　was　reached。　　Orde　

declined　to　come　in。



〃Good…night；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　thank　you。　　You　did　not　once　act　

as　though　you　thought　I　was　silly　or　crazy。　　And　you　didn't　try；　as　

all　the　rest　of　them　would；　to　act　silly　too。　　You　couldn't　have　

done　it；　and　you　didn't　try。　　Oh；　you　may　have　felt　itI　know！〃　　

She　smiled　one　of　her　quaint　and　quizzical　smiles。　　〃But　men　aren't　

built　for　foolishness。　　They　have　to　leave　that　to　us。　　You've　been　

very　nice　this　afternoon；　and　it's　helped　a　lot。　　I'm　good　for　quite　

a　long　stretch　now。　　Good…night。〃



She　nodded　to　him　and　left　him　tongue…tied　by　the　gate。



Orde；　however；　walked　back　to　the　hotel　in　a　black　rage　with　himself　

over　what　he　termed　his　imbecility。　　As　he　remembered　it；　he　had　

made　just　one　consecutive　speech　that　afternoon。



〃Joe；〃　said　he　to　Newmark；　at　the　hotel　office；　〃what's　the　plural　

form　of　Incubus？　　I　dimly　remember　it　isn't　'busses。'〃



〃Incubi；〃　answered　Newmark。



〃Thanks；〃　said　Orde　gloomily。







XIII





I　have　Heinzman's　contract　all　drawn；〃　said　Newmark　the　next　

morning；　〃and　I　think　I'll　go　around　with　you　to　the　office。〃



At　the　appointed　time　they　found　the　little　German　awaiting　them；　a　

rotund　smile　of　false　good…nature　illuminating　his　rosy　face。　　Orde　

introduced　his　partner。　　Newmark　immediately　took　charge　of　the　

interview。



〃I　have　executed　here　the　contract；　and　the　bonds　secured　by　Mr。　

Orde's　and　my　shares　of　stock　in　the　new　company；〃　he　explained。　　

〃It　is　only　necessary　that　you　affix　your　signature　and　summon　the　

required　witnesses。〃



Heinzman　reached　his　hands　for　the　papers；　beaming　over　his　glasses　

at　the　two　young　men。



As　he　read；　however；　his　smile　vanished；　and　he　looked　up　sharply。



〃Vat　is　this？〃　he　inquired；　a　new　crispness　in　his　voice。　　〃You　tolt　

me；〃　he　accused　Orde；　〃dot　you　were　not　brepared　to　break　out　the　

rollways。　　You　tolt　me　you　would　egspect　me　to　do　that　for　myself。〃



〃Certainly；〃　agreed　Orde。



〃Vell；　why　do　you　put　in　this？〃　demanded　Heinzman；　reading　from　the　

paper　in　his　hand。　　〃'In　case　said　rollways　belonging　to　said　

parties　of　the　second　part　are　not　broken　out　by　the　time　the　drive　

has　reached　them；　and　in　case　on　demand　said　parties　of　the　second　

part　do　refuse　or　do　not　exercise　due　diligence　in　breaking　out　said　

rollways；　the　said　parties　of　the　first　part　shall　themselves　break　

out　said　rollways；　and　the　said　parties　of　the　second　part　do　hereby　

agree　to　reimburse　said　parties　of　the　first　part　at　the　rate　of　a　

dollar　per　thousand　board　feet。'〃



〃That　is　merely　to　protect　ourselves；〃　struck　in　Newmark。



〃But；〃　exploded　Heinzman；　his　face　purpling；　〃a　dollar　a　tousand　is　

absurd！〃



〃Of　course　it　is；〃　agreed　Newmark。　　〃We　expect　it　to　be。　　But　also　

we　expect　you