eben holden-第32节
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nd missed her。 We were a month in the wilderness and came out a little west of Albany where I took a boat for New York to see Hope。 I came down the North River between the great smoky cities； on either side of it； one damp and chilly morning。 The noise； the crowds； the immensity of the town appalled me。 At John Fuller's I found that Hope had gone home and while they tried to detain me longer I came back on the night boat of the same day。 Hope and I passed each other in that journey and I did not see her until the summer preceding my third and last year in college … the faculty having allowed me to take two years in one。 Her letters had come less frequently and when she came I saw a grand young lady of fine manners； her beauty shaping to an ampler mould； her form straightening to the dignity of womanhood。
At the depot our hands were cold and trembling with excitement … neither of us； I fancy； knowing quite how far to go in our greeting。 Our correspondence had been true to the promise made her mother … there had not been a word of love in it … only now and then a suggestion of our tender feeling。 We hesitated only for the briefest moment。 Then I put my arm about her neck and kissed her。
'I am so glad to see you；' she said。
Well； she was charming and beautiful； but different； and probably not more different than was I。 She was no longer the laughing； simple…mannered child of Faraway； whose heart was as one's hand before him in the daylight。 She had now a bit of the woman's reserve … her prudence； her skill in hiding the things of the heart。 I loved her more than ever； but somehow I felt it hopeless … that she had grown out of my life。 She was much in request among the people of Hillsborough； and we went about a good deal and had many callers。 But we had little time to ourselves。 She seemed to avoid that； and had much to say of the grand young men who came to call on her in the great city。 Anyhow it all hurt me to the soul and even robbed me of my sleep。 A better lover than I would have made an end of dallying and got at the truth； come what might。 But I was of the Puritans； and not of the Cavaliers； and my way was that which God had marked for me； albeit I must own no man had ever a keener eye for a lovely woman or more heart to please her。 A mighty pride had come to me and I had rather have thrown my heart to vultures than see it an unwelcome offering。 And I was quite out of courage with Hope； she； I dare say； was as much out of patience with me。
She returned in the late summer and I went back to my work at college in a hopeless fashion that gave way under the whip of a strong will。
I made myself as contented as possible。 I knew all the pretty girls and went about with some of them to the entertainments of the college season。 At last came the long looked for day of my graduation … the end of my student life。
The streets of the town were thronged； every student having the college colours in his coat lapel。 The little company of graduates trembled with fright as the people crowded in to the church； whispering and faring themselves； in eager anticipation。 As the former looked from the two side pews where they sat； many familiar faces greeted them … the faces of fathers and mothers aglow with the inner light of pride and pleasure； the faces of many they loved come to claim a share in the glory of that day。 I found my own； I remember； but none of them gave me such help as that of Uncle Eb。 However I might fare； none would feel the pride or disgrace of it more keenly than he。 I shall never forget how he turned his head to catch every word when I ascended the platform。 As I warmed to my argument I could see him nudging the arm of David； who sat beside him； as if to say； 'There's the boy that came over the hills with me in a pack basket。' when I stopped a moment； groping for the next word； he leaned forward； embracing his knee； firmly； as if intending to draw off a boot。 It was all the assistance he could give me。 when the exercises were over I found Uncle Eb by the front door of the church； waiting for me。
'Willie； ye done noble！' said he。
'Did my very best； Uncle Eb；' I replied。
'Liked it grand … I did； sartin。' 'Glad you liked it； Uncle Eb。'
'Showed great larnin'。 who was the man 'at give out the pictur's？'
He meant the president who had conferred the degrees。 I spoke the name。
'Deceivin' lookin' man； ain't he？ Seen him often； but never took no pertick'lar notice of him before。'
'How deceiving？' I enquired。
'Talked so kind of plain；' he replied。 'I could understan' him as easy as though he'd been swappin' hosses。 But when you got up； Bill'。 why； you jes' riz right up in the air an； there couldn't no dum fool tell what you was talkin' 'bout。'
Whereat I concluded that Uncle Eb's humour was as deep as it was kindly； but I have never been quite sure whether the remark was a compliment or a bit of satire。
Chapter 28
The folks of Faraway have been carefully if rudely pictured； but the look of my own person； since I grew to the stature of manhood； I have left wholly to the imagination of the reader。 I will wager he knew long since what manner of man I was and has measured me to the fraction of an inch； and knows even the colour of my hair and eyes from having been so long in my company。 If not … well； I shall have to write him a letter。
when Uncle Eb and I took the train for New York that summer day in 1860； some fifteen years after we came down Paradise Road with the dog and wagon and pack basket； my head； which； in that far day； came only to the latitude of his trouser pocket； had now mounted six inches above his own。 That is all I can say here on that branch of my subject。 I was leaving to seek my fortune in the big city； Uncle Eb was off for a holiday and to see Hope and bring her home for a short visit。 I remember with what sadness I looked back that morning at mother and father as they stood by the gate slowly waving their handkerchiefs。 Our home at last was emptied of its young； and even as they looked the shadow of old age must have fallen suddenly before them。 I knew how they would go back into that lonely room and how； while the clock went on with its ticking； Elizabeth would sit down and cover her face a moment； while David would make haste to take up his chores。
We sat in silence a long time after the train was off； a mighty sadness holding our tongues。 Uncle Eb； who had never ridden a long journey on the cars before； had put on his grand suit of broadcloth。 The day was hot and dusty； and before we had gone far he was sadiy soiled。 But a suit never gave him any worry； once it was on。 He sat calmly； holding his knee in his hands and looking out of the open window； a squint in his eyes that stood for some high degree of interest in the scenery。
'What do you think of this country？' I enquired。
'Looks purty fair；' said he； as he brushed his face with his handkerchief and coughed to clear his throat of the dust； 'but 'tain't quite so pleasant to the taste as some other parts o' the country。 I ruther liked the flavour of Saint Lawrence all through； but Jefferson is a leetle gritty。'
He put down the window as he spoke。
'A leetle tobaccer'll improve it some；' he added； as his hand went down for the old silver box。 'The way these cars dew rip along！ Consamed if it ain't like flyin'！ Kind o' makes me feel like a bird。'
The railroad was then not the familiar thing it is now in the north country。 The bull in the fields had not yet come to an understanding of its rights； and was frequently tempted into argument with a locomotive。 Bill Fountain； who came out of a back township； one day had even tied his faithful hound to the rear platform。
Our train came to a long stop for wood and water near midday； and then we opened the lunch basket that mother had given us。
'Neighbour；' said a solemn…faced man； who sat in front of us； 'do you think the cars are ag'in the Bible？ D'you think a Christian orter ride on 'em？'
'Sartin；' said Uncle Eb。 'Less the constable's after him … then I think he orter be on a balky hoss。'
'Wife'n I hes talked it over a good deal；' said the man。 'Some says it's ag'in the Bible。 The minister 'at preaches over 'n our neighbourhood says if God hed wanted men t' fly he'd g'in 'em wings。'
'S'pose if he'd ever wanted 'm t' skate he'd hed 'em born with skates on？' said Uncle Eb。
'Danno；' said the man。 'It behooves us all to be careful。 The Bible says 〃Go not after new things。〃'
'My friend；' said Uncle Eb； between bites of a doughnut； 'I don' care what I ride in so long as 'tain't a hearse。 I want sumthin' at's comfortable an' purty middlin' spry。 It'll do us good up here t' git jerked a few hunderd miles an' back ev'ry leetle while。 Keep our j'ints limber。 We'll live longer fer it； an' thet'll please God sure … cuz I don't think he's hankerin' fer our society … not a bit。 Don' make no difference t' hirn whuther we ride 'n a spring wagon er on the cars so long's we're right side up 'n movin'。 We need more steam； we're too dum slow。 Kind o' think a leetle more steam in our religion wouldn't hurt us a bit。 It's purty fur behind。'
We got to Albany in the evening； just in time for the night boat。 Uncle Eb was a sight in his dusty broadcloth； when we got
