the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第16节
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matter of conscience； a difficult subject with which to deal in a person of
Rena's temperament。
〃My dear sister；〃 he replied； 〃why should he know？ We haven't
asked him for his pedigree； we don't care to know it。 If he cares for ours；
he should ask for it； and it would then be time enough to raise the question。
You love him； I imagine； and wish to make him happy？〃
It is the highest wish of the woman who loves。 The enamored man
seeks his own happiness； the loving woman finds no sacrifice too great for
the loved one。 The fiction of chivalry made man serve woman； the fact
of human nature makes woman happiest when serving where she loves。
〃Yes； oh； yes；〃 Rena exclaimed with fervor； clasping her hands
unconsciously。 〃I'm afraid he'd be unhappy if he knew； and it would
make me miserable to think him unhappy。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Warwick； 〃suppose we should tell him our secret
and put ourselves in his power； and that he should then conclude that he
couldn't marry you？ Do you imagine he would be any happier than he is
now； or than if he should never know？〃
Ah； no！ she could not think so。 One could not tear love out of one's
heart without pain and suffering。
There was a knock at the door。 Warwick opened it to the nurse； who
stood with little Albert in her arms。
〃Please； suh；〃 said the girl； with a curtsy； 〃de baby 's be'n oryin' an'
frettin' fer Miss Rena； an' I 'lowed she mought want me ter fetch 'im； ef it
wouldn't'sturb her。〃
〃Give me the darling；〃 exclaimed Rena； coming forward and taking
the child from the nurse。 〃It wants its auntie。 Come to its auntie； bless
its little heart！〃
Little Albert crowed with pleasure and put up his pretty mouth for a
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kiss。 Warwick found the sight a pleasant one。 If he could but quiet his
sister's troublesome scruples； he might erelong see her fondling beautiful
children of her own。 Even if Rena were willing to risk her happiness；
and he to endanger his position； by a quixotic frankness； the future of his
child must not be compromised。
〃You wouldn't want to make George unhappy；〃 Warwick resumed
when the nurse retired。 〃Very well； would you not be willing； for his
sake； to keep a secretyour secret and mine； and that of the innocent child
in your arms？ Would you involve all of us in difficulties merely to
secure your own peace of mind？ Doesn't such a course seem just the
least bit selfish？ Think the matter over from that point of view； and we'll
speak of it later in the day。 I shall be with George all the morning； and I
may be able； by a little management； to find out his views on the subject
of birth and family； and all that。 Some men are very liberal； and love is a
great leveler。 I'll sound him； at any rate。〃
He kissed the baby and left Rena to her own reflections； to which his
presentation of the case had given a new turn。 It had never before
occurred to her to regard silence in the light of self…sacrifice。 It had
seemed a sort of sin； her brother's argument made of it a virtue。 It was
not the first time； nor the last； that right and wrong had been a matter of
view…point。
Tryon himself furnished the opening for Warwick's proposed
examination。 The younger man could not long remain silent upon the
subject uppermost in his mind。 〃I am anxious； John；〃 he said； 〃to have
Rowena name the happiest day of my lifeour wedding day。 When the
trial in Edgecombe County is finished； I shall have no further business
here； and shall be ready to leave for home。 I should like to take my bride
with me； and surprise my mother。〃
Mothers； thought Warwick； are likely to prove inquisitive about their
sons' wives； especially when taken unawares in matters of such
importance。 This seemed a good time to test the liberality of Tryon's
views； and to put forward a shield for his sister's protection。
〃Are you sure； George； that your mother will find the surprise
agreeable when you bring home a bride of whom you know so little and
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your mother nothing at all？〃
Tryon had felt that it would be best to surprise his mother。 She would
need only to see Rena to approve of her； but she was so far prejudiced in
favor of Blanche Leary that it would be wisest to present the argument
after having announced the irrevocable conclusion。 Rena herself would
be a complete justification for the accomplished deed。
〃I think you ought to know； George；〃 continued Warwick； without
waiting for a reply to his question； 〃that my sister and I are not of an old
family； or a rich family； or a distinguished family； that she can bring you
nothing but herself； that we have no connections of which you could boast；
and no relatives to whom we should be glad to introduce you。 You must
take us for ourselves alonewe are new people。〃
〃My dear John；〃 replied the young man warmly； 〃there is a great deal
of nonsense about families。 If a man is noble and brave and strong； if a
woman is beautiful and good and true； what matters it about his or her
ancestry？ If an old family can give them these things； then it is valuable；
if they possess them without it； then of what use is it； except as a source of
empty pride； which they would be better without？ If all new families
were like yours； there would be no advantage in belonging to an old one。
All I care to know of Rowena's family is that she is your sister； and you'll
pardon me； old fellow； if I add that she hardly needs even you；she carries
the stamp of her descent upon her face and in her heart。〃
〃It makes me glad to hear you speak in that way；〃 returned Warwick；
delighted by the young man's breadth and earnestness。
〃Oh； I mean every word of it；〃 replied Tryon。 〃Ancestors； indeed； for
Rowena！ I will tell you a family secret； John； to prove how little I care
for ancestors。 My maternal great…great…grandfather； a hundred and fifty
years ago； was hanged； drawn； and quartered for stealing cattle across the
Scottish border。 How is that for a pedigree？ Behold in me the lineal
descendant of a felon！〃
Warwick felt much relieved at this avowal。 His own statement had
not touched the vital point involved； it had been at the best but a half…truth；
but Tryon's magnanimity would doubtless protect Rena from any close
inquiry concerning her past。 It even occurred to Warwick for a moment
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that he might safely disclose the secret to Tryon； but an appreciation of
certain facts of history and certain traits of human nature constrained him
to put the momentary thought aside。 It was a great relief； however； to
imagine that Tryon might think lightly of this thing that he need never
know。
〃Well； Rena；〃 he said to his sister when he went home at noon： 〃I've
sounded George。〃
〃What did he say？〃 she asked eagerly。
〃I told him we were people of no family； and that we had no relatives
that we were proud of。 He said he loved you for yourself； and would
never ask you about your ancestry。〃
〃Oh； I am so glad！〃 exclaimed Rena joyfully。 This report left her
very happy for about three hours； or until she began to analyze carefully
her brother's account of what had been said。 Warwick's statement had
not been specific；he had not told Tryon THE thing。 George's reply； in
turn； had been a mere generality。 The concrete fact that oppressed her
remained unrevealed； and her doubt was still unsatisfied。
Rena was occupied with this thought when
