the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第21节
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call at our house as soon as he can。〃
Tryon was in that state of somnolence in which one may dream and
yet be aware that one is dreaming；the state where one； during a dream；
dreams that one pinches one's self to be sure that one is not dreaming。
He was therefore aware of a ringing quality about the words he had just
heard that did not comport with the shadowy converse of a dreaman
incongruity in the remark； too； which marred the harmony of the vision。
The shock was sufficient to disturb Tryon's slumber； and he struggled
slowly back to consciousness。 When fully awake； he thought he heard a
light footfall descending the stairs。
〃Was there some one here？〃 he inquired of the attendant in the outer
office； who was visible through the open door。
〃Yas； suh；〃 replied the boy； 〃a young cullud 'oman wuz in jes' now；
axin' fer de doctuh。〃
Tryon felt a momentary touch of annoyance that a negro woman
should have intruded herself into his dream at its most interesting point。
Nevertheless； the voice had been so real； his imagination had reproduced
with such exactness the dulcet tones so dear to him； that he turned his head
involuntarily and looked out of the window。 He could just see the flutter
of a woman's skirt disappearing around the corner。
A moment later the doctor came bustling in； a plump； rosy man of
fifty or more； with a frank； open countenance and an air of genial good
nature。 Such a doctor； Tryon fancied； ought to enjoy a wide popularity。
His mere presence would suggest life and hope and healthfulness。
〃My dear boy；〃 exclaimed the doctor cordially； after Tryon had
introduced himself； 〃I'm delighted to meet youor any one of the old
blood。 Your mother and I were sweethearts； long ago； when we both
wore pinafores； and went to see our grandfather at Christmas； and I met
her more than once； and paid her more than one compliment； after she had
grown to be a fine young woman。 You're like her！ too； but not quite so
handsome you've more of what I suppose to be the Tryon favor； though I
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never met your father。 So one of old Duncan McSwayne's notes went so
far as that？ Well； well； I don't know where you won't find them。 One of
them turned up here the other day from New York。
〃The man you want to see；〃 he added later in the conversation； 〃is old
Judge Straight。 He's getting somewhat stiff in the joints； but he knows
more law； and more about the McSwayne estate； than any other two
lawyers in town。 If anybody can collect your claim； Judge Straight can。
I'll send my boy Dave over to his office。 Dave；〃 he called to his
attendant； 〃run over to Judge Straight's office and see if he's there。
〃There was a freshet here a few weeks ago；〃 he want on； when the
colored man had departed； 〃and they had to open the flood…gates and let
the water out of the mill pond； for if the dam had broken； as it did twenty
years ago； it would have washed the pillars from under the judge's office
and let it down in the creek； and〃
〃Jedge Straight ain't in de office jes' now； suh；〃 reported the doctor's
man Dave； from the head of the stairs。
〃Did you ask when he'd be back？〃
〃No； suh； you didn't tell me ter； suh。〃
〃Well； now； go back and inquire。
〃The niggers；〃 he explained to Tryon； 〃are getting mighty trifling since
they've been freed。 Before the war； that boy would have been around
there and back before you could say Jack Robinson； now； the lazy rascal
takes his time just like a white man。〃
Dave returned more promptly than from his first trip。 〃Jedge
Straight's dere now； suh；〃 he said。 〃He's done come in。〃
〃I'll take you right around and introduce you；〃 said the doctor； running
on pleasantly； like a babbling brook。 〃I don't know whether the judge
ever met your mother or not； but he knows a gentleman when he sees one；
and will be glad to meet you and look after your affair。 See to the
patients； Dave； and say I'll be back shortly； and don't forget any messages
left for me。 Look sharp； now！ You know your failing！〃
They found Judge Straight in his office。 He was seated by the rear
window； and had fallen into a gentle dozethe air of Patesville was
conducive to slumber。 A visitor from some bustling city might have
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rubbed his eyes； on any but a market…day； and imagined the whole town
asleep that the people were somnambulists and did not know it。 The
judge； an old hand； roused himself so skillfully； at the sound of
approaching footsteps； that his visitors could not guess but that he had
been wide awake。 He shook hands with the doctor； and acknowledged
the introduction to Tryon with a rare old…fashioned courtesy； which the
young man thought a very charming survival of the manners of a past and
happier age。
〃No；〃 replied the judge； in answer to a question by Dr。 Green； 〃I never
met his mother； I was a generation ahead of her。 I was at school with her
father； however； fifty years agofifty years ago！ No doubt that seems to
you a long time； young gentleman？〃
〃It is a long time； sir；〃 replied Tryon。 〃I must live more than twice as
long as I have in order to cover it。〃
〃A long time； and a troubled time；〃 sighed the judge。 〃I could wish
that I might see this unhappy land at peace with itself before I die。
Things are in a sad tangle； I can't see the way out。 But the worst enemy
has been slain； in spite of us。 We are well rid of slavery。〃
〃But the negro we still have with us；〃 remarked the doctor； 〃for here
comes my man Dave。 What is it； Dave？〃 he asked sharply； as the negro
stuck his head in at the door。
〃Doctuh Green；〃 he said； 〃I fuhgot ter tell you； suh； dat dat young
'oman wuz at de office agin jes' befo' you come in； an' said fer you to go
right down an' see her mammy ez soon ez you could。〃
〃Ah； yes； and you've just remembered it！ I'm afraid you're entirely
too forgetful for a doctor's office。 You forgot about old Mrs。 Latimer； the
other day； and when I got there she had almost choked to death。 Now get
back to the office； and remember； the next time you forget anything； I'll
hire another boy； remember that！ That boy's head；〃 he remarked to his
companions； after Dave had gone； 〃reminds me of nothing so much as a
dried gourd； with a handful of cowpeas rattling around it； in lieu of gray
matter。 An old woman out in Redbank got a fishbone in her throat； the
other day； and nearly choked to death before I got there。 A white woman；
sir； came very near losing her life because of a lazy； trifling negro！〃
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〃I should think you would discharge him； sir；〃 suggested Tryon。
〃What would be the use？〃 rejoined the doctor。 〃All negroes are alike；
except that now and then there's a pretty woman along the border…line。
Take this patient of mine； for instance；I'll call on her after dinner； her
case is not serious；thirty years ago she would have made any man turn
his head to look at her。 You know who I mean； don't you； judge？〃
〃Yes。 I think so；〃 said the judge promptly。 〃I've transacted a little
business for her now and then。〃
〃I don't know whether you've seen the daughter or notI'm sure you
haven't for the past year or so； for she's been away。 But she's in town
now； and； by Jove； the girl is really beautiful。 And I'm a judge of beauty。
Do you remember my wife thirty years ago； judge？〃
〃She was a very handsome woman； Ed；〃 replied the other judicially。
〃If I had been twenty years younger； I should have cut you out。〃
〃You
