the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第27节
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woman； a tall and slender girl； like a lily on its stem。 She stood talking
with the doctor； who held his hat in his hand with as much deference as
though she were the proudest dame in town。 Her face was partly turned
away from the window； but as Tryon's eye fell upon her； he gave a great
start。 Surely； no two women could be so much alike。 The height； the
graceful droop of the shoulders； the swan…like poise of the head； the well…
turned little ear；surely； no two women could have them all identical！
But； pshaw！ the notion was absurd； it was merely the reflex influence of
his morning's dream。
She moved slightly； it was Rena's movement。 Surely he knew the
gown； and the style of hair… dressing！ She rested her hand lightly on the
back of a chair。 The ring that glittered on her finger could be none other
than his own。
The doctor bowed。 The girl nodded in response； and； turning； left the
store。 Tryon leaned forward from the buggy…seat and kept his eye fixed
on the figure that moved across the floor of the drugstore。 As she came
out； she turned her face casually toward the buggy； and there could no
longer be any doubt as to her identity。
When Rena's eyes fell upon the young man in the buggy； she saw a
face as pale as death； with starting eyes； in which love； which once had
reigned there； had now given place to astonishment and horror。 She
stood a moment as if turned to stone。 One appealing glance she gave；a
look that might have softened adamant。 When she saw that it brought no
answering sign of love or sorrow or regret； the color faded from her cheek；
the light from her eye； and she fell fainting to the ground。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XVI
THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT
The first effect of Tryon's discovery was； figuratively speaking； to
knock the bottom out of things for him。 It was much as if a boat on
which he had been floating smoothly down the stream of pleasure had
sunk suddenly and left him struggling in deep waters。 The full
realization of the truth； which followed speedily； had for the moment
reversed his mental attitude toward her； and love and yearning had given
place to anger and disgust。 His agitation could hardly have escaped
notice had not the doctor's attention； and that of the crowd that quickly
gathered； been absorbed by the young woman who had fallen。 During
the time occupied in carrying her into the drugstore； restoring her to
consciousness； and sending her home in a carriage； Tryon had time to
recover in some degree his self…possession。 When Rena had been taken
home； he slipped away for a long walk； after which he called at Judge
Straight's office and received the judge's report upon the matter presented。
Judge Straight had found the claim； in his opinion； a good one； he had
discovered property from which； in case the claim were allowed； the
amount might be realized。 The judge； who had already been informed of
the incident at the drugstore； observed Tryon's preoccupation and guessed
shrewdly at its cause； but gave no sign。 Tryon left the matter of the note
unreservedly in the lawyer's hands； with instructions to communicate to
him any further developments。
Returning to the doctor's office； Tryon listened to that genial
gentleman's comments on the accident； his own concern in which he； by a
great effort； was able to conceal。 The doctor insisted upon his returning
to the Hill for supper。 Tryon pleaded illness。 The doctor was solicitous；
felt his pulse； examined his tongue； pronounced him feverish； and
prescribed a sedative。 Tryon sought refuge in his room at the hotel； from
which he did not emerge again until morning。
His emotions were varied and stormy。 At first he could see nothing
but the fraud of which he had been made the victim。 A negro girl had
been foisted upon him for a white woman； and he had almost committed
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
the unpardonable sin against his race of marrying her。 Such a step； he
felt； would have been criminal at any time； it would have been the most
odious treachery at this epoch； when his people had been subjugated and
humiliated by the Northern invaders； who had preached negro equality and
abolished the wholesome laws decreeing the separation of the races。 But
no Southerner who loved his poor； downtrodden country； or his race； the
proud Anglo…Saxon race which traced the clear stream of its blood to the
cavaliers of England； could tolerate the idea that even in distant
generations that unsullied current could be polluted by the blood of slaves。
The very thought was an insult to the white people of the South。 For
Tryon's liberality； of which he had spoken so nobly and so sincerely； had
been confined unconsciously； and as a matter of course； within the
boundaries of his own race。 The Southern mind； in discussing abstract
questions relative to humanity； makes always； consciously or
unconsciously； the mental reservation that the conclusions reached do not
apply to the negro； unless they can be made to harmonize with the customs
of the country。
But reasoning thus was not without effect upon a mind by nature
reasonable above the average。 Tryon's race impulse and social prejudice
had carried him too far； and the swing of the mental pendulum brought his
thoughts rapidly back in the opposite direction。 Tossing uneasily on the
bed； where he had thrown himself down without undressing； the air of the
room oppressed him； and he threw open the window。 The cool night air
calmed his throbbing pulses。 The moonlight； streaming through the
window； flooded the room with a soft light； in which he seemed to see
Rena standing before him； as she had appeared that afternoon； gazing at
him with eyes that implored charity and forgiveness。 He burst into tears；…
… bitter tears； that strained his heartstrings。 He was only a youth。 She
was his first love； and he had lost her forever。 She was worse than dead
to him； for if he had seen her lying in her shroud before him； he could at
least have cherished her memory； now； even this consolation was denied
him。
The town clockwhich so long as it was wound up regularly recked
nothing of love or hate； joy or sorrowsolemnly tolled out the hour of
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midnight and sounded the knell of his lost love。 Lost she was； as though
she had never been； as she had indeed had no right to be。 He resolutely
determined to banish her image from his mind。 See her again he could
not； it would be painful to them both； it could be productive of no good to
either。 He had felt the power and charm of love； and no ordinary shook
could have loosened its hold； but this catastrophe； which had so rudely
swept away the groundwork of his passion； had stirred into new life all the
slumbering pride of race and ancestry which characterized his caste。
How much of this sensitive superiority was essential and how much
accidental； how much of it was due to the ever…suggested comparison with
a servile race； how much of it was ignorance and self…conceit； to what
extent the boasted purity of his race would have been contaminated by the
fair woman whose image filled his memory；of these things he never
thought。 He was not influenced by sordid considerations； he would have
denied that his course was controlled by any narrow prudence。 If Rena
