the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第35节
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would be of little moment； in the glare of a political career； one's
antecedents are public property； and too great a reserve in regard to one's
past is regarded as a confession of something discreditable。 Frank； too；
knew the secret a good； faithful fellow； even where there was no
obligation of fidelity； he ought to do something for Frank to show their
appreciation of his conduct。 But what assurance was there that Frank
would always be discreet about the affairs of others？ Judge Straight
knew the whole story； and old men are sometimes garrulous。 Dr。 Green
suspected the secret； he had a wife and daughters。 If old Judge Straight
could have known Warwick's thoughts； he would have realized the
fulfillment of his prophecy。 Warwick； who had builded so well for
himself； had weakened the structure of his own life by trying to share his
good fortune with his sister。
〃 Listen； Rena；〃 he said； with a sudden impulse； 〃we'll go to the North
or WestI'll go with youfar away from the South and the Southern
people； and start life over again。 It will be easier for you； it will not be
hard for meI am young； and have means。 There are no strong ties to
bind me to the South。 I would have a larger outlook elsewhere。〃
〃And what about our mother？〃 asked Rena。
It would be necessary to leave her behind； they both perceived clearly
enough； unless they were prepared to surrender the advantage of their
whiteness and drop back to the lower rank。 The mother bore the mark of
the Ethiopiannot pronouncedly； but distinctly； neither would Mis' Molly；
in all probability； care to leave home and friends and the graves of her
loved ones。 She had no mental resources to supply the place of these；
she was； moreover； too old to be transplanted； she would not fit into
Warwick's scheme for a new life。
〃I left her once；〃 said Rena； 〃and it brought pain and sorrow to all
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three of us。 She is not strong； and I will not leave her here to die alone。
This shall be my home while she lives； and if I leave it again； it shall be
for only a short time； to go where I can write to her freely； and hear from
her often。 Don't worry about me； John；I shall do very well。〃
Warwick sighed。 He was sincerely sorry to leave his sister； and yet
he saw that for the time being her resolution was not to be shaken。 He
must bide his time。 Perhaps； in a few months； she would tire of the old
life。 His door would be always open to her； and he would charge himself
with her future。
〃Well； then；〃 he said； concluding the argument； 〃we'll say no more
about it for the present。 I'll write to you later。 I was afraid that you
might not care to go back just now； and so I brought your trunk along with
me。〃
He gave his mother the baggage…check。 She took it across to Frank；
who； during the day； brought the trunk from the depot。 Mis' Molly
offered to pay him for the service； but he would accept nothing。
〃Lawd； no； Mis' Molly； I did n' hafter go out'n my way ter git dat trunk。
I had a load er sperrit… bairls ter haul ter de still； an' de depot wuz right on
my way back。 It'd be robbin' you ter take pay fer a little thing lack dat。〃
〃My son John's here；〃 said Mis' Molly 〃an' he wants to see you。
Come into the settin'…room。 We don't want folks to know he's in town；
but you know all our secrets； an' we can trust you like one er the family。〃
〃I'm glad to see you again； Frank；〃 said Warwick； extending his hand
and clasping Frank's warmly。 〃You've grown up since I saw you last； but
it seems you are still our good friend。〃
〃Our very good friend；〃 interjected Rena。
Frank threw her a grateful glance。 〃Yas； suh；〃 he said； looking
Warwick over with a friendly eye； 〃an' you is growed some； too。 I seed
you； you know； down dere where you live； but I did n' let on； fer you an'
Mis' Rena wuz w'ite as anybody； an' eve'ybody said you wuz good ter
cullud folks； an' he'ped 'em in deir lawsuits an' one way er 'nuther； an' I
wuz jes' plum' glad ter see you gettin' 'long so fine； dat I wuz； certain sho'；
an' no mistake about it。〃
〃Thank you； Frank； and I want you to understand how much I
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appreciate〃
〃How much we all appreciate；〃 corrected Rena。
〃Yes； how much we all appreciate； and how grateful we all are for
your kindness to mother for so many years。 I know from her and from
my sister how good you've been to them。〃
〃Lawd； suh！〃 returned Frank deprecatingly； 〃you're makin' a mountain
out'n a molehill。 I ain't done nuthin' ter speak ofnot half ez much ez I
would 'a' done。 I wuz glad ter do w'at little I could； fer frien'ship's sake。〃
〃We value your friendship； Frank； and we'll not forget it。〃
〃No； Frank；〃 added Rena； 〃we will never forget it； and you shall
always be our good friend。〃
Frank left the room and crossed the street with swelling heart。 He
would have given his life for Rena。 A kind word was doubly sweet from
her lips； no service would be too great to pay for her friendship。
When Frank went out to the stable next morning to feed his mule； his
eyes opened wide with astonishment。 In place of the decrepit； one…eyed
army mule he had put up the night before； a fat； sleek specimen of
vigorous mulehood greeted his arrival with the sonorous hehaw of lusty
youth。 Hanging on a peg near by was a set of fine new harness； and
standing under the adjoining shed； as he perceived； a handsome new cart。
〃Well； well！〃 exclaimed Frank； 〃ef I did n' mos' know whar dis mule；
an' dis kyart； an' dis harness come from； I'd 'low dere 'd be'n witcheraf' er
cunjin' wukkin' here。 But； oh my； dat is a fine mule！I mos' wush I could
keep 'im。〃
He crossed the road to the house behind the cedars； and found Mis'
Molly in the kitchen。 〃Mis' Molly；〃 he protested； 〃I ain't done nuthin' ter
deserve dat mule。 W'at little I done fer you wa'n't done fer pay。 I'd
ruther not keep dem things。〃
〃Fer goodness' sake； Frank！〃 exclaimed his neighbor； with a well…
simulated air of mystification； 〃what are you talkin' about？〃
〃You knows w'at I'm talkin' about； Mis' Molly； you knows well ernuff
I'm talkin' about dat fine mule an' kyart an' harness over dere in my
stable。〃
〃How should I know anything about 'em？〃 she asked。
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〃Now； Mis' Molly！ You folks is jes' tryin' ter fool me； an' make me
take somethin' fer nuthin'。 I lef' my ole mule an' kyart an' harness in de
stable las' night； an' dis mawnin' dey 're gone； an' new ones in deir place。
Co'se you knows whar dey come from！〃
〃Well； now； Frank； sence you mention it； I did see a witch flyin' roun'
here las' night on a broom… stick； an' it 'peared ter me she lit on yo'r barn；
an' I s'pose she turned yo'r old things into new ones。 I wouldn't bother
my mind about it if I was you； for she may turn 'em back any night； you
know； an' you might as well have the use of 'em in the mean while。〃
〃Dat's all foolishness； Mis' Molly； an' I'm gwine ter fetch dat mule
right over here an' tell yo' son ter gimme my ole one back。〃
〃My son's gone；〃 she replied； 〃an' I don't know nothin' about yo'r old
mule。 And what would I do with a mule； anyhow？ I ain't got no barn to
put him in。〃
〃I suspect you don't care much for us after all； Frank；〃 said Rena
reproachfullyshe had come in while they were talking。 〃You meet with
a piece of good luck； and you're afr
