the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第4节
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stop a hole to keep the wind away；〃
murmured the young man； as his eye fell upon this specimen of
decorative art。
The woman showed her visitor to a seat。 She then sat down facing
him and looked at him closely。 〃When did you last see my son？〃 she
asked。
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〃I've never met your son；〃 he replied。
Her face fell。 〃Then the message comes through you from somebody
else？〃
〃No； directly from your son。〃
She scanned his face with a puzzled look。 This bearded young
gentleman； who spoke so politely and was dressed so well； surelyno； it
could not be！ and yet
Warwick was smiling at her through a mist of tears。 An electric spark
of sympathy flashed between them。 They rose as if moved by one
impulse； and were clasped in each other's arms。
〃John； my John！ It IS John！〃
〃Mothermy dear old mother！〃
〃I didn't think；〃 she sobbed； 〃that I'd ever see you again。〃
He smoothed her hair and kissed her。 〃And are you glad to see me；
mother？〃
〃Am I glad to see you？ It's like the dead comin' to life。 I thought I'd
lost you forever； John； my son； my darlin' boy！〃 she answered； hugging
him strenuously。
〃I couldn't live without seeing you； mother；〃 he said。 He meant it； too；
or thought he did； although he had not seen her for ten years。
〃You've grown so tall； John； and are such a fine gentleman！ And you
ARE a gentleman now； John； ain't yousure enough？ Nobody knows the
old story？〃
〃Well； mother； I've taken a man's chance in life； and have tried to make
the most of it； and I haven't felt under any obligation to spoil it by raking
up old stories that are best forgotten。 There are the dear old books： have
they been read since I went away？〃
〃No； honey； there's be'n nobody to read 'em； excep' Rena； an' she don't
take to books quite like you did。 But I've kep' 'em dusted clean； an' kep'
the moths an' the bugs out； for I hoped you'd come back some day； an'
knowed you'd like to find 'em all in their places； jus' like you left 'em。〃
〃That's mighty nice of you； mother。 You could have done no more if
you had loved them for themselves。 But where is Rena？ I saw her on
the street to…day； but she didn't know me from Adam； nor did I guess it
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was she until she opened the gate and came into the yard。〃
〃I've be'n so glad to see you that I'd fergot about her；〃 answered the
mother。 〃Rena； oh； Rena！〃
The girl was not far away； she had been standing in the next room；
listening intently to every word of the conversation； and only kept from
coming in by a certain constraint that made a brother whom she had not
met for so many years seem almost as much a stranger as if he had not
been connected with her by any tie。
〃Yes； mamma；〃 she answered； coming forward。
〃Rena； child； here's yo'r brother John； who's come back to see us。
Tell 'im howdy。〃
As she came forward； Warwick rose； put his arm around her waist；
drew her toward him； and kissed her affectionately； to her evident
embarrassment。 She was a tall girl； but he towered above her in quite a
protecting fashion； and she thought with a thrill how fine it would be to
have such a brother as this in the town all the time。 How proud she
would be； if she could but walk up the street with such a brother by her
side！ She could then hold up her head before all the world； oblivious to
the glance of pity or contempt。 She felt a very pronounced respect for
this tall gentleman who held her blushing face between his hands and
looked steadily into her eyes。
〃You're the little sister I used to read stories to； and whom I promised
to come and see some day。 Do you remember how you cried when I
went away？〃
〃It seems but yesterday；〃 she answered。 〃I've still got the dime you
gave me。〃
He kissed her again； and then drew her down beside him on the sofa；
where he sat enthroned between the two loving and excited women。 No
king could have received more sincere or delighted homage。 He was a
man； come into a household of women；a man of whom they were proud；
and to whom they looked up with fond reverence。 For he was not only a
son；a brotherbut he represented to them the world from which circum
stances had shut them out； and to which distance lent even more than its
usual enchantment； and they felt nearer to this far…off world because of the
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glory which Warwick reflected from it。
〃You're a very pretty girl；〃 said Warwick； regarding his sister
thoughtfully。 〃I followed you down Front Street this morning； and
scarcely took my eyes off you all the way； and yet I didn't know you； and
scarcely saw your face。 You improve on acquaintance； to…night； I find
you handsomer still。〃
〃Now； John；〃 said his mother； expostulating mildly； 〃you'll spile her； if
you don't min'。〃
The girl was beaming with gratified vanity。 What woman would not
find such praise sweet from almost any source； and how much more so
from this great man； who； from his exalted station in the world； must
surely know the things whereof he spoke！ She believed every word of it；
she knew it very well indeed； but wished to hear it repeated and itemized
and emphasized。
〃No； he won't； mamma；〃 she asserted； 〃for he's flattering me。 He
talks as if I was some rich young lady； who lives on the Hill；〃the Hill
was the aristocratic portion of the town； 〃instead of a poor〃
〃Instead of a poor young girl； who has the hill to climb；〃 replied her
brother； smoothing her hair with his hand。 Her hair was long and smooth
and glossy； with a wave like the ripple of a summer breeze upon the
surface of still water。 It was the girl's great pride； and had been
sedulously cared for。 〃What lovely hair！ It has just the wave that yours
lacks； mother。〃
〃Yes；〃 was the regretful reply； 〃I've never be'n able to git that wave out。
But her hair's be'n took good care of； an' there ain't nary gal in town that's
got any finer。〃
〃Don't worry about the wave； mother。 It's just the fashionable ripple；
and becomes her immensely。 I think my little Albert favors his Aunt
Rena somewhat。〃
〃Your little Albert！〃 they cried。 〃You've got a child？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 he replied calmly； 〃a very fine baby boy。〃
They began to purr in proud contentment at this information； and made
minute inquiries about the age and weight and eyes and nose and other
important details of this precious infant。 They inquired more coldly
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about the child's mother； of whom they spoke with greater warmth when
they learned that she was dead。 They hung breathless on Warwick's
words as he related briefly the story of his life since he had left； years
before； the house behind the cedarshow with a stout heart and an
abounding hope he had gone out into a seemingly hostile world； and made
fortune stand and deliver。 His story had for the women the charm of an
escape from captivity； with all the thrill of a pirate's tale。 With the whole
world before him； he had remained in the South； the land of his fathers；
where； he conceived； he had an inalienable birthright。 By some good
chance he had escaped military service in the Confederate army； and； in
default of older and more experienced men； had undertaken； during the
rebellion； the management of a
