the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第43节
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working…people； and the travelers were to make an early start next day。
About nine in the morning； Wain drove round to Mis' Molly's。 Rena's
trunk was strapped behind the buggy； and she set out； in the company of
Wain； for her new field of labor。 The school term was only two months
in length； and she did not expect to return until its expiration。 Just before
taking her seat in the buggy； Rena felt a sudden sinking of the heart。
〃Oh； mother；〃 she whispered； as they stood wrapped in a close
embrace； 〃I'm afraid to leave you。 I left you once； and it turned out so
miserably。〃
〃It'll turn out better this time； honey；〃 replied her mother soothingly。
〃Good…by； child。 Take care of yo'self an' yo'r money； and write to yo'r
mammy。〃
One kiss all round； and Rena was lifted into the buggy。 Wain seized
the reins； and under his skillful touch the pretty mare began to prance and
curvet with restrained impatience。 Wain could not resist the opportunity
to show off before the party； which included Mary B。's entire family and
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several other neighbors； who had gathered to see the travelers off。
〃Good…by ter Patesville！ Good…by； folkses all！〃 he cried； with a wave
of his disengaged hand。
〃Good…by； mother！ Good…by； all！〃 cried Rena； as with tears in her
heart and a brave smile on her face she left her home behind her for the
second time。
When they had crossed the river bridge； the travelers came to a long
stretch of rising ground； from the summit of which they could look back
over the white sandy road for nearly a mile。 Neither Rena nor her
companion saw Frank Fowler behind the chinquapin bush at the foot of
the hill； nor the gaze of mute love and longing with which he watched the
buggy mount the long incline。 He had not been able to trust himself to
bid her farewell。 He had seen her go away once before with every
prospect of happiness； and come back； a dove with a wounded wing； to the
old nest behind the cedars。 She was going away again； with a man whom
he disliked and distrusted。 If she had met misfortune before； what were
her prospects for happiness now？
The buggy paused at the top of the hill； and Frank； shading his eyes
with his hand； thought he could see her turn and look behind。 Look back；
dear child； towards your home and those who love you！ For who knows
more than this faithful worshiper what threads of the past Fate is weaving
into your future； or whether happiness or misery lies before you？
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XXV
BALANCE ALL
The road to Sampson County lay for the most part over the pine…clad
sandhills；an alternation of gentle rises and gradual descents； with now
and then a swamp of greater or less extent。 Long stretches of the
highway led through the virgin forest； for miles unbroken by a clearing or
sign of human habitation。
They traveled slowly； with frequent pauses in shady places； for the
weather was hot。 The journey； made leisurely； required more than a day；
and might with slight effort be prolonged into two。 They stopped for the
night at a small village； where Wain found lodging for Rena with an
acquaintance of his； and for himself with another； while a third took
charge of the horse； the accommodation for travelers being limited。
Rena's appearance and manners were the subject of much comment。 It
was necessary to explain to several curious white people that Rena was a
woman of color。 A white woman might have driven with Wain without
attracting remark；most white ladies had negro coachmen。 That a
woman of Rena's complexion should eat at a negro's table； or sleep
beneath a negro's roof； was a seeming breach of caste which only black
blood could excuse。 The explanation was never questioned。 No white
person of sound mind would ever claim to be a negro。
They resumed their journey somewhat late in the morning。 Rena
would willingly have hastened； for she was anxious to plunge into her new
work； but Wain seemed disposed to prolong the pleasant drive； and
beguiled the way for a time with stories of wonderful things he had done
and strange experiences of a somewhat checkered career。 He was shrewd
enough to avoid any subject which would offend a modest young woman；
but too obtuse to perceive that much of what he said would not commend
him to a person of refinement。 He made little reference to his
possessions； concerning which so much had been said at Patesville； and
this reticence was a point in his favor。 If he had not been so much upon
his guard and Rena so much absorbed by thoughts of her future work； such
a drive would have furnished a person of her discernment a very fair
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measure of the man's character。 To these distractions must be added the
entire absence of any idea that Wain might have amorous designs upon her；
and any shortcomings of manners or speech were excused by the broad
mantle of charity which Rena in her new…found zeal for the welfare of her
people was willing to throw over all their faults。 They were the victims
of oppression； they were not responsible for its results。
Toward the end of the second day； while nearing their destination； the
travelers passed a large white house standing back from the road at the
foot of a lane。 Around it grew widespreading trees and well…kept
shrubbery。 The fences were in good repair。 Behind the house and
across the road stretched extensive fields of cotton and waving corn。
They had passed no other place that showed such signs of thrift and
prosperity。
〃Oh； what a lovely place！〃 exclaimed Rena。 〃That is yours； isn't it？〃
〃No； we ain't got to my house yet；〃 he answered。 〃Dat house b'longs
ter de riches' people roun' here。 Dat house is over in de nex' county。
We're right close to de line now。〃
Shortly afterwards they turned off from the main highway they had
been pursuing； and struck into a narrower road to the left。
〃De main road；〃 explained Wain； 〃goes on to Clinton； 'bout five miles
er mo' away。 Dis one we're turnin' inter now will take us to my place；
which is 'bout three miles fu'ther on。 We'll git dere now in an hour er so。〃
Wain lived in an old plantation house； somewhat dilapidated； and
surrounded by an air of neglect and shiftlessness； but still preserving a
remnant of dignity in its outlines and comfort in its interior arrangements。
Rena was assigned a large room on the second floor。 She was somewhat
surprised at the make…up of the household。 Wain's mother an old
woman； much darker than her sonkept house for him。 A sister with two
children lived in the house。 The element of surprise lay in the presence
of two small children left by Wain's wife； of whom Rena now heard for the
first time。 He had lost his wife； he informed Rena sadly； a couple of
years before。
〃Yas； Miss Rena；〃 she sighed； 〃de Lawd give her； an' de Lawd tuck her
away。 Blessed be de name er de Lawd。〃 He accompanied this
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sententious quotation with a wicked look from under his half…closed
eyelids that Rena did not see。
The following morning Wain drove her in his buggy over to the county
town； where she took the teacher's examination。 She was
