the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第6节
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that she couldn't have a chance herebut how could she！ I had thought
she might marry a gentleman； but I dare say she'll do as well as the rest of
her friendsas well as Mary B。； for instance； who marriedHomer
Pettifoot； did you say？ Or maybe Billy Oxendine might do for her。 As
long as she has never known any better； she'll probably be as well satisfied
as though she married a rich man； and lived in a fine house； and kept a
carriage and servants； and moved with the best in the land。〃
The tortured mother could endure no more。 The one thing she
desired above all others was her daughter's happiness。 Her own life had
not been governed by the highest standards； but about her love for her
beautiful daughter there was no taint of selfishness。 The life her son had
described had been to her always the ideal but unattainable life。
Circumstances； some beyond her control； and others for which she was
herself in a measure responsible； had put it forever and inconceivably
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beyond her reach。 It had been conquered by her son。 It beckoned to her
daughter。 The comparison of this free and noble life with the sordid
existence of those around her broke down the last barrier of opposition。
〃O Lord！〃 she moaned； 〃what shall I do with out her？ It'll be lonely；
Johnso lonely！〃
〃You'll have your home； mother；〃 said Warwick tenderly； accepting the
implied surrender。 〃You'll have your friends and relatives； and the
knowledge that your children are happy。 I'll let you hear from us often；
and no doubt you can see Rena now and then。 But you must let her go；
mother；it would be a sin against her to refuse。〃
〃She may go；〃 replied the mother brokenly。 〃I'll not stand in her
wayI've got sins enough to answer for already。〃
Warwick watched her pityingly。 He had stirred her feelings to
unwonted depths； and his sympathy went out to her。 If she had sinned；
she had been more sinned against than sinning； and it was not his part to
judge her。 He had yielded to a sentimental weakness in deciding upon
this trip to Patesville。 A matter of business had brought him within a
day's journey of the town； and an over… mastering impulse had compelled
him to seek the mother who had given him birth and the old town where
he had spent the earlier years of his life。 No one would have
acknowledged sooner than he the folly of this visit。 Men who have
elected to govern their lives by principles of abstract right and reason；
which happen； perhaps； to be at variance with what society considers
equally right and reasonable； should； for fear of complications； be careful
about descending from the lofty heights of logic to the common level of
impulse and affection。 Many years before； Warwick； when a lad of
eighteen； had shaken the dust of the town from his feet； and with it； he
fondly thought； the blight of his inheritance； and had achieved elsewhere a
worthy career。 But during all these years of absence he had cherished a
tender feeling for his mother； and now again found himself in her house；
amid the familiar surroundings of his childhood。 His visit had brought
joy to his mother's heart； and was now to bring its shrouded companion；
sorrow。 His mother had lived her life； for good or ill。 A wider door was
open to his sisterher mother must not bar the entrance。
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〃She may go；〃 the mother repeated sadly； drying her tears。 〃I'll give
her up for her good。〃
〃The table 's ready； mamma；〃 said Rena； coming to the door。
The lunch was spread in the kitchen； a large unplastered room at the
rear； with a wide fireplace at one end。 Only yesterday； it seemed to
Warwick； he had sprawled upon the hearth； turning sweet potatoes before
the fire； or roasting groundpeas in the ashes； or； more often； reading； by
the light of a blazing pine…knot or lump of resin； some volume from the
bookcase in the hall。 From Bulwer's novel； he had read the story of
Warwick the Kingmaker； and upon leaving home had chosen it for his own。
He was a new man； but he had the blood of an old race； and he would
select for his own one of its worthy names。 Overhead loomed the same
smoky beams； decorated with what might have been； from all appearances；
the same bunches of dried herbs； the same strings of onions and red
peppers。 Over in the same corner stood the same spinning…wheel； and
through the open door of an adjoining room he saw the old loom； where in
childhood he had more than once thrown the shuttle。 The kitchen was
different from the stately dining…room of the old colonial mansion where
he now lived； but it was homelike； and it was familiar。 The sight of it
moved his heart； and he felt for the moment a sort of a blind anger against
the fate which made it necessary that he should visit the home of his
childhood； if at all； like a thief in the night。 But he realized； after a
moment； that the thought was pure sentiment； and that one who had gained
so much ought not to complain if he must give up a little。 He who would
climb the heights of life must leave even the pleasantest valleys behind。
〃Rena；〃 asked her mother； 〃how'd you like to go an' pay yo'r brother
John a visit？ I guess I might spare you for a little while。〃
The girl's eyes lighted up。 She would not have gone if her mother
had wished her to stay； but she would always have regarded this as the lost
opportunity of her life。
〃Are you sure you don't care； mamma？〃 she asked； hoping and yet
doubting。
〃Oh； I'll manage to git along somehow or other。 You can go an' stay
till you git homesick； an' then John'll let you come back home。〃
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But Mis' Molly believed that she would never come back； except； like
her brother； under cover of the night。 She must lose her daughter as well
as her son； and this should be the penance for her sin。 That her children
must expiate as well the sins of their fathers； who had sinned so lightly；
after the manner of men； neither she nor they could foresee； since they
could not read the future。
The next boat by which Warwick could take his sister away left early
in the morning of the next day but one。 He went back to his hotel with
the understanding that the morrow should be devoted to getting Rena
ready for her departure； and that Warwick would visit the household again
the following evening； for； as has been intimated； there were several
reasons why there should be no open relations between the fine gentleman
at the hotel and the women in the house behind the cedars； who； while
superior in blood and breeding to the people of the neighborhood in which
they lived； were yet under the shadow of some cloud which clearly shut
them out from the better society of the town。 Almost any resident could
have given one or more of these reasons； of which any one would have
been sufficient to most of them； and to some of them Warwick's mere
presence in the town would have seemed a bold and daring thing。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
III
THE OLD JUDGE
On the morning following the visit to his mother； Warwick visited the
old judge's office。 The judge was not in； but the door stood open； and
Warwick entered to await his return。
