the cost-第27节

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l　in　love　with　any　man。　　Certainly　I　couldn't　unless　he　had　made　it　very　clear　to　me　that　he　was　in　love　with　me。〃

Pauline　had　latterly　been　suspecting　that　these　elaborations　of　superfluous　protestation　were　Gladys'　efforts　to　curtain　herself。　　Now　she　dwelt　upon　them　with　eager　pleasure；　and　assured　and　reassured　herself　that　she　had　been　supersensitive　and　that　Gladys　had　really　been　frank　and　truthful　with　her。



XVIII。

ON　THE　FARM。


On　his　way　down　the　bluffs　to　town　Scarborough　felt　as　calm　and　peaceful　as　that　tranquil　evening。　　He　had　a　sense　of　the　end　of　a　long　strain　of　which　he　had　until　then　been　unconscious。　　〃NOW　I　can　go　away　and　rest；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　And　at　sundown　he　set　out　for　his　farm。

He　arrived　at　ten　o'clock；　by　moonlight；　amid　a　baying　of　dogs　so　energetic　that　it　roused　every　living　thing　in　the　barnyard　to　protest　in　a　peevish　chorus　of　clucking　and　grunting　and　quacking　and　squealing。

〃What　on　airth！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Gabbard；　his　farmer's　wife；　standing　at　the　back　door；　in　calico　skirt　and　big　shawl。　　When　she　saw　who　it　was；　her　irritated　voice　changed　to　welcome。　　〃Why；　howdy；　Mr。　Scarborough！　　I　thought　it　was　old　John　Lovel　among　the　chickens　or　at　the　granary。　　I　might　'a'　knowed　he　wouldn't　come　in　the　full　of　the　moon　and　no　clouds。〃

〃Go　straight　back　to　bed；　Mrs。　Gabbard；　and　don't　mind　me；〃　said　Scarborough。　　〃I　looked　after　my　horse　and　don't　want　anything　to　eat。　　Where's　Eph？〃

〃Can't　you　hear？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gabbard；　dryly。　　And　in　the　pause　a　lusty　snore　penetrated。　　〃When　anything　out　of　the　way　happens；　I　get　up　and　nose　around　to　see　whether　it's　worth　while　to　wake　him。〃

Scarborough　laughed。　　〃I've　come　for　a　few　daysto　get　some　exercise；〃　he　said。　　〃But　don't　wake　me　with　the　others　to…morrow　morning。　　I'm　away　behind　on　sleep　and　dead　tired。〃

He　went　to　bedthe　rooms　up…stairs　in　front　were　reserved　for　him　and　were　always　ready。　　His　brain　was　apparently　as　busy　and　as　determined　not　to　rest　as　on　the　worst　of　his　many　bad　nights　during　the　past　four　months。　　But　the　thoughts　were　vastly　different；　and　soon　those　millions　of　monotonous　murmurings　from　brook　and　field　and　forest　were　soothing　his　senses。　　He　slept　soundly；　with　that　complete　relaxing　of　every　nerve　and　muscle　which　does　not　come　until　the　mind　wholly　yields　up　its　despotic　control　and　itself　plunges　into　slumber　unfathomable。

The　change　of　the　air　with　dawn　slowly　wakened　him。　　It　was　only　a　little　after　five；　but　he　felt　refreshed。　　He　got　himself　into　farm　working　clothes　and　went　down　to　the　summer　dining…rooma　shed　against　the　back　of　the　house　with　three　of　its　walls　latticed。　　In　the　adjoining　kitchen　Mrs。　Gabbard　and　her　daughters；　Sally　and　Bertha；　were　washing　the　breakfast　dishesGabbard　and　his　two　sons　and　the　three　〃hands〃　had　just　started　for　the　meadows　with　the　hay　wagons。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Scarborough；　looking　in　on　the　three　women。

They　stopped　work　and　smiled　at　him；　and　the　girls　dried　their　hands　and　shook　hands　with　himall　with　an　absolute　absence　of　embarrassment　that；　to　one　familiar　with　the　awkward　shyness　of　country　people；　would　have　told　almost　the　whole　story　of　Scarborough's　character。　　〃I'll　get　you　some　breakfast　in　the　dining…room；〃　said　Mrs。　Gabbard。

〃Nojust　a　littleon　the　corner　of　the　table　out　here；〃　replied　Scarborough。

Mrs。　Gabbard　and　Sally　bustled　about　while　he　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　shed；　looking　out　into　the　yard　and　watching　the　hens　make　their　careful　early　morning　tour　of　the　inclosure　to　glean　whatever　might　be　there　before　scattering　for　the　day's　excursions　and　depredations。　　He　had　not　long　to　wait　and　he　did　not　linger　over　what　was　served。

〃You've　et　in　a　manner　nothing；〃　complained　Mrs。　Gabbard。

〃I　haven't　earned　an　appetite　yet；〃　he　replied。　　〃Just　wait　till　this　evening。〃

As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　view　he　gave　a　great　shout　and　started　to　run。　　〃What　folly　to　bother　with；　a　foolish；　trouble…breeding　thinking　apparatus　in　a　world　like　this！〃　he　thought；　as　the　tremendous　currents　of　vitality　surged　through　him。　　And　he　vaulted　a　six…rail　fence　and　ran　on。　　Down　the　hollow　drenched　with　dew；　across　the　brook　which　was　really　wide　enough　to　be　called　a　creek；　up　the　steep　slope　of　the　opposite　hill　at　a　slower　pace；　and　he　was　at　the　edge　of　the　meadows。　　The　sun　was　clear　of　the　horizon　now；　and　the　two　wagons；　piled　high　with　hay　and　〃poled　down〃　to　keep　the　loads　steady；　were　about　to　move　off　to　the　barn。

〃Bring　back　a　fork　for　me；　Bill！〃　he　called　to　the　driver　of　the　nearer　wagonBill　was　standing　on　the　lofty　top　of　his　load；　which　projected　forward　and　rear　so　far　that；　forward；　the　horses　were　half　canopied。　　Against　Bill's　return　he　borrowed　Gabbard's　fork　and　helped　complete　the　other　wagon；　the　sweat　streaming　from　his　face　as　his　broad　shoulders　swung　down　with　the　empty　fork　and　up　with　a　great　mat　of　hay。

They　worked　alternately　in　the　fields　and　at　the　barns　until　half…past　eleven。　　Then　they　went　into　the　shade　at　the　edge　of　the　meadow　and　had　their　dinner。

〃My　old　woman；〃　said　Gabbard；　〃says　that　two　set…down　meals　a　day　in　harvest　time's　as　many　as　she'll　stand　for。　　So　we　have　dinner　out　here　in　good　weather；　and　to　the　barn　when　it　rains。〃

The　talk　was　of　weather　prospects；　of　probable　tonnage　to　the　acre；　of　the　outlook　for　the　corn；　of　the　health　and　family　expectations　of　the　mares　and　the　cows　and　the　pigs。　　It　died　away　gradually　as　one　man　after　another　stretched　out　upon　his　back　with　a　bunch　of　hay　for　an　odorous　pillow　and　his　broad…brimmed　straw　hat　for　a　light…shade。　　Scarborough　was　the　fourth　man　to　yield；　as　he　dozed　off　his　hat　was　hiding　that　smile　of　boundless　content　which　comes　only　to　him　who　stretches　his　well　body　upon　grass　or　soft　stubble　and　feels　the　vigor　of　the　earth　steal　up　and　through　him。　　〃Why　don't　I　do　this　oftener？〃　Scarborough　was　saying　to　himself。　　〃I　mustand　I　shall；　now　that　my　mind's　more　at　ease。〃

A　long　afternoon　of　the　toil　that　tires　and　vexes　not；　and　at　sundown　he　was　glad　to　ride　home　on　top　of　the　last　wagon　instead　of　walking　as　he　had　intended。　　The　supper…table　was　readywas　spread　in　the　dining…shed。　　They　washed　their　hands　and　sunburnt　arms　and　soused　their　heads　in　cold　water　from　the　well；　and　sat；　Scarborough　at　one　end；　Gabbard　at　the　other；　the　strapping　sons　and　the　〃hands〃　down　either　side。　　The　whole　meal　was　before　themhuge　platters　of　fried　chicken；　great　dishes　full　of　beans　and　corn　and　potatoes；　plates　piled　high　with　hot　corn　bread；　other　plates　of　〃salt…rising〃；　Mrs。　Gabbard's　miraculous　apple　pies；　and　honey　for　which　the　plundered　flowers　might　still　be　mourning。　　Yesterday　it　would　have　seemed　to　Scarborough　dinner　enough　for　a　regiment。　　To…dayhe　thought　he　could　probably　eat　it　all；　and　wished　that　he　might　try。　　To　drink；　there　were　coffee　and　cider　and　two　kinds　of　milk。　　He　tried　the　buttermilk　and　kept　on　with　it。

〃You　must　'a'　had　a　busy　summer；〃　said　Gabbard。　　〃This　is　the　first　time　you've　been　with　us。〃

〃Yes；〃　Scarborough　replied。　　〃I　did　hope　to　get　here　for　the　threshing；　but　I　couldn't。〃

The　threshing　set　them　all　offit　had　been　a　record　year；　thirty…eight　bushels　to　the　acre　on　the　average；　twenty…seven　on　the　hillsides　which　Gabbard　had　hesitated　whether　to　〃put　in〃　or　not。　　An　hour　after　supper　Scarborough　could　no　longer　hold　his　eyes　open。　　〃Wake　me　with　the　others；〃　he　said　to　Mrs。　Gabbard；　who　was　making　up　the　〃salt…rising〃　yeast　for　the　morrow's　baking。　　〃I'll　have　breakfast　when　they　do。〃

〃I　reckon　you've　earned　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Gabbard。　　〃Eph　says　you　laid　it　over　'em　all　to…day。〃

〃Well；　I　guess　I　at　least　earned　my　supper；〃　replied　Scarborough。　　〃And　I　guess　I　ate　it。〃

〃You　didn't　do　so　bad；　considerin'；〃　Mrs。　Gabbard　admitted。　　〃Nothin'　like　livin'　in　town　to　take　appetite　away。〃

〃That　isn't　all　it　takes　away；〃　said　Scarborough；　going　on　to　his　own　part　of　the　house　without　explaining　his　remark。　　When　his　head　touched　the　pillow　his　brain　instantly　stopped　the　machinery。　　He　needed　no　croonings　or　dronings　from　the　fields　to　soothe　him。　　〃Not　an　idea　in　my　head　all　day；〃　he　said　to　himself　with　drowsy　delight。


Four　days　of　this；　and　on　the　fifth　came　the　outside　world　in　the　form　of　Burdick；　chairman　of　the　county　committee　of　his　party　in　the　county　in　which　his　farm　lay。　　They　sat　on　the　fence　under　the　big　maple；　out　of　earshot　of　the　others。

〃Larkin's　come　out　for　John　Frankfort　for　the　nomination　for　governor；〃　said　Burdick。

Scarborough　smiled。　　〃Even　Larkin　couldn't　get　it　for　Frankforthe's　too　notorious。〃

〃He　don't　want　to　get　it　for　him；〃　replied　Burdick。　　〃His　real　man's　Judge　Graney。〃

Scarborough　stopped　fanning　himself　with　his　wide…brimmed　straw。　　Judge　Graney　was　the　most　adroit　and　dangerous　of　John　Dumont's　tools。　　He　had　given　invaluable　aid　from　the　bench　at　several　of　the　National　Woolens　Company's　most　critical　moments。　　Yet　he　had　retained　and　increased　his　popularity　and　his　reputation　by　deciding　against　his　secret　master　with　a　brave　show　of　virtue　when　he　knew　the　higher　courts　must　reverse　him。　　For　several　years　Scarborough　had　been　looking　forward　to　the　inevitable　open　conflict　between　the　forces　of　honesty　in　hi