the choir invisible-第6节

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oved　to　think　of　him　as　holding　his　descent　from　a　line　so　pious　and　so　grim：　it　served　to　account　to　her　for　the　quality　of　stern；　spiritual　soldiership　that　still　seemed　to　be　the　mastering　trait　of　his　nature。　How　long　would　it　remain　so；　was　the　question　that　she　had　often　asked　of　herself。　A　fighter　in　the　world　he　would　always　beshe　felt　sure　of　that；　nor　was　it　necessary　to　look　into　his　past　to　obtain　this　assurance；　one　had　but　to　look　into　his　eyes。　Moreover；　she　had　little　doubt　that　with　a　temper　so　steadily　bent　on　conflict；　he　would　never　suffer　defeat　where　his　own　utmost　strength　was　all　that　was　needed　to　conquer。　But　as　he　grew　older；　and　the　world　in　part　conquered　him　as　it　conquers　so　many　of　us；　would　he　go　into　his　later　battles　as　he　had　entered　his　earlier　onesto　the　measure　of　a　sacred　chant？　Beneath　the　sweat　and　wounds　of　all　his　victories　would　he　carry　the　white　lustre　of　conscience；　burning　untarnished　in　him　to　the　end？

It　was　this　religious　purity　of　his　nature　and　his　life；　resting　upon　him　as　a　mantle　visible　to　all　eyes　but　invisible　to　him；　that　had；　as　she　believed；　attracted　her　to　him　so　powerfully。　On　that　uncouth　border　of　Western　civilization；　to　which　they　had　both　been　cast；　he　was　a　little　lonely　in　his　way；　she　in　hers；　and　this　fact　had　drawn　them　somewhat　together。　He　was　a　scholar；　she　a　reader；　that　too　had　formed　a　bond。　He　had　been　much　at　their　home　as　lover　of　her　niece；　and　this　intimacy　had　given　her　a　good　chance　to　take　his　wearing　measure　as　a　man。　But　over　and　above　all　other　things；　it　was　the　effect　of　the　unfallen　in　him；　of　the　highest　keeping　itself　above　assault；　of　his　first　youth　never　yet　brushed　away　as　a　bloom；　that　constituted　to　her　his　distinction　among　the　men　that　she　had　known。　It　served　to　place　him　in　contrast　with　the　colonial　Virginia　society　of　her　remembrancea　society　in　which　even　the　minds　of　the　clergy　were　not　like　a　lawn　scentless　with　the　dew　on　it；　but　like　a　lawn　parched　by　the　afternoon　sun　and　full　of　hot　odours。　It　kept　him　aloof　from　the　loose　ways　of　the　young　backwoodsmen　and　aristocrats　of　the　town；　with　whom　otherwise　he　closely　mingled。　It　gave　her　the　right；　she　thought；　to　indulge　a　friendship　for　him　such　as　she　had　never　felt　for　any　other　man；　and　in　this　friendship　it　made　it　easier　for　her　to　overlook　a　great　deal　that　was　rude　in　him；　headstrong；　overbearing。

When；　this　afternoon；　he　had　asked　her　what　she　was　thinking　of　when　he　surprised　her　with　his　visit；　she　had　not　replied：　she　could　not　have　avowed　even　to　herself　that　she　was　thinking　of　such　things　as　these：　that　having；　for　some　years；　drawn　out　a　hard；　dull　life　in　that　settlement　of　pathfinders；　trappers；　woodchoppers；　hunters；　Indian　fighters；　surveyors；　having　afterwards；　with　little　interest；　watched　them；　one　by　one；　as　the　earliest　types　of　civilization　followed；the　merchant；　the　lawyer；　the　priest；　the　preacher　of　the　Gospel；　the　soldiers　and　officers　of　the　Revolution；at　last；　through　all　the　wilderness；　as　it　now　fondly　seemed　to　her；　she　saw　shining　the　white　light　of　his　long　absent　figure；　bringing　a　new　melody　to　the　woods；　a　new　meaning　to　her　life；　and　putting　an　end　to　all　her　desire　ever　to　return　to　the　old　society　beyond　the　mountains。

His　figure　passed　out　of　sight；　and　she　turned　and　walked　sorrowfully　to　the　cabin；　from　the　low　rugged　chimney　of　which　a　pale　blue　smoke　now　rose　into　the　twilight　air。　She　chid　herself　that　she　had　confronted　the　declaration　of　his　purpose　to　marry　her　niece　with　so　little　spirit；　such　faulty　tact。　She　had　long　known　that　he　would　ask　this；　she　had　long　gotten　ready　what　she　would　say；　but　in　the　struggle　between　their　wills；　she　had　been　unaccountably　embarrassed；　she　had　blundered；　and　he　had　left　rather　strengthened　than　weakened　in　his　determination。

But　she　must　prevent　the　marriage；　her　mind　was　more　resolute　than　ever　as　to　that。　Slowly　she　reached　the　doorstep　of　the　cabin；　a　roughly　hewn　log；　and　turning；　stood　there　with　her　bonnet　in　her　hand；　her　white　figure　outlined　before　the　doorway；　slender　and　still。　The　sun　had　set。　Night　was　rushing　on　over　the　awful　land。　The　wolf…dog；　in　his　kennel　behind　the　house；　rose；　shook　himself　at　his　chain；　and　uttered　a　long　howl　that　reached　away　to　the　dark　woodsthe　darker　for　the　vast　pulsing　yellow　light　that　waved　behind　them　in　the　west　like　a　gorgeous　soft　aerial　fan。　As　the　echoes　died　out　from　the　peach　orchard　came　the　song　of　a　robin；　calling　for　love　and　rest。　Then　from　another　direction　across　the　clearing　another　sound　reached　her：　the　careless　whistle　of　the　major；　returning　from　his　day's　work　in　the　field。　When　she　heard　that；　her　face　took　on　the　expression　that　a　woman　sometimes　comes　to　wear　when　she　has　accepted　what　life　has　brought　her　although　it　has　brought　her　nothing　for　which　she　cares；　and　her　lips　opened　with　an　unconscious　sigh　of　wearinessthe　weariness　that　has　been　gathering　weariness　for　years　and　that　runs　on　in　weariness　through　the　future。

Later；　she　was　kneeling　before　the　red　logs　of　the　fireplace　with　one　hand　shielding　her　delicate　face　from　the　blistering　heat；　in　the　other　holding　the　shingle　on　which　richly　made　and　carefully　shaped　was　the　bread　of　Indian　maize　that　he　liked。　She　did　not　rise　until　she　had　placed　it　where　it　would　be　perfectly　browned；　otherwise　he　would　have　been　disappointed　and　the　evening　would　have　been　spoiled。

IV

JOHN　GRAY　did　not　return　to　town　by　his　straight　course　through　the　forest；　but　followed　the　winding　wagon…road　at　a　slow；　meditative　gait。　He　was　always　thoughtful　after　he　had　been　with　Mrs。　Falconer；　he　was　unusually　thoughtful　now；　and　the　gathering　hush　of　night；　the　holy　expectancy　of　stars；　a　flock　of　white　clouds　lying　at　rest　low　on　the　green　sky　like　sheep　in　some　far　uplifted　meadow；　the　freshness　of　the　woods　soon　to　be　hung　with　dew；all　these　melted　into　his　mood　as　notes　from　many　instruments　blend　in　the　ear。　But　he　was　soon　aroused　in　an　unexpected　way。　When　he　reached　the　place　where　the　wagon…road　passed　out　into　the　broader　public　road　leading　from　Lexington　to　Frankfort；　he　came　near　stumbling　over　a　large；　loose　bundle；　tied　in　a　blue　and　white　neckerchief。　Plainly　it　had　been　lost　and　plainly　it　was　his　duty　to　discover　if　possible　to　whom　it　belonged。　He　carried　it　to　one　side　of　the　road　and　began　to　examine　its　contents：　a　wide；　white　lace　tucker；　two　fine　cambric　handkerchiefs；　two　pairs　of　India　cotton　hose；　two　pairs　of　silk　hose；　two　thin　muslin　handkerchiefs；　a　pair　of　long　kid　gloves；straw　colour；a　pair　of　white　kid　shoes；　a　pale…blue　silk　coat；　a　thin；　white　striped　muslin　dress。The　articles　were　not　marked。　Whose　could　they　be？　Not　Amy's：　Mrs。　Falconer　had　expressly　said　that　the　major　was　to　bring　her　finery　to　town　in　the　gig　the　next　day。　They　might　have　been　dropped　by　some　girl　or　by　some　family　servant；　riding　into　town；　he　knew　several　young　ladies；　to　any　one　of　whom　they　might　belong。　He　would　inquire　in　the　morning；　and　meantime；　he　would　leave　the　bundle　at　the　office　of　the　printer；　where　lost　articles　were　commonly　kept　until　they　could　be　advertised　in　the　paper；　and　called　for　by　their　owners。　He　replaced　the　things；　and　carefully　retied　the　ends　of　the　kerchief。　It　was　dark　when　he　reached　town；　and　he　went　straight　to　his　room　and　locked　the　bundle　in　his　closet。　Then　he　hurried　to　his　tavern；　where　his　supper　had　to　be　especially　cooked　for　him；　it　being　past　the　early　hour　of　the　pioneer　evening　meal。　While　he　sat　out　under　the　tree　at　the　door；　waiting　and　impatiently　thinking　that　he　would　go　to　see　Amy　as　soon　as　he　could　despatch　it；　the　tavern…keeper　came　out　to　say　that　some　members　of　the　Democratic　Society　had　been　looking　for　him。　Later　on；　these　returned。　A　meeting　of　the　Society　had　been　called　for　that　night；　to　consider　news　brought　by　the　postrider　the　day　previous　and　to　prepare　advices　for　the　Philadelphia　Society　against　the　postrider's　return：　as　secretary；　he　was　wanted　at　the　proceedings。　He　begged　hard　to　be　excused；　but　he　was　the　scholar；　the　scribe；　no　one　would　take　his　place。　When　the　meeting　ended；　the　hour　was　past　for　seeing　Amy。　He　went　to　his　room　and　read　law　with　flickering　concentration　of　mind　till　near　midnight。　Then　he　snuffed　out　his　candle；　undressed；　and　stretched　himself　along　the　edge　of　his　bed。

It　was　hard　and　coarse。　　The　room　itself　was　the　single　one　that　formed　the　ruder　sort　of　pioneer　cabin。　The　floor　was　the　earth　itself；　covered　here　and　there　with　the　skins　of　wild　animals；　the　walls　but　logs；　poorly　plastered。　From　a　row　of　pegs　driven　into　one　of　these　hung　his　clothesnot　many。　The　antlers　of　a　stag　over　the　doorway　held　his　rifle；　his　hunting…belt；　and　his　hat。　A　swinging　shelf　displayed　a　few　books；　being　eagerly　added　to　as　he　could　bitterly　afford　itwith　a　copy　of　Paley；　lent　by　the　Reverend　James　Moore；　the　dreamy；　saintlike；　flute…playing　Episcopal　parson　of　the　town。　In　the　middle　of　the　room　a　round　table　of　his　own　vigorous　carpentry　stood　on　a　panther　skin；　and　on　this　lay　some　copy　books　in　which　he　had　just　set　new　copies　for　his　children；　a　handful　of　goosequills　to　be　fashioned　into　pens　for　them；　the　proceedings　of　the　Democratic　Society；　freshly　add