the man between-第23节

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t。

This　evening　was　the　inauguration　of　a　period　of　undimmed　delight。　In　it　the　Tyrrel…　Rawdons　concluded　a　firm　and　affectionate　alliance　with　the　elder　branch　at　the　Court；　and　one　day　after　a　happy　family　dinner　John　Thomas　made　the　startling　proposal　that　〃the　portrait　of　the　disinherited；　disowned　Tyrrel　should　be　restored　to　its　place　in　the　family　gallery。〃　He　said　he　had　〃just　walked　through　it；　and　noticed　that　the　spot　was　still　vacant；　and　I　think　surely；〃　he　added；　〃the　young　man's　father　must　have　meant　to　recall　him　home　some　day；　but　perhaps　death　took　him　unawares。〃

〃Died　in　the　hunting…field；〃　murmured　the　Squire。

John　Thomas　bowed　his　head　to　the　remark；　and　proceeded；　〃So　perhaps；　Squire；　it　may　be　in　your　heart　to　forgive　the　dead；　and　bring　back　the　poor　lad's　picture　to　its　place。　They　who　sin　for　love　aren't　so　bad；　sir；　as　they　who　sin　for　money。　I　never　heard　worse　of　Tyrrel　Rawdon　than　that　he　loved　a　poor　woman　instead　of　a　rich　womanand　married　her。　Those　that　have　gone　before　us　into　the　next　life；　I　should　think　are　good　friends　together；　and　I　wouldn't　wonder　if　we　might　even　make　them　happier　there　if　we　conclude　to　forget　all　old　wrongs　and　live　together　hereas　Rawdons　ought　to　livelike　one　family。〃

〃I　am　of　your　opinion；　John　Thomas；〃　said　the　Squire；　rising；　and　as　he　did　so　he　looked　at　the　Judge；　who　immediately　indorsed　the　proposal。　One　after　the　other　rose　with　sweet　and　strong　assent；　until　there　was　only　Tyrrel　Rawdon's　voice　lacking。　But　when　all　had　spoken　he　rose　also；　and　said：

〃I　am　Tyrrel　Rawdon's　direct　descendant；　and　I　speak　for　him　when　I　say　to…day；　‘Make　room　for　me　among　my　kindred！'　He　that　loves　much　may　be　forgiven　much。〃

Then　the　housekeeper　was　called；　and　they　went　slowly；　with　soft　words；　up　to　the　third　story　of　the　house。　And　the　room　unused　for　a　century　was　flung　wide　open；　the　shutters　were　unbarred；　and　the　sunshine　flooded　it；　and　there　amid　his　fishing　tackle；　guns；　and　whips；　and　faded　ballads　upon　the　wall；　and　books　of　wood　lore　and　botany；　and　dress　suits　of　velvet　and　satin；　and　hunting　suits　of　scarletall　faded　and　falling　to　pieces　stood　the　picture　of　Tyrrel　Rawdon；　with　its　face　turned　to　the　wall。　The　Squire　made　a　motion　to　his　descendant；　and　the　young　American　tenderly　turned　it　to　the　light。　There　was　no　decay　on　those　painted　lineaments。　The　almost　boyish　face；　with　its　loving　eyes　and　laughing　mouth；　was　still　twenty…　four　years　old；　and　with　a　look　of　pride　and　affection　the　Squire　lifted　the　picture　and　placed　it　in　the　hands　of　the　Tyrrel　Rawdon　of　the　day。

The　hanging　of　the　picture　in　its　old　place　was　a　silent　and　tender　little　ceremony；　and　after　it　the　party　separated。　Mrs。　Rawdon　went　with　Ruth　to　rest　a　little。　She　said　〃she　had　a　headache；〃　and　she　also　wanted　a　good　womanly　talk　over　the　affair。　The　Squire；　Judge　Rawdon；　Mr。　Nicholas　Rawdon；　and　John　Thomas　returned　to　the　dining…　room　to　drink　a　bottle　of　such　mild　Madeira　as　can　only　now　be　found　in　the　cellars　of　old　county　magnates；　and　Ethel　and　Tyrrel　Rawdon　strolled　into　the　garden。　There　had　not　been　in　either　mind　any　intention　of　leaving　the　party；　but　as　they　passed　through　the　hall　Tyrrel　saw　Ethel's　garden　hat　and　white　parasol　lying　on　a　table；　and；　impelled　by　some　sudden　and　unreasoned　instinct；　he　offered　them　to　her。　Not　a　word　of　request　was　spoken；　it　was　the　eager；　passionate　command　of　his　eyes　she　obeyed。　And　for　a　few　minutes　they　were　speechless；　then　so　intensely　conscious　that　words　stumbled　and　were　lame；　and　they　managed　only　syllables　at　a　time。　But　he　took　her　hand；　and　they　came　by　sunny　alleys　of　boxwood　to　a　great　plane　tree；　bearing　at　wondrous　height　a　mighty　wealth　of　branches。　A　bank　of　soft；　green　turf　encircled　its　roots；　and　they　sat　down　in　the　trembling　shadows。　It　was　in　the　midst　of　the　herb　garden；　beds　of　mint　and　thyme；　rosemary　and　marjoram；　basil；　lavender；　and　other　fragrant　plants　were　around；　and　close　at　hand　a　little　city　of　straw　skeps　peopled　by　golden　brown　bees；　From　these　skeps　came　a　delicious　aroma　of　riced　flowers　and　virgin　wax。　It　was　a　new　Garden　of　Eden；　in　which　life　was　sweet　as　perfume　and　pure　as　prayer。　Nothing　stirred　the　green；　sunny　afternoon　but　the　murmur　of　the　bees；　and　the　sleepy　twittering　of　the　birds　in　the　plane　branches。　An　inexpressible　peace　swept　like　the　breath　of　heaven　through　the　odorous　places。　They　sat　down　sighing　for　very　happiness。　The　silence　became　too　eloquent。　At　length　it　was　almost　unendurable；　and　Ethel　said　softly：

〃How　still　it　is！〃

Tyrrel　looked　at　her　steadily　with　beaming　eyes。　Then　he　took　from　his　pocket　a　little　purse　of　woven　gold　and　opal…tinted　beads；　and　held　it　in　his　open　hand　for　her　to　see；　watching　the　bright　blush　that　spread　over　her　face；　and　the　faint；　glad　smile　that　parted　her　lips。

〃You　understand？〃

〃Yes。　It　is　mine。〃

〃It　was　yours。　It　is　now　mine。〃

〃How　did　you　get　it？〃

〃I　bought　it　from　the　old　man　you　gave　it　to。〃

〃Oh！　Then　you　know　him？　How　is　that？〃

〃The　hotel　people　sent　a　porter　home　with　him　lest　he　should　be　robbed。　Next　day　I　made　inquiries；　and　this　porter　told　me　where　he　lived。　I　went　there　and　bought　this　purse　from　him。　I　knew　some　day　it　would　bring　me　to　you。　I　have　carried　it　over　my　heart　ever　since。〃

〃So　you　noticed　me？〃

〃I　saw　you　all　the　time　I　was　singing。　I　have　never　forgotten　you　since　that　hour。〃

〃What　made　you　sing？〃

〃Compassion；　fate；　an　urgent　impulse；　perhaps；　indeed；　your　piteous　faceI　saw　it　first。〃

〃Really？〃

〃I　saw　it　first。　I　saw　it　all　the　time　I　was　singing。　When　you　dropped　this　purse　my　soul　met　yours　in　a　moment's　greeting。　It　was　a　promise。　I　knew　I　should　meet　you　again。　I　have　loved　you　ever　since。　I　wanted　to　tell　you　so　the　hour　we　met。　It　has　been　hard　to　keep　my　secret　so　long。〃

〃It　was　my　secret　also。〃

〃I　love　you　beyond　all　words。　My　life　is　in　your　hands。　You　can　make　me　the　gladdest　of　mortals。　You　can　send　me　away　forever。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　could　not！　I　could　not　do　that！〃　The　rest　escapes　words；　but　thus　it　was　that　on　this　day　of　days　these　two　came　by　God's　grace　to　each　other。

　　For　all　things　come　by　fate　to　flower；　　　At　their　unconquerable　hour。

And　the　very　atmosphere　of　such　bliss　is　diffusive；　it　seemed　as　if　all　the　living　creatures　around　understood。　In　the　thick；　green　branches　the　birds　began　to　twitter　the　secret；　and　certainly　the　wise；　wise　bees　knew　also；　in　some　occult　way；　of　the　love　and　joy　that　had　just　been　revealed。　A　wonderful　humming　and　buzzing　filled　the　hives；　and　the　air　vibrated　with　the　movement　of　wings。　Some　influence　more　swift　and　secret　than　the　birds　of　the　air　carried　the　matter　further；　for　it　finally　reached　Royal；　the　Squire's　favorite　collie；　who　came　sauntering　down　the　alley；　pushed　his　nose　twice　under　Ethel's　elbow；　and　then　with　a　significant　look　backward；　advised　the　lovers　to　follow　him　to　the　house。

When　they　finally　accepted　his　invitation；　they　found　Mrs。　Rawdon　drinking　a　cup　of　tea　with　Ruth　in　the　hall。　Ethel　joined　them　with　affected　high　spirits　and　random　explanations　and　excuses；　but　both　women　no…　ticed　her　radiant　face　and　exulting　air。　〃The　garden　is　such　a　heavenly　place；〃　she　said　ecstatically；　and　Mrs　Rawdon　remarked；　as　she　rose　and　put　her　cup　on　the　table；　〃Girls　need　chaperons　in　gardens　if　they　need　them　anywhere。　I　made　Nicholas　Rawdon　a　promise　in　Mossgill　Garden　I've　had　to　spend　all　my　life　since　trying　to　keep。〃

〃Tyrrel　and　I　have　been　sitting　under　the　plane　tree　watching　the　bees。　They　are　such　busy；　sensible　creatures。〃

〃They　are　that；〃　answered　Mrs。　Rawdon。　〃If　you　knew　all　about　them　you　would　wonder　a　bit。　My　father　had　a　great　many；　he　studied　their　ways　and　used　to　laugh　at　the　ladies　of　the　hive　being　so　like　the　ladies　of　the　world。　You　see　the　young　lady　bees　are　just　as　inexperienced　as　a　schoolgirl。　They　get　lost　in　the　flowers；　and　are　often　so　overtaken　and　reckless；　that　the　night　finds　them　far　from　the　hive；　heavy　with　pollen　and　chilled　with　cold。　Sometimes　father　would　lift　one　of　these　imprudent　young　things；　carry　it　home；　and　try　to　get　it　admitted。　He　never　could　manage　it。　The　lady　bees　acted　just　as　women　are　apt　to　do　when　other　women　GO　where　they　don't　go；　or　DO　as　they　don't　do。〃

〃But　this　is　interesting；〃　said　Ruth。　〃Pray；　how　did　the　ladies　of　the　hive　behave　to　the　culprit？〃

〃They　came　out　and　felt　her　all　over；　turned　her　round　and　round；　and　then　pushed　her　out　of　their　community。　There　was　always　a　deal　of　buzzing　about　the　poor；　silly　thing；　and　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　their　stings　were　busy　too。　Bees　are　ill…natured　as　they　can　be。　Well；　well；　I　don't　blame　anyone　for　sitting　in　the　garden　such　a　day　as　this；　only；　as　I　was　saying；　gardens　have　been　very　dangerous　places　for　women　as　far　as　I　know。〃

Ruth　laughed　softly。　〃I　shall　take　a　chaperon　with　me；　then；　when　I　go　into　the　garden。〃

〃I　would；　dearie。　There's　the　Judge；　he's　a　very　suitable；　sedate…looking　one　but　you　never　can　tell。　The　first　woman　found　in　a　garden　and　a　tree　had　plenty　of　sorrow　for　herself　and　every　woman　that　has　lived　after　her。　I　wish　Nicholas　and　John　Thomas　would　come。　I'll　warrant　they're　talking　what　they　call　politics。〃

Politi