the man from glengarry-第36节

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Hughie；　leaving　Ranald　and　Maimie　in　the　room　together。　　Ranald　had
never　been　alone　with　her　before；　nor　indeed　had　he　ever　spent　five
minutes　of　his　life　alone　with　any　girl　before　now。　　But　he　did　not
feel　awkward　or　shy；　he　was　thinking　now；　as　he　had　been　thinking
now　and　then　through　the　whole　evening；　of　only　one　thing；　that
Maimie　was　going　away。　　That　would　make　a　great　difference　to　him；
so　great　that　he　was　conscious　of　a　heart…sinking　at　the　mere
thought　of　it。　　During　the　last　weeks；　his　life　had　come　to　move
about　a　center；　and　that　center　was　Maimie；　and　now　that　she　was
going　away；　there　would　be　nothing　left。　　Nothing；　that　is；　that
really　mattered。　　But　the　question　he　was　revolving　in　his　mind
was；　would　she　forget　all　about　him。　　He　knew　he　would　never　forget
her；　that　was；　of　course；　impossible；　for　so　many　things　would
remind　him　of　her。　　He　would　never　see　the　moonlight　falling
through　the　trees　as　it　fell　that　night　of　the　sugaring…off；
without　thinking　of　her。　　He　would　never　see　the　shadows　in　the
evening；　or　hear　the　wind　in　the　leaves；　without　thinking　of　her。
The　church　and　the　minister's　pew；　the　manse　and　all　belonging　to
it　would　remind　him　of　Maimie。　　He　would　recall　how　she　looked　at
different　times　and　places；　the　turn　of　her　head；　the　way　her　hair
fell　on　her　neck；　her　laugh；　the　little　toss　of　her　chin；　and　the
curve　in　her　lips。　　He　would　remember　everything　about　her。　　Would
she　remember　him；　or　would　she　forget　him？　　That　was　the　question
burning　in　his　heart；　and　that　question　he　must　have　settled；　and
this　was　the　time。

But　though　these　thoughts　and　emotions　were　rushing　through　his
brain　and　blood；　he　felt　strangely　quiet　and　self…controlled　as　he
walked　over　to　her　where　she　stood　beside　the　piano；　and　looking
into　her　eyes　with　an　intensity　of　gaze　she　could　not　meet；　said；
in　a　low；　quick　voice：　　〃You　are　going　away？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　so　startled　that　the　easy　smile　with　which　she
had　greeted　him　faded　out　of　her　face。　　〃In　two　weeks　I　shall　be
gone。〃

〃Gone！〃　echoed　Ranald。　　〃Yes；　you　will　be　gone。　　Will　you　forget
me？〃　　His　tone　was　almost　stern。

〃Why；　no；〃　she　said；　in　a　surprised　voice。　　〃Of　course　not。　　Did
not　you　save　my　life？　　You　will　be　far　more　likely　to　forget　me。〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　simply；　as　if　that　possibility　need　not　be　considered。
〃I　will　never　forget　you。　　I　will　always　be　thinking　of　you。　　Will
you　think　of　me？〃　he　persisted。

〃Why；　certainly。　　Wouldn't　I　be　a　very　ungrateful　girl　if　I　did
not？〃

〃Ungrateful！〃　exclaimed　Ranald；　impatiently。　　〃What　I　did　was
nothing。　　Forget　that。　　Do　you　not　understand　me？　　I　will　be
thinking　of　you　every　day；　in　the　morning　and　at　night；　and　I　never
thought　of　any　one　else　before　for　a　day。　　Will　you　be　thinking　of
me？〃

There　was　a　movement　in　the　kitchen；　and　they　could　hear　the
minister　talking　to　Harry；　and　some　one　was　moving　toward　the　door。

〃Tell　me；　Maimie；　quick；〃　said　Ranald；　and　though　his　voice　was
intense　and　stern；　there　was　appeal　in　it　as　well。

She　took　a　step　nearer　him；　and　looking　up　into　his　face；　said；　in
a　whisper；　〃Yes；　Ranald；　I　will　always　remember　you；　and　think　of
you。〃

Swiftly；　almost　fiercely；　he　threw　his　arms　about　her；　and　kissed
her　lips；　then　he　stood　back　looking　at　her。

〃I　could　not　help　it；〃　he　said；　boldly。　　〃You　made　me。〃

〃Made　you？〃　exclaimed　Maimie；　her　face　hot　with　blushes。

〃Yes；　you　made　me。　　I　could　not　help　it；〃　he　repeated。　　〃And　I　do
not　care　if　you　are　angry。　　I　am　glad　I　did　it。〃

〃Glad？〃　echoed　Maimie　again；　not　knowing　what　to　say。

〃Yes；　glad；〃　he　said；　exultantly。　　〃Are　you？〃

She　made　no　reply。　　The　door　opened　behind　them。　　She　sank　down
upon　the　piano…stool　and　let　her　hands　fall　upon　the　keys。

〃Are　you？〃　he　demanded；　ignoring　the　interruption。

With　her　head　low　down；　while　she　struck　the　chords　of　the　hymn
they　had　just　sung；　she　said；　hesitatingly；　〃I　am　not　sorry。〃

〃Sorry　for　what？〃　said　Harry。

〃Oh；　nothing；〃　said　Maimie；　lightly。

〃Nobody　is；　if　he　has　got　any　sense。〃

Then　Mrs。　Murray　came　in。　　〃Won't　you　stay　for　supper；　Ranald？　　You
must　be　hungry。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃I　must　go　now。〃

He　shook　hands　with　an　ease　and　freedom　that　the　minister　had　never
seen　in　him；　and　went　out。

〃That　young　man　is　coming　on；〃　said　the　minister。　　〃I　never　saw　any
one　change　and　develop　as　he　has　in　the　last　few　months。　　Let　me
see。　　He　is　only　eighteen；　isn't　he；　and　he　might　be　twenty…one。〃
The　minister　spoke　as　if　he　were　not　too　well　pleased　with　this
precocity　in　Ranald。

But　little　did　Ranald　care。　　That　young　man　was　striding　homeward
through　the　night；　his　head　striking　the　stars。　　His　path　lay
through　the　woods；　and　when　he　came　to　the　〃sugar　camp〃　road；　he
stood　still；　and　let　the　memories　of　the　night　when　he　had　snatched
Maimie　from　the　fire　troop　through　his　mind。　　Suddenly　he　thought
of　Aleck　McRae；　and　laughed　aloud。

〃Poor　Aleck；〃　he　said。　　Aleck　seemed　so　harmless　to　him　now。　　And
then　he　stood　silent；　motionless；　looking　straight　toward　the
stars；　but　seeing　them　not。　　He　was　remembering　Maimie's　face　when
she　said；　〃Yes；　Ranald；　I　will　always　remember　you　and　think　of
you〃；　and　then　the　thought　of　what　followed；　sent　the　blood　jumping
through　his　veins。

〃She　will　not　forget；〃　he　said　aloud；　and　went　on　his　way。　　It　was
his　happy　night；　the　happiest　of　his　life　thus　far；　and　he　would
always　be　happy。　　What　difference　could　anything　make？



CHAPTER　XV

THE　REVIVAL


Those　last　days　of　Maimie's　visit　sped　by　on　winged　feet。　　To
Ranald　they　were　brimming　with　happiness；　every　one　of　them。　　It
was　the　slack　time　of　the　year；　between　seeding　and　harvest；　and
there　was　nothing　much　to　keep　him　at　home。　　And　so；　with　Harry；
his　devoted　companion；　Ranald　roamed　the　woods；　hitching　up　Lisette
in　Yankee's　buckboard；　put　her　through　her　paces；　and　would　now　and
then　get　up　such　bursts　of　speed　as　took　Harry's　breath　away；　and
more　than　all；　there　was　the　chance　of　a　word　with　Maimie。　　He　had
lost　much　of　his　awkwardness。　　He　went　about　with　an　air　of　mastery；
and　why　not？　　He　had　entered　upon　his　kingdom。　　The　minister　noticed
and　wondered；　his　wife　noticed　and　smiled　sometimes；　but　oftener
sighed；　wisely　keeping　silence；　for　she　knew　that　in　times　like　this
the　best　words　were　those　unspoken。

The　happiest　day　of　all　for　Ranald　was　the　last；　when；　after　a　long
tramp　with　Harry　through　the　woods；　he　drove　him　back　to　the　manse；
coming　up　from　the　gate　to　the　door　like　a　whirlwind。

As　Lisette　stood　pawing　and　tossing　her　beautiful　head；　Mrs。
Murray；　who　stood　with　Maimie　watching　them　drive　up；　cried　out；
admiringly：　　〃What　a　beauty　she　is！〃

〃Isn't　she！〃　cried　Harry；　enthusiastically。　　〃And　such　a　flyer！
Get　in；　auntie；　and　see。〃

〃Do；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　would　be　very　glad。　　Just　to　the　church　hill
and　back。〃

〃Go；　auntie；〃　pleaded　Harry。　　〃She　is　wonderful。〃

〃You　go；　Maimie；〃　said　her　aunt；　to　whom　every　offered　pleasure
simply　furnished　an　opportunity　of　thought　for　others。

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Harry；　impatiently。　　〃You　might　gratify　yourself
a　little　for　once　in　your　life。　　Besides；〃　he　added；　with　true
brotherly　blindness；　〃it's　you　Ranald　wants。　　At　least　he　talks
enough　about　you。〃

〃Yes；　auntie；　do　go！　　It　will　be　lovely；〃　chimed　in　Maimie；　with
suspicious　heartiness。

So；　with　many　protestations；　Mrs。　Murray　took　her　place　beside
Ranald　and　was　whirled　off　like　the　wind。　　She　returned　in　a　very
few　minutes；　her　hair　blown　loose　till　the　little　curls　hung　about
her　glowing　face　and　her　eyes　shining　with　excitement。

〃Oh；　she　is　perfectly　splendid！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃And　so　gentle。
You　must　go；　Maimie；　if　only　to　the　gate。〃　　And　Maimie　went；　but
not　to　turn　at　even　the　church　hill。

For　a　mile　down　the　concession　road　Ranald　let　Lisette　jog　at　an
easy　pace　while　he　told　Maimie　some　of　his　aims　and　hopes。　　He　did
not　mean　to　be　a　farmer　nor　a　lumberman。　　He　was　going　to　the　city；
and　there　make　his　fortune。　　He　did　not　say　it　in　words；　but　his
tone；　his　manner；　everything　about　him；　proclaimed　his　confidence
that　some　day　he　would　be　a　great　man。　　And　Maimie　believed　him；
not　because　it　seemed　reasonable；　or　because　there　seemed　to　be　any
ground　for　his　confidence；　but　just　because　Ranald　said　it。　　His
superb　self…confidence　wrought　in　her　assurance。

〃And　then；〃　he　said；　proudly；　〃I　am　going　to　see　you。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　you　will　not　wait　till　then；〃　she　answered。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said。　　〃I　cannot　tell；　but　it　does　not　matter
much。　　I　will　be　always　seeing　you。〃

〃But　I　will　want　to　see　you；〃　said　Maimie。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　know　you　will；〃　as　if　that　were　a　thing　to
be　expected。　　〃But　you　will　be　coming　back　to　your　aunt　here。〃　　But
of　this　Maimie　could　not　be　sure。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　will　come；〃　he　said；　confidently；　〃I　am　sure　you　will
come。　　Harry　is　coming；　and　you　will　come；　too。〃　　And　having
settled　this　point；　he　turned　Lisette　and　from　that　out　gave　his
attention　to　his　driving。　　The　colt　seemed　to　realize　the　necessity
of　making　a　display　of　her　best　speed；　and　without　any　urging；　she
went　along　the　concession　road；　increasing　her　speed　at