the fortunes of oliver horn-第19节
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simple。 It was only when the Colonel had mentioned his name； and then only because of her urgent need of just such sound practical advice as she knew he could give that she had determined to seek his servicesquite as she would have consulted an architect or an attorney。
The Vermonter took his seat on the extreme edge of the sofa； squared his shoulders； pulled up the points of his high collar； touched together the tips of all his fingers； and looked straight at his hostess。
〃I am greatly obliged to you for coming；〃 she began； 〃for I know how busy you are； but I have a question to ask of you which I feel sure you can answer better than anyone I know。 It is about my son Oliver。 I am going to be perfectly frank with you； and I want you to be equally frank with me。〃 And she summed up Oliver's aims； temptations； and failings with a skill that gained the Vermonter's closest attention。 〃With all this；〃 she continued； 〃he is affectionate； loves me dearly； and has never disobeyed me in his life。 It is his love of change that worries mehis instabilityone thing one moment； and another the next。 It seems to me the only way to break this up is to throw him completely on his own resources so that he may realize for once what life really means。 Now tell me〃 and she looked searchingly into Cobb's face； as if eager to note the effect of her question〃if he were your only son； would you； in view of all I have told you； send him to New York to make his start in life； or would you keep him here？〃
The Vermonter's face had begun to lighten as she progressed； and had entirely cleared when he learned why he had been sent for。 He had been afraid； when he received her note； that it had been about the mortgage。 Cobb was chairman of the Loan Committee at the bank； had personally called attention to Richard's note being overdue； and had himself ordered its payment。
〃My two boys are at school in Vermont； Madam；〃 he answered； slowly。
〃But Oliver must earn his own living；〃 she said； earnestly。 〃His father will have nothing to give him。〃
Cobb made no reply。 He was not surprised。 Most all of these aristocratic Southerners were on their last legs。 He was right about the note； he said to himself it was just as well to have it paidand he made a mental memorandum to inquire about it as soon as he reached his office； and have it pressed for settlement at once。 Business matters must be kept intact。
〃What do you want him to do； Madam？〃 he asked； looking at her keenly from under his bushy eyebrows。
〃Anything to earn his bread；〃 she replied； in a decided tone。
Cobb passed his hand over his face； pinched his chin with his thumb and forefinger； and looked out of the window。 The answer pleased him。 It pleased him； too； to be consulted by the Horns on a matter of this kind。 It pleased him most of all to realize that when these aristocrats who differed with him politically got into a financial hole they had to send for him to help pull them out。
For a moment the Vermonter remained in deep thought。 〃Here is a Southern woman；〃 he said to himself； 〃with some common…sense and with a head on her shoulders。 If her husband had half her brains I'd let the mortgage stand。〃 Then he turned and faced her squarely； his eyes boring into hers。
〃Send him to New York； by all means； Madam； or anywhere else out of here；〃 he said； firmly； but with a kindly tone in his voice。 〃When you decide； let me knowI will give him a letter to a business friend of mine who lives on the Hudson； a short distance above the city； who may help him。 But let me advise you to send him at once。 I saw your son yesterday at the club； and he exactly fits your measure； except in one respect。 He's got more grit in him than you give him credit for。 I looked him over pretty carefully； and if he gets in a tight place you needn't worry about him。 He'll pull out； or my name isn't Cobb。 And now one thing more〃 and he rose stiffly from the sofa and buttoned up his coat 〃don't give him any pocket…money。 Chuck him out neck and heels into the world and let him shift for himself。 That's the way I was treated； and that's the way I got on。 Good…day。〃
CHAPTER VII
A SEAT IN UNION SQUARE
Within a day's journey of Kennedy Square lay another wide breathing…space； its winding paths worn smooth by countless hurrying feet。
Over its flat monotony straggled a line of gnarled willows； marking the wanderings of some guileless brook long since swallowed up and lost in the mazes of the great city like many another young life fresh from green fields and sunny hill…sides。 This desert of weeds and sun…dried； yellow grass； this kraal for scraggly trees and broken benches； breasted the rush of the great city as a stone breasts a stream； dividing its currentone part swirling around and up Broadway to the hills and the other flowing eastward toward Harlem and the Sound。 Around its four sides； fronting the four streets that hemmed it in； ran a massive iron railing； socketed in stone and made man…proof and dog…proof by four great iron gates。 These gates were opened at dawn to let the restless in； and closed at night to keep the weary out。
Above these barriers of stone and iron no joyous magnolias lifted their creamy blossoms； no shy climbing roses played hide…and…seek； blushing scarlet when caught。 Along its foot…worn paths no drowsy Moses ceased his droning call； no lovers walked forgetful of the world； no staid old gentlemen wandered idly； their noses in their books。
All day long on its rude straight…backed benches and over its thread…bare turf sprawled unkempt women with sick babies from the shanties； squalid； noisy children from the rookeries； beggars in rags； and now and then some hopeless wayfarerwho for the moment had given up his search for work or bread and who rested or slept until the tap of a constable's club brought him to consciousness and his feet。
At night； before the gates were closedten o'clock was the hourthere could always be found； under its dim lamps； some tired girl； sitting in the light for better protection while she rested； or some weary laborer on the way home from his long day's work； and always passing to and fro； swinging his staff； bullying the street…rats who were playing tag among the trees； and inspiring a wholesome awe among those hiding in the shadows； lounged some guardian of the peace awaiting the hour when he could drive the inmates to the sidewalk and shut the gates behind them with a bang。
Here on one of these same straight…backed wooden seats one September nighta night when the air was heavy with a blurred haze； through which the lamps peered as in a fog； and the dust lay thick upon the leavessat our Oliver。
Outside the squareall about the iron fence； and surging past the big equestrian statue； could be heard the roar and din of the great citythat maelstrom which now seemed ready to engulf him。 No sound of merry laughter reached him； only rumbling of countless wheels； the slow thud of never…ending； crowded stages lumbering over the cobbles； the cries of the hucksters selling hot corn； and the ceaseless scrapings of a thousand feet。
He had sat here since the sun had gone down watching the crowds； wondering how they lived and how they had earned their freedom from such cares as were now oppressing him。 His heart was heavy。 A long…coveted berth； meaning self…support and independence and consequent relief to his mother's heart； had been almost within his grasp。 It was not the place he had expected when he left home。 It was much more menial and unremunerative。 But he had outlived all his bright hopes。 He was ready now to take anything he could get to save him from returning to Kennedy Square； or what would be still worse from asking his mother for a penny more than she had given him。 Rather than do this he would sweep the streets。
As he leaned forward on the bench； his face in his hands； his elbows on his knees； his thoughts went back to his father's house。 He knew what they were all doing at this hour； he could see the porches crowded with the boys and girls he loved； their bright voices filling the night…air； Sue in the midst of them； her curls about her face。 He could see his father in the big chair reading by the lamp； that dear old father who had held his hands so tenderly and spoken with such earnestness the day before he had left Kennedy Square。
〃Your mother is right；〃 Richard had said。 〃I am glad you are going； my son； the men at the North are broader…minded than we are here； and you will soon find your place among them。 Great things are ahead of us； my boy。 I shall not live to see them； but you will。〃
He could see his mother； too； sitting by the window； looking out upon the trees。 He knew where her thoughts lay。 As his mind rested on her pale face his eyes filled with tears。 〃Dear old mother；〃 he said to himself〃I am not forgetting； dear。 I am holding on。 But oh； if I had only got the place to…day； how happy you would be to…morrow。〃
A bitter feeling had risen in his heart； when he had opened the letter which had brought him the news of the loss of this hoped…for situation。 〃This is making one's way in the world； is it？〃 he had said to himself with a heavy sigh。 Then the calm eyes of his mother had looked into his again； and h
