the fortunes of oliver horn-第9节
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r was cut （it was worth a day's journey to see Malachi cut a melon）； the guests would not only crowd the steps； but all the hall and half up the slender staircase； where they would sit with plates in their laps； the young men serving their respective sweethearts。
This open…air night…life had gone on since Kennedy Square began； each door…step had its habitues and each veranda its traditions。 There was but one single porch； in fact； facing its stately trees whereon no flocks of birds； old or young； ever alighted； and that belonged to Peter Skimmertonthe meanest man in townwho in a fit of parsimony over candles； so the girls said； had bared his porch of every protesting vine and had placed opposite his door…step a glaring street gas…lamp…a monstrous and never…to… be…forgotten affront。
And yet； free and easy as the life was； no stranger sat himself down on any one of these porches until his pedigree had been thoroughly investigated； no matter how large might be his bank…account nor how ambitious his soarings。 No premeditated discourtesy ever initialed this exclusiveness and none was ever intended。 Kennedy Square did not know the blood of the strangerthat was alland not knowing it they could not trust him。 And it would have been altogether useless for him to try to disguise his antecedents especially if he came from their own State or any State south of it。 His record could be as easily reached and could be as clearly read as a title… deed。 Even the servants knew。 Often they acted as Clerks of the Rolls。
〃Dat Mister Jawlins； did you ask 'bout？〃 Malachi would say。 〃Why you know whar he comes f'om。 He's one o' dem Anne Rundle Jawlinses。 He do look mighty peart an' dey do say he's mighty rich； but he can't fool Malachi。 I knowed his gran'pa；〃 and that wise and politic darky； with the honor of the house before his eyes； would shake his head knowingly and with such an ominous look； that had you not known the only crime of the poor grandfather to have been a marriage with his overseer's daughter a very worthy woman； by the wayinstead of with some lady of quality； you would have supposed he had added the sin of murder to the crime of low birth。 On the other hand； had you asked Malachi about some young aristocrat who had forgotten to count his toddies the night before； that Defender of the Faith would have replied：
〃Lawd bress ye！ Co'se dese young gemmens like to frolican' dey do git dat way sometimestain't nuthin'。 Dem Dorseys was allers like dat〃 the very tones of his voice carrying such convictions of the young man's respectability that you would have felt safe in keeping a place at your table for the delinquent； despite your knowledge of his habits。
This general intimacy between the young people； and this absolute faith of their elders in the quality of family blood； was one of the reasons why every man about Kennedy Square was to be trusted with every other man's sister； and why every mother gave the latch…key to every other mother's son； and why it made no difference whether the young people came home early or late； so that they all came home when the others did。 If there were love…makingand of course there was love…makingit was of the old… fashioned； boy…and…girl kind； with keepsakes and pledges and long walks in the afternoons and whispered secrets at the merry…makings。 Never anything else。 Woe betide the swain who forgot himself ever so slightlythere was no night…key for him after that； nor would any of the girls on any front steps in town ever look his way again when he passed and to their credit be it said； few of the young men either。 From that day on the offender became a pariah。 He had committed the unpardonable sin。
As for these young men； this life with the girls was all the life they knew。 There were fishing parties； of course； at the 〃Falls〃 when the gudgeons were biting； and picnics in the woods； and there were oyster roasts in winter； and watermelon parties in summerbut the girls must he present； too。 For in those simple days there were no special clubs with easy…chairs and convenient little tables loaded with drinkables and smokablesnone for the young Olivers； and certainly none for the women。 There was； to be sure； in every Southern city an old mausoleum of a clubsometimes twoeach more desolate than the otherhaunted by gouty old parties and bonvivants； but the young men never passed through their doors except on some call of urgency。 When a man was old enough to be admitted to the club there was no young damosel on Malachi's steps； or any other steps； who would care a rap about him。 HIS day was done。
For these were the days in which the woman ruled in court and home…championed by loyal retainers who strove hourly to do her bidding。 Even the gray… haired men would tell you over their wine of some rare woman whom they had known in their youth； and who was still their standard of all that was gentle and gracious； and for whom they would claim a charm of manner and stately comeliness that〃my dear sir； not only illumined her drawing…room but conferred distinction on the commonwealth。〃
〃Mrs。 Tilghman's mother； were you talking about？〃 Colonel Clayton or Richard Horn； or some other old resident would ask。 〃I remember her perfectly。 We have rarely had a more adorable woman； sir。 She was a vision of beauty； and the pride of our State for years。〃
Should some shadow have settled upon any one of these homessome shadow of drunkenness； or love of play； or shattered brain； or worsethe woman bore the sorrow in gentleness and patience and still loved on and suffered and loved and suffered again； hoping against hope。 But no dry briefs were ever permitted to play a part； dividing heart and hearth。 Kennedy Square would have looked askance had such things been suggested or even mentioned in its presence； and the dames would have lowered their voices in discussing them。 Even the men would have passed with unlifted hats either party to such shame。
Because of this loyalty to womankind and this reverence for the homea reverence which began with the mother…love and radiated to every sister they knewno woman of quality ever earned her own bread while there was an able…bodied man of her blood above ground to earn it for her。 Nor could there be any disgrace so lasting； even to the third and fourth generation； as the stigma an outraged community would place upon the renegade who refused her aid and comfort。 An unprogressive； quixotic life if you willa life without growth and dominant personalities and lofty responsibilities and God…given rightsbut oh！ the sweet mothers that it gave us； and the wholesomeness； the cleanliness； the loyalty of it all。
With the coming of summer； then； each white marble step of the Horn mansion； under Malachi's care； shone like a china plate。
〃Can't hab dese yere young ladies spile dere clean frocks on Malachi's stepsno； sah；〃 he would say； 〃Marse Oliver'd r'ar an' pitch tur'ble。〃
There were especial reasons this year for these extra touches of rag and brush。 Malachi knew 〃de signs〃 too well to be deceived。 Pretty Sue Clayton； with her soft eyes and the mass of ringlets that framed her face； had now completely taken possession of Oliver's heart； and the old servant already had been appointed chief of the postal servicetwo letters a day sometimes with all the verbal messages in between。
This love…affair； which had begun in the winter； was not yet of so serious a nature as to cause distress or unhappiness to either one of their respective houses； nor had it reached a point where suicide or an elopement were all that was left。 It was； in truth； but a few months old； and so far the banns had not been published。 Within the last week Miss Sue had been persuaded 〃to wait for him〃 that was all。 She had not； it is true； burdened her gay young heart with the number of years of her patience。 She and Oliver were sweetheartsthat was enough for them both。 As proof of it； was she not wearing about her neck at the very moment a chain which he had fashioned for her out of cherry…stones； and had she not given him in return one of those same ringlets； and had she not tied it with a blue ribbon herself？ And above alland what could be more conclusive had she not taken her hair down to do it； and let him select the very tress that pleased him best？and was not this curl； at that very moment； concealed in a pill…box and safely hidden in his unlocked bureau… drawer； where his mother saw it with a smile the last time she put away his linen？ This love…affairas were the love…affairs of all the other young people was common gossip around Kennedy Square。 Had there been any doubts about it； it would only have been necessary to ask any old Malachi； or Hannah； or Juno。 They could have given every detail of the affair； descanting upon all its joys and its sorrows。
Sweet girls of the days gone by； what crimes some of you have to answer for！ At least one of you must remember how my own thumb was cut into slits over these same cherry…stones； and why the ends of your ringlets were tucked away in a miniature box in my drawer； with the pressed flowers and signet…ring； and the rest of it。 And you couldif you wouldrecall a waiting promise made to me years and years ago。 And the wedding！ Surely you have not forgo
