the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第26节
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roads lead to matrimony； the centre of a woman's universe。 All men must
be sized up by their matrimonial availability。 No； he isn't married。〃
〃That's nice；〃 she rejoined reflectively。 〃I think we ought to ask him
to stay with us while he is in town； don't you？〃
〃He's not married；〃 rejoined the doctor slyly； 〃but the next best thing
he's engaged。〃
〃Come to think of it；〃 said the lady； 〃I'm afraid we wouldn't have the
room to spare； and the girls would hardly have time to entertain him。 But
we'll have him up several times。 I like his looks。 I wish you had sent
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me word he was coming； I'd have had a better luncheon。〃
〃Make him a salad；〃 rejoined the doctor； 〃and get out a bottle of the
best claret。 Thank God； the Yankees didn't get into my wine cellar！ The
young man must be treated with genuine Southern hospitality；even if he
were a Mormon and married ten times over。〃
〃Indeed； he would not； Ed；the idea！ I'm ashamed of you。 Hurry
back to the parlor and talk to him。 The girls may want to primp a little
before luncheon； we don't have a young man every day。〃
〃Beauty unadorned；〃 replied the doctor； 〃is adorned the most。 My
profession qualifies me to speak upon the subject。 They are the two
handsomest young women in Patesville； and the daughters of the most
beautiful〃
〃Don't you dare to say the word；〃 interrupted Mrs。 Green； with placid
good nature。 〃I shall never grow old while I am living with a big boy
like you。 But I must go and make the salad。〃
At dinner the conversation ran on the family connections and their
varying fortunes in the late war。 Some had died upon the battlefield； and
slept in unknown graves； some had been financially ruined by their faith in
the 〃lost cause；〃 having invested their all in the securities of the
Confederate Government。 Few had anything left but land； and land
without slaves to work it was a drug in the market。
〃I was offered a thousand acres； the other day； at twenty…five cents an
acre；〃 remarked the doctor。 〃The owner is so land…poor that he can't pay
the taxes。 They have taken our negroes and our liberties。 It may be
better for our grandchildren that the negroes are free； but it's confoundedly
hard on us to take them without paying for them。 They may exalt our
slaves over us temporarily； but they have not broken our spirit； and cannot
take away our superiority of blood and breeding。 In time we shall regain
control。 The negro is an inferior creature； God has marked him with the
badge of servitude； and has adjusted his intellect to a servile condition。
We will not long submit to his domination。 I give you a toast； sir： The
Anglo…Saxon race： may it remain forever； as now； the head and front of
creation； never yielding its rights； and ready always to die； if need be； in
defense of its liberties！〃
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〃With all my heart； sir；〃 replied Tryon； who felt in this company a
thrill of that pleasure which accompanies conscious superiority；〃with all
my heart； sir； if the ladies will permit me。〃
〃We will join you；〃 they replied。 The toast was drunk with great
enthusiasm。
〃And now； my dear George；〃 exclaimed the doctor； 〃to change one
good subject for another； tell us who is the favored lady？〃
〃A Miss Rowena Warwick； sir；〃 replied Tryon； vividly conscious of
four pairs of eyes fixed upon him； but； apart from the momentary
embarrassment； welcoming the subject as the one he would most like to
speak upon。
〃A good； strong old English name；〃 observed the doctor。
〃The heroine of ‘Ivanhoe'！〃 exclaimed Miss Harriet。
〃Warwick the Kingmaker！〃 said Miss Mary。 〃Is she tall and fair； and
dignified and stately？〃
〃She is tall； dark rather than fair； and full of tender grace and sweet
humility。〃
〃She should have been named Rebecca instead of Rowena；〃 rejoined
Miss Mary； who was well up in her Scott。
〃Tell us something about her people；〃 asked Mrs。 Green；to which
inquiry the young ladies looked assent。
In this meeting of the elect of his own class and kin Warwick felt a
certain strong illumination upon the value of birth and blood。 Finding
Rena among people of the best social standing； the subsequent intimation
that she was a girl of no family had seemed a small matter to one so much
in love。 Nevertheless； in his present company he felt a decided
satisfaction in being able to present for his future wife a clean bill of social
health。
〃Her brother is the most prominent lawyer of Clarence。 They live in
a fine old family mansion； and are among the best people of the town。〃
〃Quite right； my boy；〃 assented the doctor。 〃None but the best are
good enough for the best。 You must bring her to Patesville some day。
But bless my life！〃 he exclaimed； looking at his watch； 〃I must be going。
Will you stay with the ladies awhile； or go back down town with me？〃
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〃I think I had better go with you； sir。 I shall have to see Judge
Straight。〃
〃Very well。 But you must come back to supper； and we'll have a few
friends in to meet you。 You must see some of the best people。〃
The doctor's buggy was waiting at the gate。 As they were passing the
hotel on their drive down town； the clerk came out to the curbstone and
called to the doctor。
〃There's a man here； doctor； who's been taken suddenly ill。 Can you
come in a minute？〃
〃I suppose I'll have to。 Will you wait for me here； George； or will
you drive down to the office？ I can walk the rest of the way。〃
〃I think I'll wait here； doctor；〃 answered Tryon。 〃I'll step up to my
room a moment。 I'll be back by the time you're ready。〃
It was while they were standing before the hotel； before alighting from
the buggy； that Frank Fowler； passing on his cart； saw Tryon and set out as
fast as he could to warn Mis' Molly and her daughter of his presence in the
town。
Tryon went up to his room； returned after a while； and resumed his
seat in the buggy； where he waited fifteen minutes longer before the doctor
was ready。 When they drew up in front of the office； the doctor's man
Dave was standing in the doorway； looking up the street with an anxious
expression； as though struggling hard to keep something upon his mind。
〃Anything wanted； Dave？〃 asked the doctor。
〃Dat young 'oman's be'n heah ag'in； suh； an' wants ter see you bad。
She's in de drugstore dere now； suh。 Bless Gawd！〃 he added to himself
fervently； 〃I 'membered dat。 Dis yer recommemb'ance er mine is gwine
ter git me inter trouble ef I don' look out； an' dat's a fac'； sho'。〃
The doctor sprang from the buggy with an agility remarkable in a man
of sixty。 〃Just keep your seat； George；〃 he said to Tryon； 〃until I have
spoken to the young woman； and then we'll go across to Straight's。 Or； if
you'll drive along a little farther； you can see the girl through the window。
She's worth the trouble； if you like a pretty face。〃
Tryon liked one pretty face； moreover； tinted beauty had never
appealed to him。 More to show a proper regard for what interested the
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doctor than from any curiosity of his own； he drove forward a few feet；
until the side of the buggy was opposite the drugstore window； and then
looked in。
Between the colored glass bottles in the window he could see a young
woman； a tall and slender girl； like a lily on its stem。 She stood talking
with the
