the golden road-第43章

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CHAPTER　XXVI

UNCLE　BLAIR　COMES　HOME


It　happened　that　the　Story　Girl　and　I　both　got　up　very　early　on　the　morning　of　the　Awkward　Man's　wedding　day。　　Uncle　Alec　was　going　to　Charlottetown　that　day；　and　I；　awakened　at　daybreak　by　the　sounds　in　the　kitchen　beneath　us；　remembered　that　I　had　forgotten　to　ask　him　to　bring　me　a　certain　school…book　I　wanted。　　So　I　hurriedly　dressed　and　hastened　down　to　tell　him　before　he　went。　　I　was　joined　on　the　stairs　by　the　Story　Girl；　who　said　she　had　wakened　and；　not　feeling　like　going　to　sleep　again；　thought　she　might　as　well　get　up。

〃I　had　such　a　funny　dream　last　night；〃　she　said。　　〃I　dreamed　that　I　heard　a　voice　calling　me　from　away　down　in　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk　'Sara；　Sara；　Sara；'　it　kept　calling。　　I　didn't　know　whose　it　was；　and　yet　it　seemed　like　a　voice　I　knew。　　I　wakened　up　while　it　was　calling；　and　it　seemed　so　real　I　could　hardly　believe　it　was　a　dream。　　It　was　bright　moonlight；　and　I　felt　just　like　getting　up　and　going　out　to　the　orchard。　　But　I　knew　that　would　be　silly　and　of　course　I　didn't　go。　　But　I　kept　on　wanting　to　and　I　couldn't　sleep　any　more。　　Wasn't　it　queer？〃

When　Uncle　Alec　had　gone　I　proposed　a　saunter　to　the　farther　end　of　the　orchard；　where　I　had　left　a　book　the　preceding　evening。　　A　young　mom　was　walking　rosily　on　the　hills　as　we　passed　down　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk；　with　Paddy　trotting　before　us。　　High　overhead　was　the　spirit…like　blue　of　paling　skies；　the　east　was　a　great　arc　of　crystal；　smitten　through　with　auroral　crimsonings；　just　above　it　was　one　milk…white　star　of　morning；　like　a　pearl　on　a　silver　sea。　　A　light　wind　of　dawn　was　weaving　an　orient　spell。

〃It's　lovely　to　be　up　as　early　as　this；　isn't　it？〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃The　world　seems　so　different　just　at　sunrise；　doesn't　it？　It　makes　me　feel　just　like　getting　up　to　see　the　sun　rise　every　morning　of　my　life　after　this。　　But　I　know　I　won't。　　I'll　likely　sleep　later　than　ever　tomorrow　morning。　　But　I　wish　I　could。〃

〃The　Awkward　Man　and　Miss　Reade　are　going　to　have　a　lovely　day　for　their　wedding；〃　I　said。

〃Yes；　and　I'm　so　glad。　　Beautiful　Alice　deserves　everything　good。　　Why；　Bevwhy；　Bev！　　Who　is　that　in　the　hammock？〃

I　looked。　　The　hammock　was　swung　under　the　two　end　trees　of　the　Walk。　　In　it　a　man　was　lying；　asleep；　his　head　pillowed　on　his　overcoat。　　He　was　sleeping　easily；　lightly；　and　wholesomely。　　He　had　a　pointed　brown　beard　and　thick　wavy　brown　hair。　　His　cheeks　were　a　dusky　red　and　the　lashes　of　his　closed　eyes　were　as　long　and　dark　and　silken　as　a　girl's。　　He　wore　a　light　gray　suit；　and　on　the　slender　white　hand　that　hung　down　over　the　hammock's　edge　was　a　spark　of　diamond　fire。

It　seemed　to　me　that　I　knew　his　face；　although　assuredly　I　had　never　seen　him　before。　　While　I　groped　among　vague　speculations　the　Story　Girl　gave　a　queer；　choked　little　cry。　　The　next　moment　she　had　sprung　over　the　intervening　space；　dropped　on　her　knees　by　the　hammock；　and　flung　her　arms　about　the　man's　neck。

〃Father！　　Father！〃　she　cried；　while　I　stood；　rooted　to　the　ground　in　my　amazement。

The　sleeper　stirred　and　opened　two　large；　exceedingly　brilliant　hazel　eyes。　　For　a　moment　he　gazed　rather　blankly　at　the　brown…　curled　young　lady　who　was　embracing　him。　　Then　a　most　delightful　smile　broke　over　his　face；　he　sprang　up　and　caught　her　to　his　heart。

〃SaraSaramy　little　Sara！　　To　think　didn't　know　you　at　first　glance！　　But　you　are　almost　a　woman。　　And　when　I　saw　you　last　you　were　just　a　little　girl　of　eight。　　My　own　little　Sara！〃

〃Fatherfathersometimes　I've　wondered　if　you　were　ever　coming　back　to　me；〃　I　heard　the　Story　Girl　say；　as　I　turned　and　scuttled　up　the　Walk；　realizing　that　I　was　not　wanted　there　just　then　and　would　be　little　missed。　　Various　emotions　and　speculations　possessed　my　mind　in　my　retreat；　but　chiefly　did　I　feel　a　sense　of　triumph　in　being　the　bearer　of　exciting　news。

〃Aunt　Janet；　Uncle　Blair　is　here；〃　I　announced　breathlessly　at　the　kitchen　door。

Aunt　Janet；　who　was　kneading　her　bread；　turned　round　and　lifted　floury　hands。　　Felicity　and　Cecily；　who　were　just　entering　the　kitchen；　rosy　from　slumber；　stopped　still　and　stared　at　me。

〃Uncle　who？〃　exclaimed　Aunt　Janet。

〃Uncle　Blairthe　Story　Girl's　father；　you　know。　　He's　here。〃

〃WHERE？〃

〃Down　in　the　orchard。　　He　was　asleep　in　the　hammock。　　We　found　him　there。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Aunt　Janet；　sitting　down　helplessly。　　〃If　that　isn't　like　Blair！　　Of　course　he　couldn't　come　like　anybody　else。　　I　wonder；〃　she　added　in　a　tone　unheard　by　anyone　else　save　myself；　〃I　wonder　if　he　has　come　to　take　the　child　away。〃

My　elation　went　out　like　a　snuffed　candle。　　I　had　never　thought　of　this。　　If　Uncle　Blair　took　the　Story　Girl　away　would　not　life　become　rather　savourless　on　the　hill　farm？　　I　turned　and　followed　Felicity　and　Cecily　out　in　a　very　subdued　mood。

Uncle　Blair　and　the　Story　Girl　were　just　coming　out　of　the　orchard。　　His　arm　was　about　her　and　hers　was　on　his　shoulder。　　Laughter　and　tears　were　contending　in　her　eyes。　　Only　once　before　when　Peter　had　come　back　from　the　Valley　of　the　Shadowhad　I　seen　the　Story　Girl　cry。　　Emotion　had　to　go　very　deep　with　her　ere　it　touched　the　source　of　tears。　　I　had　always　known　that　she　loved　her　father　passionately；　though　she　rarely　talked　of　him；　understanding　that　her　uncles　and　aunts　were　not　whole…heartedly　his　friends。

But　Aunt　Janet's　welcome　was　cordial　enough；　though　a　trifle　flustered。　　Whatever　thrifty；　hard…working　farmer　folk　might　think　of　gay；　Bohemian　Blair　Stanley　in　his　absence；　in　his　presence　even　they　liked　him；　by　the　grace　of　some　winsome；　lovable　quality　in　the　soul　of　him。　　He　had　〃a　way　with　him〃revealed　even　in　the　manner　with　which　he　caught　staid　Aunt　Janet　in　his　arms；　swung　her　matronly　form　around　as　though　she　had　been　a　slim　schoolgirl；　and　kissed　her　rosy　cheek。

〃Sister　o'　mine；　are　you　never　going　to　grow　old？〃　he　said。　　〃Here　you　are　at　forty…five　with　the　roses　of　sixteenand　not　a　gray　hair；　I'll　wager。〃

〃Blair；　Blair；　it　is　you　who　are　always　young；〃　laughed　Aunt　Janet；　not　ill　pleased。　　〃Where　in　the　world　did　you　come　from？　And　what　is　this　I　hear　of　your　sleeping　all　night　in　the　hammock？〃

〃I've　been　painting　in　the　Lake　District　all　summer；　as　you　know；〃　answered　Uncle　Blair；　〃and　one　day　I　just　got　homesick　to　see　my　little　girl。　　So　I　sailed　for　Montreal　without　further　delay。　　I　got　here　at　eleven　last　nightthe　station…master's　son　drove　me　down。　　Nice　boy。　　The　old　house　was　in　darkness　and　I　thought　it　would　be　a　shame　to　rouse　you　all　out　of　bed　after　a　hard　day's　work。　　So　I　decided　that　I　would　spend　the　night　in　the　orchard。　　It　was　moonlight；　you　know；　and　moonlight　in　an　old　orchard　is　one　of　the　few　things　left　over　from　the　Golden　Age。〃

〃It　was　very　foolish　of　you；〃　said　practical　Aunt　Janet。　　〃These　September　nights　are　real　chilly。　　You　might　have　caught　your　death　of　coldor　a　bad　dose　of　rheumatism。〃

〃So　I　might。　　No　doubt　it　was　foolish　of　me；〃　agreed　Uncle　Blair　gaily。　　〃It　must　have　been　the　fault；　of　the　moonlight。　　Moonlight；　you　know；　Sister　Janet；　has　an　intoxicating　quality。　　It　is　a　fine；　airy；　silver　wine；　such　as　fairies　may　drink　at　their　revels；　unharmed　of　it；　but　when　a　mere　mortal　sips　of　it；　it　mounts　straightway　to　his　brain；　to　the　undoing　of　his　daylight　common　sense。　　However；　I　have　got　neither　cold　nor　rheumatism；　as　a　sensible　person　would　have　done　had　he　ever　been　lured　into　doing　such　a　non…sensible　thing；　there　is　a　special　Providence　for　us　foolish　folk。　　I　enjoyed　my　night　in　the　orchard；　for　a　time　I　was　companioned　by　sweet　old　memories；　and　then　I　fell　asleep　listening　to　the　murmurs　of　the　wind　in　those　old　trees　yonder。　　And　I　had　a　beautiful　dream；　Janet。　　I　dreamed　that　the　old　orchard　blossomed　again；　as　it　did　that　spring　eighteen　years　ago。　　I　dreamed　that　its　sunshine　was　the　sunshine　of　spring；　not　autumn。　　There　was　newness　of　life　in　my　dream；　Janet；　and　the　sweetness　of　forgotten　words。〃

〃Wasn't　it　strange　about　MY　dream？〃　whispered　the　Story　Girl　to　me。

〃Well；　you'd　better　come　in　and　have　some　breakfast；〃　said　Aunt　Janet。　　〃These　are　my　little　girlsFelicity　and　Cecily。〃

〃I　remember　them　as　two　most　adorable　tots；〃　said　Uncle　Blair；

shaking　hands。