the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第19章
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remained unrevealed； and her doubt was still unsatisfied。
Rena was occupied with this thought when her lover next came to see
her。 Tryon came up the sanded walk from the gate and spoke pleasantly
to the nurse； a good…looking yellow girl who was seated on the front steps；
playing with little Albert。 He took the boy from her arms； and she went
to call Miss Warwick。
Rena came out； followed by the nurse； who offered to take the child。
〃Never mind； Mimy； leave him with me；〃 said Tryon。
The nurse walked discreetly over into the garden； remaining within
call； but beyond the hearing of conversation in an ordinary tone。
〃Rena； darling；〃 said her lover； 〃when shall it be？ Surely you won't
ask me to wait a week。 Why； that's a lifetime！〃
Rena was struck by a brilliant idea。 She would test her lover。 Love
was a very powerful force； she had found it the greatest； grandest； sweetest
thing in the world。 Tryon had said that he loved her； he had said scarcely
anything else for several weeks； surely nothing else worth remembering。
She would test his love by a hypothetical question。
〃You say you love me；〃 she said； glancing at him with a sad
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thoughtfulness in her large dark eyes。 〃How much do you love me？〃
〃I love you all one can love。 True love has no degrees； it is all or
nothing！〃
〃Would you love me；〃 she asked； with an air of coquetry that masked
her concern； pointing toward the girl in the shrubbery； 〃if I were Albert's
nurse yonder？〃
〃If you were Albert's nurse；〃 he replied； with a joyous laugh； 〃he
would have to find another within a week； for within a week we should be
married。〃
The answer seemed to fit the question； but in fact； Tryon's mind and
Rena's did not meet。 That two intelligent persons should each attach a
different meaning to so simple a form of words as Rena's question was the
best ground for her misgiving with regard to the marriage。 But love
blinded her。 She was anxious to be convinced。 She interpreted the
meaning of his speech by her own thought and by the ardor of his glance；
and was satisfied with the answer。
〃And now； darling；〃 pleaded Tryon； 〃will you not fix the day that shall
make me happy？ I shall be ready to go away in three weeks。 Will you
go with me？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； in a tumult of joy。 She would never need to tell
him her secret now。 It would make no difference with him； so far as she
was concerned； and she had no right to reveal her brother's secret。 She
was willing to bury the past in forgetfulness； now that she knew it would
have no interest for her lover。
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X
THE DREAM
The marriage was fixed for the thirtieth of the month； immediately
after which Tryon and his bride were to set out for North Carolina。
Warwick would have liked it much if Tryon had lived in South Carolina；
but the location of his North Carolina home was at some distance from
Patesville； with which it had no connection by steam or rail； and indeed
lay altogether out of the line of travel to Patesville。 Rena had no
acquaintance with people of social standing in North Carolina； and with
the added maturity and charm due to her improved opportunities； it was
unlikely that any former resident of Patesville who might casually meet
her would see in the elegant young matron from South Carolina more than
a passing resemblance to a poor girl who had once lived in an obscure part
of the old town。 It would of course be necessary for Rena to keep away
from Patesville； save for her mother's sake； she would hardly be tempted
to go back。
On the twentieth of the month； Warwick set out with Tryon for the
county seat of the adjoining county； to try one of the lawsuits which had
required Tryon's presence in South Carolina for so long a time。 Their
destination was a day's drive from Clarence； behind a good horse； and the
trial was expected to last a week。
〃This week will seem like a year；〃 said Tryon ruefully； the evening
before their departure； 〃but I'll write every day； and shall expect a letter as
often。〃
〃The mail goes only twice a week； George；〃 replied Rena。
〃Then I shall have three letters in each mail。〃
Warwick and Tryon were to set out in the cool of the morning； after an
early breakfast。 Rena was up at daybreak that she might preside at the
breakfast…table and bid the travelers good…by。
〃John；〃 said Rena to her brother in the morning； 〃I dreamed last night
that mother was ill。〃 〃Dreams； you know； Rena；〃 answered
Warwick lightly； 〃go by contraries。 Yours undoubtedly signifies that our
mother； God bless her simple soul！ is at the present moment enjoying her
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usual perfect health。 She was never sick in her life。〃
For a few months after leaving Patesville with her brother； Rena had
suffered tortures of homesickness； those who have felt it know the pang。
The severance of old ties had been abrupt and complete。 At the school
where her brother had taken her； there had been nothing to relieve the
strangeness of her surroundingsno schoolmate from her own town； no
relative or friend of the family near by。 Even the compensation of human
sympathy was in a measure denied her； for Rena was too fresh from her
prison…house to doubt that sympathy would fail before the revelation of
the secret the consciousness of which oppressed her at that time like a
nightmare。 It was not strange that Rena； thus isolated； should have been
prostrated by homesickness for several weeks after leaving Patesville。
When the paroxysm had passed； there followed a dull pain； which
gradually subsided into a resignation as profound； in its way； as had been
her longing for home。 She loved； she suffered； with a quiet intensity of
which her outward demeanor gave no adequate expression。 From some
ancestral source she had derived a strain of the passive fatalism by which
alone one can submit uncomplainingly to the inevitable。 By the same
token； when once a thing had been decided； it became with her a finality；
which only some extraordinary stress of emotion could disturb。 She had
acquiesced in her brother's plan； for her there was no withdrawing； her
homesickness was an incidental thing which must be endured； as patiently
as might be； until time should have brought a measure of relief。
Warwick had made provision for an occasional letter from Patesville；
by leaving with his mother a number of envelopes directed to his address。
She could have her letters written； inclose them in these envelopes； and
deposit them in the post… office with her own hand。 Thus the place of
Warwick's residence would remain within
