the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第3章
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By this time Warwick was conscious that something more than mere
grace or beauty had attracted him with increasing force toward this young
woman。 A suggestion； at first faint and elusive； of something familiar；
had grown stronger when he heard her voice； and became more and more
pronounced with each rod of their advance； and when she stopped finally
before a gate； and； opening it； went into a yard shut off from the street by a
row of dwarf cedars； Warwick had already discounted in some measure
the surprise he would have felt at seeing her enter there had he not walked
down Front Street behind her。 There was still sufficient unexpectedness
about the act； however； to give him a decided thrill of pleasure。
〃It must be Rena；〃 he murmured。 〃Who could have dreamed that she
would blossom out like that？ It must surely be Rena！〃
He walked slowly past the gate and peered through a narrow gap in the
cedar hedge。 The girl was moving along a sanded walk； toward a gray；
unpainted house； with a steep roof； broken by dormer windows。 The
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
trace of timidity he had observed in her had given place to the more
assured bearing of one who is upon his own ground。 The garden walks
were bordered by long rows of jonquils； pinks； and carnations； inclosing
clumps of fragrant shrubs； lilies； and roses already in bloom。 Toward the
middle of the garden stood two fine magnolia…trees； with heavy； dark
green； glistening leaves； while nearer the house two mighty elms shaded a
wide piazza； at one end of which a honeysuckle vine； and at the other a
Virginia creeper； running over a wooden lattice； furnished additional shade
and seclusion。 On dark or wintry days； the aspect of this garden must
have been extremely sombre and depressing； and it might well have
seemed a fit place to hide some guilty or disgraceful secret。 But on the
bright morning when Warwick stood looking through the cedars； it seemed；
with its green frame and canopy and its bright carpet of flowers； an ideal
retreat from the fierce sunshine and the sultry heat of the approaching
summer。
The girl stooped to pluck a rose； and as she bent over it； her profile
was clearly outlined。 She held the flower to her face with a long…drawn
inhalation； then went up the steps； crossed the piazza； opened the door
without knocking； and entered the house with the air of one thoroughly at
home。
〃Yes；〃 said the young man to himself； 〃it's Rena； sure enough。〃
The house stood on a corner； around which the cedar hedge turned；
continuing along the side of the garden until it reached the line of the front
of the house。 The piazza to a rear wing； at right angles to the front of the
house； was open to inspection from the side street； which； to judge from its
deserted look； seemed to be but little used。 Turning into this street and
walking leisurely past the back yard； which was only slightly screened
from the street by a china…tree； Warwick perceived the young woman
standing on the piazza； facing an elderly woman； who sat in a large
rocking…chair； plying a pair of knitting…needles on a half…finished stocking。
Warwick's walk led him within three feet of the side gate； which he felt an
almost irresistible impulse to enter。 Every detail of the house and garden
was familiar； a thousand cords of memory and affection drew him thither；
but a stronger counter…motive prevailed。 With a great effort he restrained
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
himself； and after a momentary pause； walked slowly on past the house；
with a backward glance； which he turned away when he saw that it was
observed。
Warwick's attention had been so fully absorbed by the house behind
the cedars and the women there； that he had scarcely noticed； on the other
side of the neglected by…street； two men working by a large open window；
in a low； rude building with a clapboarded roof； directly opposite the back
piazza occupied by the two women。 Both the men were busily engaged
in shaping barrel…staves； each wielding a sharp…edged drawing…knife on a
piece of seasoned oak clasped tightly in a wooden vise。
〃I jes' wonder who dat man is； an' w'at he 's doin' on dis street；〃
observed the younger of the two； with a suspicious air。 He had noticed
the gentleman's involuntary pause and his interest in the opposite house；
and had stopped work for a moment to watch the stranger as he went on
down the street。
〃Nev' min' 'bout dat man；〃 said the elder one。 〃You 'ten' ter yo' wuk
an' finish dat bairl…stave。 You spen's enti'ely too much er yo' time
stretchin' yo' neck atter other people。 An' you need n' 'sturb yo'se'f 'bout
dem folks 'cross de street； fer dey ain't yo' kin'； an' you're wastin' yo' time
both'in' yo' min' wid 'em； er wid folks w'at comes on de street on account
of 'em。 Look sha'p now； boy； er you'll git dat stave trim' too much。〃
The younger man resumed his work； but still found time to throw a
slanting glance out of the window。 The gentleman； he perceived； stood
for a moment on the rotting bridge across the old canal； and then walked
slowly ahead until he turned to the right into Back Street； a few rods
farther on。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
II
AN EVENING VISIT
Toward evening of the same day； Warwick took his way down Front
Street in the gathering dusk。 By the time night had spread its mantle over
the earth； he had reached the gate by which he had seen the girl of his
morning walk enter the cedar… bordered garden。 He stopped at the gate
and glanced toward the house； which seemed dark and silent and deserted。
〃It's more than likely；〃 he thought； 〃that they are in the kitchen。 I
reckon I'd better try the back door。〃
But as he drew cautiously near the corner； he saw a man's figure
outlined in the yellow light streaming from the open door of a small house
between Front Street and the cooper shop。 Wishing； for reasons of his
own； to avoid observation； Warwick did not turn the corner； but walked on
down Front Street until he reached a point from which he could see； at a
long angle； a ray of light proceeding from the kitchen window of the house
behind the cedars。
〃They are there；〃 he muttered with a sigh of relief； for he had feared
they might be away。 〃I suspect I'll have to go to the front door； after all。
No one can see me through the trees。〃
He retraced his steps to the front gate； which he essayed to open。
There was apparently some defect in the latch； for it refused to work。
Warwick remembered the trick； and with a slight sense of amusement；
pushed his foot under the gate and gave it a hitch to the left； after which it
opened readily enough。 He walked softly up the sanded pat
