the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第45章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 140…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
unnoticed in the general splendor of his attire。 Upon a close or hostile
inspection there would have been some features of his ostensibly good…
natured facethe shifty eye； the full and slightly drooping lower lip
which might have given a student of physiognomy food for reflection。
But whatever the latent defects of Wain's character； he proved himself this
evening a model of geniality； presuming not at all upon his reputed wealth；
but winning golden opinions from those who came to criticise； of whom；
of course； there were a few； the company being composed of human
beings。
When the dance began； Wain extended his large； soft hand to Mary B。；
yellow； buxom； thirty； with white and even teeth glistening behind her full
red lips。 A younger sister of Mary B。's was paired with Billy Oxendine； a
funny little tailor； a great gossip； and therefore a favorite among the
women。 Mis' Molly graciously consented； after many protestations of
lack of skill and want of practice； to stand up opposite Homer Pettifoot；
Mary B。's husband； a tall man； with a slight stoop； a bald crown； and full；
dreamy eyes；a man of much imagination and a large fund of anecdote。
Two other couples completed the set； others were restrained by
bashfulness or religious scruples； which did not yield until later in the
evening。
The perfumed air from the garden without and the cut roses within
mingled incongruously with the alien odors of musk and hair oil； of which
several young barbers in the company were especially redolent。 There
was a play of sparkling eyes and glancing feet。 Mary B。 danced with the
languorous grace of an Eastern odalisque； Mis' Molly with the mincing；
hesitating step of one long out of practice。 Wain performed saltatory
prodigies。 This was a golden opportunity for the display in which his
soul found delight。 He introduced variations hitherto unknown to the
dance。 His skill and suppleness brought a glow of admiration into the
eyes of the women； and spread a cloud of jealousy over the faces of
several of the younger men； who saw themselves eclipsed。
Rena had announced in advance her intention to take no active part in
the festivities。 〃I don't feel like dancing； mammaI shall never dance
again。〃
140
… Page 141…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃Well； now； Rena；〃 answered her mother； 〃of co'se you're too dignified；
sence you've be'n 'sociatin' with white folks； to be hoppin' roun' an' kickin'
up like Ma'y B。 an' these other yaller gals； but of co'se； too； you can't slight
the comp'ny entirely； even ef it ain't jest exac'ly our party； you'll have to
pay 'em some little attention； 'specially Mr。 Wain； sence you're goin' down
yonder with 'im。〃
Rena conscientiously did what she thought politeness required。 She
went the round of the guests in the early part of the evening and
exchanged greetings with them。 To several requests for dances she
replied that she was not dancing。 She did not hold herself aloof because
of pride； any instinctive shrinking she might have felt by reason of her
recent association with persons of greater refinement was offset by her
still more newly awakened zeal for humanity； they were her people； she
must not despise them。 But the occasion suggested painful memories of
other and different scenes in which she had lately participated。 Once or
twice these memories were so vivid as almost to overpower her。 She
slipped away from the company； and kept in the background as much as
possible without seeming to slight any one。
The guests as well were dimly conscious of a slight barrier between
Mis' Molly's daughter and themselves。 The time she had spent apart
from these friends of her youth had rendered it impossible for her ever to
meet them again upon the plane of common interests and common
thoughts。 It was much as though one； having acquired the vernacular of
his native country； had lived in a foreign land long enough to lose the
language of his childhood without acquiring fully that of his adopted
country。 Miss Rowena Warwick could never again become quite the
Rena Walden who had left the house behind the cedars no more than a
year and a half before。 Upon this very difference were based her noble
aspirations for usefulness；one must stoop in order that one may lift
others。 Any other young woman present would have been importuned
beyond her powers of resistance。 Rena's reserve was respected。
When supper was announced； somewhat early in the evening； the
dancers found seats in the hall or on the front piazza。 Aunt Zilphy；
assisted by Mis' Molly and Mary B。； passed around the refreshments；
141
… Page 142…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
which consisted of fried chicken； buttered biscuits； pound…cake； and
eggnog。 When the first edge of appetite was taken off； the conversation
waxed animated。 Homer Pettifoot related； with minute detail； an old；
threadbare hunting lie； dating； in slightly differing forms； from the age of
Nimrod； about finding twenty…five partridges sitting in a row on a rail； and
killing them all with a single buckshot； which passed through twenty…four
and lodged in the body of the twenty…fifth； from which it was extracted
and returned to the shot pouch for future service。
This story was followed by a murmur of incredulityof course； the
thing was possible； but Homer's faculty for exaggeration was so well
known that any statement of his was viewed with suspicion。 Homer
seemed hurt at this lack of faith； and was disposed to argue the point； but
the sonorous voice of Mr。 Wain on the other side of the room cut short his
protestations； in much the same way that the rising sun extinguishes the
light of lesser luminaries。
〃I wuz a member er de fus' legislatur' after de wah；〃 Wain was saying。
〃When I went up f'm Sampson in de fall； I had to pass th'ough Smithfiel'； I
got in town in de afternoon； an' put up at de bes' hotel。 De lan'lo'd did n'
have no s'picion but what I wuz a white man； an' he gimme a room； an' I
had supper an' breakfas'； an' went on ter Rolly nex' mornin'。 W'en de
session wuz over； I come along back； an' w'en I got ter Smithfiel'； I driv'
up ter de same hotel。 I noticed； as soon as I got dere； dat de place had
run down consid'able dere wuz weeds growin' in de yard； de winders
wuz dirty； an' ev'ything roun' dere looked kinder lonesome an' shif'less。
De lan'lo'd met me at de do'； he looked mighty down in de mouth； an'
sezee：
〃‘Look a…here； w'at made you come an' stop at
