the red acorn-第7章

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A　new　train　of　thought　introduced　itself　at　this　tardy　remembrance　of　his　betrothed。　　His　heat　abated。　　He　stopped；　and　leaning　against　a　shady　silver　maple　began　anew　a　meditation　that　had　occupied　his　mind　very　frequently　since　that　memorable　night　under　the　old　apple　tree　on　the　hill…top。

There　had　been　for　him　but　little　of　that　spiritual　exaltation　which　made　that　night　the　one　supreme　one　in　Rachel's　existence；　when　the　rapture　of　gratified　pride　and　love　blended　with　the　radiant　moonlight　and　the　subtle　fragrance　of　the　flowers　into　a　sweet　symphony　that　would　well　chord　with　the　song　the　stars　sang　together　in　the　morning。

He　was　denied　the　pleasure　that　comes　from　success；　after　harrowing　doubts　and　fears。　　His　unfailing　consciousness　of　his　own　worth　had　left　him　little　doubt　that　a　favorable　answer　would　promptly　follow　when　he　chose　to　propose　to　Rachel　Bond；　or　to　any　other　girl；　and　when　this　came　with　the　anticipated　readiness；　he　could　not　help　in　the　midst　of　his　gratification　at　her　assent　the　intrusion　of　the　disagreeable　suspicion　that；　peradventure；　he　had　not　done　the　best　with　his　personal　wares　that　he　might。　　Possibly　there　would　appear　in　time　some　other　girl；　whom　he　might　prefer　to　Rachel；　and　at　all　events　there　was　no　necessity　for　his　committing　himself　when　he　did；　for　Rachel　〃would　have　kept；〃　as　Ned　Burnleigh　coarsely　put　it；　when　made　the　recipient　of　Harry's　confidence。

Three　months　of　companionship　with　Ned　Burnleigh；　and　daily　imbibation　of　that　young　man's　stories　of　his　wonderful　conquests　among　young　women　of　peerless　beauty　and　exalted　social　station　confirmed　this　feeling；　and　led　him　to　wish　for　at　least　such　slackening　of　the　betrothal　tether　as　would　permit　excursions　into　a　charmed　realm　like　that　where　Ned　reigned　supreme。

For　the　thousandth　timeand　in　each　recurrence　becoming　a　little　clearer　defined　and　more　urgentcame　the　question：

〃Shall　I　break　with　Rachel？　　How　can　I？　　And　what　possible　excuse　can　I　assign　for　it？〃

There　came　no　answer　to　this　save　the　spurs　with　which　base　self…love　was　pricking　the　sides　of　his　intent；　and　he　recoiled　from　itashamed　of　himself；　it　is　true；　but　less　ashamed　at　each　renewed　consideration　of　the　query。

He　hastened　home　that　he　might　receive　a　greeting　that　would　efface　the　memory　of　the　reception　he　had　met　with　in　the　street。　　There；　at　least；　he　would　be　regarded　as　a　hero；　returning　laurel…crowned　from　the　conflict。

As　he　entered　the　door　his　father；　tall；　spare　and　iron…gray；　laid　down　the　paper　he　was　reading；　and　with　a　noticeable　lowering　of　the　temperature　of　his　wonted　calm　but　earnest　cordiality；　said　simply：

〃How　do　you　do？　　When　did　you　get　in？〃

〃Very　well；　and　on　the　10：30　train。〃

〃Did　all　your　company　come？〃

Harry　winced；　for　there　was　something　in　his　father's　manner；　more　than　his　words；　expressive　of　strong　disapproval。　　He　answered：

〃No；　I　was　unwell。　　The　water　and　the　exposure　disagreed　with　me；　and　I　was　allowed　to　come　on　in　advance。〃

Mr。　Glen；　the　elder；　carefully　folded　the　paper　he　was　reading　and　laid　it　on　the　stand；　as　if　its　presence　would　embarrass　him　in　what　he　was　about　to　say。　　He　took　off　his　eye…glasses；　wiped　them　deliberately；　closed　them　up　and　hesitated　for　a　moment；　holding　them　between　the　thumb　and　fore　finger　of　one　hand；　before　placing　them　in　their　case；　which　he　had　taken　from　his　pocket　with　the　other。

These　were　all　gestures　with　which　experience　had　made　Harry　painfully　familiar。　　He　used　to　describe　them　to　his　boy　intimates　as　〃the　Governor　clearing　for　action。〃　　There　was　something　very　disagreeable　coming；　and　he　awaited　it　apprehensively。

〃Were　you〃the　father's　cold；　searching　eyes　rested　for　an　instant　on　the　glasses　in　his　hand；　and　then　were　fixed　on　his　son's　face〃were　you　too　ill　the　day　of　the　fight　to　accompany　your　command？〃

Harry's　glance　quailed　under　the　penetrating　scrutiny；　as　was　his　custom　when　his　father　subjected　him　to　a　relentless　catechism；　then　he　summoned　assurance　and　assumed　anger。

〃Father；〃　he　said；　〃I　certainly　did　not　expect　that　you　would　join　these　mean…spirited　curs　in　their　abuse　of　me；　but　now　I　see　that…〃

〃Henry；　you　evade　the　question。〃　　The　calm　eyes　took　on　a　steely　hardness。　　〃You　certainly　know　by　this　time　that　I　always　require　direct　answers　to　my　questions。　　Now　the　point　is　this：　　You　entered　this　company　to　be　its　leader；　and　to　share　all　its　duties　with　it。　　It　went　into　a　fight　while　you　remained　back　in　camp。　　Why　was　this　so？　　Were　you　too　sick　to　accompany　it？〃

〃I　certainly　was　not　feeling　well。〃

〃Were　you　too　ill　to　go　along　with　your　company？〃


andtherewassomeworkincamp　thatneededtobedoneand　there　was　enough　without　me；　andII〃

〃That　is　sufficient；〃　said　the　elder　man　with　a　look　of　scorn　that　presently　changed　into　one　of　deeply　wounded　pride。　　〃Henry；　I　know　too　well　your　disposition　to　shirk　the　unpleasant　duties　of　life；　to　be　much　surprised　that；　when　tried　by　this　test；　you　were　found　wanting。　　But　this　wounds　me　deeply。　　People　in　Sardis　think　my　disposition　hard　and　exacting；　they　think　I　care　for　little　except　to　get　all　that　is　due　me。　　But　no　man　here　can　say　that　in　all　his　long　life　Robert　Glen　shirked　or　evaded　a　single　duty　that　he　owed　to　the　community　or　his　fellow…men；　no　matter　how　dangerous　or　disagreeable　that　duty　might　be。　　To　have　you　fail　in　this　respect　and　to　take　and　maintain　your　place　in　the　front　rank　with　other　men　is　a　terrible　blow　to　my　pride。〃

〃O；　Harry；　is　that　you？〃　said　his　mother；　coming　into　the　room　at　that　moment　and　throwing　herself　into　her　son's　arms。　　〃I　was　lying　down　when　I　heard　your　voice；　and　I　dressed　and　hurried　down　as　quickly　as　possible。　　I　am　so　glad　that　you　have　come　home　all　safe　and　well。　　I　know　that　you'll　contradict；　for　your　poor　mother's　sake；　all　these　horrible　stories　that　are　worrying　her　almost　to　death。〃

〃Unfortunately　he　has　just　admitted　that　those　stories　are　substantially　true；〃　said　the　father　curtly。

〃I　won't　believe　it；〃　sobbed　his　mother；　〃until　he　tells　me　so　himself。　　You　didn't；　did　you；　back　out　of　a　fight；　and　let　that　Bob　Bennett；　whose　mother　used　to　be　my　sewing　girl；　and　whom　I　supported　for　months　after　he　was　born；　and　his　father　died　with　the　cholera　and　left　her　nothing；　by　giving　her　work　and　paying　her　cash；　and　who　is　now　putting　on　all　sorts　of　airs　because　everybody's　congratulating　her　on　having　such　a　wonderful　son；　and　nobody's　congratulating　me　at　all；　and　sometimes　I　almost　which　I　was　dead。

Clearness　of　statement　was　never　one　of　Mrs。　Glen's　salient　characteristics。　　Nor　did　deep　emotion　help　her　in　this　regard。　Still　it　was　only　too　evident　that　the　fountains　of　her　being　were　moved　by　having　another　woman's　son　exalted　over　her　own。　　Her　maternal　pride　and　social　prestige　were　both　quivering　under　the　blow。

Harry　met　this　with　a　flank　movement。

〃You　both　seem　decidedly　disappointed　that　I　did　not　get　myself　wounded　or　killed；〃　he　said。

〃That's　an　unmanly　whimper；〃　said　his　father　contemptuously。

〃Why；　Harry；　Bob　Bennett　didn't　get　either　killed　or　wounded；〃　said　his　mother　with　that　defective　ratiocination　which　it　is　a　pretty　woman's　privilege　to　indulge　in　at　her　own　sweet　will。

Harry　withdrew　from　the　mortifying　conference　under　the　plea　of　the　necessity　of　going　to　his　room　to　remove　the　grime　of　travel。

He　was　smarting　with　rage　and　humiliation。　　His　panoply　of　conceit　was　pierced　for　the　first　time　since　the　completion　of　his　collegiate　course　sent　him　forth　into　the　world　a　being　superior；　in　his　own　esteem；　to　the　accidents　and　conditions　that　the　mass　of　inferior　mortals　are　subject　to。　　Yet　he　found　reasons　to　account　for　his　parent's　defection　to　the　ranks　of　his　enemies。

〃It's　no　new　thing；〃　he　said；　while　carefully　dressing　for　a　call　upon　Rachel　in　the　evening；　〃for　father　to　be　harsh　and　unjust　to　me；　and　mother　has　one　of　her　nervous　spells；　when　everything　goes　wrong　with　her。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　he　continued；　〃there's　Ned　Burnleigh；　who　understands　me　and　will　do　me　justice；　and　he　amounts　to　more　than　all　of　Sardisexcept　Rachel；　who　loves　me　and　will　always　believe　that　what　I　do　is　right。〃

He　sat　down　at　his　desk　and　wrote