cressy-第15章
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upon a long disused shaft opening into it; which had been covered
with a rough trap of old planks; as if to protect incautious
wayfarers from falling in。 Here a sudden and inexplicable fear
overtook Johnny; and he ran away。 When he reached the hotel; almost
the first sight that met his astounded eyes was the spectacle of the
paragon; apparently still in undisturbed possession of all his
perfectionsdriving coolly off in a buggy with a fresh companion。
Meantime Mr。 Ford; however touched by the sentimental significance
of the celebration; became slightly wearied of its details。 As his
own room in the Eureka Hotel was actually thrilled by the brass
band without and the eloquence of speakers below; and had become
redolent of gunpowder and champagne exploded around it; he
determined to return to the school…house and avail himself of its
woodland quiet to write a few letters。
The change was grateful; the distant murmur of the excited
settlement came only as the soothing sound of wind among the
leaves。 The pure air of the pines that filled every cranny of the
quiet school…room; and seemed to disperse all taint of human
tenancy; made the far…off celebrations as unreal as a dream。 The
only reality of his life was here。
He took from his pocket a few letters one of which was worn and
soiled with frequent handling。 He re…read it in a half methodical;
half patient way; as if he were waiting for some revelation it
inspired; which was slow that afternoon in coming。 At other times
it had called up a youthful enthusiasm which was wont to transfigure
his grave and prematurely reserved face with a new expression。
To…day the revelation and expression were both wanting。 He put the
letter back with a slight sigh; that sounded so preposterous in the
silent room that he could not forego an embarrassed smile。 But the
next moment he set himself seriously to work on his correspondence。
Presently he stopped; once or twice he had been overtaken by a
vague undefinable sense of pleasure; even to the dreamy halting of
his pen。 It was a sensation in no way connected with the subject
of his correspondence; or even his previous reflectionsit was
partly physical; and yet it was in some sense suggestive。 It must
be the intoxicating effect of the woodland air。 He even fancied he
had noticed it before; at the same hour when the sun was declining
and the fresh odors of the undergrowth were rising。 It certainly
was a perfume。 He raised his eyes。 There lay the cause on the
desk before hima little nosegay of wild Californian myrtle
encircling a rose…bud which had escaped his notice。
There was nothing unusual in the circumstance。 The children were
in the habit of making their offerings generally without particular
reference to time or occasion; and it might have been overlooked by
him during school…hours。 He felt a pity for the forgotten posy
already beginning to grow limp in its neglected solitude。 He
remembered that in some folk…lore of the children's; perhaps a
tradition of the old association of the myrtle with Venus; it was
believed to be emblematic of the affections。 He remembered also
that he had even told them of this probable origin of their
superstition。 He was still holding it in his hand when he was
conscious of a silken sensation that sent a magnetic thrill through
his fingers。 Looking at it more closely he saw that the sprigs
were bound together; not by thread or ribbon; but by long filaments
of soft brown hair tightly wound around them。 He unwound a single
hair and held it to the light。 Its length; color; texture; and
above all a certain inexplicable instinct; told him it was Cressy
McKinstry's。 He laid it down quickly; as if he had; in that act;
familiarly touched her person。
He finished his letter; but presently found himself again looking
at the myrtle and thinking about it。 From the position in which it
had been placed it was evidently intended for him; the fancy of
binding it with hair was also intentional and not a necessity; as
he knew his feminine scholars were usually well provided with bits
of thread; silk; or ribbon。 If it had been some new absurdity of
childish fashion introduced in the school; he would have noticed it
ere this。 For it was this obtrusion of a personality that vaguely
troubled him。 He remembered Cressy's hair; it was certainly very
beautiful; in spite of her occasional vagaries of coiffure。 He
recalled how; one afternoon; it had come down when she was romping
with Octavia in the play…ground; and was surprised to find what a
vivid picture he retained of her lingering in the porch to put it
up; her rounded arms held above her head; her pretty shoulders;
full throat; and glowing face thrown back; and a wisp of the very
hair between her white teeth! He began another letter。
When it was finished the shadow of the pine…branch before the
window; thrown by the nearly level sun across his paper; had begun
slowly to reach the opposite wall。 He put his work away; lingered
for a moment in hesitation over the myrtle sprays; and then locked
them in his desk with an odd feeling that he had secured in some
vague way a hold upon Cressy's future vagaries; then reflecting
that Uncle Ben; whom he had seen in town; would probably keep
holiday with the others; he resolved to wait no longer; but
strolled back to the hotel。 The act however had not recalled Uncle
Ben to him by any association of ideas; for since his discovery of
Johnny Filgee's caricature he had failed to detect anything to
corroborate the caricaturist's satire; and had dismissed the
subject from his mind。
On entering his room at the hotel he found Rupert Filgee standing
moodily by the window; while his brother Johnny; overcome by a
repletion of excitement and collation; was asleep on the single
arm…chair。 Their presence was not unusual; as Mr。 Ford; touched by
the loneliness of these motherless boys; had often invited them to
come to his rooms to look over his books and illustrated papers。
〃Well?〃 he said cheerfully。
Rupert did not reply or change his position。 Mr。 Ford; glancing at
him sharply; saw a familiar angry light in the boy's beautiful
eyes; slightly dimmed by a tear。 Laying his hand gently on
Rupert's shoulder he said; 〃What's the matter; Rupert?〃
〃Nothin';〃 said the boy doggedly; with his eyes still fixed on the
pane。
〃HashasMrs。 Tripp〃 (the fair proprietress) 〃been unkind?〃 he
went on lightly。
No reply。
〃You know; Rupe;〃 continued Mr。 Ford demurely; 〃she must show SOME
reserve before companylike to…day。 It won't do to make a
scandal。〃
Rupert maintained an indignant silence。 But the dimple (which he
usually despised as a feminine blot) on the cheek nearer the master
became slightly accented。 Only for a moment; the dark eyes clouded
again。
〃I wish I was dead; Mr。 Ford。〃
〃Hallo!〃
〃Ordoin' suthin'。〃
〃That's better。 What do you want to do?〃
〃To workmake a livin' myself。 Quit toten' wood and water at
home; quit cookin' and makin' beds; like a yaller Chinaman; quit
nussin' babies and dressin' 'em and undressin' 'em; like a girl。
Look at HIM now;〃 pointing to the sweetly unconscious Johnny; 〃look
at him there。 Do you know what that means? It means I've got to
pack him home through the town jist ez he is thar; and then make a
fire and bile his food for him; and wash him and undress him and
put him to bed; and 'Now I lay me down to sleep' him; and tuck him
up; and Dad all the while 'scootin' round town with other idjits;
jawin' about 'progress' and the 'future of Injin Spring。' Much
future we've got over our own house; Mr。 Ford。 Much future he's
got laid up for me!〃
The master; to whom those occasional outbreaks from Rupert were not
unfamiliar; smiled; albeit with serious eyes that belied his lips;
and consoled the boy as he had often done before。 But he was
anxious to know the ca