cressy-第18章

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which　they　had　no　part。



Play　on；　O　waltz　of　Strauss！　　Whirl　on；　O　love　and　youth！　　For　you

cannot　whirl　so　swiftly　but　that　this　receding　world　will　return

again　with　narrowing　circle　to　hem　you　in。　　Faster；　O　cracked

clarionet！　　Louder；　O　too　brazen　bassoon！　　Keep　back；　O　dull　and

earthy　environment；　till　master　and　pupil　have　dreamed　their

foolish　dream！



They　are　in　fancy　alone　on　the　river…bank；　only　the　round　moon

above　them　and　their　linked　shadows　faintly　fluttering　in　the

stream。　　They　have　drawn　so　closely　together　now　that　her　arm　is

encircling　his　neck；　her　soft　eyes　uplifted　like　the　moon's

reflection　and　drowning　into　his；　closer　and　closer　till　their

hearts　stop　beating　and　their　lips　have　met　in　a　first　kiss。

Faster；　O　little　feet！　swing　clear；　O　Cressy's　skirt　and　keep　the

narrowing　circle　back！　。　。　。　　They　are　again　alone；　the　judges'

dais　and　the　emblazoning　of　the　State　caught　in　a　single　whirling

flash　of　consciousness　are　changed　to　an　altar；　seen　dimly　through

the　bridal　veil　that　covers　her　fair　head。　　There　is　the　murmur　of

voices　mingling　two　lives　in　one。　　They　turn　and　pass　proudly　down

between　the　aisles　of　wondering　festal　faces。　　Ah！　the　circle　is

drawing　closer。　　One　more　quick　whirl　to　keep　them　back；　O　flying

skirt　and　dainty…winged　feet！　　Too　late！　　The　music　stops。　　The

tawdry　walls　shut　in　again；　the　vulgar　crowds　return；　they　stand

pale　and　quiet；　the　centre　of　a　ring　of　breathless　admiring；

frightened；　or　forbidding　faces。　　Her　arms　fold　like　wings　at　her

side。　　The　waltz　is　over。



A　shrill　feminine　chorus　assail　her　with　praises；　struck　here　and

there　with　a　metallic　ring　of　envy；　a　dozen　all…daring　cavaliers；

made　reckless　by　her　grace　and　beauty；　clamor　for　her　hand　in　the

next　waltz。　　She　replies；　not　to　them；　but　to　him；　〃Not　again；〃　and

slips　away　in　the　crowd　with　that　strange　new　shyness　that　of　all

her　transformations　seems　the　most　delicious。　　Yet　so　conscious　are

they　of　their　mutual　passion　that　they　do　not　miss　each　other；　and

he　turns　away　as　if　their　next　meeting　were　already　an　appointed

tryst。　　A　few　congratulate　him　on　his　skill。　　Johnny's　paragon

looks　after　him　curiously；　certain　elders　shake　hands　with　him

perplexedly；　as　if　not　quite　sure　of　the　professional　consistency

of　his　performance。　　Those　charming　tide…waiters　on　social　success；

the　fair；　artfully　mingling　expectation　with　compliment；　only

extract　from　him　the　laughing　statement　that　this　one　waltz　was　the

single　exception　allowed　him　from　the　rule　of　his　professional

conduct；　and　he　refers　them　to　his　elder　critics。　　A　single　face；

loutish；　looming；　and　vindictive；　stands　on　among　the　crowdthe

face　of　Seth　Davis。　　He　had　not　seen　him　since　he　left　the　school；

he　had　forgotten　his　existence；　even　now　he　only　remembered　his

successor；　Joe　Masters；　and　he　looked　curiously　around　to　see　if

that　later　suitor　of　Cressy's　was　present。　　It　was　not　until　he

reached　the　door　that　he　began　to　think　seriously　of　Seth　Davis's

jealous　face；　and　was　roused　to　a　singular　indignation。　　〃Why

hadn't　this　great　fool　vented　his　jealousy　on　the　openly

compromising　Masters；〃　he　thought。　　He　even　turned　and　walked　back

with　some　vaguely　aggressive　instinct；　but　the　young　man　had

disappeared。　　With　this　incident　still　in　his　mind　he　came　upon

Uncle　Ben　and　Hiram　McKinstry　standing　among　the　spectators　in　the

doorway。　　Why　might　not　Uncle　Ben　be　jealous　too？　and　if　his　single

waltz　had　really　appeared　so　compromising　why　should　not　Cressy's

father　object？　　But　both　menalbeit；　McKinstry　usually　exhibited　a

vague　unreasoning　contempt　for　Uncle　Benwere　unanimous　in　their

congratulations　and　outspoken　admiration。



〃When　I　see'd　you　sail　in；　Mr。　Ford；〃　said　Uncle　Ben；　with　abstract

reflectiveness；　〃I　sez　to　the　fellers；　'lie　low；　boys；　and　you'll

see　style。'　　And　when　you　put　on　them　first　steps；　I　sez；　'that's

Frenchthe　latest　high…toned　French　styleouter　the　best　masters；

andand　outer　the　best　books。　　For　why？'　sez　I。　　'It's　the　same

long；　sliding　stroke　you　see　in　his　copies。　　There's　that　long　up

sweep；　and　that　easy　curve　to　the　right　with　no　hitch。　　That's　the

sorter　swing　he　hez　in　readin'　po'try　too。　　That's　why　it's　called

the　po'try　of　motion；'　sez　I。　　'And　you　ken　bet　your　boots；　boys；

it's　all　in　the　trainin'　o'　education。'〃



〃Mr。　Ford；〃　said　Mr。　McKinstry　gravely；　slightly　waving　a　lavender…

colored　kid　glove；　with　which　he　had　elected　to　conceal　his　maimed

hand；　and　at　the　same　moment　indicate　a　festal　occasion：　〃I　hev　to

thank　ye　for　the　way　you　took　out　that　child　o'　mine；　like　ez　she

woz　an　ontried　filly；　and　put　her　through　her　paces。　　I　don't　dance

myself；　partikly　in　that　gaitwhich　I　take　to　be　suthin'　betwixt　a

lope　and　a　canter　and　I　don't　get　to　see　much　dancin'　nowadays　on

account　o'　bein'　worrited　by　stock；　but　seein'　you　two　together

just　now；　suthin'　came　over　me；　and　I　don't　think　I　ever　felt　so

kam　in　my　life。〃



The　blood　rushed　to　the　master's　cheek　with　an　unexpected

consciousness　of　guilt　and　shame。　　〃But；〃　he　stammered　awkwardly；

〃your　daughter　dances　beautifully　herself；　she　has　certainly　had

practice。〃



〃That；〃　said　McKinstry；　laying　his　gloved　hand　impressively　on　the

master's　shoulder；　with　the　empty　little　finger　still　more

emphasized　by　being　turned　backward　in　the　net；　〃that　may　be　ez　it

ez；　but　I　wanted　to　say　that　it　was　the　simple；　easy；　fammily　touch

that　you　gev　it；　that　took　me。　　Toward　the　end；　when　you　kinder

gathered　her　up　and　she　sorter　dropped　her　head　into　your　breast…

pocket；　and　seemed　to　go　to　sleep；　like　ez　ef　she　was　still　a

little　girl；　it　so　reminded　me　of　the　times　when　I　used　to　tote　her

myself　walkin'　by　the　waggin　at　Platt　River；　that　it　made　me　wish

the　old　woman　was　here　to　see　it。〃



Still　coloring；　the　master　cast　a　rapid；　sidelong　glance　at

McKinstry's　dark　red　face　and　beard；　but　in　the　slow　satisfaction

of　his　features　there　was　no　trace　of　that　irony　which　the　master's

self…consciousness　knew。



〃Then　your　wife　is　not　here？〃　said　Mr。　Ford　abstractedly。



〃She　war　at　church。　　She　reckoned　that　I'd　do　to　look　arter　Cressy

she　bein'；　so　to　speak；　under　conviction。　　D'ye　mind　walkin'　this

way　a　bit；　I　want　to　speak　a　word　with　ye？〃　　He　put　his　maimed　hand

through　the　master's　arm；　after　his　former　fashion；　and　led　him　to

a　corner。



〃Did　ye　happen　to　see　Seth　Davis　about　yer？〃



〃I　believe　I　saw　him　a　moment　ago；〃　returned　Mr。　Ford　half

contemptuously。



〃Did　he　get　off　anythin'　rough　on　ye？〃



〃Certainly　not；〃　said　the　master　haughtily。　　〃Why　should　he　dare？〃



〃That's　so；〃　said　McKinstry　meditatively。　　〃You　had　better　keep

right　on　in　that　line。　　That's　your　gait；　remember。　　Leave　himor

his　fatherit's　the　same　thingto　ME。　　Don't　YOU　let　yourself　be

roped　in　to　this　yer　row　betwixt　me　and　the　Davises。　　You　ain't　got

no　call　to　do　it。　　It's　already　been　on　my　mind　your　bringin'　that

gun　to　me　in　the　Harrison　row。　　The　old　woman　hadn't　oughter　let

younor　Cress　either。　　Hark　to　me；　Mr。　Ford！　　I　reckon　to　stand

between　you　and　both　the　Davises　till　the　cows　come　homeonly

mind　YOU　give　him　the　go…by　when　he　happens　to　meander　along

towards　you。〃



〃I'm　very　much　obliged　to　you；〃　said　Ford　with　disproportionately

sudden　choler；　〃but　I　don't　propose　to　alter　my　habits　for　a

ridiculous　school…boy　whom　I　have　dismissed。〃　　The　unjust　and

boyish　petulance　of　his　speech　instantly　flashed　upon　him；　and　he

felt　his　cheek　burn　again。



McKinstry　regarded　him　with　dull；　red；　slumbrous　eyes。　　〃Don't　you

go　to　lose　your　best　holt；　Mr。　Fordand　that's　kam。　　Keep　your

kamand　you've　allus　got　the　dead　wood　on　Injin　Springs。　　I　ain't

got　it；〃　he　continued；　in　his　slowest；　most　passionless　manner；

〃and　a　row　more　or　less　ain't　much　account　to　mebut　YOU；　you　keep

your　kam。〃　　He　paused；　stepped　back；　and　regarding　the　master；　with

a　slight　wave　of　his　crippled　hand　over　his　whole　pe