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！
dusk she repeatedly dashed toward the underbrush； but the
Cardinal； with endless patience and tenderness； maneuvered her to
the sumac； until she gave up； and beneath the shelter of a
neighbouring grapevine； perched on a limb that was the Cardinal's
own chosen resting…place； tucked her tired head beneath her wing；
and went to rest。 When she was soundly sleeping； the Cardinal
crept as closely as he dared； and with one eye on his little gray
love； and the other roving for any possible danger； he spent a
night of watching for any danger that might approach。
He was almost worn out； but this was infinitely better than the
previous night； at any rate； for now he not only knew where she
was； but she was fast asleep in his own favourite place。 Huddled
on the limb； the Cardinal gloated over her。 He found her beauty
perfect。 To be sure； she was dishevelled； but she could make her
toilet。 There were a few feathers gone； but they would grow
speedily。 She made a heart…satisfying picture； on which the
Cardinal feasted his love…sick soul； by the light of every
straying moonbeam that slid around the edges of the grape leaves。
Wave after wave of tender passion shook him。 In his throat half
the night he kept softly calling to her： 〃Come here！ Come here！〃
Next morning； when the robins announced day beside the shining
river； she awoke with a start； but before she could decide in
which direction to fly； she discovered a nice fresh grub laid on
the limb close to her； and very sensibly remained for breakfast。
Then the Cardinal went to the river and bathed。 He made such
delightful play of it； and the splash of the water sounded so
refreshing to the tired draggled bird； that she could not resist
venturing for a few dips。 When she was wet she could not fly
well； and he improved the opportunity to pull her broken quills；
help her dress herself； and bestow a few extra caresses。 He
guided her to his favourite place for a sun bath； and followed
the farmer's plow in the corn field until he found a big sweet
beetle。 He snapped off its head； peeled the stiff wing shields；
and daintily offered it to her。 He was so delighted when she
took it from his beak； and remained in the sumac to eat it； that
he established himself on an adjoining thorn…bush； where the
snowy blossoms of a wild morning…glory made a fine background for
his scarlet coat。 He sang the old pleading song as he never had
sung it before； for now there was a tinge of hope battling with
the fear in his heart。
Over and over he sang； rounding； fulling； swelling every note；
leaning toward her in coaxing tenderness； flashing his brilliant
beauty as he swayed and rocked； for her approval； and all that he
had suffered and all that he hoped for was in his song。 Just
when his heart was growing sick within him； his straining ear
caught the faintest； most timid call a lover ever answered。 Only
one imploring； gentle 〃Chook！〃 from the sumac！ His song broke in
a suffocating burst of exultation。 Cautiously he hopped from
twig to twig toward her。 With tender throaty murmurings he
slowly edged nearer； and wonder of wonders！ with tired eyes and
quivering wings； she reached him her beak for a kiss。
At dinner that day； the farmer said to his wife：
〃Maria； if you want to hear the prettiest singin'； an' see the
cutest sight you ever saw； jest come down along the line fence
an' watch the antics o' that redbird we been hearin'〃
〃I don't know as redbirds are so scarce 'at I've any call to wade
through slush a half…mile to see one；〃 answered Maria。
〃Footin's pretty good along the line fence；〃 said Abram； 〃an' you
never saw a redbird like this fellow。 He's as big as any two
common ones。 He's so red every bush he lights on looks like it
was afire。 It's past all question； he's been somebody's pet； an'
he's taken me for the man。 I can get in six feet of him easy。
He's the finest bird I ever set eyes on； an' as for singin'； he's
dropped the weather； an' he's askin' folks to his housewarmin'
to…day。 He's been there alone for a week； an' his singin's been
first…class； but to…day he's picked up a mate； an' he's as
tickled as ever I was。 I am really consarned for fear he'll
burst himself。〃
Maria sniffed。
〃Course； don't come if you're tired； honey；〃 said the farmer。 〃I
thought maybe you'd enjoy it。 He's a…doin' me a power o' good。
My joints are limbered up till I catch myself pretty near
runnin'； on the up furrow； an' then； down towards the fence； I go
slow so's to stay near him as long as I can。〃
Maria stared。 〃Abram Johnson； have you gone daft？〃 she demanded。
Abram chuckled。 〃Not a mite dafter'n you'll be； honey； once you
set eyes on the fellow。 Better come； if you can。 You're
invited。 He's askin' the whole endurin' country to come。〃
Maria said nothing more； but she mentally decided she had no time
to fool with a bird； when there were housekeeping and spring
sewing to do。 As she recalled Abram's enthusiastic praise of the
singer； and had a whiff of the odour…laden air as she passed from
kitchen to spring…house； she was compelled to admit that it was a
temptation to go； but she finished her noon work and resolutely
sat down with her needle。 She stitched industriously； her thread
straightening with a quick nervous sweep； learned through years
of experience； and if her eyes wandered riverward； and if she
paused frequently with arrested hand and listened intently； she
did not realize it。 By two o'clock； a spirit of unrest that
demanded recognition had taken possession of her。 Setting her
lips firmly； a scowl clouding her brow； she stitched on。 By half
past two her hands dropped in her lap； Abram's new hickory shirt
slid to the floor； and she hesitatingly arose and crossed the
room to the closet； from which she took her overshoes； and set
them by the kitchen fire； to have them ready in case she wanted
them。
〃Pshaw！〃 she muttered； 〃I got this shirt to finish this
afternoon。 There's butter an' bakin' in the mornin'； an' Mary
Jane Simms is comin' for a visit in the afternoon。〃
She returned to the window and took up the shirt； sewing with
unusual swiftness for the next half…hour； but by three she
dropped it； and opening the kitchen door； gazed toward the river。
Every intoxicating delight of early spring was in the air。 The
breeze that fanned her cheek was laden with subtle perfume of
pollen and the crisp fresh odour of unfolding leaves。 Curling
skyward； like a beckoning finger； went a spiral of violet and
gray smoke from the log heap Abram was burning； and scattered
over spaces of a mile were half a dozen others； telling a story
of the activity of his neighbours。 Like the low murmur of
distant music came the beating wings of hundreds of her bees；
rimming the water trough； insane with thirst。 On the wood…pile
the guinea cock clattered incessantly： 〃Phut rack！ Phut rack！〃
Across the dooryard came the old turkey…gobbler with fan tail and
a rasping scrape of wing； evincing his delight in spring and
mating time by a series of explosive snorts。 On the barnyard
gate the old Shanghai was lustily challenging to mortal combat
one of his kind three miles across country。 From the river arose
the strident scream of her blue gander jealously guarding his
harem。 In the poultry…yard the hens made a noisy cackling party；
and the stable lot was filled with cattle bellowing for the
freedom of the meadow pasture； as yet scarcely ready for grazing。
It seemed to the little woman； hesitating in the doorway； as if
all nature had entered into a conspiracy to lure her from her
work； and just then； clear and imperious； arose the demand of the
Cardinal： 〃Come here！ Come here！〃
Blank amazement filled her face。 〃As I'm a livin' woman！〃 she
gasped。 〃He's changed his song！ That's what Abram meant by me
bein' invited。 He's askin' folks to see his mate。 I'm goin'。〃
The dull red of excitement sprang into her cheeks。 She hurried
on her overshoes； and drew an old shawl over her head。 She
crossed the dooryard； followed the path through the orchard； and
came to the lane。 Below the barn she turned back and attempted
to cross。 The mud was deep and thick； and she lost an overshoe；
but with the help of a stick she pried it out； and replaced it。
〃Joke on me if I'd a…tumbled over in this mud；〃 she muttered。
She entered the barn； and came out a minute later； carefully
closing and buttoning the door； and started down the line fence
toward the river。
Half…way across the field Abram saw her coming。 No need to
recount how often he had looked in that direction during the
afternoon。 He slapped the lines on the old gray's back and came
tearing down the slope； his eyes flashing； his cheeks red； his
hands firmly gripping the plow that rolled up a line of black
mould as he passed。
Maria； staring at his flushed face and shining eyes； recognized