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！
reproachfullyshe had come in while they were talking。 〃You meet with
a piece of good luck； and you're afraid of it； lest it might have come from
us。〃
〃Now； Miss Rena； you oughtn't ter say dat；〃 expostulated Frank； his
reluctance yielding immediately。 〃I'll keep de mule an' de kyart an' de
harnessfac'； I'll have ter keep 'em； 'cause I ain't got no others。 But dey
're gwine ter be yo'n ez much ez mine。 W'enever you wants anything
hauled； er wants yo' lot ploughed； er anything dat's yo' mule； an' I'm yo'
man an' yo' mammy's。〃
So Frank went back to the stable； where he feasted his eyes on his new
possessions； fed and watered the mule； and curried and brushed his coat
until it shone like a looking…glass。
〃Now dat；〃 remarked Peter； at the breakfast… table； when informed of
the transaction； 〃is somethin' lack rale w'ite folks。〃
No real white person had ever given Peter a mule or a cart。 He had
rendered one of them unpaid service for half a lifetime； and had paid for
the other half； and some of them owed him substantial sums for work
performed。 But 〃to him that hath shall be given〃Warwick paid for the
mule； and the real white folks got most of the credit。
124
… Page 125…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
125
… Page 126…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XX
DIGGING UP ROOTS
When the first great shock of his discovery wore off； the fact of
Rena's origin lost to Tryon some of its initial repugnanceindeed； the
repugnance was not to the woman at all； as their past relations were
evidence； but merely to the thought of her as a wife。 It could hardly have
failed to occur to so reasonable a man as Tryon that Rena's case could
scarcely be unique。 Surely in the past centuries of free manners and easy
morals that had prevailed in remote parts of the South； there must have
been many white persons whose origin would not have borne too
microscopic an investigation。 Family trees not seldom have a crooked
branch； or； to use a more apposite figure； many a flock has its black sheep。
Being a man of lively imagination； Tryon soon found himself putting all
sorts of hypothetical questions about a matter which he had already
definitely determined。 If he had married Rena in ignorance of her secret；
and had learned it afterwards； would he have put her aside？ If； knowing
her history； he had nevertheless married her； and she had subsequently
displayed some trait of character that would suggest the negro； could he
have forgotten or forgiven the taint？ Could he still have held her in love
and honor？ If not； could he have given her the outward seeming of
affection； or could he have been more than coldly tolerant？ He was glad
that he had been spared this ordeal。 With an effort he put the whole
matter definitely and conclusively aside； as he had done a hundred times
already。
Returning to his home； after an absence of several months in South
Carolina； it was quite apparent to his mother's watchful eye that he was in
serious trouble。 He was absent…minded； monosyllabic； sighed deeply and
often； and could not always conceal the traces of secret tears。 For Tryon
was young； and possessed of a sensitive soula source of happiness or
misery； as the Fates decree。 To those thus dowered； the heights of rapture
are accessible； the abysses of despair yawn threateningly； only the dull
monotony of contentment is denied。
Mrs。 Tryon vainly sought by every gentle art a woman knows to win
126
… Page 127…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
her son's confidence。 〃What is the matter； George； dear？〃 she would ask；
stroking his hot brow with her small； cool hand as he sat moodily nursing
his grief。 〃Tell your mother； George。 Who else could comfort you so
well as she？〃
〃Oh； it's nothing； mother；nothing at all；〃 he would reply； with a
forced attempt at lightness。 〃It's only your fond imagination； you best of
mothers。〃
It was Mrs。 Tryon's turn to sigh and shed a clandestine tear。 Until her
son had gone away on this trip to South Carolina； he had kept no secrets
from her： his heart had been an open book； of which she knew every page；
now； some painful story was inscribed therein which he meant she should
not read。 If she could have abdicated her empire to Blanche Leary or
have shared it with her； she would have yielded gracefully； but very
palpably some other influence than Blanche's had driven joy from her
son's countenance and lightness from his heart。
Miss Blanche Leary； whom Tryon found in the house upon his return；
was a demure； pretty little blonde； with an amiable disposition； a talent for
society； and a pronounced fondness for George Tryon。 A poor girl； of an
excellent family impoverished by the war； she was distantly related to Mrs。
Tryon； had for a long time enjoyed that lady's favor； and was her choice
for George's wife when he should be old enough to marry。 A woman less
interested than Miss Leary would have perceived that there was something
wrong with Tryon。 Miss Leary had no doubt that there was a woman at
the bottom of it；for about what else should youth worry but love？ or if
one's love affairs run smoothly； why should one worry about anything at
all？ Miss Leary； in the nineteen years of her mundane existence； had not
been without mild experiences of the heart； and had hovered for some time
on the verge of disappointment with respect to Tryon himself。 A
sensitive pride would have driven more than one woman away at the sight
of the man of her preference sighing like a furnace for some absent fair
one。 But Mrs。 Tryon was so cordial； and insisted so strenuously upon her
remaining； that Blanche's love； which was strong； conquered her pride；
which was no more than a reasonable young woman ought to have who
sets success above mere sentiment。 She remained in the house and bided
127
… Page 128…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
her opportunity。 If George practically ignored her for a time； she did not
throw herself at all in his way。 She went on a visit to some girls in the
neighborhood and remained away a week； hoping that she might be
missed。 Tryon expressed no regret at her departure and no particular
satisfaction upon her return。 If the house was duller in her absence； he
was but dimly conscious of the difference。 He was still fighting a battle
in which a susceptible heart and a reasonable mind had locked horns in a
well…nigh hopeless conflict。 Reason； common…sense； the instinctive
ready…made judgments of his training and environment； the deep…seated
prejudices of race and caste；commanded him to dismiss Rena from his
thoughts。 His stubborn heart simply would not let go。
128
… Page 129…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XXI
A GILDED OPPORTUNITY
Although the whole fabric of Rena's new life toppled and fell with
her lover's defection； her sympathies； broadened by culture and still more
by her recent emotional experience； did not shrink； as would have been the
case with a more selfish soul； to the mere limits of her personal sorrow；
great as this seemed at the moment。 She had learned to love； and when
the love of one man failed her； she turned to humanity； as a stream
obstructed in its course overflows the adjacent country。 Her early
training had not directed her thoughts to the darker people with whose fate
her own was bound up so closely； but rather away from them。 She had