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！
did come； and poked his twice…blessed head between the curtains； it was not to sit down inside and talk until supper…times but to say that it was getting cold outside and that they ought to have a fire if they intended to sit in the studio after supper。 （Oh； what a trump of a brother！） And if they didn't mind he'd send Hopeful right away with some chips to start it。 All of which Miss Hopeful Prime accomplished； talking all the time to Margaret as she piled up the logs； and not forgetting a final word to Oliver as she left the room； to the effect that she 〃guessed it； must be kind o' comfortin' to set by a fire〃such luxuries； of course； to her thinking； being unknown in his tropical land； where the blacks went naked and the children lay about in the sun munching watermelons and bananas。
What an afternoon it had been！ They had talked of the woods and their life under the trees； of the sketches they made and how they could improve them； and would； of the coming winter and the prospect of the school being opened and what it meant to them if it did； and how much more if it did not； and she be compelled to remain in Brookfield with Oliver away all winter in New York； and of a thousand and one other things that lay nearest their hearts and with which neither you nor I have anything to do。
It was good； Margaret thought； to talk to him in this way； and see the quick response in his eyes and feel how true and helpful he was。
She had dreaded his comingdreaded the contrasts which she knew his presence among them would reveal。 She knew how punctiliously polite he was； and how brusque and positive was her father。 She realized； too； how outspoken and bluff was John； and how unaccustomed both he and her dear deaf mother were to the ways of the outside world。 What would Oliver think of them？ What effect would her home life have on their future？ she kept saying to herself。
Not that she was ashamed of her people； certainly not of her father； who really occupied a higher position than any of his neighbors。 He was not only a deacon in the church and chairman of the School Board； but he had been twice sent to the Legislature； and at one time had been widely discussed as a fitting candidate for Governor。 Nobody in Brookfield thought the less of him because of his peculiarities many of his neighbors liked him the better for his brusqueness； they believed in a man who had the courage of his convictions and who spoke out； no matter whose toes he trod on。
Nor could she be ashamed of her brother John so kind to everybody； so brave and generous； and such a good brother。 Only she wished that he had some of Oliver's courtesy； and that he would take off his hat when a lady spoke to him in the road； and keep it off till she bade him replace it； and observe a few of the other amenities； but even with all his defects of mannerall of which she had never before noticedhe was still her own dear brother John； and she loved him dearly。
And as for her motherthat most gentle and gracious of womenthat one person in the house who was considerate of everybody's feelings and tolerant of everybody's impatience！ What could Oliver find in her except what was adorable？ As she thought of her mother； a triumphant smile crossed her face。 〃That's the one member of the Grant family；〃 she said to herself； 〃whom my fine gentleman must admit is the equal of any one of his top…lofty kinsfolk in Kennedy Square or anywhere else。〃 Which outburst the scribe must admit to himself was but another proof of the fact that no such thing as true democracy exists the world over。
None of these thoughts had ever crossed her mind up to the time she met Oliver on the bridge that first sunny morning。 He had never discussed the subject of any difference between their two families； nor had he ever criticised the personality of anyone she knew。 He had only BEEN HIMSELF。 The change in her views had come gradually and unconsciously to her as the happy weeks flew by。 Before she knew it she had realized from his talk； from his gestures； even from the way he sat down or got up； or handled his knife and fork； or left the room or entered it； that some of her early teachings had led her astray； and that there might be something else in life worth having outside of the four cardinal virtueseconomy； industry； pluck； and plain…speaking。 And if there wereand she was quite certain of it nowwould Oliver find them at Brookfield Farm？ This was really the basis of her disquietude； the kernel of the nut which she was trying to crack。
If any of these shortcomings on the part of his entertainers had been apparent to Oliver； or if he had ever drawn any such deductions； or noted any such contrasts； judged by the Kennedy Square code； no word of disappointment had passed his lips。
Some things； it is true； during his visit at the farm； had deeply impressed him； but they were not those that Margaret feared。 He had thought of them that first night when going over the events of the day as they passed in review before him。 One personality and one incident had made so profound an impression upon him that he could not get to sleep for an hour thinking about them。 It was the stalwart figure of John Grant in his broad…brimmed straw hat and heavy boots striding up the garden…path with his scythe over his shoulder。 This apparition； try as he might； would not down at his bidding。
〃Think of that young fellow；〃 he kept repeating to himself。 〃The eldest son and heir to the estate no doubt； a college…bred man and a most charming gentleman； working like a common laborer in his father's field。 And proud of it； tooand would do it again and talk about it。 And yet I was so ashamed of working with my hands that I had to run away from home for fear the boys would laugh at me。
Margaret heard the whole story from Oliver's lips the next morning with many adornments； and with any amount of good resolutions for the future。 She listened quietly and held his hand the closer； her eyes dancing in triumph； the color mounting to her cheeks； but she made no reply。
Neither did she return the confidence and tell Oliver how she wished her father could see some things in as clear a light； and be more gentle and less opinionated。 She was too proud for that。
And so the days； crowded thick with emotions； sped on。
The evening of their first one came and passed； with its half…hours when neither spoke a word and when both trembled all over for the very joy of living； and the morning of the second arrived； bringing with it a happiness she had never known before； and then the morning of the thirdand the last day。
They had kept their secret even from John。 Oliver wanted to inform her father at once of his attachment； telling her it was not right for him to accept the hospitality of her parents unless they understood the whole situation； but she begged him to wait； and he had yielded to her wishes。
They had all discussed him at their pleasure。
〃Nice chap that young Horn；〃 John had said to her the night before。 〃We had three or four of 'em in my class； one from Georgia and two from Alabama。 They'd fight in a minute； but they'd make up just as quick。 This one's the best of the lot。〃 He spoke as if they had all belonged to another race denizens of Borneo or Madagascar or the islands of the Pacific。
〃I have sent my love to his mother； my dear；〃 Mrs。 Grant had confided to her early that same morning。 〃I am sure he has a good mother。 He is so kind and polite to me； he never lets me remember that I am deaf when I talk to him；〃 and she looked about her in her simple； patient way。
〃Yesperhaps so；〃 said Silas； sitting hunched up in his chair。 〃Seems sort of skippy…like to me。 Something of a Dandy Jim； I should say。 Good enough to make men painters of； I guess。〃 Artists in those days had few friends North or South。
None of these criticisms affected Margaret。 She didn't care what they thought of him。 She knew his heart； and so would they in time。
When Oliver had said all his public good…byes to the rest of the familythe good…byes with which we have nothing to do had been given and taken in the studio with the curtains drawnhe joined Margaret at the gate。
They were standing in the road now； under the giant elm； waiting for the stage。 She stood close beside him； touching his arm with her own； mournfully counting the minutes before the stage would come； her eyes up the road。 All the light and loveliness of the summers all the joy and gladness of life； would go out of her heart when the door of the lumbering vehicle closed on Oliver。
CHAPTER XVII
LIVE COALS FROM MISS CLENDENNING'S WOOD…FIRE
His good…byes said； one absorbing thought now filled Oliver's mindto reach Kennedy Square on the wings of the wind and there to pour into the ears of his mother and Miss Lavinia； and of anyone else who would listen； the whys and wherefores of his love for Margaret； with such additional description of her personal charms； qualities； and talents as would bring about； in the shortest possible time； the most amicable of relations between Kennedy Square and Brookfield Farm。 He was determined that his mother should know her at once。 He knew how strong her prejudices were and what her traditions would cause her to