第 53 节
作者:白寒      更新:2021-04-30 16:59      字数:9322
  before I hear the order。〃 Gaily he suited the action to the word。
  But; for once swift; she reached the door before him。
  〃Wait。 Don't go; dear。〃
  The    last  word    came    faintly;   unexpectedly。     The    enticement     of  the
  appeal went to his head。 He had shaken her out of the indifference that was
  her pride。 One arm slipped round her waist。 His other hand tilted back her
  head   until   he   could   look   into   the   eyes   in   which   a   new   fire   had   been
  kindled。
  〃What about that almost glad? If I stay will you forget all qualifying
  words and be just glad?〃
  She nodded quickly; laughing ever so softly。 〃Yes; I'll help you listen
  to the birds sing。 Do you know I can almost hear them?〃
  James drew a deep breath and caught her swiftly to him。 〃New York
  will have to wait till to…morrow。 The birds will sing to…night and we will
  not count the cost。〃
  〃Yes; my lord;〃 she answered demurely。
  For   to…night   she   wanted   to   forget   that   their   birds   were   only   caged
  canaries。
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  CHAPTER 23
  〃And what are the names of the Fortunate Isles; Lo! duty and love and
  a large content; And these are the Isles of the watery miles That God let
  down from the firmament。
  Lo!   duty  and   love   and a   true   man's   trust; Your   forehead   to   God   and
  your feet in the dust:   Lo! duty  and love and   a sweet babe's smiles; And
  these; O friends; are the Fortunate Isles。〃
  AND LARKS FOR THE REBEL
  Beneath   a   sky   faintly  pink   with   the   warning  of   the   coming   sunrise
  Jeff walked an old logging trail that would take him back to camp from his
  morning dip。 Ferns and blackberry bushes; heavy with dew; reached across
  the road and grappled with each other。 At every step; as he pushed through
  the tangle; a shower of drops went flying。
  His    was    the  incomparable       buoyant     humor     of  a  lover   treading    a
  newborn   world。 A  smile   was   in   his   eyes;  tender;   luminous;   cheerful。   He
  thought of   the   woman   whom  he   had   not   seen   for   many   months;   and   he
  was buoyed up by the fine spiritual edge which does not know defeat。 Win
  or lose; it was clear gain to have loved her。
  With him he carried a vision of her; young; ardent; all fire and flame。
  One   spoke   of   things   beautiful   and   her   face   lit   from   within。   Her   words;
  motions;   came   from   the   depths;   half   revealed   and   half   concealed   dear
  hidden   secrets。   He   recalled   the   grace   of   the   delicate   throat   curve;   little
  tricks of expression; the sweetness of her energy。
  The   forest   broke;   opening   into   a   clearing。   He   stood   to   drink   in   its
  beauty;   for   the   sun;   peeping   over   a   saddle   in   the   hills;   had   painted   the
  place a valley of gold and russet。 And while he waited there came out of
  the   woods   beyond;   into   that   splendid   setting;   the   vision   that   was   in   his
  mind。
  He was not surprised that his eyes were playing him tricks。 This was
  after all the proper frame for the picture of his golden sweetheart。 Lance…
  straight and slender; his wood nymph waded knee deep through the ferns。
  Straight toward him she came; and his temples began to throb。 A sylph of
  the woods should be diaphanous。 The one he saw was a creature of color
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  and   warmth   and   definiteness。   Life;   sweet   and   mocking;   flowed   through
  her radiantly。 His heart sang within him; for the woman he loved out of a
  world of beautiful women was coming to him; light…footed as Daphne; the
  rhythm of the morning in her step。
  She spoke; commonplace words enough。 〃Last night I heard you were
  here。〃
  〃And I didn't know you were within a thousand miles。〃
  〃We   came   back   to   Verden   Thursday   and   are   up   over   Sunday;〃   she
  explained。
  He   was   lost   in   the   witchery   of   the   spell   she   cast   over   him。   Not   the
  drooping maidenhair ferns through which she trailed were more delicate or
  graceful than she。 But some instinct in him played surface commonplaces
  against the insurgent emotion of his heart。
  〃You like Washington?〃
  〃I like home better。〃
  〃But you were popular at the capital。 I read a great deal in the papers
  about your triumphs。〃
  The dye in her cheeks ran a little stronger。 There had been much gossip
  about   a   certain   Italian nobleman   who   had   wooed   her   openly  and   madly。
  〃They told a lot of nonsense。〃
  〃And some that wasn't nonsense。〃
  〃Not much。〃 She changed the subject lightly。 〃You read all about the
  wedding; of course。〃
  He quoted。  〃Miss Alice  Frome  as   maid   of   honor preceded the  bride;
  appearing   in   a   handsome   gown   of   very   delicate   old   rose   satin   with   an
  overdress of〃
  〃Very   good。 You   may   go   to   the   head   of   the   class;   sir。   Valencia   was
  beautiful and your cousin never looked more handsome。〃
  〃Which is saying a good deal。〃
  〃And we're all hoping they will live happy ever after。〃
  〃You know he is being talked of for United States Senator already。〃
  〃You will oppose him?〃 she asked quickly。
  〃I shall have to。〃
  〃Still an irreconcilable。〃 Her smile could be vivid; and just now it was。
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  〃Still a demagogue and a trouble maker;〃 he admitted。
  〃You've won the recall and the direct primary since I left。〃
  〃Yes。 We've been busy。〃
  〃And our friendshow are they?〃
  〃You should see Jefferson Davis Farnum Miller。 He's two months old
  and as fat as a dumpling。〃
  〃I've seen him。 He's a credit to his godfather。〃
  〃Isn't he? That's one happy family。〃
  〃I wonder who's to blame for that;〃 she said; the star flash in her eyes。
  〃Nellie told you?〃
  〃She told me。〃
  〃They exaggerate。 Nobody could have done less than I。〃
  〃Or   more。〃   She   did   not   dwell   upon   the   subject。   〃Tell   me   about   Mr。
  Marchant。〃
  He   went   over   for   her   the   story   of   the   little   poet's   gentle   death。   She
  listened till he made an end。
  〃Then it was not hard for him?〃
  〃No。 He had one of his good; eager days; then guietly fell asleep。〃
  〃And passed to where; beyond these voices; there is rest and peace;〃
  she quoted; ever so softly。
  〃Yes。〃
  〃Perhaps he knows now all about his Perfect State。〃 Her wistful smile
  was very tender。
  〃Perhaps。〃
  They walked together slowly across the valley。
  〃It is nearly six months since I have seen you。〃
  〃Five   months   and   twenty…seven   days。〃   The   words   had   slipped   out
  almost without her volition。 She hurried on; ashamed; the color flying in
  her cheeks; 〃I remember because it was the day we ran down your cousin
  and that old gentleman。 It has always been a great comfort to me to know
  that he was not seriously injured。〃
  〃No。 It was only the shock of his fall。〃
  〃What was his name? I don't think I heard it。〃
  There was just an instant's silence before he pronounced; 〃FarnumMr。
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  Robert Farnum。〃
  〃A relative of yours?〃
  〃Yes。〃
  Across her brain there flashed a fugitive memory of three words Jeff
  had spoken to his cousin the day of the accident。 〃It's your father。〃
  But   how   could   that    be?   She   had   always    understood     that   both  the
  parents   of   James   were   dead。   The   lawyer   had   denied   knowing   the   man
  whose life he had saved。 And yet she had been sure of the words and of a
  furtive; frightened look on the face of James。 According to the story of the
  _Herald_ the father of Jefferson; a former convict; was named Robert。 But
  once; when she had made some allusion to it Captain Chunn had exploded
  into vigorous denial。 It was a puzzle the meaning of which she could not
  guess。
  〃He    has   several   times   mentioned      his  wish    to  thank   you   for  your
  kindness;〃 Jeff mentioned。
  〃I'll be glad to meet him。〃 Swiftly she flashed a question at him。 〃Is he
  James Farnum's father?〃
  〃Haven't you read the papers? He is said to be mine。〃
  〃But     he   isn't。  He   isn't。  I  see   it  now。    James     was    a