the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第14部分
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Generous with his means； he thought nothing too good for her。 Her
success had gratified his pride； and justified his course in taking her under
his protection。
〃Thank you； John。 You give me already more than I need。 It is
something else； John。 George wants me to say when I will marry him。
I am afraid to marry him； without telling him。 If he should find out
afterwards； he might cast me off； or cease to love me。 If he did not know
it； I should be forever thinking of what he would do if he SHOULD find it
out； or； if I should die without his having learned it； I should not rest easy
in my grave for thinking of what he would have done if he HAD found it
out。〃
Warwick's smile gave place to a grave expression at this somewhat
comprehensive statement。 He rose and closed the door carefully； lest
some one of the servants might overhear the conversation。 More
liberally endowed than Rena with imagination； and not without a vein of
sentiment； he had nevertheless a practical side that outweighed them both。
With him； the problem that oppressed his sister had been in the main a
matter of argument； of self…conviction。 Once persuaded that he had
certain rights； or ought to have them； by virtue of the laws of nature； in
defiance of the customs of mankind； he had promptly sought to enjoy
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them。 This he had been able to do by simply concealing his antecedents
and making the most of his opportunities； with no troublesome qualms of
conscience whatever。 But he had already perceived； in their brief
intercourse； that Rena's emotions； while less easily stirred； touched a
deeper note than his； and dwelt upon it with greater intensity than if they
had been spread over the larger field to which a more ready sympathy
would have supplied so many points of access；hers was a deep and silent
current flowing between the narrow walls of a self… contained life； his the
spreading river that ran through a pleasant landscape。 Warwick's
imagination； however； enabled him to put himself in touch with her mood
and recognize its bearings upon her conduct。 He would have preferred
her taking the practical point of view； to bring her round to which he
perceived would be a matter of diplomacy。
〃How long have these weighty thoughts been troubling your small
head？〃 he asked with assumed lightness。
〃Since he asked me last night to name our wedding day。〃
〃My dear child；〃 continued Warwick； 〃you take too tragic a view of
life。 Marriage is a reciprocal arrangement； by which the contracting
parties give love for love； care for keeping； faith for faith。 It is a matter
of the future； not of the past。 What a poor soul it is that has not some
secret chamber； sacred to itself； where one can file away the things others
have no right to know； as well as things that one himself would fain forget！
We are under no moral obligation to inflict upon others the history of our
past mistakes； our wayward thoughts； our secret sins； our desperate hopes；
or our heartbreaking disappointments。 Still less are we bound to bring
out from this secret chamber the dusty record of our ancestry。
‘Let the dead past bury its dead。'
George Tryon loves you for yourself alone； it is not your ancestors that
he seeks to marry。〃
〃But would he marry me if he knew？〃 she persisted。
Warwick paused for reflection。 He would have preferred to argue the
question in a general way； but felt the necessity of satisfying her scruples；
as far as might be。 He had liked Tryon from the very beginning of their
acquaintance。 In all their intercourse； which had been very close for
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several months； he had been impressed by the young man's sunny temper；
his straightforwardness； his intellectual honesty。 Tryon's deference to
Warwick as the elder man had very naturally proved an attraction。
Whether this friendship would have stood the test of utter frankness about
his own past was a merely academic speculation with which Warwick did
not trouble himself。 With his sister the question had evidently become a
matter of conscience； a difficult subject with which to deal in a person of
Rena's temperament。
〃My dear sister；〃 he replied； 〃why should he know？ We haven't
asked him for his pedigree； we don't care to know it。 If he cares for ours；
he should ask for it； and it would then be time enough to raise the question。
You love him； I imagine； and wish to make him happy？〃
It is the highest wish of the woman who loves。 The enamored man
seeks his own happiness； the loving woman finds no sacrifice too great for
the loved one。 The fiction of chivalry made man serve woman； the fact
of human nature makes woman happiest when serving where she loves。
〃Yes； oh； yes；〃 Rena exclaimed with fervor； clasping her hands
unconsciously。 〃I'm afraid he'd be unhappy if he knew； and it would
make me miserable to think him unhappy。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Warwick； 〃suppose we should tell him our secret
and put ourselves in his power； and that he should then conclude that he
couldn't marry you？ Do you imagine he would be any happier than he is
now； or than if he should never know？〃
Ah； no！ she could not think so。 One could not tear love out of one's
heart without pain and suffering。
There was a knock at the door。 Warwick opened it to the nurse； who
stood with little Albert in her arms。
〃Please； suh；〃 said the girl； with a curtsy； 〃de baby 's be'n oryin' an'
frettin' fer Miss Rena； an' I 'lowed she mought want me ter fetch 'im； ef it
wouldn't'sturb her。〃
〃Give me the darling；〃 exclaimed Rena； coming forward and taking
the child from the nurse。 〃It wants its auntie。 Come to its auntie； bless
its little heart！〃
Little Albert crowed with pleasure and put up his pretty mouth for a
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kiss。 Warwick found the sight a pleasant one。 If he could but quiet his
sister's troublesome scruples； he might erelong see her fondling beautiful
children of her own。 Even if Rena were willing to risk her happiness；
and he to endanger his position； by a quixotic frankness； the future of his
child must not be compromised。
〃You wouldn't want to make George unhappy；〃 Warwick resumed
when the nurse retired。 〃Very well； would you not be willing； for his
sake； to keep a secretyour secret and mine； and that of the innocent child
in your arms？ Would you involve all of us in difficulties merely to
secure your own peace of mind？ Doesn't such a course seem just the
least bit selfish？ Think the matter over from that point of view； and we'll
speak of it later in the day。 I shall be with George all the morning； and I
may be able； by a little management； to find out his views on the subject
of birth and family； and all that。 Some men are very liberal； and love is a
great leveler。 I'll sound him； at any rate。〃
He kissed the baby and left Rena to her own reflections； to which his
presentation of the case had given a new turn。 It had never before
occurred to her to regard silence in the light of self…sacrifice。 It had
seemed a sort of sin； her brother's argument made of it a virtue。 It was
not the first time； nor the last； that right and wrong had been a matter of
view…point。
Tryon himself furnished the opening for Warwick's proposed
examination。 The younger man could not long remain silent upon the
subject uppermost in his mind。 〃I am anxious； John；〃 he said； 〃to have
Rowena name the happiest day of my lifeour wedding day。 When the
trial in Edgecombe County is finished； I shall have no further business
here； and shall be ready to leave for home。 I should like to take my bride
with me； and surprise my mother。〃
Mothers； thought Warwick； are likely to prove inquisitive about their
sons' wives； especially when taken unawares in matters of such
importance。 This seemed a good time to test the liberality of Tryon's
views； and to put forward a shield for his sister's protection。
〃Are you sure； George； that your mother will find the surprise
agreeable when you bring home a bride of whom you know so little and
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your mother nothing at all？〃
Tryon had felt that it wou
