the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第31部分
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told me how he hated and despised me。 I would not have believed it
even of a white man。〃
〃You do him an injustice；〃 said her brother； producing Tryon's letter。
〃He did not get off unscathed。 He sent you a message。〃
She turned her face away； but listened while he read the letter。 〃He did
not love me；〃 she cried angrily； when he had finished； 〃or he would not
have cast me offhe would not have looked at me so。 The law would
have let him marry me。 I seemed as white as he did。 He might have
gone anywhere with me； and no one would have stared at us curiously； no
one need have known。 The world is widethere must be some place
where a man could live happily with the woman he loved。〃
〃Yes； Rena； there is； and the world is wide enough for you to get along
without Tryon。〃
〃For a day or two；〃 she went on； 〃I hoped he might come back。 But
his expression in that awful moment grew upon me； haunted me day and
night； until I shuddered at the thought that I might ever see him again。
He looked at me as though I were not even a human being。 I do not love
him any longer； John； I would not marry him if I were white； or he were as
I am。 He did not love meor he would have acted differently。 He
might have loved me and have left mehe could not have loved me and
have looked at me so！〃
She was weeping hysterically。 There was little he could say to
comfort her。 Presently she dried her tears。 Warwick was reluctant to
leave her in Patesville。 Her childish happiness had been that of
ignorance； she could never be happy there again。 She had flowered in
the sunlight； she must not pine away in the shade。
〃If you won't come back with me； Rena； I'll send you to some school
at the North； where you can acquire a liberal education； and prepare
yourself for some career of usefulness。 You may marry a better man than
even Tryon。〃
〃No；〃 she replied firmly； 〃I shall never marry any man； and I'll not
leave mother again。 God is against it； I'll stay with my own people。〃
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〃God has nothing to do with it；〃 retorted Warwick。 〃God is too often
a convenient stalking… horse for human selfishness。 If there is anything
to be done； so unjust； so despicable； so wicked that human reason revolts
at it； there is always some smug hypocrite to exclaim； ‘It is the will of
God。'〃
〃God made us all；〃 continued Rena dreamily； 〃and for some good
purpose； though we may not always see it。 He made some people white；
and strong； and masterful； andheartless。 He made others black and
homely； and poor and weak〃
〃And a lot of others ‘poor white' and shiftless；〃 smiled Warwick。
〃He made us； too；〃 continued Rena； intent upon her own thought； 〃and
He must have had a reason for it。 Perhaps He meant us to bring the
others together in his own good time。 A man may make a new place for
himselfa woman is born and bound to hers。 God must have meant me
to stay here； or He would not have sent me back。 I shall accept things as
they are。 Why should I seek the society of people whose friendshipand
love one little word can turn to scorn？ I was right； John； I ought to
have told him。 Suppose he had married me and then had found it out？〃
To Rena's argument of divine foreordination Warwick attached no
weight whatever。 He had seen God's heel planted for four long years
upon the land which had nourished slavery。 Had God ordained the crime
that the punishment might follow？ It would have been easier for
Omnipotence to prevent the crime。 The experience of his sister had
stirred up a certain bitterness against white peoplea feeling which he had
put aside years ago； with his dark blood； but which sprang anew into life
when the fact of his own origin was brought home to him so forcibly
through his sister's misfortune。 His sworn friend and promised brother…
in… law had thrown him over promptly； upon the discovery of the hidden
drop of dark blood。 How many others of his friends would do the same；
if they but knew of it？ He had begun to feel a little of the spiritual
estrangement from his associates that he had noticed in Rena during her
life at Clarence。 The fact that several persons knew his secret had
spoiled the fine flavor of perfect security hitherto marking his position。
George Tryon was a man of honor among white men； and had deigned to
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extend the protection of his honor to Warwick as a man； though no longer
as a friend； to Rena as a woman； but not as a wife。 Tryon； however； was
only human； and who could tell when their paths in life might cross again；
or what future temptation Tryon might feel to use a damaging secret to
their disadvantage？ Warwick had cherished certain ambitions； but these
he must now put behind him。 In the obscurity of private life； his past
would be of little moment； in the glare of a political career； one's
antecedents are public property； and too great a reserve in regard to one's
past is regarded as a confession of something discreditable。 Frank； too；
knew the secret a good； faithful fellow； even where there was no
obligation of fidelity； he ought to do something for Frank to show their
appreciation of his conduct。 But what assurance was there that Frank
would always be discreet about the affairs of others？ Judge Straight
knew the whole story； and old men are sometimes garrulous。 Dr。 Green
suspected the secret； he had a wife and daughters。 If old Judge Straight
could have known Warwick's thoughts； he would have realized the
fulfillment of his prophecy。 Warwick； who had builded so well for
himself； had weakened the structure of his own life by trying to share his
good fortune with his sister。
〃 Listen； Rena；〃 he said； with a sudden impulse； 〃we'll go to the North
or WestI'll go with youfar away from the South and the Southern
people； and start life over again。 It will be easier for you； it will not be
hard for meI am young； and have means。 There are no strong ties to
bind me to the South。 I would have a larger outlook elsewhere。〃
〃And what about our mother？〃 asked Rena。
It would be necessary to leave her behind； they both perceived clearly
enough； unless they were prepared to surrender the advantage of their
whiteness and drop back to the lower rank。 The mother bore the mark of
the Ethiopiannot pronouncedly； but distinctly； neither would Mis' Molly；
in all probability； care to leave home and friends and the graves of her
loved ones。 She had no mental resources to supply the place of these；
she was； moreover； too old to be transplanted； she would not fit into
Warwick's scheme for a new life。
〃I left her once；〃 said Rena； 〃and it brought pain and sorrow to all
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three of us。 She is not strong； and I will not leave her here to die alone。
This shall be my home while she lives； and if I leave it again； it shall be
for only a short time； to go where I can write to her freely； and hear from
her often。 Don't worry about me； John；I shall do very well。〃
Warwick sighed。 He was sincerely sorry to leave his sister； and yet
he saw that for the time being her resolution was not to be shaken。 He
must bide his time。 Perhaps； in a few months； she would tire of the old
life。 His door would be always open to her； and he would charge himself
with her future。
〃Well； then；〃 he said； concluding the argument； 〃we'll say no more
about it for the present。 I'll write to you later。 I was afraid that you
might not care to go back just now； and so I brought your trunk along with
me。〃
He gave his mother the baggage…check。 She took it across to Frank；
who； during the day； brought the trunk from the depot。 Mis' Molly
offered to pay him for the service； but he would accept nothing。
〃Lawd； no； Mis' Molly； I did n' hafter go out'n my way ter git dat trunk。
I had a load er sperrit… bairls ter haul ter de still； an' de depot wuz right on
my way back。 It'd be robbin' you ter take pay fer a little thing lack dat。〃
〃My son John's here；〃 said Mis' Molly 〃an' he wants to see you。
Come into the settin'…r
