第 8 节
作者:冬恋      更新:2021-04-30 16:59      字数:9322
  Frank   was   not   proud。      A   smile;   which   Peter   would   have   regarded   as
  condescending to a free man; who; since the war; was as good as anybody
  else;    a  kind    word;    which    Peter   would     have    considered     offensively
  patronizing;   a    piece   of  Mis'   Molly's    famous   potato     pone   from   Rena's
  hands; a bone to a dog; Peter called it once;were ample rewards for the
  thousand and one small services Frank had rendered the two women who
  lived in the house behind the cedars。
  Frank went over in the morning a little ahead of the appointed time;
  and waited on the back piazza until his services were required。
  〃You   ain't   gwine   ter be gone   long; is   you;  Miss   Rena?〃   he   inquired;
  when Rena came out dressed for the journey in her best frock; with broad
  white collar and cuffs。
  Rena did not know。         She had been asking herself the same question。
  All sorts of vague dreams had floated through her mind during the last few
  hours;   as   to   what   the   future   might   bring   forth。  But   she   detected   the
  anxious note in Frank's voice; and had no wish to give this faithful friend
  of the family unnecessary pain。
  〃Oh; no; Frank; I reckon not。         I'm supposed to be just going on a short
  visit。   My brother has lost his wife; and wishes me to come and stay with
  him awhile; and look after his little boy。〃
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  〃I'm    feared   you'll   lack   it  better  dere;   Miss    Rena;〃    replied   Frank
  sorrowfully;   dropping   his   mask   of   unconcern;   〃an'   den   you   won't   come
  back; an' none er yo' frien's won't never see you no mo'。〃
  〃You don't think; Frank;〃 asked Rena severely; 〃that I would leave my
  mother and my home and all my friends; and NEVER come back again?〃
  〃Why;   no   'ndeed;〃   interposed   Mis'   Molly   wistfully;   as   she   hovered
  around her daughter; giving her hair or her gown a touch here and there;
  〃she'll be so homesick in a month that she'll be willin' to walk home。〃
  〃You would n' never hafter do dat; Miss Rena;〃 returned Frank; with a
  disconsolate smile。       〃Ef you ever wanter come home; an' can't git back no
  other way; jes' let ME know; an' I'll take my mule an' my kyart an' fetch
  you back; ef it's from de een' er de worl'。〃
  〃Thank      you;   Frank;    I  believe    you   would;〃     said   the  girl   kindly。
  〃You're a true friend; Frank; and I'll not forget you while I'm gone。〃
  The   idea   of   her   beautiful   daughter   riding   home   from   the   end   of   the
  world with Frank; in a cart; behind a one…eyed mule; struck Mis' Molly as
  the height of the ridiculousshe was in a state of excitement where tears
  or laughter would have come with equal easeand she turned away to hide
  her merriment。       Her daughter was going to live in a fine house; and marry
  a rich man; and ride in her carriage。            Of course a negro would drive the
  carriage; but that was different from riding with one in a cart。
  When it was time to go; Mis' Molly and Rena set out on foot for the
  river;   which   was   only   a   short   distance   away。   Frank   followed   with   the
  valise。    There was no gathering of friends to see Rena off; as might have
  been the case under different circumstances。              Her departure had some of
  the characteristics of a secret flight; it was as important that her destination
  should not be known; as it   had been   that her brother should conceal   his
  presence in the town。
  Mis'    Molly     and   Rena    remained      on   the   bank    until   the  steamer
  announced; with a raucous whistle; its readiness to depart。                Warwick was
  seen for a moment on the upper deck; from which he greeted them with a
  smile     and   a  slight  nod。    He     had   bidden    his  mother     an   affectionate
  farewell the evening before。          Rena gave her hand to Frank。
  〃Good…by;      Frank;〃    she   said;  with   a  kind    smile;   〃I  hope   you    and
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  mamma will be good friends while I'm gone。〃
  The whistle blew a second warning blast; and the deck hands prepared
  to draw in the gang… plank。           Rena flew into her mother's arms; and then;
  breaking away; hurried on board and retired to her state…room; from which
  she did not emerge during the journey。               The window…blinds were closed;
  darkening   the   room;   and   the   stewardess   who   came   to   ask   if   she   should
  bring   her   some   dinner   could   not   see   her   face   distinctly;   but   perceived
  enough to make her surmise that the young lady had been weeping。
  〃Po'    chile;〃   murmured       the  sympathetic      colored    woman;     〃I  reckon
  some er her folks is dead; er her   sweetheart 's gone back on her; er   e'se
  she's had some kin' er bad luck er 'nuther。               W'ite folks has deir troubles
  jes' ez well ez black folks; an' sometimes feels 'em mo'; 'cause dey ain't ez
  use' ter 'em。〃
  Mis' Molly went back in sadness to the lonely house behind the cedars;
  henceforth to be peopled for her with only the memory of those she had
  loved。     She   had   paid   with   her   heart's   blood   another   installment   on   the
  Shylock's bond exacted by society for her own happiness of the past and
  her children's prospects for the future。
  The     journey    down    the   sluggish    river   to  the  seaboard     in  the   flat…
  bottomed;       stern…wheel     steamer    lasted   all  day    and   most    of  the   night。
  During the   first   half…day;   the  boat   grounded now   and   then   upon   a   sand…
  bank; and the half…naked negro deck… hands toiled with ropes and poles to
  release it。     Several times before Rena fell asleep that night; the steamer
  would   tie   up   at   a   landing;   and   by   the   light   of   huge   pine   torches   she
  watched the boat hands send the yellow turpentine barrels down the steep
  bank   in   a   long   string;   or   pass   cord…wood   on   board   from   hand   to   hand。
  The     excited    negroes;    their  white    teeth   and   eyeballs    glistening    in  the
  surrounding   darkness   to   which   their   faces   formed   no   relief;   the   white
  officers in brown linen; shouting; swearing; and gesticulating; the yellow;
  flickering torchlight over all;made up a scene of which the weird interest
  would have appealed to a more blase traveler than this girl upon her first
  journey。
  During the day; Warwick had taken his meals in the dining…room; with
  the captain and the other cabin passengers。               It was learned that he was a
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  South   Carolina   lawyer;   and   not   a   carpet…bagger。         Such   credentials   were
  unimpeachable; and the passengers found him a very agreeable traveling
  companion。         Apparently  sound   on   the   subject   of   negroes; Yankees;   and
  the righteousness of the lost cause; he yet discussed these themes in a lofty
  and impersonal manner that gave his words greater weight than if he had
  seemed warped by a personal grievance。                  His attitude; in fact; piqued the
  curiosity of one or two of the passengers。
  〃Did your people lose any niggers?〃 asked one of them。
  〃My father owned a hundred;〃 he replied grandly。
  Their respect for his views was doubled。                It is easy to moralize about
  the misfortunes of others; and to find good in the evil that they suffer;
  only a true philosopher could speak thus lightly of his own losses。
  When   the   steamer   tied   up   at   the   wharf   at   Wilmington;   in   the   early
  morning; the young lawyer and a veiled lady passenger drove in the same
  carriage     to   a  hotel。    After     they   had    breakfasted      in  a  private    room;
  Warwick   explained   to   his   sister   the   plan   he   had   formed   for   her   future。
  Henceforth she must be known as Miss Warwick; dropping the old name
  with the old life。       He would place her for a year in a boarding…school at
  Charleston;   after   which   she   would   take   her   place   as   the   mistress   of   his
  house。      Having imparted   this   information;   he took   his sister   for  a   drive
  through the town。          There for the first time Rena saw great ships; which;
  her brother told her; sailed across the mighty ocean to distant lands; whose
  flags   he   pointed   out   drooping   lazily   at   the   mast…   heads。      The   business
  portion of the town had 〃a