eben holden-第41部分

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　had　not　been　a　word　of　love　in　it　…　only　now　and　then　a　suggestion　of　our　tender　feeling。　We　hesitated　only　for　the　briefest　moment。　Then　I　put　my　arm　about　her　neck　and　kissed　her。

'I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；'　she　said。

Well；　she　was　charming　and　beautiful；　but　different；　and　probably　not　more　different　than　was　I。　She　was　no　longer　the　laughing；　simple…mannered　child　of　Faraway；　whose　heart　was　as　one's　hand　before　him　in　the　daylight。　She　had　now　a　bit　of　the　woman's　reserve　…　her　prudence；　her　skill　in　hiding　the　things　of　the　heart。　I　loved　her　more　than　ever；　but　somehow　I　felt　it　hopeless　…　that　she　had　grown　out　of　my　life。　She　was　much　in　request　among　the　people　of　Hillsborough；　and　we　went　about　a　good　deal　and　had　many　callers。　But　we　had　little　time　to　ourselves。　She　seemed　to　avoid　that；　and　had　much　to　say　of　the　grand　young　men　who　came　to　call　on　her　in　the　great　city。　Anyhow　it　all　hurt　me　to　the　soul　and　even　robbed　me　of　my　sleep。　A　better　lover　than　I　would　have　made　an　end　of　dallying　and　got　at　the　truth；　come　what　might。　But　I　was　of　the　Puritans；　and　not　of　the　Cavaliers；　and　my　way　was　that　which　God　had　marked　for　me；　albeit　I　must　own　no　man　had　ever　a　keener　eye　for　a　lovely　woman　or　more　heart　to　please　her。　A　mighty　pride　had　come　to　me　and　I　had　rather　have　thrown　my　heart　to　vultures　than　see　it　an　unwelcome　offering。　And　I　was　quite　out　of　courage　with　Hope；　she；　I　dare　say；　was　as　much　out　of　patience　with　me。

She　returned　in　the　late　summer　and　I　went　back　to　my　work　at　college　in　a　hopeless　fashion　that　gave　way　under　the　whip　of　a　strong　will。

I　made　myself　as　contented　as　possible。　I　knew　all　the　pretty　girls　and　went　about　with　some　of　them　to　the　entertainments　of　the　college　season。　At　last　came　the　long　looked　for　day　of　my　graduation　…　the　end　of　my　student　life。

The　streets　of　the　town　were　thronged；　every　student　having　the　college　colours　in　his　coat　lapel。　The　little　company　of　graduates　trembled　with　fright　as　the　people　crowded　in　to　the　church；　whispering　and　faring　themselves；　in　eager　anticipation。　As　the　former　looked　from　the　two　side　pews　where　they　sat；　many　familiar　faces　greeted　them　…　the　faces　of　fathers　and　mothers　aglow　with　the　inner　light　of　pride　and　pleasure；　the　faces　of　many　they　loved　come　to　claim　a　share　in　the　glory　of　that　day。　I　found　my　own；　I　remember；　but　none　of　them　gave　me　such　help　as　that　of　Uncle　Eb。　However　I　might　fare；　none　would　feel　the　pride　or　disgrace　of　it　more　keenly　than　he。　I　shall　never　forget　how　he　turned　his　head　to　catch　every　word　when　I　ascended　the　platform。　As　I　warmed　to　my　argument　I　could　see　him　nudging　the　arm　of　David；　who　sat　beside　him；　as　if　to　say；　'There's　the　boy　that　came　over　the　hills　with　me　in　a　pack　basket。'　when　I　stopped　a　moment；　groping　for　the　next　word；　he　leaned　forward；　embracing　his　knee；　firmly；　as　if　intending　to　draw　off　a　boot。　It　was　all　the　assistance　he　could　give　me。　when　the　exercises　were　over　I　found　Uncle　Eb　by　the　front　door　of　the　church；　waiting　for　me。

'Willie；　ye　done　noble！'　said　he。

'Did　my　very　best；　Uncle　Eb；'　I　replied。

'Liked　it　grand　…　I　did；　sartin。'　'Glad　you　liked　it；　Uncle　Eb。'

'Showed　great　larnin'。　who　was　the　man　'at　give　out　the　pictur's？'

He　meant　the　president　who　had　conferred　the　degrees。　I　spoke　the　name。

'Deceivin'　lookin'　man；　ain't　he？　Seen　him　often；　but　never　took　no　pertick'lar　notice　of　him　before。'

'How　deceiving？'　I　enquired。

'Talked　so　kind　of　plain；'　he　replied。　'I　could　understan'　him　as　easy　as　though　he'd　been　swappin'　hosses。　But　when　you　got　up；　Bill'。　why；　you　jes'　riz　right　up　in　the　air　an；　there　couldn't　no　dum　fool　tell　what　you　was　talkin'　'bout。'

Whereat　I　concluded　that　Uncle　Eb's　humour　was　as　deep　as　it　was　kindly；　but　I　have　never　been　quite　sure　whether　the　remark　was　a　compliment　or　a　bit　of　satire。

Chapter　28

The　folks　of　Faraway　have　been　carefully　if　rudely　pictured；　but　the　look　of　my　own　person；　since　I　grew　to　the　stature　of　manhood；　I　have　left　wholly　to　the　imagination　of　the　reader。　I　will　wager　he　knew　long　since　what　manner　of　man　I　was　and　has　measured　me　to　the　fraction　of　an　inch；　and　knows　even　the　colour　of　my　hair　and　eyes　from　having　been　so　long　in　my　company。　If　not　…　well；　I　shall　have　to　write　him　a　letter。

when　Uncle　Eb　and　I　took　the　train　for　New　York　that　summer　day　in　1860；　some　fifteen　years　after　we　came　down　Paradise　Road　with　the　dog　and　wagon　and　pack　basket；　my　head；　which；　in　that　far　day；　came　only　to　the　latitude　of　his　trouser　pocket；　had　now　mounted　six　inches　above　his　own。　That　is　all　I　can　say　here　on　that　branch　of　my　subject。　I　was　leaving　to　seek　my　fortune　in　the　big　city；　Uncle　Eb　was　off　for　a　holiday　and　to　see　Hope　and　bring　her　home　for　a　short　visit。　I　remember　with　what　sadness　I　looked　back　that　morning　at　mother　and　father　as　they　stood　by　the　gate　slowly　waving　their　handkerchiefs。　Our　home　at　last　was　emptied　of　its　young；　and　even　as　they　looked　the　shadow　of　old　age　must　have　fallen　suddenly　before　them。　I　knew　how　they　would　go　back　into　that　lonely　room　and　how；　while　the　clock　went　on　with　its　ticking；　Elizabeth　would　sit　down　and　cover　her　face　a　moment；　while　David　would　make　haste　to　take　up　his　chores。

We　sat　in　silence　a　long　time　after　the　train　was　off；　a　mighty　sadness　holding　our　tongues。　Uncle　Eb；　who　had　never　ridden　a　long　journey　on　the　cars　before；　had　put　on　his　grand　suit　of　broadcloth。　The　day　was　hot　and　dusty；　and　before　we　had　gone　far　he　was　sadiy　soiled。　But　a　suit　never　gave　him　any　worry；　once　it　was　on。　He　sat　calmly；　holding　his　knee　in　his　hands　and　looking　out　of　the　open　window；　a　squint　in　his　eyes　that　stood　for　some　high　degree　of　interest　in　the　scenery。

'What　do　you　think　of　this　country？'　I　enquired。

'Looks　purty　fair；'　said　he；　as　he　brushed　his　face　with　his　handkerchief　and　coughed　to　clear　his　throat　of　the　dust；　'but　'tain't　quite　so　pleasant　to　the　taste　as　some　other　parts　o'　the　country。　I　ruther　liked　the　flavour　of　Saint　Lawrence　all　through；　but　Jefferson　is　a　leetle　gritty。'

He　put　down　the　window　as　he　spoke。

'A　leetle　tobaccer'll　improve　it　some；'　he　added；　as　his　hand　went　down　for　the　old　silver　box。　'The　way　these　cars　dew　rip　along！　Consamed　if　it　ain't　like　flyin'！　Kind　o'　makes　me　feel　like　a　bird。'

The　railroad　was　then　not　the　familiar　thing　it　is　now　in　the　north　country。　The　bull　in　the　fields　had　not　yet　come　to　an　understanding　of　its　rights；　and　was　frequently　tempted　into　argument　with　a　locomotive。　Bill　Fountain；　who　came　out　of　a　back　township；　one　day　had　even　tied　his　faithful　hound　to　the　rear　platform。

Our　train　came　to　a　long　stop　for　wood　and　water　near　midday；　and　then　we　opened　the　lunch　basket　that　mother　had　given　us。

'Neighbour；'　said　a　solemn…faced　man；　who　sat　in　front　of　us；　'do　you　think　the　cars　are　ag'in　the　Bible？　D'you　think　a　Christian　orter　ride　on　'em？'

'Sartin；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Less　the　constable's　after　him　…　then　I　think　he　orter　be　on　a　balky　hoss。'

'Wife'n　I　hes　talked　it　over　a　good　deal；'　said　the　man。　'Some　says　it's　ag'in　the　Bible。　The　minister　'at　preaches　over　'n　our　neighbourhood　says　if　God　hed　want