English
Thevillagelayundertwofeetofsnow,withdriftsatthewindycorners.
InaskyofironthepointsoftheDipperhunglikeiciclesandOrionflashedhiscoldfires.
Themoonhadset,butthenightwassotransparentthatthewhitehouse-frontsbetweentheelmslookedgrayagainstthesnow,clumpsofbushesmadeblackstainsonit,andthebasementwindowsofthechurchsentshaftsofyellowlightfaracrosstheendlessundulations.
YoungEthanFromewalkedataquickpacealongthedesertedstreet,pastthebankandMichaelEady’snewbrickstoreandLawyerVarnum’shousewiththetwoblackNorwaysprucesatthegate.
OppositetheVarnumgate,wheretheroadfellawaytowardtheCorburyvalley,thechurchreareditsslimwhitesteepleandnarrowperistyle.
Astheyoungmanwalkedtowardittheupperwindowsdrewablackarcadealongthesidewallofthebuilding,butfromtheloweropenings,onthesidewherethegroundslopedsteeplydowntotheCorburyroad,thelightshotitslongbars,illuminatingmanyfreshfurrowsinthetrackleadingtothebasementdoor,andshowing,underanadjoiningshed,alineofsleighswithheavilyblanketedhorses.
Thenightwasperfectlystill,andtheairsodryandpurethatitgavelittlesensationofcold.
TheeffectproducedonFromewasratherofacompleteabsenceofatmosphere,asthoughnothinglesstenuousthanetherintervenedbetweenthewhiteearthunderhisfeetandthemetallicdomeoverhead.
“It’slikebeinginanexhaustedreceiver,”hethought.
Fourorfiveyearsearlierhehadtakenayear’scourseatatechnologicalcollegeatWorcester,anddabbledinthelaboratorywithafriendlyprofessorofphysics;andtheimagessuppliedbythatexperiencestillcroppedup,atunexpectedmoments,throughthetotallydifferentassociationsofthoughtinwhichhehadsincebeenliving.
Hisfather’sdeath,andthemisfortunesfollowingit,hadputaprematureendtoEthan’sstudies;butthoughtheyhadnotgonefarenoughtobeofmuchpracticalusetheyhadfedhisfancyandmadehimawareofhugecloudymeaningsbehindthedailyfaceofthings.
Ashestrodealongthroughthesnowthesenseofsuchmeaningsglowedinhisbrainandmingledwiththebodilyflushproducedbyhissharptramp.
Attheendofthevillagehepausedbeforethedarkenedfrontofthechurch.
Hestoodthereamoment,breathingquickly,andlookingupanddownthestreet,inwhichnotanotherfiguremoved.
ThepitchoftheCorburyroad,belowlawyerVarnum’sspruces,wasthefavouritecoasting-groundofStarkfield,andoncleareveningsthechurchcornerrangtilllatewiththeshoutsofthecoasters;butto-nightnotasleddarkenedthewhitenessofthelongdeclivity.
Thehushofmidnightlayonthevillage,andallitswakinglifewasgatheredbehindthechurchwindows,fromwhichstrainsofdance-musicflowedwiththebroadbandsofyellowlight.
Theyoungman,skirtingthesideofthebuilding,wentdowntheslopetowardthebasementdoor.
Tokeepoutofrangeoftherevealingraysfromwithinhemadeacircuitthroughtheuntroddensnowandgraduallyapproachedthefartherangleofthebasementwall.
Thence,stillhuggingtheshadow,heedgedhiswaycautiouslyforwardtothenearestwindow,holdingbackhisstraightsparebodyandcraninghisnecktillhegotaglimpseoftheroom.
Seenthus,fromthepureandfrostydarknessinwhichhestood,itseemedtobeseethinginamistofheat.
Themetalreflectorsofthegas-jetssentcrudewavesoflightagainstthewhitewashedwalls,andtheironflanksofthestoveattheendofthehalllookedasthoughtheywereheavingwithvolcanicfires.
Thefloorwasthrongedwithgirlsandyoungmen.
Downthesidewallfacingthewindowstoodarowofkitchenchairsfromwhichtheolderwomenhadjustrisen.
Bythistimethemusichadstopped,andthemusicians-afiddler,andtheyoungladywhoplayedtheharmoniumonSundays-werehastilyrefreshingthemselvesatonecornerofthesupper-tablewhichaligneditsdevastatedpie-dishesandice-creamsaucersontheplatformattheendofthehall.
Theguestswerepreparingtoleave,andthetidehadalreadysettowardthepassagewherecoatsandwrapswerehung,whenayoungmanwithasprightlyfootandashockofblackhairshotintothemiddleofthefloorandclappedhishands.Thesignaltookinstanteffect.
Themusicianshurriedtotheirinstruments,thedancers-somealreadyhalf-muffledfordeparture-fellintolinedowneachsideoftheroom,theolderspectatorsslippedbacktotheirchairs,andthelivelyyoungman,afterdivingabouthereandthereinthethrong,drewforthagirlwhohadalreadywoundacherry-coloured“fascinator”aboutherhead,and,leadingheruptotheendofthefloor,whirledherdownitslengthtotheboundingtuneofaVirginiareel.
Frome’sheartwasbeatingfast.Hehadbeenstrainingforaglimpseofthedarkheadunderthecherry-colouredscarfanditvexedhimthatanothereyeshouldhavebeenquickerthanhis.
Theleaderofthereel,wholookedasifhehadIrishbloodinhisveins,dancedwell,andhispartnercaughthisfire.
Asshepasseddowntheline,herlightfigureswingingfromhandtohandincirclesofincreasingswiftness,thescarfflewoffherheadandstoodoutbehindhershoulders,andFrome,ateachturn,caughtsightofherlaughingpantinglips,thecloudofdarkhairaboutherforehead,andthedarkeyeswhichseemedtheonlyfixedpointsinamazeofflyinglines.
Thedancersweregoingfasterandfaster,andthemusicians,tokeepupwiththem,belabouredtheirinstrumentslikejockeyslashingtheirmountsonthehome-stretch;yetitseemedtotheyoungmanatthewindowthatthereelwouldneverend.
Nowandthenheturnedhiseyesfromthegirl’sfacetothatofherpartner,which,intheexhilarationofthedance,hadtakenonalookofalmostimpudentownership.
DenisEadywasthesonofMichaelEady,theambitiousIrishgrocer,whosesupplenessandeffronteryhadgivenStarkfielditsfirstnotionof“smart”businessmethods,andwhosenewbrickstoretestifiedtothesuccessoftheattempt.
Hissonseemedlikelytofollowinhissteps,andwasmeanwhileapplyingthesameartstotheconquestoftheStarkfieldmaidenhood.
HithertoEthanFromehadbeencontenttothinkhimameanfellow;butnowhepositivelyinvitedahorse-whipping.
Itwasstrangethatthegirldidnotseemawareofit:thatshecouldliftherraptfacetoherdancer’s,anddropherhandsintohis,withoutappearingtofeeltheoffenceofhislookandtouch.
FromewasinthehabitofwalkingintoStarkfieldtofetchhomehiswife’scousin,MattieSilver,ontherareeveningswhensomechanceofamusementdrewhertothevillage.
Itwashiswifewhohadsuggested,whenthegirlcametolivewiththem,thatsuchopportunitiesshouldbeputinherway.
MattieSilvercamefromStamford,andwhensheenteredtheFromes’householdtoactashercousinZeena’saiditwasthoughtbest,asshecamewithoutpay,nottoletherfeeltoosharpacontrastbetweenthelifeshehadleftandtheisolationofaStarkfieldfarm.
Butforthis-asFromesardonicallyreflected-itwouldhardlyhaveoccurredtoZeenatotakeanythoughtforthegirl’samusement.
WhenhiswifefirstproposedthattheyshouldgiveMattieanoccasionaleveningouthehadinwardlydemurredathavingtodotheextratwomilestothevillageandbackafterhisharddayonthefarm;butnotlongafterwardhehadreachedthepointofwishingthatStarkfieldmightgiveallitsnightstorevelry.
MattieSilverhadlivedunderhisroofforayear,andfromearlymorningtilltheymetatsupperhehadfrequentchancesofseeingher;butnomomentsinhercompanywerecomparabletothosewhen,herarminhis,andherlightstepflyingtokeeptimewithhislongstride,theywalkedbackthroughthenighttothefarm.
Hehadtakentothegirlfromthefirstday,whenhehaddrivenovertotheFlatstomeether,andshehadsmiledandwavedtohimfromthetrain,cryingout,“YoumustbeEthan!”
asshejumpeddownwithherbundles,whilehereflected,lookingoverherslightperson:“Shedon’tlookmuchonhousework,butsheain’tafretter,anyhow.”
Butitwasnotonlythatthecomingtohishouseofabitofhopefulyounglifewaslikethelightingofafireonacoldhearth.
Thegirlwasmorethanthebrightserviceablecreaturehehadthoughther.
Shehadaneyetoseeandaneartohear:hecouldshowherthingsandtellherthings,andtastetheblissoffeelingthatallheimpartedleftlongreverberationsandechoeshecouldwakeatwill.
Itwasduringtheirnightwalksbacktothefarmthathefeltmostintenselythesweetnessofthiscommunion.
Hehadalwaysbeenmoresensitivethanthepeopleabouthimtotheappealofnaturalbeauty.
Hisunfinishedstudieshadgivenformtothissensibilityandeveninhisunhappiestmomentsfieldandskyspoketohimwithadeepandpowerfulpersuasion.
Buthithertotheemotionhadremainedinhimasasilentache,veilingwithsadnessthebeautythatevokedit.
Hedidnotevenknowwhetheranyoneelseintheworldfeltashedid,orwhetherhewasthesolevictimofthismournfulprivilege.
Thenhelearnedthatoneotherspirithadtrembledwiththesametouchofwonder:thatathisside,livingunderhisroofandeatinghisbread,wasacreaturetowhomhecouldsay:“That’sOriondownyonder;thebigfellowtotherightisAldebaran,andthebunchoflittleones-likebeesswarming-they’rethePleiades…”orwhomhecouldholdentrancedbeforealedgeofgranitethrustingupthroughthefernwhileheunrolledthehugepanoramaoftheiceage,andthelongdimstretchesofsucceedingtime.
ThefactthatadmirationforhislearningmingledwithMattie’swonderatwhathetaughtwasnottheleastpartofhispleasure.
Andtherewereothersensations,lessdefinablebutmoreexquisite,whichdrewthemtogetherwithashockofsilentjoy:thecoldredofsunsetbehindwinterhills,theflightofcloud-flocksoverslopesofgoldenstubble,ortheintenselyblueshadowsofhemlocksonsunlitsnow.
Whenshesaidtohimonce:“Itlooksjustasifitwaspainted!”
itseemedtoEthanthattheartofdefinitioncouldgonofarther,andthatwordshadatlastbeenfoundtoutterhissecretsoul….
Ashestoodinthedarknessoutsidethechurchthesememoriescamebackwiththepoignancyofvanishedthings.
WatchingMattiewhirldownthefloorfromhandtohandhewonderedhowhecouldeverhavethoughtthathisdulltalkinterestedher.
Tohim,whowasnevergaybutinherpresence,hergaietyseemedplainproofofindifference.
Thefacesheliftedtoherdancerswasthesamewhich,whenshesawhim,alwayslookedlikeawindowthathascaughtthesunset.
Heevennoticedtwoorthreegestureswhich,inhisfatuity,hehadthoughtshekeptforhim:awayofthrowingherheadbackwhenshewasamused,asiftotasteherlaughbeforesheletitout,andatrickofsinkingherlidsslowlywhenanythingcharmedormovedher.
Thesightmadehimunhappy,andhisunhappinessrousedhislatentfears.
HiswifehadnevershownanyjealousyofMattie,butoflateshehadgrumbledincreasinglyoverthehouse-workandfoundobliquewaysofattractingattentiontothegirl’sinefficiency.
ZeenahadalwaysbeenwhatStarkfieldcalled“sickly,”andFromehadtoadmitthat,ifshewereasailingasshebelieved,sheneededthehelpofastrongerarmthantheonewhichlaysolightlyinhisduringthenightwalkstothefarm.
Mattiehadnonaturalturnforhousekeeping,andhertraininghaddonenothingtoremedythedefect.
Shewasquicktolearn,butforgetfulanddreamy,andnotdisposedtotakethematterseriously.
Ethanhadanideathatifsheweretomarryamanshewasfondofthedormantinstinctwouldwake,andherpiesandbiscuitsbecometheprideofthecounty;butdomesticityintheabstractdidnotinteresther.
Atfirstshewassoawkwardthathecouldnothelplaughingather;butshelaughedwithhimandthatmadethembetterfriends.
Hedidhisbesttosupplementherunskilledefforts,gettingupearlierthanusualtolightthekitchenfire,carryinginthewoodovernight,andneglectingthemillforthefarmthathemighthelpheraboutthehouseduringtheday.
HeevencreptdownonSaturdaynightstoscrubthekitchenfloorafterthewomenhadgonetobed;andZeena,oneday,hadsurprisedhimatthechurnandhadturnedawaysilently,withoneofherqueerlooks.
Oflatetherehadbeenothersignsofherdisfavour,asintangiblebutmoredisquieting.
Onecoldwintermorning,ashedressedinthedark,hiscandleflickeringinthedraughtoftheill-fittingwindow,hehadheardherspeakfromthebedbehindhim.
“Thedoctordon’twantIshouldbeleftwithoutanybodytodoforme,”shesaidinherflatwhine.
Hehadsupposedhertobeasleep,andthesoundofhervoicehadstartledhim,thoughshewasgiventoabruptexplosionsofspeechafterlongintervalsofsecretivesilence.
Heturnedandlookedatherwhereshelayindistinctlyoutlinedunderthedarkcalicoquilt,herhigh-bonedfacetakingagrayishtingefromthewhitenessofthepillow.
“Nobodytodoforyou?”herepeated.
“Ifyousayyoucan’taffordahiredgirlwhenMattiegoes.”
Frometurnedawayagain,andtakinguphisrazorstoopedtocatchthereflectionofhisstretchedcheekintheblotchedlooking-glassabovethewash-stand.
“WhyonearthshouldMattiego?”
“Well,whenshegetsmarried,Imean,”hiswife’sdrawlcamefrombehindhim.
“Oh,she’dneverleaveusaslongasyouneededher,”hereturned,scrapinghardathischin.
“Iwouldn’teverhaveitsaidthatIstoodinthewayofapoorgirllikeMattiemarryingasmartfellowlikeDenisEady,”Zeenaansweredinatoneofplaintiveself-effacement.
Ethan,glaringathisfaceintheglass,threwhisheadbacktodrawtherazorfromeartochin.Hishandwassteady,buttheattitudewasanexcusefornotmakinganimmediatereply.
“Andthedoctordon’twantIshouldbeleftwithoutanybody,”Zeenacontinued.“HewantedIshouldspeaktoyouaboutagirlhe’sheardabout,thatmightcome-”
Ethanlaiddowntherazorandstraightenedhimselfwithalaugh.
“DenisEady!Ifthat’sall,Iguessthere’snosuchhurrytolookroundforagirl.”
“Well,I’dliketotalktoyouaboutit,”saidZeenaobstinately.
Hewasgettingintohisclothesinfumblinghaste.“Allright.ButIhaven’tgotthetimenow;I’mlateasitis,”hereturned,holdinghisoldsilverturnip-watchtothecandle.
Zeena,apparentlyacceptingthisasfinal,laywatchinghiminsilencewhilehepulledhissuspendersoverhisshouldersandjerkedhisarmsintohiscoat;butashewenttowardthedoorshesaid,suddenlyandincisively:“Iguessyou’realwayslate,nowyoushaveeverymorning.”
ThatthrusthadfrightenedhimmorethananyvagueinsinuationsaboutDenisEady.
ItwasafactthatsinceMattieSilver’scominghehadtakentoshavingeveryday;buthiswifealwaysseemedtobeasleepwhenhelefthersideinthewinterdarkness,andhehadstupidlyassumedthatshewouldnotnoticeanychangeinhisappearance.
OnceortwiceinthepasthehadbeenfaintlydisquietedbyZenobia’swayoflettingthingshappenwithoutseemingtoremarkthem,andthen,weeksafterward,inacasualphrase,revealingthatshehadallalongtakenhernotesanddrawnherinferences.
Oflate,however,therehadbeennoroominhisthoughtsforsuchvagueapprehensions.
Zeenaherself,fromanoppressivereality,hadfadedintoaninsubstantialshade.
AllhislifewaslivedinthesightandsoundofMattieSilver,andhecouldnolongerconceiveofitsbeingotherwise.
Butnow,ashestoodoutsidethechurch,andsawMattiespinningdownthefloorwithDenisEady,athrongofdisregardedhintsandmenaceswovetheircloudabouthisbrain….
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