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AsthedancerspouredoutofthehallFrome,drawingbackbehindtheprojectingstorm-door,watchedthesegregationofthegrotesquelymuffledgroups,inwhichamovinglanternraynowandthenlitupafaceflushedwithfoodanddancing.
Thevillagers,beingafoot,werethefirsttoclimbtheslopetothemainstreet,whilethecountryneighbourspackedthemselvesmoreslowlyintothesleighsundertheshed.“Ain’tyouriding,Mattie?”
awoman’svoicecalledbackfromthethrongabouttheshed,andEthan’sheartgaveajump.
Fromwherehestoodhecouldnotseethepersonscomingoutofthehalltilltheyhadadvancedafewstepsbeyondthewoodensidesofthestorm-door;butthroughitscracksheheardaclearvoiceanswer:“Mercyno!Notonsuchanight.”
Shewasthere,then,closetohim,onlyathinboardbetween.
Inanothermomentshewouldstepforthintothenight,andhiseyes,accustomedtotheobscurity,woulddiscernherasclearlyasthoughshestoodindaylight.
Awaveofshynesspulledhimbackintothedarkangleofthewall,andhestoodthereinsilenceinsteadofmakinghispresenceknowntoher.
Ithadbeenoneofthewondersoftheirintercoursethatfromthefirst,she,thequicker,finer,moreexpressive,insteadofcrushinghimbythecontrast,hadgivenhimsomethingofherowneaseandfreedom;butnowhefeltasheavyandloutishasinhisstudentdays,whenhehadtriedto“jolly”theWorcestergirlsatapicnic.
Hehungback,andshecameoutaloneandpausedwithinafewyardsofhim.
Shewasalmostthelasttoleavethehall,andshestoodlookinguncertainlyaboutherasifwonderingwhyhedidnotshowhimself.
Thenaman’sfigureapproached,comingsoclosetoherthatundertheirformlesswrappingstheyseemedmergedinonedimoutline.
“Gentlemanfriendgonebackonyou?Say,Matt,that’stough!
No,Iwouldn’tbemeanenoughtotelltheothergirls.Iain’taslow-downasthat.”(HowFromehatedhischeapbanter!)
“Butlookahere,ain’titluckyIgottheoldman’scutterdowntherewaitingforus?”
Fromeheardthegirl’svoice,gailyincredulous:“Whatonearth’syourfather’scutterdoin’downthere?”
“Why,waitingformetotakearide.Igottheroancolttoo.IkinderknewI’dwanttotakearideto-night,”Eady,inhistriumph,triedtoputasentimentalnoteintohisbraggingvoice.
Thegirlseemedtowaver,andFromesawhertwirltheendofherscarfirresolutelyaboutherfingers.
Notfortheworldwouldhehavemadeasigntoher,thoughitseemedtohimthathislifehungonhernextgesture.
“HoldonaminutewhileIunhitchthecolt,”Deniscalledtoher,springingtowardtheshed.
Shestoodperfectlystill,lookingafterhim,inanattitudeoftranquilexpectancytorturingtothehiddenwatcher.
Fromenoticedthatshenolongerturnedherheadfromsidetoside,asthoughpeeringthroughthenightforanotherfigure.
SheletDenisEadyleadoutthehorse,climbintothecutterandflingbackthebearskintomakeroomforherathisside;then,withaswiftmotionofflight,sheturnedaboutanddarteduptheslopetowardthefrontofthechurch.
“Good-bye!Hopeyou’llhavealovelyride!”shecalledbacktohimoverhershoulder.
Denislaughed,andgavethehorseacutthatbroughthimquicklyabreastofherretreatingfigure.
“Comealong!Getinquick!It’sasslipperyasthunderonthisturn,”hecried,leaningovertoreachoutahandtoher.
Shelaughedbackathim:“Good-night!I’mnotgettingin.”
BythistimetheyhadpassedbeyondFrome’searshotandhecouldonlyfollowtheshadowypantomimeoftheirsilhouettesastheycontinuedtomovealongthecrestoftheslopeabovehim.
HesawEady,afteramoment,jumpfromthecutterandgotowardthegirlwiththereinsoveronearm.
Theotherhetriedtoslipthroughhers;butsheeludedhimnimbly,andFrome’sheart,whichhadswungoutoverablackvoid,trembledbacktosafety.
Amomentlaterheheardthejingleofdepartingsleighbellsanddiscernedafigureadvancingalonetowardtheemptyexpanseofsnowbeforethechurch.
IntheblackshadeoftheVarnumspruceshecaughtupwithherandsheturnedwithaquick“Oh!”
“ThinkI’dforgottenyou,Matt?”heaskedwithsheepishglee.
Sheansweredseriously:“Ithoughtmaybeyoucouldn’tcomebackforme.”
“Couldn’t?Whatonearthcouldstopme?”
“IknewZeenawasn’tfeelinganytoogoodto-day.”
“Oh,she’sinbedlongago.”Hepaused,aquestionstrugglinginhim.“Thenyoumeanttowalkhomeallalone?”
“Oh,Iain’tafraid!”shelaughed.
Theystoodtogetherinthegloomofthespruces,anemptyworldglimmeringaboutthemwideandgreyunderthestars.Hebroughthisquestionout.
“IfyouthoughtIhadn’tcome,whydidn’tyouridebackwithDenisEady?”
“Why,wherewereyou?Howdidyouknow?Ineversawyou!”
Herwonderandhislaughterrantogetherlikespringrillsinathaw.
Ethanhadthesenseofhavingdonesomethingarchandingenious.
Toprolongtheeffecthegropedforadazzlingphrase,andbroughtout,inagrowlofrapture:“Comealong.”
Heslippedanarmthroughhers,asEadyhaddone,andfancieditwasfaintlypressedagainstherside.butneitherofthemmoved.
Itwassodarkunderthesprucesthathecouldbarelyseetheshapeofherheadbesidehisshoulder.
Helongedtostoophischeekandrubitagainstherscarf.
Hewouldhavelikedtostandtherewithherallnightintheblackness.
ShemovedforwardasteportwoandthenpausedagainabovethedipoftheCorburyroad.
Itsicyslope,scoredbyinnumerablerunners,lookedlikeamirrorscratchedbytravellersataninn.
“Therewasawholelotofthemcoastingbeforethemoonset,”shesaid.
“Wouldyouliketocomeinandcoastwiththemsomenight?”heasked.
“Oh,wouldyou,Ethan?Itwouldbelovely!”
“We’llcometo-morrowifthere’samoon.”
Shelingered,pressingclosertohisside.
“NedHaleandRuthVarnumcamejustasnearrunningintothebigelmatthebottom.Wewereallsuretheywerekilled.”Hershiverrandownhisarm.“Wouldn’tithavebeentooawful?They’resohappy!”
“Oh,Nedain’tmuchatsteering.IguessIcantakeyoudownallright!”hesaiddisdainfully.
Hewasawarethathewas“talkingbig,”likeDenisEady;buthisreactionofjoyhadunsteadiedhim,andtheinflectionwithwhichshehadsaidoftheengagedcouple“They’resohappy!”
madethewordssoundasifshehadbeenthinkingofherselfandhim.
“Theelmisdangerous,though.Itoughttobecutdown,”sheinsisted.
“Wouldyoubeafraidofit,withme?”
“ItoldyouIain’tthekindtobeafraid”shetossedback,almostindifferently;andsuddenlyshebegantowalkonwitharapidstep.
ThesealterationsofmoodwerethedespairandjoyofEthanFrome.
Themotionsofhermindwereasincalculableastheflitofabirdinthebranches.
Thefactthathehadnorighttoshowhisfeelings,andthusprovoketheexpressionofhers,madehimattachafantasticimportancetoeverychangeinherlookandtone.
Nowhethoughtsheunderstoodhim,andfeared;nowhewassureshedidnot,anddespaired.
To-nightthepressureofaccumulatedmisgivingssentthescaledroopingtowarddespair,andherindifferencewasthemorechillingaftertheflushofjoyintowhichshehadplungedhimbydismissingDenisEady.
HemountedSchoolHouseHillathersideandwalkedoninsilencetilltheyreachedthelaneleadingtothesaw-mill;thentheneedofsomedefiniteassurancegrewtoostrongforhim.
“You’dhavefoundmerightoffifyouhadn’tgonebacktohavethatlastreelwithDenis,”hebroughtoutawkwardly.Hecouldnotpronouncethenamewithoutastiffeningofthemusclesofhisthroat.
“Why,Ethan,howcouldItellyouwerethere?”
“Isupposewhatfolkssayistrue,”hejerkedoutather,insteadofanswering.
Shestoppedshort,andhefelt,inthedarkness,thatherfacewasliftedquicklytohis.“Why,whatdofolkssay?”
“It’snaturalenoughyoushouldbeleavingus”heflounderedon,followinghisthought.
“Isthatwhattheysay?”shemockedbackathim;then,withasuddendropofhersweettreble:“YoumeanthatZeena-ain’tsuitedwithmeanymore?”shefaltered.
Theirarmshadslippedapartandtheystoodmotionless,eachseekingtodistinguishtheother’sface.
“IknowIain’tanythinglikeassmartasIoughttobe,”shewenton,whilehevainlystruggledforexpression.
“There’slotsofthingsahiredgirlcoulddothatcomeawkwardtomestill-andIhaven’tgotmuchstrengthinmyarms.Butifshe’donlytellmeI’dtry.
Youknowshehardlyeversaysanything,andsometimesIcanseesheain’tsuited,andyetIdon’tknowwhy.”
Sheturnedonhimwithasuddenflashofindignation.
“You’doughttotellme,EthanFrome-you’doughtto!Unlessyouwantmetogotoo-”
Unlesshewantedhertogotoo!Thecrywasbalmtohisrawwound.
Theironheavensseemedtomeltandraindownsweetness.
Againhestruggledfortheall-expressiveword,andagain,hisarminhers,foundonlyadeep“Comealong.”
Theywalkedoninsilencethroughtheblacknessofthehemlock-shadedlane,whereEthan’ssawmillgloomedthroughthenight,andoutagainintothecomparativeclearnessofthefields.
Onthefarthersideofthehemlockbelttheopencountryrolledawaybeforethemgreyandlonelyunderthestars.
Sometimestheirwayledthemundertheshadeofanoverhangingbankorthroughthethinobscurityofaclumpofleaflesstrees.
Hereandthereafarmhousestoodfarbackamongthefields,muteandcoldasagrave-stone.
Thenightwassostillthattheyheardthefrozensnowcrackleundertheirfeet.
Thecrashofaloadedbranchfallingfaroffinthewoodsreverberatedlikeamusket-shot,andonceafoxbarked,andMattieshrankclosertoEthan,andquickenedhersteps.
AtlengththeysightedthegroupoflarchesatEthan’sgate,andastheydrewnearitthesensethatthewalkwasoverbroughtbackhiswords.
“Thenyoudon’twanttoleaveus,Matt?”
Hehadtostoophisheadtocatchherstifledwhisper:“Where’dIgo,ifIdid?”
Theanswersentapangthroughhimbutthetonesuffusedhimwithjoy.Heforgotwhatelsehehadmeanttosayandpressedheragainsthimsocloselythatheseemedtofeelherwarmthinhisveins.
“Youain’tcryingareyou,Matt?”
“No,ofcourseI’mnot,”shequavered.
Theyturnedinatthegateandpassedundertheshadedknollwhere,enclosedinalowfence,theFromegrave-stonesslantedatcrazyanglesthroughthesnow.Ethanlookedatthemcuriously.
Foryearsthatquietcompanyhadmockedhisrestlessness,hisdesireforchangeandfreedom.“Wenevergotaway-howshouldyou?”
seemedtobewrittenoneveryheadstone;andwheneverhewentinoroutofhisgatehethoughtwithashiver:“IshalljustgoonlivingheretillIjointhem.”
Butnowalldesireforchangehadvanished,andthesightofthelittleenclosuregavehimawarmsenseofcontinuanceandstability.
“Iguesswe’llneverletyougo,Matt,”hewhispered,asthougheventhedead,loversonce,mustconspirewithhimtokeepher;andbrushingbythegraves,hethought:“We’llalwaysgoonlivingheretogether,andsomedayshe’lllietherebesideme.”
Heletthevisionpossesshimastheyclimbedthehilltothehouse.
Hewasneversohappywithheraswhenheabandonedhimselftothesedreams.
Half-wayuptheslopeMattiestumbledagainstsomeunseenobstructionandclutchedhissleevetosteadyherself.
Thewaveofwarmththatwentthroughhimwasliketheprolongationofhisvision.
Forthefirsttimehestolehisarmabouther,andshedidnotresist.
Theywalkedonasiftheywerefloatingonasummerstream.
Zeenaalwayswenttobedassoonasshehadhadhersupper,andtheshutterlesswindowsofthehouseweredark.
Adeadcucumber-vinedangledfromtheporchlikethecrapestreamertiedtothedoorforadeath,andthethoughtflashedthroughEthan’sbrain:“IfitwasthereforZeena-”Thenhehadadistinctsightofhiswifelyingintheirbedroomasleep,hermouthslightlyopen,herfalseteethinatumblerbythebed…
Theywalkedaroundtothebackofthehouse,betweentherigidgooseberrybushes.
ItwasZeena’shabit,whentheycamebacklatefromthevillage,toleavethekeyofthekitchendoorunderthemat.
Ethanstoodbeforethedoor,hisheadheavywithdreams,hisarmstillaboutMattie.
“Matt-”hebegan,notknowingwhathemeanttosay.
Sheslippedoutofhisholdwithoutspeaking,andhestoopeddownandfeltforthekey.
“It’snotthere!”hesaid,straighteninghimselfwithastart.
Theystrainedtheireyesateachotherthroughtheicydarkness.Suchathinghadneverhappenedbefore.
“Maybeshe’sforgottenit,”Mattiesaidinatremulouswhisper;butbothofthemknewthatitwasnotlikeZeenatoforget.
“Itmighthavefallenoffintothesnow,”Mattiecontinued,afterapauseduringwhichtheyhadstoodintentlylistening.
“Itmusthavebeenpushedoff,then,”herejoinedinthesametone.Anotherwildthoughttorethroughhim.Whatiftrampshadbeenthere-whatif…
Againhelistened,fancyingheheardadistantsoundinthehouse;thenhefeltinhispocketforamatch,andkneelingdown,passeditslightslowlyovertheroughedgesofsnowaboutthedoorstep.
Hewasstillkneelingwhenhiseyes,onalevelwiththelowerpanelofthedoor,caughtafaintraybeneathit.
Whocouldbestirringinthatsilenthouse?
Heheardasteponthestairs,andagainforaninstantthethoughtoftrampstorethroughhim.
Thenthedooropenedandhesawhiswife.
Againstthedarkbackgroundofthekitchenshestooduptallandangular,onehanddrawingaquiltedcounterpanetoherflatbreast,whiletheotherheldalamp.
Thelight,onalevelwithherchin,drewoutofthedarknessherpuckeredthroatandtheprojectingwristofthehandthatclutchedthequilt,anddeepenedfantasticallythehollowsandprominencesofherhigh-bonedfaceunderitsringofcrimping-pins.
ToEthan,stillintherosyhazeofhishourwithMattie,thesightcamewiththeintenseprecisionofthelastdreambeforewaking.
Hefeltasifhehadneverbeforeknownwhathiswifelookedlike.
Shedrewasidewithoutspeaking,andMattieandEthanpassedintothekitchen,whichhadthedeadlychillofavaultafterthedrycoldofthenight.
“Guessyouforgotaboutus,Zeena,”Ethanjoked,stampingthesnowfromhisboots.
“No.IjustfeltsomeanIcouldn’tsleep.”
Mattiecameforward,unwindingherwraps,thecolourofthecherryscarfinherfreshlipsandcheeks.“I’msosorry,Zeena!Isn’tthereanythingIcando?”
“No;there’snothing.”Zeenaturnedawayfromher.“Youmight‘a’shookoffthatsnowoutside,”shesaidtoherhusband.
Shewalkedoutofthekitchenaheadofthemandpausinginthehallraisedthelampatarm’s-length,asiftolightthemupthestairs.
Ethanpausedalso,affectingtofumbleforthepegonwhichhehunghiscoatandcap.
Thedoorsofthetwobedroomsfacedeachotheracrossthenarrowupperlanding,andto-nightitwaspeculiarlyrepugnanttohimthatMattieshouldseehimfollowZeena.
“IguessIwon’tcomeupyetawhile,”hesaid,turningasiftogobacktothekitchen.
Zeenastoppedshortandlookedathim.“Fortheland’ssake-whatyougoingtododownhere?”
“I’vegotthemillaccountstogoover.”
Shecontinuedtostareathim,theflameoftheunshadedlampbringingoutwithmicroscopiccrueltythefretfullinesofherface.
“Atthistimeo’night?You’llketchyourdeath.Thefire’soutlongago.”
Withoutansweringhemovedawaytowardthekitchen.
AshedidsohisglancecrossedMattie’sandhefanciedthatafugitivewarninggleamedthroughherlashes.
ThenextmomenttheysanktoherflushedcheeksandshebegantomountthestairsaheadofZeena.
“That’sso.Itispowerfulcolddownhere,”Ethanassented;andwithloweredheadhewentupinhiswife’swake,andfollowedheracrossthethresholdoftheirroom.
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