English
AssoonashiswifehaddrivenoffEthantookhiscoatandcapfromthepeg.
Mattiewaswashingupthedishes,hummingoneofthedancetunesofthenightbefore.
Hesaid“Solong,Matt,”andsheansweredgaily“Solong,Ethan”;andthatwasall.Itwaswarmandbrightinthekitchen.
Thesunslantedthroughthesouthwindowonthegirl’smovingfigure,onthecatdozinginachair,andonthegeraniumsbroughtinfromthedoor-way,whereEthanhadplantedtheminthesummerto“makeagarden”forMattie.
Hewouldhavelikedtolingeron,watchinghertidyupandthensettledowntohersewing;buthewantedstillmoretogetthehaulingdoneandbebackatthefarmbeforenight.
AllthewaydowntothevillagehecontinuedtothinkofhisreturntoMattie.
Thekitchenwasapoorplace,not“spruce”andshiningashismotherhadkeptitinhisboyhood;butitwassurprisingwhatahomelikelookthemerefactofZeena’sabsencegaveit.
Andhepicturedwhatitwouldbelikethatevening,whenheandMattiewerethereaftersupper.
Forthefirsttimetheywouldbealonetogetherindoors,andtheywouldsitthere,oneoneachsideofthestove,likeamarriedcouple,heinhisstockingfeetandsmokinghispipe,shelaughingandtalkinginthatfunnywayshehad,whichwasalwaysasnewtohimasifhehadneverheardherbefore.
Thesweetnessofthepicture,andthereliefofknowingthathisfearsof“trouble”withZeenawereunfounded,sentuphisspiritswitharush,andhe,whowasusuallysosilent,whistledandsangaloudashedrovethroughthesnowyfields.
TherewasinhimaslumberingsparkofsociabilitywhichthelongStarkfieldwintershadnotyetextinguished.
Bynaturegraveandinarticulate,headmiredrecklessnessandgaietyinothersandwaswarmedtothemarrowbyfriendlyhumanintercourse.
AtWorcester,thoughhehadthenameofkeepingtohimselfandnotbeingmuchofahandatagoodtime,hehadsecretlygloriedinbeingclappedonthebackandhailedas“OldEthe”or“OldStiff”;andthecessationofsuchfamiliaritieshadincreasedthechillofhisreturntoStarkfield.
Therethesilencehaddeepenedabouthimyearbyyear.
Leftalone,afterhisfather’saccident,tocarrytheburdenoffarmandmill,hehadhadnotimeforconvivialloiteringsinthevillage;andwhenhismotherfellillthelonelinessofthehousegrewmoreoppressivethanthatofthefields.
Hismotherhadbeenatalkerinherday,butafterher“trouble”thesoundofhervoicewasseldomheard,thoughshehadnotlostthepowerofspeech.
Sometimes,inthelongwinterevenings,whenindesperationhersonaskedherwhyshedidn’t“saysomething,”shewouldliftafingerandanswer:“BecauseI’mlistening”;andonstormynights,whentheloudwindwasaboutthehouse,shewouldcomplain,ifhespoketoher:“They’retalkingsoouttherethatIcan’thearyou.”
Itwasonlywhenshedrewtowardherlastillness,andhiscousinZenobiaPiercecameoverfromthenextvalleytohelphimnurseher,thathumanspeechwasheardagaininthehouse.
AfterthemortalsilenceofhislongimprisonmentZeena’svolubilitywasmusicinhisears.
Hefeltthathemighthave“gonelikehismother”ifthesoundofanewvoicehadnotcometosteadyhim.
Zeenaseemedtounderstandhiscaseataglance.
Shelaughedathimfornotknowingthesimplestsick-beddutiesandtoldhimto“gorightalongout”andleavehertoseetothings.
Themerefactofobeyingherorders,offeelingfreetogoabouthisbusinessagainandtalkwithothermen,restoredhisshakenbalanceandmagnifiedhissenseofwhatheowedher.Herefficiencyshamedanddazzledhim.
Sheseemedtopossessbyinstinctallthehouseholdwisdomthathislongapprenticeshiphadnotinstilledinhim.
Whentheendcameitwasshewhohadtotellhimtohitchupandgofortheundertaker,andshethoughtit“funny”thathehadnotsettledbeforehandwhowastohavehismother’sclothesandthesewing-machine.
Afterthefuneral,whenhesawherpreparingtogoaway,hewasseizedwithanunreasoningdreadofbeingleftaloneonthefarm;andbeforeheknewwhathewasdoinghehadaskedhertostaytherewithhim.
Hehadoftenthoughtsincethatitwouldnothavehappenedifhismotherhaddiedinspringinsteadofwinter…
Whentheymarrieditwasagreedthat,assoonashecouldstraightenoutthedifficultiesresultingfromMrs.Frome’slongillness,theywouldsellthefarmandsaw-millandtrytheirluckinalargetown.
Ethan’sloveofnaturedidnottaketheformofatasteforagriculture.
Hehadalwayswantedtobeanengineer,andtoliveintowns,wheretherewerelecturesandbiglibrariesand“fellowsdoingthings.”
AslightengineeringjobinFlorida,putinhiswayduringhisperiodofstudyatWorcester,increasedhisfaithinhisabilityaswellashiseagernesstoseetheworld;andhefeltsurethat,witha“smart”wifelikeZeena,itwouldnotbelongbeforehehadmadehimselfaplaceinit.
Zeena’snativevillagewasslightlylargerandnearertotherailwaythanStarkfield,andshehadletherhusbandseefromthefirstthatlifeonanisolatedfarmwasnotwhatshehadexpectedwhenshemarried.
Butpurchaserswereslowincoming,andwhilehewaitedforthemEthanlearnedtheimpossibilityoftransplantingher.
ShechosetolookdownonStarkfield,butshecouldnothavelivedinaplacewhichlookeddownonher.
EvenBettsbridgeorShadd’sFallswouldnothavebeensufficientlyawareofher,andinthegreatercitieswhichattractedEthanshewouldhavesufferedacompletelossofidentity.
Andwithinayearoftheirmarriageshedevelopedthe“sickliness”whichhadsincemadehernotableeveninacommunityrichinpathologicalinstances.
WhenshecametotakecareofhismothershehadseemedtoEthanliketheverygeniusofhealth,buthesoonsawthatherskillasanursehadbeenacquiredbytheabsorbedobservationofherownsymptoms.
Thenshetoofellsilent.Perhapsitwastheinevitableeffectoflifeonthefarm,orperhaps,asshesometimessaid,itwasbecauseEthan“neverlistened.”Thechargewasnotwhollyunfounded.
Whenshespokeitwasonlytocomplain,andtocomplainofthingsnotinhispowertoremedy;andtocheckatendencytoimpatientretorthehadfirstformedthehabitofnotansweringher,andfinallyofthinkingofotherthingswhileshetalked.
Oflate,however,sincehehadreasonsforobservinghermoreclosely,hersilencehadbeguntotroublehim.
Herecalledhismother’sgrowingtaciturnity,andwonderedifZeenawerealsoturning“queer.”Womendid,heknew.
Zeena,whohadatherfingers’endsthepathologicalchartofthewholeregion,hadcitedmanycasesofthekindwhileshewasnursinghismother;andhehimselfknewofcertainlonelyfarm-housesintheneighbourhoodwherestrickencreaturespined,andofotherswheresuddentragedyhadcomeoftheirpresence.
Attimes,lookingatZeena’sshutface,hefeltthechillofsuchforebodings.
Atothertimeshersilenceseemeddeliberatelyassumedtoconcealfar-reachingintentions,mysteriousconclusionsdrawnfromsuspicionsandresentmentsimpossibletoguess.
Thatsuppositionwasevenmoredisturbingthantheother;anditwastheonewhichhadcometohimthenightbefore,whenhehadseenherstandinginthekitchendoor.
NowherdepartureforBettsbridgehadoncemoreeasedhismind,andallhisthoughtswereontheprospectofhiseveningwithMattie.
Onlyonethingweighedonhim,andthatwashishavingtoldZeenathathewastoreceivecashforthelumber.
HeforesawsoclearlytheconsequencesofthisimprudencethatwithconsiderablereluctancehedecidedtoaskAndrewHaleforasmalladvanceonhisload.
WhenEthandroveintoHale’syardthebuilderwasjustgettingoutofhissleigh.
“Hello,Ethe!”hesaid.“Thiscomeshandy.”
AndrewHalewasaruddymanwithabiggraymoustacheandastubblydouble-chinunconstrainedbyacollar;buthisscrupulouslycleanshirtwasalwaysfastenedbyasmalldiamondstud.
Thisdisplayofopulencewasmisleading,forthoughhedidafairlygoodbusinessitwasknownthathiseasygoinghabitsandthedemandsofhislargefamilyfrequentlykepthimwhatStarkfieldcalled“behind.”
HewasanoldfriendofEthan’sfamily,andhishouseoneofthefewtowhichZeenaoccasionallywent,drawntherebythefactthatMrs.Hale,inheryouth,haddonemore“doctoring”thananyotherwomaninStarkfield,andwasstillarecognisedauthorityonsymptomsandtreatment.
Halewentuptothegraysandpattedtheirsweatingflanks.
“Well,sir,”hesaid,“youkeepthemtwoasiftheywaspets.”
Ethansetaboutunloadingthelogsandwhenhehadfinishedhisjobhepushedopentheglazeddooroftheshedwhichthebuilderusedashisoffice.
Halesatwithhisfeetuponthestove,hisbackproppedagainstabattereddeskstrewnwithpapers:theplace,liketheman,waswarm,genialanduntidy.
“Sitrightdownandthawout,”hegreetedEthan.
Thelatterdidnotknowhowtobegin,butatlengthhemanagedtobringouthisrequestforanadvanceoffiftydollars.
ThebloodrushedtohisthinskinunderthestingofHale’sastonishment.
Itwasthebuilder’scustomtopayattheendofthreemonths,andtherewasnoprecedentbetweenthetwomenforacashsettlement.
EthanfeltthatifhehadpleadedanurgentneedHalemighthavemadeshifttopayhim;butpride,andaninstinctiveprudence,kepthimfromresortingtothisargument.
Afterhisfather’sdeathithadtakentimetogethisheadabovewater,andhedidnotwantAndrewHale,oranyoneelseinStarkfield,tothinkhewasgoingunderagain.
Besides,hehatedlying;ifhewantedthemoneyhewantedit,anditwasnobody’sbusinesstoaskwhy.
Hethereforemadehisdemandwiththeawkwardnessofaproudmanwhowillnotadmittohimselfthatheisstooping;andhewasnotmuchsurprisedatHale’srefusal.
Thebuilderrefusedgenially,ashedideverythingelse:hetreatedthematterassomethinginthenatureofapracticaljoke,andwantedtoknowifEthanmeditatedbuyingagrandpianooraddinga“cupolo”tohishouse;offering,inthelattercase,togivehisservicesfreeofcost.
Ethan’sartsweresoonexhausted,andafteranembarrassedpausehewishedHalegooddayandopenedthedooroftheoffice.
Ashepassedoutthebuildersuddenlycalledafterhim:“Seehere-youain’tinatightplace,areyou?”
“Notabit,”Ethan’sprideretortedbeforehisreasonhadtimetointervene.
“Well,that’sgood!BecauseIam,ashade.
Factis,Iwasgoingtoaskyoutogivemealittleextratimeonthatpayment.
Businessisprettyslack,tobeginwith,andthenI’mfixingupalittlehouseforNedandRuthwhenthey’remarried.
I’mgladtodoitfor‘em,butitcosts.”
HislookappealedtoEthanforsympathy.“Theyoungpeoplelikethingsnice.
Youknowhowitisyourself:it’snotsolongagosinceyoufixedupyourownplaceforZeena.”
EthanleftthegraysinHale’sstableandwentaboutsomeotherbusinessinthevillage.
Ashewalkedawaythebuilder’slastphraselingeredinhisears,andhereflectedgrimlythathissevenyearswithZeenaseemedtoStarkfield“notsolong.”
Theafternoonwasdrawingtoanend,andhereandtherealightedpanespangledthecoldgrayduskandmadethesnowlookwhiter.
ThebitterweatherhaddriveneveryoneindoorsandEthanhadthelongruralstreettohimself.
Suddenlyheheardthebriskplayofsleigh-bellsandacutterpassedhim,drawnbyafree-goinghorse.
EthanrecognisedMichaelEady’sroancolt,andyoungDenisEady,inahandsomenewfurcap,leanedforwardandwavedagreeting.“Hello,Ethe!”heshoutedandspunon.
ThecutterwasgoinginthedirectionoftheFromefarm,andEthan’sheartcontractedashelistenedtothedwindlingbells.
WhatmorelikelythanthatDenisEadyhadheardofZeena’sdepartureforBettsbridge,andwasprofitingbytheopportunitytospendanhourwithMattie?
Ethanwasashamedofthestormofjealousyinhisbreast.
Itseemedunworthyofthegirlthathisthoughtsofhershouldbesoviolent.
HewalkedontothechurchcornerandenteredtheshadeoftheVarnumspruces,wherehehadstoodwithherthenightbefore.
Ashepassedintotheirgloomhesawanindistinctoutlinejustaheadofhim.
Athisapproachitmeltedforaninstantintotwoseparateshapesandthenconjoinedagain,andheheardakiss,andahalf-laughing“Oh!”
provokedbythediscoveryofhispresence.
AgaintheoutlinehastilydisunitedandtheVarnumgateslammedononehalfwhiletheotherhurriedonaheadofhim.
Ethansmiledatthediscomfiturehehadcaused.
WhatdiditmattertoNedHaleandRuthVarnumiftheywerecaughtkissingeachother?
EverybodyinStarkfieldknewtheywereengaged.
ItpleasedEthantohavesurprisedapairofloversonthespotwhereheandMattiehadstoodwithsuchathirstforeachotherintheirhearts;buthefeltapangatthethoughtthatthesetwoneednothidetheirhappiness.
HefetchedthegraysfromHale’sstableandstartedonhislongclimbbacktothefarm.
Thecoldwaslesssharpthanearlierinthedayandathickfleecyskythreatenedsnowforthemorrow.
Hereandthereastarprickedthrough,showingbehinditadeepwellofblue.
Inanhourortwothemoonwouldpushovertheridgebehindthefarm,burnagold-edgedrentintheclouds,andthenbeswallowedbythem.
Amournfulpeacehungonthefields,asthoughtheyfelttherelaxinggraspofthecoldandstretchedthemselvesintheirlongwintersleep.
Ethan’searswerealertforthejingleofsleigh-bells,butnotasoundbrokethesilenceofthelonelyroad.
Ashedrewnearthefarmhesaw,throughthethinscreenoflarchesatthegate,alighttwinklinginthehouseabovehim.
“She’supinherroom,”hesaidtohimself,“fixingherselfupforsupper”;andherememberedZeena’ssarcasticstarewhenMattie,ontheeveningofherarrival,hadcomedowntosupperwithsmoothedhairandaribbonatherneck.
Hepassedbythegravesontheknollandturnedhisheadtoglanceatoneoftheolderheadstones,whichhadinterestedhimdeeplyasaboybecauseitborehisname.
SACREDTOTHEMEMORYOFETHANFROMEANDENDURANCEHISWIFE,WHODWELLEDTOGETHERINPEACEFORFIFTYYEARS.
Heusedtothinkthatfiftyyearssoundedlikealongtimetolivetogether,butnowitseemedtohimthattheymightpassinaflash.
Then,withasuddendartofirony,hewonderedif,whentheirturncame,thesameepitaphwouldbewrittenoverhimandZeena.
Heopenedthebarn-doorandcranedhisheadintotheobscurity,half-fearingtodiscoverDenisEady’sroancoltinthestallbesidethesorrel.
Buttheoldhorsewastherealone,mumblinghiscribwithtoothlessjaws,andEthanwhistledcheerfullywhilehebeddeddownthegraysandshookanextrameasureofoatsintotheirmangers.
Hiswasnotatunefulthroat-butharshmelodiesburstfromitashelockedthebarnandsprangupthehilltothehouse.
Hereachedthekitchen-porchandturnedthedoor-handle;butthedoordidnotyieldtohistouch.
Startledatfindingitlockedherattledthehandleviolently;thenhereflectedthatMattiewasaloneandthatitwasnaturalsheshouldbarricadeherselfatnightfall.
Hestoodinthedarknessexpectingtohearherstep.
Itdidnotcome,andaftervainlystraininghisearshecalledoutinavoicethatshookwithjoy:“Hello,Matt!”
Silenceanswered;butinaminuteortwohecaughtasoundonthestairsandsawalineoflightaboutthedoor-frame,ashehadseenitthenightbefore.
Sostrangewastheprecisionwithwhichtheincidentsofthepreviouseveningwererepeatingthemselvesthathehalfexpected,whenheheardthekeyturn,toseehiswifebeforehimonthethreshold;butthedooropened,andMattiefacedhim.
ShestoodjustasZeenahadstood,aliftedlampinherhand,againsttheblackbackgroundofthekitchen.
Sheheldthelightatthesamelevel,anditdrewoutwiththesamedistinctnessherslimyoungthroatandthebrownwristnobiggerthanachild’s.
Then,strikingupward,itthrewalustrousfleckonherlips,edgedhereyeswithvelvetshade,andlaidamilkywhitenessabovetheblackcurveofherbrows.
Sheworeherusualdressofdarkishstuff,andtherewasnobowatherneck;butthroughherhairshehadrunastreakofcrimsonribbon.
Thistributetotheunusualtransformedandglorifiedher.
SheseemedtoEthantaller,fuller,morewomanlyinshapeandmotion.
Shestoodaside,smilingsilently,whileheentered,andthenmovedawayfromhimwithsomethingsoftandflowinginhergait.
Shesetthelamponthetable,andhesawthatitwascarefullylaidforsupper,withfreshdoughnuts,stewedblueberriesandhisfavouritepicklesinadishofgayredglass.
Abrightfireglowedinthestoveandthecatlaystretchedbeforeit,watchingthetablewithadrowsyeye.
Ethanwassuffocatedwiththesenseofwell-being.
Hewentoutintothepassagetohanguphiscoatandpulloffhiswetboots.
WhenhecamebackMattiehadsettheteapotonthetableandthecatwasrubbingitselfpersuasivelyagainstherankles.
“Why,Puss!Inearlytrippedoveryou,”shecried,thelaughtersparklingthroughherlashes.
AgainEthanfeltasuddentwingeofjealousy.Coulditbehiscomingthatgavehersuchakindledface?
“Well,Matt,anyvisitors?”hethrewoff,stoopingdowncarelesslytoexaminethefasteningofthestove.
Shenoddedandlaughed“Yes,one,”andhefeltablacknesssettlingonhisbrows.
“Whowasthat?”hequestioned,raisinghimselfuptoslantaglanceatherbeneathhisscowl.
Hereyesdancedwithmalice.“Why,JothamPowell.Hecameinafterhegotback,andaskedforadropofcoffeebeforehewentdownhome.”
TheblacknessliftedandlightfloodedEthan’sbrain.“Thatall?
Well,Ihopeyoumadeouttolethimhaveit.”
Andafterapausehefeltitrighttoadd:“IsupposehegotZeenaovertotheFlatsallright?”
“Oh,yes;inplentyoftime.”
Thenamethrewachillbetweenthem,andtheystoodamomentlookingsidewaysateachotherbeforeMattiesaidwithashylaugh.“Iguessit’sabouttimeforsupper.”
Theydrewtheirseatsuptothetable,andthecat,unbidden,jumpedbetweenthemintoZeena’semptychair.“Oh,Puss!”saidMattie,andtheylaughedagain.
Ethan,amomentearlier,hadfelthimselfonthebrinkofeloquence;butthementionofZeenahadparalysedhim.
Mattieseemedtofeelthecontagionofhisembarrassment,andsatwithdowncastlids,sippinghertea,whilehefeignedaninsatiableappetitefordough-nutsandsweetpickles.
Atlast,aftercastingaboutforaneffectiveopening,hetookalonggulpoftea,clearedhisthroat,andsaid:“Looksasifthere’dbemoresnow.”
Shefeignedgreatinterest.“Isthatso?Doyousupposeit’llinterferewithZeena’sgettingback?”Sheflushedredasthequestionescapedher,andhastilysetdownthecupshewaslifting.
Ethanreachedoverforanotherhelpingofpickles.
“Younevercantell,thistimeofyear,itdriftssobadontheFlats.”
Thenamehadbenumbedhimagain,andoncemorehefeltasifZeenawereintheroombetweenthem.
“Oh,Puss,you’retoogreedy!”Mattiecried.
Thecat,unnoticed,hadcreptuponmuffledpawsfromZeena’sseattothetable,andwasstealthilyelongatingitsbodyinthedirectionofthemilk-jug,whichstoodbetweenEthanandMattie.
Thetwoleanedforwardatthesamemomentandtheirhandsmetonthehandleofthejug.
Mattie’shandwasunderneath,andEthankepthisclaspedonitamomentlongerthanwasnecessary.
Thecat,profitingbythisunusualdemonstration,triedtoeffectanunnoticedretreat,andindoingsobackedintothepickle-dish,whichfelltothefloorwithacrash.
Mattie,inaninstant,hadsprungfromherchairandwasdownonherkneesbythefragments.
“Oh,Ethan,Ethan-it’salltopieces!WhatwillZeenasay?”
Butthistimehiscouragewasup.“Well,she’llhavetosayittothecat,anyway!”herejoinedwithalaugh,kneelingdownatMattie’ssidetoscrapeuptheswimmingpickles.
Sheliftedstrickeneyestohim.“Yes,but,yousee,shenevermeantitshouldbeused,notevenwhentherewascompany;andIhadtogetuponthestep-laddertoreachitdownfromthetopshelfofthechina-closet,whereshekeepsitwithallherbestthings,andofcourseshe’llwanttoknowwhyIdidit-”
ThecasewassoseriousthatitcalledforthallofEthan’slatentresolution.
“Sheneedn’tknowanythingaboutitifyoukeepquiet.I’llgetanotherjustlikeitto-morrow.Wherediditcomefrom?I’llgotoShadd’sFallsforitifIhaveto!”
“Oh,you’llnevergetanothereventhere!
Itwasaweddingpresent-don’tyouremember?
ItcameallthewayfromPhiladelphia,fromZeena’sauntthatmarriedtheminister.That’swhyshewouldn’teveruseit.
Oh,Ethan,Ethan,whatintheworldshallIdo?”
Shebegantocry,andhefeltasifeveryoneofhertearswerepouringoverhimlikeburninglead.“Don’t,Matt,don’t-oh,don’t!”heimploredher.
Shestruggledtoherfeet,andheroseandfollowedherhelplesslywhileshespreadoutthepiecesofglassonthekitchendresser.
Itseemedtohimasiftheshatteredfragmentsoftheireveninglaythere.
“Here,givethemtome,”hesaidinavoiceofsuddenauthority.
Shedrewaside,instinctivelyobeyinghistone.“Oh,Ethan,whatareyougoingtodo?”
Withoutreplyinghegatheredthepiecesofglassintohisbroadpalmandwalkedoutofthekitchentothepassage.
Therehelitacandle-end,openedthechina-closet,and,reachinghislongarmuptothehighestshelf,laidthepiecestogetherwithsuchaccuracyoftouchthatacloseinspectionconvincedhimoftheimpossibilityofdetectingfrombelowthatthedishwasbroken.
Ifhegluedittogetherthenextmorningmonthsmightelapsebeforehiswifenoticedwhathadhappened,andmeanwhilehemightafterallbeabletomatchthedishatShadd’sFallsorBettsbridge.
Havingsatisfiedhimselfthattherewasnoriskofimmediatediscoveryhewentbacktothekitchenwithalighterstep,andfoundMattiedisconsolatelyremovingthelastscrapsofpicklefromthefloor.
“It’sallright,Matt.Comebackandfinishsupper,”hecommandedher.
Completelyreassured,sheshoneonhimthroughtear-hunglashes,andhissoulswelledwithprideashesawhowhistonesubduedher.Shedidnotevenaskwhathehaddone.
Exceptwhenhewassteeringabiglogdownthemountaintohismillhehadneverknownsuchathrillingsenseofmastery.
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