English
WhenEthanwascalledbacktothefarmbyhisfather’sillnesshismothergavehim,forhisownuse,asmallroombehindtheuntenanted“bestparlour.”
Herehehadnailedupshelvesforhisbooks,builthimselfabox-sofaoutofboardsandamattress,laidouthispapersonakitchen-table,hungontheroughplasterwallanengravingofAbrahamLincolnandacalendarwith“ThoughtsfromthePoets,”andtried,withthesemeagreproperties,toproducesomelikenesstothestudyofa“minister”whohadbeenkindtohimandlenthimbookswhenhewasatWorcester.
Hestilltookrefugethereinsummer,butwhenMattiecametoliveatthefarmhehadtogiveherhisstove,andconsequentlytheroomwasuninhabitableforseveralmonthsoftheyear.
Tothisretreathedescendedassoonasthehousewasquiet,andZeena’ssteadybreathingfromthebedhadassuredhimthattherewastobenosequeltothesceneinthekitchen.
AfterZeena’sdepartureheandMattiehadstoodspeechless,neitherseekingtoapproachtheother.
Thenthegirlhadreturnedtohertaskofclearingupthekitchenforthenightandhehadtakenhislanternandgoneonhisusualroundoutsidethehouse.
Thekitchenwasemptywhenhecamebacktoit;buthistobacco-pouchandpipehadbeenlaidonthetable,andunderthemwasascrapofpapertornfromthebackofaseedsman’scatalogue,onwhichthreewordswerewritten:“Don’ttrouble,Ethan.”
Goingintohiscolddark“study”heplacedthelanternonthetableand,stoopingtoitslight,readthemessageagainandagain.
ItwasthefirsttimethatMattiehadeverwrittentohim,andthepossessionofthepapergavehimastrangenewsenseofhernearness;yetitdeepenedhisanguishbyremindinghimthathenceforththeywouldhavenootherwayofcommunicatingwitheachother.
Forthelifeofhersmile,thewarmthofhervoice,onlycoldpaperanddeadwords!
Confusedmotionsofrebellionstormedinhim.
Hewastooyoung,toostrong,toofullofthesapofliving,tosubmitsoeasilytothedestructionofhishopes.
Musthewearoutallhisyearsatthesideofabitterquerulouswoman?
Otherpossibilitieshadbeeninhim,possibilitiessacrificed,onebyone,toZeena’snarrow-mindednessandignorance.Andwhatgoodhadcomeofit?
Shewasahundredtimesbittererandmorediscontentedthanwhenhehadmarriedher:theonepleasureleftherwastoinflictpainonhim.
Allthehealthyinstinctsofself-defenceroseupinhimagainstsuchwaste…
Hebundledhimselfintohisoldcoon-skincoatandlaydownonthebox-sofatothink.
Underhischeekhefeltahardobjectwithstrangeprotuberances.
ItwasacushionwhichZeenahadmadeforhimwhentheywereengaged-theonlypieceofneedleworkhehadeverseenherdo.
Heflungitacrossthefloorandproppedhisheadagainstthewall…
Heknewacaseofamanoverthemountain-ayoungfellowofabouthisownage-whohadescapedfromjustsuchalifeofmiserybygoingWestwiththegirlhecaredfor.
Hiswifehaddivorcedhim,andhehadmarriedthegirlandprospered.
EthanhadseenthecouplethesummerbeforeatShadd’sFalls,wheretheyhadcometovisitrelatives.
Theyhadalittlegirlwithfaircurls,whoworeagoldlocketandwasdressedlikeaprincess.
Thedesertedwifehadnotdonebadlyeither.
Herhusbandhadgivenherthefarmandshehadmanagedtosellit,andwiththatandthealimonyshehadstartedalunch-roomatBettsbridgeandbloomedintoactivityandimportance.Ethanwasfiredbythethought.
WhyshouldhenotleavewithMattiethenextday,insteadoflettinghergoalone?
Hewouldhidehisvaliseundertheseatofthesleigh,andZeenawouldsuspectnothingtillshewentupstairsforherafternoonnapandfoundaletteronthebed…
Hisimpulseswerestillnearthesurface,andhesprangup,re-litthelantern,andsatdownatthetable.Herummagedinthedrawerforasheetofpaper,foundone,andbegantowrite.
“Zeena,I’vedoneallIcouldforyou,andIdon’tseeasit’sbeenanyuse.
Idon’tblameyou,norIdon’tblamemyself.
Maybebothofuswilldobetterseparate.
I’mgoingtotrymyluckWest,andyoucansellthefarmandmill,andkeepthemoney-”
Hispenpausedontheword,whichbroughthometohimtherelentlessconditionsofhislot.
IfhegavethefarmandmilltoZeenawhatwouldbelefthimtostarthisownlifewith?
OnceintheWesthewassureofpickingupwork-hewouldnothavefearedtotryhischancealone.
ButwithMattiedependingonhimthecasewasdifferent.AndwhatofZeena’sfate?
Farmandmillweremortgagedtothelimitoftheirvalue,andevenifshefoundapurchaser-initselfanunlikelychance-itwasdoubtfulifshecouldclearathousanddollarsonthesale.
Meanwhile,howcouldshekeepthefarmgoing?
ItwasonlybyincessantlabourandpersonalsupervisionthatEthandrewameagrelivingfromhisland,andhiswife,evenifshewereinbetterhealththansheimagined,couldnevercarrysuchaburdenalone.
Well,shecouldgobacktoherpeople,then,andseewhattheywoulddoforher.
ItwasthefateshewasforcingonMattie-whynotlethertryitherself?
Bythetimeshehaddiscoveredhiswhereabouts,andbroughtsuitfordivorce,hewouldprobably-whereverhewas-beearningenoughtopayherasufficientalimony.
AndthealternativewastoletMattiegoforthalone,withfarlesshopeofultimateprovision…
Hehadscatteredthecontentsofthetable-drawerinhissearchforasheetofpaper,andashetookuphispenhiseyefellonanoldcopyoftheBettsbridgeEagle.
Theadvertisingsheetwasfoldeduppermost,andhereadtheseductivewords:“TripstotheWest:ReducedRates.”
Hedrewthelanternnearerandeagerlyscannedthefares;thenthepaperfellfromhishandandhepushedasidehisunfinishedletter.
AmomentagohehadwonderedwhatheandMattieweretoliveonwhentheyreachedtheWest;nowhesawthathehadnoteventhemoneytotakeherthere.
Borrowingwasoutofthequestion:sixmonthsbeforehehadgivenhisonlysecuritytoraisefundsfornecessaryrepairstothemill,andheknewthatwithoutsecuritynooneatStarkfieldwouldlendhimtendollars.
Theinexorablefactsclosedinonhimlikeprison-wardershandcuffingaconvict.Therewasnowayout-none.
Hewasaprisonerforlife,andnowhisonerayoflightwastobeextinguished.
Hecreptbackheavilytothesofa,stretchinghimselfoutwithlimbssoleadenthathefeltasiftheywouldnevermoveagain.Tearsroseinhisthroatandslowlyburnedtheirwaytohislids.
Ashelaythere,thewindow-panethatfacedhim,growinggraduallylighter,inlaiduponthedarknessasquareofmoon-suffusedsky.
Acrookedtree-branchcrossedit,abranchoftheapple-treeunderwhich,onsummerevenings,hehadsometimesfoundMattiesittingwhenhecameupfromthemill.
Slowlytherimoftherainyvapourscaughtfireandburntaway,andapuremoonswungintotheblue.
Ethan,risingonhiselbow,watchedthelandscapewhitenandshapeitselfunderthesculptureofthemoon.
ThiswasthenightonwhichhewastohavetakenMattiecoasting,andtherehungthelamptolightthem!
Helookedoutattheslopesbathedinlustre,thesilver-edgeddarknessofthewoods,thespectralpurpleofthehillsagainstthesky,anditseemedasthoughallthebeautyofthenighthadbeenpouredouttomockhiswretchedness…
Hefellasleep,andwhenhewokethechillofthewinterdawnwasintheroom.
Hefeltcoldandstiffandhungry,andashamedofbeinghungry.
Herubbedhiseyesandwenttothewindow.
Aredsunstoodoverthegreyrimofthefields,behindtreesthatlookedblackandbrittle.
Hesaidtohimself:“ThisisMatt’slastday,”andtriedtothinkwhattheplacewouldbewithouther.
Ashestoodthereheheardastepbehindhimandsheentered.
“Oh,Ethan-wereyouhereallnight?”
Shelookedsosmallandpinched,inherpoordress,withtheredscarfwoundabouther,andthecoldlightturningherpalenesssallow,thatEthanstoodbeforeherwithoutspeaking.
“Youmustbefrozen,”shewenton,fixinglustrelesseyesonhim.
Hedrewastepnearer.“HowdidyouknowIwashere?”
“BecauseIheardyougodownstairsagainafterIwenttobed,andIlistenedallnight,andyoudidn’tcomeup.”
Allhistendernessrushedtohislips.Helookedatherandsaid:“I’llcomerightalongandmakeupthekitchenfire.”
Theywentbacktothekitchen,andhefetchedthecoalandkindlingsandclearedoutthestoveforher,whileshebroughtinthemilkandthecoldremainsofthemeat-pie.
Whenwarmthbegantoradiatefromthestove,andthefirstrayofsunlightlayonthekitchenfloor,Ethan’sdarkthoughtsmeltedinthemellowerair.
ThesightofMattiegoingaboutherworkashehadseenheronsomanymorningsmadeitseemimpossiblethatsheshouldeverceasetobeapartofthescene.
HesaidtohimselfthathehaddoubtlessexaggeratedthesignificanceofZeena’sthreats,andthatshetoo,withthereturnofdaylight,wouldcometoasanermood.
HewentuptoMattieasshebentabovethestove,andlaidhishandonherarm.“Idon’twantyoushouldtroubleeither,”hesaid,lookingdownintohereyeswithasmile.
Sheflushedupwarmlyandwhisperedback:“No,Ethan,Iain’tgoingtotrouble.”
“Iguessthings’llstraightenout,”headded.
Therewasnoanswerbutaquickthrobofherlids,andhewenton:“Sheain’tsaidanythingthismorning?”
“No.Ihaven’tseenheryet.”
“Don’tyoutakeanynoticewhenyoudo.”
Withthisinjunctionheleftherandwentouttothecow-barn.HesawJothamPowellwalkingupthehillthroughthemorningmist,andthefamiliarsightaddedtohisgrowingconvictionofsecurity.
AsthetwomenwereclearingoutthestallsJothamrestedonhispitch-forktosay:“Dan’lByrne’sgoin’overtotheFlatsto-daynoon,an’hec’dtakeMattie’strunkalong,andmakeiteasierridin’whenItakeheroverinthesleigh.”
Ethanlookedathimblankly,andhecontinued:“Mis’Fromesaidthenewgirl’dbeattheFlatsatfive,andIwastotakeMattiethen,so’s‘tshecouldketchthesixo’clocktrainforStamford.”
Ethanfelttheblooddrumminginhistemples.Hehadtowaitamomentbeforehecouldfindvoicetosay:“Oh,itain’tsosureaboutMattie’sgoing-”
“Thatso?”saidJothamindifferently;andtheywentonwiththeirwork.
Whentheyreturnedtothekitchenthetwowomenwerealreadyatbreakfast.
Zeenahadanairofunusualalertnessandactivity.
Shedranktwocupsofcoffeeandfedthecatwiththescrapsleftinthepie-dish;thensherosefromherseatand,walkingovertothewindow,snippedtwoorthreeyellowleavesfromthegeraniums.
“AuntMartha’sain’tgotafadedleafon‘em;buttheypineawaywhentheyain’tcaredfor,”shesaidreflectively.
ThensheturnedtoJothamandasked:“Whattime’dyousayDan’lByrne’dbealong?”
ThehiredmanthrewahesitatingglanceatEthan.
“Roundaboutnoon,”hesaid.
ZeenaturnedtoMattie.“Thattrunkofyoursistooheavyforthesleigh,andDan’lByrne’llberoundtotakeitovertotheFlats,”shesaid.
“I’mmuchobligedtoyou,Zeena,”saidMattie.
“I’dliketogooverthingswithyoufirst,”Zeenacontinuedinanunperturbedvoice.
“Iknowthere’sahuckabucktowelmissing;andIcan’ttakeoutwhatyoudonewiththatmatch-safe‘tusedtostandbehindthestuffedowlintheparlour.”
Shewentout,followedbyMattie,andwhenthemenwerealoneJothamsaidtohisemployer:“IguessIbetterletDan’lcomeround,then.”
Ethanfinishedhisusualmorningtasksaboutthehouseandbarn;thenhesaidtoJotham:“I’mgoingdowntoStarkfield.Tellthemnottowaitdinner.”
Thepassionofrebellionhadbrokenoutinhimagain.
Thatwhichhadseemedincredibleinthesoberlightofdayhadreallycometopass,andhewastoassistasahelplessspectatoratMattie’sbanishment.
HismanhoodwashumbledbytheparthewascompelledtoplayandbythethoughtofwhatMattiemustthinkofhim.
Confusedimpulsesstruggledinhimashestrodealongtothevillage.
Hehadmadeuphismindtodosomething,buthedidnotknowwhatitwouldbe.
Theearlymisthadvanishedandthefieldslaylikeasilvershieldunderthesun.
Itwasoneofthedayswhentheglitterofwintershinesthroughapalehazeofspring.
EveryyardoftheroadwasalivewithMattie’spresence,andtherewashardlyabranchagainsttheskyoratangleofbramblesonthebankinwhichsomebrightshredofmemorywasnotcaught.
Once,inthestillness,thecallofabirdinamountainashwassolikeherlaughterthathishearttightenedandthengrewlarge;andallthesethingsmadehimseethatsomethingmustbedoneatonce.
SuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatAndrewHale,whowasakind-heartedman,mightbeinducedtoreconsiderhisrefusalandadvanceasmallsumonthelumberifheweretoldthatZeena’sill-healthmadeitnecessarytohireaservant.
Hale,afterall,knewenoughofEthan’ssituationtomakeitpossibleforthelattertorenewhisappealwithouttoomuchlossofpride;and,moreover,howmuchdidpridecountintheebullitionofpassionsinhisbreast?
Themoreheconsideredhisplanthemorehopefulitseemed.IfhecouldgetMrs.Hale’searhefeltcertainofsuccess,andwithfiftydollarsinhispocketnothingcouldkeephimfromMattie…
HisfirstobjectwastoreachStarkfieldbeforeHalehadstartedforhiswork;heknewthecarpenterhadajobdowntheCorburyroadandwaslikelytoleavehishouseearly.
Ethan’slongstridesgrewmorerapidwiththeacceleratedbeatofhisthoughts,andashereachedthefootofSchoolHouseHillhecaughtsightofHale’ssleighinthedistance.
Hehurriedforwardtomeetit,butasitdrewnearerhesawthatitwasdrivenbythecarpenter’syoungestboyandthatthefigureathisside,lookinglikealargeuprightcocooninspectacles,wasthatofMrs.Hale.
Ethansignedtothemtostop,andMrs.Haleleanedforward,herpinkwrinklestwinklingwithbenevolence.
“Mr.Hale?Why,yes,you’llfindhimdownhomenow.
Heain’tgoingtohisworkthisforenoon.
Hewokeupwithatoucho’lumbago,andIjustmadehimputononeofoldDr.Kidder’splastersandsetrightupintothefire.”
BeamingmaternallyonEthan,shebentovertoadd:“Ion’yjustheardfromMr.Hale‘boutZeena’sgoingovertoBettsbridgetoseethatnewdoctor.
I’mrealsorryshe’sfeelingsobadagain!
Ihopehethinkshecandosomethingforher.
Idon’tknowanybodyroundhere’shadmoresicknessthanZeena.
IalwaystellMr.HaleIdon’tknowwhatshe’d‘a’doneifshehadn’t‘a’hadyoutolookafterher;andIusedtosaythesamething‘boutyourmother.
You’vehadanawfulmeantime,EthanFrome.”
Shegavehimalastnodofsympathywhilehersonchirpedtothehorse;andEthan,asshedroveoff,stoodinthemiddleoftheroadandstaredaftertheretreatingsleigh.
ItwasalongtimesinceanyonehadspokentohimaskindlyasMrs.Hale.
Mostpeoplewereeitherindifferenttohistroubles,ordisposedtothinkitnaturalthatayoungfellowofhisageshouldhavecarriedwithoutrepiningtheburdenofthreecrippledlives.
ButMrs.Halehadsaid,“You’vehadanawfulmeantime,EthanFrome,”andhefeltlessalonewithhismisery.
IftheHalesweresorryforhimtheywouldsurelyrespondtohisappeal…
Hestarteddowntheroadtowardtheirhouse,butattheendofafewyardshepulledupsharply,thebloodinhisface.
Forthefirsttime,inthelightofthewordshehadjustheard,hesawwhathewasabouttodo.
HewasplanningtotakeadvantageoftheHales’sympathytoobtainmoneyfromthemonfalsepretences.
ThatwasaplainstatementofthecloudypurposewhichhaddrivenhiminheadlongtoStarkfield.
Withthesuddenperceptionofthepointtowhichhismadnesshadcarriedhim,themadnessfellandhesawhislifebeforehimasitwas.
Hewasapoorman,thehusbandofasicklywoman,whomhisdesertionwouldleavealoneanddestitute;andevenifhehadhadthehearttodesertherhecouldhavedonesoonlybydeceivingtwokindlypeoplewhohadpitiedhim.
Heturnedandwalkedslowlybacktothefarm.
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