English
I
SHEhadtrippedintothemeadowtoteachthelambsaprettyeducationaldanceandfoundthatthelambswerewolves.
Therewasnowayoutbetweentheirpressinggrayshoulders.
Shewassurroundedbyfangsandsneeringeyes.
Shecouldnotgoonenduringthehiddenderision.Shewantedtoflee.
Shewantedtohideinthegenerousindifferenceofcities.
ShepractisedsayingtoKennicott,"ThinkperhapsI'llrundowntoSt.Paulforafewdays."
Butshecouldnottrustherselftosayitcarelessly;couldnotabidehiscertainquestioning.
Reformthetown?Allshewantedwastobetolerated!
Shecouldnotlookdirectlyatpeople.Sheflushedandwincedbeforecitizenswhoaweekagohadbeenamusingobjectsofstudy,andintheirgood–morningssheheardacruelsniggering.
SheencounteredJuanitaHaydockatOleJenson'sgrocery.Shebesought,"Oh,howdoyoudo!Heavens,whatbeautifulcelerythatis!"
"Yes,doesn'titlookfresh.HarrysimplyhastohavehisceleryonSunday,drattheman!"
Carolhastenedoutoftheshopexulting,"Shedidn'tmakefunofme....Didshe?"
Inaweekshehadrecoveredfromconsciousnessofinsecurity,ofshameandwhisperingnotoriety,butshekeptherhabitofavoidingpeople.
Shewalkedthestreetswithherheaddown.
WhenshespiedMrs.McGanumorMrs.Dyeraheadshecrossedoverwithanelaboratepretenseoflookingatabillboard.
Alwaysshewasacting,forthebenefitofeveryoneshesaw—andforthebenefitoftheambushedleeringeyeswhichshedidnotsee.
SheperceivedthatVidaSherwinhadtoldthetruth.
Whethersheenteredastore,orsweptthebackporch,orstoodatthebay–windowintheliving–room,thevillagepeepedather.
Onceshehadswungalongthestreettriumphantinmakingahome.
Nowsheglancedateachhouse,andfelt,whenshewassafelyhome,thatshehadwonpastathousandenemiesarmedwithridicule.
Shetoldherselfthathersensitivenesswaspreposterous,butdailyshewasthrownintopanic.
Shesawcurtainsslidebackintoinnocentsmoothness.
Oldwomenwhohadbeenenteringtheirhousesslippedoutagaintostareather—inthewintryquietshecouldhearthemtiptoeingontheirporches.
Whenshehadforablessedhourforgottenthesearchlight,whenshewasscamperingthroughachilldusk,happyinyellowwindowsagainstgraynight,herheartcheckedassherealizedthataheadcoveredwithashawlwasthrustupoverasnow–tippedbushtowatchher.
Sheadmittedthatshewastakingherselftooseriously;thatvillagersgapeateveryone.
Shebecameplacid,andthoughtwellofherphilosophy.
ButnextmorningshehadashockofshameassheenteredLudelmeyer's.
Thegrocer,hisclerk,andneuroticMrs.DaveDyerhadbeengigglingaboutsomething.
Theyhalted,lookedembarrassed,babbledaboutonions.Carolfeltguilty.
ThateveningwhenKennicotttookhertocallonthecrochetyLymanCasses,theirhostsseemedflusteredattheirarrival.
Kennicottjoviallyhooted,"Whatmakesyousohang–dog,Lym?"TheCassestitteredfeebly.
ExceptDaveDyer,SamClark,andRaymieWutherspoon,therewerenomerchantsofwhosewelcomeCarolwascertain.
Sheknewthatshereadmockeryintogreetingsbutshecouldnotcontrolhersuspicion,couldnotrisefromherpsychiccollapse.
Shealternatelyragedandflinchedatthesuperiorityofthemerchants.
Theydidnotknowthattheywerebeingrude,buttheymeanttohaveitunderstoodthattheywereprosperousand"notscaredofnodoctor'swife."
Theyoftensaid,"Oneman'sasgoodasanother—andadarnsightbetter."
Thismotto,however,theydidnotcommendtofarmercustomerswhohadhadcropfailures.
TheYankeemerchantswerecrabbed;andOleJenson,Ludelmeyer,andGusDahl,fromthe"OldCountry,"wishedtobetakenforYankees.
JamesMadisonHowland,borninNewHampshire,andOleJenson,borninSweden,bothprovedthattheywerefreeAmericancitizensbygrunting,"Idon'tknowwhetherIgotanyornot,"or"Well,youcan'texpectmetogetitdeliveredbynoon."
Itwasgoodformforthecustomerstofightback.
JuanitaHaydockcheerfullyjabbered,"YouhaveittherebytwelveorI'llsnatchthatfreshdelivery–boybald–headed."
ButCarolhadneverbeenabletoplaythegameoffriendlyrudeness;andnowshewascertainthatsheneverwouldlearnit.
SheformedthecowardlyhabitofgoingtoAxelEgge's.
Axelwasnotrespectableandrude.Hewasstillaforeigner,andheexpectedtoremainone.
Hismannerwasheavyanduninterrogative.
Hisestablishmentwasmorefantasticthananycross–roadsstore.
NoonesaveAxelhimselfcouldfindanything.
Apartoftheassortmentofchildren'sstockingswasunderablanketonashelf,apartinatinginger–snapbox,therestheapedlikeanestofblack–cottonsnakesuponaflour–barrelwhichwassurroundedbybrooms,NorwegianBibles,driedcodforludfisk,boxesofapricots,andapairandahalfoflumbermen'srubber–footedboots.
TheplacewascrowdedwithScandinavianfarmwives,standingaloofinshawlsandancientfawn–coloredlego'muttonjackets,awaitingthereturnoftheirlords.
TheyspokeNorwegianorSwedish,andlookedatCaroluncomprehendingly.
Theywerearelieftoher—theywerenotwhisperingthatshewasaposeur.
ButwhatshetoldherselfwasthatAxelEgge'swas"sopicturesqueandromantic."
Itwasinthematterofclothesthatshewasmostself–conscious.
Whenshedaredtogoshoppinginhernewcheckedsuitwiththeblack–embroideredsulphurcollar,shehadasgoodasinvitedallofGopherPrairie(whichinteresteditselfinnothingsointimatelyasinnewclothesandthecostthereof)toinvestigateher.
Itwasasmartsuitwithlinesunfamiliartothedraggingyellowandpinkfrocksofthetown.
TheWidowBogart'sstare,fromherporch,indicated,"WellIneversawanythinglikethatbefore!"
Mrs.McGanumstoppedCarolatthenotionsshoptohint,"My,that'sanicesuit—wasn'titterriblyexpensive?"
Thegangofboysinfrontofthedrugstorecommented,"Hey,Pudgie,playyouagameofcheckersonthatdress."Carolcouldnotendureit.
Shedrewherfurcoatoverthesuitandhastilyfastenedthebuttons,whiletheboyssnickered.
II
Nogroupangeredherquitesomuchasthesestaringyoungroues.
Shehadtriedtoconvinceherselfthatthevillage,withitsfreshair,itslakesforfishingandswimming,washealthierthantheartificialcity.
ButshewassickenedbyglimpsesofthegangofboysfromfourteentotwentywholoafedbeforeDyer'sDrugStore,smokingcigarettes,displaying"fancy"shoesandpurpletiesandcoatsofdiamond–shapedbuttons,whistlingtheHoochi–Koochiandcatcalling,"Oh,youbaby–doll"ateverypassinggirl.
ShesawthemplayingpoolinthestinkingroombehindDelSnafflin'sbarbershop,andshakingdicein"TheSmokeHouse,"andgatheredinasnickeringknottolistentothe"juicystories"ofBertTybee,thebartenderoftheMinniemashieHouse.
Sheheardthemsmackingmoistlipsovereverylove–sceneattheRosebudMoviePalace.
AtthecounteroftheGreekConfectioneryParlor,whiletheyatedreadfulmessesofdecayedbananas,acidcherries,whippedcream,andgelatinousice–cream,theyscreamedtooneanother,"Hey,lemme'lone,""Quitdog–goneyou,lookawhatyouwentanddone,youalmostspilledmyglassswater,""LikehellIdid,""Hey,goldarnyourhide,don'tyougostickingyourcoffinnailinmyi–scream,""OhyouBatty,howjuhlikedancingwithTillieMcGuire,lastnight?
Somesqueezing,heh,kid?"
BydiligentconsultationofAmericanfictionshediscoveredthatthiswastheonlyvirileandamusingmannerinwhichboyscouldfunction;thatboyswhowerenotcompoundedofthegutterandthemining–campweremollycoddlesandunhappy.Shehadtakenthisforgranted.
Shehadstudiedtheboyspityingly,butimpersonally.
Ithadnotoccurredtoherthattheymighttouchher.
Nowshewasawarethattheyknewallabouther;thattheywerewaitingforsomeaffectationoverwhichtheycouldguffaw.
Noschoolgirlpassedtheirobservation–postsmoreflushinglythandidMrs.Dr.Kennicott.
Inshamesheknewthattheyglancedappraisinglyathersnowyovershoes,speculatingaboutherlegs.
Theirswerenotyoungeyes—therewasnoyouthinallthetown,sheagonized.
Theywerebornold,grimandoldandspyingandcensorious.
ShecriedagainthattheiryouthwassenileandcruelonthedaywhensheoverheardCyBogartandEarlHaydock.
CyrusN.Bogart,sonoftherighteouswidowwholivedacrossthealley,wasatthistimeaboyoffourteenorfifteen.
CarolhadalreadyseenquiteenoughofCyBogart.
OnherfirsteveninginGopherPrairieCyhadappearedattheheadofa"charivari,"bangingimmenselyuponadiscardedautomobilefender.
Hiscompanionswereyelpinginimitationofcoyotes.
Kennicotthadfeltrathercomplimented;hadgoneoutanddistributedadollar.ButCywasacapitalistincharivaris.
Hereturnedwithanentirelynewgroup,andthistimetherewerethreeautomobilefendersandacarnivalrattle.
WhenKennicottagaininterruptedhisshaving,Cypiped,"Naw,yougottogiveustwodollars,"andhegotit.
AweeklaterCyriggedatic–tactoawindowoftheliving–room,andthetattoooutofthedarknessfrightenedCarolintoscreaming.
Sincethen,infourmonths,shehadbeheldCyhangingacat,stealingmelons,throwingtomatoesattheKennicotthouse,andmakingski–tracksacrossthelawn,andhadheardhimexplainingthemysteriesofgeneration,withgreataudibilityanddismayingknowledge.
Hewas,infact,amuseumspecimenofwhatasmalltown,awell–disciplinedpublicschool,atraditionofheartyhumor,andapiousmothercouldproducefromthematerialofacourageousandingeniousmind.
Carolwasafraidofhim.Farfromprotestingwhenhesethismongrelonakitten,sheworkedhardatnotseeinghim.
TheKennicottgaragewasashedlitteredwithpaint–cans,tools,alawn–mower,andancientwispsofhay.
AboveitwasaloftwhichCyBogartandEarlHaydock,youngbrotherofHarry,usedasaden,forsmoking,hidingfromwhippings,andplanningsecretsocieties.
Theyclimbedtoitbyaladderonthealleysideoftheshed.
ThismorningoflateJanuary,twoorthreeweeksafterVida'srevelations,Carolhadgoneintothestable–garagetofindahammer.Snowsoftenedherstep.Sheheardvoicesintheloftaboveher:
"Ahgee,lez—oh,lezgodownthelakeandswipesomemushratsoutofsomebody'straps,"Cywasyawning.
"Andgetourearsbeatoff!"grumbledEarlHaydock.
"Gosh,thesecigarettesaredandy.'Memberwhenwewerejustkids,andusedtosmokecorn–silkandhayseed?"
"Yup.Gosh!"
Spit."Silence."
"SayEarl,masaysifyouchewtobaccoyougetconsumption."
"Awrats,youroldladyisacrank."
"Yuh,that'sso."Pause."Butshesayssheknowsafellathatdid."
"Aw,geewhiz,didn'tDocKennicottusedtochewtobaccoallthetimebeforehemarriedthis–heregirlfromtheCities?Heusedtospit—–Gee!Someshot!Hecouldhitatreetenfeetoff."
ThiswasnewstothegirlfromtheCities.
"Say,howisshe?"continuedEarl.
"Huh?How'swho?"
"YouknowwhoImean,smarty."
Atussle,athumpingoflooseboards,silence,wearynarrationfromCy:
"Mrs.Kennicott?Oh,she'sallright,Iguess."RelieftoCarol,below."Shegimmeahunko'cake,onetime.ButMasaysshe'sstuck–upashell.Ma'salwaystalkingabouther.
MasaysifMrs.Kennicottthoughtasmuchaboutthedocasshedoesaboutherclothes,thedocwouldn'tlooksopeaked."
Spit.Silence.
"Yuh.Juanita'salwaystalkingabouther,too,"fromEarl.
"ShesaysMrs.Kennicottthinkssheknowsitall.
JuanitasaysshehastolaughtillshealmostbustseverytimesheseesMrs.Kennicottpeeradingalongthestreetwiththat'takealook—I'maswellskirt'wayshe'sgot.
Butgosh,Idon'tpaynoattentiontoJuanita.She'smeaner'nacrab."
"MawastellingsomebodythatsheheardthatMrs.KennicottclaimedshemadefortydollarsaweekwhenshewasonsomejobintheCities,andMasayssheknowsposolutelythatshenevermadebuteighteenaweek—Masaysthatwhenshe'slivedhereawhileshewon'tgoroundmakingafoolofherself,pullingthatbigheadstuffonfolksthatknowawholelotmorethanshedoes.
They'realllaughinguptheirsleevesather."
"Say,jevernoticehowMrs.Kennicottfussesaroundthehouse?
OthereveningwhenIwascomingoverhere,she'dforgottopulldownthecurtain,andIwatchedherfortenminutes.Jeeze,you'd'a'diedlaughing.
Shewasthereallalone,andshemust'a'spentfiveminutesgettingapicturestraight.
Itwasfunnyashellthewayshe'dstickoutherfingertostraightenthepicture—deedle–dee,seemytunnin''ittlefinger,ohmy,ain'tIcute,whatafinelongtailmycat'sgot!"
"Butsay,Earl,she'ssomegood–looker,justthesame,andOIgnatz!
thegladragsshemustofboughtforherwedding.
Jevernoticetheselow–cutdressesandthesethinshimmy–shirtsshewears?
Ihadagoodsquintat'emwhentheywereoutonthelinewiththewash.Andsomeanklesshe'sgot,heh?"
ThenCarolfled.
Inherinnocenceshehadnotknownthatthewholetowncoulddiscussevenhergarments,herbody.ShefeltthatshewasbeingdraggednakeddownMainStreet.
Themomentitwasduskshepulleddownthewindow–shades,alltheshadesflushwiththesill,butbeyondthemshefeltmoistfleeringeyes.
III
Sheremembered,andtriedtoforget,andrememberedmoresharplythevulgardetailofherhusband'shavingobservedtheancientcustomsofthelandbychewingtobacco.
Shewouldhavepreferredaprettiervice—gamblingoramistress.
Fortheseshemighthavefoundaluxuryofforgiveness.
Shecouldnotrememberanyfascinatinglywickedherooffictionwhochewedtobacco.
SheassertedthatitprovedhimtobeamanoftheboldfreeWest.
Shetriedtoalignhimwiththehairy–chestedheroesofthemotion–pictures.
Shecurledonthecouchapallidsoftnessinthetwilight,andfoughtherself,andlostthebattle.
Spittingdidnotidentifyhimwithrangersridingthebuttes;itmerelyboundhimtoGopherPrairie—toNatHicksthetailorandBertTybeethebartender.
"Buthegaveitupforme.Oh,whatdoesitmatter!We'reallfilthyinsomethings.
Ithinkofmyselfassosuperior,butIdoeatanddigest,Idowashmydirtypawsandscratch.
I'mnotacoolslimgoddessonacolumn.Therearen'tany!Hegaveitupforme.
Hestandsbyme,believingthateveryonelovesme.
He'stheRockofAges—inastormofmeannessthat'sdrivingmemad...itwilldrivememad."
AlleveningshesangScotchballadstoKennicott,andwhenshenoticedthathewaschewinganunlightedcigarshesmiledmaternallyathissecret.
Shecouldnotescapeasking(intheexactwordsandmentalintonationswhichathousandmillionwomen,dairywenchesandmischief–makingqueens,hadusedbeforeher,andwhichamillionmillionwomenwillknowhereafter),"Wasitallahorriblemistake,mymarryinghim?"
Shequietedthedoubt—withoutansweringit.
IV
KennicotthadtakenhernorthtoLac–qui–Meurt,intheBigWoods.
ItwastheentrancetoaChippewaIndianreservation,asandysettlementamongNorwaypinesontheshoreofahugesnow–glaringlake.
Shehadherfirstsightofhismother,excepttheglimpseatthewedding.
Mrs.Kennicotthadahushedanddelicatebreedingwhichdignifiedherwoodenyover–scrubbedcottagewithitswornhardcushionsinheavyrockers.
Shehadneverlostthechild'smiraculouspowerofwonder.
Sheaskedquestionsaboutbooksandcities.Shemurmured:
"Willisadearhard–workingboybuthe'sinclinedtobetooserious,andyou'vetaughthimhowtoplay.
LastnightIheardyoubothlaughingabouttheoldIndianbasket–seller,andIjustlayinbedandenjoyedyourhappiness."
Carolforgothermisery–huntinginthissolidarityoffamilylife.
Shecoulddependuponthem;shewasnotbattlingalone.
WatchingMrs.KennicottflitaboutthekitchenshewasbetterabletotranslateKennicotthimself.
Hewasmatter–of–fact,yes,andincurablymature.
Hedidn'treallyplay;heletCarolplaywithhim.
Buthehadhismother'sgeniusfortrusting,herdisdainforprying,hersureintegrity.
FromthetwodaysatLac–qui–MeurtCaroldrewconfidenceinherself,andshereturnedtoGopherPrairieinathrobbingcalmlikethosegoldendruggedsecondswhen,becauseheisforaninstantfreefrompain,asickmanrevelsinliving.
Abrighthardwinterday,thewindshrill,blackandsilvercloudsboomingacrossthesky,everythinginpanickymotionduringthebrieflight.
Theystruggledagainstthesurfofwind,throughdeepsnow.Kennicottwascheerful.
HehailedLorenWheeler,"BehaveyourselfwhileIbeenaway?"
Theeditorbellowed,"B'goshyoustayedsolongthatallyourpatientshavegotwell!"
andimportantlytooknotesfortheDauntlessabouttheirjourney.JacksonEldercried,"Hey,folks!How'stricksupNorth?"
Mrs.McGanumwavedtothemfromherporch.
"They'regladtoseeus.Wemeansomethinghere.Thesepeoplearesatisfied.Whycan'tIbe?
ButcanIsitbackallmylifeandbesatisfiedwith'Hey,folks'?
TheywantshoutsonMainStreet,andIwantviolinsinapaneledroom.Why—?"
V
VidaSherwinraninafterschooladozentimes.
Shewastactful,torrentiallyanecdotal.
Shehadscuttledabouttownandpluckedcompliments:Mrs.Dr.WestlakehadpronouncedCarola"verysweet,bright,culturedyoungwoman,"andBradBemis,thetinsmithatClark'sHardwareStore,haddeclaredthatshewas"easytoworkforandawfuleasytolookat."
ButCarolcouldnotyettakeherin.Sheresentedthisoutsider'sknowledgeofhershame.Vidawasnottoolongtolerant.
Shehinted,"You'reagreatbrooder,child.Buckupnow.
Thetown'squitcriticizingyou,almostentirely.ComewithmetotheThanatopsisClub.
TheyhavesomeoftheBESTpapers,andcurrent–eventsdiscussions—SOinteresting."
InVida'sdemandsCarolfeltacompulsion,butshewastoolistlesstoobey.
ItwasBeaSorensonwhowasreallyherconfidante.
HowevercharitabletowardtheLowerClassesshemayhavethoughtherself,Carolhadbeenrearedtoassumethatservantsbelongtoadistinctandinferiorspecies.
ButshediscoveredthatBeawasextraordinarilylikegirlsshehadlovedincollege,andasacompanionaltogethersuperiortotheyoungmatronsoftheJollySeventeen.
Dailytheybecamemorefranklytwogirlsplayingathousework.
BeaartlesslyconsideredCarolthemostbeautifulandaccomplishedladyinthecountry;shewasalwaysshrieking,"My,dot'saswellhat!"
or,"Ayt'inkalldeseladiesyoostdiewhendeyseehowelegantyoudoyourhair!"
Butitwasnotthehumblenessofaservant,northehypocrisyofaslave;itwastheadmirationofFreshmanforJunior.
Theymadeouttheday'smenustogether.Thoughtheybeganwithpropriety,CarolsittingbythekitchentableandBeaatthesinkorblackingthestove,theconferencewaslikelytoendwithbothofthembythetable,whileBeagurgledovertheice–man'sattempttokissher,orCaroladmitted,"EverybodyknowsthatthedoctorislotsmorecleverthanDr.McGanum."
WhenCarolcameinfrommarketing,Beaplungedintothehalltotakeoffhercoat,rubherfrostiedhands,andask,"Vosderelotsoffolksup–towntoday?"
ThiswasthewelcomeuponwhichCaroldepended.
VI
Throughherweeksofcoweringtherewasnochangeinhersurfacelife.
NoonesaveVidawasawareofheragonizing.
Onhermostdespairingdaysshechattedtowomenonthestreet,instores.
ButwithouttheprotectionofKennicott'spresenceshedidnotgototheJollySeventeen;shedeliveredherselftothejudgmentofthetownonlywhenshewentshoppingandontheritualisticoccasionsofformalafternooncalls,whenMrs.LymanCassorMrs.GeorgeEdwinMott,withcleanglovesandminutehandkerchiefsandsealskincard–casesandcountenancesoffrozenapprobation,satontheedgesofchairsandinquired,"DoyoufindGopherPrairiepleasing?"
Whentheyspenteveningsofsocialprofit–and–lossattheHaydocks'ortheDyers'shehidbehindKennicott,playingthesimplebride.
Nowshewasunprotected.KennicotthadtakenapatienttoRochesterforanoperation.Hewouldbeawayfortwoorthreedays.
Shehadnotminded;shewouldloosenthematrimonialtensionandbeafancifulgirlforatime.
Butnowthathewasgonethehousewaslisteninglyempty.
Beawasoutthisafternoon—presumablydrinkingcoffeeandtalkingabout"fellows"withhercousinTina.
Itwasthedayforthemonthlysupperandevening–bridgeoftheJollySeventeen,butCaroldarednotgo.
Shesatalone.
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