Carolwasonthebackporch,tighteningaboltonthebaby'sgo–cart,thisSundayafternoon.ThroughanopenwindowoftheBogarthousesheheardascreeching,heardMrs.Bogart'shaggishvoice:
"...didtoo,andthere'snouseyourdenyingitnoyoudon't,youmarchyourselfrightstraightoutofthehouse...neverinmylifeheardofsuch...neverhadnobodytalktomelike...walkinthewaysofsinandnastiness...leaveyourclotheshere,andheavenknowsthat'smorethanyoudeserve...anyofyourliporI'llcallthepoliceman."
ThevoiceoftheotherinterlocutorCaroldidnotcatch,nor,thoughMrs.Bogartwasproclaimingthathewasherconfidantandpresentassistant,didshecatchthevoiceofMrs.Bogart'sGod.
Shetrundledthego–cartdownthebackstepsandtentativelywheeleditacrosstheyard,proudofherrepairs.Sheheardstepsonthesidewalk.
"Anddon'tyoudareshowyourfaceonthisblockagain.Youcansendthedraymanforyourtrunk.Myhousehasbeencontaminatedlongenough.WhytheLordshouldafflictme—"
BythistimeCarolwasstaringinamannernotvisiblytobedistinguishedfromthewindow–peepingoftherestofGopherPrairie.
Thegoodneighborchargedintotheliving–room,wavingthemostunctuousofblackkidglovesanddelightedlysputtering:
"YoumaywellaskhowIam!IreallydowonderhowIcouldgothroughtheawfulscenesofthisday—andtheimpudenceItookfromthatwoman'stongue,thatoughttobecutout—"
"Whoa!Whoa!Holdup!"roaredKennicott."Who'sthehussy,SisterBogart?Sitdownandtakeitcoolandtellusaboutit."
"Ican'tsitdown,Imusthurryhome,butIcouldn'tdevotemyselftomyownselfishcarestillI'dwarnedyou,andheavenknowsIdon'texpectanythanksfortryingtowarnthetownagainsther,there'salwayssomuchevilintheworldthatfolkssimplywon'tseeorappreciateyourtryingtosafeguardthem—AndforcingherselfinheretogetinwithyouandCarrie,many'sthetimeI'veseenherdoingit,and,thankheaven,shewasfoundoutintimebeforeshecoulddoanymoreharm,itsimplybreaksmyheartandprostratesmetothinkwhatshemayhavedonealready,evenifsomeofusthatunderstandandknowaboutthings—"
"Icertainlyam!"flourishedMrs.Bogart,"andgoodandthankfulyoumaybethatIfoundheroutintime,beforeshecouldgetYOUintosomething,Carol,becauseevenifyouaremyneighborandWill'swifeandaculturedlady,letmetellyourightnow,CarolKennicott,thatyouain'talwaysasrespectfulto—youain'tasreverent—youdon'tstickbythegoodoldwaysliketheywaslaiddownforusbyGodintheBible,andwhileofcoursethereain'tabitofharminhavingagoodlaugh,andIknowthereain'tanyrealwickednessinyou,yetjustthesameyoudon'tfearGodandhatethetransgressorsofhiscommandmentslikeyououghtto,andyoumaybethankfulIfoundoutthisserpentInourishedinmybosom—andohyes!
myladymusthavetwoeggseverymorningforbreakfast,andeggssixtycentsadozen,andwa'n'tsatisfiedwithone,likemostfolks—whatdidshecarehowmuchtheycostorifapersoncouldn'tmakehardlynothingonherboardandroom,infactIjusttookherinoutofcharityandImighthaveknownfromthekindofstockingsandclothesthatshesneakedintomyhouseinhertrunk—"
Cyhadobtainedapintofwhisky;hesaidthathedidn'trememberwherehehadgotit;Mrs.BogartimpliedthatFernhadgivenittohim;Fernherselfinsistedthathehadstolenitfromafarmer'sovercoat—which,Mrs.Bogartraged,wasobviouslyalie.Hehadbecomesoggilydrunk.
Buthecouldn'teverhavebeendrunk,forhealwayshadthebestexcuses:theotherboyshadtemptedhimtogodownthelakespearingpickerelbytorchlight,orhehadbeenoutina"machinethatranoutofgas."
Thismorning,whenshehadfacedbothofthem,CyhadmanfullyconfessedthatalloftheblamewasonFern,becausetheteacher—hisownteacher—haddaredhimtotakeadrink.Fernhadtriedtodenyit.
"Then,"gabbledMrs.Bogart,"thenthatwomanhadtheimpudencetosaytome,'WhatpurposecouldIhaveinwantingthefilthypuptogetdrunk?'That'sjustwhatshecalledhim—pup.
'I'llhavenosuchnastylanguageinmyhouse,'Isays,'andyoupretendingandpullingthewooloverpeople'seyesandmakingthemthinkyou'reeducatedandfittobeateacherandlookoutforyoungpeople'smorals—you'reworse'nanystreet–walker!'Isays.Iletherhaveitgood.
Iwa'n'tgoingtoflinchfrommyboundendutyandletherthinkthatdecentfolkshadtostandforherviletalk.'Purpose?'Isays,'Purpose?I'lltellyouwhatpurposeyouhad!
Ain'tIseenyoushowingoffyourlegswiththemshortskirtsofyours,tryingtomakeoutlikeyouwassogirlishandla–de–da,runningalongthestreet?'"
CarolwasverysickatthisversionofFern'seageryouth,butshewassickerasMrs.BogarthintedthatnoonecouldtellwhathadhappenedbetweenFernandCybeforethedrivehome.
Withoutexactlydescribingthescene,byherpoweroflustfulimaginationthewomansuggesteddarkcountryplacesapartfromthelanternsandrudefiddlingandbangingdance–stepsinthebarn,thenmadnessandharshhatefulconquest.Carolwastoosicktointerrupt.
"That'sdifferent.NotthatIapproveyourdoingit.WhatdotheScripturestellus?'Strongdrinkisamocker'!Butthat'sentirelydifferentfromateacherdrinkingwithoneofherownpupils."
"Yes,itdoessoundbad.Fernwassilly,undoubtedly.Butasamatteroffactshe'sonlyayearortwoolderthanCyandprobablyagoodmanyyearsyoungerinexperienceofvice."
Shepattedherblackkidgloves,pickedatathreadofherfadedbrownskirt,andsighed,"He'sagoodboy,andawfulaffectionateifyoutreathimright.
Andhe'ssobraveandtruthful—why,hewasoneofthefirstintownthatwantedtoenlistforthewar,andIhadtospeakrealsharptohimtokeephimfromrunningaway.
Ididn'twanthimtogetintonobadinfluencesroundthesecamps—andthen,"Mrs.Bogartrosefromherpitifulness,recoveredherpace,"thenIgoandbringintomyownhouseawomanthat'sworse,whenall'ssaidanddone,thananybadwomanhecouldhavemet.
Soitdon'tmakenodifferencewhichreasontheyfireherfor,andthat'spracticallyalmostwhatIsaidtotheschool–board."
AndtheirwivesIsaystothem,''Tain'tmyaffairtodecidewhatyoushouldorshouldnotdowithyourteachers,'Isays,'andIain'tpresumingtodictateinanyway,shape,manner,orform.
Ijustwanttoknow,'Isays,'whetheryou'regoingtogoonrecordaskeepinghereinourschools,amongalotofinnocentboysandgirls,awomanthatdrinks,smokes,curses,usesbadlanguage,anddoessuchdreadfulthingsasIwouldn'tlaytonguetobutyouknowwhatImean,'Isays,'andifso,I'lljustseetoitthatthetownlearnsaboutit.'
Andthat'swhatItoldProfessorMott,too,beingsuperintendent—andhe'sarighteousman,notgoingautoingontheSabbathliketheschool–boardmembers.
KennicottwaslessshockedandmuchlessfrightenedthanCarol,andmorearticulateinhisdescriptionofMrs.Bogart,whenshehadgone.
MaudDyertelephonedtoCaroland,afteraratherimprobablequestionaboutcookinglimabeanswithbacon,demanded,"HaveyouheardthescandalaboutthisMissMullinsandCyBogart?"
"Oh,probablyis."Maud'smannerindicatedthatthefalsityofthestorywasaninsignificantflawinitsgeneraldelightfulness.
Shecouldhearthetownyelpingwithit,everysoulofthem,gleefulatnewdetails,pantingtowinimportancebyhavingdetailsoftheirowntoadd.
Theywhohadnotbeenentirelyafraid(butmerelycarefulandsneaky),allthebarber–shoprouesandmillinery–parlormondaines,howarchlytheyweregiggling(thissecond—shecouldhearthematit);withwhatself–commendationtheywerecacklingtheirsuavestwit:"Youcan'ttellMEsheain'tagaybird;I'mwise!"
Andnotonemanintowntocarryouttheirpioneertraditionofsuperbandcontemptuouscursing,notonetoverifythemyththattheir"roughchivalry"and"ruggedvirtues"weremoregenerousthanthepettyscandal–pickingofolderlands,notonedramaticfrontiersmantothunder,withfantasticandfictionaloaths,"Whatareyouhintingat?Whatareyousnickeringat?Whatfactshaveyou?
Shehuntedalongthestale–smellingcorridorswiththeirwallpaperofcerisedaisiesandpoison–greenrosettes,streakedinwhitespotsfromspilledwater,theirfrayedredandyellowmatting,androwsofpinedoorspaintedasicklyblue.Shecouldnotfindthenumber.
Nowshelayacrossthebed,incrumpledlavendercottonandshabbypumps,veryfeminine,utterlycowed.Sheliftedherheadinstupidterror.
Sherestedthen,whileCarollookedabouttheroom—thewelcometostrangers,thesanctuaryofhospitableMainStreet,thelucrativepropertyofKennicott'sfriend,JacksonElder.
Thebedwasrickety,withathinknottymattress;thesand–coloredwallswerescratchedandgouged;ineverycorner,undereverything,werefluffydustandcigarashes;onthetiltedwash–standwasanickedandsquattypitcher;theonlychairwasagrimstraightobjectofspottyvarnish;buttherewasanaltogethersplendidgiltandrosecuspidor.
Shehadgonetotheparty,notquitelikingCybutwillingtoendurehimforthesakeofdancing,ofescapingfromMrs.Bogart'sflowofmoralcomments,ofrelaxingafterthefirststrainedweeksofteaching.Cy"promisedtobegood."Hewas,onthewayout.
Halfadozensquattersfromadegeneratecolonyinabrush–hiddenhollow,plantersofpotatoes,suspectedthieves,cameinnoisilydrunk.
Theyallpoundedthefloorofthebarninold–fashionedsquaredances,swingingtheirpartners,skipping,laughing,undertheincantationsofDelSnafflinthebarber,whofiddledandcalledthefigures.Cyhadtwodrinksfrompocket–flasks.
Fernsawhimfumblingamongtheovercoatspiledonthefeedboxatthefarendofthebarn;soonaftersheheardafarmerdeclaringthatsomeonehadstolenhisbottle.
ShetaxedCywiththetheft;hechuckled,"Oh,it'sjustajoke;I'mgoingtogiveitback."Hedemandedthatshetakeadrink.
"Ijustbrushedmylipswithit,andgaveitbacktohim,"moanedFern.Shesatup,glaredatCarol."Didyouevertakeadrink?"
Idon'tsupposeI'vehadfivedrinksinmylife,butifImeetjustonemoreBogartandSon—Well,Ididn'treallytouchthatbottle—horriblerawwhisky—thoughI'dhavelovedsomewine.Ifeltsojolly.
Thebarnwasalmostlikeastagescene—thehighrafters,andthedarkstalls,andtinlanternsswinging,andasilage–cutterupattheendlikesomemysteriouskindofmachine.
AndI'dbeenhavinglotsoffundancingwiththenicestyoungfarmer,sostrongandnice,andawfullyintelligent.ButIgotuneasywhenIsawhowCywas.
"Mydear,Mrs.Bogart'sgodmaybe—MainStreet'sgod.Butallthecourageousintelligentpeoplearefightinghim...thoughheslayus."
Ferndancedagainwiththeyoungfarmer;sheforgotCywhileshewastalkingwithagirlwhohadtakentheUniversityagriculturalcourse.
Cycouldnothavereturnedthebottle;hecamestaggeringtowardher—takingtimetomakehimselfoffensivetoeverygirlonthewayandtodanceajig.Sheinsistedontheirreturning.
Ididn'tfeellikeagirl;Ifeltlikeascrubwoman—no,IguessIwastooscaredtohaveanyfeelingsatall.Itwasterriblydark.Igothome,somehow.
Butitwashard,thetimeIhadtogetout,anditwasquitemuddy,toreadasign–post—IlitmatchesthatItookfromCy'scoatpocket,andhefollowedme—hefelloffthebuggystepintothemud,andgotupandtriedtomakelovetome,and—Iwasscared.ButIhithim.Quitehard.
Andgotin,andsoheranafterthebuggy,cryinglikeababy,andIlethiminagain,andrightawayagainhewastrying—Butnomatter.Igothimhome.Upontheporch.Mrs.Bogartwaswaitingup....
"Youknow,itwasfunny;allthetimeshewas—oh,talkingtome—andCywasbeingterriblysick—Ijustkeptthinking,'I'vestillgottodrivethebuggydowntotheliverystable.
"Shedrovemerightoutofthehouse.Shewouldn'tlistentome,allmorning.JusttoCy.Isupposehe'soverhisheadachenow.
"Oh.Thiswascurious:WhenItookoffmydresslastnight—itwasadarlingdress,Iloveditso,butofcoursethemudhadspoiledit.Icriedoveritand—Nomatter.
Butmywhitesilkstockingswerealltorn,andthestrangethingis,Idon'tknowwhetherIcaughtmylegsinthebrierswhenIgotouttolookatthesign–post,orwhetherCyscratchedmewhenIwasfightinghimoff."
WhenCaroltoldhimFern'sstorySamlookedsympatheticandneighborly,andMrs.Clarksatbycooing,"Oh,isn'tthattoobad."
"N–no,but—"Samavoidedverdicts,clungtotheentrancinghorrorsofthestory."MaBogartcussedheroutallmorning,didshe?Jumpedherneck,eh?Macertainlyisonehell–cat."
WhatshepullsinourstoreistocomeinsmilingwithChristianFortitudeandkeepaclerkbusyforonehourwhileshepicksouthalfadozenfourpennynails.Irememberonetime—"
"Sam!"Carolwasuneasy."You'llfightforFern,won'tyou?WhenMrs.Bogartcametoseeyoudidshemakedefinitecharges?"
There'sReverendZitterel;SisterBogartabouthalfrunshischurch,soofcoursehe'lltakehersay–so;andEzraStowbody,asabankerhehastobeallhellformoralityandpurity.
NotthatanyofuswouldbelieveawordCysaid,notifhesworeitonastackofBibles,butstill,afterallthisgossip,MissMullinswouldn'thardlybethepartytochaperonourbasket–ballteamwhenitwentoutoftowntoplayotherhighschools,wouldshe!"
"Doyourealizethatthisisn'tjustamatterofajob,andhiringandfiring;thatit'sactuallysendingasplendidgirloutwithabeastlystainonher,givingalltheotherBogartsintheworldachanceather?
"Noreportsmadeinacaselikethis.Ourruleistojustdecidethethingandannouncethefinaldecision,whetherit'sunanimousornot."
"Rules!Againstagirl'sfuture!DearGod!Rulesofaschool–board!Sam!Won'tyoustandbyFern,andthreatentoresignfromtheboardiftheytrytodischargeher?"
Rathertesty,tiredofsomanysubtleties,hecomplained,"Well,I'lldowhatIcan,butI'llhavetowaittilltheboardmeets."
And"I'lldowhatIcan,"togetherwiththesecretadmission"OfcourseyouandIknowwhatMaBogartis,"wasallCarolcouldgetfromSuperintendentGeorgeEdwinMott,EzraStowbody,theReverendMr.Zittereloranyothermemberoftheschool–board.
AfterwardshewonderedwhetherMr.Zitterelcouldhavebeenreferringtoherselfwhenheobserved,"There'stoomuchlicenseinhighplacesinthistown,though,andthewagesofsinisdeath—oranyway,bein'fired."
Shewaslesssureofitthateveningwhen,atthemotionpictures,sheheardMrs.GougerlingexclaimtoMrs.Howland,"Shemaybesoinnocentandall,andIsupposesheprobablyis,butstill,ifshedrankawholebottleofwhiskyatthatdance,thewayeverybodysaysshedid,shemayhaveforgottenshewassoinnocent!Hee,hee,hee!"
Theysaywhatevershemayofdoneafterwards,thisMullinsdametooktwoquartsofwhiskytothedancewithher,andgotstewedbeforeCydid!Sometank,thatwren!Ha,ha,ha!"
ShesawErikpassingthehouse,late,alone,andshestaredafterhim,longingforthelivelybitternessofthethingshewouldsayaboutthetown.
ItwasTuesdayafternoonbeforeshelearnedthattheboardhadmetatteninthemorningandvotedto"acceptMissFernMullins'sresignation."SamClarktelephonedthenewstoher."We'renotmakinganycharges.We'rejustlettingherresign.
Caroltriedtostarethemdownbutinfaceoftheimpishnessoftheboysandthebovinegapingofthemen,shewasembarrassed.Ferndidnotglanceatthem.
CarolrememberedthatMilesBjornstamhadalsotakenatrain.Whatwouldbethesceneatthestationwhensheherselftookdeparture?
Oneofthemwasgiggling,"Seethatgood–lookingwenchthatgotonhere?Theswellkidwiththesmallblackhat?She'ssomecharmer!
Herandcoupleofotherskirtsboughtawholecaseofwhiskyandwentonatear,andonenight,darnedifthisbunchofcradle–robbersdidn'tgetholdofsomeyoungkids,justsmallboys,andtheyallgotlituplikeaWhiteWay,andwentouttoaroughneckdance,andtheysay—"
Thenarratorturned,sawawomannearand,notbeingacommonpersonnoracoarseworkmanbutacleversalesmanandahouseholder,loweredhisvoicefortherestofthetale.
ShepassedCyBogart.HewashumorouslynarratingsomeachievementtoagroupwhichincludedNatHicks,DelSnafflin,BertTybeethebartender,andA.TennysonO'Hearntheshysterlawyer.
...&ofcoursemyfamilydidnotreallybelievethestorybutastheyweresureImusthavedonesomethingwrongtheyjustlecturedmegenerally,infactjawedmetillIhavegonetoliveataboardinghouse.
Theteachers'agenciesmustknowthestory,manatonealmostslammedthedoorinmyfacewhenIwenttoaskaboutajob,&atanotherthewomaninchargewasbeastly.Don'tknowwhatIwilldo.Don'tseemtofeelverywell.
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