按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 44…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
door if Rena were there to hear his plaint。 Little Albert was pale and
sickly when she came； but soon bloomed again in the sunshine of her care；
and was happy only in her presence。 Warwick found pleasure in their
growing love for each other； and was glad to perceive that the child
formed a living link to connect her with his home。
〃Dat chile sutt'nly do lub Miss Rena； an' dat's a fac'； sho 's you bawn；〃
remarked 'Lissa the cook to Mimy the nurse one day。 〃You'll get yo' nose
put out er j'int； ef you don't min'。〃
〃I ain't frettin'； honey；〃 laughed the nurse good…naturedly。 She was
not at all jealous。 She had the same wages as before； and her labors were
materially lightened by the aunt's attention to the child。 This gave Mimy
much more time to flirt with Tom the coachman。
It was a source of much gratification to Warwick that his sister seemed
to adapt herself so easily to the new conditions。 Her graceful movements；
the quiet elegance with which she wore even the simplest gown； the easy
authoritativeness with which she directed the servants； were to him proofs
of superior quality； and he felt correspondingly proud of her。 His feeling
for her was something more than brotherly love；he was quite conscious
that there were degrees in brotherly love； and that if she had been homely
or stupid； he would never have disturbed her in the stagnant life of the
house behind the cedars。 There had come to him from some source；
down the stream of time； a rill of the Greek sense of proportion； of fitness；
of beauty； which is indeed but proportion embodied； the perfect adaptation
of means to ends。 He had perceived； more clearly than she could have
appreciated it at that time； the undeveloped elements of discord between
Rena and her former life。 He had imagined her lending grace and charm
to his own household。 Still another motive； a purely psychological one；
had more or less consciously influenced him。 He had no fear that the
family secret would ever be discovered； he had taken his precautions too
thoroughly； he thought； for that； and yet he could not but feel； at times；
that if peradventureit was a conceivable hypothesisit should become
known； his fine social position would collapse like a house of cards。
Because of this knowledge； which the world around him did not possess；
he had felt now and then a certain sense of loneliness； and there was a
44
… Page 45…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
measure of relief in having about him one who knew his past； and yet
whose knowledge； because of their common interest； would not interfere
with his present or jeopardize his future。 For he had always been； in a
figurative sense； a naturalized foreigner in the world of wide opportunity；
and Rena was one of his old compatriots； whom he was glad to welcome
into the populous loneliness of his adopted country。
45
… Page 46…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
VIII
THE COURTSHIP
In a few weeks the echoes of the tournament died away； and Rena's
life settled down into a pleasant routine； which she found much more
comfortable than her recent spectacular prominence。 Her queenship；
while not entirely forgiven by the ladies of the town； had gained for her a
temporary social prominence。 Among her own sex； Mrs。 Newberry
proved a warm and enthusiastic friend。 Rumor whispered that the lively
young widow would not be unwilling to console Warwick in the loneliness
of the old colonial mansion； to which his sister was a most excellent
medium of approach。 Whether this was true or not it is unnecessary to
inquire； for it is no part of this story； except as perhaps indicating why Mrs。
Newberry played the part of the female friend； without whom no woman
is ever launched successfully in a small and conservative society。 Her
brother's standing gave her the right of social entry； the tournament
opened wide the door； and Mrs。 Newberry performed the ceremony of
introduction。 Rena had many visitors during the month following the
tournament； and might have made her choice from among a dozen suitors；
but among them all； her knight of the handkerchief found most favor。
George Tryon had come to Clarence a few months before upon
business connected with the settlement of his grandfather's estate。 A
rather complicated litigation had grown up around the affair； various
phases of which had kept Tryon almost constantly in the town。 He had
placed matters in Warwick's hands； and had formed a decided friendship
for his attorney； for whom he felt a frank admiration。 Tryon was only
twenty…three； and his friend's additional five years； supplemented by a
certain professional gravity； commanded a great deal of respect from the
younger man。 When Tryon had known Warwick for a week； he had been
ready to swear by him。 Indeed； Warwick was a man for whom most
people formed a liking at first sight。 To this power of attraction he owed
most of his successfirst with Judge Straight； of Patesville； then with the
lawyer whose office he had entered at Clarence； with the woman who
became his wife； and with the clients for whom he transacted business。
46
… Page 47…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
Tryon would have maintained against all comers that Warwick was the
finest fellow in the world。 When he met Warwick's sister； the foundation
for admiration had already been laid。 If Rena had proved to be a maiden
lady of uncertain age and doubtful personal attractiveness； Tryon would
probably have found in her a most excellent lady； worthy of all respect and
esteem； and would have treated her with profound deference and sedulous
courtesy。 When she proved to be a young and handsome woman； of the
type that he admired most； he was capable of any degree of infatuation。
His mother had for a long time wanted him to marry the orphan daughter
of an old friend； a vivacious blonde； who worshiped him。 He had felt
friendly towards her； but had shrunk from matrimony。 He did not want
her badly enough to give up his freedom。 The war had interfered with
his education； and though fairly well instructed； he had never attended
college。 In his own opinion； he ought to see something of the world； and
have his youthful fling。 Later on； when he got ready to settle down； if
Blanche were still in the humor； they might marry； and sink to the
humdrum level of other old married people。 The fact that Blanche Leary
was visiting his mother during his unexpectedly long absence had not
operated at all to hasten his return to North Carolina。 He had been
having a very good time at Clarence； and； at the distance of several
hundred miles； was safe for the time being from any immediate danger of
marriage。
With Rena's advent； however； he had seen life through different
glasses。 His heart had thrilled at first sight of this tall girl； with the ivory
complexion； the rippling brown hair； and the inscrutable eyes。 When he
became better acquainted with her； he liked to think that her thoughts
centred mainly in himself； and in this he was not far wrong。 He
discovered that she had a short upper lip； and what seemed to him an
eminently kissable mouth。 After he had dined twice at Warwick's；
subsequently to the tournament；his lucky choice of Rena had put him at
once upon a household footing with the family；