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think much of her son Jeff。 He married my Amanda after the warshe
used to belong to me； and ought to have known better。 He abused her
most shamefully； and had to be threatened with the law。 She left him a
year or so ago and went away； I haven't seen her lately。 Well； good…by；
child； I'm coming to your exhibition。 If you ever pass my house； come in
and see me。〃
The good lady had talked for half an hour； and had brought a ray of
sunshine into the teacher's monotonous life； heretofore lighted only by the
uncertain lamp of high resolve。 She had satisfied a pardonable curiosity；
and had gone away without mentioning her name。
Rena saw Plato untying the pony as the lady climbed into the phaeton。
〃Who was the lady； Plato？〃 asked the teacher when the visitor had
driven away。
〃Dat 'uz my ole mist'iss； ma'm；〃 returned Plato proudly； 〃ole Mis'
'Liza。〃
〃Mis' 'Liza who？〃 asked Rena。
〃Mis' 'Liza Tryon。 I use' ter b'long ter her。 Dat 'uz her son； my
young Mars Geo'ge； w'at driv pas' hyuh yistiddy wid 'is sweetheart。〃
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XXVIII
THE LOST KNIFE
Rena had found her task not a difficult one so far as discipline was
concerned。 Her pupils were of a docile race； and school to them had all
the charm of novelty。 The teacher commanded some awe because she
was a stranger； and some； perhaps； because she was white； for the theory
of blackness as propounded by Plato could not quite counter… balance in
the young African mind the evidence of their own senses。 She combined
gentleness with firmness； and if these had not been sufficient； she had
reserves of character which would have given her the mastery over much
less plastic material than these ignorant but eager young people。 The
work of instruction was simple enough； for most of the pupils began with
the alphabet； which they acquired from Webster's blue…backed spelling…
book； the palladium of Southern education at that epoch。 The much
abused carpet…baggers had put the spelling…book within reach of every
child of school age in North Carolina；a fact which is often overlooked
when the carpet…baggers are held up to public odium。 Even the devil
should have his due； and is not so black as he is painted。
At the time when she learned that Tryon lived in the neighborhood；
Rena had already been subjected for several weeks to a trying ordeal。
Wain had begun to persecute her with marked attentions。 She had at first
gone to board at his house；or； by courtesy； with his mother。 For a week
or two she had considered his attentions in no other light than those of a
member of the school committee sharing her own zeal and interested in
seeing the school successfully carried on。 In this character Wain had
driven her to the town for her examination； he had busied himself about
putting the schoolhouse in order； and in various matters affecting the
conduct of the school。 He had jocularly offered to come and whip the
children for her； and had found it convenient to drop in occasionally；
ostensibly to see what progress the work was making。
〃Dese child'en；〃 he would observe sonorously； in the presence of the
school； 〃oughter be monst'ous glad ter have de chance er settin' under yo'
instruction； Miss Rena。 I'm sho' eve'body in dis neighbo'hood 'preciates
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
de priv'lege er havin' you in ou' mids'。〃
Though slightly embarrassing to the teacher； these public
demonstrations were endurable so long as they could be regarded as mere
official appreciation of her work。 Sincerely in earnest about her
undertaking； she had plunged into it with all the intensity of a serious
nature which love had stirred to activity。 A pessimist might have sighed
sadly or smiled cynically at the notion that a poor； weak girl； with a
dangerous beauty and a sensitive soul； and troubles enough of her own；
should hope to accomplish anything appreciable toward lifting the black
mass still floundering in the mud where slavery had left it； and where
emancipation had found it；the mud in which； for aught that could be seen
to the contrary； her little feet； too； were hopelessly entangled。 It might
have seemed like expecting a man to lift himself by his boot…straps。
But Rena was no philosopher； either sad or cheerful。 She could not
even have replied to this argument； that races must lift themselves； and the
most that can be done by others is to give them opportunity and fair play。
Hers was a simpler reasoning；the logic by which the world is kept going
onward and upward when philosophers are at odds and reformers are not
forthcoming。 She knew that for every child she taught to read and write
she opened； if ever so little； the door of opportunity； and she was happy in
the consciousness of performing a duty which seemed all the more
imperative because newly discovered。 Her zeal； indeed； for the time
being was like that of an early Christian； who was more willing than not to
die for his faith。 Rena had fully and firmly made up her mind to sacrifice
her life upon this altar。 Her absorption in the work had not been without
its reward； for thereby she had been able to keep at a distance the spectre
of her lost love。 Her dreams she could not control； but she banished
Tryon as far as possible from her waking thoughts。
When Wain's attentions became obviously personal； Rena's new vestal
instinct took alarm； and she began to apprehend his character more clearly。
She had long ago learned that his pretensions to wealth were a sham。 He
was nominal owner of a large plantation； it is true； but the land was worn
out； and mortgaged to the limit of its security value。 His reputed droves
of cattle and hogs had dwindled to a mere handful of lean and listless
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brutes。
Her clear eye； when once set to take Wain's measure； soon fathomed
his shallow； selfish soul； and detected； or at least divined； behind his mask
of good…nature a lurking brutality which filled her with vague distrust；
needing only occasion to develop it into active apprehension；occasion
which was not long wanting。 She avoided being alone with him at home
by keeping carefully with the women of the house。 If she were left
alone；and they soon showed a tendency to leave her on any pretext
whenever Wain came near；she would seek her own room and lock the
door。 She preferred not to offend Wain； she was far away from home and
in a measure in his power； but she dreaded his compliments and sickened
at his smile。 She was also compelled to hear his relations sing his
praises。
〃My son Jeff；〃 old Mrs。 Wain would say； 〃is de bes' man you ever seed。
His fus' wife had de easies' time an' de happies' time er ary woman in dis
settlement。 He's grieve' fer her a long time； but I reckon he's gittin' over
it； an' de nex' 'oman w'at marries him'll git a box er pyo' gol'； ef I does say
it as is his own mammy。〃
Rena had thought Wain rather harsh with his household； except in her
immediate presence。 His mother and sister seemed more or less afraid of
him； and the children often anxious to avoid him。
One day； he timed his visit to the schoolhouse so as to walk home with
Rena through the woods。 When she became aware of his purpose； she
called to one of the children who was loitering behind the others； 〃Wait a
minute； Jenny。 I'm going your way； and you can walk along with me。〃
Wain with difficulty hid a scowl behind a smiling front。 When the