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old judge's office。 The judge was not in； but the door stood open； and
Warwick entered to await his return。 There had been fewer changes in
the office； where he had spent many； many hours； than in the town itself。
The dust was a little thicker； the papers in the pigeon…holes of the walnut
desk were a little yellower； the cobwebs in the corners a little more
aggressive。 The flies droned as drowsily and the murmur of the brook
below was just as audible。 Warwick stood at the rear window and looked
out over a familiar view。 Directly across the creek； on the low ground
beyond； might be seen the dilapidated stone foundation of the house where
once had lived Flora Macdonald； the Jacobite refugee； the most romantic
character of North Carolina history。 Old Judge Straight had had a tree
cut away from the creek…side opposite his window； so that this historic
ruin might be visible from his office； for the judge could trace the ties of
blood that connected him collaterally with this famous personage。 His
pamphlet on Flora Macdonald； printed for private circulation； was highly
prized by those of his friends who were fortunate enough to obtain a copy。
To the left of the window a placid mill…pond spread its wide expanse； and
to the right the creek disappeared under a canopy of overhanging trees。
A footstep sounded in the doorway； and Warwick； turning； faced the
old judge。 Time had left greater marks upon the lawyer than upon his
office。 His hair was whiter； his stoop more pronounced； when he spoke
to Warwick； his voice had some of the shrillness of old age； and in his
hand； upon which the veins stood out prominently； a decided tremor was
perceptible。
〃Good…morning； Judge Straight；〃 said the young man； removing his
hat with the graceful Southern deference of the young for the old。
〃Good…morning； sir；〃 replied the judge with equal courtesy。
〃You don't remember me； I imagine；〃 suggested Warwick。
〃Your face seems familiar；〃 returned the judge cautiously； 〃but I
cannot for the moment recall your name。 I shall be glad to have you
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refresh my memory。〃
〃I was John Walden； sir； when you knew me。〃
The judge's face still gave no answering light of recognition。
〃Your old office…boy；〃 continued the younger man。
〃Ah； indeed； so you were！〃 rejoined the judge warmly； extending his
hand with great cordiality； and inspecting Warwick more closely through
his spectacles。 〃Let me seeyou went away a few years before the war；
wasn't it？〃
〃Yes； sir； to South Carolina。〃
〃Yes； yes； I remember now！ I had been thinking it was to the North。
So many things have happened since then； that it taxes an old man's
memory to keep track of them all。 Well； well！ and how have you been
getting along？〃
Warwick told his story in outline； much as he had given it to his
mother and sister； and the judge seemed very much interested。
〃And you married into a good family？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And have children？〃
〃One。〃
〃And you are visiting your mother？〃
〃Not exactly。 I have seen her； but I am stopping at a hotel。〃
〃H'm！ Are you staying long？〃
〃I leave to…morrow。〃
〃It's well enough。 I wouldn't stay too long。 The people of a small
town are inquisitive about strangers； and some of them have long
memories。 I remember we went over the law； which was in your favor；
but custom is stronger than lawin these matters custom IS law。 It was a
great pity that your father did not make a will。 Well； my boy； I wish you
continued good luck； I imagined you would make your way。〃
Warwick went away； and the old judge sat for a moment absorbed in
reflection。 〃Right and wrong；〃 he mused； 〃must be eternal verities； but
our standards for measuring them vary with our latitude and our epoch。
We make our customs lightly； once made； like our sins； they grip us in
bands of steel； we become the creatures of our creations。 By one
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standard my old office…boy should never have been born。 Yet he is a son
of Adam； and came into existence in the way ordained by God from the
beginning of the world。 In equity he would seem to be entitled to his
chance in life； it might have been wiser； though； for him to seek it farther
afield than South Carolina。 It was too near home； even though the laws
were with him。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
IV
DOWN THE RIVER
Neither mother nor daughter slept a great deal during the night of
Warwick's first visit。 Mis' Molly anointed her sacrifice with tears and
cried herself to sleep。 Rena's emotions were more conflicting； she was
sorry to leave her mother； but glad to go with her brother。 The mere
journey she was about to make was a great event for the two women to
contemplate； to say nothing of the golden vision that lay beyond； for
neither of them had ever been out of the town or its vicinity。
The next day was devoted to preparations for the journey。 Rena's
slender wardrobe was made ready and packed in a large valise。 Towards
sunset； Mis' Molly took off her apron； put on her slat…bonnet；she was
ever the pink of neatness； picked her way across the street； which was
muddy from a rain during the day； traversed the foot…bridge that spanned
the ditch in front of the cooper shop； and spoke first to the elder of the two
men working there。
〃Good…evenin'； Peter。〃
〃Good…evenin'； ma'm；〃 responded the man briefly； and not relaxing at
all the energy with which he was trimming a barrel…stave。
Mis' Molly then accosted the younger workman； a dark…brown young
man； small in stature； but with a well…shaped head； an expressive forehead；
and features indicative of kindness； intelligence； humor； and imagination。
〃Frank；〃 she asked； 〃can I git you to do somethin' fer me soon in the
mo'nin'？〃
〃Yas 'm； I reckon so；〃 replied the young man； resting his hatchet on the
chopping…block。 〃W'at is it； Mis' Molly？〃
〃My daughter 's goin' away on the boat； an' I 'lowed you would n' min'
totin' her kyarpet…bag down to the w'arf； onless you'd ruther haul it down
on yo'r kyart。 It ain't very heavy。 Of co'se I'll pay you fer yo'r trouble。〃
〃Thank y'； ma'm；〃 he replied。 He knew that she would not pay him；
for the simple reason that he would not accept pay for such a service。 〃Is
she gwine fur？〃 he asked； with a sorrowful look； which he could not
entirely disguise。
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〃As fur as Wilmin'ton an' beyon'。 She'll be visitin' her brother John；
who lives inanother State； an' wants her to come an' see him。〃
〃Yas 'm； I'll come。 I won' need de kyart I'll tote de bag。 'Bout w'at
time shill I come over？〃
〃Well； 'long 'bout seven o'clock or half pas'。 She's goin' on the Old
North State； an' it leaves at eight。〃
Frank stood looking after Mis' Molly as she picked her way across the
street； until he was recalled to his duty by a sharp word from his father。
〃 'Ten' ter yo' wuk； boy； 'ten' ter yo' wuk。 You 're wastin' yo' time
wastin' yo' time！〃
Yes； he was wasting his time。 The beautiful young girl across the
street could never be anything to him。 But he had saved her life once；
and had dreamed that he might render her again some signal service that
might win her friendship； and convince her of his humble devotion。 For
Frank was not proud。 A smile； which Peter would have regarded as
condescending to a fr