From Thayor's private flag station, the main road into Big Shanty3 snakes along over a flat, sparsely4 settled valley before it enters the deep woods. Once in the heavy timber it crossed chattering5 brooks7 skirting the ragged8 edges of wild ravines. On it goes through the forest mile after mile, up hill and down, until it emerges abruptly9 into the open country at the head of the "Deadwater," passes Morrison's, is met half a mile farther on by the new road leading down from Big Shanty camp, and continues straight ahead through a rough notch10 out to a valley twelve miles beyond.
It was over this road that Alice Thayor went to her exile.
Thayor and Holcomb, this rare August afternoon, were at the flag station to meet the "Wanderer"—the banker's private car, with a spick-and-span three-seated buckboard and a fast team of bays. Aboard the car were Alice and Margaret, Blakeman and Annette.
Alice Thayor's first meeting with Holcomb since the time when he saved her husband's life, consisted of a slight nod of recognition and an annoyed "How do you do?" She wore a smart travelling gown of Scotch11 homespun and a becoming toque of gray straw enveloped12 in a filmy dragon-green veil. Holcomb thought it strange that Thayor kissed his daughter and simply greeted his wife with the question, "I do hope you were comfortable, dear, coming up?"
"The heat was something frightful," she replied, lifting the dragon-green veil wearily and binding13 it straight across her forehead. "My head is splitting."
Holcomb glanced at her exquisite14 features. The brilliancy of her dark eyes was enhanced by the pallor of her ivory skin. Alice Thayor loathed15 travelling.
Margaret had greeted him far more graciously; she had extended her firm little gloved hand to him, with genuine delight in her brown eyes, and had told him how very glad indeed she was to see him—which was the truth. During the drive in her mother scarcely opened her lips. She sat in the middle seat beside her daughter, haughtily16 gracious and inwardly bored. Margaret's enthusiasm irritated her. The woman going to her exile was in no mood to enthuse over nature. Holcomb drove, with Thayor on the front seat beside him; on the back seat sat Blakeman and Annette, in respectful silence. As they entered the deep woods at a smart trot1, Margaret half closed her eyes in sheer ecstasy17 and drew in a long, delicious breath of forest air.
"My—but that's good, daddy!" she exclaimed. Everything was of intense interest to her. The sudden glimpse of some great mountain towering above the trees; the velvety18 green, billowy moss19; the merry little brooks they crossed; the whirring flight of a startled partridge and now the sinking sun flooding the silent woods with gold. When she was not in ecstasies20 over these, her brown eyes glanced at the clean-cut, handsome profile of the young woodsman who was so skilfully21 driving the bay team.
He was no longer the awkward and embarrassed young fellow she remembered that summer at Long Lake. He had, she realized much to her agreeable surprise, the ease and manner of a well-bred man about him now. His honest, cheery frankness appealed to her; moreover, she thought him exceedingly handsome.
"That's where the line crosses," said Holcomb, pointing quickly to a blazed hemlock22.
"Oh, look, mother—quick!" cried Margaret.
"We're in Big Shanty tract23 now, dear," explained Thayor. "The line we have just passed strikes due east from here and runs—how far, Billy?"
"Oh—clear to Alder24 Brook6—about fifteen miles, before it corners south."
Alice's lips grew tense; she was beginning to realize the vastness of her husband's purchase. She began to wonder, too, how much it had cost him—this folly25 of Sam's.
"And is it all as beautiful as this?" asked Margaret of the young man whose strong brown hands held the reins26.
"Yes, Miss Thayor, and some of it is a good deal better looking."
"You shall see, dearie," added Thayor; "I've a surprise in store for you both—yes, a hundred surprises. We will cross the East Branch of Big Shanty Brook in a moment—that is surprise number one. How is the headache, Alice—better?"
"A little," she returned indifferently.
"Listen!" said Thayor; "hear it? That's the East Branch roaring."
"Oh—I'm just crazy to see it!" cried Margaret. "It was on the West
Branch you killed the deer, wasn't it, daddy?"
Thayor nodded and smiled.
"Now look, puss!" he commanded, as they reached the rough bridge spanning the East Branch.
Margaret peered down into the heavy black water a hundred feet below them.
"Daddy, it's gorgeous—simply gorgeous," exclaimed Margaret. "Look, mother, at the water swirling27 through that green pool. Oh, do look, mother." Alice condescended28 to look.
"Isn't it superb, Alice?" ventured Thayor.
"Yes—Sam—but lonely."
In the twilight29 the great brook boiled below them.
"It ain't so lonely," remarked Holcomb pleasantly, turning to Mrs. Thayor, "when the sun is shining." He had dropped into his native dialect, which now and then cropped out in his speech.
"I suppose it ain't," said Alice in a whisper to Margaret. The girl touched her mother's arm pleadingly.
"Please don't," she said; "he might hear you. It really isn't kind in you, mother. You know they speak so differently in the country."
Holcomb had heard it, but not a muscle twitched30 in resentment31. He tightened32 the reins, and for a mile drove in silence.
"And this is the man your father lunched with at The Players," continued Alice under her breath.
Margaret did not reply.
Presently they came out into the valley at the head of the Deadwater, still as ink, reflecting the barkless trees it had killed so clearly that it was difficult to see the point of immersion33. Then the plain gabled roof of Morrison's came into view above a flat of young poplars, the silver leaves shivering in the breeze.
Morrison, who had been sweeping34 off his narrow porch, in his shirt-sleeves, came out into the road at the rapid approach of the buckboard.
"Hello thar!" he shouted, and Holcomb stopped at an insistent35 gesture from the proprietor36.
"Hain't seen nothin' of a barril of kerosene37 fer me down thar, hev ye?" he asked. "Gosh durn it!—it oughter been here more'n a week ago."
"Nothing there for you. Jimmy's coming along with the trunks," replied
Holcomb. "He won't start before the freight gets in."
"Evenin', Mr. Thayor," said Morrison. "Wall, ye've got 'em all here now, haven't ye?" he remarked, running his shrewd eyes over the filled seats.
"Mrs. Thayor and my daughter, Mr. Morrison," said Thayor.
"Pleased to meet you, marm." Morrison raised his hat and stretched out a coarse red hand. Alice extended three fingers of her own despite her repulsion. There was really no other way out of it. "And here's the little gal38, I 'spose," continued the proprietor. Margaret laughed as she shook hands. "Won't ye stop and take something, friend?" he asked Blakeman. Blakeman raised his eyebrows39 in protest.
"Mon Dieu!" whispered Annette.
"Relations of yourn, Mrs. Thayor?" asked Morrison, noticing Annette's embarrassment40.
Alice straightened. "My maid!" she said stiffly.
"Wall, I'm sorry none of ye ain't dry," said Morrison.
"No, thank you," replied Thayor; "we must be getting up to camp."
Again the bays fell into a brisk trot.
Alice was furious.
"Who is that dreadful person, Sam?" she asked.
"You must not mind him, Alice. He meant well enough," explained her husband. "Morrison's rough, I'll grant you, but he's a good fellow at heart."
"It was only his way," added Holcomb. "He didn't mean to be impolite,
Mrs. Thayor."
"Of course he didn't, mother," added Margaret with a glance at
Holcomb.
The bays turned suddenly to the left into the new road. Alice emitted a sigh of relief. There was a sense of luxury—of exclusiveness—in passing over its smooth surface. Morrison and his common hotel, with its blear-eyed windows, were now well out of sight. Presently the camp lay ahead of them—an orderly settlement of trim buildings. Margaret was too excited to do more than gaze ahead of her with eager interest.
"Here we are!" exclaimed Thayor. "There, Alice, you can thank Mr.
Holcomb for all you see; I really had nothing to do with it."
His wife did not reply. Only Margaret's eyes met his own—a pair of brown eyes that seemed to be half sunshine and half tears.
As they drew up to the wide veranda41 of the camp, the trapper and the Clown came slowly across the compound to meet them; at the heels of the trapper stalked the old dog, watching the new arrivals with a certain dignified43 interest.
There was nothing strange in the fact that when Alice Thayor saw Big Shanty Camp she made no comment. It was a bitter disappointment to Thayor, yet he knew in his heart that he could not have expected her to do otherwise. Having reached her exile she had been careful to conceal44 any outward expression of her approval or dislike. Had the camp at that moment been filled with a jolly house-party, including Dr. Sperry, she could have been content to romp45 in a fashionable way within it for a week—even a fortnight. It was the thought that it was her home—a home which she had tried to evade46 and had been brought to bodily in the end—that rankled47 in her heart. She retired48 early, but could not sleep. She lay in bed for an hour or more, turning over in her mind the situation. The realization49 of her defeat stirred within her the old dominant50 spirit. She realized that her imprisonment51 had begun. After half an hour more of restless thinking she crept out of bed, tucked her feet into a pair of slippers52, drew a silk wrapper about her and crossed to the open window. Leaning with her elbows upon its sill she stood for a long time gazing out over the wilderness53.
The night was mild and hushed. It was almost certain that with dawn would come a downpour of rain; the tree-toads already heralded54 the good news. The dry hemlocks55 whispered it. Bathed in a gauze of moonlight the forest rolled away—silent—mighty in its expanse—promising nothing. Big Shanty Brook gleamed defiantly56 past in a riot of rapids and whirlpools. Flashing in the crisp sunlight, these rapids and whirlpools shone in inviting57 splendour; at night they became terrible.
It was this torrent58 that swept below the woman leaning on the window sill; it mocked her, roaring with joy, chuckling59 to itself at the prisoner, every leaping crest60 in the chaos61 of foam62 rearing again for a last glimpse of the exile, and, having seen, dashed on to give place to those who followed. Little waves fawned63 by, partisans64 in the same mockery.
Suddenly she buried her face in her ringless hands:
"My God—I can't stand this!" she moaned. "I can't and I won't!" she muttered helplessly. Then she broke into hysterical65 sobbing66, pressing her nails into the sensitive flesh of her temples; her lips trembling in a nervous chill. Her body grew cold, chilling even her bare feet thrust deep in her slippers. The torrent of Big Shanty became to her a jeering67 crowd, unlimitless—that poured from nowhere and dashed on into the unknown. She shut her eyes tight. In the darkness now she saw only Sperry; she saw him plainly—close to her, as one sees a face in a dream. She felt the idle, comforting tone of his voice—the warm pressure of his hand—and with her mental vision, looked into his eyes.
"Be patient, dear friend," he said to her quite clearly. Could she have looked on Sperry at that moment she would have found him playing billiards68 at his club, his whole mind occupied in making a difficult carom shot. When he made it he ordered a fresh brandy and soda69.
The roar of Big Shanty continued. An owl42 screamed hoarsely70 from somewhere in the timber below. Alice shuddered71, her cheeks burning against the palms of her cold hands, and crept back to bed.
Margaret, too, had been gazing out of her window. Big Shanty to her meant a new life—she, too, had been crying, but from sheer happiness.
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1
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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3
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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8
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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notch
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| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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15
loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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16
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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18
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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20
ecstasies
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| 狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药 | |
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21
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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24
alder
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| n.赤杨树 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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26
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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27
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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28
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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29
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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30
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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31
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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32
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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33
immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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34
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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35
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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37
kerosene
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| n.(kerosine)煤油，火油 | |
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38
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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39
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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40
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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41
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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42
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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43
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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44
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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45
romp
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| n.欢闹；v.嬉闹玩笑 | |
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46
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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47
rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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49
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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50
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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51
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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52
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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53
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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54
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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55
hemlocks
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| 由毒芹提取的毒药( hemlock的名词复数 ) | |
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56
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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57
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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58
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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59
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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60
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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61
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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62
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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63
fawned
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| v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的过去式和过去分词 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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64
partisans
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| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
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65
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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66
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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67
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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68
billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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69
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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70
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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71
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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