He smiled back into her laughing eyes and began awkwardly:
"Oh, I say, Peggy——"
She dropped a pretty courtesy:
"Yiss-sor?"
Somehow it wouldn't work. The words refused to come. Love was too big and sweet and sacred. It couldn't be hinted at to a third person. And so he merely stammered4:
"Will you—er—please—tell Miss Betty I'm here?"
"Yiss-sor!" Peggy giggled5.
He was glad to be rid of her. He drew his handkerchief, mopped the perspiration6 from his brow and sat down by the open window to wait. His heart was pounding. He looked about the room with vague longing7. He had spent many a swift hour of pain and joy in this room. The sight and sound of her had grown into his very life—he couldn't realize how intimately and how hopelessly until this moment of parting perhaps forever.
The portrait of her mother hung over the mantel—a life-size oil painting by a noted8 French artist, the same brilliant laughing eyes, the same deep golden brown hair, its wayward ringlets playing loosely about her fine forehead and shell-like ears.
Beyond a doubt this pretty mother with the sunshine of France in her blood had known how to flirt9 in her day—and her beautiful daughter was enough like that picture to have been her twin sister.
On the mantel beneath this portrait sat photographs in solid silver frames, one of Wendell Phillips, one of William Lloyd Garrison10 and one of John C. Fremont, the first Republican candidate for President. Directly opposite on the wall hung an oil painting of John Brown. Ned caught the flash of the fanatic11 in the old madman's eye and was startled at the striking resemblance to Senator Winter. He had never thought of it before. Gilbert Winter might have been his brother in the flesh as he undoubtedly12 was in spirit.
The thought chilled. He looked out the window with a sigh and wondered how far the old tyrant13 would carry his hatred14 of the South into his daughter's life. His eye rested for a moment on the row of lilacs in full bloom in the garden and caught the flash of the big new leaves of the magnolia which shadowed the rear wall. The early honeysuckle had begun to blossom on the south side, and the violet beds were a solid mass of gorgeous blue. Through the open window came the rich odor of the long rows of narcissus in full white glory where the jonquils had flamed a month ago.
What a beautiful world to be beaten into a scarred battlefield!
For just a moment the thought wrung15 the heart of youth and love. It was hard just when the tenderest and sweetest impulses that ever filled his soul wore clamoring for speech, to turn his back on all, say good-bye and go—to war—perhaps to kill his own brother.
And there could be no mistake, war had come. Overhead he caught the steady tramp of Senator Winter's feet, a caged lion walking back and forth16 with hungry eyes turned toward the South. He could feel his deadly hostility17 through the very walls.
A battery of artillery18 suddenly roared through the streets, the dull heavy rattle19 of its wheels over the cobblestones, and the crack of the driver's whip echoing and re?choing through the house. Behind it came the steady tramp, tramp, of a regiment20 of infantry21, the loud call of their volunteer officers ringing sharply their orders at the turn of the street. Far off on the Capitol Hill he heard the sharp note of a bugle22 and the rattle of horses' hoofs23. Every hour the raw troops were pouring into the city from the North, the East and the West.
He wondered with a strange catch in his throat what difference this was going to make between him and the girl he loved. There was no longer any question about the love. He marvelled24 that he had been too stupid to realize it and speak before this shadow had fallen between them. She knew that his sympathies were with the South and he knew with equal certainty she had never believed that he would fight to destroy the union when the test should come. He dreaded25 the shock when he must tell her.
His heart grew sick with fear. What chance had he with everything against him—her old, fanatical father who loved her with the tender devotion of his strong manhood—her own blind admiration26 for the new President, whose coming had brought war—and worst of all he must go and leave John by her side! His brother had given no hint of his real feelings, but his deeds had been more eloquent27 than words. He had seen Betty every week since the day they had met—sometimes twice. This he knew. There may have been times he didn't know.
All the more reason why he must put the thing to the test. Besides he must speak. His hour had struck. His country was calling, and he must go—to meet Death or Glory. The woman he loved must know.
He heard the soft rustle28 of her dress on the stairs and sprang to his feet. She paused in the doorway29 a vision of ravishing beauty in full evening dress, her bare arms and exquisite30 neck and throat gleaming in the shadows.
She smiled graciously, her brown eyes sparkling with the conscious power which youth and beauty can never conceal31.
She held out her soft warm hand and his trembling cold fingers grasped it.
"I'm sorry to have kept you, Ned," she began softly, "but I was dressing32 for the reception at the White House. I promised Mrs. Lincoln to help her."
"I didn't mind the wait, Miss Betty," he answered soberly. "Come into the garden—I can talk better there among your flowers—I never mind waiting for you."
"Why?"
"I've time to dream."
"Before you must wake?" she laughed.
"I'm afraid it's so this time——"
"Why so serious—what's the matter?"
"I'm going to the front."
"So are thousands of brave men, Ned. I've always known you'd go when the test came."
He bit his lips and was silent. It was hard, but he had to say it:
"I am going to fight for the South, Miss Betty."
The silence was painful. She looked steadily33 into his dark earnest eyes. There was something too big and fine in them to be met with anger or reproach. He was deadly pale and waited breathlessly for her to speak.
"I'm sorry," she breathed softly.
"You know that it costs me something to say this to you," he stammered.
"Yes, I know——"
"But it must be. It's a question of principle—a question that cuts to the bone of a fellow's life and character. A man must be true to what he believes to be right, mustn't he?"
His voice was tender, wistful, pleading. The sweet, young face upturned to his caught his mood:
"Yes, Ned."
"I couldn't be a real man and do less, could I?"
"No—but I'm sorry"—she paused and suddenly asked, "Your brother agrees with you?"
Ned frowned: "Why do you ask that question?"
"Because I was sure that he was on our side——"
"Is that all?"
"And I've always supposed he was a sort of guardian——"
"Only because he has always been my big brother and I've loved and admired him very much. I cried my eyes out the day he left home out in Missouri and came East to college."
"And you're going to fight him?"
"It's possible."
"It's horrible!"
"And yet, men who are not savages34 could only do such things drawn35 by the mightiest36 forces that move a human soul—you must know that, Miss Betty."
"Yes."
"There's only one thing in life that's bigger——"
"And that?"
"Is love. I've held it too high and holy a word to speak lightly. I shall tell but one woman that I love her——"
She looked at him tenderly:
"You glorious, foolish boy!"
Pale and trembling he took her hand, led her to a seat and sank on his knees by her side.
"I love you, Betty!" he gasped37. "I've loved you from the moment we met, tenderly, madly, reverently38. I've been afraid to touch your hand lately lest you feel the pounding of my heart and know. And now it's come—this hour when I must say I love you and good-bye in the same breath! Be gentle and sweet to me. I'm afraid to ask if you love me. It's too good to be true. I'm not worthy39 to even touch your little hand—and yet I'm daring to hold it in mine——"
He paused and bowed his head, overcome with emotion.
Betty gently pressed his trembling fingers. Her voice was low.
"I'm proud of your love, Ned. It's very beautiful——"
"But you don't love me?" he groaned40.
"Not as you love me."
He looked searchingly and hungrily into her brown eyes:
"Is it John?"
She shook her head slowly and thoughtfully:
"No."
"And it's no one else?"
"No."
"Then I won't take that answer!" he cried with desperate earnestness. "I'm going to win you. I'll love you with a love so big and true I'll make you love me. Everything's against me now. Your father's against me. I'm going to fight your country and your people. You admire the new President. I despise him. The passions of war have separated us, that's all. But I won't give up. The war can't last long. You'll see things in a different way when it ends."
Betty smiled into his pleading eyes:
"How little you know me, Boy! Nothing on this earth could separate me from the man I love——" she paused and breathed quickly "——I'd follow him blindfold41 to the bottomless pit once I'd given him my heart!"
Ned rose suddenly to his foot and drew Betty with him. His hand now was hot with the passion that fired his soul.
"Then you're worth fighting for. And I'm going to fight—fight for what I believe to be right and fight for you——"
He stopped suddenly and his slender figure straightened:
"I'm coming back to you, Betty!" he said with clear ringing emphasis. "I'm coming back to Washington. I'll be with an army conquering, triumphant42, because they are right. There'll be a new President in the White House and I'll win!"
He bowed and reverently kissed the tips of her fingers.
"You glorious boy!" she sighed. "It's beautiful to be loved like that! I'm proud of it—I'll hold my head a little higher with every thought of you——"
"And you'll think of me sometimes when war has separated us?"
"I'll never forget!"
"And remember that I'm fighting my way back to your side?"
A tender smile played about the corners of her eyes and mouth:
"I'll remember."
With a quick, firm movement he turned, passed through the house, and strode toward the iron gate.
He suddenly confronted John entering.
The two brothers faced each other for a moment angrily and awkwardly, and then the anger slowly melted from the younger man's eyes.
"You are taking dinner with Miss Betty to-night?" Ned asked in friendly tones.
"Yes, I'm going with her to the White House," was the cold reply.
"I'm leaving in an hour. Don't you think it's foolish for two brothers who have been what you and I have been to each other to part like this? We may not see one another again."
John hesitated and then slowly slipped his arm around the younger man, holding him in silence. When his voice was steady he said:
"Forgive me, Boy. I was blind with anger. It meant so much to me. But we'll face it. We'll have to fight it out—as God gives us wisdom to see the right——"
Ned's hand found his, and clasped it firmly:
"As God gives us to see the right, John—Good-bye."
"Good-bye, Boy,—it's hard to say it!"
They clung to each other for a moment and slowly drew apart as the shadows of the soft spring night deepened.
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收听单词发音
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1
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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12
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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14
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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15
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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18
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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19
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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21
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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22
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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23
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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24
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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26
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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27
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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28
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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29
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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30
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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32
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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33
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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35
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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36
mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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37
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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39
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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40
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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41
blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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42
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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