“No.”
“Gwine dar on bizzness?”
“No—yes.”
“Dar ain’t nobody at dat house to do bizzness wid excusin’ Mr. Shinny an’ Miss Jew-ann.” No answer. “Which one am you doin’ bizzness wid, boss?”
“Which one do you think?”
“Of co’se, I’m jes’ guessin’—but ef I wus a white man I’d shore crave3 to talk bizzness wid de lady.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” the stranger laughed.
They turned suddenly to the left and ran into a dark road which lead through a section of the Little Moccasin Swamp. The wheels began to slip in the mire5 and Skeeter gave his entire attention to his automobile6 to prevent stalling in the mud. At last they reached firmer ground, and Skeeter returned to the conversation.
“Of co’se, I ain’t axin’ you fer no job, boss, but I’s been powerful assistance to a whole passel of young white mens dat’s come courtin’ in dis country.”
“What special help can you render?” the stranger asked.
“Expe’unce an’ conversation,” Skeeter replied promptly7. “I done courted ’bout a millyum womens my own self, an’ I knows all de funny curves dey tries on. I gives exputt advice to all de niggers dat marries in Tickfall. I ain’t no marrifyin’ man myse’f, but I favors it an’ he’ps it along.”
“How can you render assistance through your conversation?” the young man smiled.
“Gosh, white man! You ain’t never done no courtin’ in de South, is you? Eve’y white man whut goes courtin’ hires a nigger to go wid him.”
“What for?”
“I see you don’t know nothin’,” Skeeter chuckled. “I esplains dis fack; eve’y white lady dat is wuth courtin’ is got some nigger gal8 wuckin’ fer her in de kitchen. Eve’y white man whut onderstan’s courtin’ hires a nigger boy to go wid him an’ wait on him while he courts de lady. Now, dat nigger boy goes into de kitchen an’ tells dat nigger gal whut a allfired good ketch fer de white lady his boss am—an’ de nigger gal tells dat nigger boy whut a histidious, highfalutin lady her mistiss is, an’ dat arrangement he’ps courtin’ long an’ does a large amount of great good.”
The young man laughed, and Skeeter bent9 over his wheel, watching the road for stumps10 as his machine plowed11 through some high marsh-grass.
“Now, I always gives my white man a good recommend at de fust off-startin’,” Skeeter continued. “I tells de nigger gal my white folks don’t drink none, don’t gamble none, is got plenty money, owns a big plantation12, and hires plenty niggers. When us mens goes home, dat nigger gal tells her mistiss whut I said about her gen’leman friend. Don’t you think dat’s a good arrangement?”
“I don’t know,” the young man said dubiously13, as they ran into a clearing and stopped in front of a wide-spreading farmhouse14. “I’ll wait and see. I like to talk for myself, but I might need you yet.”
“I hope so, boss,” Skeeter smiled as he pocketed the two dollars which the young man extended. “You want me to wait fer you?”
“No.”
“Want me to come back fer you?”
“No.”
“A’right. Ef you needs me, jes’ ax fer Skeeter Butts. I’s got a good name ’mongst de white and de blacks.”
Miss Juan Chieniere sat upon the wide, white portico15 and watched, as the white man dismounted from the machine. She watched until Skeeter had turned and started back the way he had come. She watched the young man turn and enter the gate. All of this with indifference16, which suddenly turned to an interest, which left her gasping17 with delight.
“Oh—Jim!”
The Frenchwoman makes the most fascinating sweetheart and the most attractive wife in the world, to all except a blind man. To all the other things which the Frenchwoman possesses in common with her sisters, she adds the charm of manner. In other words, when she loves a man, she shows it! The glance of the eye, the quiver of the lips, the gesture of her hands, these things speak for her and plead for her and pray for her!
“Oh—Jim!” she repeated.
“I told you I was coming,” was all that Jim said.
“But—how did you get here, Jim?”
“I flew through the air like a bird, just like I told you I would.”
Her hand motioned him to a seat by her side, and every posture18 of her body, as she moved aside to give him space, bespoke19 a welcome without words.
“Where did you get the airplane, Jim?” she questioned.
“I stole it,” Jim answered frankly20. “I stole it from the government of the United States. It’s an army airplane, designed to strafe the Huns. I just hopped21 in, shot the juice to her, and flew seventy miles to see you!”
“Holy Mother!” the girl exclaimed tragically22. “What will they do to you for that crime?”
“I should worry—they haven’t caught me yet. Besides, I’ve got a whale of a lie fixed23 up to tell them.”
“Let me hear your lie, Jimmy,” the girl fluttered. “I’ll be scared to death while you are here, unless the lie is a real good one, and will save you if you get caught.”
Jim hesitated a moment while he reached for his cigarette-case. The girl took the match from his fingers, struck it into flame, and held it to his cigarette, thus lighting24 his face and her own in the gathering25 dusk.
“Whew,” he whistled, as his hungry eyes devoured26 the beauty of her face. “It would have been worth it if I had stolen a whole squadron of war-ships to come to see you in.”
“You can’t appreciate the value of a lie until you know the truth,” Jimmy began, inhaling28 his cigarette smoke. “The truth is this: I have been in the aviation camp for eighteen months without a chance of getting leave of absence to come to see you. The only chance I have ever had to talk has been on your visits to your brother at the camp, and those opportunities have been too few. Now, I am an expert airplane mechanic, and in repairing machines I am permitted to try them out before brave aviators29 like your brother are permitted to risk their valuable lives in them. So this afternoon I repaired a machine and took a trial flight which has extended for seventy miles, and which ended just about four miles from Tickfall, and ten miles by automobile from you. I came here to see you because I love you, and before I go back I expect your promise to marry me!”
“Oh, how perfectly30 glorious!” the girl exclaimed. “That’s the truth! Now, tell me the beautiful lie!”
“When I go back to the camp I shall tell them that I started out on a trial flight, and had engine trouble; had to land in the heart of these great Louisiana swamps, and lost my bearings. I shall tell them I spent two days wandering in the wilderness31 like the children of Israel before I found a human habitation. There I got help, made my repairs, and hurried back!”
“That’s fine, Jimmy!” Juan exclaimed. “But will they believe it?”
“I don’t know. If you think it is too risky32, suppose you promise to marry me right now, and let me hurry back?”
“You’re joking, now, Jimmy,” the girl answered promptly. “You must save your lies and jokes till you get back to camp. Maybe they’ll believe them.”
The door opened, and a handsome gentleman stepped out upon the porch.
“Father,” the girl said, as they both rose to their feet, “this is Mr. James Gannaway, from the aviation camp where brother is.”
“I welcome you, young man,” Mr. Chieniere exclaimed cordially. “I wish you were my son come in from the camp.”
“I wish so, too,” Jim said simply, and his words held a meaning which the father did not get.
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1
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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12
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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15
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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16
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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19
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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21
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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23
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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24
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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26
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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28
inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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aviators
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| 飞机驾驶员，飞行员( aviator的名词复数 ) | |
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30
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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31
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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