That was the moon of delight. The days passed through the hazy1 forest like stately figures from an old masque. In the pine grove2 on the knoll3 the man and the woman had erected4 a temple to love, and love showed them one to the other.
In Hilda Farrand was no guile5, no coquetry, no deceit. So perfect was her naturalism that often by those who knew her least she was considered affected6. Her trust in whomever she found herself with attained7 so directly its reward; her unconsciousness of pose was so rhythmically8 graceful9; her ignorance and innocence10 so triumphantly11 effective, that the mind with difficulty rid itself of the belief that it was all carefully studied. This was not true. She honestly did not know that she was beautiful; was unaware12 of her grace; did not realize the potency13 of her wealth.
This absolute lack of self-consciousness was most potent14 in overcoming Thorpe's natural reticence15. He expanded to her. She came to idolize him in a manner at once inspiring and touching16 in so beautiful a creature. In him she saw reflected all the lofty attractions of character which she herself possessed17, but of which she was entirely18 unaware. Through his words she saw to an ideal. His most trivial actions were ascribed to motives19 of a dignity which would have been ridiculous, if it had not been a little pathetic. The woods-life, the striving of the pioneer kindled20 her imagination. She seized upon the great facts of them and fitted those facts with reasons of her own. Her insight perceived the adventurous21 spirit, the battle-courage, the indomitable steadfastness22 which always in reality lie back of these men of the frontier to urge them into the life; and of them constructed conscious motives of conduct. To her fancy the lumbermen, of whom Thorpe was one, were self-conscious agents of advance. They chose hardship, loneliness, the strenuous23 life because they wished to clear the way for a higher civilization. To her it seemed a great and noble sacrifice. She did not perceive that while all this is true, it is under the surface, the real spur is a desire to get on, and a hope of making money. For, strangely enough, she differentiated24 sharply the life and the reasons for it. An existence in subduing25 the forest was to her ideal; the making of a fortune through a lumbering26 firm she did not consider in the least important. That this distinction was most potent, the sequel will show.
In all of it she was absolutely sincere, and not at all stupid. She had always had all she could spend, without question. Money meant nothing to her, one way or the other. If need was, she might have experienced some difficulty in learning how to economize27, but none at all in adjusting herself to the necessity of it. The material had become, in all sincerity28, a basis for the spiritual. She recognized but two sorts of motives; of which the ideal, comprising the poetic29, the daring, the beautiful, were good; and the material, meaning the sordid30 and selfish, were bad. With her the mere31 money-getting would have to be allied32 with some great and poetic excuse.
That is the only sort of aristocracy, in the popular sense of the word, which is real; the only scorn of money which can be respected.
There are some faces which symbolize33 to the beholder34 many subtleties35 of soul-beauty which by no other method could gain expression. Those subtleties may not, probably do not, exist in the possessor of the face. The power of such a countenance36 lies not so much in what it actually represents, as in the suggestion it holds out to another. So often it is with a beautiful character. Analyze37 it carefully, and you will reduce it generally to absolute simplicity38 and absolute purity--two elements common enough in adulteration; but place it face to face with a more complex personality, and mirror-like it will take on a hundred delicate shades of ethical39 beauty, while at the same time preserving its own lofty spirituality.
Thus Hilda Farrand reflected Thorpe. In the clear mirror of her heart his image rested transfigured. It was as though the glass were magic, so that the gross and material was absorbed and lost, while the more spiritual qualities reflected back. So the image was retained in its entirety, but etherealized, refined. It is necessary to attempt, even thus faintly and inadequately40, a sketch41 of Hilda's love, for a partial understanding of it is necessary to the comprehension of what followed the moon of delight.
That moon saw a variety of changes.
The bed of French Creek42 was cleared. Three of the roads were finished, and the last begun. So much for the work of it.
Morton and Cary shot four deer between them, which was unpardonably against the law, caught fish in plenty, smoked two and a half pounds of tobacco, and read half of one novel. Mrs. Cary and Miss Carpenter walked a total of over a hundred miles, bought twelve pounds of Indian work of all sorts, embroidered43 the circle of two embroidery44 frames, learned to paddle a birch-bark canoe, picked fifteen quarts of berries, and gained six pounds in weight. All the party together accomplished45 five picnics, four explorations, and thirty excellent campfires in the evening. So much for the fun of it.
Little Phil disappeared utterly46, taking with him his violin, but leaving his broken bow. Thorpe has it even to this day. The lumberman caused search and inquiry47 on all sides. The cripple was never heard of again. He had lived his brief hour, taken his subtle artist's vengeance48 of misplayed notes on the crude appreciation49 of men too coarse-fibered to recognize it, brought together by the might of sacrifice and consummate50 genius two hearts on the brink51 of misunderstanding;--now there was no further need for him, he had gone. So much for the tragedy of it.
"I saw you long ago," said Hilda to Thorpe. "Long, long ago, when I was quite a young girl. I had been visiting in Detroit, and was on my way all alone to catch an early train. You stood on the corner thinking, tall and straight and brown, with a weather-beaten old hat and a weather-beaten old coat and weather-beaten old moccasins, and such a proud, clear, undaunted look on your face. I have remembered you ever since."
And then he told her of the race to the Land Office, while her eyes grew brighter and brighter with the epic52 splendor53 of the story. She told him that she had loved him from that moment--and believed her telling; while he, the unsentimental leader of men, persuaded himself and her that he had always in some mysterious manner carried her image prophetically in his heart. So much for the love of it.
In the last days of the month of delight Thorpe received a second letter from his partner, which to some extent awakened54 him to the realities.
"My dear Harry55," it ran. "I have made a startling discovery. The other fellow is Morrison. I have been a blind, stupid dolt56, and am caught nicely. You can't call me any more names than I have already called myself. Morrison has been in it from the start. By an accident I learned he was behind the fellow who induced me to invest, and it is he who has been hammering the stock down ever since. They couldn't lick you at your game, so they tackled me at mine. I'm not the man you are, Harry, and I've made a mess of it. Of course their scheme is plain enough on the face of it. They're going to involve me so deeply that I will drag the firm down with me.
"If you can fix it to meet those notes, they can't do it. I have ample margin57 to cover any more declines they may be able to bring about. Don't fret58 about that. Just as sure as you can pay that sixty thousand, just so sure we'll be ahead of the game at this time next year. For God's sake get a move on you, old man. If you don't--good Lord! The firm'll bust59 because she can't pay; I'll bust because I'll have to let my stock go on margins--it'll be an awful smash. But you'll get there, so we needn't worry. I've been an awful fool, and I've no right to do the getting into trouble and leave you to the hard work of getting out again. But as partner I'm going to insist on your having a salary--etc."
The news aroused all Thorpe's martial60 spirit. Now at last the mystery surrounding Morrison & Daly's unnatural61 complaisance62 was riven. It had come to grapples again. He was glad of it. Meet those notes? Well I guess so! He'd show them what sort of a proposition they had tackled. Sneaking63, underhanded scoundrels! taking advantage of a mere boy. Meet those notes? You bet he would; and then he'd go down there and boost those stocks until M. & D. looked like a last year's bird's nest. He thrust the letter in his pocket and walked buoyantly to the pines.
The two lovers sat there all the afternoon drinking in half sadly the joy of the forest and of being near each other, for the moon of delight was almost done. In a week the camping party would be breaking up, and Hilda must return to the city. It was uncertain when they would be able to see each other again, though there was talk of getting up a winter party to visit Camp One in January. The affair would be unique.
Suddenly the girl broke off and put her fingers to her lips. For some time, dimly, an intermittent64 and faint sound had been felt, rather than actually heard, like the irregular muffled65 beating of a heart. Gradually it had insisted on the attention. Now at last it broke through the film of consciousness.
"What is it?" she asked.
Thorpe listened. Then his face lit mightily66 with the joy of battle.
"My axmen," he cried. "They are cutting the road."
A faint call echoed. Then without warning, nearer at hand the sharp ring of an ax sounded through the forest.
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1
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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rhythmically
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| adv.有节奏地 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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potency
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| n. 效力，潜能 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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steadfastness
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| n.坚定，稳当 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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differentiated
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| 区分，区别，辨别( differentiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 区别对待； 表明…间的差别，构成…间差别的特征 | |
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subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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economize
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| v.节约，节省 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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symbolize
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| vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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subtleties
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| 细微( subtlety的名词复数 )； 精细； 巧妙； 细微的差别等 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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ethical
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| adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的 | |
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inadequately
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| ad.不够地；不够好地 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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43
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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48
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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49
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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50
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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51
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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52
epic
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| n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的 | |
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53
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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54
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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55
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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56
dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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57
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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58
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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59
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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60
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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61
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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63
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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64
intermittent
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| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
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65
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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