Mrs. Absalom had for years been the manager of the Dorrington household, and she retained her place even after Randolph Dorrington had taken for his second wife Zepherine Dion, who had been known as Miss Johns, and who was now called Mrs. Johnny Dorrington. In that household, indeed, Mrs. Absalom was indispensable, and it was very fortunate that she and Mrs. Johnny were very fond of each other. Her maiden5 name was Margaret Rorick, and she came of a family that had long been attached to the Dorringtons. In another clime, and under a different system, the Roricks would have been described as retainers. They were that and much more. They served without fee or reward. They were retainers in the highest and best sense; for, in following the bent6 of their affections, they retained their independence, their simple dignity and their self-respect; and in that region, which was then, and is now, the most democratic in the world, they were as well thought of as the Cloptons or the Dorringtons.
It came to pass, in the order of events, that Margaret Rorick married Mr. Absalom Goodlett, who was the manager of the Dorrington plantation7. Though she was no chicken, as she said herself, Mr. Goodlett was her senior by several years. She was also, in a sense, the victim of the humour that used to run riot in Middle Georgia; for, in spite of her individuality, which was vigorous and aggressive, she lost her own name and her husband's too. At Margaret Rorick's wedding, or, rather, at the infair, which was the feast after the wedding, Mr. Uriah Lazenby, whose memory is kept green by his feats8 at tippling, and who combined fiddling9 with farming, furnished the music for the occasion. Being something of a privileged character, and having taken a thimbleful too much dram, as fiddlers will do, the world over, Mr. Lazenby rose in his place, when the company had been summoned to the feast, and remarked:
"Margaret Rorick, now that the thing's been gone and done, and can't be holp, I nominate you Mrs. Absalom, an' Mrs. Absalom it shall be herearter. Ab Goodlett, you ought to be mighty10 proud when you can fling your bridle11 on a filly like that, an' lead her home jest for the bar' sesso."
The loud laughter that followed placed the bride at a temporary disadvantage. She joined in, however, and then exclaimed: "My goodness! Old Uriah's drunk ag'in; you can't pull a stopper out'n a jug12 in the same house wi' him but what he'll dribble13 at the mouth an' git shaky in the legs."
But drunk or sober, Uriah had "nominated" Mrs. Absalom for good and all. One reason why this "nomination14" was seized on so eagerly was the sudden change that had taken place in Miss Rorick's views in regard to matrimony. She was more than thirty years old when she consented to become Mrs. Absalom. Up to that time she had declared over and over again that there wasn't a man in the world she'd look at, much less marry.
Now, many a woman has said the same thing and changed her mind without attracting attention; but Mrs. Absalom's views on matrimony, and her pithy15 criticisms of the male sex in general, had flown about on the wings of her humour, and, in that way, had come to have wide advertisement. But her "nomination" interfered16 neither with her individuality, nor with her ability to indulge in pithy comments on matters and things in general. Of Mr. Lazenby, she said later: "What's the use of choosin' betwixt a fool an' a fiddler, when you can git both in the same package?"
She made no bad bargain when she married Mr. Goodlett. His irritability17 was all on the surface. At bottom, he was the best-natured and most patient of men—a philosopher who was so thoroughly18 contented19 with the ways of the world and the order of Providence20, that he had no desire to change either—and so comfortable in his own views and opinions that he was not anxious to convert others to his way of thinking. If anything went wrong, it was like a garment turned inside out; it would "come out all right in the washin'."
Mrs. Absalom's explanation of her change of views in the subject of matrimony was very simple and reasonable. "Why, a single 'oman," she said, "can't cut no caper21 at all; she can't hardly turn around wi'out bein' plumb22 tore to pieces by folks's tongues. But now—you see Ab over there? Well, he ain't purty enough for a centre-piece, nor light enough for to be set on the mantel-shelf, but it's a comfort to see him in that cheer there, knowin' all the time that you can do as you please, and nobody dastin to say anything out of the way. Why, I could put on Ab's old boots an' take his old buggy umbrell, an' go an' jine the muster23. The men might snicker behind the'r han's, but all they could say would be, 'Well, ef that kind of a dido suits Ab Goodlett, it ain't nobody else's business.'"
It happened that Mr. Sanders was the person to whom Mrs. Absalom was addressing her remarks, and he inquired if such an unheard of proceeding24 would be likely to suit Mr. Goodlett.
"To a t!" she exclaimed. "Why, he wouldn't bat his eye. He mought grunt25 an' groan26 a little jest to let you know that he's alive, but that'd be all. An' that's the trouble: ef Ab has any fault in the world that you can put your finger on, it's in bein' too good. You know, William—anyhow, you'd know it ef you belonged to my seck—that there's lots of times and occasions when it'd make the wimmen folks feel lots better ef they had somethin' or other to rip and rare about. My old cat goes about purrin', the very spit and image of innocence27; but she'd die ef she didn't show her claws sometimes. Once in awhile I try my level best for to pick a quarrel wi' Ab, but before I say a dozen words, I look at him an' have to laugh. Why the way that man sets there an' says nothin' is enough to make a saint ashamed of hisself."
It was the general opinion that Mr. Goodlett, who was shrewd and far-seeing beyond the average, had an eye to strengthening his relations with Dr. Dorrington, when he "popped the question" to Margaret Rorick. But such was not the case. His relations needed no strengthening. He managed Dorrington's agricultural interests with uncommon28 ability, and brought rare prosperity to the plantation. Unlettered, and, to all appearances, taking no interest in public affairs, he not only foresaw the end of the Civil War, but looked forward to the time when the Confederate Government, pressed for supplies, would urge upon the States the necessity of limiting the raising of cotton.
He gave both Meriwether Clopton and Neighbour Tomlin the benefit of these views; and then, when the rumours30 of Sherman's march through Georgia grew rifer he made a shrewd guess as to the route, and succeeded in hiding out and saving, not only all the cotton the three plantations31 had grown, but also all the livestock32. Having an ingrained suspicion of the negroes, and entertaining against them the prejudices of his class, Mr. Goodlett employed a number of white boys from the country districts to aid him with his refugee train. And he left them in charge of the camp he had selected, knowing full well that they would be glad to remain in hiding as long as the Federal soldiers were about.
The window of the dining-room at Dorringtons' commanded a view of the street for a considerable distance toward town, and it was at this window that Mrs. Absalom had her favourite seat. She explained her preference for it by saying that she wanted to know what was going on in the world. She looked out from this window one day while she was talking to Gabriel Tolliver, whose visits to Dorringtons' had come to be coincident with Nan's absence, and suddenly exclaimed:
"Well, my gracious! Ef yonder ain't old Picayune Pauper33! I wonder what we have done out this way that old Picayune should be sneakin' around here? I'll tell you what—ef Ab has borried arry thrip from old Silas Tomlin, I'll quit him; I won't live wi' a man that'll have anything to do wi' that old scamp. As I'm a livin' human, he's comin' here!"
Now, Silas Tomlin was Neighbour Tomlin's elder brother, but the two men were as different in character and disposition34 as a warm bright day is different from a bitter black night. Pulaski Tomlin gave his services freely to all who needed them, and he was happy and prosperous; whereas Silas was a miserly money-lender and note-shaver, and always appeared to be in the clutches of adversity. To parsimony35 he added the sting—yes, and the stain—of a peevish36 and an irritable37 temper. It was as Mrs. Absalom had said—"a picayunish man is a pauper, I don't care how much money he's got."
"I'll go see ef Johnny is in the house," said Mrs. Absalom. "Johnny" was Mrs. Dorrington, who, in turn, called Mrs. Absalom "Nonny," which was Nan's pet name for the woman who had raised her—"I'll go see, but I lay she's gone to see Nan; I never before seed a step-mammy so wropped up in her husband's daughter." Nan, as has been said, was spending a few days with poor Margaret Bridalbin, whose mother had just been buried.
Mrs. Absalom called Mrs. Dorrington, and then looked for her, but she was not to be found at the moment. "I reckon you'll have to go to the door, Gabe," said Mrs. Absalom, as the knocker sounded. "Sence freedom, we ain't got as many niggers lazyin' around an' doin' nothin' as we use to have."
"Is Mr. Goodlett in?" asked Silas Tomlin, when Gabriel opened the door.
"I think he's in Malvern," Gabriel answered, as politely as he could.
"No, no, no!" exclaimed Silas Tomlin, with a terrible frown; "you don't know a thing about it, not a thing in the world. He got back right after dinner."
"Well, ef he did," said Mrs. Absalom, coming forward, "he didn't come here. He ain't cast a shadow in this house sence day before yistiddy, when he went to Malvern."
"How are you, Mrs. Absalom?—how are you?" said Silas, with a tremendous effort at politeness. "I hope you are well; you are certainly looking well. You say your husband is not in? Well, I'm sorry; I wanted to see him on business; I wanted to get some information."
"Ab don't owe you anything, I hope," remarked Mrs. Absalom, ignoring the salutation.
"Not a thing—not a thing in the world. But why do you ask? Many people have the idea that I'm rolling in money—that's what I hear—and they think that I go about loaning it to Tom, Dick and Harry38. But it is not so—it is not so; I have no money."
Mrs. Absalom laughed ironically, saying, "I reckon if your son Paul was to scratch about under the house, he'd find small change about in places."
Silas Tomlin looked hard at Mrs. Absalom, his little black eyes glistening39 under his coarse, heavy eyebrows40 like those of some wild animal. He was not a prepossessing man. He was so bald that he was compelled to wear a skull-cap, and the edge of this showed beneath the brim of his chimney-pot hat. His face needed a razor; and the grey beard coming through the cuticle41, gave a ghastly, bluish tint42 to the pallor of his countenance43. His broadcloth coat—Mrs. Absalom called it a "shadbelly"—was greasy44 at the collar, and worn at the seams, and his waistcoat was stained with ambeer. His trousers, which were much too large for him, bagged at the knees, and his boots were run down at the heels. Though he was temperate45 to the last degree, he had the appearance of a man who is the victim of some artificial stimulant46.
"What put that idea in your head, Mrs. Goodlett?" he asked, after looking long and searchingly at Mrs. Absalom.
"Well, I allowed that when you was countin' out your cash, a thrip or two mought have slipped through the cracks in the floor," she replied; "sech things have happened before now."
He wiped his thin lips with his lean forefinger47, and stood hesitating, whereupon Mrs. Absalom remarked: "It sha'n't cost you a cent ef you'll come in. Ab'll be here purty soon ef somebody ain't been fool enough to give him his dinner. His health'll fail him long before his appetite does. Show Mr. Tomlin in the parlour, Gabriel, an' I'll see about Ab's dinner; I don't want it to burn to a cracklin' before he gits it."
Silas Tomlin went into the parlour and sat down, while Gabriel stood hesitating, not knowing what to do or say. He was embarrassed, and Silas Tomlin saw it. "Oh, take a seat," he said, with a show of impatience48. "What are you doing for yourself, Tolliver? You're a big boy now, and you ought to be making good money. We'll all have to work now: we'll have to buckle49 right down to it. The way I look at it, the man who is doing nothing is throwing money away; yes, sir, throwing it away. What does Adam Smith say? Why, he says——"
Gabriel never found out what particular statement of Adam Smith was to be thrown at his head, for at that moment, Mr. Goodlett called out from the dining-room: "Si Tomlin in there, Gabriel? Well, fetch him out here whar I live at. I ain't got no parlours for company." By the time that Gabriel had led Mr. Silas Tomlin into the dining-room, Mr. Goodlett had a plate of victuals50 carrying it to the kitchen; and he remarked as he went along, "I got nuther parlours nor dinin'-rooms: fetch him out here to the kitchen whar we both b'long at."
If Silas Tomlin objected to this arrangement, he gave no sign; he followed without a word, Mr. Goodlett placed his plate on the table where the dishes were washed, and dropped his hat on the floor beside him, and began to attack his dinner most vigorously. Believing, evidently, that ordinary politeness would be wasted here, Silas entered at once on the business that had brought him to Dorringtons'.
"Sorry to trouble you, Goodlett," he said by way of making a beginning.
"I notice you ain't cryin' none to hurt," remarked Mr. Goodlett placidly51. "An' ef you was, you'd be cryin' for nothin'. You ain't troublin' me a mite52. Forty an' four like you can't trouble me."
"You'll have to excuse Ab," said Mrs. Goodlett, who had preceded Gabriel and Silas to the kitchen. "He's lost his cud, an' he won't be right well till he finds it ag'in." She placed her hand over her mouth to hide her smiles.
Silas Tomlin paid no attention to this by-play. He stood like a man who is waiting an opportunity to get in a word.
"Goodlett, who were the ladies you brought from Malvern to-day?" His face was very serious.
"You know 'em lots better'n I do. The oldest seed you out in the field, an' she axed me who you mought be. I told her, bekaze I ain't got no secrets from my passengers, specially53 when they're good-lookin' an' plank54 down the'r money before they start. Arter I told 'em who you was, the oldest made you a mighty purty bow, but you wer'n't polite enough for to take off your hat. I dunno as I blame you much, all things considered. Then the youngest, she's the daughter, she says, says she, 'Is that reely him, ma?' an' t'other one, says she, 'Ef it's him, honey, he's swunk turrible.' She said them very words."
"I wonder who in the world they can be?" said Silas Tomlin, as if talking to himself.
"You'll think of the'r names arter awhile," Mr. Goodlett remarked by way of consolation55, but his tone was so suspicious that Silas turned on his heel—he had started out—and asked Mr. Goodlett what he meant.
"Adzackly what I said, nuther more nor less."
Mrs. Absalom was so curious to find out something more that Silas was hardly out of the house before she began to ply2 her husband with questions. But they were all futile56. Mr. Goodlett knew no more than that he had brought the women from Malvern; that they had chanced to spy old Silas Tomlin in a field by the side of the road, and that when the elder of the two women found out what his name was, she made him a bow, which Silas wasn't polite enough to return.
"That's all I know," remarked Mr. Goodlett. "Dog take the wimmen anyhow!" he exclaimed indignantly; "ef they'd stay at home they'd be all right; but here they go, a-trapesin' an' a-trollopin' all over creation, an' a-givin' trouble wherever they go. They git me so muddled57 an' befuddled58 wi' ther whickerin' an' snickerin' that I dunner which een' I'm a-stannin' on half the time. Nex' time they want to ride wi' me, I'll say, 'Walk!' By jacks59! I won't haul 'em."
This episode, if it may be called such, made small impression on Gabriel's mind, but it tickled60 Mrs. Goodlett's mind into activity, and the lad heard more of Silas Tomlin during the next hour than he had ever known before. In a manner, Silas was a very important factor in the community, as money-lenders always are, but according to Gabriel's idea, he was always one of the poorest creatures in the world.
When he was a young man, Silas joined the tide of emigration that was flowing westward61. He went to Mississippi, where he married his first wife. In a year's time, he returned to his old home. When asked about his wife—for he returned alone—he curtly62 answered that she was well enough off. Mrs. Absalom was among those who made the inquiry63, and her prompt comment was, "She's well off ef she's dead; I'll say that much."
But there was a persistent64 rumour29, coming from no one knew where, that when a child was born to Silas, the wife was seized with such a horror of the father that the bare sight of him would cause her to scream, and she constantly implored65 her people to send him away. It is curious how rumours will travel far and wide, from State to State, creeping through swamps, flying over deserts and waste places, and coming home at last as the carrier-pigeon does, especially if there happens to be a grain of truth in them.
It turned out that the lady, in regard to whom Silas Tomlin expressed such curiosity, was a Mrs. Claiborne, of Kentucky, who, with her daughter, had refugeed from point to point in advance of the Federal army. Finally, when peace came, the lady concluded to make her home in Georgia, where she had relatives, and she selected Shady Dale as her place of abode66 on account of its beauty. These facts became known later.
Evidently the new-comers had resources, for they arranged to occupy the Gaither house, taking it as it stood, with Miss Polly Gaither, furniture and all. This arrangement must have been satisfactory to Miss Polly in the first place, or it would never have been made; and it certainly relieved her of the necessity of living on the charity of her neighbours, under pretence67 of borrowing from them. But so strange a bundle of contradictions is human nature, that no sooner had Miss Polly begun to enjoy the abundance that was now showered upon her in the shape of victuals and drink than she took her ear-trumpet in one hand and her work-bag in the other, and went abroad, gossiping about her tenants68, telling what she thought they said, and commenting on their actions—not maliciously69, but simply with a desire to feed the curiosity of the neighbours.
In order to do this more effectually, Miss Polly returned visits that had been made to her before the war. There was nothing in her talk to discredit70 the Claibornes or to injure their characters. They were strangers to the community, and there was a natural and perfectly71 legitimate72 curiosity on the part of the town to learn something of their history. Miss Polly could not satisfy this curiosity, but she could whet73 it by leaving at each one's door choice selections from her catalogue of the sayings and doings of the new-comers—wearing all the time a dress that Miss Eugenia, the daughter, had made over for her. Miss Polly was a dumpy little woman, and, with her wen, her ear-trumpet, and her work-bag, she cut a queer figure as she waddled74 along.
There was one piece of information she gave out that puzzled the community no little. According to Miss Polly, the Claibornes had hardly settled themselves in their new home before Silas Tomlin called on them. "I can't hear as well as I used to," said Miss Polly—she was deaf as a door-post—"but I can see as well as anybody; yes indeed, as well as anybody in the world. And I tell you, Lucy Lumsden"—she was talking to Gabriel's grandmother—"as soon as old Silas darkened the door, I knew he was worried. I never saw a grown person so fidgety and nervous, unless it was Micajah Clemmons, and he's got the rickets75, poor man. So I says to myself, 'I'll watch you,' and watch I did. Well, when Mrs. Claiborne came into the parlour, she bowed very politely to old Silas, but I could see that she could hardly keep from laughing in his face; and I don't blame her, for the way old Silas went on was perfectly ridiculous. He spit and he spluttered, and sawed the air with his arms, and buttoned and unbuttoned his coat, and jerked at the bottom of his wescut till I really thought he'd pull the front out. I wish you could have seen him, Lucy Lumsden, I do indeed. And when the door was shut on him, Mrs. Claiborne flung herself down on a sofa, and laughed until she frightened her daughter. I don't complain about my afflictions as a general thing, Lucy, but I would have given anything that day if my hearing had been as good as it used to be."
And though Gabriel's grandmother was a woman of the highest principles, holding eavesdropping76 in the greatest contempt, it is possible that she would have owned to a mild regret that Miss Polly Gaither was too deaf to hear what Silas Tomlin's troubles were. This was natural, too, for, on account of the persistent rumours that had followed Silas home from Mississippi, there was always something of a mystery in regard to his first matrimonial venture. There was none about his second. A year or two after he returned home he married Susan Pritchard, whose father was a prosperous farmer, living several miles from town. Susan bore Silas a son and died. She was a pious77 woman, and with her last breath named the child Paul, on account of the conjunction of the names of Paul and Silas in the New Testament78. Paul grew up to be one of the most popular young men in the community.
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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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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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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fiddling
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| 微小的 | |
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mighty
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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dribble
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| v.点滴留下，流口水；n.口水 | |
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nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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pithy
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| adj.(讲话或文章)简练的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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irritability
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thoroughly
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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grunt
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groan
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innocence
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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rumour
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rumours
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plantations
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livestock
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pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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peevish
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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cuticle
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| n.表皮 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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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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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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jacks
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| n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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whet
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| v.磨快，刺激 | |
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waddled
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rickets
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| n.软骨病，佝偻病，驼背 | |
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eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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