英语天堂-第35章

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s　well　as　any　on　’em；”　he　added；　while　something　like　a　sob　and　a　sigh　shook　his　broad；　rough　chest　convulsively。　“Mas’r　always　found　me　on　the　spot—he　always　will。　I　never　have　broke　trust；　nor　used　my　pass　no　ways　contrary　to　my　word；　and　I　never　will。　It’s　better　for　me　alone　to　go；　than　to　break　up　the　place　and　sell　all。　Mas’r　an’t　to　blame；　Chloe；　and　he’ll　take　care　of　you　and　the　poor—”
Here　he　turned　to　the　rough　trundle　bed　full　of　little　woolly　heads；　and　broke　fairly　down。　He　leaned　over　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　covered　his　face　with　his　large　hands。　Sobs；　heavy；　hoarse　and　loud；　shook　the　chair；　and　great　tears　fell　through　his　fingers　on　the　floor；　just　such　tears；　sir；　as　you　dropped　into　the　coffin　where　lay　your　first…born　son；　such　tears；　woman；　as　you　shed　when　you　heard　the　cries　of　your　dying　babe。　For；　sir；　he　was　a　man；—and　you　are　but　another　man。　And；　woman；　though　dressed　in　silk　and　jewels；　you　are　but　a　woman；　and；　in　life’s　great　straits　and　mighty　griefs；　ye　feel　but　one　sorrow！
“And　now；”　said　Eliza；　as　she　stood　in　the　door；　“I　saw　my　husband　only　this　afternoon；　and　I　little　knew　then　what　was　to　come。　They　have　pushed　him　to　the　very　last　standing　place；　and　he　told　me；　today；　that　he　was　going　to　run　away。　Do　try；　if　you　can；　to　get　word　to　him。　Tell　him　how　I　went；　and　why　I　went；　and　tell　him　I’m　going　to　try　and　find　Canada。　You　must　give　my　love　to　him；　and　tell　him；　if　I　never　see　him　again；”　she　turned　away；　and　stood　with　her　back　to　them　for　a　moment；　and　then　added；　in　a　husky　voice；　“tell　him　to　be　as　good　as　he　can；　and　try　and　meet　me　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven。”
“Call　Bruno　in　there；”　she　added。　“Shut　the　door　on　him；　poor　beast！　He　mustn’t　go　with　me！”
A　few　last　words　and　tears；　a　few　simple　adieus　and　blessings；　and　clasping　her　wondering　and　affrighted　child　in　her　arms；　she　glided　noiselessly　away。
Chapter　6
Discovery
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Shelby；　after　their　protracted　discussion　of　the　night　before；　did　not　readily　sink　to　repose；　and；　in　consequence；　slept　somewhat　later　than　usual；　the　ensuing　morning。
“I　wonder　what　keeps　Eliza；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　after　giving　her　bell　repeated　pulls；　to　no　purpose。
Mr。　Shelby　was　standing　before　his　dressing…glass；　sharpening　his　razor；　and　just　then　the　door　opened；　and　a　colored　boy　entered；　with　his　shaving…water。
“Andy；”　said　his　mistress；　“step　to　Eliza’s　door；　and　tell　her　I　have　rung　for　her　three　times。　Poor　thing！”　she　added；　to　herself；　with　a　sigh。
Andy　soon　returned；　with　eyes　very　wide　in　astonishment。
“Lor；　Missis！　Lizy’s　drawers　is　all　open；　and　her　things　all　lying　every　which　way；　and　I　believe　she’s　just　done　clared　out！”
The　truth　flashed　upon　Mr。　Shelby　and　his　wife　at　the　same　moment。　He　exclaimed；
“Then　she　suspected　it；　and　she’s　off！”
“The　Lord　be　thanked！”　said　Mrs。　Shelby。　“I　trust　she　is。”
“Wife；　you　talk　like　a　fool！　Really；　it　will　be　something　pretty　awkward　for　me；　if　she　is。　Haley　saw　that　I　hesitated　about　selling　this　child；　and　he’ll　think　I　connived　at　it；　to　get　him　out　of　the　way。　It　touches　my　honor！”　And　Mr。　Shelby　left　the　room　hastily。
There　was　great　running　and　ejaculating；　and　opening　and　shutting　of　doors；　and　appearance　of　faces　in　all　shades　of　color　in　different　places；　for　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　One　person　only；　who　might　have　shed　some　light　on　the　matter；　was　entirely　silent；　and　that　was　the　head　cook；　Aunt　Chloe。　Silently；　and　with　a　heavy　cloud　settled　down　over　her　once　joyous　face；　she　proceeded　making　out　her　breakfast　biscuits；　as　if　she　heard　and　saw　nothing　of　the　excitement　around　her。
Very　soon；　about　a　dozen　young　imps　were　roosting；　like　so　many　crows；　on　the　verandah　railings；　each　one　determined　to　be　the　first　one　to　apprize　the　strange　Mas’r　of　his　ill　luck。
“He’ll　be　rael　mad；　I’ll　be　bound；”　said　Andy。
“Won’t　he　swar！”　said　little　black　Jake。
“Yes；　for　he　does　swar；”　said　woolly…headed　Mandy。　“I　hearn　him　yesterday；　at　dinner。　I　hearn　all　about　it　then；　’cause　I　got　into　the　closet　where　Missis　keeps　the　great　jugs；　and　I　hearn　every　word。”　And　Mandy；　who　had　never　in　her　life　thought　of　the　meaning　of　a　word　she　had　heard；　more　than　a　black　cat；　now　took　airs　of　superior　wisdom；　and　strutted　about；　forgetting　to　state　that；　though　actually　coiled　up　among　the　jugs　at　the　time　specified；　she　had　been　fast　asleep　all　the　time。
When；　at　last；　Haley　appeared；　booted　and　spurred；　he　was　saluted　with　the　bad　tidings　on　every　hand。　The　young　imps　on　the　verandah　were　not　disappointed　in　their　hope　of　hearing　him　“swar；”　which　he　did　with　a　fluency　and　fervency　which　delighted　them　all　amazingly；　as　they　ducked　and　dodged　hither　and　thither；　to　be　out　of　the　reach　of　his　riding…whip；　and；　all　whooping　off　together；　they　tumbled；　in　a　pile　of　immeasurable　giggle；　on　the　withered　turf　under　the　verandah；　where　they　kicked　up　their　heels　and　shouted　to　their　full　satisfaction。
“If　I　had　the　little　devils！”　muttered　Haley；　between　his　teeth。
“But　you　ha’nt　got　’em；　though！”　said　Andy；　with　a　triumphant　flourish；　and　making　a　string　of　indescribable　mouths　at　the　unfortunate　trader’s　back；　when　he　was　fairly　beyond　hearing。
“I　say　now；　Shelby；　this　yer　’s　a　most　extro’rnary　business！”　said　Haley；　as　he　abruptly　entered　the　parlor。　“It　seems　that　gal　’s　off；　with　her　young　un。”
“Mr。　Haley；　Mrs。　Shelby　is　present；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。
“I　beg　pardon；　ma’am；”　said　Haley；　bowing　slightly；　with　a　still　lowering　brow；　“but　still　I　say；　as　I　said　before；　this　yer’s　a　sing’lar　report。　Is　it　true；　sir？”
“Sir；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　“if　you　wish　to　communicate　with　me；　you　must　observe　something　of　the　decorum　of　a　gentleman。　Andy；　take　Mr。　Haley’s　hat　and　riding…whip。　Take　a　seat；　sir。　Yes；　sir；　I　regret　to　say　that　the　young　woman；　excited　by　overhearing；　or　having　reported　to　her；　something　of　this　business；　has　taken　her　child　in　the　night；　and　made　off。”
“I　did　expect　fair　dealing　in　this　matter；　I　confess；”　said　Haley。
“Well；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　turning　sharply　round　upon　him；　“what　am　I　to　understand　by　that　remark？　If　any　man　calls　my　honor　in　question；　I　have　but　one　answer　for　him。”
The　trader　cowered　at　this；　and　in　a　somewhat　lower　tone　said　that　“it　was　plaguy　hard　on　a　fellow；　that　had　made　a　fair　bargain；　to　be　gulled　that　way。”
“Mr。　Haley；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　“if　I　did　not　think　you　had　some　cause　for　disappointment；　I　should　not　have　borne　from　you　the　rude　and　unceremonious　style　of　your　entrance　into　my　parlor　this　morning。　I　say　thus　much；　however；　since　appearances　call　for　it；　that　I　shall　allow　of　no　insinuations　cast　upon　me；　as　if　I　were　at　all　partner　to　any　unfairness　in　this　matter。　Moreover；　I　shall　feel　bound　to　give　you　every　assistance；　in　the　use　of　horses；　servants；　&c。；　in　the　recovery　of　your　property。　So；　in　short；　Haley；”　said　he；　suddenly　dropping　from　the　tone　of　dignified　coolness　to　his　ordinary　one　of　easy　frankness；　“the　best　way　for　you　is　to　keep　good…natured　and　eat　some　breakfast；　and　we　will　then　see　what　is　to　be　done。”
Mrs。　Shelby　now　rose；　and　said　her　engagements　would　prevent　her　being　at　the　breakfast…table　that　morning；　and；　deputing　a　very　respectable　mulatto　woman　to　attend　to　the　gentlemen’s　coffee　at　the　side…board；　she　left　the　room。
“Old　lady　don’t　like　your　humble　servant；　over　and　above；”　said　Haley；　with　an　uneasy　effort　to　be　very　familiar。
“I　am　not　acomustomed　to　hear　my　wife　spoken　of　with　such　freedom；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　dryly。
“Beg　pardon；　of　course；　only　a　joke；　you　know；”　said　Haley；　forcing　a　laugh。
“Some　jokes　are　less　agreeable　than　others；”　rejoined　Shelby。
“Devilish　free；　now　I’ve　signed　those　papers；　cuss　him！”　muttered　Haley　to　himself；　“quite　grand；　since　yesterday！”
Never　did　fall　of　any　prime　minister　at　court　ocomasion　wider　surges　of　sensation　than　the　report　of　Tom’s　fate　among　his　compeers　on　the　place。　It　was　the　topic　in　every　mouth；　everywhere；　and　nothing　was　done　in　the　house　or　in　the　field；　but　to　discuss　its　probable　results。　Eliza’s　flight—an　unprecedented　event　on　the　place—was　also　a　great　acomessory　in　stimulating　the　general　excitement。
Black　Sam；　as　he　was　commonly　called；　from　his　being　about　three　shades　blacker　than　any　other　son　of　ebony　on　the　place；　was　revolving　the　matter　profoundly　in　all　its　phases　and　bearings；　with　a　comprehensiveness　of　vision　and　a　strict　lookout　to　his　own　personal　well…being；　that　would　have　done　credit　to　any　white　patriot　in　Washington。
“It’s　an　ill　wind　dat　blow　nowhar；—dat　ar　a　fact；”　said　Sam；　sententiously；　giving　an　additional　hoist　to　his　pantaloons；　and　adroitly　substituting　a　long　nail　in　place　of　a　missing　suspender…button；　with　which　effort　of　mechanical　genius　he　seemed　highly　delighted。
“Yes；　it’s　an　ill　wind　blows　nowhar；”　he　repeated。　“Now；　dar；　Tom’s　down—wal；　course　der’s　room　for　some　nigger　to　be　up—and　why　not　dis　nigger？—dat’s　de　idee。　Tom；　a　ridin’　round　de　country—boots　blacked—pass　in　his　pocket—all　grand　as　Cuffee—but　who　he？　Now；　why　shouldn’t　Sam？—dat’s　what　I　want　to　know。”
“Halloo；　Sam—O　Sam！　Mas’r　wants　you　to　cotch　Bill　and　Jerry；”　said　Andy；　cutting　short　Sam’s　soliloquy。
“High！　what’s　afoot　now；　young　un？”
“Why；　you　don’t　know；　I　s’pose；　that　Lizy’s　cut　stick；　and　clared　out；　with　her　young　un？”
“You　teach　your　granny！”　said　Sam；　with　infinite　contempt；　“knowed　it　a　heap　sight　sooner　than　you　did；　this　nigger　an’t　so　green；　now！”
Well；　anyhow；　Mas’r　wants　Bill　and　Jerry　geared　right　up；　and　you　and　I　’s　to　go　with　Mas’r　Haley；　to　look　arter　her。”
“Good；　now！　dat’s　de　time　o’　day！”　said　Sam。　“It’s　Sam　dat’s　called　for　in　dese　yer　times。　He’s　de　nigger。　See　if　I　don’t　cotch　her；　now；　Mas’r’ll　see　what　Sam　can　do！”
“Ah！　but；　Sam；”　said　Andy；　“you’d　better　think　twice；　for　Missis　don’t　want　her　cotched；　and　she’ll　be　in　yer　wool。”
“High！”　said　Sam；　opening　his　eyes。　“How　you　know　dat？”
“Heard　her　say　so；　my　own　self；　dis　blessed　mornin’；　when　I　bring　in　Mas’r’s　shaving…water。　She　sent　me　to　see　why　Lizy　didn’t　come　to　dress　her；　and　when　I　telled　her　she　was　off；　she　jest　ris　up；　and　ses　she；　‘The　Lord　be　praised；’　and　Mas’r；　he　seemed　rael　mad；　and　ses　he；　‘Wife；　you　talk　like　a　fool。’　But　Lor！　she’ll　bring　him　to！　I　knows　well　enough　how　that’ll　be；—it’s　allers　best　to　stand　Missis’　side　the　fence；　now　I　tell　yer。”
Black　Sam；　upon　this；　scratched　his　woolly　pate；　which；　if　it　did　not　contain　very　profound　wisdom；　still　contained　a　great　deal　of　a　particular　species　much　in　demand　among　politicians　of　all　complexions　and　countries；　and　vulgarly　denominated　“knowing　which　side　the　bread　is　buttered；”　so；　stopping　with　grave　consideration；　he　again　gave　a　hitch　to　his　pantaloons；　which　was　his　regularly　organized　method　of　assisting　his　mental　perplexities。
“Der　an’t　no　saying’—never—’bout　no　kind　o’　thing　in　dis　yer　world；”　he　said；　at　last。　Sam　spoke　like　a　philosopher；　emphasizing　this—as　if　he　had　had　a　large　experience　in　different　sorts　of　worlds；　and　therefore　had　come　to　his　conclusions　advisedly。
“Now；　sartin　I’d　a　said　that　Missis　would　a　scoured　the　varsal　world　after　Lizy；”　added