英语天堂-第44章

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ion；　very　different　from　her　former　agitated　wildness。
“Did　you　want　me？”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　in　gentle　tones。　“I　hope　you　feel　better　now；　poor　woman！”
A　long…drawn；　shivering　sigh　was　the　only　answer；　but　she　lifted　her　dark　eyes；　and　fixed　them　on　her　with　such　a　forlorn　and　imploring　expression；　that　the　tears　came　into　the　little　woman’s　eyes。
“You　needn’t　be　afraid　of　anything；　we　are　friends　here；　poor　woman！　Tell　me　where　you　came　from；　and　what　you　want；”　said　she。
“I　came　from　Kentucky；”　said　the　woman。
“When？”　said　Mr。　Bird；　taking　up　the　interogatory。
“Tonight。”
“How　did　you　come？”
“I　crossed　on　the　ice。”
“Crossed　on　the　ice！”　said　every　one　present。
“Yes；”　said　the　woman；　slowly；　“I　did。　God　helping　me；　I　crossed　on　the　ice；　for　they　were　behind　me—right　behind—and　there　was　no　other　way！”
“Law；　Missis；”　said　Cudjoe；　“the　ice　is　all　in　broken…up　blocks；　a　swinging　and　a　tetering　up　and　down　in　the　water！”
“I　know　it　was—I　know　it！”　said　she；　wildly；　“but　I　did　it！　I　wouldn’t　have　thought　I　could；—I　didn’t　think　I　should　get　over；　but　I　didn’t　care！　I　could　but　die；　if　I　didn’t。　The　Lord　helped　me；　nobody　knows　how　much　the　Lord　can　help　’em；　till　they　try；”　said　the　woman；　with　a　flashing　eye。
“Were　you　a　slave？”　said　Mr。　Bird。
“Yes；　sir；　I　belonged　to　a　man　in　Kentucky。”
“Was　he　unkind　to　you？”
“No；　sir；　he　was　a　good　master。”
“And　was　your　mistress　unkind　to　you？”
“No；　sir—no！　my　mistress　was　always　good　to　me。”
“What　could　induce　you　to　leave　a　good　home；　then；　and　run　away；　and　go　through　such　dangers？”
The　woman　looked　up　at　Mrs。　Bird；　with　a　keen；　scrutinizing　glance；　and　it　did　not　escape　her　that　she　was　dressed　in　deep　mourning。
“Ma’am；”　she　said；　suddenly；　“have　you　ever　lost　a　child？”
The　question　was　unexpected；　and　it　was　thrust　on　a　new　wound；　for　it　was　only　a　month　since　a　darling　child　of　the　family　had　been　laid　in　the　grave。
Mr。　Bird　turned　around　and　walked　to　the　window；　and　Mrs。　Bird　burst　into　tears；　but；　recovering　her　voice；　she　said；
“Why　do　you　ask　that？　I　have　lost　a　little　one。”
“Then　you　will　feel　for　me。　I　have　lost　two；　one　after　another；—left　’em　buried　there　when　I　came　away；　and　I　had　only　this　one　left。　I　never　slept　a　night　without　him；　he　was　all　I　had。　He　was　my　comfort　and　pride；　day　and　night；　and；　ma’am；　they　were　going　to　take　him　away　from　me；—to　sell　him；—sell　him　down　south；　ma’am；　to　go　all　alone；—a　baby　that　had　never　been　away　from　his　mother　in　his　life！　I　couldn’t　stand　it；　ma’am。　I　knew　I　never　should　be　good　for　anything；　if　they　did；　and　when　I　knew　the　papers　the　papers　were　signed；　and　he　was　sold；　I　took　him　and　came　off　in　the　night；　and　they　chased　me；—the　man　that　bought　him；　and　some　of　Mas’r’s　folks；—and　they　were　coming　down　right　behind　me；　and　I　heard　’em。　I　jumped　right　on　to　the　ice；　and　how　I　got　across；　I　don’t　know；—but；　first　I　knew；　a　man　was　helping　me　up　the　bank。”
The　woman　did　not　sob　nor　weep。　She　had　gone　to　a　place　where　tears　are　dry；　but　every　one　around　her　was；　in　some　way　characteristic　of　themselves；　showing　signs　of　hearty　sympathy。
The　two　little　boys；　after　a　desperate　rummaging　in　their　pockets；　in　search　of　those　pocket…handkerchiefs　which　mothers　know　are　never　to　be　found　there；　had　thrown　themselves　disconsolately　into　the　skirts　of　their　mother’s　gown；　where　they　were　sobbing；　and　wiping　their　eyes　and　noses；　to　their　hearts’　content；—Mrs。　Bird　had　her　face　fairly　hidden　in　her　pocket…handkerchief；　and　old　Dinah；　with　tears　streaming　down　her　black；　honest　face；　was　ejaculating；　“Lord　have　mercy　on　us！”　with　all　the　fervor　of　a　camp…meeting；—while　old　Cudjoe；　rubbing　his　eyes　very　hard　with　his　cuffs；　and　making　a　most　uncommon　variety　of　wry　faces；　ocomasionally　responded　in　the　same　key；　with　great　fervor。　Our　senator　was　a　statesman；　and　of　course　could　not　be　expected　to　cry；　like　other　mortals；　and　so　he　turned　his　back　to　the　company；　and　looked　out　of　the　window；　and　seemed　particularly　busy　in　clearing　his　throat　and　wiping　his　spectacle…glasses；　ocomasionally　blowing　his　nose　in　a　manner　that　was　calculated　to　excite　suspicion；　had　any　one　been　in　a　state　to　observe　critically。
“How　came　you　to　tell　me　you　had　a　kind　master？”　he　suddenly　exclaimed；　gulping　down　very　resolutely　some　kind　of　rising　in　his　throat；　and　turning　suddenly　round　upon　the　woman。
“Because　he　was　a　kind　master；　I’ll　say　that　of　him；　any　way；—and　my　mistress　was　kind；　but　they　couldn’t　help　themselves。　They　were　owing　money；　and　there　was　some　way；　I　can’t　tell　how；　that　a　man　had　a　hold　on　them；　and　they　were　obliged　to　give　him　his　will。　I　listened；　and　heard　him　telling　mistress　that；　and　she　begging　and　pleading　for　me；—and　he　told　her　he　couldn’t　help　himself；　and　that　the　papers　were　all　drawn；—and　then　it　was　I　took　him　and　left　my　home；　and　came　away。　I　knew　’t　was　no　use　of　my　trying　to　live；　if　they　did　it；　for　’t　’pears　like　this　child　is　all　I　have。”
“Have　you　no　husband？”
“Yes；　but　he　belongs　to　another　man。　His　master　is　real　hard　to　him；　and　won’t　let　him　come　to　see　me；　hardly　ever；　and　he’s　grown　harder　and　harder　upon　us；　and　he　threatens　to　sell　him　down　south；—it’s　like　I’ll　never　see　him　again！”
The　quiet　tone　in　which　the　woman　pronounced　these　words　might　have　led　a　superficial　observer　to　think　that　she　was　entirely　apathetic；　but　there　was　a　calm；　settled　depth　of　anguish　in　her　large；　dark　eye；　that　spoke　of　something　far　otherwise。
“And　where　do　you　mean　to　go；　my　poor　woman？”　said　Mrs。　Bird。
“To　Canada；　if　I　only　knew　where　that　was。　Is　it　very　far　off；　is　Canada？”　said　she；　looking　up；　with　a　simple；　confiding　air；　to　Mrs。　Bird’s　face。
“Poor　thing！”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　involuntarily。
“Is　’t　a　very　great　way　off；　think？”　said　the　woman；　earnestly。
“Much　further　than　you　think；　poor　child！”　said　Mrs。　Bird；　“but　we　will　try　to　think　what　can　be　done　for　you。　Here；　Dinah；　make　her　up　a　bed　in　your　own　room；　close　by　the　kitchen；　and　I’ll　think　what　to　do　for　her　in　the　morning。　Meanwhile；　never　fear；　poor　woman；　put　your　trust　in　God；　he　will　protect　you。”
Mrs。　Bird　and　her　husband　reentered　the　parlor。　She　sat　down　in　her　little　rocking…chair　before　the　fire；　swaying　thoughtfully　to　and　fro。　Mr。　Bird　strode　up　and　down　the　room；　grumbling　to　himself；　“Pish！　pshaw！　confounded　awkward　business！”　At　length；　striding　up　to　his　wife；　he　said；
“I　say；　wife；　she’ll　have　to　get　away　from　here；　this　very　night。　That　fellow　will　be　down　on　the　scent　bright　and　early　tomorrow　morning：　if　’t　was　only　the　woman；　she　could　lie　quiet　till　it　was　over；　but　that　little　chap　can’t　be　kept　still　by　a　troop　of　horse　and　foot；　I’ll　warrant　me；　he’ll　bring　it　all　out；　popping　his　head　out　of　some　window　or　door。　A　pretty　kettle　of　fish　it　would　be　for　me；　too；　to　be　caught　with　them　both　here；　just　now！　No；　they’ll　have　to　be　got　off　tonight。”
“Tonight！　How　is　it　possible？—where　to？”
“Well；　I　know　pretty　well　where　to；”　said　the　senator；　beginning　to　put　on　his　boots；　with　a　reflective　air；　and；　stopping　when　his　leg　was　half　in；　he　embraced　his　knee　with　both　hands；　and　seemed　to　go　off　in　deep　meditation。
“It’s　a　confounded　awkward；　ugly　business；”　said　he；　at　last；　beginning　to　tug　at　his　boot…straps　again；　“and　that’s　a　fact！”　After　one　boot　was　fairly　on；　the　senator　sat　with　the　other　in　his　hand；　profoundly　studying　the　figure　of　the　carpet。　“It　will　have　to　be　done；　though；　for　aught　I　see；—hang　it　all！”　and　he　drew　the　other　boot　anxiously　on；　and　looked　out　of　the　window。
Now；　little　Mrs。　Bird　was　a　discreet　woman；—a　woman　who　never　in　her　life　said；　“I　told　you　so！”　and；　on　the　present　ocomasion；　though　pretty　well　aware　of　the　shape　her　husband’s　meditations　were　taking；　she　very　prudently　forbore　to　meddle　with　them；　only　sat　very　quietly　in　her　chair；　and　looked　quite　ready　to　hear　her　liege　lord’s　intentions；　when　he　should　think　proper　to　utter　them。
“You　see；”　he　said；　“there’s　my　old　client；　Van　Trompe；　has　come　over　from　Kentucky；　and　set　all　his　slaves　free；　and　he　has　bought　a　place　seven　miles　up　the　creek；　here；　back　in　the　woods；　where　nobody　goes；　unless　they　go　on　purpose；　and　it’s　a　place　that　isn’t　found　in　a　hurry。　There　she’d　be　safe　enough；　but　the　plague　of　the　thing　is；　nobody　could　drive　a　carriage　there　tonight；　but　me。”
“Why　not？　Cudjoe　is　an　excellent　driver。”
“Ay；　ay；　but　here　it　is。　The　creek　has　to　be　crossed　twice；　and　the　second　crossing　is　quite　dangerous；　unless　one　knows　it　as　I　do。　I　have　crossed　it　a　hundred　times　on　horseback；　and　know　exactly　the　turns　to　take。　And　so；　you　see；　there’s　no　help　for　it。　Cudjoe　must　put　in　the　horses；　as　quietly　as　may　be；　about　twelve　o’clock；　and　I’ll　take　her　over；　and　then；　to　give　color　to　the　matter；　he　must　carry　me　on　to　the　next　tavern　to　take　the　stage　for　Columbus；　that　comes　by　about　three　or　four；　and　so　it　will　look　as　if　I　had　had　the　carriage　only　for　that。　I　shall　get　into　business　bright　and　early　in　the　morning。　But　I’m　thinking　I　shall　feel　rather　cheap　there；　after　all　that’s　been　said　and　done；　but；　hang　it；　I　can’t　help　it！”
“Your　heart　is　better　than　your　head；　in　this　case；　John；”　said　the　wife；　laying　her　little　white　hand　on　his。　“Could　I　ever　have　loved　you；　had　I　not　known　you　better　than　you　know　yourself？”　And　the　little　woman　looked　so　handsome；　with　the　tears　sparkling　in　her　eyes；　that　the　senator　thought　he　must　be　a　decidedly　clever　fellow；　to　get　such　a　pretty　creature　into　such　a　passionate　admiration　of　him；　and　so；　what　could　he　do　but　walk　off　soberly；　to　see　about　the　carriage。　At　the　door；　however；　he　stopped　a　moment；　and　then　coming　back；　he　said；　with　some　hesitation。
“Mary；　I　don’t　know　how　you’d　feel　about　it；　but　there’s　that　drawer　full　of　things—of—of—poor　little　Henry’s。”　So　saying；　he　turned　quickly　on　his　heel；　and　shut　the　door　after　him。
His　wife　opened　the　little　bed…room　door　adjoining　her　room　and；　taking　the　candle；　set　it　down　on　the　top　of　a　bureau　there；　then　from　a　small　recess　she　took　a　key；　and　put　it　thoughtfully　in　the　lock　of　a　drawer；　and　made　a　sudden　pause；　while　two　boys；　who；　boy　like；　had　followed　close　on　her　heels；　stood　looking；　with　silent；　significant　glances；　at　their　mother。　And　oh！　mother　that　reads　this；　has　there　never　been　in　your　house　a　drawer；　or　a　closet；　the　opening　of　which　has　been　to　you　like　the　opening　again　of　a　little　grave？　Ah！　happy　mother　that　you　are；　if　it　has　not　been　so。
Mrs。　Bird　slowly　opened　the　drawer。　There　were　little　coats　of　many　a　form　and　pattern；　piles　of　aprons；　and　rows　of　small　stockings；　and　even　a　pair　of　little　shoes；　worn　and　rubbed　at　the　toes；　were　peeping　from　the　folds　of　a　paper。　There　was　a　toy　horse　and　wagon；　a　top；　a　ball；—memorials　gathered　with　many　a　tear　and　many　a　heart…break！　She　sat　down　by　the　drawer；　and；　leaning　her　head　on　her　hands　over　it；　wept　till　the　tears　fell　through　her　fingers　into　the　drawer；　then　suddenly　raising　her　head；　she　began；　with　nervous　haste；　selecting　the　plainest　and　most　substantial　articles；　and　gathering　them　into　a　bundle。
“Mamma；”　said　one　of　the　boys；　gently　touching　her　arm；　“you