the fortunes of oliver horn-第14章
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s adorable young lady； certainly not with any desire to break through their privacy。 One of the unforgivable sinsnay； one of the impossible sinsabout Kennedy Square would have been to have recognized a lady who looked； even during the daytime； out from a bedroom window： much less at night。 That was why Sue did not open her blinds。
Nor； indeed； was Oliver occupied with the question of Sue's blinds at all。 He had for the moment in fact completely forgotten the existence of his lady… love。 He was； if the truth must be told； studying the wonderful effect of the white light of the moon flooding with its radiance the columns and roof of the Clayton house； the dark magnolias silhouetted against the flight of steps and the indigo…blue of the sky。 He had already formulated in his mind the palette with which he would paint it； and had decided that the magnolias were blue…black and not green； and the steps greenish…white。 He had； furthermore； determined to make an outline of it in the daylight； and talk to Mr。 Crocker about it。 Sue's eyes； which but a moment before had so charmed him； no longer lingered in his memorynor even in any one of the far corners of his head and heart。 It was only when her light flashed up that he awoke to the realization of what he was doing； and even this breach of good manners was forgotten by him in his delight over the effect which the red glow of the candle gave to the whole composition。
With the picture clearly stamped upon his brain； he turned and stepped quickly across the Square； and in another moment he had thrown his mother a kiss through the window； and rushing inside had caught her in his arms。
〃Poor motherkinsand you all alone；〃 he cried。 〃Why； I thought you and father had gone to bed long ago。〃
〃No； sonI was waiting for you。〃 He laid his fresh young face against hers； insisting that she must go to bed at once； helping her upstairs awkwardly； laughing as he wenttelling her she was the sweetest girl he ever knew and his best sweetheartkissing her pale cheeks as they climbed the steps together to his room。
She had determined； as she sat by the window； to talk to him of what she had overheard him say to Sue； and of her anxiety over Richard's revelations； but his joyous kiss had robbed her of the power。 She would wait for another timeshe said to herself not to…night； when he was so happy。
〃Anybody at Sue's； Ollie？〃 she asked； lighting his candle。
〃Only the boys and girlsTom Pitts； Charley Bowman； Nellie Talbot； and one or two others。 The Colonel came in just before I left。〃
〃But the Colonel will be home to…morrow； will he not？〃 she asked； quickly； as if something forgotten had been suddenly remembered。
〃Yesthink so〃 answered Oliver； taking off his coat and hanging it over the chair〃because he was just up from Pongateague。 He and Major Pitts got thirty…seven woodcock in two days。 Tom wants me to go down with him some day next week。 〃
A shade of anxiety crossed the mother's face。
〃What did you tell him； son？〃 She moved a chair nearer the bureau and sat down to watch him undress； as she had always done since the day she first tucked him into his crib。
〃Oh； I said I would ask you。〃 He was loosening his cravat； his chin thrown up； the light of the candle falling over his well…knit shoulders and chest outlined through his white shirt。
〃Better not go； Ollieyou've been away so much lately。〃
〃Oh； dearie；〃 he protested； in a tone as a child would have done； 〃what does a day or two matter？ Be a darling old mother and let me go。 Tom has a gun for me； and Mr。 Talbot is going to lend us his red setter。 Tom's sister is going； too； and so are her cousins。 Just think； now； I haven't had a day in the country for a coon's age。〃 His arms were round her neck now。 He seemed happier over the excuse to caress her than anxious about her possible refusal。
She loosened one of his hands and laid it on her cheek。
〃No holidays； son？ Why you had two last week； when you all went out to Stemmer's Run；〃 she said； looking up into his face； his hand still in hers。
〃Yes； but that was fishing！〃 he laughed as he waved an imaginary rod in his hands。
〃And the week before； when you spent the day at Uncle Tilghman's？〃 she continued； smiling sadly at him； but with the light of an ill…concealed admiration on her face。
〃Ah； but mother； I went to see the Lely！ That's an education。 Oh； that portrait in pink！〃 He was serious now； looking straight down into her eyes talking with his hands； one thumb in air as if it were a bit of charcoal and he was outlining the Lely on an equally real canvas。 〃Such color； mother such an exquisite poise of the head and sweep to the shoulder〃 and the thumb described a curve in the air as if following every turn of Lely's brush。
Her eyes followed his gesturesshe loved his enthusiasm； although she wished it had been about something else。
〃And you don't get any education out of the Judge's law…books？〃
〃No； I wish I did。〃 The joyous look on his face was gone nowhis hand had fallen to his side。 〃It gets to be more of a muddle every day〃 and then he added； with the illogical reasoning of youth〃all the lawyers that ever lived couldn't paint a picture like the Lely。〃
Mrs。 Horn closed her eyes。 It was on her tongue to tell him she knew what was in his heart； but she stopped； no； not to…night； she said firmly to herself； and shut her lips tighta way she had of bracing her nerves in such emergencies。
Oliver in turn saw the expression of anxiety that crossed his mother's face and the thin drawn line of the lips。 One word from her and he would have poured out his heart。 Then some shadow that crossed her face silenced him。 〃No； not to…night〃 he said to himself。 〃She has been sitting up for me and is tiredI'll tell her to…morrow。〃
〃Don't go with Tom Pitts； my son；〃 she said； calmly。 〃I'd rather you'd stay； I don't want you to go this time。 Perhaps a little later〃 and a slight shiver went through her as she rose from her chair and moved toward him。
He made no protest。 Her final word was always law to himnot because she dominated him； but because his nature was always to be in harmony with the thing he loved。 Because； too； underneath it all was that quality of tenderness to all women old and young； which forbade him to cause one of them pain。 Almost unconsciously to himself he had gone through a process by which from having yielded her the obedience of a child； he now surrendered to her the pleasures of his youth when the old feeling of maternal dominance still controlled her in her attitude to him。 She did not recognize the difference； and he had but half…perceived it； but the difference had already transformed him from a boy into a man； though with unrecognized powers of stability as yet。 In obeying his mother； then at twenty…two； or even in meeting the whims and conceits of his sweethearts； this quality of tenderness to the woman was always uppermost in his heart。 The surrender of a moment's pleasure seemed so little to him compared to the expression of pain he could see cross their faces。 He had so much to make him happywhat mattered it if out of a life so full he should give up any one thing to please his mother。
Patting him on the cheek and kissing him on the neck； as she had so often done when some sudden wave of affection overwhelmed her； she bade him good…night at last。
Once outside in the old…fashioned hall； she stopped for a moment； her eyes fixed on the floor； the light from the hall…lamp shining on her silver hair and the shawl about her shoulders； and said slowly to herself； as if counting each word：
〃Whatcan I doto save this boyfromhimself？〃
CHAPTER V
A MESSAGE OF IMPORTANCE
Richard； when he waked； made no allusion to the mortgage nor to his promise the night before； to take no steps in the matter without her consent； nor could Mrs。 Horn see that the inventor had given the subject further thought。 He came in to breakfast with his usual serenity of mien； kissed her gallantly on the cheekin all their married life this dear old gentleman had never forgotten this breakfast kiss and taking his seat opposite her； he picked up the new Scientific Review； just in by the morning mail； and began cutting the leaves。 She t
