按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
my present felicity quite in that way。〃
Miss Sally laughed。 Then with a charming exaggeration she waved
her little hand towards the sofa。
〃There！ Yo' naturally wanted a little room for that； co'nnle； but
now that yo' 've got it off；and mighty pooty it was； too；yo'
can sit down。〃 And with that she sank down at one end of the sofa；
prettily drew aside a white billow of skirt so as to leave ample
room for Courtland at the other； and clasping her fingers over her
knees； looked demurely expectant。
〃But let me hope that I am not disturbing you unseasonably；〃 said
Courtland； catching sight of the fateful little slipper beneath her
skirt； and remembering the window。 〃I was so preoccupied in
thinking of your aunt as the business manager of these estates that
I quite forget that she might have a lady's hours for receiving。〃
〃We haven't got any company hours；〃 said Miss Sally； 〃and we
haven't just now any servants for company manners； for we're short…
handed in the fields and barns。 When yo' came I was nailing up the
laths for the vines outside； because we couldn't spare carpenters
from the factory。 But；〃 she added； with a faint accession of
mischief in her voice； 〃yo' came to talk about the fahm？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Courtland； rising； 〃but not to interrupt the work on
it。 Will you let me help you nail up the laths on the wall？ I
have some experience that way； and we can talk as we work。 Do
oblige me！〃
The young girl looked at him brightly。
〃Well； now； there's nothing mean about THAT。 Yo' mean it for
sure？〃
〃Perfectly。 I shall feel so much less as if I was enjoying your
company under false pretenses。〃
〃Yo' just wait here； then。〃
She jumped from the sofa； ran out of the room； and returned
presently； tying the string of a long striped cotton blouse
evidently an extra one of Sophy'sbehind her back as she returned。
It was gathered under her oval chin by a tape also tied behind her；
while her fair hair was tucked under the usual red bandana
handkerchief of the negro housemaid。 It is scarcely necessary to
add that the effect was bewitching。
〃But；〃 said Miss Sally； eying her guest's smartly fitting frock…
coat； 〃yo' 'll spoil yo'r pooty clothes； sure！ Take off yo'r coat
don't mind meand work in yo'r shirtsleeves。〃
Courtland obediently flung aside his coat and followed his active
hostess through the French window to the platform outside。 Above
them a wooden ledge or cornice； projecting several inches； ran the
whole length of the building。 It was on this that Miss Sally had
evidently found a foothold while she was nailing up a trellis…work
of laths between it and the windows of the second floor。 Courtland
found the ladder； mounted to the ledge； followed by the young girl；
who smilingly waived his proffered hand to help her up； and the two
gravely set to work。 But in the intervals of hammering and tying
up the vines Miss Sally's tongue was not idle。 Her talk was as
fresh； as quaint； as original as herself； and yet so practical and
to the purpose of Courtland's visit as to excuse his delight in it
and her own fascinating propinquity。 Whether she stopped to take a
nail from between her pretty lips when she spoke to him； or whether
holding on perilously with one hand to the trellis while she
gesticulated with the hammer； pointing out the divisions of the
plantation from her coign of vantage； he thought she was as clear
and convincing to his intellect as she was distracting to his
senses。
She told him how the war had broken up their old home in Pineville；
sending her father to serve in the Confederate councils of
Richmond； and leaving her aunt and herself to manage the property
alone； how the estate had been devastated； the house destroyed； and
how they had barely time to remove a few valuables； how； although
SHE had always been opposed to secession and the war； she had not
gone North； preferring to stay with her people； and take with them
the punishment of the folly she had foreseen。 How after the war
and her father's death she and her aunt had determined to
〃reconstruct THEMSELVES〃 after their own fashion on this bit of
property； which had survived their fortunes because it had always
been considered valueless and unprofitable for negro labor。 How
at first they had undergone serious difficulty； through the
incompetence and ignorance of the freed laborer； and the equal
apathy and prejudice of their neighbors。 How they had gradually
succeeded with the adoption of new methods and ideas that she
herself had conceived； which she now briefly and clearly stated。
Courtland listened with a new； breathless； and almost superstitious
interest： they were HIS OWN THEORIESperfected and demonstrated！
〃But you must have had capital for this？〃
Ah； yes！ that was where they were fortunate。 There were some
French cousins with whom she had once stayed in Paris； who advanced
enough to stock the estate。 There were some English friends of her
father's； old blockade runners； who had taken shares； provided them
with more capital； and imported some skilled laborers and a kind of
steward or agent to represent them。 But they were getting on； and
perhaps it was better for their reputation with their neighbors
that they had not been BEHOLDEN to the 〃No'th。〃 Seeing a cloud
pass over Courtland's face； the young lady added with an affected
sigh； and the first touch of feminine coquetry which had invaded
their wholesome camaraderie：
〃Yo' ought to have found us out BEFORE； co'nnle。〃
For an impulsive moment Courtland felt like telling her then and
there the story of his romantic quest； but the reflection that they
were standing on a narrow ledge with no room for the emotions； and
that Miss Sally had just put a nail in her mouth and a start might
be dangerous； checked him。 To this may be added a new jealousy of
her previous experiences； which he had not felt before。
Nevertheless； he managed to say with some effusion：
〃But I hope we are not too late NOW。 I think my principals are
quite ready and able to buy up any English or French investor now
or to come。〃
〃Yo' might try yo' hand on that one；〃 said Miss Sally； pointing to
a young fellow who had just emerged from the office and was
crossing the courtyard。 〃He's the English agent。〃
He was square…shouldered and round…headed； fresh and clean looking
in his white flannels； but with an air of being utterly distinct
and alien to everything around him； and mentally and morally
irreconcilable to it。 As he passed the house he glanced shyly at
it； his eye brightened and his manner became self…conscious as he
caught sight of the young girl； but changed again when he saw her
companion。 Courtland likewise was conscious of a certain
uneasiness； it was one thing to be helping Miss Sally ALONE； but
certainly another thing to be doing so under the eye of a stranger；
and I am afraid that he met the stony observation of the Englishman
with an equally cold stare。 Miss Sally alone retained her languid
ease and self…possession。 She called out； 〃Wait a moment； Mr。
Champney；〃 slipped lightly down the ladder； and leaning against it
with one foot on its lowest rung awaited his approach。