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ck。〃
〃What on earth can he have to do at the back； sir？〃 inquired the irrepressible old lady； 〃but since you were so kind as to overlook our inhospitable reception； will you not be equally good and tell me your name？〃
〃I fear it won't enlighten you much；〃 replied the lawyer modestly； 〃but my name happens to be Guy Carraway。〃
〃GuyGuy Carraway；〃 repeated Mrs。 Blake； as if weighing each separate letter in some remote social scales。 〃 I've known many a Guy in my dayand that part； at least； of your name is quite familiar。 There was Guy Nelson； and Guy Blair； and Guy Marshall； the greatest beau of his timebut I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting a Carraway before。〃
〃That is more than probable； ma'am； but I have the advantage of you； since； as a child； I was once taken out upon the street corner merely to see you go by on your way to a fancy ball； where you appeared as Diana。〃
Mrs。 Blake yielded gracefully to the skilful thrust。
〃Ah； I was Lucy Corbin then；〃 she sighed。 〃You find few traces of her in me now； sir。〃
〃Unfortunately； your mirror cannot speak for me。〃
She shook her head。
〃You're a flatterera sad flatterer； I see；〃 she returned； a little wistfully； 〃but it does no harm； as I tell my son； to flatter the old。 It is well to strew the passage to the grave with flowers。〃
〃How well I remember that day； 〃 said Carraway； speaking softly。 〃There was a crowd about the door； waiting to see you come out； and a carpenter lifted me upon his shoulder。 Your hair was as black as night； and there was a circle round your head。〃
〃A silver fillet；〃 she corrected； with a smile in which there was a gentle archness。
〃A fillet； yes； and you carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows。 I declare； it seems but yesterday。〃
〃It was more than fifty years ago；〃 murmured the old lady。 Well； well； I've had my day； sir； and it was a merry one。 I am almost seventy years old； I'm half dead； and stone blind into the bargain； but I can say to you that this is a cheerful world in spite of the darkness in which I linger on。 I'd take it over again and gladly any daythe pleasure and the pain； the light and the darkness。 Why； I sometimes think that my present blindness was given me in order that I might view the past more clearly。 There's not a ball of my youth； nor a face I knew； nor even a dress I wore； that I don't see more distinctly every day。 The present is a very little part of life； sir； it's the past in which we store our treasures。〃
〃You're right； you're right；〃 replied Carraway； drawing his chair nearer the embroidered ottoman and leaning over to stroke the yellow cat； 〃and I'm glad to hear so cheerful a philosophy from your lips。〃
〃It is based on a cheerful experienceI've been as you see me now only twenty years。〃
Only twenty years！ He looked mutely round the soiled whitewashed walls； where hung a noble gathering of Blake portraits in massive old gilt frames。 Among them he saw the remembered face of Lucy Corbin herself； painted under a rose…garland held by smiling Loves。
〃Life has its trials； of course； 〃 pursued Mrs。 Blake； as if speaking to herself。 〃I can't look out upon the June flowers； you know； and though the pink crape…myrtle at my window is in full bloom I cannot see it。〃
Following her gesture； Carraway glanced out into the little yard； no myrtle was there； but he remembered vaguely that he had seen one in blossom at the Hall。
〃You keep flowers about you； though；〃 he said； alluding to the scattered vases of June roses。
〃Not my crape…myrtle。 I planted it myself when I first came home with Mr。 Blake； and I have never allowed so much as a spray of it to be plucked。〃
Forgetting his presence； she lapsed for a time into one of the pathetic day…dreams of old age。 Then recalling herself suddenly； her tone took on a sprightliness like that of youth。
〃It's not often that we have the pleasure of entertaining a stranger in our out…of…the…way house； sir so may I ask where you are stayingor perhaps you will do us the honour to sleep beneath our roof。 It has had the privilege of sheltering General Washington。〃
〃You are very kind；〃 replied Carraway； with a gratitude that was from his heart； 〃but to tell the truth； I feel that I am sailing under false colours。 The real object of my visit is to ask a business interview with your son。 I bring what seems to me a very fair offer for the place。〃
Grasping the carved arms of her chair； Mrs。 Blake turned the wonder in her blind eyes upon him。
〃An offer for the place！ Why； you must be dreaming； sir！ A Blake owned it more than a hundred years before the Revolution。〃
At the instant； understanding broke upon Carraway like a thundercloud； and as he rose from his seat it seemed to him that he had missed by a single step the yawning gulf before him。 Blind terror gripped him for the moment； and when his brain steadied he looked up to meet； from the threshold of the adjoining room； the enraged flash of Christopher's eyes。 So tempestuous was the glance that Carraway； impulsively falling back； squared himself to receive a physical blow； but the young man； without so much as the expected oath； came in quietly and took his stand behind the Elizabethan chair。
〃Why； what a joke； mother；〃 he said； laughing； 〃he means the old Weatherby farm； of course。 The one I wanted to sell last year； you know。〃
〃I thought you'd sold it to the Weatherbys； Christopher。〃
〃Not a bit of itthey backed out at the last； but don't begin to bother your head about such things； they aren't worth it。 And now； sir；〃 he turned upon Carraway； 〃since your business is with me； perhaps you will have the goodness to step outside。〃
With the feeling that he was asked out for a beating； Carraway turned for a farewell with Mrs。 Blake； but the imperious old lady was not to be so lightly defrauded of a listener。
〃Business may come later； my son；〃 she said； detaining them by a gesture of her heavily ringed hand。 〃After dinner you may take Mr。 Carraway with you into the library and discuss your affairs over a bottle of burgundy； as was your grandfather's custom before you； meanwhile； he and I will resume our very pleasant talk which you interrupted。 He remembers seeing me in the old days when we were all in the United States； my dear。〃
Christopher's brow grew black； and he threw a sharp and malignant glance of sullen suspicion at Carraway； who summoned to meet it his most frank and open look。
〃I saw your mother in the height of her fame；〃 he said； smiling； 〃so I may count myself one of her oldest admirers； I believe。 You may assure yourself；〃 he added softly； 〃that I have her welfare very decidedly at heart。〃
At this Christopher smiled back at him； and there was something of the June brightness in his look。
〃Well； take care； sir；〃 he answered； and went out； closing the door carefully behind him； while Carraway applied himself to a determined entertaining of Mrs。 Blake。
To accomplish this he found that he had only to leave her free； guiding her thoughts with his lightest touch into newer channels。 The talk had grown merrier now； and he soon discovered that she possessed a sharpened wit as well as a ready tongue。 From subject to subject she passed with amazing swift