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annoyance。
For awhile he lingered by the little brook in the pasture； and then slipping the bridle on the old mare； returned slowly to the house。 At the bars he met Sol Peterkin； who had hurried over in evident consternation to deliver his news。
〃Good Lord； Mr。 Christopher！ What do you think that gal of mine has gone and done now？〃
Christopher slid the topmost bar from its place and lifted his head
〃Don't tell me that she's divorced already；〃 he returned。 〃Why； the last I heard of her she had run off this morning to marry Will Fletcher。〃
〃That's it； suh； that's it；〃 said Sol。 〃I'm meanin' the marriage。 Well； well； it does seem that you can't settle down an' begin to say yo' grace over one trouble befo' a whole batch lights upon you。 To think； arter the way I've sweated an' delved to be honest； that a gal of mine should tie me hand an' foot to Bill Fletcher。〃
In spite of his moodiness； the humour of the situation struck home to Christopher； and throwing back his head he burst into a laugh。
〃Oh； you needn't poke yo' fun； suh；〃 continued Sol。 〃Money is a mighty good thing； but you can't put it in the blood； like you kin meanness。 All Bill Fletcher's riches ain't soaked in him blood an' bone； but his meanness is； an' that thar meanness goes a long sight further than his money。 Thar ain't much sto' set by honesty in this here world； suh； an' you kin buy a bigger chaw of tobaccy with five cents than you kin with all the virtue of Moses on his Mount； but all the same it's a mighty good thing to rest yo' head on when you go to bed； an' I ain't sure but it makes easier lyin' than a linen pillow…slip an' a white goose tick〃
〃Oh； I dare say；〃 interrupted Christopher； 〃but now that it's over we must make the best of it。 She didn't marry Bill Fletcher； after all； you know〃
He checked himself with a start； and the bridle slipped from his arm to the ground； for his name was called suddenly in a high voice from the house； and as he swung himself over the bars Lila came running barehead across the yard。
〃Christopher！〃 she cried； 〃we could not find you； and Bill Fletcher has talked to mother like a madman。 Come quickly！ She has fainted！〃
Before she had finished； he had dashed past her and through the house into the little parlour； where the old lady sat erect and unconscious in her Elizabethan chair。
〃I found her like this；〃 said Lila； weeping。 〃We heard loud voices and then a scream； and when we rushed in the man left； and she sat looking straight ahead like thislike this。〃
Throwing himself upon his knees beside the chair； Christopher caught his mother to his breast and turned angrily upon the women。
〃Has nothing been done？ Where is the doctor？〃 he cried。
〃Jim has gone for him。 Here； let me take her；〃 said Cynthia； unclasping his arms。 〃There； stand back。 She is not dead。 In a little while she will come to herself again。〃
Rising from the floor； he stood motionless in the center of the room； where the atmosphere was heavy with the fragrance of camphor and tea…roses。 A broad strip of sunshine was at his feet； and in the twisted aspen beside the window a catbird was singing。 These remained with him for years afterward； and with them the memory of the blind woman sitting stiffy erect and staring vacantly into his face。
〃He has told her everything；〃 said Cynthia〃after twenty years。〃
BOOK IV。 The Awakening
CHAPTER I。 The Unforeseen
The road was steep； and Christopher； descending from the big； lumbering cart； left the oxen to crawl slowly up the incline。 It was a windy afternoon in March； and he was returning from a trip to Farrar's mill； which was reached by a lane that branched off a half…mile or so from the cross…roads。 A blue sky shone brightly through the leafless boughs above him； and along the little wayside path tufts of dandelion were blooming in the red dust。 The wind； which blew straight toward him from the opening beyond the strip of wood in which he walked； brought the fresh scent of the upturned fields and of the swelling buds putting out with the warm sunshine。 In his own veins he felt also that the blood had stirred； and that strange； quickening impulse； which comes with the rising sap alike to a man and to a tree； worked restlessly in his limbs at the touch of spring。 Nature was alive again； and he felt vaguely that in the resurrection surrounding him he must have his partthat in him as well as in the earth the spirit of life must move and put forth in gladness。 A flock of swallows passed suddenly like a streak of smoke on the blue sky overhead； and as his eyes followed them the old roving instinct pulled at his heart。 To be up and away； to drink life to its dregs and come home for rest； were among the impulses which awoke with the return of spring。
The oxen moved behind him at a leisurely pace； and outstripping them in a little while； he had turned at a sudden opening in the trees into the main road； when； to his surprise； he saw a woman in black； followed by a small yellow dog； walking in front of him along the grassy path。 As he caught sight of her a strong gust of wind swept down the road； wrapping her skirt closely about her and whirling a last year's leaf into her face。 For a moment she paused and； throwing back her head； drank the air like water； then； holding firmly to her hat； she started on again at her rapid pace。 In the ease with which she moved against the wind； in the self…possession of her carriage； and most of all in the grace with which she lifted her long black skirt； made； he could see； after the fashion of the outside world； he realised at once that she was a stranger to the neighbourhood。 No woman whom he had knownnot even Lilahad this same light yet energetic walka walk in which every line in her body moved in accord with the buoyant impulse that controlled her step。 As he watched her he recalled instantly the flight of a swallow in the air； for her passage over the ground was as direct and beautiful as a bird's。
When he neared her she turned suddenly； and； as she flung back her short veil； he saw to his amazement that he faced Maria Fletcher。
〃So you have forgotten me？〃 she said； with a smile。 〃Or have I changed so greatly that my old friends do not know me？〃
She held out her hand； and while a tremor ran through him； he kept her bared palm for an instant in his own。
〃You dropped from the sky；〃 he answered； steadying his voice with an effort。 〃You have taken my breath away and I cannot speak。〃
Then letting her hand fall； he stood looking at her in a wonder that shone in his face； for to the Maria whom he had known the woman before him now bore only the resemblance that the finished portrait bears to the charcoal sketch； and the years which had so changed and softened her had given her girlish figure a nobility that belonged to the maturity she had not reached。 It was not that she had grown beautifulwhen he sought for physical changes he found only that her cheek was rounder； her bosom fuller； but if she still lacked the ruddy attraction of mere flesh…and…blood loveliness； she had gained the deeper fascination which is the outward accompaniment of a fervent spirit。 Her eyes； her voice； her gestures were all attuned to the inner har