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cle Isam？ I knew some foolishness would most likely come of it if they sent up for you。〃
〃Oh； he used to belong to us； you see；〃 explained Christopher carelessly。
〃And he's been an ungrateful； thriftless free Negro for nearly thirty years〃
〃That's just itfor not quite thirty years。 Look here； if you'll drive me over in the cart and leave the things at the foot of the hill I'll be obliged to you。 I'll probably have to stay out a couple of weeksuntil there's no danger of my bringing back the diseaseso I'll wear Tom's overalls and leave my clothes somewhere in the woods。 Oh； I'll take care； of course； I'm no fool。〃
〃You're surer of that than I am；〃 returned Jim； thinking of Lila。 〃I can't help feeling that there's some truth in father's saying that a man can't be a hero without being a bit of a fool as well。 For God's sake； don't； Christopher。 You have no right〃
〃No； I have no right；〃 repeated Christopher； as he got into the cart and took up the hanging reins。 A sudden animation had leaped into his face and his eyes were shining。 It was the old love of a 〃risk for the sake of the risk〃 which to Tucker had always seemed to lack the moral elements of true courage； and the careless gaiety with which he spoke robbed the situation of its underlying somber horror。
Jim swung himself angrily upon the seat and touched the horse lightly with the whip。 〃And there's your mother sitting at homeand Cynthiaand Lila；〃 he said。
Christopher turned on him a face in whose expression he found a mystery that he could not solve。
〃I can't help it； Jim； to save my life I can't；〃 he answered。 〃It isn't anything heroic； you know that as well as I。 I don't care a straw for Uncle Isam and his children； but if I didn't go up there and bury those dead darkies I'd never have a moment's peace。 I've been everything but a skulking coward； and I can't turn out to be that at the end。 It's the way I'm made。〃
〃Well； I dare say we're made different；〃 responded Jim rather dryly； for it was his wedding day and he was going farther from his bride。 〃But for my part； I can't help thinking of that poor blind old lady； and how helpless they all are。 Yes； we're made different。 I reckon that's what it means。〃
The cart jogged on slowly through the fading sunshine； and when at last it came to the foot of the hill where Uncle Isam lived Christopher got out and shouldered a bag of meal。
〃You'll run the place； I know； and look after mother while I'm away；〃 he said。
〃Oh； I suppose I'll have to；〃 returned Jim； and then his ill… humour vanished and he smiled and held out his hand。 〃Good…by； old man。 God bless you；〃 he said heartily。
Sitting there in the road； he watched Christopher pass out of sight under the green leaves； stooping slightly beneath the bag of meal and whistling a merry scrap of an old song。 At the instant it came to Jim with the force of a blow that this was the first cheerful sound he had heard from him for weeks； and； still pondering； he turned the horse's head and drove slowly home to his own happiness。
CHAPTER II。 The Measure of Maria
When； two weeks later； Christopher reached home again； he was met by Tucker's gentle banter and Lila's look of passionate reproach。
〃Oh； dear； you might have died！〃 breathed the girl with a shudder。
Christopher laughed。
〃So might Uncle Tucker when he went into the war；〃 was his retort。 He was a little thinner； a little graver； and the sunburn upon his face had faded to a paler shade。 After the short absence his powerful figure struck them as almost gigantic； physically； he had never appeared more impressive than he did standing there in the sunlight that filled the kitchen doorway。
〃But that was different；〃 protested Lila； flushing； 〃and this… thiswhy； you hardly knew Uncle Isam when you passed him in the road。〃
〃And half the time forgot to speak to him；〃 added Tucker； laughing。 His eyes were on the young man's figure； and they grew a little wistful； as they always did in the presence of perfect masculine strength。 〃Well； I'm glad your search for adventures didn't end in disaster；〃 he added pleasantly。
To Christopher's surprise； Cynthia was the single member of the family who showed a sympathy with his reckless knight errantry。 〃There was nothing else for you to do； of course；〃 she said in a resolute voice； lifting her worn face where the lines had deepened in his absence； 〃he used to be father's coachman before the war。〃
She had gone from the kitchen as she spoke； and Christopher； following her； threw an anxious glance along the little platform to the closed door of the house。
〃And mother； Cynthia？〃 he asked quickly。
〃Her mind still wanders； but at times she seems to come back to herself for a little while； and only this morning she awoke from a nap and asked for you quite clearly。 We told her you had gone hunting。〃
〃May I see her now？ Who is with her？〃
〃Jim。 He has been so good。〃
The admission was wrung shortly from her rigid honesty； and there was no visible softening of her grim reserve； when； entering the house with Christopher； she found herself presently beside Jim Weatherby； who was chatting merrily in Mrs。 Blake's room。
The old lady； shrivelled and faded as the dried goldenrod which filled the great jars on the hearth； lay half hidden among the pillows in her high white bed； her vacant eyes fixed upon the sunshine which fell through the little window。 At Christopher's step her memory flickered back for an instant； and the change showed in the sudden animation of her glance。
〃I was dreaming of your father； my son； and you have his voice。〃
〃I am like him in other ways； I hope； mother。〃
〃If I could only see you； Christopherit is so hard to remember。 You had golden curls and wore a white pinafore。 I trimmed it with the embroidery from my last set of petticoats。 And your hands were dimpled all over； you would suck your thumb： there was no breaking you； though I wrapped it in a rag soaked in quinine〃
〃That was almost thirty years ago； mother；〃 broke in Cynthia； catching her breath sharply。 〃He is a man now； and bigoh； so bigand his hair has grown a little darker。〃
〃I know； Cynthia； I know；〃 returned Mrs。 Blake； with a peevish movement of her thin hand； 〃but you won't let me remember。 I am trying to remember。〃 She fell to whimpering like a hurt child； and then growing suddenly quiet； reached out until she touched Christopher's head。 〃You're a man； I know；〃 she said； 〃older than your father was when his first child was born。 There have been two crosses in my life； Christophermy blindness and my never having heard the voices of my grandchildren playing in the house。 Such a roomy old house； too； with so much space for them to fill with cheerful noise。 I always liked noise； you know； it tells of life； and never disturbs me so long as it is pleasant。 What I hate is the empty silence that reminds one of the grave。〃
She was quite herself now； and； bending over； he kissed the hand upon the counterpane。
〃Oh； mother； mother； if I could only have made you happy！〃
〃And you couldn't； Christopher？〃
〃I couldn't marry； dear； I couldn't。〃
〃There was no one； you meanno woman whom you could have loved and who would have given you children。