登陆注册
15426300000050

第50章 The Girl Behind the Counter--III(3)

Oh,we shock our old people!We don't expect them to change,but they mustn't expect us not to.And even some of them have begun to whisper a little doubtfully.But never mind them--here's the negro.We can't kick him out.That plan is childish.So,it's like two men having to live in one house.The white man would keep the house in repair,the black would let it rot.Well,the black must take orders from the white.And it will end so."She was eager."Slavery again,you think?"

"Oh,never!It was too injurious to ourselves.But something between slavery and equality."And I ended with a quotation:"'Patience,cousin,and shuffle the cards.'""You may call me cousin--this once--because you have been,really,quite nice--for a Northerner."Now we had come to the place where she must understand me.

"Not a Northerner,Miss La Heu."

She became mocking."Scarcely a Southerner,I presume?"But I kept my smile and my directness."No more a Southerner than a Northerner.""Pray what,then?"

"An American."

She was silent.

"It's the 'sacred trust'--for me."

She was still silent.

"If my state seceded from the Union tomorrow,I should side with the Union against her."She was frankly astonished now."Would you really?"And I think some light about me began to reach her.A Northerner willing to side against a Northern state!I was very glad that I had found that phrase to make clear to her my American creed.

I proceeded."I shall help to hand down all the glories and all the sadnesses;Lee's,Lincoln's,everybody's.But I shall not hand 'it'

down."

This checked her.

"It's easy for me,you know,"I hastily explained."Nothing noble about it at all.But from noble people"--and I looked hard at her--"one ex-pects,sooner or later,noble things."

She repressed something she had been going to reply.

"If ever I have children,"I finished,"they shall know 'Dixie'and 'Yankee Doodle'by heart,and never know the difference.By that time Ishould think they might have a chance of hearing 'Yankee Doodle'in Kings Port."Again she checked a rapid retort."Well,"she,after a pause,repeated,"you have been really quite nice.""May I tell you what you have been?"

"Certainly not.Have you seen Mr.Mayrant to-day?""We have an engagement to walk this afternoon.May I go walking with you sometime?""May he,General?"A wagging tail knocked on the floor behind the counter."General says that he will think about it.What makes you like Mr.Mayrant so much?"This question struck me as an odd one;nor could I make out the import of the peculiar tone in which she put it."Why,I should think everybody would like him--except,perhaps,his double victim.""Double?"

"Yes,first of his fist and then of--of his hand!"But she didn't respond.

"Of his hand--his poker hand,"I explained.

"Poker hand?"She remained honestly vague.

It rejoiced me to be the first to tell her."You haven't heard of Master John's last performance?Well,finding himself forced by that immeasurable old Aunt Josephine of yours to shake hands,he shook 'em all right,but he took thirty dollars away as a little set-off for his pious docility.""Oh!"she murmured,overwhelmed with astonishment.Then she broke into one of her delicious peals of laughter.

"Anybody,"I said,"likes a boy who plays a hand--and a fist--to that tune."I continued to say a number of commendatory words about young John,while her sparkling eyes rested upon me.But even as I talked Igrew aware that these eyes were not sparkling,were starry rather,and distant,and that she was not hearing what I said;so I stopped abruptly,and at the stopping she spoke,like a person waking up.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 单身房东俏房客

    单身房东俏房客

    不以风骚惊天下,便用多情动世人!都说男人花心是福痴心是奴,纯情房东迎来了一个又一个美女房客。面对或成熟娇媚,或天真黠灵,或青春俏丽,或温婉卓约,或任性刁蛮的各路美女,高进将如何取舍?是纯情到底痴心一片,还是左拥右抱多情浪漫?
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 剑仙繁星

    剑仙繁星

    一个废材,妖神转世!我已写了剑仙修炼一,现在开剑仙修炼二,请大家观赏。
  • 梦飞翔时越少年

    梦飞翔时越少年

    我们放佛缺失了信仰,在繁忙的大城市当中,不知道自己要做些什么、要成为什么,渐渐的成为了大城市当中添砖加瓦的匆匆过客。在白天我们要忙于生计,活在别人的看法当中,到了晚上独自看着镜子,突然觉得自己非常陌生。在这本书当中,五个朋友在广州的奋斗洒热血的经历、被人瞧不起的惨况,何尝不是我们当中一个个的缩影。迷茫而不知所措,正是我们绝大多数人的素描。
  • 仁安异闻录

    仁安异闻录

    某小镇的一起奇怪的命案引出的一段奇特的冒险。
  • 疯狂的小小程序员

    疯狂的小小程序员

    疯狂的小小程序员是一本推荐阅读的程序员职业生涯中必备启蒙小说主人公:小贱程序员之独闯江湖
  • 带只粽子去盗墓

    带只粽子去盗墓

    玩盗墓,还有比带只粽子一起下墓更保险的吗?
  • 御天镜

    御天镜

    天才少年一朝废功,幸得御天铜镜,一路踏宗灭派,强势崛起。入死沼,得玄天;临九天,御剑道;入天玄,露峥嵘;踏云海,傲无双;莽昆仑,震无极;天地人,御天境!
  • 道行天外天

    道行天外天

    有人说,修行一半靠勇气,还有一半是靠运气。我说,运气太虚无缥缈,我更相信好人有好报。有人说,天地为牢,人为棋!你又能如何?那我就冲破九天,再生世界!
  • 空间重生之最强农女

    空间重生之最强农女

    在现代,她是医科女硕士,医术精湛,风华绝代——在异世,她是贫困农家女,体弱多病,无人关注——一朝重生,她变成了她,她还是她的身体!她已不是她的心!谁说人穷志短?只要心够决,财富?笑话!征服一切!胆小懦弱?呵呵,来试试吧,知道什么是天才!接住眼珠子,地上找牙去!修炼废材?正是以废材之资,成就逆天之事!只要有恒心与毅力,把握机会,谁说麻雀不能变凤凰?看她如何以普通人的脚印,一步一步成长起来,在这以武为尊的异世大陆上成功崛起,成为一代天骄,掀起一场狂风巨暴!还有他,别人眼中的女皇,在他这里,永远都是心里那个清浅水眸、坚强自立的小女孩儿,他想要时时刻刻的保护——“瞳儿,你往哪里跑?你怎么跑也跑不出我的手掌心的”。(本文一对一,女强男更强,男女主身心干净,亲们放心跳坑!)