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！
would tilt back his chair； take off his spectacles and pull his beard。
〃Why in the name of all the sages；〃 he would demand； 〃couldn't you have
done this well at school？ You might have led your class； instead of
Ralph Hambleton。〃
I grew very fond of Mr。 Wood； and even of his thin little wife； who
occasionally flitted into the room after we had finished。 I fully
intended to keep up with them in after life； but I never did。 I forgot
them completely。。。。
My parents were not wholly easy in their minds concerning me； they were
bewildered by the new aspect I presented。 For my lately acquired motive
was strong enough to compel me to restrict myself socially； and the
evenings I spent at home were given to study； usually in my own room。
Once I was caught with a Latin grammar： I was just 〃looking over it；〃 I
said。 My mother sighed。 I knew what was in her mind； she had always
been secretly disappointed that I had not been sent to college。 And
presently； when my father went out to attend a trustee's meeting； the
impulse to confide in her almost overcame me； I loved her with that
affection which goes out to those whom we feel understand us； but I was
learning to restrain my feelings。 She looked at me wistfully。。。。 I knew
that she would insist on telling my father； and thus possibly frustrate
my plans。 That I was not discovered was due to a certain quixotic twist
in my father's character。 I was working now； and though not actually
earning my own living； he no longer felt justified in prying into my
affairs。
When June arrived； however； my tutor began to show signs that his
conscience was troubling him； and one night he delivered his ultimatum。
The joke had gone far enough； he implied。 My intentions； indeed； he
found praiseworthy； but in his opinion it was high time that my father
were informed of them； he was determined to call at my father's office。
The next morning was blue with the presage of showers； blue； too； with
the presage of fate。 An interminable morning。 My tasks had become
utterly distasteful。 And in the afternoon； so when I sat down to make
out invoices； I wrote automatically the names of the familiar customers；
my mind now exalted by hope； now depressed by anxiety。 The result of an
interview perhaps even now going on would determine whether or no I
should be immediately released from a slavery I detested。 Would Mr。 Wood
persuade my father？ If not； I was prepared to take more desperate
measures； remain in the grocery business I would not。 In the evening； as
I hurried homeward from the corner where the Boyne Street car had dropped
me； I halted suddenly in front of the Peters house； absorbing the scene
where my childhood had been spent： each of these spreading maples was an
old friend； and in these yards I had played and dreamed。 An
unaccountable sadness passed over me as I walked on toward our gate； I
entered it； gained the doorway of the house and went upstairs； glancing
into the sitting room。 My mother sat by the window； sewing。 She looked
up at me with an ineffable expression； in which I read a trace of tears。
〃Hugh！〃 she exclaimed。
I felt very uncomfortable； and stood looking down at her。
〃Why didn't you tell us； my son？〃 In her voice was in truth reproach；
yet mingled with that was another note； which I think was pride。
〃What has father said？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； my dear； he will tell you himself。 II don't knowhe will talk to
you。〃
Suddenly she seized my hands and drew me down to her； and then held me
away； gazing into my face with a passionate questioning； her lips
smiling； her eyes wet。 What did she see？ Was there a subtler
relationship between our natures than I guessed？ Did she understand by
some instinctive power the riddle within me？ divine through love the
force that was driving me on she knew not whither； nor I？ At the sound
of my father's step in the hall she released me。 He came in as though
nothing had happened。
〃Well； Hugh； are you home？〃 he said。。。。
Never had I been more impressed； more bewildered by his self…command than
at that time。 Save for the fact that my mother talked less than usual；
supper passed as though nothing had happened。 Whether I had shaken him；
disappointed him； or gained his reluctant approval I could not tell。
Gradually his outward calmness turned my suspense to irritation。。。。
But when at length we were alone together； I gained a certain
reassurance。 His manner was not severe。 He hesitated a little before
beginning。
〃I must confess； Hugh； that I scarcely know what to say about this
proceeding of yours。 The thing that strikes me most forcibly is that you
might have confided in your mother and myself。〃
Hope flashed up within me； like an explosion。
〃II wanted to surprise you； father。 And then； you see； I thought it
would be wiser to find out first how well I was likely to do at the
examinations。〃
My father looked at me。 Unfortunately he possessed neither a sense of
humour nor a sense of tragedy sufficient to meet such a situation。 For
the first time in my life I beheld him at a disadvantage； for I had；
somehow； managed at length to force him out of position； and he was
puzzled。 I was quick to play my trump card。
〃I have been thinking it over carefully；〃 I told him； 〃and I have made up
my mind that I want to go into the law。〃
〃The law！〃 he exclaimed sharply。
〃Why； yes； sir。 I know that you were disappointed because I did not do
sufficiently well at school to go to college and study for the bar。〃
I felt indeed a momentary pang； but I remembered that I was fighting for
my freedom。
〃You seemed satisfied where you were；〃 he said in a puzzled voice； 〃and
your Cousin Robert gives a good account of you。〃
〃I've tried to do the work as well as I could； sir；〃 I replied。 〃But I
don't like the grocery business； or any other business。 I have a feeling
that I'm not made for it。〃
〃And you think； now； that you are made for the law？〃 he asked； with the
faint hint of a smile。
〃Yes； sir； I believe I could succeed at it。 I'd like to try；〃 I replied
modestly。
〃You've given up the idiotic notion of wishing to be an author？〃
I implied that he himself had convinced me of the futility of such a
wish。 I listened to his next words as in a dream。
〃I must confess to you； Hugh； that there are times when I fail to
understand you。 I hope it is as you say； that you have arrived at a
settled conviction as to your future； and that this is not another of
those caprices to which you have been subject； nor a desire to shirk
honest work。 Mr。 Wood has made out a strong case for you； and I have
therefore determined to give you a trial。 If you pass the examinations
with credit； you may go to college； but if at any time you fail to make
good progress； you come home； and go into business again。 Is that
thoroughly understood？〃
I said it was； and thanked him effusively。。。。 I had escaped；the prison
doors had flown open。 But it is written that every happiness has its
sting； and my joy； intense though it was； had in it a core of remorse。。。。
I went downstairs to my mother； who was sitting in the hall by the open
door。
〃Father says I