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！
of pigeons on the top step； listen to the guiding sound of the distant laughter； and then swoop down in mad frolic； settling in the midst of the main covey； under the big sycamores until roused at the signal of some male bird in a straw hat； or in answer to the call of some bare…headed songstress from across the Square； the whole covey would dash out one of the rickety gates； only to alight again on the stone steps of a neighbor's porch； where their chatter and pipings would last far into the night。
It was extraordinary how； from year to year； these young birds and even the old ones remembered the best perches about the Square。 On Colonel Clayton's ample porticobig enough to shelter half a dozen covies behind its honeysucklesboth young and old would settle side by side； the younger bevy hovering about the Judge's blue…eyed daughtera bird so blithe and of so free a wing； that the flock always followed wherever she alighted。 On Judge Bowman's wide veranda only a few old cocks from the club could be found； and not infrequently； some rare birds from out of town perched about a table alive with the clink of glass and rattle of crushed ice； while next the church； on old Mrs。 Pancoast's portico； with its tall Corinthian columnsMr。 Pancoast was the archdeacon of the Noah's ark churchone or two old grandmothers and a grave old owl of a family doctor were sure to fill the rocking…chairs。 As for Richard Horn's marble steps they were never free from stray young couples who flew in to rest on Malachi's chairs and cushions。 Sometimes only one bird and her mate would be tucked away in the shadow of the doorway； sometimes only an old pair； like Mrs。 Horn and Richard； would occupy its corners。
These porticoes and stone door…steps were really the open…air drawing…rooms of Kennedy Square in the soft summer nights。 Here ices were served and cool drinkssherbets for the young and juleps and sherry cobblers for the old。 At the Horn house； on great occasions； as when some big melon that had lain for days on the cool cellar floor was cut （it was worth a day's journey to see Malachi cut a melon）； the guests would not only crowd the steps； but all the hall and half up the slender staircase； where they would sit with plates in their laps； the young men serving their respective sweethearts。
This open…air night…life had gone on since Kennedy Square began； each door…step had its habitues and each veranda its traditions。 There was but one single porch； in fact； facing its stately trees whereon no flocks of birds； old or young； ever alighted； and that belonged to Peter Skimmertonthe meanest man in townwho in a fit of parsimony over candles； so the girls said； had bared his porch of every protesting vine and had placed opposite his door…step a glaring street gas…lamp…a monstrous and never…to… be…forgotten affront。
And yet； free and easy as the life was； no stranger sat himself down on any one of these porches until his pedigree had been thoroughly investigated； no matter how large might be his bank…account nor how ambitious his soarings。 No premeditated discourtesy ever initialed this exclusiveness and none was ever intended。 Kennedy Square did not know the blood of the strangerthat was alland not knowing it they could not trust him。 And it would have been altogether useless for him to try to disguise his antecedents especially if he came from their own State or any State south of it。 His record could be as easily reached and could be as clearly read as a title… deed。 Even the servants knew。 Often they acted as Clerks of the Rolls。
〃Dat Mister Jawlins； did you ask 'bout？〃 Malachi would say。 〃Why you know whar he comes f'om。 He's one o' dem Anne Rundle Jawlinses。 He do look mighty peart an' dey do say he's mighty rich； but he can't fool Malachi。 I knowed his gran'pa；〃 and that wise and politic darky； with the honor of the house before his eyes； would shake his head knowingly and with such an ominous look； that had you not known the only crime of the poor grandfather to have been a marriage with his overseer's daughter a very worthy woman； by the wayinstead of with some lady of quality； you would have supposed he had added the sin of murder to the crime of low birth。 On the other hand； had you asked Malachi about some young aristocrat who had forgotten to count his toddies the night before； that Defender of the Faith would have replied：
〃Lawd bress ye！ Co'se dese young gemmens like to frolican' dey do git dat way sometimestain't nuthin'。 Dem Dorseys was allers like dat〃 the very tones of his voice carrying such convictions of the young man's respectability that you would have felt safe in keeping a place at your table for the delinquent； despite your knowledge of his habits。
This general intimacy between the young people； and this absolute faith of their elders in the quality of family blood； was one of the reasons why every man about Kennedy Square was to be trusted with every other man's sister； and why every mother gave the latch…key to every other mother's son； and why it made no difference whether the young people came home early or late； so that they all came home when the others did。 If there were love…makingand of course there was love…makingit was of the old… fashioned； boy…and…girl kind； with keepsakes and pledges and long walks in the afternoons and whispered secrets at the merry…makings。 Never anything else。 Woe betide the swain who forgot himself ever so slightlythere was no night…key for him after that； nor would any of the girls on any front steps in town ever look his way again when he passed and to their credit be it said； few of the young men either。 From that day on the offender became a pariah。 He had committed the unpardonable sin。
As for these young men； this life with the girls was all the life they knew。 There were fishing parties； of course； at the 〃Falls〃 when the gudgeons were biting； and picnics in the woods； and there were oyster roasts in winter； and watermelon parties in summerbut the girls must he present； too。 For in those simple days there were no special clubs with easy…chairs and convenient little tables loaded with drinkables and smokablesnone for the young Olivers； and certainly none for the women。 There was； to be sure； in every Southern city an old mausoleum of a clubsometimes twoeach more desolate than the otherhaunted by gouty old parties and bonvivants； but the young men never passed through their doors except on some call of urgency。 When a man was old enough to be admitted to the club there was no young damosel on Malachi's steps； or any other steps； who would care a rap about him。 HIS day was done。
For these were the days in which the woman ruled in court and home…championed by loyal retainers who strove hourly to do her bidding。 Even the gray… haired men would tell you over their wine of some rare woman whom they had known in their youth； and who was still their standard of all that was gentle and gracious； and for whom they would claim a charm of manner and stately comeliness that〃my dear sir； not only illumined her drawing…room but conferred distinction on the commonwealth。〃
〃Mrs。 Tilghman's mother； were you talking about？〃 Colonel Clayton or Richard Horn； or some other old re