At Fault Part 13

Day by day, f.a.n.n.y threw off somewhat of the homesickness which had weighted her at coming. Not by any determined effort of the will, nor by any resolve to make the best of things. Outside influences meeting half-way the workings of unconscious inward forces, were the agents that by degrees were gently ridding her of the acute pressure of dissatisfaction, which up to the present, she had stolidly borne without any personal effort to cast it off.

Therese affected her forcibly. This woman so wholesome, so fair and strong; so un-American as to be not ashamed to show tenderness and sympathy with eye and lip, moved f.a.n.n.y like a new and pleasing experience. When Therese touched her caressingly, or gently stroked her limp hand, she started guiltily, and looked furtively around to make sure that none had witnessed an exhibition of tenderness that made her flush, and the first time found her unresponsive. A second time, she awkwardly returned the hand pressure, and later, these mildly sensuous exchanges prefaced the outpouring of all f.a.n.n.y's woes, great and small.

"I don't say that I always done what was right, Mrs. Laferm, but I guess David's told you just what suited him about me. You got to remember there's always two sides to a story."

She had been to the poultry yard with Therese, who had introduced her to its feathery tenants, making her acquainted with stately Brahmas and sleek Plymouth-Rocks and hardy little "Creole chickens"--not much to look at, but very palatable when converted into _frica.s.see_.

Returning, they seated themselves on the bench that encircled a ma.s.sive cedar--spreading and conical. Hector, who had trotted attendance upon them during their visit of inspection, cast himself heavily down at his mistress' feet and after glancing knowingly up into her face, looked placidly forth at Sampson, gathering garden greens on the other side of a low dividing fence.

"You see if David'd always been like he is now, I don't know but things'd been different. Do you suppose he ever went any wheres with me, or even so much as talked to me when he came home? There was always that everlasting newspaper in his pocket, and he'd haul it out the first thing. Then I used to read the paper too sometimes, and when I'd go to talk to him about what I read, he'd never even looked at the same things. Goodness knows what he read in the paper, I never could find out; but here'd be the edges all covered over with figuring. I believe it's the only thing he ever thought or dreamt about; that eternal figuring on every bit of paper he could lay hold of, till I was tired picking them up all over the house. Belle Worthington used to say it'd of took an angel to stand him. I mean his throwing papers around that way. For as far as his never talking went, she couldn't find any fault with that; Mr. Worthington was just as bad, if he wasn't worse. But Belle's not like me; I don't believe she'd let poor Mr. Worthington talk in the house if he wanted to."

She gradually drifted away from her starting point, and like most people who have usually little to say, became very voluble, when once she pa.s.sed into the humor of talking. Therese let her talk unchecked.

It seemed to do her good to chatter about Belle and Lou, and Jack Dawson, and about her home life, of which she unknowingly made such a pitiable picture to her listener.

"I guess David never let on to you about himself," she said moodily, having come back to the sore that rankled: the dread that Therese had laid all the blame of the rupture on her shoulders.

"You're mistaken, Mrs. Hosmer. It was a knowledge of his own short-comings that prompted your husband to go back and ask your forgiveness. You must grant, there's nothing in his conduct now that you could reproach him with. And," she added, laying her hand gently on f.a.n.n.y's arm, "I know you'll be strong, and do your share in this reconciliation--do what you can to please him."

f.a.n.n.y flushed uneasily under Therese's appealing glance.

"I'm willing to do anything that David wants," she replied, "I made up my mind to that from the start. He's a mighty good husband now, Mrs.

Laferm. Don't mind what I said about him. I was afraid you thought that--"

"Never mind," returned Therese kindly, "I know all about it. Don't worry any farther over what I may think. I believe in you and in him, and I know you'll both be brave and do what's right."

"There isn't anything so very hard for David to do," she said, depressed with a sense of her inadequate strength to do the task which she had set herself. "He's got no faults to give up. David never did have any faults. He's a true, honest man; and I was a coward to say those things about him."

Melicent and Gregoire were coming across the lawn to join the two, and f.a.n.n.y, seeing them approach, suddenly chilled and wrapt herself about in her mantle of reserve.

"I guess I better go," she said, offering to rise, but Therese held out a detaining hand.

"You don't want to go and sit alone in the cottage; stay here with me till Mr. Hosmer comes back from the mill."

Gregoire's face was a study. Melicent, who did what she wanted with him, had chosen this afternoon, for some inscrutable reason, to make him happy. He carried her shawl and parasol; she herself bearing a veritable armful of flowers, leaves, red berried sprigs, a tangle of richest color. They had been in the woods and she had bedecked him with garlands and festoons of autumn leaves, till he looked a very Satyr; a character which his flushed, swarthy cheeks, and glittering animal eyes did not belie.

They were laughing immoderately, and their whole bearing still reflected their exuberant gaiety as they joined Therese and f.a.n.n.y.

"What a 'Mater Dolorosa' f.a.n.n.y looks!" exclaimed Melicent, throwing herself into a picturesque att.i.tude on the bench beside Therese, and resting her feet on Hector's broad back.

f.a.n.n.y offered no reply, but to look helplessly resigned; an expression which Melicent knew of old, and which had always the effect of irritating her. Not now, however, for the curve of the bench around the great cedar tree removed her from the possibility of contemplating f.a.n.n.y's doleful visage, unless she made an effort to that end, which she was certainly not inclined to do.

"No, Gregoire," she said, flinging a rose into his face when he would have seated himself beside her, "go sit by f.a.n.n.y and do something to make her laugh; only don't tickle her; David mightn't like it. And here's Mrs. Lafirme looking almost as glum. Now, if David would only join us with that 'pale cast of thought' that he bears about usually, what a merry go round we'd have."

"When Melicent looks at the world laughing, she wants it to laugh back at her," said Therese, reflecting something of the girl's gaiety.

"As in a looking-gla.s.s, well isn't that square?" she returned, falling into slang, in her recklessness of spirit.

Endeavoring to guard her treasure of flowers from Therese, who was without ceremony making a critical selection among them of what pleased her, Melicent slid around the bench, bringing herself close to Gregoire and begging his protection against the Vandalism of his aunt.

She looked into his eyes for an instant as though asking him for love instead of so slight a favor and he grasped her arm, pressing it till she cried out from the pain: which act, on his side, served to drive her again around to Therese.

"Guess what we are going to do to-morrow: you and I and all of us; Gregoire and David and f.a.n.n.y and everybody?"

"Going to Bedlam along with you?" Therese asked.

"Mrs. Lafirme is in need of a rebuke, which I shall proceed to administer," thrusting a crumpled handful of rose leaves down the neck of Therese's dress, and laughing joyously in her scuffle to accomplish the punishment.

"No, madam; I don't go to Bedlam; I drive others there. Ask Gregoire what we're going to do. Tell them, Gregoire."

"They ain't much to tell. We'a goin' hoss back ridin'."

"Not me; I can't ride," wailed f.a.n.n.y.

"You can get up Torpedo for Mrs. Hosmer, can't you, Gregoire?" asked Therese.

"Certainly. W'y you could ride ole Torpedo, Mrs. Hosma, if you nova saw a hoss in yo' life. A li'l chile could manage him."

f.a.n.n.y turned to Therese for further a.s.surance and found all that she looked for.

"We'll go up on the hill and see that dear old Morico, and I shall take along a comb, and comb out that exquisite white hair of his and then I shall focus him, seated in his low chair and making one of those cute turkey fans."

"Ole Morico ain't goin' to let you try no monkeyshines on him; I tell you that befo' han'," said Gregoire, rising and coming to Melicent to rid him of his sylvan ornamentations, for it was time for him to leave them. When he turned away, Melicent rose and flung all her flowery wealth into Therese's lap, and following took his arm.

"Where are you going?" asked Therese.

"Going to help Gregoire feed the mules," she called back looking over her shoulder; the sinking sun lighting her handsome mischievous face.

Therese proceeded to arrange the flowers with some regard to graceful symmetry; and f.a.n.n.y did not regain her talkative spirit that Melicent's coming had put to flight, but sat looking silent and listlessly into the distance.

As Therese glanced casually up into her face she saw it warmed by a sudden faint glow--an unusual animation, and following her gaze, she saw that Hosmer had returned and was entering the cottage.

"I guess I better be going," said f.a.n.n.y rising, and this time Therese no longer detained her.

IV

Therese Crosses the River.

To shirk any serious duties of life would have been entirely foreign to Therese's methods or even instincts. But there did come to her moments of rebellion--or repulsion, against the small demands that presented themselves with an unfailing recurrence; and from such, she at times indulged herself with the privilege of running away. When f.a.n.n.y left her alone--a pathetic little droop took possession of the corners of her mouth that might not have come there if she had not been alone. She laid the flowers, only half arranged, on the bench beside her, as a child would put aside a toy that no longer interested it. She looked towards the house and could see the servants going back and forth. She knew if she entered, she would be met by appeals from one and the other. The overseer would soon be along, with his crib keys, and stable keys; his account of the day's doings and consultations for to-morrow's work, and for the moment, she would have none of it.

"Come, Hector--come, old boy," she said rising abruptly; and crossing the lawn she soon gained the gravel path that led to the outer road.

This road brought her by a mild descent to the river bank. The water, seldom stationary for any long period, was at present running low and sluggishly between its red banks.

Tied to the landing was a huge flat-boat, that was managed by the aid of a stout cable reaching quite across the river; and beside it nestled a small light skiff. In this Therese seated herself, and proceeded to row across the stream, Hector plunging into the water and swimming in advance of her.

The banks on the opposite sh.o.r.e were almost perpendicular; and their summit to be reached only by the artificial road that had been cut into them: broad and of easy ascent. This river front was a standing worry to Therese, for when the water was high and rapid, the banks caved constantly, carrying away great sections from the land. Almost every year, the fences in places had to be moved back, not only for security, but to allow a margin for the road that on this side followed the course of the small river.