the major- 第5部分

〃How　could　you　do　it；　mother？　　You　were　not　a　bit　afraid。〃

〃Afraid　of　what；　the　Rector？〃

〃No；　not　the　Rectorbut　to　speak　up　that　way　before　all　the　people。〃

〃It　was　hard　to　speak；〃　said　his　mother；　〃very　hard；　but　it　was　harder　to　keep　silent。　　It　did　not　seem　right。〃

The　boy's　heart　swelled　with　a　new　pride　in　his　mother。　　〃Oh；　mother；〃　he　said；　〃you　were　splendid。　　You　were　like　a　soldier　standing　there。　　You　were　like　the　martyrs　in　my　book。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　my　boy。〃

〃I　tell　you　yes；　mother；　I　was　proud　of　you。〃

The　thrilling　passion　in　the　little　boy's　voice　went　to　his　mother's　heart。　　〃Were　you；　my　boy？〃　she　said；　her　voice　faltering。　〃I　am　glad　you　were。〃

Hand　in　hand　they　walked　along；　the　boy　exulting　in　his　restored　pride　in　his　mother　and　in　her　courage。　　But　a　new　feeling　soon　stirred　within　him。　　He　remembered　with　a　pain　intolerable　that　he　had　allowed　the　word　of　so　despicable　a　creature　as　Mop　Cheatley　to　shake　his　faith　in　his　mother's　courage。　　Indignation　at　the　wretched　creature　who　had　maligned　her；　but　chiefly　a　passionate　self…contempt　that　he　had　allowed　himself　to　doubt　her；　raged　tumultuously　in　his　heart　and　drove　him　in　a　silent　fury　through　the　dark　until　they　reached　their　own　gate。　　Then　as　his　mother's　hand　reached　toward　the　latch；　the　boy　abruptly　caught　her　arm　in　a　fierce　grip。

〃Mother；〃　he　burst　forth　in　a　passionate　declaration　of　faith；　〃you're　not　a　coward。〃

〃A　coward？〃　replied　his　mother；　astonished。

The　boy's　arms　went　around　her；　his　head　pressed　into　her　bosom。　In　a　voice　broken　with　passionate　sobs　he　poured　forth　his　tale　of　shame　and　self…contempt。

〃He　said　you　were　a　Quaker；　that　the　Quakers　were　cowards；　and　would　never　fight；　and　that　you　were　a　coward；　and　that　you　would　never　fight。　　But　you　would；　mother；　wouldn't　you？　　And　you're　not　a　real　Quaker；　are　you；　mother？〃

〃A　Quaker；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Yes；　dear；　I　belong　to　the　Friends；　as　we　call　them。〃

〃And　they；　won't　they　ever　fight？〃　demanded　the　boy　anxiously。

〃They　do　not　believe　that　fighting　with　fists；　or　sticks；　or　like　wild　beasts；〃　said　his　mother；　〃ever　wins　anything　worth　while。〃

〃Never；　mother？〃　cried　the　boy；　anxiety　and　fear　in　his　tones。　〃You　would　fight；　you　would　fight　to…night；　you　would　fight　the　Rector。〃

〃Yes；　my　boy；〃　said　his　mother　quietly；　〃that　kind　of　fighting　we　believe　in。　　Our　people　have　never　been　afraid　to　stand　up　for　the　right；　and　to　suffer　for　it　too。　　Remember　that；　my　boy；〃　a　certain　pride　rang　out　in　the　mother's　voice。　　She　continued；　〃We　must　never　be　afraid　to　suffer　for　what　we　believe　to　be　right。　　You　must　never　forget　that　through　all　your　life；　Larry。〃　　Her　voice　grew　solemn。　　〃You　must　never；　never　go　back　from　what　you　know　to　be　right；　even　if　you　have　to　suffer　for　it。〃

〃Oh；　mother；〃　whispered　the　boy　through　his　sobs；　〃I　wish　I　were　brave　like　you。〃

〃No；　no；　not　like　me；〃　whispered　his　mother；　putting　her　face　down　to　his。　　〃You　will　be　much　braver　than　your　mother；　my　boy；　oh；　very　much　braver　than　your　mother。〃

The　boy　still　clung　to　her　as　if　he　feared　to　let　her　go。　　〃Oh；　mother；〃　he　whispered；　〃do　you　think　I　can　be　brave？〃

〃Yes；　my　boy；〃　her　voice　rang　out　again　confident　and　clear。　　〃It　always　makes　us　brave　to　know　that　He　bore　the　cross　for　us　and　died　rather　than　betray　us。〃

There　were　no　more　words　between　them；　but　the　memory　of　that　night　never　faded　from　the　boy's　mind。　　A　new　standard　of　heroism　was　set　up　within　his　soul　which　he　might　fail　to　reach　but　which　he　could　never　lower。



CHAPTER　III

THE　ESCUTCHEON　CLEARED


Mr。　Michael　Gwynne；　the　Mapleton　storekeeper；　was　undoubtedly　the　most　popular　man　not　in　the　village　only　but　in　the　whole　township。　To　begin　with　he　was　a　man　of　high　character；　which　was　sufficiently　guaranteed　by　the　fact　that　he　was　chosen　as　Rector's　Warden　in　All　Saints　Episcopal　Church。　　He　was　moreover　the　Rector's　right…hand　man；　ready　to　back　up　any　good　cause　with　personal　effort；　with　a　purse　always　open　but　not　often　full；　and　with　a　tongue　that　was　irresistible；　for　he　had　to　an　extraordinary　degree　the　gift　of　persuasive　speech。　　Therefore；　the　Rector's　first　move　in　launching　any　new　scheme　was　to　secure　the　approval　and　co…operation　of　his　Warden。

By　the　whole　community　too　Mr。　Gwynne　was　recognised　as　a　gentleman；　a　gentleman　not　in　appearance　and　bearing　only；　a　type　calculated　to　repel　plain　folk；　but　a　gentleman　in　heart；　with　a　charm　of　manner　which　proceeded　from　a　real　interest　in　and　consideration　for　the　welfare　of　others。　　This　charm　of　manner　proved　a　valuable　asset　to　him　in　his　business；　for　behind　his　counter　Mr。　Gwynne　had　a　rare　gift　of　investing　the　very　calicoes　and　muslins　which　he　displayed　before　the　dazzled　eyes　of　the　ladies　who　came　to　buy　with　a　glamour　that　never　failed　to　make　them　appear　altogether　desirable；　and　even　the　hard…headed　farmers　fell　under　this　spell　of　his　whether　he　described　to　them　the　superexcellent　qualities　of　a　newly　patented　cream　separator　or　the　virtues　of　a　new　patent　medicine　for　ailing　horses　whose　real　complaint　was　overwork　or　underfeeding。　　With　all　this；　moreover；　Mr。　Gwynne　was　rigidly　honest。　　No　one　ever　thought　of　disputing　an　account　whether　he　paid　it　or　not；　and　truth　demands　that　with　Mr。　Gwynne's　customers　the　latter　course　was　more　frequently　adopted。

It　was　at　this　point　that　Mr。　Gwynne　failed　of　success　as　a　business　man。　　He　could　buy　with　discrimination；　he　had　a　rare　gift　of　salesmanship；　but　as　a　collector；　in　the　words　of　Sam　Cheatley；　the　village　butcher；　himself　a　conspicuous　star　in　that　department　of　business　activity；　〃He　was　not　worth　a　tinker's　curse。〃　　His　accounts　were　sent　out　punctually　twice　a　year。　　His　wife　saw　to　that。　　At　times　of　desperation　when　pressure　from　the　wholesale　houses　became　urgent；　special　statements　were　sent　out　by　Mr。　Gwynne　himself。　　But　in　such　cases　the　apology　accompanying　these　statements　was　frequently　such　as　to　make　immediate　payment　seem　almost　an　insult。　　His　customers　held　him　in　high　esteem；　respected　his　intellectual　abilityfor　he　was　a　Trinity　manwere　fascinated　by　his　charm　of　manner；　loved　him　for　his　kindly　qualities；　but　would　not　pay　their　bills。

Many　years　ago；　having　failed　to　work　harmoniously　with　his　business　partner；　a　shrewd；　hard…headed；　Belfast　draperhard…　hearted　Mr。　Gwynne　considered　himMr。　Gwynne　had　decided　to　emigrate　to　Canada　with　the　remnant　of　a　small　fortune　which　was　found　to　be　just　sufficient　to　purchase　the　Mapleton　general　store；　and　with　it　a　small　farm　of　fifty　acres　on　the　corner　of　which　the　store　stood。　　It　was　the　farm　that　decided　the　investment；　for　Mr。　Gwynne　was　possessed　of　the　town　man's　infatuation　for　farm　life　and　of　the　optimistic　conviction　that　on　the　farm　a　living　at　least　for　himself　and　his　small　family　would　be　assured。

But　his　years　of　business　in　Mapleton　had　gradually　exhausted　his　fortune　and　accumulated　a　staggering　load　of　debt　which　was　the　occasion　of　moments　of　anxiety；　even　of　fear；　to　the　storekeeper。　There　was　always　the　thought　in　his　mind　that　against　his　indebtedness　on　the　credit　side　there　were　his　book　accounts　which　ran　up　into　big　figures。　　There　was　always；　if　the　worst　came　to　the　worst；　the　farm。　　But　if　Mr。　Gwynne　was　no　business　man　still　less　was　he　a　farmer。　　Tied　to　his　store　by　reason　of　his　inability　to　afford　a　competent　assistant；　the　farming　operations　were　carried　on　in　haphazard　fashion　by　neighbours　who　were　willing　to　liquidate　their　store　debts　with　odd　days'　work　at　times　most　convenient　to　themselves；　but　not　always　most　seasonable　for　the　crops。　　Hence　in　good　years；　none　too　good　with　such　haphazard　farming；　the　farm　was　called　upon　to　make　up　the　deficiency　in　the　financial　returns　of　the　store。　　In　bad　years　notes　had　to　be　renewed　with　formidable　accumulations　of　interest。　　But　such　was　Mr。　Gwynne's　invincible　optimism　that　he　met　every　new　embarrassment　with　some　new　project　giving　new　promise　of　success。

Meanwhile　during　these　painful　years　his　brave　little　wife　by　her　garden　and　her　poultry　materially　helped　to　keep　the　family　in　food　and　to　meet　in　some　degree　the　household　expenses。　　She　was　her　own　servant　except　that　the　Widow　Martin　came　to　her　aid　twice　a　week。　Her　skill　with　needle　and　sewing　machine　and　a　certain　creative　genius　which　she　possessed　enabled　her　to　evolve　from　her　husband's　old　clothes　new　clothes　for　her　boy；　and　from　her　own　clothing；　when　not　too　utterly　worn；　dresses　for　her　two　little　girls。　　And　throughout　these　years　with　all　their　toil　and　anxiety　she　met　each　day　with　a　spirit　undaunted　and　with　a　face　that　remained　serene　as　far　at　least　as　her　husband　and　her　children　ever　saw。　　Nor　did　she　allow　the　whole　weight　of　trials　to　taint　the　sweetness　of　her　spirit　or　to　dim　her　faith　in　God。　　Devoted　to　her　husband；　she　refused　to　allow　herself　to　criticise　his　business　ability　or　methods。　　The　failure；　which　she　could　not　but　admit；　was　not　his　fault；　it　was　the　fault　of　those　debtors　who　declined　to　pay　their　just　dues。

In　an　hour　of　desperation　she　ventured　to　point　out　to　her　husband　that　these　farmers　were　extending　their　holdings　and　buying　machinery　with　notes　that　bore　interest。　　〃And　besides；　Michael；〃　she　said；　〃Lawrence　must　go　to　High　School　next　year。　　He　will　pass　the　Entrance　examination　this　summer；　and　he　must　go。〃

〃He　shall　go；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃I　am　resolved　to　make　a　change　in　my　method　of　business。　　I　shall　go　after　these　men。　　They　shall　no　longer　use　my　money　for　their　business　and　for　their　families　while　my　business　and　my　family　suffer。　　You　need　not　look　that　way；　I　have　made　up　my　mind　and　I　shall　begin　at　once。〃

Unfortunately　the　season　was　not　suitable　for　collections。　　The　farmers　were　engrossed　with　their　harvesting；　and　after　that　with　the　fall　ploughing；　and　later　with　the　marketing　of　their　grain。　And　as　the　weeks　passed　Mr。　Gwynne's　indignant　resolve　that　his　customers　should　not　do　business　on　his　money　gradually　cooled　down。　　The　accounts　were　sent　out　as　usual；　and　with　the　usual　disappointing　result。

Meantime　Mr。　Gwynne's　attention　was　diverted　from　his　delinquent　debtors　by　an　enterprise　which　to　an　unusual　degree　awakened　his　sympathy　and　kindled　hi