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！
One afternoon at four o'clock； in the private office of the firm； Blandford Carteret opened a letter that a clerk had just brought to his desk。 After reading it； he chuckled audibly for nearly a minute。 John looked around from his desk inquiringly。
〃It's from mother；〃 said Blandford。 〃I'll read you the funny part of it。 She tells me all the neighborhood news first； of course； and then cautions me against getting my feet wet and musical comedies。 After that come some vital statistics about calves and pigs and an estimate of the wheat crop。 And now I'll quote some：
〃'And what do you think！ Old Uncle Jake； who was seventy…six last Wednesday； must go travelling。 Nothing would do but he must go to New York and see his 〃young Marster Blandford。〃 Old as he is； he has a deal of common sense； so I've let him go。 I couldn't refuse himhe seemed to have concentrated all his hopes and desires into this one adventure into the wide world。 You know he was born on the plantation； and has never been ten miles away from it in his life。 And he was your father's body servant during the war； and has been always a faithful vassal and servant of the family。 He has often seen the gold watchthe watch that was your father's and your father's father's。 I told him it was to be yours； And he begged me to allow him to take it to you and to put it into your hands himself。
〃'So he has it； carefully inclosed in a buck…skin case； and is bringing it to you with all the pride and importance of a king's messenger。 I gave him money for the round trip and for a two weeks' stay in the city。 I wish you would see to it that he gets comfortable quartersJake won't need much looking afterhe's able to take care of himself。 But I have read in the papers that African bishops and colored potentates generally have much trouble in obtaining food and lodging in the Yankee metropolis。 That may be all right； but I don't see why the best hotel there shouldn't take Jake in。 Still； I suppose it's a rule。
〃'I gave him full directions about finding you； and packed his valise myself。 You won't have to bother with him； but I do hope you'll see that he is made comfortable。 Take the watch that he brings youit's almost a decoration。 It has been worn by true Carterets； and there isn't a stain upon it nor a false movement of the wheels。 Bringing it to you is the crowning joy of old Jake's life。 I wanted him to have that little outing and that happiness before it is too late。 You have often heard us talk about how Jake； pretty badly wounded himself； crawled through the reddened grass at Chancellorsville to where your father lay with the bullet in his dear heart； and took the watch from his pocket to keep it from the 〃Yanks。〃
〃'So； my son； when the old man comes consider him as a frail but worthy messenger from the old…time life and home。
〃'You have been so long away from home and so long among the people that we have always regarded as aliens that I'm not sure that Jake will know you when he sees you。 But Jake has a keen perception； and I rather believe that he will know a Virginia Carteret at sight。 I can't conceive that even ten years in Yankee…land could change a boy of mine。 Anyhow； I'm sure you will know Jake。 I put eighteen collars in his valise。 If he should have to buy others； he wears a number 15 1/2。 Please see that he gets the right ones。 He will be no trouble to you at all。
〃'If you are not too busy； I'd like for you to find him a place to board where they have white…meal corn…bread； and try to keep him from taking his shoes off in your office or on the street。 His right foot swells a little； and he likes to be comfortable。
〃'If you can spare the time； count his handkerchiefs when they come back from the wash。 I bought him a dozen new ones before he left。 He should be there about the time this letter reaches you。 I told him to go straight to your office when he arrives。'〃
As soon as Blandford had finished the reading of this； something happened （as there should happen in stories and must happen on the stage）。
Percival； the office boy； with his air of despising the world's output of mill supplies and leather belting； came in to announce that a colored gentleman was outside to see Mr。 Blandford Carteret。
〃Bring him in；〃 said Blandford； rising。
John Carteret swung around in his chair and said to Percival： 〃Ask him to wait a few minutes outside。 We'll let you know when to bring him in。〃
Then he turned to his cousin with one of those broad； slow smiles that was an inheritance of all the Carterets； and said：
〃Bland； I've always had a consuming curiosity to understand the differences that you haughty Southerners believe to exist between 'you all ' and the people of the North。 Of course； I know that you consider yourselves made out of finer clay and look upon Adam as only a collateral branch of your ancestry； but I don't know why。 I never could understand the differences between us。〃
〃Well； John；〃 said Blandford； laughing； 〃what you don't understand about it is just the difference； of course。 I suppose it was the feudal way in which we lived that gave us our lordly baronial airs and feeling of superiority。〃
〃But you are not feudal； now；〃 went on John。 〃Since we licked you and stole your cotton and mules you've had to go to work just as we 'damyankees；' as you call us； have always been doing。 And you're just as proud and exclusive and upper…classy as you were before the war。 So it wasn't your money that caused it。〃
〃Maybe it was the climate；〃 said Blandford； lightly； 〃or maybe our negroes spoiled us。 I'll call old Jake in； now。 I'll be glad to see the old villain again。〃
〃Wait just a moment；〃 said John。 〃I've got a little theory I want to test。 You and I are pretty much alike in our general appearance。 Old Jake hasn't seen you since you were fifteen。 Let's have him in and play fair and see which of us gets the watch。 The old darky surrey ought to be able to pick out his 'young marster' without any trouble。 The alleged aristocratic superiority of a 'reb' ought to be visible to him at once。 He couldn't make the mistake of handing over the timepiece to a Yankee； of course。 The loser buys the dinner this evening and two dozen 15 1/2 collars for Jake。 Is it a go？〃
Blandford agreed heartily。 Percival was summoned； and told to usher the 〃colored gentleman〃 in。
Uncle Jake stepped inside the private office cautiously。 He was a little old man； as black as soot； wrinkled and bald except for a fringe of white wool； cut decorously short； that ran over his ears and around his head。 There was nothing of the stage 〃uncle〃 about him： his black suit nearly fitted him； his shoes shone； and his straw hat was banded with a gaudy ribbon。 In his right hand he carried something carefully concealed by his closed fingers。
Uncle Jake stopped a few steps from the door。 Two young men sat in their revolving desk…chairs ten feet apart and looked at him in friendly silence。 His gaze slowly shifted many times from one to the other。 He felt sure that he was in the presence of one； at least； of the revered family among whose fortunes his life had begun and was to end。
One had the pleasing but haughty Carteret air； the other had the unmistakable straight； long family nose。 Both had the keen black eyes； horizontal brows； and thin； smiling lips that had distinguished both the Carteret of the Mayflower and him of the brigantine。 Old Jake had thought that he could have picked out his young master instantly from a thousand Northerners； but he found himself in difficulties。 The best he could do was to use strategy。
〃Howdy； Marse Blandfordhowdy； suh ？〃 he said； looking midway between the two young men。
〃Howdy； Uncle Jake？〃 they both answered pleasantly and in unison。 〃Sit down。 Have you brought the watch ？〃
Uncle Jake chose a hard…bottom chair at a respectful distance； sat on the edge of it； and laid his hat carefully on the floor。 The watch in its buckskin case he gripped tightly。 He had not risked his life on the battle…field to rescue that watch from his 〃old marster's〃 foes to hand it over again to the enemy without a struggle。
〃Yes； suh； I got it in my hand； suh。 I'm gwine give it to you right away in jus' a minute。 Old Missus told me to put it in young Marse Blandford's hand and tell him to wear it for the family pride and honor。 It was a mighty longsome trip for an old nigger man to make ten thousand miles； it must be； back to old Vi'ginia； suh。 You've growed mightily； young marster。 I wouldn't have reconnized you but for yo' powerful resemblance to old marster。〃
With admirable diplomacy the old man kept his eyes roaming in the space between the two men。 His words might have been addressed to either。 Though neither wicked nor perverse； he was seeking for a sign。
Blandford and John exchanged winks。
〃I reckon you done got you ma's letter；〃 went on Uncle Jake。 〃She said she was gwine to write to you 'bout my comin' along up this er… way。
〃Yes； yes； Uncle Jake；〃 said John briskly。 〃My cousin and I have just been notified to expect you。 We are both Carterets；