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〃Good…night； Rowena。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
VII
'MID NEW SURROUNDINGS
Warwick's residence was situated in the outskirts of the town。 It
was a fine old plantation house； built in colonial times； with a stately
colonnade； wide verandas； and long windows with Venetian blinds。 It
was painted white； and stood back several rods from the street； in a
charming setting of palmettoes； magnolias； and flowering shrubs。 Rena
had always thought her mother's house large； but now it seemed cramped
and narrow； in comparison with this roomy mansion。 The furniture was
old…fashioned and massive。 The great brass andirons on the wide hearth
stood like sentinels proclaiming and guarding the dignity of the family。
The spreading antlers on the wall testified to a mighty hunter in some past
generation。 The portraits of Warwick's wife's ancestors high featured；
proud men and women； dressed in the fashions of a bygone agelooked
down from tarnished gilt frames。 It was all very novel to her； and very
impressive。 When she ate off china； with silver knives and forks that had
come down as heirlooms； escaping somehow the ravages and exigencies
of the war time；Warwick told her afterwards how he had buried them out
of reach of friend or foe；she thought that her brother must be wealthy；
and she felt very proud of him and of her opportunity。 The servants； of
whom there were several in the house； treated her with a deference to
which her eight months in school had only partly accustomed her。 At
school she had been one of many to be served； and had herself been held
to obedience。 Here； for the first time in her life； she was mistress； and
tasted the sweets of power。
The household consisted of her brother and herself； a cook； a
coachman； a nurse； and her brother's little son Albert。 The child； with a
fine instinct； had put out his puny arms to Rena at first sight； and she had
clasped the little man to her bosom with a motherly caress。 She had
always loved weak creatures。 Kittens and puppies had ever found a
welcome and a meal at Rena's hands； only to be chased away by Mis'
Molly； who had had a wider experience。 No shiftless poor white； no half…
witted or hungry negro； had ever gone unfed from Mis' Molly's kitchen
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
door if Rena were there to hear his plaint。 Little Albert was pale and
sickly when she came； but soon bloomed again in the sunshine of her care；
and was happy only in her presence。 Warwick found pleasure in their
growing love for each other； and was glad to perceive that the child
formed a living link to connect her with his home。
〃Dat chile sutt'nly do lub Miss Rena； an' dat's a fac'； sho 's you bawn；〃
remarked 'Lissa the cook to Mimy the nurse one day。 〃You'll get yo' nose
put out er j'int； ef you don't min'。〃
〃I ain't frettin'； honey；〃 laughed the nurse good…naturedly。 She was
not at all jealous。 She had the same wages as before； and her labors were
materially lightened by the aunt's attention to the child。 This gave Mimy
much more time to flirt with Tom the coachman。
It was a source of much gratification to Warwick that his sister seemed
to adapt herself so easily to the new conditions。 Her graceful movements；
the quiet elegance with which she wore even the simplest gown； the easy
authoritativeness with which she directed the servants； were to him proofs
of superior quality； and he felt correspondingly proud of her。 His feeling
for her was something more than brotherly love；he was quite conscious
that there were degrees in brotherly love； and that if she had been homely
or stupid； he would never have disturbed her in the stagnant life of the
house behind the cedars。 There had come to him from some source；
down the stream of time； a rill of the Greek sense of proportion； of fitness；
of beauty； which is indeed but proportion embodied； the perfect adaptation
of means to ends。 He had perceived； more clearly than she could have
appreciated it at that time； the undeveloped elements of discord between
Rena and her former life。 He had imagined her lending grace and charm
to his own household。 Still another motive； a purely psychological one；
had more or less consciously influenced him。 He had no fear that the
family secret would ever be discovered； he had taken his precautions too
thoroughly； he thought； for that； and yet he could not but feel； at times；
that if peradventureit was a conceivable hypothesisit should become
known； his fine social position would collapse like a house of cards。
Because of this knowledge； which the world around him did not possess；
he had felt now and then a certain sense of loneliness； and there was a
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measure of relief in having about him one who knew his past； and yet
whose knowledge； because of their common interest； would not interfere
with his present or jeopardize his future。 For he had always been； in a
figurative sense； a naturalized foreigner in the world of wide opportunity；
and Rena was one of his old compatriots； whom he was glad to welcome
into the populous loneliness of his adopted country。
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VIII
THE COURTSHIP
In a few weeks the echoes of the tournament died away； and Rena's
life settled down into a pleasant routine； which she found much more
comfortable than her recent spectacular prominence。 Her queenship；
while not entirely forgiven by the ladies of the town； had gained for her a
temporary social prominence。 Among her own sex；