menu_book Chapter 5

chapter five of conjurer's house a romance of the free forest this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger conjurer's house a romance of the free forest by stuart edward white chapter v having sat buried in thought for a full five minutes after the traders of the winter posts had left him galen albret thrust back his chair and walked into a room long low and heavily raftered strikingly unlike the council room its floor was overlaid with dark rugs a piano of ancient model filled one corner pictures and books broke the wall the lamps and the windows were shaded a woman's work-basket and a tea-set occupied a large table only a certain barbaric profusion of furs the huge fireplace and the rough rafters of the ceiling differentiated the place from the drawing-room of a well-to-do family anywhere

galen albret sank heavily into a chair and struck a bell a tall slightly stooped english servant with correct side whiskers and incompetent watery blue eyes answered to him said the factor i wish to see miss albret a moment later virginia entered the room let us have some tea oh mimi requested her father the girl moved gently about preparing and lighting the lamp measuring the tea her fair head bowed gracefully over her task her dark eyes pensive and but half following what she did finally with a certain air of decision she seated herself on the arm of a chair father said she yes a stranger came to-day with louis placide of kettle portage well he was treated strangely by our people and he treated them strangely in return why is that who can tell what is his station is he a common trader he does not look it he is a man of intelligence and daring then why is he not our guest galen albret did not answer after a moment's pause he asked again for his tea

the girl turned away impatiently here was a puzzle neither the voyagers nor wishkobin her nurse nor her father would explain to her the first had grinned stupidly the second had drawn her shawl across her face the third asked for tea she handed her father the cup hesitated then ventured to inquire whether she was forbidden to greet the stranger should the occasion arise he is a gentleman replied her father she sipped her tea thoughtfully her imagination stirring again her recollection lingered over the clear bronze lines of the stranger's face something vaguely familiar seemed to touch her consciousness with ghostly fingers she closed her eyes and tried to clutch them at once they were withdrawn and then again when her attention wandered they stole back plucking appealingly at the hem of her recollections the room was heavily curtained deep embrasured for the house beneath its clapboards was of logs although out of doors the clear spring sunshine still flooded the valley of the moose

within the shadows had begun with velvet fingers to extinguish the brighter lights virginia threw herself back on a chair in the corner virginia said galen albret suddenly yes father you are no longer a child but a woman would you like to go to quebec she did not answer him at once but pondered beneath close-knit brows do you wish me to go father she asked at length you are eighteen it is time you saw the world time you learned the ways of other people but the journey is hard i may not see you again for some years you go among strangers he fell silent again motionless he had been except for the mumbling of his lips beneath his beard it shall be just as you wish he added a moment later at once a conflict arose in the girl's mind between her restless dreams and her affections but beneath all the glitter of the question there was really nothing to take her out here was her father here were the things she loved yonder was novelty and loneliness

her existence at conjurer's house was perhaps a little complex but it was familiar she knew the people and she took a daily and unwearying delight in the kindness and simplicity of their bearing toward herself each detail of life came to her in the round of habit wearing the garment of accustomed use but of the world she knew nothing except what she had been able to body forth from her reading and that had merely given her imagination something tangible with which to feed her self-distrust must i decide at once she asked if you go this year it must be with the abitibi brigade you have until then thank you father said the girl sweetly the shadows stole their surroundings one by one until only the bright silver of the tea service and the glitter of polished wood and the square of the open door remained gale and albret became an inert dark mass virginia's gray was lost in that of the twilight time passed the clock ticked on faintly sounds penetrated from the kitchen and still more faintly from out-of-doors

then the rectangle of the doorway was darkened by a man peering uncertainly the man wore his hat from which slanted a slender heron's plume his shoulders were square his thighs slim and graceful against the light one caught the outline of the sash's tassel and the fringe of his leggings are you there galen albret he challenged the spell of twilight mystery broke it seemed as if suddenly the air had become surcharged with the vitality of opposition what then countered the factor's heavy deliberate tones true i see you now rejoined the visitor carelessly as he flung himself across the arm of a chair and swung one foot i do not doubt you are convinced by this time of my intention my recollection does not tell me what messenger i sent to ask this interview correct laughed the young man a little hardly you didn't ask it i attended to that myself what you want doesn't concern me in the least what do you suppose i care what or what not any of this crew wants

i'm master of my own ideas anyway thank god if you don't like what i do you can always stop me in the tone of his voice was a distinct challenge galen albret it seemed chose to pass it by true he replied somberly after a barely perceptible pause to mark his tacit displeasure it is your hour say on i should like to know the date at which i take la longue traverse you persist in that nonsense call my departure whatever you want to i have the name for it when do i leave i have not decided and in the meantime do as you please ah thanks for this generosity cried the young man in a tone of declamatory sarcasm so artificial as fairly to scent the elocutionary to do as i please here now there is a blessed privilege i may walk around where i want to talk to such as have a good word for me punish those who have not

but do i err in concluding that the state of your game law is such that it would be useless to reclaim my rifle from the engaging placide you have a fine instinct approved the factor it is one of my valued possessions rejoined the young man insolently he struck a match and by its light selected a cigarette i do not myself use tobacco in this room suggested the older speaker i am curious to learn the limits of your forbearance replied the younger proceeding to smoke he threw back his head and regarded his opponent with an open challenge daring him to become angry the match went out virginia who had listened in growing anger and astonishment unable longer to refrain from defending the dignity of her usually autocratic father although he seemed little disposed to defend himself now intervened from her dark corner on the divan is the journey then so long sir she asked composedly that it at once inspires such anticipations and such bitterness in an instant the man was on his feet hat in hand and the cigarette had described a fiery curve into the empty hearth

i beg your pardon sincerely he cried i did not know you were here you might better apologize to my father replied virginia the young man stepped forward and without asking permission lighted one of the tall lamps the lady of the guns he marveled softly to himself he moved across the room looking down on her inscrutably while she looked up at him in composed expectation of an apology and galen albret sat motionless in the shadow of his great armchair but after a moment her calm attention broke down something there was about this man that stirred her emotions whether of curiosity pity indignation or a slight defensive fear she was not introspective enough to care to inquire and yet the sensation was not altogether unpleasant and as at the guns this afternoon a certain portion of her consciousness remained in sympathy with whatever it was of mysterious attraction he represented to her

in him she felt the dominant as a wild creature of the woods instinctively senses the master and drops its eyes resentment did not leave her but over it spread a film of confusion that robbed it of its potency in him in his mood in his words in his manner was something that called out in direct appeal the more primitive instincts hitherto dormant beneath her sense of maidenhood so that even at this vexed moment of conscious opposition her heart was ranging itself on his side overpoweringly the feeling swept her that she was not acting in accordance with her sense of fitness she knew she should strike but was unable to give due force to the blow in the confusion of such a discovery her eyelids fluttered and fell and he saw and understanding his power dropped swiftly beside her on the broad divan you must pardon me mademoiselle he begun his voice sinking to a depth of rich music singularly caressing

to you i may seem to have small excuses but when a man is vouchsafed a glimpse of heaven only to be cast out the next instant into hell he is not always particular in the choice of words all the time his eyes sought hers which avoided the challenge and the strong masculine charm of magnetism which he possessed in such vital abundance overwhelmed her unaccustomed consciousness galen albret shifted uneasily and shot a glance in their direction the stranger perceiving this lowered his voice in register and tone and went on with almost exaggerated earnestness surely you can forgive me a desperate man almost anything i do not understand said virginia with a palpable effort ned trent leaned forward until his eager face was almost at her shoulder perhaps not he urged i cannot ask you to try but suppose mademoiselle you were in my case suppose your eyes like mine have rested on nothing but a howling wilderness for dear heaven knows how long

you come at last in sight of real houses real grass real door-yard gardens just ready to blossom in the spring real food real beds real books real men with whom to exchange the sensible word and something more mademoiselle a woman such as one dreams of in the long forest nights under the stars and you know that while others the lucky ones may stay to enjoy it all you the unfortunate are condemned to leave it at any moment for la longue traverse would not you too be bitter mademoiselle would not you too mock and sneer think mademoiselle i have not even the little satisfaction of rousing men's anger i can insult them as i will but they turn aside in pity saying one to another let us pleasure him in this poor fellow for he is about to take la longue traverse that is why your father accepts calmly from me what he would not from another virginia sat bolt upright on the divan her hands clasped in her lap her wonderful black eyes looking straight out before her trying to avoid her companion's insistent gaze

his attention was fixed on her mobile and changing countenance but he marked with evident satisfaction galen albert's growing uneasiness this was evidenced only by a shifting of the feet a tapping of the fingers a turning of the shaggy head in such a man slight tokens are significant the silence deepened with the shadows drawing about the single lamp while virginia attempted to maintain a breathing advantage above the flood of strange emotions which the personality of this man had swept down upon her it does not seem objected the girl in bewilderment i do not know men are often out in this country for years at a time long journeys are not unknown among us we are used to undertaking them but not la longue traverse insisted the young man sombrely la longue traverse she repeated in sweet perplexity sometimes called the journey of death he explained she turned to look at him in the eyes a vague expression of puzzled fear on her face she has never heard of it said ned trent to himself and aloud men who undertake it leave comfort behind

they embrace hunger and weariness cold and disease at the last they embrace death and are glad of his coming something in his tone compelled belief something in his face told her that he was a man by whom the inevitable hardships of winter and summer travel fearful as they are would be lightly endured she shuddered this dreadful thing is necessary she asked alas yes i do not understand in the north few of us understand agreed the young man with a hint of bitterness seeping through his voice the mighty order and so we obey but that is beside the point i have not told you these things to harrow you i have tried to excuse myself for my actions does it touch you a little am i forgiven i do not understand how such things can be she objected in some confusion why such journeys must exist my mind cannot comprehend your explanations

the stranger leaned forward abruptly his eyes blazing with the magnetic personality of the man but your heart he breathed it was the moment my heart she repeated as though bewildered by the intensity of his eyes my heart ah yes immediately the blood rushed over her face and throat in a torrent she snatched her eyes away and cowered back in the corner going red and white by turns now angry now frightened now bewildered until his gaze half masterful half pleading again conquered hers galen albret had ceased tapping his chair in the dim light he sat staring straight before him massive inert grim i believe you she murmured hurriedly at last i pity you she rose quick as light he barred her passage

don't don't she pleaded i must go you have shaken me i-i do not understand myself i must see you again he whispered eagerly to-night by the guns no no to-night he insisted she raised her eyes to his this time naked of defense so that the man saw down through their depths into her very soul oh she begged quivering let me pass don't you see i'm going to cry chapter five recording by roger