Part 3 (1/2)
There co boy near thirteen years old It is a ti and the scent and the pulse of growing things get in the blood, and set one sick panting for the woods and the feel of the lush green underfoot and the sound of running water
Not that Will Shakespeare can put it into words--he only knows that when the smell of the warm, newly turned earth co bee rises above the droning of the lesson, he lolls on the hacked and ink-stained desk and gazes out at the white clouds flecking the blue, and all the truant blood in his sturdy frath co upon him and he hides his books, his Cato's _Maxiarden hedge, and skirting the town,the s and green alders and rustling sedge, he spends the ; and when in the heat of the day the fish refuse to nibble, he takes his hunk of bread out of his pocket and lies on his back a the rushes, while lazy dreaht summer clouds rockthe she spends themadness still upon him, in the afternoon he skirts about and trao to Shottery with or without Mother for a day at the Hathaways' There always has been rebellion in the blood of Will Shakespeare, and there is a slender, ard, grown-up somebody at Shottery who understands Ann Hathaway has stayed often in Stratford with the Shakespeare household Mother loves Ann; Father teases and twits her; the young men, swains and would-be sweethearts, swararden gate
And when she is there, Will himself seldom leaves her side He has oft been a rebellious boy, whereat Mother has sighed and Father has sworn; but Ann, staying with thehed She has understood
And there have been ti person has seized his hand, as if she too had moments of rebellion, and the two have run away--away froras, to wander about the river banks and the lanes
[Illustration: ”The two have run awayto wander about the river banks”]
X
So this afternoon Will tramped off to Shottery There was a consciousness in the back of his , of vines and riotous blooed up the path, and peered in at the open door Ann, within the doorway, saw hih in the sky, and laughed And he knew she understood it--truancy
[Illustration: ”Hetrudged up the path and peered in at the open door”]
Perhaps she understoodShe threw her work aside, needle stuck therein, and clapped a wide straw hat upon her head and taking his hand dragged hi the Evesham road
But she lectured him nevertheless, this red-cheeked boy with the full as yet undisciplined young mouth and the clear, warm hazel eyes
”You tell me that I, too, throork down and run away? Ay, Will, there's that hot blood within me that sweeps me out every now and then from within tame walls and from stupid people, and ypsy blood brought home by a soldier Hathaway for wife But there is this difference, if you please, sir; I thron ht and conquered it, am mistress of what I will inof butter and the care of poultry, or to spin, to cut, to sew, because I do the I love, Will--it is in the victory I find the joy I would conquer them to feel my power
Conquer your book, Will, stride ahead of your class, then play your fill till they arrive abreast of you again But a laggard, a stupid, or a ! And, in faith, the last is worst”
They walked along, boy and young wo ardor into her face ”You--you are so beautiful, Ann,” the boy blurted forth, ”and--and--no one understands as you do”
She laid a hand on his shoulder and turned her dark eyes upon hi, yet sweet, too Ah, sweet and tender through their laughter!
”Shall I tell you why I understand, Will Shakespeare, child?” Was she talking altogether to the boy, or above his head--aloud--as to herself?
”I am a woman, Will, and at nineteen most such are already wife and mother, and I am still unwed Shall I tell you why? We are but souls wandering and lonely in the dark, Will, other souls everywhere around, but scarce a groping hand that ever meets or touches our outstretched own In all life we feel one such touch, perchance, or two
The rest we know no reat, simple, countryman's soul, I knew, Will, and Mary Shakespeare I know
Would she hter, dear heart; but the right is ever stronger with Mary than the hu My father and Mary I have known And you, you I knehen in your rage you fell upon the maid, baby that you were at five, and beat her with your fists because she wantonly swept your treasures--a rose petal, a beetle wing, a pebble, a feather--into her kitchen fire I knew you then, for so I had been beating at fateI knew you, Will, and, dear child, always since I have watched and understood Rebel if you will; be free; but to be free, forget not, is to be conqueror over that within self first”
Will caught her hand; he whispered; his voice burned hot with a child's jealousy
”'Tis said you are to wed Abrahan doctor ants to wed you, broke Abra'hed; her eyes were iant el, and looked at the boy in scorn ”I to !
Child though you are, you know me better than that Did I not just tell you I am free now--free? That I have held fast to ht be free? Have held them at bay--family, cousins, elders, sweethearts--until now, the rest ave them up come to be mine, my mother needs me, and my life may be my own--and free For who has coroping lonely in the dark? No man's hand has reached toward , could not shake off