by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第12节
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doubtless provoked by the presence of another of my species； which he
really was not expected to countenance； retreated behind the portier。 The
circumstance by no means increased the good…will of the lady； as she
replied somewhat haughtily：
〃The Principessina is named Sarah Walker； after her mother's maiden
name。〃
〃Then this IS Sarah Walker's daughter！〃 I said joyfully。
〃She is the daughter of the Prince and Princess of Monte Castello；〃
corrected the lady frigidly。
〃I had the pleasure of knowing her mother very well。〃 I stopped and
blushed。 Did I really know Sarah Walker very well？ And would Sarah
Walker know me now？ Or would it not be very like her to go back on me？
There was certainly anything but promise in the feeble…minded； vacuous
copy of Sarah before me。 I was yet hesitating； when the Prince； who had
possibly received some quieting assurance from the portier； himself
stepped forward； stammered that the Princess would； without doubt； be
charmed to receive me later； and skipped upstairs； leaving the impression
on my mind that he contemplated ordering his bill at once。 There was no
excuse for further prolonging the interview。 〃Say good…by to the strange
gentleman； Sarah；〃 suggested Sarah's companion stiffly。 I looked at the
child in the wild hope of recognizing some prompt resistance to the
suggestion that would have identified her with the lost Sarah of my youth…
…but in vain。 〃Good…by； sir； said the affected little creature； dropping a
mechanical curtsey。 〃Thank you very much for remembering my mother。〃
〃Good…by； Sarah！〃 It was indeed good…by forever。
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BY SHORE AND SEDGE
For on my way to my room I came suddenly upon the Prince； in a
recess of the upper hall； addressing somebody through an open door with a
querulous protest； whose wild extravagance of statement was grotesquely
balanced by its utter feeble timidity of manner。 〃It is；〃 said the Prince；
〃indeed a grave affair。 We have here hundreds of socialists； emissaries
from lawless countries and impossible places； who travel thousands of
miles to fall upon our hearts and embrace us。 They establish an espionage
over us； they haunt our walks in incredible numbers； they hang in droves
upon our footsteps； Heaven alone saves us from a public osculation at any
moment！ They openly allege that they have dandled us on their knees at
recent periods； washed and dressed us； and would do so still。 Our
happiness； our security〃
〃Don't be a fool； Prince。 Do shut up！〃
The Prince collapsed and shrank away； and I hurried past the open
door。 A tall； magnificent…looking woman was standing before a glass；
arranging her heavy red hair。 The face； which had been impatiently turned
towards the door； had changed again to profile； with a frown still visible
on the bent brow。 Our eyes met as I passed。 The next moment the door
slammed； and I had seen the last of Sarah Walker。
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BY SHORE AND SEDGE
A SHIP OF '49
I
It had rained so persistently in San Francisco during the first week of
January； 1854； that a certain quagmire in the roadway of Long Wharf had
become impassable； and a plank was thrown over its dangerous depth。
Indeed； so treacherous was the spot that it was alleged； on good authority；
that a hastily embarking traveler had once hopelessly lost his portmanteau；
and was fain to dispose of his entire interest in it for the sum of two dollars
and fifty cents to a speculative stranger on the wharf。 As the stranger's
search was rewarded afterwards only by the discovery of the body of a
casual Chinaman； who had evidently endeavored wickedly to anticipate
him； a feeling of commercial insecurity was added to the other
eccentricities of the locality。
The plank led to the door of a building that was a marvel even in the
chaotic frontier architecture of the street。 The houses on either side
irregular frames of wood or corrugated ironbore evidence of having been
quickly thrown together； to meet the requirements of the goods and
passengers who were once disembarked on what was the muddy beach of
the infant city。 But the building in question exhibited a certain elaboration
of form and design utterly inconsistent with this idea。 The structure
obtruded a bowed front to the street； with a curving line of small windows；
surmounted by elaborate carvings and scroll work of vines and leaves；
while below； in faded gilt letters； appeared the legend 〃Pontiac
Marseilles。〃 The effect of this incongruity was startling。 It is related that
an inebriated miner； impeded by mud and drink before its door； was found
gazing at its remarkable facade with an expression of the deepest
despondency。 〃I hev lived a free life； pardner；〃 he explained thickly to the
Samaritan who succored him； 〃and every time since I've been on this six
weeks' jamboree might have kalkilated it would come to this。 Snakes I've
seen afore now； and rats I'm not unfamiliar with； but when it comes to the
starn of a ship risin' up out of the street； I reckon it's time to pass in my
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BY SHORE AND SEDGE
checks。〃 〃It IS a ship； you blasted old soaker；〃 said the Samaritan curtly。
It was indeed a ship。 A ship run ashore and abandoned on the beach
years before by her gold…seeking crew； with the debris of her scattered
stores and cargo； overtaken by the wild growth of the strange city and the
reclamation of the muddy flat； wherein she lay hopelessly imbedded； her
retreat cut off by wharves and quays and breakwater； jostled at first by
sheds； and then impacted in a block of solid warehouses and dwellings；
her rudder； port； and counter boarded in； and now gazing hopelessly
through her cabin windows upon the busy street before her。 But still a ship
despite her transformation。 The faintest line of contour yet left visible
spoke of the buoyancy of another element； the balustrade of her roof was
unmistakably a taffrail。 The rain slipped from her swelling sides with a
certain lingering touch of the sea； the soil around her was still treacherous
with its suggestions； and even the wind whistled nautically over her
chimney。 If； in the fury of some southwesterly gale； she had one night
slipped her strange moorings and left a shining track through the lower
town to the distant sea； no one would have been surprised。
Least of all； perhaps； her present owner and possessor； Mr。 Abner Nott。
For by the irony of circumstances； Mr。 Nott was a Far Western farmer who
had never seen a ship before； nor a larger stream of water than a tributary
of the Missouri River。 In a spirit； half of fascination； half of speculation；
he had bought her at the time of her abandonment； and had since
mortgaged his ranch at Petaluma with his live stock； to defray the
expenses of filling in the land where she stood； and the improvements of
the vicinity。 He had transferred his household goods and his only daughter
to her cabin； and had divided the space 〃between decks〃 and her hold into
lodging…rooms； and lofts for the storage of goods。 It could hardly be said
that the investment had been profitable。 His tenants vaguely recognized
that his occupancy was a sentimental rather than a commercial speculation；
and often generously lent themselves to the illusion by not paying their
rent。 Others treated their own tenancy as a joke；a quaint recreation born
of the childlike familiarity of frontier intercourse。 A few had left carelessly
abandoning their unsalable goods to their landlord； with great cheerfulness
and a sense of favor。 Occasionally Mr。 Abner Nott； in a practical relapse；
