the twins of table mountain-第9节

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intention　of　examining　its　contents　in　a　better　light；　in　vain；
while　wiping　a　plate；　did　she；　absorbed　in　the　distant　prospect；
walk　to　the　verge　of　the　mountain；　and　become　statuesque　and
forgetful。　　The　sulky　young　gentleman　took　no　outward　notice　of
her。

Mrs。　Sol's　attendance　upon　Mornie　prevented　her　leaving　the　cabin；
and　Rand　and　Miss　Euphemia　dined　in　the　open　air　alone。　　The
ridiculousness　of　keeping　up　a　formal　attitude　to　his　solitary
companion　caused　Rand　to　relax；　but；　to　his　astonishment；　the　〃Pet〃
seemed　to　have　become　correspondingly　distant　and　formal。　　After　a
few　moments　of　discomfort；　Rand；　who　had　eaten　little；　arose；　and
〃believed　he　would　go　back　to　work。〃

〃Ah；　yes！〃　said　the　〃Pet；〃　with　an　indifferent　air；　〃I　suppose　you
must。　　Well；　good…by；　Mr。　Pinkney。〃

Rand　turned。　　〃YOU　are　not　going？〃　he　asked；　in　some　uneasiness。

〃I'VE　got　some　work　to　do　too；〃　returned　Miss　Euphemia　a　little
curtly。

〃But；〃　said　the　practical　Rand；　〃I　thought　you　allowed　that　you
were　fixed　to　stay　until　to…morrow？〃

But　here　Miss　Euphemia；　with　rising　color　and　slight　acerbity　of
voice；　was　not　aware　that　she　was　〃fixed　to　stay〃　anywhere；　least
of　all　when　she　was　in　the　way。　　More　than　that；　she　MUST　say
although　perhaps　it　made　no　difference；　and　she　ought　not　to　say
itthat　she　was　not　in　the　habit　of　intruding　upon　gentlemen　who
plainly　gave　her　to　understand　that　her　company　was　not　desirable。
She　did　not　know　why　she　said　thisof　course　it　could　make　no
difference　to　anybody　who　didn't；　of　course；　carebut　she　only
wanted　to　say　that　she　only　came　here　because　her　dear　friend；　her
adopted　mother；and　a　better　woman　never　breathed；had　come；　and
had　asked　her　to　stay。　　Of　course；　Mrs。　Sol　was　an　intruder
herselfMr。　Sol　was　an　intruderthey　were　all　intruders：　she　only
wondered　that　Mr。　Pinkney　had　borne　with　them　so　long。　　She　knew　it
was　an　awful　thing　to　be　here；　taking　care　of　a　poorpoor；
helpless　woman；　but　perhaps　Mr。　Rand's　BROTHER　might　forgive　them；
if　he　couldn't。　　But　no　matter；　she　would　goMr。　Sol　would　goALL
would　go；　and　then；　perhaps；　Mr；　Rand

She　stopped　breathless；　she　stopped　with　the　corner　of　her　apron
against　her　tearful　hazel　eyes；　she　stopped　withwhat　was　more
remarkable　than　allRand's　arm　actually　around　her　waist；　and　his
astonished；　alarmed　face　within　a　few　inches　of　her　own。

〃Why；　Miss　Euphemia；　Phemie；　my　dear　girl！　　I　never　meant　anything
like　THAT；〃　said　Rand　earnestly。　　〃I　really　didn't　now！　　Come　now！〃

〃You　never　once　spoke　to　me　when　I　sat　down；〃　said　Miss　Euphemia；
feebly　endeavoring　to　withdraw　from　Rand's　grasp。

〃I　really　didn't！　　Oh；　come　now；　look　here！　　I　didn't！　　Don't！
There's　a　dearTHERE！〃

This　last　conclusive　exposition　was　a　kiss。　　Miss　Euphemia　was　not
quick　enough　to　release　herself　from　his　arms。　　He　anticipated　that
act　a　full　half…second；　and　had　dropped　his　own；　pale　and　breathless。

The　girl　recovered　herself　first。　　〃There；　I　declare；　I'm　forgetting
Mrs。　Sol's　coffee！〃　she　exclaimed　hastily；　and；　snatching　up　the
coffee…pot；　disappeared。　　When　she　returned；　Rand　was　gone。　　Miss
Euphemia　busied　herself　demurely　in　clearing　up　the　dishes；　with　the
tail　of　her　eye　sweeping　the　horizon　of　the　summit　level　around　her。
But　no　Rand　appeared。　　Presently　she　began　to　laugh　quietly　to
herself。　　This　occurred　several　times　during　her　occupation；　which
was　somewhat　prolonged。　　The　result　of　this　meditative　hilarity　was
summed　up　in　a　somewhat　grave　and　thoughtful　deduction　as　she　walked
slowly　back　to　the　cabin：　〃I　do　believe　I'm　the　first　woman　that
that　boy　ever　kissed。〃

Miss　Euphemia　staid　that　day　and　the　next；　and　Rand　forgot　his
embarrassment。　　By　what　means　I　know　not；　Miss　Euphemia　managed　to
restore　Rand's　confidence　in　himself　and　in　her；　and　in　a　little
ramble　on　the　mountain…side　got　him　to　relate；　albeit　somewhat
reluctantly；　the　particulars　of　his　rescue　of　Mornie　from　her
dangerous　position　on　the　broken　trail。

〃And；　if　you　hadn't　got　there　as　soon　as　you　did；　she'd　have
fallen？〃　asked　the　〃Pet。〃

〃I　reckon；〃　returned　Rand　gloomily：　〃she　was　sorter　dazed　and
crazed　like。〃

〃And　you　saved　her　life？〃

〃I　suppose　so；　if　you　put　it　that　way；〃　said　Rand　sulkily。

〃But　how　did　you　get　her　up　the　mountain　again？〃

〃Oh！　I　got　her　up；〃　returned　Rand　moodily。

〃But　how？　　Really；　Mr。　Rand；　you　don't　know　how　interesting　this
is。　　It's　as　good　as　a　play；〃　said　the　〃Pet；〃　with　a　little　excited
laugh。

〃Oh；　I　carried　her　up！〃

〃In　your　arms？〃

〃Y…e…e…s。〃

Miss　Euphemia　paused；　and　bit　off　the　stalk　of　a　flower；　made　a　wry
face；　and　threw　it　away　from　her　in　disgust。

Then　she　dug　a　few　tiny　holes　in　the　earth　with　her　parasol；　and
buried　bits　of　the　flower…stalk　in　them；　as　if　they　had　been　tender
memories。　　〃I　suppose　you　knew　Mornie　very　well？〃　she　asked。

〃I　used　to　run　across　her　in　the　woods；〃　responded　Rand　shortly；　〃a
year　ago。　　I　didn't　know　her　so　well　then　as〃　　He　stopped。

〃As　what？　　As　NOW？〃　asked　the　〃Pet〃　abruptly。　　Rand；　who　was
coloring　over　his　narrow　escape　from　a　topic　which　a　delicate
kindness　of　Sol　had　excluded　from　their　intercourse　on　the
mountain；　stammered；　〃as　YOU　do；　I　meant。〃

The　〃Pet〃　tossed　her　head　a　little。　　〃Oh！　I　don't　know　her　at　all
except　through　Sol。〃

Rand　stared　hard　at　this。　　The　〃Pet；〃　who　was　looking　at　him
intently；　said；　〃Show　me　the　place　where　you　saw　Mornie　clinging
that　night。〃

〃It's　dangerous；〃　suggested　Rand。

〃You　mean　I'd　be　afraid！　　Try　me！　　I　don't　believe　she　was　SO
dreadfully　frightened！〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Rand；　in　astonishment。

〃Ohbecause〃

Rand　sat　down　in　vague　wonderment。

〃Show　it　to　me；〃　continued　the　〃Pet；〃　〃orI'll　find　it　ALONE！〃

Thus　challenged；　he　rose；　and；　after　a　few　moments'　climbing；　stood
with　her　upon　the　trail。　　〃You　see　that　thorn…bush　where　the　rock
has　fallen　away。　　It　was　just　there。　　It　is　not　safe　to　go　farther。
No；　really！　　Miss　Euphemia！　　Please　don't！　　It's　almost　certain
death！〃

But　the　giddy　girl　had　darted　past　him；　and；　face　to　the　wall　of
the　cliff；　was　creeping　along　the　dangerous　path。　　Rand　followed
mechanically。　　Once　or　twice　the　trail　crumbled　beneath　her　feet；
but　she　clung　to　a　projecting　root　of　chaparral；　and　laughed。　　She
had　almost　reached　her　elected　goal；　when；　slipping；　the
treacherous　chaparral　she　clung　to　yielded　in　her　grasp；　and　Rand；
with　a　cry；　sprung　forward。

But　the　next　instant　she　quickly　transferred　her　hold　to　a　cleft　in
the　cliff；　and　was　safe。　　Not　so　her　companion。　　The　soil　beneath
him；　loosened　by　the　impulse　of　his　spring；　slipped　away：　he　was
falling　with　it；　when　she　caught　him　sharply　with　her　disengaged
hand；　and　together　they　scrambled　to　a　more　secure　footing。

〃I　could　have　reached　it　alone；〃　said　the　〃Pet；〃　〃if　you'd　left　me
alone。〃

〃Thank　Heaven；　we're　saved！〃　said　Rand　gravely。

〃AND　WITHOUT　A　ROPE；〃　said　Miss　Euphemia　significantly。

Rand　did　not　understand　her。　　But；　as　they　slowly　returned　to　the
summit；　he　stammered　out　the　always　difficult　thanks　of　a　man　who
has　been　physically　helped　by　one　of　the　weaker　sex。　　Miss　Euphemia
was　quick　to　see　her　error。

〃I　might　have　made　you　lose　your　footing　by　catching　at　you；〃　she
said　meekly。　　〃But　I　was　so　frightened　for　you；　and　could　not　help
it。〃

The　superior　animal；　thoroughly　bamboozled；　thereupon　complimented
her　on　her　dexterity。

〃Oh；　that's　nothing！〃　she　said；　with　a　sigh。　　〃I　used　to　do　the
flying…trapeze　business　with　papa　when　I　was　a　child；　and　I've　not
forgotten　it。〃　　With　this　and　other　confidences　of　her　early　life；
in　which　Rand　betrayed　considerable　interest；　they　beguiled　the
tedious　ascent。　　〃I　ought　to　have　made　you　carry　me　up；〃　said　the
lady；　with　a　little　laugh；　when　they　reached　the　summit；　〃but　you
haven't　known　me　as　long　as　you　have　Mornie；　have　you？〃　　With　this
mysterious　speech　she　bade　Rand　〃good…night；〃　and　hurried　off　to
the　cabin。

And　so　a　week　passed　by；the　week　so　dreaded　by　Rand；　yet　passed
so　pleasantly；　that　at　times　it　seemed　as　if　that　dread　were　only　a
trick　of　his　fancy；　or　as　if　the　circumstances　that　surrounded　him
were　different　from　what　he　believed　them　to　be。　　On　the　seventh
day　the　doctor　had　staid　longer　than　usual；　and　Rand；　who　had　been
sitting　with　Euphemia　on　the　ledge　by　the　shaft；　watching　the
sunset；　had　barely　time　to　withdraw　his　hand　from　hers；　as　Mrs。
Sol；　a　trifle　pale　and　wearied…looking；　approached　him。

〃I　don't　like　to　trouble　you；〃　she　said；indeed；　they　had　seldom
troubled　him　with　the　details　of　Mornie's　convalescence；　or　even
her　needs　and　requirements；〃but　the　doctor　is　alarmed　about
Mornie；　and　she　has　asked　to　see　you。　　I　think　you'd　better　go　in
and　speak　to　her。　　You　know；〃　continued　Mrs。　Sol　delicately；　〃you
haven't　been　in　there　since　the　night　she　was　taken　sick；　and　maybe
a　new　face　might　do　her　good。〃

The　guilty　blood　flew　to　Rand's　face　as　he　stammered；　〃I　thought
I'd　be　in　the　way。　　I　didn't　believe　she　cared　much　to　see　me。　　Is
she　worse？〃

〃The　doctor　is　looking　very　anxious；〃　said　Mrs。　Sol　simply。

The　blood　returned　from　Rand's　face；　and　settled　around　his　heart。
He　turned　very　pale。　　He　had　consoled　himself　always