a ward of the golden gate-第13节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


remembered；　with　a　sudden　start；　what　Pendleton　had　said　to　him。
Good　Heavens！　　Had　Pendleton　that　idea　in　his　mind？　　And　yetit
seemed　the　only　solution。

A　knock　at　his　door　was　followed　by　the　appearance　of　Mr。　Woods。
Mr。　Hathaway's　portmanteau　had　come；　and　Mrs。　Woods　had　sent　a
message；　saying　that　in　view　of　the　limited　time　that　Mr。　Hathaway
would　have　with　his　ward；　Mrs。　Woods　would　forego　her　right　to　keep
him　at　her　side　at　dinner；　and　yield　her　place　to　Yerba。　　Paul
thanked　him　with　a　grave　inward　smile。　　What　if　he　made　his
dramatic　disclosure　to　her　confidentially　over　the　soup　and　fish？
Yet；　in　his　constantly　recurring　conviction　of　the　girl's
independence；　he　made　no　doubt　she　would　have　met　his　brutality
with　unflinching　pride　and　self…possession。　　He　began　to　dress
slowly；　at　times　almost　forgetting　himself　in　a　new　kind　of
pleasant　apathy；　which　he　attributed　to　the　odor　of　the　flowers；
and　the　softer　hush　of　twilight　that　had　come　on　with　the　dying
away　of　the　trade　winds；　and　the　restful　spice　of　the　bay…trees
near　his　window。　　He　presently　found　himself　not　so　much　thinking
of　Yerba　as　of　SEEING　her。　　A　picture　of　her　in　the　summer…house
caressing　her　cheek　with　the　roses　seemed　to　stand　out　from　the
shadows　of　the　blank　wall　opposite　him。　　When　he　passed　into　the
dressing…room　beyond；　it　was　not　his　own　face　he　saw　in　the　glass；
but　hers。　　It　was　with　a　start；　as　if　he　had　heard　HER　voice；　that
he　found　upon　his　dressing…table　a　small　vase　containing　a　flower
for　his　coat；　with　the　penciled　words　on　a　card　in　a　school…girl's
hand；　〃From　Yerba；　with　thanks　for　staying。〃　　It　must　have　been
placed　there　by　a　servant　while　he　was　musing　at　the　window。

Half　a　dozen　people　were　already　in　the　drawing…room　when　Paul
descended。　　It　appeared　that　Mr。　Woods　had　invited　certain　of　his
neighborsamong　them　a　Judge　Baker　and　his　wife；　and　Don　Caesar
Briones；　of　the　adjacent　Rancho　of　Los　Pajaros；　and　his　sister；　the
Dona　Anna。　　Milly　and　Yerba　had　not　yet　appeared。　　Don　Caesar；　a
young　man　of　a　toreador　build；　roundly　bland　in　face　and　murky　in
eye；　seemed　to　notice　their　absence；　and　kept　his　glances　towards
the　door；　while　Paul　engaged　in　conversation　with　Dona　Annaif
that　word　could　convey　an　impression　of　a　conventionality　which
that　good…humored　young　lady　converted　into　an　animated　flirtation
at　the　second　sentence　with　a　single　glance　and　two　shakes　of　her
fan。　　And　then　Milly　fluttered　ina　vision　of　school…girl
freshness　and　white　tulle；　and　a　moment　laterwith　a　pause　of
expectationa　tall；　graceful　figure；　that　at　first　Paul　scarcely
recognized。

It　is　a　popular　conceit　of　our　sex　that　we　are　superior　to　any
effect　of　feminine　adornment；　and　that　a　pretty　girl　is　equally
pretty　in　the　simplest　frock。　　Yet　there　was　not　a　man　in　the　room
who　did　not　believe　that　Yerba　in　her　present　attire　was　not　only
far　prettier　than　before；　but　that　she　indicated　a　new　and　more
delicate　form　of　beauty。　　It　was　not　the　mere　revelation　of　contour
and　color　of　an　ordinary　decollete　dress；　it　was　a　perfect
presentment　of　pure　symmetry　and　carriage。　　In　this　black　grenadine
dress；　trimmed　with　jet；　not　only　was　the　delicate　satin　sheen　of
her　skin　made　clearer　by　contrast；　but　she　looked　every　inch　her
full　height；　with　an　ideal　exaltation　of　breeding　and　culture。　　She
wore　no　jewelry　except　a　small　necklace　of　pearlsso　small　it
might　have　been　a　child'sthat　fitted　her　slender　throat　so
tightly　that　it　could　scarcely　be　told　from　the　flesh　that　it
clasped。　　Paul　did　not　know　that　it　was　the　gift　of　the　mother　to
the　child　that　she　had　forsworn　only　a　few　weeks　before　she　parted
from　her　forever；　but　he　had　a　vague　feeling　that；　in　that　sable
dress　that　seemed　like　mourning；　she　walked　at　the　funeral　of　her
mother's　past。　　A　few　white　flowers　in　her　corsage；　the　companions
of　the　solitary　one　in　his　button…hole；　were　the　only　relief。

Their　eyes　met　for　a　single　moment；　the　look　of　admiration　in
Paul's　being　answered　by　the　naive　consciousness　in　Yerba's　of　a
woman　looking　her　best；　but　the　next　moment　she　appeared
preoccupied　with　the　others；　and　the　eager　advances　of　Don　Caesar。

〃Your　brother　seems　to　admire　Miss　Yerba；〃　said　Paul。

〃Ah；　yees；〃　returned　Dona　Anna。　　〃And　you？〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Paul；　gayly；　〃I？　　I　am　her　guardianwith　me　it　is
simple　egotism；　you　know。〃

〃Ah！〃　returned　the　arch　Dona　Anna；　〃you　are　then　already　SO　certain
of　her？　　Good！　　I　shall　warn　him。〃

A　precaution　that　did　seem　necessary；　as　later；　when　Paul；　at　a
signal　from　his　hostess；　offered　his　arm　to　Yerba；　the　young
Spaniard　regarded　him　with　a　look　of　startled　curiosity。

〃I　thank　you　for　selecting　me　to　wear　your　colors；〃　said　Paul　with
a　glance　at　the　flowers　in　her　corsage；　as　they　sat　at　table；　〃and
I　think　I　deserve　them；　since；　but　for　you；　I　should　have　been　on
my　way　to　San　Francisco　at　this　moment。　　Shall　I　have　an
opportunity　of　talking　to　you　a　few　minutes　later　in　the　evening？〃
he　added；　in　a　lower　tone。

〃Why　not　now？〃　returned　Yerba；　mischievously。　　〃We　are　set　here
expressly　for　that　purpose。〃

〃Surely　not　to　talk　of　our　own　businessI　should　say；　of　our
FAMILY　affairs；〃　said　Paul；　looking　at　her　with　equal　playfulness；
〃though　I　believe　your　friend　Don　Caesar；　opposite；　would　be　more
pleased　if　he　were　sure　that　was　all　we　did。〃

〃And　you　think　his　sister　would　share　in　that　pleasure？〃　retorted
Yerba。　　〃I　warn　you；　Mr。　Hathaway；　that　you　have　been　quite
justifying　the　Reverend　Mother's　doubts　about　your　venerable
pretensions。　　Everybody　is　staring　at　you　now。〃

Paul　looked　up　mechanically。　　It　was　true。　　Whether　from　some
occult　sympathy；　from　a　human　tendency　to　admire　obvious　fitness
and　symmetry；　or　the　innocent　love　with　which　the　world　regards
innocent　lovers；　they　were　all　observing　Yerba　and　himself　with
undisguised　attention。　　A　good　talker；　he　quickly　led　the
conversation　to　other　topics。　　It　was　then　that　he　discovered　that
Yerba　was　not　only　accomplished；　but　that　this　convent…bred　girl
had　acquired　a　singular　breadth　of　knowledge　apart　from　the
ordinary　routine　of　the　school　curriculum。　　She　spoke　and　thought
with　independent　perceptions　and　clearness；　yet　without　the
tactlessness　and　masculine　abruptness　that　is　apt　to　detract　from
feminine　originality　of　reflection。　　By　some　tacit　understanding
that　had　the　charm　of　mutual　confidence；　they　both　exerted
themselves　to　please　the　company　rather　than　each　other；　and　Paul；
in　the　interchange　of　sallies　with　Dona　Anna；　had　a　certain
pleasure　in　hearing　Yerba　converse　in　Spanish　with　Don　Caesar。　　But
in　a　few　moments　he　observed；　with　some　uneasiness；　that　they　were
talking　of　the　old　Spanish　occupation；　and　presently　of　the　old
Spanish　families。　　Would　she　prematurely　expose　an　ignorance　that
might　be　hereafter　remembered　against　her；　or　invite　some　dreadful
genealogical　reminiscence　that　would　destroy　her　hopes　and　raze　her
Spanish　castles？　　Or　was　she　simply　collecting　information？　　He
admired　the　dexterity　with　which；　without　committing　herself；　she
made　Don　Caesar　openly　and　even　confidentially　communicative。　　And
yet　he　was　on　thorns；　at　times　it　seemed　as　if　he　himself　were
playing　a　part　in　this　imposture　of　Yerba's。　　He　was　aware　that　his
wandering　attention　was　noticed　by　the　quick…witted　Dona　Anna；　when
he　regained　his　self…possession　by　what　appeared　to　be　a　happy
diversion。　　It　was　the　voice　of　Mrs。　Judge　Baker　calling　across　the
table　to　Yerba。　　By　one　of　the　peculiar　accidents　of　general
conversation；　it　was　the　one　apparently　trivial　remark　that　in　a
pause　challenged　the　ears　of　all。

〃We　were　admiring　your　necklace；　Miss　Yerba。〃

Every　eye　was　turned　upon　the　slender　throat　of　the　handsome　girl。
The　excuse　was　so　natural。

Yerba　put　her　hand　to　her　neck　with　a　smile。　　〃You　are　joking；　Mrs。
Baker。　　I　know　it　is　ridiculously　small；　but　it　is　a　child's
necklace；　and　I　wear　it　because　it　was　a　gift　from　my　mother。〃

Paul's　heart　sank　again　with　consternation。　　It　was　the　first　time
he　had　heard　the　girl　distinctly　connect　herself　with　her　actual
mother；　and　for　an　instant　he　felt　as　startled　as　if　the　forgotten
Outcast　herself　had　returned　and　taken　a　seat　at　the　board。

〃I　told　you　it　couldn't　be　so？〃　remarked　Mrs。　Baker；　to　her
husband。

Everybody　naturally　looked　inquiringly　upon　the　couple；　and　Mrs。
Baker　explained　with　a　smile：　〃Bob　thinks　he's　seen　it　before；　men
are　so　obstinate。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　Yerba；〃　said　the　Judge；　blandly；　〃would　you　mind
showing　it　to　me；　if　it　is　not　too　much　trouble？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Yerba；　smiling；　and　detaching　the　circlet　from
her　neck。　　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　find　it　rather　old…fashioned。〃

〃That's　just　what　I　hope　to　find　it；〃　said　Judge　Baker；　with　a
triumphant　glance　at　his　wife。　　〃It　was　eight　years　ago　when　I　saw
it　in　Tucker's　jewelry　shop。　　I　wanted　to　buy　it　for　my　little
Minnie；　but　as　the　price　was　steep　I　hesitated；　and　when　I　did　make
up　my　mind　he　had　disposed　of　it　to　another　customer。　　Yes；〃　he
added；　examining　the　necklace　which　Yerba　had　handed　to　him。　　〃I　am
certain　it　is　the　same：　it　was　unique；　like　this。　　Odd；　isn't　it？〃

Everybody　said　it　WAS　odd；　and　l