a ward of the golden gate-第22节

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simple　and　natural　manner；　he　had　never　conceived。

〃He　had　returned　from　his　morning　walk　to　the　Brunnen；　and　was
sitting　idly　in　his　room；　when　there　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　　It
opened　to　a　servant　bearing　a　salver　with　a　card。　　Paul　lifted　it
with　a　slight　tremor；　not　at　the　engraved　name　of　〃Maria　Concepcion
de　Arguellos　de　la　Yerba　Buena；〃　but　at　the　remembered　school…girl
hand　that　had　penciled　underneath　the　words；　〃wishes　the　favor　of
an　audience　with　his　Excellency　the　Lord　Lieutenant…Governor　of　the
Californias。〃

Paul　looked　inquiringly　at　the　servant。　　〃The　gnadige　Fraulein　was
in　her　own　salon。　　Would　EXCELLENCY　walk　that　way？　　It　was　but　a
step；　in　effect；　the　next　apartment。〃

Paul　followed　him　into　the　hall　with　wondering　steps。　　The　door　of
the　next　room　was　open；　and　disclosed　a　handsomely　furnished　salon。
A　tall　graceful　figure　rose　quickly　from　behind　a　writing…table；
and　advanced　with　outstretched　hands　and　a　frank　yet　mischievous
smile。　　It　was　Yerba。

Standing　there　in　a　grayish　hat；　mantle；　and　traveling　dress；　all
of　one　subdued　yet　alluring　tone；　she　looked　as　beautiful　as　when
he　had　last　seen　herand　yetunlike。　　For　a　brief　bitter　moment
his　instincts　revolted　at　this　familiar　yielding　up　in　his　fair
countrywomen　of　all　that　was　distinctively　original　in　them　to
alien　tastes　and　habits；　and　he　resented　the　plastic　yet
characterless　mobility　which　made　Yerba's　Parisian　dress　and
European　manner　fit　her　so　charmingly　and　yet　express　so　little。
For　a　brief　critical　moment　he　remembered　the　placid；　unchanging
simplicity　of　German；　and　the　inflexible　and　ingrained　reserve　of
English；　girlhood；　in　opposition　to　this　indistinctive　cosmopolitan
grace。　　But　only　for　a　moment。　　As　soon　as　she　spoke；　a　certain
flavor　of　individuality　seemed　to　return　to　her　speech。

〃Confess；〃　she　said；　〃it　was　a　courageous　thing　for　me　to　do。　　You
might　have　been　somebody　elsea　real　Excellencyor　heaven　knows
what！　　Or；　what　is　worse　in　your　new　magnificence；　you　might　have
forgotten　one　of　your　oldest；　most　humble；　but　faithful　subjects。〃
She　drew　back　and　made　him　a　mock　ceremonious　curtsy；　that　even　in
its　charming　exaggeration　suggested　to　Paul；　however；　that　she　had
already　made　it　somewhere　seriously。

〃But　what　does　it　all　mean？〃　he　asked；　smiling；　feeling　not　only
his　doubts　and　uneasiness　vanish；　but　even　the　years　of　separation
melt　away　in　her　presence。　　〃I　know　I　went　to　bed　last　night　a　very
humble　individual；　and　yet　I　seem　to　awaken　this　morning　a　very
exalted　personage。　　Am　I　really　Commander　of　the　Faithful；　or　am　I
dreaming？　　Might　I　trouble　you；　as　my　predecessor　Abou　Hassan　did
Sweetlips；　to　bite　my　little　finger？〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　have　not　seen　the　'Auzeiger？'〃　she
returned；　taking　a　small　German　printed　sheet　from　the　table　and
pointing　to　a　paragraph。　　Paul　took　the　paper。　　Certainly　there　was
the　plain　announcement　among　the　arrivals　of　〃His　Excellency　Paul
Hathaway；　Lord　Lieutenant…Governor　of　the　Californias。〃　　A　light
flashed　upon　him。

〃This　is　George's　work。　　He　and　Colonel　Pendleton　were　here　with　me
last　night。〃

〃Then　you　have　seen　the　colonel　already？〃　she　said；　with　a　scarcely
perceptible　alteration　of　expression；　which；　however；　struck　Paul。

〃Yes。　　I　met　him　at　the　theatre　last　evening。〃　　He　was　about　to
plunge　into　an　animated　description　of　the　colonel's　indignation；
but　checked　himself；　he　knew　not　why。　　But　he　was　thankful　the　next
moment　that　he　had。

〃That　accounts　for　everything；〃　she　said；　lifting　her　pretty
shoulders　with　a　slight　shrug　of　weariness。　　〃I　had　to　put　a　step
to　George's　talking　about　ME　three　months　ago；his　extravagance　is
something　TOO　awful。　　And　the　colonel；　who　is　completely　in　his
hands；trusting　him　for　everything；　even　the　language；doesn't
see　it。〃

〃But　he　is　extravagant　in　the　praise　of　his　friends　only；　and　you
certainly　justify　all　he　can　say。〃

She　was　taking　off　her　hat；　and　stopped　for　a　moment　to　look　at　him
thoughtfully；　with　the　soft　tendrils　of　her　hair　clinging　to　her
forehead。　　〃Did　the　colonel　talk　much　about　me？〃

〃A　great　deal。　　In　fact；　I　think　we　talked　of　nothing　else。　　He　has
told　me　of　your　triumphs　and　your　victims；　of　your　various
campaigns　and　your　conquests。　　And　yet　I　dare　say　he　has　not　told
me　alland　I　am　dying　to　hear　more。〃

She　had　laid　down　her　hat　and　unloosed　a　large　bow　of　her　mantle；
but　stopped　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　it　and　sat　down　again。

〃I　wish　you'd　do　something　for　me。〃

〃You　have　only　to　name　it。〃

〃Well；　drop　all　this　kind　of　talk！　　Try　to　think　of　me　as　if　I　had
just　come　from　Californiaor；　better；　as　if　you　had　never　known
anything　of　me　at　alland　we　met　for　the　first　time。　　You　could；　I
dare　say；　make　yourself　very　agreeable　to　such　a　young　lady　who　was
willing　to　be　pleasedwhy　not　to　me？　　I　venture　to　say　you　have
not　ever　troubled　yourself　about　me　since　we　last　met。　　Nohear　me
throughwhy；　then；　should　you　wish　to　talk　over　what　didn't
concern　you　at　the　time？　　Promise　me　you　will　stop　this　reminiscent
gossip；　and　I　promise　you　I　will　not　only　not　bore　you　with　it；　but
take　care　that　it　is　not　intruded　upon　you　by　others。　　Make
yourself　pleasant　to　me　by　talking　about　yourself　and　your
prospectsanything　but　MEand　I　will　throw　over　those　princes　and
barons　that　the　colonel　has　raved　about　and　devote　myself　to　you
while　you　are　here。　　Does　that　suit　your　Excellency？〃　　She　had
crossed　her　knees；　and；　with　her　hands　clasped　over　them；　and　the
toe　of　her　small　boot　advanced　beyond　her　skirt；　leaned　forward　in
the　attitude　he　remembered　to　have　seen　her　take　in　the　summer…
house　at　Rosario。

〃Perfectly；〃　he　said。

〃How　long　will　you　be　here？〃

〃About　three　weeks：　that；　I　believe；　is　the　time　allotted　for　my
cure。〃

〃Are　you　really　ill；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃or　imagine　yourself　so？〃

〃It　amounts　to　about　the　same　thing。　　But　my　cure　may　not　take　so
long；〃　he　added；　fixing　his　bright　eyes　upon　her。

She　returned　his　gaze　thoughtfully；　and　they　remained　looking　at
each　other　silently。

〃Then　you　are　stronger　than　you　give　yourself　credit　for。　　That　is
very　often　the　case；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃There；〃　she　added　in
another　tone；　〃it　is　settled。　　You　will　come　and　go　as　you　like；
using　this　salon　as　your　own。　　Stay；　we　can　do　something　today。
What　do　you　say　to　a　ride　in　the　forest　this　afternoon？　　Milly
isn't　here　yet；　but　it　will　be　quite　proper　for　you　to　accompany　me
on　horseback；　though；　of　course；　we　couldn't　walk　a　hundred　yards
down　the　Allee　together　unless　we　were　verlobt。〃

〃But；〃　said　Paul；　〃you　are　expecting　company　this　afternoon。　　Don
CaesarI　mean　Miss　Briones　and　her　brother　are　coming　here　to　say
good…by。〃

She　regarded　him　curiously；　but　without　emotion。

〃Colonel　Pendleton　should　have　added　that　they　were　to　remain　here
overnight　as　my　guests；〃　she　said　composedly。　　And　of　course　we
shall　be　back　in　time　for　dinner。　　But　that　is　nothing　to　you。　　You
have　only　to　be　ready　at　three　o'clock。　　I　will　see　that　the　horses
are　ordered。　　I　often　ride　here；　and　the　people　know　my　tastes　and
habits。　　We　will　have　a　pleasant　ride　and　a　good　long　talk
together；　and　I'll　show　you　a　ruin　and　a　distant　view　of　the　villa
where　I　have　been　staying。〃　　She　held　out　her　hand　with　a　frank
girlish　smile；　and　even　a　girlish　anticipation　of　pleasure　in　her
brown　eyes。　　He　bent　over　her　slim　fingers　for　a　moment；　and
withdrew。

When　he　was　in　his　own　room　again；　he　was　conscious　only　of　a
strong　desire　to　avoid　the　colonel　until　after　his　ride　with　Yerba。
He　would　keep　his　word　so　far　as　to　abstain　from　allusion　to　her
family　or　her　past：　indeed；　he　had　his　own　opinion　of　its　futility。
But　it　would　be　strange　if；　with　his　past　experience；　he　could　not
find　some　other　way　to　determine　her　convictions　or　win　her
confidence　during　those　two　hours　of　companionship。　　He　would
accept　her　terms　fairly；　if　she　had　any　ulterior　design　in　her
advances；　he　would　detect　it；　if　she　had　the　least　concern　for　him；
she　could　not　continue　long　an　artificial　friendship。　　But　he　must
not　think　of　that！

By　absenting　himself　from　the　hotel　he　managed　to　keep　clear　of
Pendleton　until　the　hour　arrived。　　He　was　gratified　to　find　Yerba
in　the　simplest　and　most　sensible　of　habits；　as　if　she　had　already
divined　his　tastes　and　had　wished　to　avoid　attracting　undue
attention。　　Nevertheless；　it　very　prettily　accented　her　tall
graceful　figure；　and　Paul；　albeit；　like　most　artistic　admirers　of
the　sex；　not　recognizing　a　woman　on　a　horse　as　a　particularly
harmonious　spectacle；　was　forced　to　admire　her。　　Both　rode　well；
and　naturallyhaving　been　brought　up　in　the　same　Western　school
the　horses　recognized　it；　and　instinctively　obeyed　them；　and　their
conversation　had　the　easy　deliberation　and　inflection　of　a　tete…a…
tete。　　Paul；　in　view　of　her　previous　hint；　talked　to　her　of　himself
and　his　fortunes；　of　which　she　appeared；　however；　to　have　some
knowledge。　　His　health　had　obliged　him　lately　to　abandon　politics
and　office；　he　had　been　successful　in　some　ventures；　and　had　become
a　junior　partner　in　a　bank　with　foreign　correspondence。　　She
listened　to　him　for　some　time　with　interest　and　attention