a ward of the golden gate-第5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！


courtesy；　he　said：

〃Marse　Harry　bin　havin'　his　ole　trubble；　sah；　and　bin　engaged　just
dis　momen'　on　his　toylet；　ef　yo'll　accommodate　yo'self　on　de　sofa；
I　inform　him　yo'　is　heah。〃

As　the　negro　passed　into　the　next　room；　Paul　cast　a　hasty　glance
around　the　apartment。　　The　furniture；　originally　rich　and　elegant；
was　now　worn　threadbare　and　lustreless。　　A　book…case；　containing；
among　other　volumes；　a　few　law　booksthere　being　a　vague
tradition；　as　Paul　remembered；　that　Colonel　Pendleton　had　once　been
connected　with　the　lawa　few　French　chairs　of　tarnished　gilt；　a
rifle　in　the　corner；　a　presentation　sword　in　a　mahogany　case；　a　few
classical　prints　on　the　walls；　and　one　or　two　iron　deed…boxes
marked　〃El　Dorado　Bank；〃　were　the　principal　objects。　　A　mild　flavor
of　dry　decay　and　methylated　spirits　pervaded　the　apartment。　　Yet　it
was　scrupulously　clean　and　well　kept；　and　a　few　clothes　neatly
brushed　and　folded　on　a　chair　bore　witness　to　the　servant's　care。
As　Paul；　however；　glanced　behind　the　sofa；　he　was　concerned　to　see
a　coat；　which　had　evidently　been　thrust　hurriedly　in　a　corner；　with
the　sleeve　lining　inside　out；　and　a　needle　and　thread　still
sticking　in　the　seam。　　It　struck　him　instantly　that　this　had　been
the　negro's　occupation；　and　that　the　pistol…cleaning　was　a　polite
fiction。

〃Yo'　'll　have　to　skuse　Marse　Harry　seein'　yo　in　bed；　but　his　laig's
pow'ful　bad　to…day；　and　he　can't　stand；〃　said　the　servant
reentering　the　room。　　〃Skuse　me；　sah；〃　he　added　in　a　dignified
confidential　whisper；　half　closing　the　door　with　his　hand；　〃but　if
yo'　wouldn't　mind　avoidin'　'xcitin'　or　controversical　topics　in　yo'
conversation；　it　would　be　de　better　fo'　him。〃

Paul　smilingly　assented；　and　the　black　retainer；　with　even　more
than　the　usual　solemn　ceremonious　exaggeration　of　his　race；　ushered
him　into　the　bedroom。　　It　was　furnished　in　the　same　faded　glory　as
the　sitting…room；　with　the　exception　of　a　low；　iron　camp…bedstead；
in　which　the　tall；　soldierly　figure　of　Colonel　Pendleton；　clad　in
threadbare　silk　dressing…gown；　was　stretched。　　He　had　changed　in
eight　years：　his　hair　had　become　gray；　and　was　thinned　over　the
sunken　temples；　but　his　iron…gray　moustache　was　still　particularly
long　and　well　pointed。　　His　face　bore　marks　of　illness　and　care；
there　were　deep　lines　down　the　angle　of　the　nostril　that　spoke　of
alternate　savage　outbreak　and　repression；　and　gave　his　smile　a
sardonic　rigidity。　　His　dark　eyes；　that　shone　with　the　exaltation
of　fever；　fixed　Paul's　on　entering；　and　with　the　tyranny　of　an
invalid　never　left　them。

〃Well；　Hathaway？〃

With　the　sound　of　that　voice　Paul　felt　the　years　slip　away；　and　he
was　again　a　boy；　looking　up　admiringly　to　the　strong　man；　who　now
lay　helpless　before　him。　　He　had　entered　the　room　with　a　faint
sense　of　sympathizing　superiority　and　a　consciousness　of　having　had
experience　in　controlling　men。　　But　all　this　fled　before　Colonel
Pendleton's　authoritative　voice；　even　its　broken　tones　carried　the
old　dominant　spirit　of　the　man；　and　Paul　found　himself　admiring　a
quality　in　his　old　acquaintance　that　he　missed　in　his　newer
friends。

〃I　haven't　seen　you　for　eight　years；　Hathaway。　　Come　here　and　let
me　look　at　you。〃

Paul　approached　the　bedside　with　boyish　obedience。　　Pendleton　took
his　hand　and　gazed　at　him　critically。

〃I　should　have　recognized　you；　sir；　for　all　your　moustache　and　your
inches。　　The　last　time　I　saw　you　was　in　Jack　Hammersley's　office。
Well；　Jack's　dead；　and　here　I　am；　little　better；　I　reckon。　　You
remember　Hammersley's　house？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Paul；　albeit　wondering　at　the　question。

〃Something　like　this；　Swiss　villa　style。　　I　remember　when　Jack　put
it　up。　　Well；　the　last　time　I　was　out；　I　passed　there。　　And　what　do
you　think　they've　done　to　it？〃

Paul　could　not　imagine。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　colonel　gravely；　〃they've　changed　it　into　a
church　missionary　shop　and　young　men's　Christian　reading…room！　　But
that's　'progress'　and　'improvement'！〃　　He　paused；　and；　slowly
withdrawing　his　hand　from　Paul's；　added　with　grim　apology；　〃You're
young；　and　belong　to　the　new　school；　perhaps。　　Well；　sir；　I've　read
your　speech；　I　don't　belong　to　your　partymine　died　ten　years　ago
but　I　congratulate　you。　　George！　　Confound　it　where's　that　boy
gone？〃

The　negro　indicated　by　this　youthful　title；　although　he　must　have
been　ten　years　older　than　his　master；　after　a　hurried　shuffling　in
the　sitting…room　eventually　appeared　at　the　door。

〃George；　champagne　and　materials　for　cocktails　for　the　gentleman。
The　BEST；　you　understand。　　No　new…fangled　notions　from　that　new
barkeeper。〃

Paul；　who　thought　he　observed　a　troubled　blinking　in　George's
eyelid；　and　referred　it　to　a　fear　of　possible　excitement　for　his
patient；　here　begged　his　host　not　to　trouble　himselfthat　he
seldom　took　anything　in　the　morning。

〃Possibly　not；　sir；　possibly　not；〃　returned　the　colonel；　hastily。
〃I　know　the　new　ideas　are　prohibitive；　and　some　other　blank　thing；
but　you're　safe　here　from　your　constituents；　and　by　gad；　sir；　I
shan't　force　you　to　take　it！　　It's　MY　custom；　Hathawayan　old　one
played　out；　perhaps；　like　all　the　others；　but　a　custom
nevertheless；　and　I'm　only　surprised　that　George；　who　knows　it；
should　have　forgotten　it。〃

〃Fack　is；　Marse　Harry；〃　said　George；　with　feverish　apology；　〃it　bin
gone　'scaped　my　mind　dis　mo'nin'　in　de　prerogation　ob　business；　but
I'm　goin'　now；　shuah！〃　and　he　disappeared。

〃A　good　boy；　sir；　but　beginning　to　be　contaminated。　　Brought　him
here　from　Nashville　over　ten　years　ago。　　Eight　years　ago　they
proved　to　him　that　he　was　no　longer　a　slave；　and　made　him　dd
unhappy　until　I　promised　him　it　should　make　no　difference　to　him
and　he　could　stay。　　I　had　to　send　for　his　wife　and　childof
course；　a　dead　loss　of　eighteen　hundred　dollars　when　they　set　foot
in　the　Statebut　I'm　blanked　if　he　isn't　just　as　miserable　with
them　here；　for　he　has　to　take　two　hours　in　the　morning　and　three　in
the　afternoon　every　day　to　be　with　'em。　　I　tried　to　get　him　to　take
his　family　to　the　mines　and　make　his　fortune；　like　those　fellows
they　call　bankers　and　operators　and　stockbrokers　nowadays；　or　to　go
to　Oregon　where　they'll　make　him　some　kind　of　a　mayor　or　sheriff
but　he　won't。　　He　collects　my　rents　on　some　little　property　I　have
left；　and　pays　my　bills；　sir；　and；　if　this　blank　civilization　would
only　leave　him　alone；　he'd　be　a　good　enough　boy。〃

Paul　couldn't　help　thinking　that　the　rents　George　collected　were
somewhat　inconsistent　with　those　he　was　evidently　mending　when　he
arrived；　but　at　that　moment　the　jingle　of　glasses　was　heard　in　the
sitting…room；　and　the　old　negro　reappeared　at　the　door。　　Drawing
himself　up　with　ceremonious　courtesy；　he　addressed　Paul。　　〃Wo'd　yo'
mind；　sah；　taking　a　glance　at　de　wine　for　yo'　choice？〃　　Paul　rose；
and　followed　him　into　the　sitting…room；　when　George　carefully
closed　the　door。　　To　his　surprise　Hathaway　beheld　a　tray　with　two
glasses　of　whiskey　and　bitters；　but　no　wine。　　〃Skuse　me；　sah；〃　said
the　old　man　with　dignified　apology；　〃but　de　Kernel　won't　have　any
but　de　best　champagne　for　hono'ble　gemmen　like　yo'self；　and　I'se
despaired　to　say　it　can't　be　got　in　de　house　or　de　subburbs。　　De
best　champagne　dat　we　gives　visitors　is　de　Widder　Glencoe。　　Wo'd
yo'　mind；　sah；　for　de　sake　o'　not　'xcitin'　de　Kernel　wid　triflin'
culinary　matter；　to　say　dat　yo'　don'　take　but　de　one　brand？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Paul；　smiling。　　〃I　really　don't　care　for　anything
so　early；〃　then；　returning　to　the　bedroom；　he　said　carelessly；
〃You'll　excuse　me　taking　the　liberty；　colonel；　of　sending　away　the
champagne　and　contenting　myself　with　whiskey。　　Even　the　best　brand
the　Widow　Cliquot〃with　a　glance　at　the　gratified　George〃I　find
rather　trying　so　early　in　the　morning。〃

〃As　you　please；　Hathaway；〃　said　the　colonel；　somewhat　stiffly。　　〃I
dare　say　there's　a　new　fashion　in　drinks　now；　and　a　gentleman's
stomach　is　a　thing　of　the　past。　　Then；　I　suppose；　we　can　spare　the
boy；　as　this　is　his　time　for　going　home。　　Put　that　tin　box　with　the
Trust　papers　on　the　bed；　George；　and　Mr。　Hathaway　will　excuse　your
waiting。〃　　As　the　old　servant　made　an　exaggerated　obeisance　to
each；　Paul　remarked；　as　the　door　closed　upon　him；　〃George　certainly
keeps　his　style；　colonel；　in　the　face　of　the　progress　you　deplore。〃

〃He　was　always　a　'dandy　nigger；'〃　returned　Pendleton；　his　face
slightly　relaxing　as　he　glanced　after　his　grizzled　henchman；　〃but
his　exaggeration　of　courtesy　is　a　blank　sight　more　natural　and
manly　than　the　exaggeration　of　discourtesy　which　your　superior
civilized　'helps'　think　is　self…respect。　　The　excuse　of　servitude
of　any　kind　is　its　spontaneity　and　affection。　　When　you　know　a　man
hates　you　and　serves　you　from　interest；　you　know　he's　a　cur　and
you're　a　tyrant。　　It's　your　blank　progress　that's　made　menial
service　degrading　by　teaching　men　to　avoid　it。　　Why；　sir；　when　I
first　arrived　here；　Jack　Hammersley　and　myself　took　turns　as　cook
to　the　party。　　I　didn't　consider　myself　any　the　worse　master　for
it。　　But　enough　of　this。〃　　He　paused；　and；　raising　himself　on　his
elbow；　gazed　for　some　seconds　half　cautiously；　half　doubtfully；
upon　his　companion。　　〃I've　got　something　to　tell　you；　Hathaway；〃　he
said；　slowly。　　〃Y