a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第8节
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countryman〃not the first time nor the last time in her career。 As there
appeared no trace or sign of jealousy in her questioner's manner； she
answered briefly but vaguely：
〃Yes； it's a shocking story。 His father disappeared some years ago；
and he has just found hima helpless paralyticin the Sacramento
Hospital。 He'll have to support himand they're very poor。〃
〃So； then； they are not independent of each other alwaysthese fathers
and children of Americans！〃
〃No；〃 said Mamie； shortly。 Without knowing why； she felt inclined
to resent Don Caesar's manner。 His serious gravitygentle and high…bred
as it was； undoubtedlywas somewhat trying to her at times； and seemed
even more so after Slinn's irreverent humor。 She picked up her parasol； a
little impatiently； as if to go。
But Don Caesar had already dismounted； and tied his horse to a tree
with a strong lariat that hung at his saddle…bow。
〃Let us walk through the woods towards your home。 I can return
alone for the horse when you shall dismiss me。〃
They turned in among the pines that； overcrowding the hollow； crept
partly up the side of the hill of Mulrady's shaft。 A disused trail； almost
hidden by the waxen…hued yerba buena； led from the highway； and finally
lost itself in the undergrowth。 It was a lovers' walk； they were lovers；
evidently； and yet the man was too self…poised in his gravity； the young
woman too conscious and critical； to suggest an absorbing or oblivious
passion。
〃I should not have made myself so obtrusive to…day before your
friend；〃 said Don Caesar； with proud humility； 〃but I could not understand
from your mother whether you were alone or whether my company was
desirable。 It is of this I have now to speak； Mamie。 Lately your mother
has seemed strange to me； avoiding any reference to our affection； treating
it lightly； and even as to…day； I fancy； putting obstacles in the way of our
meeting alone。 She was disappointed at your return from Sacramento
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where； I have been told； she intended you to remain until you left the
country； and since your return I have seen you but twice。 I may be
wrong。 Perhaps I do not comprehend the American mother； I havewho
knows？perhaps offended in some point of etiquette； omitted some
ceremony that was her due。 But when you told me； Mamie； that it was
not necessary to speak to HER first； that it was not the American fashion
〃
Mamie started； and blushed slightly。
〃Yes；〃 she said hurriedly； 〃certainly； but ma has been quite queer of
late； and she may thinkyou knowthat sincesince there has been so
much property to dispose of； she ought to have been consulted。〃
〃Then let us consult her at once； dear child！ And as to the property；
in Heaven's name； let her dispose of it as she will。 Saints forbid that an
Alvarado should ever interfere。 And what is it to us； my little one？
Enough that Dona Mameta Alvarado will never have less state than the
richest bride that ever came to Los Gatos。〃
Mamie had not forgotten that； scarcely a month ago； even had she
loved the man before her no more than she did at present； she would still
have been thrilled with delight at these words！ Even now she was
movedconscious as she had become that the 〃state〃 of a bride of the
Alvarados was not all she had imagined； and that the bare adobe court of
Los Gatos was open to the sky and the free criticism of Sacramento
capitalists！
〃Yes； dear；〃 she murmured with a half childlike pleasure； that lit up her
face and eyes so innocently that it stopped any minute investigation into
its origin and real meaning。 〃Yes； dear； but we need not have a fuss
made about it at present； and perhaps put ma against us。 She wouldn't
hear of our marrying now； and she might forbid our engagement。〃
〃But you are going away。〃
〃I should have to go to New York or Europe FIRST； you know；〃 she
answered； naively； 〃even if it were all settled。 I should have to get things！
One couldn't be decent here。〃
With the recollection of the pink cotton gown； in which she had first
pledged her troth to him； before his eyes； he said； 〃But you are charming
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now。 You cannot be more so to me。 If I am satisfied； little one； with
you as you are； let us go together； and then you can get dresses to please
others。〃
She had not expected this importunity。 Really； if it came to this； she
might have engaged herself to some one like Slinn； he at least would have
understood her。 He was much cleverer； and certainly more of a man of
the world。 When Slinn had treated her like a child； it was with the
humorous tolerance of an admiring superior； and not the didactic impulse
of a guardian。 She did not say this； nor did her pretty eyes indicate it； as
in the instance of her brief anger with Slinn。 She only said gently；
〃I should have thought you； of all men； would have been particular
about your wife doing the proper thing。 But never mind！ Don't let us
talk any more about it。 Perhaps as it seems such a great thing to you； and
so much trouble； there may be no necessity for it at all。〃
I do not think that the young lady deliberately planned this charmingly
illogical deduction from Don Caesar's speech； or that she calculated its
effect upon him； but it was part of her nature to say it； and profit by it。
Under the unjust lash of it； his pride gave way。
〃Ah； do you not see why I wish to go with you？〃 he said； with sudden
and unexpected passion。 〃You are beautiful； you are good； it has pleased
Heaven to make you rich also； but you are a child in experience； and know
not your own heart。 With your beauty； your goodness； and your wealth；
you will attract all to youas you do herebecause you cannot help it。
But you will be equally helpless； little one； if THEY should attract YOU；
and you had no tie to fall back upon。〃
It was an unfortunate speech。 The words were Don Caesar's； but the
thought she had heard before from her mother； although the deduction had
been of a very different kind。 Mamie followed the speaker with bright
but visionary eyes。 There must be some truth in all this。 Her mother
had said it； Mr。 Slinn had laughingly admitted it。 She HAD a brilliant
future before her！ Was she right in making it impossible by a rash and
foolish tie？ He himself had said she was inexperienced。 She knew it；
and yet； what was he doing now but taking advantage of that inexperience？
If he really loved her； he would be willing to submit to the test。 She did
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not ask a similar one from him； and was willing； if she came out of it free；
to marry him just the same。 There was something so noble in this
thought that she felt for a moment carried away by an impulse of
compassionate unselfishness； and smiled tenderly as she looked up in his
face。
〃Then you consent； Mamie？〃 he said； eagerly； passing his arm around
her waist。
〃Not now； Caesar；〃 she said； gently disengaging herself。 〃I must
think it over； we are both too young to act upon it rashly； it would be
unfair to you； who are so quiet and have seen so few girlsI mean
Americansto tie yourself to the first one you have known。 When I am
gone you will go more into the world。 There are Mr。 Slinn's two sisters
coming hereI shouldn't wonder if they were far cleverer and talked far
better than I doand think how I should feel if I knew that only a wretched
pledge to me kept you from lovin
