a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第16节
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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
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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
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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
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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 looked upon the occurrence with that
unreasoning satisfaction with which average humanity receives the most
trivial and unmeaning coincidences。 It was left to Don Caesar to give it a
gallant application。
〃I have not…a the pleasure of knowing…a the Miss Minnie； but the
jewelry； when she arrives； to the throat…a of Miss Yerba； she has not lost
the valuethe beautythe charm。〃
〃No；〃 said Woods； cheerily。 〃The fact is； Baker； you were too slow。
Miss Yerba's folks gobbled up the necklace while you were thinking。 You
were a new…comer。 Old 'forty…niners' did not hesitate over a thing they
wanted。〃
〃You never knew who was your successful rival； eh？〃 said Dona Anna；
turning to Judge Baker with a curious glance at Paul's pale face in passing。
〃No；〃 said Baker； 〃but〃he stopped with a hesitating laugh and some
little confusion。 〃No； I've mixed it up with something else。 It's so long ago。
I never knew； or if I did I've forgotten。 But the necklace I remember。〃 He
handed it back to Yerba with a bow； and the incident ended。
Paul had not looked at Yerba during this conversation； an unreasoning
instinct that he might confuse her； an equally unreasoning dread that he
might see her confused by others； possessing him。 And when he did glance
at her calm； untroubled face； that seemed only a little surprised at his own
singular coldness； he was by no means relieved。 He was only convinced of
one thing。 In the last five minutes he had settled upon the irrevocable
determination that his present relations with the girl could exist no longer。
He must either tell her everything； or see her no more。 There was no
middle course。 She was on the brink of an exposure at any moment； either
through her ignorance or her unhappy pretension。 In his intolerable
position； he was equally unable to contemplate her peril； accept her
defense； or himself defend her。
As if； with so
