a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第25节
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correct； down to the crest on the buttons。〃
They walked on in silence for a few moments； Pendleton retaining a
certain rigidity of step and bearing which Paul had come to recognize as
indicating some uneasiness or mental disturbance on his part。 Hathaway
had no intention of precipitating the confidence of his companion。 Perhaps
experience had told him it would come soon enough。 So he spoke
carelessly of himself。 How the need of a year's relaxation and change had
brought him abroad； his journeyings； and； finally； how he had been
advised by his German physician to spend a few weeks at Strudle Bad
preparatory to the voyage home。 Yet he was perfectly aware that the
colonel from time to time cast a furtive glance at his face。 〃And YOU；〃 he
said in conclusion〃when do you intend to return to California？〃
The colonel hesitated slightly。 〃I shall remain in Europe until Miss
Arguello is settledI mean；〃 he added hurriedly； 〃until she hasahem！
completed her education in foreign ways and customs。 You see； Hathaway；
I have constituted myself； after a certain fashion； I may saystill； her
guardian。 I am an old man； with neither kith nor kin myself； sirI'm a little
too old…fashioned for the boys over there〃with a vague gesture towards
the west； which； however； told Paul how near it still was to him。 〃But then；
among the old fogys hereblank it all！it isn't noticed。 So I look after her；
you see； or rather make myself responsible for her generallyalthough； of
course； she has other friends and associates； you understand； more of her
own age and tastes。〃
〃And I've no doubt she's perfectly satisfied；〃 said Paul in a tone of
conviction。
〃Well； yes； sir； I presume so；〃 said the colonel slowly； 〃but I've
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sometimes thought； Mr。 Hathaway； that it would have been better if she'd
have had a woman's carethe protection you understand； of an elderly
woman of society。 That seems to be the style here； you knowa chaperon；
they call it。 Now； Milly Woods； you see； is about the same age； and the
Dona Anna； of course； is older； but blank it！she's as big a flirt as the
restI mean；〃 he added； correcting himself sharply； 〃she lacks balance； sir；
andwhat shall I call it？self…abnegation。〃
〃Then Dona Anna is still of your party？〃 asked Paul。
〃She is； sir； and her brother； Don Caesar。 I have thought it advisable；
on Yerba's account； to keep up as much as possible the suggestion of her
Spanish relationshipalthough by reason of their absurd ignorance of
geography and political divisions out here； there is a prevailing impression
that she is a South American。 A fact； sir。 I have myself been mistaken for
the Dictator of one of these infernal Republics； and I have been pointed
out as ruling over a million or two of niggers like George！〃
There was no trace of any conception of humor in the colonel's face；
although he uttered a short laugh； as if in polite acceptance of the
possibility that Paul might have one。 Far from that； his companion；
looking at the striking profile and erect figure at his sideat the long white
moustache which drooped from his dark cheeks； and remembering his
own sensations at first seeing George thought the popular belief not so
wonderful。 He was even forced to admit that the perfect unconsciousness
on the part of master and man of any incongruity or peculiarity in
themselves assisted the public misconception。 And it was； I fear； with a
feeling of wicked delight that； on entering the hotel； he hailed the evident
consternation of those correct fellow…countrymen from whom he had
lately fled； at what they apparently regarded as a national scandal。 He
overheard their hurried assurance to their English friends that his
companions were NOT from Boston； and enjoyed their mortification that
this explanation did not seem to detract from the interest and relief with
which the Britons surveyed them； or the open admiration of the Germans。
Although Pendleton somewhat unbent during supper； he did not allude
to the secret of Yerba's parentage； nor of any tardy confidence of hers。 To
all appearance the situation remained as it was three years ago。 He spoke
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of her great popularity as an heiress and a beautiful woman； and the
marked attentions she received。 He doubted not that she had rejected very
distinguished offers； but she kept that to herself。 She was perfectly
competent to do so。 She was no giddy girl； to be flattered or deceived； on
the contrary； he had never known a cooler or more sensible woman。 She
knew her own worth。 When she met the man who satisfied her ambition
and understanding； she would marry； and not before。 He did not know
what that ambition was； it was something exalted； of course。 He could
only say； of his own knowledge； that last year； when they were on the
Italian lakes； there was a certain prince Mr。 Hathaway would understand
why he did not mention nameswho was not only attentive to her； but
attentive to HIM； sir； by Jove！ and most significant in his inquiries。 It was
the only occasion when he； the colonel； had ever spoken to her on such
subjects； and； knowing that she was not indifferent to the fellow； who was
not bad of his kind； he had asked her why she had not encouraged his suit。
She had said； with a laugh； that he couldn't marry her unless he gave up
his claim of succession to a certain reigning house； and she wouldn't
accept him WITHOUT IT。 Those were her words； sir； and he could only
say that the prince left a few days afterwards； and they had never seen him
since。 As to the princelings and counts and barons； she knew to a day the
date of their patents of nobility； and what privileges they were entitled to；
she could tell to a dot the value of their estates； the amount of their debts；
and； by Jove！ sir； the amount of mortgages she was expected to pay off
before she married them。 She knew the amount of income she had to bring
to the Prussian Army； from the general to the lieutenant。 She understood
her own value and her rights。 There was a young English lordling she met
on the Rhine； whose boyish ways and simplicity seemed to please her。
They were great friends； but he wanted himthe colonelto induce her to
accept an invitation for both to visit his mother's home in England； that his
people might see her。 But she declined； sir！ She declined to pass in review
before his mother。 She said it was for HIM to pass in review before HER
mother。
〃Did she say that？〃 interrupted Paul； fixing his bright eyes upon the
colonel。
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〃If she had one； if she had one；〃 corrected the colonel； hastily。 〃Of
course it was only an illustration。 That she is an orphan is generally known；
sir。〃
There was a dead silence for a few moments。 The colonel leaned back
in his chair and pulled his moustache。 Paul turned away his eyes； and
seemed absorbed in reflection。 After a moment the colonel coughed；
pushed aside his glass； and； leaning across the table； said； 〃I have a favor
to ask of you； Mr。 Hathaway。〃
There was such a singular change in the tone of his voice； an
unexpected relaxation of some artificial tension；a relaxation which
struck Paul so pathetically as being as much physical as mental； as if he
had suddenly been overtaken in some exertion by the weakness of age；
that he looked up quickly。 Certainly； although still erect and lightly
grasping his moustache； the colonel looked older。
〃By all means； my dear colonel；〃 said Paul warmly。
〃During the time you remain here you can hardly help meeting Miss
Arguello； perhaps frequently。 It would be strange if you did not； it would
appear to everybody still stranger。 Give me your word as a gentleman that
you will not make the
