a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第26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！
appear to everybody still stranger。 Give me your word as a gentleman that
you will not make the least allusion to her of the pastnor reopen the
subject。〃
Paul looked fixedly at the colonel。 〃I certainly had no intention of
doing so；〃 he said after a pause； 〃for I thought it was already settled by
you beyond disturbance or discussion。 But do I understand you； that SHE
has shown any uneasiness regarding it？ From what you have just told me
of her plans and ambition； I can scarcely imagine that she has any
suspicion of the real facts。〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said the colonel hurriedly。 〃But I have your promise。〃
〃I promise you；〃 said Paul； after a pause； 〃that I shall neither introduce
nor refer to the subject myself； and that if SHE should question me again
regarding it； which is hardly possible； I will reveal nothing without your
consent。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Pendleton； without； however； exhibiting much relief
in his face。 〃She will return here to…morrow。〃
〃I thought you said she was absent for some days；〃 said Paul。
87
… Page 88…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃Yes； but she is coming back to say good…by to Dona Anna； who
arrives here with her brother the same day； on their way to Paris。〃
It flashed through Paul's mind that the last time he had seen her was in
the company of the Briones。 It was not a pleasant coincidence。 Yet he was
not aware that it had affected him； until he saw the colonel watching him。
〃I believe you don't fancy the brother；〃 said Pendleton。
For an instant Paul was strongly tempted to avow his old vague
suspicions of Don Caesar； but the utter hopelessness of reopening the
whole subject again； and his recollection of the passage in Pendleton's
letter that purported to be Yerba's own theory of his dislike； checked him
in time。 He only said； 〃I don't remember whether I had any cause for
disliking Don Caesar； I can tell better when I see him again；〃 and changed
the subject。 A few moments later the colonel summoned George from
some lower region of the hotel； and rose to take his leave。 〃Miss Arguello；
with her maid and courier； will occupy her old suite of rooms here；〃 he
remarked； with a return of his old imperiousness。 〃George has given the
orders for her。 I shall not change my present lodgings； but of course will
call every day。 Goodnight！〃
88
… Page 89…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
CHAPTER VI。
The next morning Paul could not help noticing an increased and even
exaggerated respect paid him by the hotel attendants。 He was asked if his
EXCELLENCY would he served with breakfast in a private room； and his
condescension in selecting the public coffee…room struck the obsequious
chamberlain； but did not prevent him from preceding Paul backwards to
the table； and summoning a waiter to attend specially upon 〃milor。〃
Surmising that George and the colonel might be in some way connected
with this extravagance； he postponed an investigation till he should have
seen them again。 And； although he hardly dared to confess it to himself；
the unexpected prospect of meeting Yerba again fully preoccupied his
thoughts。 He had believed that he would eventually see her in Europe； in
some vague and indefinite way and hour： it had been in his mind when he
started from California。 That it would be so soon； and in such a 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
89
… Page 90…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
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
90
… Page 91…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
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 al
