a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第37节
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reticule she was carrying closer to her breast； but was otherwise
unchanged。 Replying to Paul rather than the young girl； she said rigidly：
〃The patient is able to see Mr。 Hathaway and Miss Yerba Buena；〃 and
passed slowly on。 But as she reached the door she unloosed her black
mourning veil from her bonnet； and seemed to drop it across her face with
the gesture that Paul remembered she had used twelve years ago。
〃She frightens me！〃 said Yerba； turning a suddenly startled face on
Paul。 〃Oh； Paul； I hope it isn't an omen； but she looked like some one from
the grave！〃
〃Hush！〃 said Paul； turning away a face that was whiter than her own。
〃They are coming now。〃
The house surgeon had returned a trifle graver。 They might see him
now； but they must be warned that he wandered at times a little； and； if he
might suggest； if it was anything of family importance； they had better
make the most of their time and his lucid intervals。 Perhaps if they were
old friendsVERY old friendshe would recognize them。 He was
wandering much in the pastalways in the past。
They found him in the end of the ward； but so carefully protected and
partitioned off by screens that the space around his cot had all the privacy
and security of an apartment。 He was very much changed； they would
scarcely have known him； but for the delicately curved aquiline profile
and the long white moustachenow so faint and etherealized as to seem a
mere spirit wing that rested on his pillow。 To their surprise he opened his
eyes with a smile of perfect recognition； and； with thin fingers beyond the
coverlid； beckoned to them to approach。 Yet there was still a shadow of his
old reserve in his reception of Paul； and； although one hand interlocked the
fingers of Yerbawho had at first rushed impulsively forward and fallen
on her knees beside the bedand the other softly placed itself upon her
head； his eyes were fixed upon the young man's with the ceremoniousness
due to a stranger。
〃I am glad to see； sir；〃 he began in a slow； broken； but perfectly
audible voice； 〃that now you aresatisfied with the rightof this young
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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
ladyto bear the name ofArguelloand her relationship sirto one of
the oldest〃
〃But； my dear old friend；〃 broke out Paul； earnestly； 〃I NEVER cared
for thatI beg you to believe〃
〃He nevernevercared for itdear； dear colonel；〃 sobbed Yerba；
passionately： 〃it was all my faulthe thought only of meyou wrong
him！〃
〃I think otherwise；〃 said the colonel； with grim and relentless
deliberation。 〃I have a vividimpressionsirof aninterview I had with
youat the St。 Charleswhere you said〃 He was silent for a moment； and
then in a quite different voice called faintly
〃George！〃
Paul and Yerba glanced quickly at each other。
〃George； set out some refreshment for the Honorable Paul Hathaway。
The best； siryou understand。 。 。 。 A good nigger； sira good boy； and he
never leaves me； sir。 Only； by gad！ sir； he will starve himself and his
family to be with me。 I brought him with me to California away back in
the fall of 'forty…nine。 Those were the early days； sirthe early days。〃
His head had fallen back quite easily on the pillow now； but a slight
film seemed to be closing over his dark eyes； like the inner lid of an eagle
when it gazes upon the sun。
〃They were the old days； sirthe days of Menwhen a man's WORD
was enough for anything； and his trigger…finger settled any doubt。 When
the Trust that he took from Man； Woman； or Child was never broken。
When the tide； sir； that swept through the Golden Gate came up as far as
Montgomery Street。〃
He did not speak again。 But they who stood beside him knew that the
tide had once more come up to Montgomery Street； and was carrying
Harry Pendleton away with it。
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