a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第6节
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few clothes neatly brushed and folded on a chair bore witness to the
servant's care。 As Paul； however； glanced behind the sofa； he was
concerned to see a coat； which had evidently been thrust hurriedly in a
corner； with the sleeve lining inside out； and a needle and thread still
sticking in the seam。 It struck him instantly that this had been the negro's
occupation； and that the pistol…cleaning was a polite fiction。
〃Yo' 'll have to skuse Marse Harry seein' yo in bed； but his laig's
pow'ful bad to…day； and he can't stand；〃 said the servant reentering the
room。 〃Skuse me； sah；〃 he added in a dignified confidential whisper； half
closing the door with his hand； 〃but if yo' wouldn't mind avoidin' 'xcitin' or
controversical topics in yo' conversation； it would be de better fo' him。〃
Paul smilingly assented； and the black retainer； with even more than
the usual solemn ceremonious exaggeration of his race； ushered him into
the bedroom。 It was furnished in the same faded glory as the sitting…room；
with the exception of a low； iron camp…bedstead； in which the tall；
soldierly figure of Colonel Pendleton； clad in threadbare silk dressing…
gown； was stretched。 He had changed in eight years： his hair had become
gray； and was thinned over the sunken temples； but his iron…gray
moustache was still particularly long and well pointed。 His face bore
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marks of illness and care； there were deep lines down the angle of the
nostril that spoke of alternate savage outbreak and repression； and gave his
smile a sardonic rigidity。 His dark eyes； that shone with the exaltation of
fever； fixed Paul's on entering； and with the tyranny of an invalid never
left them。
〃Well； Hathaway？〃
With the sound of that voice Paul felt the years slip away； and he was
again a boy； looking up admiringly to the strong man； who now lay
helpless before him。 He had entered the room with a faint sense of
sympathizing superiority and a consciousness of having had experience in
controlling men。 But all this fled before Colonel Pendleton's authoritative
voice； even its broken tones carried the old dominant spirit of the man； and
Paul found himself admiring a quality in his old acquaintance that he
missed in his newer friends。
〃I haven't seen you for eight years； Hathaway。 Come here and let me
look at you。〃
Paul approached the bedside with boyish obedience。 Pendleton took
his hand and gazed at him critically。
〃I should have recognized you； sir； for all your moustache and your
inches。 The last time I saw you was in Jack Hammersley's office。 Well；
Jack's dead； and here I am； little better； I reckon。 You remember
Hammersley's house？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Paul； albeit wondering at the question。
〃Something like this； Swiss villa style。 I remember when Jack put it up。
Well； the last time I was out； I passed there。 And what do you think they've
done to it？〃
Paul could not imagine。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the colonel gravely； 〃they've changed it into a church
missionary shop and young men's Christian reading…room！ But that's
'progress' and 'improvement'！〃 He paused； and； slowly withdrawing his
hand from Paul's； added with grim apology； 〃You're young； and belong to
the new school； perhaps。 Well； sir； I've read your speech； I don't belong to
your partymine died ten years ago but I congratulate you。 George！
Confound it where's that boy gone？〃
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The negro indicated by this youthful title； although he must have been
ten years older than his master； after a hurried shuffling in the sitting…room
eventually appeared at the door。
〃George； champagne and materials for cocktails for the gentleman。
The BEST； you understand。 No new…fangled notions from that new
barkeeper。〃
Paul； who thought he observed a troubled blinking in George's eyelid；
and referred it to a fear of possible excitement for his patient； here begged
his host not to trouble himselfthat he seldom took anything in the
morning。
〃Possibly not； sir； possibly not；〃 returned the colonel； hastily。 〃I know
the new ideas are prohibitive； and some other blank thing； but you're safe
here from your constituents； and by gad； sir； I shan't force you to take it！
It's MY custom； Hathawayan old one played out； perhaps； like all the
others； but a custom nevertheless； and I'm only surprised that George； who
knows it； should have forgotten it。〃
〃Fack is； Marse Harry；〃 said George； with feverish apology； 〃it bin
gone 'scaped my mind dis mo'nin' in de prerogation ob business； but I'm
goin' now； shuah！〃 and he disappeared。
〃A good boy； sir； but beginning to be contaminated。 Brought him here
from Nashville over ten years ago。 Eight years ago they proved to him that
he was no longer a slave； and made him dd unhappy until I promised
him it should make no difference to him and he could stay。 I had to send
for his wife and childof course； a dead loss of eighteen hundred dollars
when they set foot in the Statebut I'm blanked if he isn't just as miserable
with them here； for he has to take two hours in the morning and three in
the afternoon every day to be with 'em。 I tried to get him to take his family
to the mines and make his fortune； like those fellows they call bankers and
operators and stockbrokers nowadays； or to go to Oregon where they'll
make him some kind of a mayor or sheriff but he won't。 He collects my
rents on some little property I have left； and pays my bills； sir； and； if this
blank civilization would only leave him alone； he'd be a good enough
boy。〃
Paul couldn't help thinking that the rents George collected were
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somewhat inconsistent with those he was evidently mending when he
arrived； but at that moment the jingle of glasses was heard in the sitting…
room； and the old negro reappeared at the door。 Drawing himself up with
ceremonious courtesy； he addressed Paul。 〃Wo'd yo' mind； sah； taking a
glance at de wine for yo' choice？〃 Paul rose； and followed him into the
sitting…room； when George carefully closed the door。 To his surprise
Hathaway beheld a tray with two glasses of whiskey and bitters； but no
wine。 〃Skuse me； sah；〃 said the old man with dignified apology； 〃but de
Kernel won't have any but de best champagne for hono'ble gemmen like
yo'self； and I'se despaired to say it can't be got in de house or de subburbs。
De best champagne dat we gives visitors is de Widder Glencoe。 Wo'd yo'
mind； sah； for de sake o' not 'xcitin' de Kernel wid triflin' culinary matter；
to say dat yo' don' take but de one brand？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Paul； smiling。 〃I really don't care for anything so
early；〃 then； returning to the bedroom； he said carelessly； 〃You'll excuse
me taking the liberty； colonel； of sending away the champagne and
contenting myself with whiskey。 Even the best brand the Widow
Cliquot〃with a glance at the gratified George〃I find rather trying so
early in the morning。〃
〃As you please； Hathaway；〃 said the colonel； somewhat stiffly。 〃I dare
say there's a new fashion in drinks now； and a gentleman's stomach is a
thing of the past。 Then； I suppose； we can spare the boy； as this is his time
for going home。 Put that tin box with the Trust papers on the bed； George；
and Mr。 Hathaway will excuse your waiting。〃 As the old servant made an
exaggerated obeisance to each； Paul remarked； as the door closed upon
him； 〃George certainly keeps his style； colonel； in the face of the progress
you deplore。〃
〃He was always a 'dandy nigger；'〃 returned Pendleton； his face slightly
relaxing as he glanced after his grizzled henchman； 〃but his
