a waif of the plains-第21节

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procession　being　the　fondest　ambition　of　the　San　Jose　collegian；
and　especially　interdicted　and　circumvented　by　the　good　Fathers
attending　the　college　excursions；　Clarence　felt　for　it　the　profound
indifference　of　a　boy　who；　in　the　intermediate　temperate　zone　of
fifteen　years；　thinks　that　he　is　no　longer　young　and　romantic！　　He
was　passing　them　with　a　careless　glance；　when　a　pair　of　deep　violet
eyes　caught　his　own　under　the　broad　shade　of　a　coquettishly
beribboned　hat；　even　as　it　had　once　looked　at　him　from　the　depths
of　a　calico　sunbonnet。　　Susy！　　He　started；　and　would　have　spoken；
but　with　a　quick　little　gesture　of　caution　and　a　meaning　glance　at
the　two　nuns　who　walked　at　the　head　and　foot　of　the　file；　she
indicated　him　to　follow。　　He　did　so　at　a　respectful　distance；
albeit　wondering。　　A　little　further　on　Susy　dropped　her
handkerchief；　and　was　obliged　to　dart　out　and　run　back　to　the　end
of　the　file　to　recover　it。　　But　she　gave　another　swift　glance　of
her　blue　eyes　as　she　snatched　it　up　and　demurely　ran　back　to　her
place。　　The　procession　passed　on；　but　when　Clarence　reached　the
spot　where　she　had　paused　he　saw　a　three…cornered　bit　of　paper
lying　in　the　grass。　　He　was　too　discreet　to　pick　it　up　while　the
girls　were　still　in　sight；　but　continued　on；　returning　to　it　later。
It　contained　a　few　words　in　a　schoolgirl's　hand；　hastily　scrawled
in　pencil：　〃Come　to　the　south　wall　near　the　big　pear…tree　at　six。〃

Delighted　as　Clarence　felt；　he　was　at　the　same　time　embarrassed。
He　could　not　understand　the　necessity　of　this　mysterious
rendezvous。　　He　knew　that　if　she　was　a　scholar　she　was　under
certain　conventual　restraints；　but　with　the　privileges　of　his
position　and　friendship　with　his　teachers；　he　believed　that　Father
Sobriente　would　easily　procure　him　an　interview　with　this　old　play…
fellow；　of　whom　he　had　often　spoken；　and　who　was；　with　himself；　the
sole　survivor　of　his　tragical　past。　　And　trusted　as　he　was　by
Sobriente；　there　was　something　in　this　clandestine　though　innocent
rendezvous　that　went　against　his　loyalty。　　Nevertheless；　he　kept
the　appointment；　and　at　the　stated　time　was　at　the　south　wall　of
the　convent；　over　which　the　gnarled　boughs　of　the　distinguishing
pear…tree　hung。　　Hard　by　in　the　wall　was　a　grated　wicket　door　that
seemed　unused。

Would　she　appear　among　the　boughs　or　on　the　edge　of　the　wall？
Either　would　be　like　the　old　Susy。　　But　to　his　surprise　he　heard
the　sound　of　the　key　turning　in　the　lock。　　The　grated　door　suddenly
swung　on　its　hinges；　and　Susy　slipped　out。　　Grasping　his　hand；　she
said；　〃Let's　run；　Clarence；〃　and　before　he　could　reply　she　started
off　with　him　at　a　rapid　pace。　　Down　the　lane　they　flewvery　much；
as　it　seemed　to　Clarence's　fancy；　as　they　had　flown　from　the　old
emigrant　wagon　on　the　prairie；　four　years　before。　　He　glanced　at
the　fluttering；　fairy…like　figure　beside　him。　　She　had　grown　taller
and　more　graceful；　she　was　dressed　in　exquisite　taste；　with　a
minuteness　of　luxurious　detail　that　bespoke　the　spoilt　child；　but
there　was　the　same　prodigal　outburst　of　rippling；　golden　hair　down
her　back　and　shoulders；　violet　eyes；　capricious　little　mouth；　and
the　same　delicate　hands　and　feet　he　had　remembered。　　He　would　have
preferred　a　more　deliberate　survey；　but　with　a　shake　of　her　head
and　an　hysteric　little　laugh　she　only　said；　〃Run；　Clarence；　run；〃
and　again　darted　forward。　　Arriving　at　the　cross…street；　they
turned　the　corner；　and　halted　breathlessly。

〃But　you're　not　running　away　from　school；　Susy；　are　you？〃　said
Clarence　anxiously。

〃Only　a　little　bit。　　Just　enough　to　get　ahead　of　the　other　girls；〃
she　said；　rearranging　her　brown　curls　and　tilted　hat。　　〃You　see；
Clarence；〃　she　condescended　to　explain；　with　a　sudden　assumption　of
older　superiority；　〃mother's　here　at　the　hotel　all　this　week；　and
I'm　allowed　to　go　home　every　night；　like　a　day　scholar。　　Only
there's　three　or　four　other　girls　that　go　out　at　the　same　time　with
me；　and　one　of　the　Sisters；　and　to…day　I　got　ahead　of　'em　just　to
see　YOU。〃

〃But〃　began　Clarence。

〃Oh；　it's　all　right；　the　other　girls　knew　it；　and　helped　me。　　They
don't　start　out　for　half　an　hour　yet；　and　they'll　say　I've　just　run
ahead；　and　when　they　and　the　Sister　get　to　the　hotel　I'll　be　there
alreadydon't　you　see？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　dubiously。

〃And　we'll　go　to　an　ice…cream　saloon　now；　shan't　we？　　There's　a
nice　one　near　the　hotel。　　I've　got　some　money；〃　she　added　quickly；
as　Clarence　looked　embarrassed。

〃So　have　I；〃　said　Clarence；　with　a　faint　accession　of　color。
〃Let's　go！〃　　She　had　relinquished　his　hand　to　smooth　out　her　frock；
and　they　were　walking　side　by　side　at　a　more　moderate　pace。　　〃But；〃
he　continued；　clinging　to　his　first　idea　with　masculine
persistence；　and　anxious　to　assure　his　companion　of　his　power；　of
his　position；　〃I'm　in　the　college；　and　Father　Sobriente；　who　knows
your　lady　superior；　is　a　good　friend　of　mine　and　gives　me
privileges；　andandwhen　he　knows　that　you　and　I　used　to　play
togetherwhy；　he'll　fix　it　that　we　may　see　each　other　whenever　we
want。〃

〃Oh；　you　silly！〃　said　Susy。　　〃WHAT！when　you're〃

〃When　I'm　WHAT？〃

The　young　girl　shot　a　violet　blue　ray　from　under　her　broad　hat。
〃Whywhen　we're　grown　up　now？〃　　Then　with　a　certain　precision；
〃Why；　they're　VERY　particular　about　young　gentlemen！　　Why；
Clarence；　if　they　suspected　that　you　and　I　were〃　　Another　violet
ray　from　under　the　hat　completed　this　unfinished　sentence。

Pleased　and　yet　confused；　Clarence　looked　straight　ahead　with
deepening　color。　　〃Why；〃　continued　Susy；　〃Mary　Rogers；　that　was
walking　with　me；　thought　you　were　ever　so　oldand　a　distinguished
Spaniard！　　And　I；〃　she　said　abruptly〃haven't　I　grown？　　Tell　me；
Clarence；〃　with　her　old　appealing　impatience；　〃haven't　I　grown？　　Do
tell　me！〃

〃Very　much；〃　said　Clarence。

〃And　isn't　this　frock　prettyit's　only　my　second　bestbut　I've　a
prettier　one　with　lace　all　down　in　front；　but　isn't　this　one
pretty；　Clarence；　tell　me？〃

Clarence　thought　the　frock　and　its　fair　owner　perfection；　and　said
so。　　Whereat　Susy；　as　if　suddenly　aware　of　the　presence　of　passers…
by；　assumed　an　air　of　severe　propriety；　dropped　her　hands　by　her
side；　and　with　an　affected　conscientiousness　walked　on；　a　little
further　from　Clarence's　side；　until　they　reached　the　ice…cream
saloon。

〃Get　a　table　near　the　back；　Clarence；〃　she　said；　in　a　confidential
whisper；　〃where　they　can't　see　usand　strawberry；　you　know；　for
the　lemon　and　vanilla　here　are　just　horrid！〃

They　took　their　seats　in　a　kind　of　rustic　arbor　in　the　rear　of　the
shop；　which　gave　them　the　appearance　of　two　youthful　but　somewhat
over…dressed　and　over…conscious　shepherds。　　There　was　an　interval
of　slight　awkwardness；　which　Susy　endeavored　to　displace。　　〃There
has　been；〃　she　remarked；　with　easy　conversational　lightness；　〃quite
an　excitement　about　our　French　teacher　being　changed。　　The　girls　in
our　class　think　it　most　disgraceful。〃

And　this　was　all　she　could　say　after　a　separation　of　four　years！
Clarence　was　desperate；　but　as　yet　idealess　and　voiceless。　　At
last；　with　an　effort　over　his　spoon；　he　gasped　a　floating
recollection：　〃Do　you　still　like　flapjacks；　Susy？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　with　a　laugh；　〃but　we　don't　have　them　now。〃

〃And　Mose〃　（a　black　pointer；　who　used　to　yelp　when　Susy　sang）；
〃does　he　still　sing　with　you？〃

〃Oh；　HE'S　been　lost　ever　so　long；〃　said　Susy　composedly；　〃but　I've
got　a　Newfoundland　and　a　spaniel　and　a　black　pony；〃　and　here；　with
a　rapid　inventory　of　her　other　personal　effects；　she　drifted　into
some　desultory　details　of　the　devotion　of　her　adopted　parents；　whom
she　now　readily　spoke　of　as　〃papa〃　and　〃mamma；〃　with　evidently　no
disturbing　recollection　of　the　dead。　　From　which　it　appeared　that
the　Peytons　were　very　rich；　and；　in　addition　to　their　possessions
in　the　lower　country；　owned　a　rancho　in　Santa　Clara　and　a　house　in
San　Francisco。　　Like　all　children；　her　strongest　impressions　were
the　most　recent。　　In　the　vain　hope　to　lead　her　back　to　this
material　yesterday；　he　said

〃You　remember　Jim　Hooker？〃

〃Oh；　HE　ran　away；　when　you　left。　　But　just　think　of　it！　　The　other
day；　when　papa　and　I　went　into　a　big　restaurant　in　San　Francisco；
who　should　be　there　WAITING　on　the　tableyes；　Clarence；　a　real
waiterbut　Jim　Hooker！　　Papa　spoke　to　him；　but　of　course；〃　with　a
slight　elevation　of　her　pretty　chin；　〃I　couldn't；　you　know；　fancy
a　waiter！〃

The　story　of　how　Jim　Hooker　had　personated　him　stopped　short　upon
Clarence's　lips。　　He　could　not　bring　himself　now　to　add　that
revelation　to　the　contempt　of　his　small　companion；　which；　in　spite
of　its　naivete；　somewhat　grated　on　his　sensibilities。

〃Clarence；〃　she　said；　suddenly　turning　towards　him　mysteriously；
and　indicating　the　shopman　and　his　assistants；　〃I　really　believe
these　people　suspect　us。〃

〃Of　what？〃　said　the　practical　Clarence。

〃Don't　be　silly！　　Don't　you　see　how　they　are　staring？〃

Clarence　was　really　unable　to　detect　the　least　curiosity　on　the
part　of　the　shopman；　or　that　any　one　exhibited　the　slightest
concern　in　him　or　his　companion。　　But　he　felt　a　return　of　the
embarrassed　pleasure　he　was　conscious　of　a　moment　before。

〃Then　you're　living　with　your　father？〃　said　Susy；　changing　the
subject。