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a first family of tasajara-第24节

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return。  I wonder that your party didn't prefer it; and if they are

looking for you;as they surely must be;〃 he said; as if with a

sudden conception of her importance; 〃they'll come there when they

find you're not at San Mateo。〃



This seemed reasonable; although the process of being 〃fetched〃 and

taking the five miles ride; which she had enjoyed so much alone; in

company was not attractive。  〃Couldn't I go on at once?〃 she said

impulsively。



〃You would meet them sooner;〃 he said thoughtfully。



This was quite enough for Mrs。 Ashwood。  〃I think I'll rest this

poor horse; who is really tired;〃 she; said with charming hypocrisy;

〃and stop at the hotel。〃



She saw his face brighten。  Perhaps he was the son of the hotel

proprietor; or a youthful partner himself。  〃I suppose you live

here?〃 she suggested gently。  〃You seem to know the place so well。〃



〃No;〃 he returned quickly; 〃I only run down here from San Francisco

when I can get a day off。〃



A day off!  He was in some regular employment。  But he continued:

〃And I used to go to boarding…school near here; and know all these

woods well。〃



He must be a native!  How odd!  She had not conceived that there

might be any other population here than the immigrants; perhaps

that was what made him so interesting and different from the

others。  〃Then your father and mother live here?〃 she said。



His frank face; incapable of disguise; changed suddenly。  〃No;〃 he

said simply; but without any trace of awkwardness。  Then after a

slight pause he laid his handshe noticed it was white and well

kepton her mustang's neck; and said; 〃Ifif you care to trust

yourself to me; I could lead you and your horse down a trail into

the valley that is at least a third of the distance shorter。  It

would save you going back to the regular road; and there are one or

two lovely views that I could show you。  I should be so pleased; if

it would not trouble you。  There's a steep place or twobut I

think there's no danger。〃



〃I shall not be afraid。〃



She smiled so graciously; and; as she fully believed; maternally;

that he looked at her the second time。  To his first hurried

impression of her as an elegant and delicately nurtured womanone

of the class of distinguished tourists that fashion was beginning

to send thitherhe had now to add that she had a quantity of fine

silken…spun light hair gathered in a heavy braid beneath her gray

hat; that her mouth was very delicately lipped and beautifully

sensitive; that her soft skin; although just then touched with

excitement; was a pale faded velvet; and seemed to be worn with

ennui rather than experience; that her eyes were hidden behind a

strip of gray veil whence only a faint glow was discernible。  To

this must still be added a poetic fancy all his own that; as she

sat there; with the skirt of her gray habit falling from her long

bodiced waist over the mustang's fawn…colored flanks; and with her

slim gauntleted hands lightly swaying the reins; she looked like

Queen Guinevere in the forest。  Not that he particularly fancied

Queen Guinevere; or that he at all imagined himself Launcelot; but

it was quite in keeping with the suggestion…haunted brain of John

Milton Harcourt; whom the astute reader has of course long since

recognized。



Preceding her through the soft carpeted vault with a woodman's

instinct;for there was apparently no trail to be seen;the soft

inner twilight began to give way to the outer stronger day; and

presently she was startled to see the clear blue of the sky before

her on apparently the same level as the brown pine…tessellated

floor she was treading。  Not only did this show her that she was

crossing a ridge of the upland; but a few moments later she had

passed beyond the woods to a golden hillside that sloped towards a

leafy; sheltered; and exquisitely…proportioned valley。  A tiny but

picturesque tower; and a few straggling roofs and gables; the

flashing of a crystal stream through the leaves; and a narrow white

ribbon of road winding behind it indicated the hostelry they were

seeking。  So peaceful and unfrequented it looked; nestling between

the hills; that it seemed as if they had discovered it。



With his hand at times upon the bridle; at others merely caressing

her mustang's neck; he led the way; there were a few breathless

places where the crown of his straw hat appeared between her

horse's reins; and again when she seemed almost slipping over on

his shoulder; but they were passed with such frank fearlessness and

invincible youthful confidence on the part of her escort that she

felt no timidity。  There were moments when a bit of the charmed

landscape unfolding before them overpowered them both; and they

halted to gaze;sometimes without a word; or only a significant

gesture of sympathy and attention。  At one of those artistic

manifestations Mrs。 Ashwood laid her slim gloved fingers lightly

but unwittingly on John Milton's arm; and withdrew them; however;

with a quick girlish apology and a foolish color which annoyed her

more than the appearance of familiarity。  But they were now getting

well down into the valley; the court of the little hotel was

already opening before them; their unconventional relations in the

idyllic world above had changed; the new one required some delicacy

of handling; and she had an idea that even the simplicity of the

young stranger might be confusing。



〃I must ask you to continue to act as my escort;〃 she said;

laughingly。  〃I am Mrs。 Ashwood of Philadelphia; visiting San

Francisco with my sister and brother; who are; I am afraid; even

now hopelessly waiting luncheon for me at San Mateo。  But as there

seems to be no prospect of my joining them in time; I hope you will

be able to give me the pleasure of your company; with whatever they

may give us here in the way of refreshment。〃



〃I shall be very happy;〃 returned John Milton with unmistakable

candor; 〃but perhaps some of your friends will be arriving in quest

of you; if they are not already here。〃



〃Then they will join us or wait;〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood incisively;

with her first exhibition of the imperiousness of a rich and pretty

woman。  Perhaps she was a little annoyed that her elaborate

introduction of herself had produced no reciprocal disclosure by

her companion。  〃Will you please send the landlord to me?〃 she

added。



John Milton disappeared in the hotel as she cantered to the porch。

In another moment she was giving the landlord her orders with the

easy confidence of one who knew herself only as an always welcome

and highly privileged guest; which was not without its effect。

〃And;〃 she added carelessly; 〃when everything is ready you will

please tellMr。〃



〃Harcourt;〃 suggested the landlord promptly。



Mrs。 Ashwood's perfectly trained face gave not the slightest sign

of the surprise that had overtaken her。  〃Of course;Mr。 Harcourt。〃



〃You know he's the son of the millionaire;〃 continued the landlord;

not at all unwilling to display the importance of the habitues of

Crystal Spring; 〃though they've quarreled and don't get on

together。〃



〃I know;〃 said the lady languidly; 〃and; if any one comes here for

ME; ask them to wait in the parlor until I come。〃



Then; submitting herself and her dusty habit to the awkward

ministration of the Irish chambermaid; she was quite thrilled with

a delightful curiosity。  She vaguely remembered that she had heard

something of the Harcourt family discord;but that was the

divorced daughter surely!  And this young man was Harcourt's son;

and they had quarreled!  A quarrel with a frank; open; ingenuous

fellow like thata mere boycould only be the father's fault。

Luckily she had never mentioned the name of Harcourt!  She would

not now; he need not know that it was his father who had originated

the party; why should she make him uncomfortable for the few

moments they were together?



There was nothing of this in her face as she descended and joined

him。  He thought that face handsome; well…bred; and refined。  But

this breeding and refinement seemed to himin his ignorance of the

world; possiblyas only a graceful concealment of a self of which

he knew nothing; and he was not surprised to find that her pretty

gray eyes; now no longer hidden by her veil; really told him no

more than her lips。  He was a little afraid of her; and now that

she had lost her naive enthusiasm he was conscious of a vague

remorsefulness for his interrupted work in the forest。  What was he

doing here?  He who had avoided the cruel; selfish world of wealth

and pleasure;a world that this woman represented;the world that

had stood apart from him in the one dream of his lifeand had let

Loo die!  His quickly responsive face darkened。



〃I am afraid I really interrupted you up there;〃 she said gently;

looking in his face with an expression of unfeigned concern; 〃you

were at work of some kind; I know; and I have very se

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