a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第14节
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been alternately coquettish； petulant； and serious； had now become playful
again。 But； like the rest of her sex； she was evidently more alert to her
surroundings at such a moment than her companion； for before he could
make any reply； she said； without apparently looking； 〃But there is a
deputation coming for you； Mr。 Hathaway。 You see； the case is hopeless。
You never would be able to give to one what is claimed by the many。〃
Paul glanced down the rose…alley； and saw that the deputation in
question was composed of the Mayor； Mr。 Woods； a thin； delicate… looking
woman；evidently Mrs。 Woods；and Milly。 The latter managed to reach
the summer…house first； with apparently youthful alacrity； but really to
exchange； in a single glance； some mysterious feminine signal with Yerba。
Then she said with breathless infelicity：
〃Before you two get bored with each other now； I must tell you there's
a chance of you having more time。 Aunty has promised to send off a note
excusing you to the Reverend Mother； if she can persuade Mr。 Hathaway
to stay over to…night。 But here they are。 ＇To Yerba＇ Aunty is most anxious；
and won't hear of his going。〃
Indeed； it seemed as if Mrs。 Woods was； after a refined fashion； most
concerned that a distinguished visitor like Mr。 Hathaway should have to
use her house as a mere accidental meeting…place with his ward； without
deigning to accept her hospitality。 She was reinforced by Mr。 Woods； who
enunciated the same idea with more masculine vigor； and by the Mayor；
who expressed his conviction that a slight of this kind to Rosario would be
felt in the Santa Clara valley。 〃After dinner； my dear Hathaway；〃
concluded Mr。 Woods； 〃a few of our neighbors may drop in； who would be
glad to shake you by the handno formal meeting； my boybut； hang it！
THEY expect it。〃
Paul looked around for Yerba。 There was really no reason why he
shouldn't accept； although an hour ago the idea had never entered his mind。
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Yet； if he did； he would like the girl to know that it was for HER sake。
Unfortunately； far from exhibiting any concern in the matter； she seemed
to be preoccupied with Milly； and only the charming back of her head was
visible behind Mrs。 Woods。 He accepted； however； with a hesitation that
took some of the graciousness from his yielding； and a sense that he was
giving a strange importance to a trivial circumstance。
The necessity of attaching himself to his hostess； and making a more
extended tour of the grounds； for a while diverted him from an uneasy
consideration of his past interview。 Mrs。 Woods had known Yerba through
the school friendship of Milly； and； as far as the religious rules of the
convent would allow； had always been delighted to show her any
hospitality。 She was a beautiful girl did not Mr。 Hathaway think so？and
a girl of great character。 It was a pity； of course； that she had never known
a mother's care； and that the present routine of a boarding…school had
usurped the tender influences of home。 She believed； too； that the singular
rotation of guardianship had left the girl practically without a counseling
friend to rely upon； except； perhaps； Colonel Pendleton； and while she；
Mrs。 Woods； did not for a moment doubt that the colonel might be a good
friend and a pleasant companion of MEN； really he； Mr。 Hathaway； must
admit that； with his reputation and habits； he was hardly a fit associate for
a young lady。 Indeed； Mr。 Woods would have never allowed Milly to
invite Yerba here if Colonel Pendleton was to have been her escort。 Of
course； the poor girl could not choose her own guardian； but Mr。 Woods
said HE had a right to choose who should be his niece's company。 Perhaps
Mr。 Woods was prejudiced；most men were；yet surely Mr。 Hathaway；
although a loyal friend of Colonel Pendleton's； must admit that when it
was an open scandal that the colonel had fought a duel about a notoriously
common woman； and even blasphemously defended her before a party of
gentlemen； it was high time； as Mr。 Woods said； that he should be
remanded to their company exclusively。 No； Mrs。 Woods could not admit
that this was owing to the injustice of her own sex！ Men are really the
ones who make the fuss over those things； just as they； as Mr。 Hathaway
well knew； made the laws！ No； it was a great pity； as she and her husband
had just agreed； that Mr。 Hathaway； of all the guardians； could not have
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been always the help and counselorin fact； the elder brotherof poor
Yerba！ Paul was conscious that he winced slightly； consistently and
conscientiously； at the recollection of certain passages of his youth；
inconsistently and meanly； at this suggestion of a joint relationship with
Yerba's mother。
〃I think； too；〃 continued Mrs。 Woods； 〃she has worried foolishly about
this ridiculous mystery of her parentageas if it could make the slightest
difference to a girl with a quarter of a million； or as if that didn't show
quite conclusively that she WAS somebody！〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Paul； quickly； with a relief that he nevertheless felt
was ridiculous。
〃And； of course； I dare say it will all come out when she is of age。 I
suppose you know if any of the family are still living？〃
〃I really do not。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Mrs。 Woods； with a smile。 〃I forgot it's a
profound secret until then。 But here we are at the house； I see the girls
have walked over to our neighbors'。 Perhaps you would like to have a few
moments to yourself before you dress for dinner； and your portmanteau；
which has been sent for； comes from your hotel。 You must be tired of
seeing so many people。〃
Paul was glad to accept any excuse for being alone； and； thanking his
hostess； followed a servant to his rooma low…ceilinged but luxuriously
furnished apartment on the first floor。 Here he threw himself on a
cushioned lounge that filled the angle of the deep embrasurethe thickness
of the old adobe wallsthat formed a part of the wooden…latticed window。
A Cape jessamine climbing beside it filled the room with its subtle；
intoxicating perfume。 It was so strong； and he felt himself so irresistibly
overpowered and impelled towards a merely idle reverie； that； in order to
think more clearly and shut out some strange and unreasoning
enthrallment of his senses； he rose and sharply closed the window。 Then
he sat down and reflected。
What was he doing here？ and what was the meaning of all this？ He
had come simply to fulfill a duty to his past； and please a helpless and
misunderstood old acquaintance。 He had performed that duty。 But he had
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incidentally learned a certain fact that might be important to this friend；
and clearly his duty was simply to go back and report it。 He would gain
nothing more in the way of corroboration of it by staying now； if further
corroboration were required。 Colonel Pendleton had already been
uselessly and absurdly perplexed about the possible discovery of the girl's
parentage； and its effect upon her fortunes and herself。 She had just settled
that of her own accord； and； without committing herself or others； had
suggested a really sensible plan by which all trouble would be avoided in
future。 That was the common…sense way of looking at it。 He would lay the
plan before the colonel； have him judge of its expediency and its ethics
and even the question whether she already knew the real truth； or was self…
deceived。 That done； he would return to his own affairs in Sacramento。
There was nothing difficult in this； or that need worry him； only he could
have done it just as well an hour ago。
He opened the window again。 The scent of the jessamine came in as
