a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第28节
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purpose；〃 he said dryly。
〃And I think you are breaking your promisebesides being a goose！〃
she retorted smartly。 Nevertheless； for some occult reason they both
seemed relieved by this exquisite witticism； and trotted on amicably
together。 When Paul lifted his eyes to hers he could see that they were
suffused with a tender mischief； as of a reproving yet secretly admiring
sister； and her strangely delicate complexion had taken on itself that faint
Alpine glow that was more of an illumination than a color。 〃There；〃 she
said gayly； pointing with her whip as the wood opened upon a glade
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through which the parted trees showed a long blue curvature of distant
hills； 〃you see that white thing lying like a snowdrift on the hills？〃
〃Or the family washing on a hedge。〃
〃As you please。 Well； that is the villa。〃
〃And you were very happy there？〃 said Paul； watching her girlishly
animated face。
〃Yes； and as you don't ask questions； I'll tell you why。 There is one of
the sweetest old ladies there that I ever metthe perfection of old…time
courtliness with all the motherishness of a German woman。 She was very
kind to me； and； as she had no daughter of her own； I think she treated me
as if I was one。 At least； I can imagine how one would feel to her； and
what a woman like that could make of any girl。 You laugh； Mr。 Hathaway；
you don't understandbut you don't know what an advantage it would be
to a girl to have a mother like that； and know that she could fall back on
her and hold her own against anybody。 She's equipped from the start；
instead of being handicapped。 It's all very well to talk about the value of
money。 It can give you everything but one thingthe power to do without
it。〃
〃I think its purchasing value would include even the gnadige Frau；〃
said Paul； who had laughed only to hide the uneasiness that Yerba's
approach to the tabooed subject had revived in him。 She shook her head；
then； recovering her tone of gentle banter； said； 〃There I've made a
confession。 If the colonel talks to you again about my conquests； you will
know that at present my affections are centred on the Baron's mother。 I
admit it's a strong point in hisin ANYBODY'Sfavor； who can show an
unblemished maternal pedigree。 What a pity it is you are an orphan； like
myself； Mr。 Hathaway！ For I fancy your mother must have been a very
perfect woman。 A great deal of her tact and propriety has descended to you。
Only it would have been nicer if she had given it to you； like pocket
money； as occasion requiredwhich you might have shared with me than
leaving it to you in one thumping legacy。〃
It was impossible to tell how far the playfulness of her brown eyes
suggested any ulterior meaning； for as Paul again eagerly drew towards
her； she sent her horse into a rapid canter before him。 When he was at her
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side again； she said； 〃There is still the ruin to see on our way home。 It is
just off here to the right。 But if you wish to go over it we will have to
dismount at the foot of the slope and walk up。 It hasn't any story or legend
that I know of； I looked over the guide…book to cram for it before you
came； but there was nothing。 So you can invent what you like。〃
They dismounted at the beginning of a gentle acclivity； where an
ancient wagon…road； now grass…grown； rose smooth as a glacis。 Tying their
horses to two moplike bushes； they climbed the slope hand in hand like
children。 There were a few winding broken steps； part of a fallen archway；
a few feet of vaulted corridor； a sudden breachthe sky beyondand that
was all！ Not all； for before them； overlooked at first； lay a chasm covering
half an acre； in which the whole of the original edificetower turrets；
walls； and battlementshad been apparently cast； inextricably mixed and
mingled at different depths and angles； with here and there； like
mushrooms from a dust…heap； a score of trees upspringing。
〃This is not Timebut gunpowder；〃 said Paul； leaning over a parapet
of the wall and gazing at the abyss； with a slight grimace。
〃It don't look very romantic； certainly；〃 said Yerba。 〃I only saw it from
the road before。 I'm dreadfully sorry；〃 she added； with mock penitence。 〃I
suppose； however； SOMETHING must have happened here。〃
〃There may have been nobody in the house at the time；〃 said Paul
gravely。 〃The family may have been at the baths。〃
They stood close together； their elbows resting upon the broken wall；
and almost touching。 Beyond the abyss and darker forest they could see
the more vivid green and regular lines of the plane…trees of Strudle Bad；
the glitter of a spire； or the flash of a dome。 From the abyss itself arose a
cool odor of moist green leaves； the scent of some unseen blossoms； and
around the baking vines on the hot wall the hum of apparently taskless and
disappointed bees。 There was nobody in sight in the forest road； no one
working in the bordering fields； and no suggestion of the present。 There
might have been three or four centuries between them and Strudle Bad。
〃The legend of this place；〃 said Paul； glancing at the long brown lashes
and oval outline of the cheek so near his own； 〃is simple； yet affecting。 A
cruel； remorseless； but fascinating Hexie was once loved by a simple
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shepherd。 He had never dared to syllable his hopeless affection； or claim
from her a syllabledperhaps I should say a one…syllabledreply。 He had
followed her from remote lands； dumbly worshiping her； building in his
foolish brain an air… castle of happiness； which by reason of her magic
power she could always see plainly in his eyes。 And one day； beguiling
him in the depths of the forest； she led him to a fair…seeming castle； and；
bidding him enter its portals； offered to show him a realization of his
dream。 But； lo！ even as he entered the stately corridor it seemed to
crumble away before him； and disclosed a hideous abyss beyond； in which
the whole of that goodly palace lay in heaped and tangled ruinsthe fitting
symbol of his wrecked and shattered hopes。〃
She drew back a little way from him； but still holding on to the top of
the broken wall with one slim gauntleted hand； and swung herself to one
side； while she surveyed him with smiling； parted lips and conscious
eyelids。 He promptly covered her hand with his own； but she did not seem
to notice it。
〃That is not the story；〃 she said； in a faint voice that even her
struggling sauciness could not make steadier。 〃The true story is called 'The
Legend of the Goose…Girl of Strudle Bad； and the enterprising Gosling。'
There was once a goose…girl of the plain who tried honestly to drive her
geese to market； but one eccentric and willful gosling Mr。 Hathaway！
StoppleaseI beg you let me go！〃
He had caught her in his armsthe one encircling her waist； the other
hand still grasping hers。 She struggled； half laughing； yielded for a
breathless moment as his lips brushed her cheek； and threw him off。
〃There！〃 she said； 〃that will do： the story was not illustrated。〃
〃But； Yerba；〃 he said； with passionate eagerness； 〃hear meit is all
God's truth。I love you！〃
She drew back farther； shaking the dust of the wall from the folds of
her habit。 Then； with a lower voice and a paler cheek； as if his lips had
sent her blood and utterance back to her heart； she said； 〃Come； let us go。〃
〃But not until you've heard me； Yerba。〃
〃Well； thenI believe youthere！〃 she said； looking at him。
〃You believe me？〃 he repeated eagerly； attempting to take her hand
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