by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第20章
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Renshaw bit his lip and pulled at the long silken threads of his
moustache until they smarted。 Why had he not gone at once？ Why was it
necessary to say he might not see her againand if he had said it； why
should he add anything more？ What was he waiting for now？ To endeavor
to prove to her that he really bore no resemblance to Captain Bower； the
photographer； the crazy Frenchman de Ferrieres？ Or would he be forced to
tell her that he was running away from a conspiracy to defraud her father
merely for something to say？ Was there ever such folly？ Rosey was 〃not
long；〃 as she had said； but he was beginning to pace the narrow cabin
impatiently when the door opened and she returned。
She had resumed her ordinary calico gown； but such was the
impression left upon Renshaw's fancy that she seemed to wear it with a
new grace。 At any other time he might have recognized the change as due
to a new corset； which strict veracity compels me to record Rosey had
adopted for the first time that morning。 Howbeit； her slight coquetry
seemed to have passed； for she closed the open trunk with a return of her
old listless air； and sitting on it rested her elbows on her knees and her
oval chin in her hands。
〃I wish you would do me a favor；〃 she said after a reflective pause。
〃Let me know what it is and it shall be done；〃 replied Renshaw
quickly。
〃If you should come across Monsieur de Ferrieres； or hear of him； I
wish you would let me know。 He was very poorly when he left here； and I
should like to know if he was better。 He didn't say where he was going。 At
least； he didn't tell father； but I fancy he and father don't agree。〃
〃I shall be very glad of having even THAT opportunity of making you
remember me； Miss Nott；〃 returned Renshaw with a faint smile； 〃I don't
suppose either that it would be very difficult to get news of your friend
everybody seems to know him。〃
〃But not as I did；〃 said Rosey with an abstracted little sigh。
Mr。 Renshaw opened his brown eyes upon her。 Was he mistaken？ was
this romantic girl only a little coquette playing her provincial airs on him？
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〃You say he and your father didn't agree？ That means； I suppose； that
YOU and he agreed？and that was the result。〃
〃I don't think father knew anything about it；〃 said Rosey simply。
Mr。 Renshaw rose。 And this was what he had been waiting to hear！
〃Perhaps；〃 he said grimly； 〃you would also like news of the photographer
and Captain Bower； or did your father agree with them better？〃
〃No；〃 said Rosey quietly。 She remained silent for a moment； and
lifting her lashes said； 〃Father always seemed to agree with YOU； and
that〃 she hesitated。
〃That's why YOU don't。〃
〃I didn't say that；〃 said Rosey with an incongruous increase of
coldness and color。 〃I only meant to say it was that which makes it seem
so hard you should go now。〃
Notwithstanding his previous determination Renshaw found himself
sitting down again。 Confused and pleased； wishing he had said moreor
lesshe said nothing； and Rosey was forced to continue。
〃It's strange； isn't itbut father was urging me this morning to make a
visit to some friends at the old Ranch。 I didn't want to go。 I like it much
better here。〃
〃But you cannot bury yourself here forever； Miss Nott；〃 said Renshaw
with a sudden burst of honest enthusiasm。 〃Sooner or later you will be
forced to go where you will be properly appreciated； where you will be
admired and courted； where your slightest wish will be law。 Believe me；
without flattery； you don't know your own power。〃
〃It doesn't seem strong enough to keep even the little I like here；〃 said
Rosey with a slight glistening of the eyes。 〃But；〃 she added hastily； 〃you
don't know how much the dear old ship is to me。 It's the only home I think
I ever had。〃
〃But the Ranch？〃 said Renshaw。
〃The Ranch seemed to be only the old wagon halted in the road。 It was
a very little improvement on outdoors；〃 said Rosey with a little shiver。
〃But this is so cozy and snug and yet so strange and foreign。 Do you know
I think I began to understand why I like it so since you taught me so much
about ships and voyages。 Before that I only learned from books。 Books
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deceive you； I think； more than people do。 Don't you think so？〃
She evidently did not notice the quick flush that covered his cheeks
and apparently dazzled his troubled eyelid for she went on confidentially。
〃I was thinking of you yesterday。 I was sitting by the galley door；
looking forward。 You remember the first day I saw you when you startled
me by coming up out of the hatch？〃
〃I wish you wouldn't think of that；〃 said Renshaw； with more
earnestness than he would have made apparent。
〃I don't want to either；〃 said Rosey； gravely； 〃for I've had a strange
fancy about it。 I saw once when I was younger； a picture in a print shop in
Montgomery Street that haunted me。 I think it was called 'The Pirate。'
There was a number of wicked…looking sailors lying around the deck； and
coming out of a hatch was one figure with his hands on the deck and a
cutlass in his mouth。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Renshaw。
〃You don't understand。 He was horrid…looking； not at all like you。 I
never thought of HIM when I first saw you； but the other day I thought
how dreadful it would have been if some one like him and not like you
had come up then。 That made me nervous sometimes of being alone。 I
think father is too。 He often goes about stealthily at night； as if he was
watching for something。〃
Renshaw's face grew suddenly dark。 Could it be possible that Sleight
had always suspected him； and set spies to watchor was he guilty of
some double intrigue？
〃He thinks；〃 continued Rosey with a faint smile； 〃that some one is
looking around the ship； and talks of setting bear…traps。 I hope you're not
mad； Mr。 Renshaw；〃 she added； suddenly catching sight of his changed
expression； 〃at my foolishness in saying you reminded me of the pirate。 I
meant nothing。〃
〃I know you're incapable of meaning anything but good to anybody；
Miss Nott； perhaps to me more than I deserve；〃 said Renshaw with a
sudden burst of feeling。 〃I wishI wishyou would do ME a favor。 YOU
asked me one just now。〃 He had taken her hand。 It seemed so like a mere
illustration of his earnestness； that she did not withdraw it。 〃Your father
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tells you everything。 If he has any offer to dispose of the ship； will you
write to me at once before anything is concluded？〃 He winced a littlethe
sentence of Sleight； 〃What's the figure you and she have settled upon？〃
flashed across his mind。 He scarcely noticed that Rosey had withdrawn her
hand coldly。
〃Perhaps you had better speak to father； as it is HIS business。 Besides；
I shall not be here。 I shall be at the Ranch。〃
〃But you said you didn't want to go？〃
〃I've changed my mind；〃 said Rosey listlessly。 〃I shall go to… night。〃
She rose as if to indicate that the interview was ended。 With an
overpowering instinct that his whole future happiness depended upon his
next act； he made a step towards her； with eager outstretched hands。 But
she slightly lifted her own with a warning gesture； 〃I hear father coming
you will have a chance to talk BUSINESS with him；〃 she said； and
vanished into her state…room。
VI
The heavy tread of Abner Nott echoed in the passage。 Confused and
embarrassed； Renshaw remained standing at the door that had closed upon
Rosey as her father entered the cabin。 Providence； which always fostered
Mr。 Nott's characteristic misconceptions； left that perspicacious parent but
one interpretation of the situation。 Rosey had evidently just informed Mr。
Renshaw that she loved another！
〃I was just saying 'good…by' to Miss Nott；〃 said Renshaw； hastily
regaining his composure with an effort。 〃I am going to Sacramento to…
night； and will not return。 I〃
〃In course； in course；〃 interrupted Nott； soothingly； 〃that's wot you say
now； and that's what you allow to do。 That's wot they allus do。〃
〃I mean；〃 said Renshaw； reddening at what he conceived to be an
allusion to the absconding propensities of Nott's previous tenants；〃I
mean that you shall keep the advance to cover any loss you might suffer
through my giving up the rooms。〃
〃Certingly；〃 said Nott； laying his hand with a large sympathy on
Renshaw's shoulder； 〃but we'll drop that just now。 We won't swap hosses
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in the middle of the river。 We'll square up accounts in your room；〃 he
added； raising his voice that Rosey might overhear him； after a
preliminary wink at the young man。 〃Yes； sir； we'll just square up and
settle in there。 Come along； Mr。 Renshaw。〃 Pushing him with paternal
gentleness from the cabin； with his hand still upon his shoulder； he
followed him into the passage。 Half annoyed at his familiarity； yet not
altogether displeased by this illustration of Rosey's belief of his preference；
Renshaw wonderingly accompanied him。 Nott closed the door； and
pushing the young man into a chair； deliberately seated himself at the table
opposite。 〃It's just as well that Rosey reckons that you and me is settlin'
our accou
