a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第11章
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〃Yes。 One of my friends at the convent was Josita Castro； she knew all
the history of the Arguellos。 She is perfectly satisfied。〃
For an instant Paul wondered if it was a joint conception of the two
schoolgirls。 But； on reflection； he was persuaded that Yerba would commit
herself to no accompliceof her own sex。 She might have dominated the
girl； and would make her a firm partisan； while the girl would be
convinced of it herself； and believe herself a free agent。 He had had such
experience with men himself。
〃But why have you not spoken of it beforeand to Colonel
Pendleton？〃
〃He did not choose to tell ME；〃 said Yerba； with feminine dexterity。 〃I
have preferred to keep it myself a secret till I am of age。〃
〃When Colonel Pendleton and some of the other trustees have no right
to say anything；〃 thought Paul quickly。 She had evidently trusted him。 Yet；
fascinated as he had been by her audacity； he did not know whether to be
pleased； or the reverse。 He would have preferred to be placed on an equal
footing with Josita Castro。 She anticipated his thoughts by saying； with
half…raised eyelids：
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〃What do YOU think of it？〃
〃It seems to be so natural and obvious an explanation of the mystery
that I only wonder it was not thought of before；〃 said Paul； with that
perfect sincerity that made his sympathy so effective。
〃You see；〃still under her pretty eyelids； and the tender promise of a
smile parting her little mouth；〃I'm believing that you tell the truth when
you say you don't know anything about it。〃
It was a desperate moment with Paul； but his sympathetic instincts；
and possibly his luck； triumphed。 His momentary hesitation easily
simulated the caution of a conscientious man； his knit eyebrows and bright
eyes； lowered in an effort of memory； did the rest。 〃I remember it all so
indistinctly；〃 he said； with literal truthfulness； 〃there was a veiled lady
present； tall and dark； to whom Mayor Hammersley and the colonel
showed a singular； and； it struck me； as an almost superstitious； respect。 I
remember now； distinctly； I was impressed with the reverential way they
both accompanied her to the door at the end of the interview。〃 He raised
his eyes slightly； the young girl's red lips were parted； that illumination of
the skin； which was her nearest approach to color； had quite transfigured
her face。 He felt； suddenly； that she believed it； yet he had no sense of
remorse。 He half believed it himself； at least； he remembered the nobility
of the mother's self…renunciation and its effect upon the two men。 Why
should not the daughter preserve this truthful picture of her mother's
momentary exaltation？ Which was the most truthfulthat； or the
degrading facts？ 〃You speak of a secret；〃 he added。 〃I can remember little
more than that the Mayor asked me to forget from that moment the whole
occurrence。 I did not know at the time how completely I should fulfill his
request。 You must remember； Miss Yerba； as your Lady Superior has； that
I was absurdly young at the time。 I don't know but that I may have thought；
in my youthful inexperience； that this sort of thing was of common
occurrence。 And then； I had my own future to makeand youth is brutally
selfish。 I was quite friendless and unknown when I left San Francisco for
the mines； at the time you entered the convent as Yerba Buena。〃
She smiled； and made a slight impulsive gesture； as if she would have
drawn nearer to him； but checked herself； still smiling； and without
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embarrassment。 It may have been a movement of youthful camaraderie；
and that occasional maternal rather than sisterly instinct which sometimes
influences a young girl's masculine friendship； and elevates the favored
friend to the plane of the doll she has outgrown。 As he turned towards her；
however； she rose； shook out her yellow dress； and said with pretty
petulance：
〃Then you must go so soonand this your first and last visit as my
guardian？〃
〃No one could regret that more than I；〃 looking at her with undefined
meaning。
〃Yes；〃 she said； with a tantalizing coquetry that might have suggested
an underlying seriousness。 〃I think you HAVE lost a good deal。 Perhaps；
so have I。 We might have been good friends in all these years。 But that is
past。〃
〃Why？ Surely； I hope； my shortcomings with Miss Yerba Buena will
not be remembered by Miss Arguello？〃 sail Paul； earnestly。
〃Ah！ SHE may be a very different person。〃
〃I hope not；〃 said the young man； warmly。 〃But HOW different？〃
〃Well； she may not put herself in the way of receiving such point…
blank compliments as that；〃 said the young girl； demurely。
〃Not from her guardian？〃
〃She will have no guardian then。〃 She said this gravely； but almost at
the same moment turned and sat down again； throwing her linked hands
over her knee； and looked at him mischievously。 〃You see what you have
lost； sir。〃
〃I see；〃 said Paul； but with all the gravity that she had dropped。
〃No； but you don't see all。 I had no brotherno friend。 You might have
been both。 You might have made me what you liked。 You might have
educated me far better than these teachers； or； at least given me some pride
in my studies。 There were so many things I wanted to know that they
couldn't teach me； so many times I wanted advice from some one that I
could trust。 Colonel Pendleton was very good to me when he came； he
always treated me like a princess even when I wore short frocks。 It was his
manner that first made me think he knew my family； but I never felt as if I
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could tell him anything； and I don't think； with all his chivalrous respect；
he ever understood me。 As to the othersthe Mayorswell； you may judge
from Mr。 Henderson。 It is a wonder that I did not run away or do
something desperate。 Now； are you not a LITTLE sorry？〃
Her voice； which had as many capricious changes as her manner； had
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
