a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第14章
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handed it back to Yerba with a bow； and the incident ended。
Paul had not looked at Yerba during this conversation； an unreasoning
instinct that he might confuse her； an equally unreasoning dread that he
might see her confused by others； possessing him。 And when he did glance
at her calm； untroubled face； that seemed only a little surprised at his own
singular coldness； he was by no means relieved。 He was only convinced of
one thing。 In the last five minutes he had settled upon the irrevocable
determination that his present relations with the girl could exist no longer。
He must either tell her everything； or see her no more。 There was no
middle course。 She was on the brink of an exposure at any moment； either
through her ignorance or her unhappy pretension。 In his intolerable
position； he was equally unable to contemplate her peril； accept her
defense； or himself defend her。
As if； with some feminine instinct； she had attributed his silence to
some jealousy of Don Caesar's attentions； she more than once turned from
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the Spaniard to Paul with an assuring smile。 In his anxiety； he half
accepted the rather humiliating suggestion； and managed to say to her； in a
lower tone：
〃On this last visit of your American guardian； one would think； you
need not already anticipate your Spanish relations。〃
He was thrilled with the mischievous yet faintly tender pleasure that
sparkled in her eyes as she said；
〃You forget it is my American guardian's FIRST visit； as well as his
last。〃 〃And as your guardian；〃 he went on； with half…veiled seriousness； 〃I
protest against your allowing your treasures； the property of the Trust；〃 he
gazed directly into her beautiful eyes； 〃being handled and commented
upon by everybody。〃
When the ladies had left the table； he was； for a moment； relieved。 But
only for a moment。 Judge Baker drew his chair beside Paul's； and； taking
his cigar from his lips； said； with a perfunctory laugh：
〃I say； Hathaway； I pulled up just in time to save myself from making
an awful speech； just now； to your ward。〃
Paul looked at him with cold curiosity。
〃Yes。 Gad！ Do you know WHO was my rival in that necklace
transaction？〃
〃No；〃 said Paul； with frigid carelessness。
〃Why； Kate Howard！ Fact； sir。 She bought it right under my nose and
overbid me； too。〃
Paul did not lose his self…possession。 Thanks to the fact that Yerba was
not present； and that Don Caesar； who had overheard the speech； moved
forward with a suggestive and unpleasant smile； his agitation congealed
into a coldly placid fury。
〃And I suppose；〃 he returned； with perfect calmness； 〃that； after the
usual habit of this class of women； the necklace very soon found its way
back； through the pawnbroker； to the jeweler again。 It's a common fate。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 said Judge Baker； cheerfully。 〃You're quite right。
That's undoubtedly the solution of it。 But；〃 with a laugh； 〃I had a narrow
escape from saying somethingeh？〃
〃A very narrow escape from an apparently gratuitous insult；〃 said Paul；
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gravely； but fixing his eyes； now more luminous than ever with anger； not
on the speakers but on the face of Don Caesar； who was standing at his
side。 〃you were about to say；〃
〃Ehohah！ this Kate Howard？ So！ I have heard of heryees！ And
Miss Yerbaahshe is of my countryI think。 Yeswe shall claim herof
a truthyes。〃
〃Your countrymen； I believe； are in the habit of making claims that are
more often founded on profit than verity；〃 said Paul； with smileless and
insulting deliberation。 He knew perfectly what he was saying； and the
result he expected。 Only twenty…four hours before he had smiled at
Pendleton's idea of averting scandal and discovery by fighting； yet he was
endeavoring to pick a quarrel with a man； merely on suspicion； for the
same purpose； and he saw nothing strange in it。 A vague idea； too； that this
would irrevocably confirm him in opposition to Yerba's illusions probably
determined him。
But Don Caesar； albeit smiling lividly； did not seem inclined to pick up
the gauntlet； and Woods interfered hastily。 〃Don Caesar means that your
ward has some idea herself that she is of Spanish originat least； Milly
says so。 But of course； as one of the oldest trustees； YOU know the facts。〃
In another moment Paul would have committed himself。 〃I think we'll
leave Miss Yerba out of the question；〃 he said； coldly。 〃My remark was a
general one； although； of course； I am responsible for any personal
application of it。〃
〃Spoken like a politician； Hathaway；〃 said Judge Baker； with an
effusive enthusiasm； which he hoped would atone for the alarming results
of his infelicitous speech。 〃That's right； gentlemen！ You can't get the facts
from him before he is ready to give them。 Keep your secret； Mr。 Hathaway；
the court is with you。〃
Nevertheless； as they passed out of the room to join the ladies； the
Mayor lingered a little behind with Woods。 〃It's easy to see the influence
of that Pendleton on our young friend；〃 he said； significantly。 〃Somebody
ought to tell him that it's played out down hereas Pendleton is。 It's quite
enough to ruin his career。〃
Paul was too observant not to notice this； but it brought him no sense
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of remorse； and his youthful belief in himself and his power kept him from
concern。 He felt as if he had done something； if only to show Don Caesar
that the girl's weakness or ignorance could not be traded upon with
impunity。 But he was still undecided as to the course he should pursue。
But he should determine that to… night。 At present there seemed no chance
of talking to her alone she was unconcernedly conversing with Milly and
Mrs。 Woods； and already the visitors who had been invited to this hurried
levee in his honor were arriving。 In view of his late indiscretion； he
nervously exerted his fullest powers； and in a very few minutes was
surrounded by a breathless and admiring group of worshipers。 A ludicrous
resemblance to the scene in the Golden Gate Hotel passed through his
mind； he involuntarily turned his eyes to seek Yerba in the half…fear； half…
expectation of meeting her mischievous smile。 Their glances met； to his
surprise hers was smileless； and instantly withdrawn； but not until he had
been thrilled by an unconscious prepossession in its luminous depths that
he scarcely dared to dwell upon。 What mattered now this passage with
Don Caesar or the plaudits of his friends？ SHE was proud of him！
Yet； after that glance； she was shy； preoccupying herself with Milly； or
even listening sweetly to Judge Baker's somewhat practical and
unromantic reminiscences of the deprivations and the hardships of
California early days； as if to condone his past infelicity。 She was
pleasantly unaffected with Don Caesar； although she managed to draw
Dona Anna into the conversation； she was unconventional； Paul fancied； to
all but himself。 Once or twice； when he had artfully drawn her towards the
open French window that led to the moonlit garden and shadowed veranda；
she had managed to link Milly's arm in her own； and he was confident that
a suggestion to stroll with him in the open air would be followed by her
invitation to Milly to accompany them。 Disappointed and mortified as he
was； he found some solace in her manner； which he still believed
suggested the hope that she might be made accessible to his persuasions。
Persuasions to what？ He did not know。
The last guest had departed； he lingered on the veranda with a cigar；
begging his host and hostess not to trouble themselves to keep him
company。 Milly and Yerba had retired to the former's boudoir； but； as they
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had not yet formally bade him good night； there was a chance of their
returning。 He still stayed on in this hope for half an hour； and then；
accepting Yerba's continued absence as a tacit refusal of his request； he
turned abruptly away。 But as he glanced around the garden before
reentering the house； he was struck by a singular circumstancea white
patch； like a forgotten shawl； which he had observed on the distant
ceanothus hedge； and which had at first thrilled him with expectation； had
certainly CHANGED ITS POSITION。 Before； it seemed to be near the
summer…house； now it was； undoubtedly； farther away。 Could they； or SHE
alone； have slipped from the house and be awaiting him there？ With a
muttered exclamation at his stupidity he stepped hastily from the veranda
and walked towards it。 But he had scarcely proceeded a dozen yards
before it disappeared。 He reached the summer…houseit was empty； he
followed the line of hedgeno one was there。 It could not have been her；
or she would have waited； unless he were the victim of a practical joke。 He
turned impatiently back to the house； reentered the drawing…room by the
French window； and was crossing the half…lit apartment； when he heard a
slight rustle in the shadow of the window。 He looked around quickly； and
saw that it was Yerba； in a white； loose gown； for which she had already
exchanged her black evening dress； leaning back composedly on the sofa；
her hands clasped behind her shapely head。
〃I am waiting for Milly；〃 she said； with a faint smile on her lips。 He
fancied； in the moonlight that streamed upon her； that her beautiful face
was
