a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第17章
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a new erection in the next square that should utterly eclipse it； he even
fancied that it had already lost its freshness； and its meretricious glitter had
been tarnished。 But when he had ordered his breakfast he made his way to
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the public parlor； happily deserted at that early hour。 It was here that he
had first seen her。 She was standing there； by that mirror； when their eyes
first met in a sudden instinctive sympathy。 She herself had remembered
and confessed it。 He recalled the pleased yet conscious； girlish superiority
with which she had received the adulation of her friends； his memory of
her was broad enough now even to identify Milly； as it repeopled the
vacant and silent room。
An hour later he was making his way to Colonel Pendleton's lodgings；
and half expecting to find the St。 Charles Hotel itself transformed by the
eager spirit of improvement。 But it was still there in all its barbaric and
provincial incongruity。 Public opinion had evidently recognized that
nothing save the absolute razing of its warped and flimsy walls could
effect a change； and waited for it to collapse suddenly like the house of
cards it resembled。 Paul wondered for a moment if it were not ominous of
its lodgers' hopeless inability to accept changed conditions； and it was
with a feeling of doubt that he even now ascended the creaking staircase。
But it was instantly dissipated on the threshold of the colonel's sitting…
room by the appearance of George and his reception of his master's guest。
The grizzled negro was arrayed in a surprisingly new suit of blue cloth
with a portentous white waistcoat and an enormous crumpled white cravat；
that gave him the appearance of suffering from a glandular swelling。 His
manner had； it seemed to Paul； advanced in exaggeration with his clothes。
Dusting a chair and offering it to the visitor； he remained gracefully posed
with his hand on the back of another。
〃Yo' finds us heah yet； Marse Hathaway；〃 he began； elegantly toying
with an enormous silver watch…chain； 〃fo' de Kernel he don' bin find
contagious apartments dat at all approximate； and he don' build； for his
mind's not dat settled dat he ain't goin' to trabbel。 De place is low down；
sah； and de fo'ks is low down； and dah's a heap o' white trash dat has
congested under de roof ob de hotel since we came。 But we uses it
temper'ly； sah； fo' de present； and in a dissolutory fashion。〃
It struck Paul that the contiguity of a certain barber's shop and its
dangerous reminiscences had something to do with George's lofty
depreciation of his surroundings； and he could not help saying：
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〃Then you don't find it necessary to have it convenient to the barber's
shop any more？ I am glad of that； George。〃
The shot told。 The unfortunate George； after an endeavor to collect
himself by altering his pose two or three times in rapid succession； finally
collapsed； and； with an air of mingled pain and dignity； but without losing
his ceremonious politeness or unique vocabulary； said：
〃Yo' got me dah； sah！ Yo' got me dah！ De infirmities o' human natcheh；
sah； is de common p'operty ob man； and a gemplum like yo'self； sah； a
legislato' and a pow'ful speakah； is de lass one to hol' it agin de individal
pusson。 I confess； sah； de circumstances was propiskuous； de fees fahly
good； and de risks inferior。 De gemplum who kept de shop was an artess
hisself； and had been niggah to Kernel Henderson of Tennessee； and do
gemplum I relieved was a Mr。 Johnson。 But de Kernel； he wouldn't see it
in dat light； sah； and if yo' don' mind； sah〃
〃I haven't the slightest idea of telling the colonel or anybody； George；〃
said Paul； smiling； 〃and I am glad to find on your own account that you
are able to put aside any work beyond your duty here。〃
〃Thank yo'； sah。 If yo' 'll let me introduce yo' to de refreshment； yo' 'll
find it all right now。 De Glencoe is dah。 De Kernel will be here soon； but
he would be pow'ful mo'tified； sah； if yo' didn't hab something afo' he
come。〃 He opened a well…filled sideboard as he spoke。 It was the first
evidence Paul had seen of the colonel's restored fortunes。 He would
willingly have contented himself with this mere outward manifestation；
but in his desire to soothe the ruffled dignity of the old man he consented
to partake of a small glass of spirits。 George at once became radiant and
communicative。 〃De Kernel bin gone to Santa Clara to see de young lady
dat's finished her edercation dahde Kernel's only ward； sah。 She's one o'
dose million…heiresses and highly connected； sah； wid de old Mexican
Gobbermen； I understand。 And I reckon dey's bin big goin's on doun dar；
foh de Mayer kem hisself fo' de Kernel。 Looks like des might bin a
proceshon； sah。 Yo' don' know of a young lady bin hab a title； sah？ I won't
be shuah； his Honah de Mayer or de Kernel didn't say someting about a
'Donna'〃
〃Very likely；〃 said Paul； turning away with a faint smile。 So it was
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already in the air！ Setting aside the old negro's characteristic exaggeration；
there had already been some conversation between the colonel and the
Mayor； which George had vaguely overheard。 He might be too late； the
alternative might be no longer in his hands。 But his discomposure was
heightened a moment later by the actual apparition of the returning
Pendleton。
He was dressed in a tightly buttoned blue frock…coat； which fairly
accented his tall； thin military figure； although the top lappel was thrown
far enough back to show a fine ruffled cambric shirt and checked gingham
necktie； and was itself adorned with a white rosebud in the button…hole。
Fawn…colored trousers strapped over narrow patent…leather boots； and a
tall white hat； whose broad mourning…band was a perpetual memory of his
mother； who had died in his boyhood； completed his festal transformation。
Yet his erect carriage； high aquiline nose； and long gray drooping
moustache lent a distinguishing grace to this survival of a bygone fashion；
and over…rode any irreverent comment。 Even his slight limp seemed to
give a peculiar character to his massive gold…headed stick； and made it a
part of his formal elegance。
Handing George his stick and a military cape he carried easily over his
left arm； he greeted Paul warmly； yet with a return of his old dominant
manner。
〃Glad to see you； Hathaway； and glad to see the boy has served you
better than the last time。 If I had known you were coming； I would have
tried to get back in time to have breakfast with you。 But your friends at
'Rosario'I think they call it； in my time it was owned by Colonel Briones；
and HE called it 'The Devil's Little Canyon'detained me with some dd
civilities。 Let's seehis name is Woods； isn't it？ Used to sell rum to
runaway sailors on Long Wharf； and take stores in exchange？ Or was it
Baker？Judge Baker？ I forget which。 Well； sir； they wished to be
remembered。〃
It struck Paul； perhaps unreasonably； that the colonel's indifference and
digression were both a little assumed； and he asked abruptly；
〃And you fulfilled your mission？〃
〃I made the formal transfer； with the Mayor； of the property to Miss
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Arguello。〃
〃To Miss Arguello？〃
〃To the Dona Maria Concepcion de Arguello de la Yerba Buenato
speak precisely；〃 said the colonel； slowly。 〃George； you can take that hat to
that blank hatterwhat's his blanked name？ I read it only yesterday in a
list of the prominent citizens hereand tell him； with my compliments；
that I want a GENTLEMAN'S mourning band around my hat； and not a
child's shoelace。 It may be HIS idea of the value of his own parentsif he
ever had anybut I don't care for him to appraise mine。 Go！〃
As the door closed upon George； Paul turned to the colonel
〃Then am I to understand that you have agreed to her story？〃 The
colonel rose； picked up the decanter； poured out a glass of whiskey； and
holding it in his hand； said：
〃My dear Hathaway； let us understand each other。 As a gentleman； I
have made a point through life never to question the age； name； or family
of any lady of my acquaintance。 Miss Yerba Buena came of age yesterday；
and； as she is no longer my ward； she is certainly entitled to the
consideration I have just mentioned。 If she； therefore； chooses to tack to
her name the whole Spanish directory； I don't see why I shouldn't accept
it。〃
Characteristic as this speech appeared to be of the colonel's ordinary
manner； it struck Paul as being only an imitation of his usual frank
independence； and made him uneasily conscious of some vague desertion
on Pendleton's part。 He fixed his bright eyes on his host； who was
ostentatiously sipping his liquor； and said：
〃Am I to understand that you have heard nothing more from Miss
Yerba； either for or against her story？ That you still do not know whether
she has deceived herself； has been deceived by others； or is deceiving us？〃
〃After what I have just told you； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 said the colonel； with
an increased exaggeration of manner which Paul thought must be apparent
even to himself； 〃I should have but one way of dealing with questions of
that kind from anybody but yourself。〃
This culminating extravagancetaken in connection with Pendleton's
passing doubtsactually forced a laugh from Paul in
