a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
feeling of wicked delight that； on entering the hotel； he hailed the evident
consternation of those correct fellow…countrymen from whom he had
lately fled； at what they apparently regarded as a national scandal。 He
overheard their hurried assurance to their English friends that his
companions were NOT from Boston； and enjoyed their mortification that
this explanation did not seem to detract from the interest and relief with
which the Britons surveyed them； or the open admiration of the Germans。
Although Pendleton somewhat unbent during supper； he did not allude
to the secret of Yerba's parentage； nor of any tardy confidence of hers。 To
all appearance the situation remained as it was three years ago。 He spoke
85
… Page 86…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
of her great popularity as an heiress and a beautiful woman； and the
marked attentions she received。 He doubted not that she had rejected very
distinguished offers； but she kept that to herself。 She was perfectly
competent to do so。 She was no giddy girl； to be flattered or deceived； on
the contrary； he had never known a cooler or more sensible woman。 She
knew her own worth。 When she met the man who satisfied her ambition
and understanding； she would marry； and not before。 He did not know
what that ambition was； it was something exalted； of course。 He could
only say； of his own knowledge； that last year； when they were on the
Italian lakes； there was a certain prince Mr。 Hathaway would understand
why he did not mention nameswho was not only attentive to her； but
attentive to HIM； sir； by Jove！ and most significant in his inquiries。 It was
the only occasion when he； the colonel； had ever spoken to her on such
subjects； and； knowing that she was not indifferent to the fellow； who was
not bad of his kind； he had asked her why she had not encouraged his suit。
She had said； with a laugh； that he couldn't marry her unless he gave up
his claim of succession to a certain reigning house； and she wouldn't
accept him WITHOUT IT。 Those were her words； sir； and he could only
say that the prince left a few days afterwards； and they had never seen him
since。 As to the princelings and counts and barons； she knew to a day the
date of their patents of nobility； and what privileges they were entitled to；
she could tell to a dot the value of their estates； the amount of their debts；
and； by Jove！ sir； the amount of mortgages she was expected to pay off
before she married them。 She knew the amount of income she had to bring
to the Prussian Army； from the general to the lieutenant。 She understood
her own value and her rights。 There was a young English lordling she met
on the Rhine； whose boyish ways and simplicity seemed to please her。
They were great friends； but he wanted himthe colonelto induce her to
accept an invitation for both to visit his mother's home in England； that his
people might see her。 But she declined； sir！ She declined to pass in review
before his mother。 She said it was for HIM to pass in review before HER
mother。
〃Did she say that？〃 interrupted Paul； fixing his bright eyes upon the
colonel。
86
… Page 87…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃If she had one； if she had one；〃 corrected the colonel； hastily。 〃Of
course it was only an illustration。 That she is an orphan is generally known；
sir。〃
There was a dead silence for a few moments。 The colonel leaned back
in his chair and pulled his moustache。 Paul turned away his eyes； and
seemed absorbed in reflection。 After a moment the colonel coughed；
pushed aside his glass； and； leaning across the table； said； 〃I have a favor
to ask of you； Mr。 Hathaway。〃
There was such a singular change in the tone of his voice； an
unexpected relaxation of some artificial tension；a relaxation which
struck Paul so pathetically as being as much physical as mental； as if he
had suddenly been overtaken in some exertion by the weakness of age；
that he looked up quickly。 Certainly； although still erect and lightly
grasping his moustache； the colonel looked older。
〃By all means； my dear colonel；〃 said Paul warmly。
〃During the time you remain here you can hardly help meeting Miss
Arguello； perhaps frequently。 It would be strange if you did not； it would
appear to everybody still stranger。 Give me your word as a gentleman that
you will not make the least allusion to her of the pastnor reopen the
subject。〃
Paul looked fixedly at the colonel。 〃I certainly had no intention of
doing so；〃 he said after a pause； 〃for I thought it was already settled by
you beyond disturbance or discussion。 But do I understand you； that SHE
has shown any uneasiness regarding it？ From what you have just told me
of her plans and ambition； I can scarcely imagine that she has any
suspicion of the real facts。〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said the colonel hurriedly。 〃But I have your promise。〃
〃I promise you；〃 said Paul； after a pause； 〃that I shall neither introduce
nor refer to the subject myself； and that if SHE should question me again
regarding it； which is hardly possible； I will reveal nothing without your
consent。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Pendleton； without； however； exhibiting much relief
in his face。 〃She will return here to…morrow。〃
〃I thought you said she was absent for some days；〃 said Paul。
87
… Page 88…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃Yes； but she is coming back to say good…by to Dona Anna； who
arrives here with her brother the same day； on their way to Paris。〃
It flashed through Paul's mind that the last time he had seen her was in
the company of the Briones。 It was not a pleasant coincidence。 Yet he was
not aware that it had affected him； until he saw the colonel watching him。
〃I believe you don't fancy the brother；〃 said Pendleton。
For an instant Paul was strongly tempted to avow his old vague
suspicions of Don Caesar； but the utter hopelessness of reopening the
whole subject again； and his recollection of the passage in Pendleton's
letter that purported to be Yerba's own theory of his dislike； checked him
in time。 He only said； 〃I don't remember whether I had any cause for
disliking Don Caesar； I can tell better when I see him again；〃 and changed
the subject。 A few moments later the colonel summoned George from
some lower region of the hotel； and rose to take his leave。 〃Miss Arguello；
with her maid and courier； will occupy her old suite of rooms here；〃 he
remarked； with a return of his old imperiousness。 〃George has given the
orders for her。 I shall not change my present lodgings； but of course will
call every day。 Goodnight！〃
88
… Page 89…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
CHAPTER VI。
The next morning Paul could not help noticing an increased and even
exaggerated respect paid him by the hotel attendants。 He was asked if his
EXCELLENCY would he served with breakfast in a private room； and his
condescension in selecting the public coffee…room struck the obsequious
chamberlain； but did not prevent him from preceding Paul backwards to
the table； and summoning a waiter to attend specially upon 〃milor。〃
Surmising that George and the colonel might be in some way connected
with this extravagance； he postponed an investigation till he should have
seen them again。 And； although he hardly dared to confess it to himself；
the unexpected prospect of meeting Yerba again fully preoccupied his
thoughts。 He had believed that he would eventually see her in Europe； in
some vague and indefinite way and hour： it had been in his mind when he
started from California。 That it would be so soon； and in such a simple and
natural manner； he had never conceived。
〃He had returned from his morning walk to the Brunnen； and was
sitting idly in his room； when there was a knock at the door。 It opened to a
servant bearing a salver with a card。 Paul lifted it with a slight tremor； not
at the engraved name of 〃Maria Concepcion de Arguellos de la Yerba
Buena；〃 but at the remembered school…girl hand that had penciled
underneath the words； 〃wishes the favor of an audience with his
Excellency the Lord Lieutenant…Governor of the Californias。〃
Paul looked inquiringly at the servant。 〃The gnadige Fraulein was in
her own salon。 Would EXCELLENCY walk that way？ It was but a step； in
effect； the next apartment。〃
Paul followed him into the hall with wondering steps。 The door of the
next room was open； and disclosed a handsomely furnished salon。 A tall
graceful figure rose quickly from behind a writing…table； and advanced
with outstretched hands and a frank yet mischievous smile。 It was Yerba。
Standing there in a grayish hat； mantle； and traveling dress； all of one
subdued yet alluring tone； she looked as beautiful as when he had last seen
herand yetunlike。 For a brief bitter moment his instincts revolted at this
familiar yielding up in his fair countrywomen of all that was distinctively
89
… Page 90…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
original in them to alien tastes and habits； and he resented the plastic yet
characterless mobility which made Yerba's Parisian dress and European
manner fit her so charmingly and yet express so little。 For a brief critical
moment he remembered the placid； unchanging simplicity of German； and
the inflexible and ingrained reserve of English； girlhood； in opposition to
this indistinctive cosmopolitan grace。 But only for a moment。 As soon as
she spoke； a certain flavor of individuality seemed to return to her speech。
〃Confess；〃 she said； 〃it was a courageous thing for me to do。
