a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第22章
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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。 You
might have been somebody elsea real Excellencyor heaven knows what！
Or； what is worse in your new magnificence； you might have forgotten one
of your oldest； most humble； but faithful subjects。〃 She drew back and
made him a mock ceremonious curtsy； that even in its charming
exaggeration suggested to Paul； however； that she had already made it
somewhere seriously。
〃But what does it all mean？〃 he asked； smiling； feeling not only his
doubts and uneasiness vanish； but even the years of separation melt away
in her presence。 〃I know I went to bed last night a very humble individual；
and yet I seem to awaken this morning a very exalted personage。 Am I
really Commander of the Faithful； or am I dreaming？ Might I trouble you；
as my predecessor Abou Hassan did Sweetlips； to bite my little finger？〃
〃Do you mean to say you have not seen the 'Auzeiger？'〃 she returned；
taking a small German printed sheet from the table and pointing to a
paragraph。 Paul took the paper。 Certainly there was the plain
announcement among the arrivals of 〃His Excellency Paul Hathaway；
Lord Lieutenant…Governor of the Californias。〃 A light flashed upon him。
〃This is George's work。 He and Colonel Pendleton were here with me
last night。〃
〃Then you have seen the colonel already？〃 she said； with a scarcely
perceptible alteration of expression； which； however； struck Paul。
〃Yes。 I met him at the theatre last evening。〃 He was about to plunge
into an animated description of the colonel's indignation； but checked
himself； he knew not why。 But he was thankful the next moment that he
had。
〃That accounts for everything；〃 she said； lifting her pretty shoulders
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with a slight shrug of weariness。 〃I had to put a step to George's talking
about ME three months ago；his extravagance is something TOO awful。
And the colonel； who is completely in his hands；trusting him for
everything； even the language；doesn't see it。〃
〃But he is extravagant in the praise of his friends only； and you
certainly justify all he can say。〃
She was taking off her hat； and stopped for a moment to look at him
thoughtfully； with the soft tendrils of her hair clinging to her forehead。
〃Did the colonel talk much about me？〃
〃A great deal。 In fact； I think we talked of nothing else。 He has told me
of your triumphs and your victims； of your various campaigns and your
conquests。 And yet I dare say he has not told me alland I am dying to
hear more。〃
She had laid down her hat and unloosed a large bow of her mantle； but
stopped suddenly in the midst of it and sat down again。
〃I wish you'd do something for me。〃
〃You have only to name it。〃
〃Well； drop all this kind of talk！ Try to think of me as if I had just
come from Californiaor； better； as if you had never known anything of
me at alland we met for the first time。 You could； I dare say； make
yourself very agreeable to such a young lady who was willing to be
pleasedwhy not to me？ I venture to say you have not ever troubled
yourself about me since we last met。 Nohear me throughwhy； then；
should you wish to talk over what didn't concern you at the time？ Promise
me you will stop this reminiscent gossip； and I promise you I will not only
not bore you with it； but take care that it is not intruded upon you by
others。 Make yourself pleasant to me by talking about yourself and your
prospectsanything but MEand I will throw over those princes and
barons that the colonel has raved about and devote myself to you while
you are here。 Does that suit your Excellency？〃 She had crossed her knees；
and； with her hands clasped over them； and the toe of her small boot
advanced beyond her skirt； leaned forward in the attitude he remembered
to have seen her take in the summer… house at Rosario。
〃Perfectly；〃 he said。
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〃How long will you be here？〃
〃About three weeks： that； I believe； is the time allotted for my cure。〃
〃Are you really ill；〃 she said quietly； 〃or imagine yourself so？〃
〃It amounts to about the same thing。 But my cure may not take so
long；〃 he added； fixing his bright eyes upon her。
She returned his gaze thoughtfully； and they remained looking at each
other silently。
〃Then you are stronger than you give yourself credit for。 That is very
often the case；〃 she said quietly。 〃There；〃 she added in another tone； 〃it is
settled。 You will come and go as you like； using this salon as your own。
Stay； we can do something today。 What do you say to a ride in the forest
this afternoon？ Milly isn't here yet； but it will be quite proper for you to
accompany me on horseback； though； of course； we couldn't walk a
hundred yards down the Allee together unless we were verlobt。〃
〃But；〃 said Paul； 〃you are expecting company this afternoon。 Don
CaesarI mean Miss Briones and her brother are coming here to say good…
by。〃
She regarded him curiously； but without emotion。
〃Colonel Pendleton should have added that they were to remain here
overnight as my guests；〃 she said composedly。 And of course we shall be
back in time for dinner。 But that is nothing to you。 You have only to be
ready at three o'clock。 I will see that the horses are ordered。 I often ride
here； and the people know my tastes and habits。 We will have a pleasant
ride and a good long talk together； and I'll show you a ruin and a distant
view of the villa where I have been staying。〃 She held out her hand with a
frank girlish smile； and even a girlish anticipation of pleasure in her brown
eyes。 He bent over her slim fingers for a moment； and withdrew。
When he was in his own room again； he was conscious only of a
strong desire to avoid the colonel until after his ride with Yerba。 He would
keep his word so far as to abstain from allusion to her family or her past：
indeed； he had his own opinion of its futility。 But it would be strange if；
with his past experience； he could not find some other way to determine
her convictions or win her confidence during those two hours of
companionship。 He would accept her terms fairly； if she had any ulterior
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design in her advances； he would detect it； if she had the least concern for
him； she could not continue long an artificial friendship。 But he must not
think of that！
By absenting himself from the hotel he managed to keep clear of
Pendleton until the hour arrived。 He was gratified to find Yerba in the
simplest and most sensible of habits； as if she had already divined his
tastes and had wished to avoid attracting undue attention。 Nevertheless； it
very prettily accented her tall graceful figure； and Paul； albeit； like most
artistic admirers of the sex； not recognizing a woman on a horse as a
particularly harmonious spectacle； was forced to admire her。 Both rode
well； and naturallyhaving been brought up in the same Western school
the horses recognized it； and instinctively obeyed them； and their
conversation had the easy deliberation and inflection of a tete…a… tete。 Paul；
in view of her previous hint； talked to her of himself and his fortunes； of
which she appeared； however； to have some knowledge。 His health had
obliged him lately to abandon politics and office； he had been successful
in some ventures； and had become a junior partner in a bank with foreign
correspondence。 She listened to him for some time with interest and
attention； but at last her face became abstracted and thoughtful。 〃I wish I
were a man！〃 she said suddenly。
Paul looked at her quickly。 For the first time he detected in the ring of
her voice something of the passionate quality he fancied he had always
seen in her face。
〃Except that it might give you better control of your horse； I don't see
why；〃 said Paul。 〃And I don't entirely believe you。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because no woman really wishes to be a man unless she is conscious
of her failure as a woman。〃
〃And how do you know I'm not？〃 she said； checking her horse and
looking in his face。 A quick conviction that she was on the point of some
confession sprang into his mind； but unfortunately showed in his face。 She
beat back his eager look with a short laugh。 〃There； don't speak； and don't
look like that。 That remark was worthy the usual artless maiden's
invitation to a compliment； wasn't it？ Let us keep to the subject of yourself。
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Why； with your political influence； don't you get yourself appointed to
some diplomatic position over here？〃
〃There are none in our service。 You wouldn't want me to sink myself
in some absurd social functions； which are called by that name； merely to
become the envy and hatred of a few rich republicans； like your friends
who haunt foreign courts？〃
〃That's not a pretty speechbut I suppose I invited THAT too。 Don't
apologize。 I'd rather see you flare out like that than pay compliments。 Yet I
fancy you're a diplomatist； for all that。〃
〃You did me the honor to believe I was one once； when I was simply
the most palpable ass and bungler living；〃 said Paul bitterly。
She was still sweetly silent； apparently preoccupied in smoothing out
the mane of her walking horse。 〃Did I？〃 she said softly。 H
