a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第22章
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minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke the spoilt child； but there was
the same prodigal outburst of rippling； golden hair down her back and
shoulders； violet eyes； capricious little mouth； and the same delicate hands
and feet he had remembered。 He would have preferred a more deliberate
survey； but with a shake of her head and an hysteric little laugh she only
said； 〃Run； Clarence； run；〃 and again darted forward。 Arriving at the
cross…street； they turned the corner； and halted breathlessly。
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〃But you're not running away from school； Susy； are you？〃 said
Clarence anxiously。
〃Only a little bit。 Just enough to get ahead of the other girls；〃 she
said； rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat。 〃You see； Clarence；〃 she
condescended to explain； with a sudden assumption of older superiority；
〃mother's here at the hotel all this week； and I'm allowed to go home every
night； like a day scholar。 Only there's three or four other girls that go out
at the same time with me； and one of the Sisters； and to…day I got ahead of
'em just to see YOU。〃
〃But〃 began Clarence。
〃Oh； it's all right； the other girls knew it； and helped me。 They don't
start out for half an hour yet； and they'll say I've just run ahead； and when
they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there alreadydon't you see？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence dubiously。
〃And we'll go to an ice…cream saloon now； shan't we？ There's a nice
one near the hotel。 I've got some money；〃 she added quickly； as Clarence
looked embarrassed。
〃So have I；〃 said Clarence； with a faint accession of color。 〃Let's go！〃
She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock； and they were
walking side by side at a more moderate pace。 〃But；〃 he continued；
clinging to his first idea with masculine persistence； and anxious to assure
his companion of his power； of his position； 〃I'm in the college； and Father
Sobriente； who knows your lady superior； is a good friend of mine and
gives me privileges； andandwhen he knows that you and I used to play
togetherwhy； he'll fix it that we may see each other whenever we want。〃
〃Oh； you silly！〃 said Susy。 〃WHAT！when you're〃
〃When I'm WHAT？〃
The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat。 〃Why
when we're grown up now？〃 Then with a certain precision； 〃Why；
they're VERY particular about young gentlemen！ Why； Clarence； if they
suspected that you and I were〃 Another violet ray from under the hat
completed this unfinished sentence。
Pleased and yet confused； Clarence looked straight ahead with
deepening color。 〃Why；〃 continued Susy； 〃Mary Rogers； that was
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walking with me； thought you were ever so oldand a distinguished
Spaniard！ And I；〃 she said abruptly〃haven't I grown？ Tell me；
Clarence；〃 with her old appealing impatience； 〃haven't I grown？ Do tell
me！〃
〃Very much；〃 said Clarence。
〃And isn't this frock prettyit's only my second bestbut I've a prettier
one with lace all down in front； but isn't this one pretty； Clarence； tell
me？〃
Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection； and said so。
Whereat Susy； as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers… by；
assumed an air of severe propriety； dropped her hands by her side； and
with an affected conscientiousness walked on； a little further from
Clarence's side； until they reached the ice…cream saloon。
〃Get a table near the back； Clarence；〃 she said； in a confidential
whisper； 〃where they can't see usand strawberry； you know； for the
lemon and vanilla here are just horrid！〃
They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the shop；
which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat over…
dressed and over…conscious shepherds。 There was an interval of slight
awkwardness； which Susy endeavored to displace。 〃There has been；〃 she
remarked； with easy conversational lightness； 〃quite an excitement about
our French teacher being changed。 The girls in our class think it most
disgraceful。〃
And this was all she could say after a separation of four years！
Clarence was desperate； but as yet idealess and voiceless。 At last； with
an effort over his spoon； he gasped a floating recollection： 〃Do you still
like flapjacks； Susy？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 with a laugh； 〃but we don't have them now。〃
〃And Mose〃 （a black pointer； who used to yelp when Susy sang）；
〃does he still sing with you？〃
〃Oh； HE'S been lost ever so long；〃 said Susy composedly； 〃but I've got
a Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony；〃 and here； with a rapid
inventory of her other personal effects； she drifted into some desultory
details of the devotion of her adopted parents； whom she now readily
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spoke of as 〃papa〃 and 〃mamma；〃 with evidently no disturbing
recollection of the dead。 From which it appeared that the Peytons were
very rich； and； in addition to their possessions in the lower country； owned
a rancho in Santa Clara and a house in San Francisco。 Like all children；
her strongest impressions were the most recent。 In the vain hope to lead
her back to this material yesterday； he said
〃You remember Jim Hooker？〃
〃Oh； HE ran away； when you left。 But just think of it！ The other
day； when papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco； who
should be there WAITING on the tableyes； Clarence； a real waiterbut
Jim Hooker！ Papa spoke to him； but of course；〃 with a slight elevation of
her pretty chin； 〃I couldn't； you know； fancy a waiter！〃
The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon
Clarence's lips。 He could not bring himself now to add that revelation to
the contempt of his small companion； which； in spite of its naivete；
somewhat grated on his sensibilities。
〃Clarence；〃 she said； suddenly turning towards him mysteriously； and
indicating the shopman and his assistants； 〃I really believe these people
suspect us。〃
〃Of what？〃 said the practical Clarence。
〃Don't be silly！ Don't you see how they are staring？〃
Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the part of
the shopman； or that any one exhibited the slightest concern in him or his
companion。 But he felt a return of the embarrassed pleasure he was
conscious of a moment before。
〃Then you're living with your father？〃 said Susy； changing the subject。
〃You mean my COUSIN；〃 said Clarence； smiling。 〃You know my
father died long before I ever knew you。〃
〃Yes； that's what YOU used to say； Clarence； but papa says it isn't so。〃
But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a troubled
expression； she added quickly； 〃Oh； then； he IS your cousin！〃
〃Well； I think I ought to know；〃 said Clarence； with a smile； that was；
however； far from comfortable； and a quick return of his old unpleasant
recollections of the Peytons。 〃Why； I was brought to him by one of his
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friends。〃 And Clarence gave a rapid boyish summary of his journey from
Sacramento； and Flynn's discovery of the letter addressed to Silsbee。 But
before he had concluded he was conscious that Susy was by no means
interested in these details； nor in the least affected by the passing allusion
to her dead father and his relation to Clarence's misadventures。 With her
rounded chin in her hand； she was slowly examining his face； with a
certain mischievous yet demure abstraction。 〃I tell you what； Clarence；〃
she said； when he had finished； 〃you ought to make your cousin get you
one of those sombreros； and a nice gold…braided serape。 They'd just suit
you。 And thenthen you could ride up and down the Alameda when we
are going by。〃
〃But I'm coming to see you atat your house； and at the convent；〃 he
said eagerly。 〃Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all right。〃
But Susy shook her head； with superior wisdom。 〃No； they must
never know our secret！neither papa nor mamma； especially mamma。 And
they mustn't know that we've met againAFTER THESE YEARS！〃 It is
impossible to describe the deep significance which Susy's blue eyes gave
to this expression。 After a pause she went on
〃No！ We must never meet again； Clarence； unless Mary Rogers helps。
She is my best； my ONLIEST friend； and older than I； having had trouble
herself； and being expressly forbidden to see him again。 You can speak to
her about Suzettethat's my name now； I was rechristened Suzette
Alexandra Peyton by mamma。 And now； Clarence；〃 dropping her voice
and glancing shyly around the saloon； 〃you may kiss me just once under
my hat； for good…by。〃 She adroitly slanted her broad…brimmed hat
towards the front of the shop； and in its shadow advanced her fresh young
cheek to Clarence。
Coloring and laughing； the boy pressed his lips to it twice。 Then
Susy arose； with the faintest affectation of a sigh； shook out her skirt； drew
on her gloves with the greatest gravity； and saying； 〃Don't follow me
further than the doorthey're coming now；〃 walked with supercilious
dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters
