a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第23章
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dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters to the entrance。 Here
she said； with marked civility； 〃Good…afternoon； Mr。 Brant；〃 and tripped
away towards the hotel。 Clarence lingered for a moment to look after the
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lithe and elegant little figure； with its shining undulations of hair that fell
over the back and shoulders of her white frock like a golden mantle； and
then turned away in the opposite direction。
He walked home in a state； as it seemed to him； of absurd perplexity。
There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy should have been
of unmixed pleasure。 She had remembered him of her own free will； and；
in spite of the change in her fortune； had made the first advances。 Her
doubts about her future interviews had affected him but little； still less； I
fear； did he think of the other changes in her character and disposition； for
he was of that age when they added only a piquancy and fascination to
heras of one who； in spite of her weakness of nature； was still devoted to
him！ But he was painfully conscious that this meeting had revived in
him all the fears； vague uneasiness； and sense of wrong that had haunted
his first boyhood； and which he thought he had buried at El Refugio four
years ago。 Susy's allusion to his father and the reiteration of Peyton's
skepticism awoke in his older intellect the first feeling of suspicion that
was compatible with his open nature。 Was this recurring reticence and
mystery due to any act of his father's？ But； looking back upon it in after…
years； he concluded that the incident of that day was a premonition rather
than a recollection。
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CHAPTER XI
When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung。 In
the corridor he met one of the Fathers； who； instead of questioning him；
returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck him。 He had
turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the intention of reporting
himself； when he was disturbed to find him in consultation with three or
four of the faculty； who seemed to be thrown into some slight confusion
by his entrance。 Clarence was about to retire hurriedly when Father
Sobriente； breaking up the council with a significant glance at the others；
called him back。 Confused and embarrassed； with a dread of something
impending； the boy tried to avert it by a hurried account of his meeting
with Susy； and his hopes of Father Sobriente's counsel and assistance。
Taking upon himself the idea of suggesting Susy's escapade； he confessed
the fault。 The old man gazed into his frank eyes with a thoughtful； half…
compassionate smile。 〃I was just thinking of giving you a holiday with
with Don Juan Robinson。〃 The unusual substitution of this final title for
the habitual 〃your cousin〃 struck Clarence uneasily。 〃But we will speak
of that later。 Sit down； my son； I am not busy。 We shall talk a little。
Father Pedro says you are getting on fluently with your translations。
That is excellent； my son； excellent。〃
Clarence's face beamed with relief and pleasure。 His vague fears
began to dissipate。
〃And you translate even from dictation！ Good！ We have an hour to
spare； and you shall give to me a specimen of your skill。 Eh？ Good！ I
will walk here and dictate to you in my poor English； and you shall sit
there and render it to me in your good Spanish。 Eh？ So we shall amuse
and instruct ourselves。〃
Clarence smiled。 These sporadic moments of instruction and
admonition were not unusual to the good Father。 He cheerfully seated
himself at the Padre's table before a blank sheet of paper； with a pen in his
hand。 Father Sobriente paced the apartment； with his usual heavy but
noiseless tread。 To his surprise； the good priest； after an exhaustive pinch
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of snuff； blew his nose； and began； in his most lugubrious style of pulpit
exhortation：
〃It has been written that the sins of the father shall be visited upon the
children； and the unthinking and worldly have sought refuge from this law
by declaring it harsh and cruel。 Miserable and blind！ For do we not see
that the wicked man； who in the pride of his power and vainglory is
willing to risk punishment to HIMSELFand believes it to be courage
must pause before the awful mandate that condemns an equal suffering to
those he loves； which he cannot withhold or suffer for？ In the spectacle
of these innocents struggling against disgrace； perhaps disease； poverty； or
desertion； what avails his haughty； all…defying spirit？ Let us imagine；
Clarence。〃
〃Sir？〃 said the literal Clarence； pausing in his exercise。
〃I mean；〃 continued the priest； with a slight cough； 〃let the thoughtful
man picture a father： a desperate； self…willed man； who scorned the laws of
God and societykeeping only faith with a miserable subterfuge he called
'honor；' and relying only on his own courage and his knowledge of human
weakness。 Imagine him cruel and bloodya gambler by profession； an
outlaw among men； an outcast from the Church； voluntarily abandoning
friends and family；the wife he should have cherished； the son he should
have reared and educatedfor the gratification of his deadly passions。
Yet imagine that man suddenly confronted with the thought of that
heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon his innocent
offspringto whom he cannot give even his own desperate recklessness to
sustain its vicarious suffering。 What must be the feelings of a parent〃
〃Father Sobriente；〃 said Clarence softly。
To the boy's surprise； scarcely had he spoken when the soft protecting
palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder； and the snuffy but kindly
upper lip； trembling with some strange emotion； close beside his cheek。
〃What is it； Clarence？〃 he said hurriedly。 〃Speak； my son； without
fear！ You would ask〃
〃I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here；〃 replied
Clarence naively。
Father Sobriente blew his nose violently。 〃Trulythough used for
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either gender； by the context masculine；〃 he responded gravely。 〃Ah；〃 he
added； leaning over Clarence； and scanning his work hastily； 〃Good； very
good！ And now； possibly；〃 he continued； passing his hand like a damp
sponge over his heated brow； 〃we shall reverse our exercise。 I shall
deliver to you in Spanish what you shall render back in English； eh？
Andlet us considerwe shall make something more familiar and
narrative； eh？〃
To this Clarence； somewhat bored by these present solemn abstractions；
assented gladly； and took up his pen。 Father Sobriente； resuming his
noiseless pacing； began：
〃On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero；
possessed of flocks and lands； and a wife and son。 But； being also
possessed of a fiery and roving nature； he did not value them as he did
perilous adventure； feats of arms； and sanguinary encounters。 To this may
be added riotous excesses； gambling and drunkenness； which in time
decreased his patrimony； even as his rebellious and quarrelsome spirit had
alienated his family and neighbors。 His wife； borne down by shame and
sorrow； died while her son was still an infant。 In a fit of equal remorse
and recklessness the caballero married again within the year。 But the
new wife was of a temper and bearing as bitter as her consort。 Violent
quarrels ensued between them； ending in the husband abandoning his wife
and son； and leaving St。 LouisI should say Guadalajarafor ever。 Joining
some adventurers in a foreign land； under an assumed name； he pursued
his reckless course； until； by one or two acts of outlawry； he made his
return to civilization impossible。 The deserted wife and step…mother of
his child coldly accepted the situation； forbidding his name to be spoken
again in her presence； announced that he was dead； and kept the
knowledge of his existence from his own son； whom she placed under the
charge of her sister。 But the sister managed to secretly communicate with
the outlawed father； and； under a pretext； arranged between them； of
sending the boy to another relation； actually dispatched the innocent child
to his unworthy parent。 Perhaps stirred by remorse； the infamous man〃
〃Stop！〃 said Clarence suddenly。
He had thrown down his pen； and was standing erect and rigid before
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the Father。
〃You are trying to tell me something； Father Sobriente；〃 he said； with
an effort。 〃Speak out； I implore you。 I can stand anything but this
mystery。 I am no longer a child。 I have a right to know all。 This that
you are telling me is no fableI see it in your face； Father Sobriente； it is
the story ofof〃
〃Your father； Clarence！〃 said the priest； in a trembling voice。
The boy drew back； with a white face。 〃My father！〃 he repeated。
〃Living； or dead？〃
〃Living； when you first left your home；〃 said the old man hurriedly；
seizing Clarence's hand； 〃for it was he who in the name of your cousin
sent for you。 Livingyes； while you were here； for it w
