a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第5章
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fitted up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen； they could only nudge
each other with silent appreciation。 But here again the difference already
noted in the quality of the sensations of the two children was observable。
Both were equally and agreeably surprised。 But Susy's wonder was
merely the sense of novelty and inexperience； and a slight disbelief in the
actual necessity of what she saw； while Clarence； whether from some
previous general experience or peculiar temperament； had the conviction
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that what he saw here was the usual custom； and what he had known with
the Silsbees was the novelty。 The feeling was attended with a slight
sense of wounded pride for Susy； as if her enthusiasm had exposed her to
ridicule。
The man who had carried him； and seemed to be the head of the party；
had already preceded them to the tent； and presently reappeared with a
lady with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried words。 They seemed
to refer to him and Susy； but Clarence was too much preoccupied with the
fact that the lady was pretty； that her clothes were neat and thoroughly
clean； that her hair was tidy and not rumpled； and that； although she wore
an apron； it was as clean as her gown； and even had ribbons on it； to listen
to what was said。 And when she ran eagerly forward； and with a
fascinating smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms； Clarence； in his
delight for his young charge； quite forgot that she had not noticed him。
The bearded man； who seemed to be the lady's husband； evidently pointed
out the omission； with some additions that Clarence could not catch； for
after saying； with a pretty pout； 〃Well； why shouldn't he？〃 she came
forward with the same dazzling smile； and laid her small and clean white
hand upon his shoulder。
〃And so you took good care of the dear little thing？ She's such an
angel； isn't she？ and you must love her very much。〃
Clarence colored with delight。 It was true it had never occurred to
him to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant； and I fear he was just
then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment to his
companion； but he was pleased for her sake。 He was not yet old enough to
be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible domination over mankind
at all ages； and that Johnny in his check apron would be always a hopeless
conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore； and that he ought to have been in
love with Susy。
Howbeit； the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her
own wagon； to reappear later； washed； curled； and beribboned like a new
doll； and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the
party。
〃Well； my boy； you haven't told me your name yet。〃
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〃Clarence； sir。〃
〃So Susy calls you； but what else？〃
〃Clarence Brant。〃
〃Any relation to Colonel Brant？〃 asked the second man carelessly。
〃He was my father；〃 said the boy； brightening under this faint prospect
of recognition in his loneliness。
The two men glanced at each other。 The leader looked at the boy
curiously； and said；
〃Are you the son of Colonel Brant； of Louisville？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the boy； with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his heart。
〃But he's dead now；〃 he added finally。
〃Ah； when did he die？〃 said the man quickly。
〃Oh； a long time ago。 I don't remember him much。 I was very
little；〃 said the boy； half apologetically。
〃Ah； you don't remember him？〃
〃No；〃 said Clarence shortly。 He was beginning to fall back upon that
certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises from their
hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings。 He also had an
instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge of his father was
part of that vague wrong that had been done him。 It did not help his
uneasiness that he could see that one of the two men； who turned away
with a half…laugh； misunderstood or did not believe him。
〃How did you come with the Silsbees？〃 asked the first man。
Clarence repeated mechanically； with a child's distaste of practical
details； how he had lived with an aunt at St。 Jo； and how his stepmother
had procured his passage with the Silsbees to California； where he was to
meet his cousin。 All this with a lack of interest and abstraction that he
was miserably conscious told against him； but he was yet helpless to resist。
The first man remained thoughtful； and then glanced at Clarence's
sunburnt hands。 Presently his large； good…humored smile returned。
〃Well； I suppose you are hungry？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence shyly。 〃But〃
〃But what？〃
〃I should like to wash myself a little；〃 he returned hesitatingly；
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thinking of the clean tent； the clean lady； and Susy's ribbons。
〃Certainly；〃 said his friend； with a pleased look。 〃Come with me。〃
Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of yellow soap
which had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee party； he brought the
boy into one of the wagons； where there was a washstand； a china basin；
and a cake of scented soap。 Standing beside Clarence； he watched him
perform his ablutions with an approving air which rather embarrassed his
protege。 Presently he said； almost abruptly；
〃Do you remember your father's house at Louisville？〃
〃Yes； sir； but it was a long time ago。〃
Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St。
Joseph's； but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have shrunk
from describing it in that way。 He； however； said he thought it was a
large house。 Yet the modest answer only made his new friend look at
him the more keenly。
〃Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant； of Louisville； wasn't he？〃
he said； half…confidentially。
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence hopelessly。
〃Well；〃 said his friend cheerfully； as if dismissing an abstruse problem
from his mind； 〃Let's go to supper。〃
When they reached the tent again； Clarence noticed that the supper
was laid only for his host and wife and the second manwho was
familiarly called 〃Harry；〃 but who spoke of the former always as 〃Mr。 and
Mrs。 Peyton〃while the remainder of the party； a dozen men； were at a
second camp fire； and evidently enjoying themselves in a picturesque
fashion。 Had the boy been allowed to choose； he would have joined
them； partly because it seemed more 〃manly；〃 and partly that he dreaded a
renewal of the questioning。
But here； Susy； sitting bolt upright on an extemporized high stool；
happily diverted his attention by pointing to the empty chair beside her。
〃Kla'uns；〃 she said suddenly； with her usual clear and appalling
frankness； 〃they is chickens； and hamanaigs； and hot biksquits； and lasses；
and Mister Peyton says I kin have 'em all。〃
Clarence； who had begun suddenly to feel that he was responsible for
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Susy's deportment and was balefully conscious that she was holding her
plated fork in her chubby fist by its middle； and； from his previous
knowledge of her； was likely at any moment to plunge it into the dish
before her； said softly；
〃Hush！〃
〃Yes； you shall； dear；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton； with tenderly beaming
assurance to Susy and a half…reproachful glance at the boy。 〃Eat what
you like； darling。〃
〃It's a fork；〃 whispered the still uneasy Clarence； as Susy now seemed
inclined to stir her bowl of milk with it。
〃'Tain't； now； Kla'uns； it's only a split spoon；〃 said Susy。
But Mrs。 Peyton； in her rapt admiration； took small note of these
irregularities； plying the child with food； forgetting her own meal； and
only stopping at times to lift back the forward straying curls on Susy's
shoulders。 Mr。 Peyton looked on gravely and contentedly。 Suddenly
the eyes of husband and wife met。
〃She'd have been nearly as old as this； John；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton； in a
faint voice。
John Peyton nodded without speaking； and turned his eyes away into
the gathering darkness。 The man 〃Harry〃 also looked abstractedly at his
plate； as if he was saying grace。 Clarence wondered who 〃she〃 was； and
why two little tears dropped from Mrs。 Peyton's lashes into Susy's milk；
and whether Susy might not violently object to it。 He did not know until
later that the Peytons had lost their only child； and Susy comfortably
drained this mingled cup of a mother's grief and tenderness without
suspicion。
〃I suppose we'll come up with their train early tomorrow； if some of
them don't find us to…night；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton； with a long sigh and a
regretful glance at Susy。 〃Perhaps we might travel together for a little
while；〃 she added timidly。
Harry laughed； and Mr。 Peyton replied gravely； 〃I am afraid we
wouldn't travel with them； even for company's sake； and；〃 he added； in a
lower and graver voice； 〃it's rather odd the search party hasn't come upon
us yet； though I'm keeping Pete and Hank patrolling the trail to meet
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them。〃
〃It's heartlessso it i
