in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第20章
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before her that she had deceived him； that she had overheard his
conversation with Brace； that she had stolen Brace's horse to bring Low
warning； that； failing to find Low in his accustomed haunts； or at the
campfire； she had left a note for him pinned to the herbarium； imploring
him to fly with his companion from the danger that was coming； and that；
remaining on watch； she had seen them bothBrace and Dunn
approaching； and had prepared to meet them at the cabin？ Would this
miserable and maddened man understand her self…abnegation？ Would he
forgive Low and Nellie？she did not ask for herself。 Or would the
revelation turn his brain； if it did not kill him outright？ She looked at the
sunken orbits of his eyes and hectic on his cheek； and shuddered。
Why was this added to the agony she already suffered？ She had been
willing to stand between them with her life； her liberty； and eventhe hot
blood dyed her cheek at the thoughtwith the added shame of being
thought the cast…off mistress of that man's son。 Yet all this she had taken
upon herself in expiation of somethingshe knew not clearly what； no； for
nothingonly for HIM。 And yet this very situation offered her that
gleam of hope which had thrilled her； a hope so wild in its improbability；
so degrading in its possibility； that at first she knew not whether despair
was not preferable to its shame。 And yet was it unreasonable？ She was
no longer passionate； she would be calm and think it out fairly。
She would go to Low at once。 She would find him somewhereand
even if with that girl； what mattered？and she would tell him all。 When
he knew that the life and death of his father lay in the scale； would he let
his brief； foolish passion for Nellie stand in the way？ Even if he were not
influenced by filial affection or mere compassion； would his pride let him
stoop to a rivalry with the man who had deserted his youth？ Could he
take Dunn's promised bride； who must have coquetted with him to have
brought him to this miserable plight？ Was this like the calm； proud
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young god she knew？ Yet she had an uneasy instinct that calm； proud
young gods and goddesses did things like this； and felt the weakness of her
reasoning flush her own conscious cheek。
〃Teresa！〃
She started。 Dunn was awake； and was gazing at her curiously。
〃I was reckoning it was the only square thing for Low to stop this
promiscuous picnicking here and marry you out and out。〃
〃Marry me！〃 said Teresa in a voice that； with all her efforts； she could
not make cynical。
〃Yes；〃 he repeated； 〃after I've married Nellie； tote you down to San
Angeles； and there take my name like a man； and give it to you。
Nobody'll ask after TERESA； sureyou bet your life。 And if they do；
and he can't stop their jaw； just you call on the old man。 It's mighty queer；
ain't it； Teresa； to think of your being my daughter…in…law？〃
It seemed here as if he was about to lapse again into unconsciousness
over the purely ludicrous aspect of the subject； but he haply recovered his
seriousness。 〃He'll have as much money from me as he wants to go into
business with。 What's his line of business； Teresa？〃 asked this
prospective father…in…law； in a large； liberal way。
〃He is a botanist！〃 said Teresa； with a sudden childish animation that
seemed to keep up the grim humor of the paternal suggestion； 〃and oh； he
is too poor to buy books！ I sent for one or two for him myself； the other
day〃 she hesitated〃it was all the money I had； but it wasn't enough for
him to go on with his studies。〃
Dunn looked at her sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks； and became
thoughtful。 〃Curson must have been a dd fool；〃 he said finally。
Teresa remained silent。 She was beginning to be impatient and
uneasy； fearing some mischance that might delay her dreaded； yet longed…
for meeting with Low。 Yet she could not leave this sick and exhausted
man； HIS FATHER； now bound to her by more than mere humanity。
〃Couldn't you manage；〃 she said gently； 〃to lean on me a few steps
further； until I could bring you to a cooler spot and nearer assistance？〃
He nodded。 She lifted him almost like a child to his feet。 A spasm
of pain passed over his face。 〃How far is it？〃 he asked。
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〃Not more than ten minutes；〃 she replied。
〃I can make a spurt for that time；〃 he said coolly； and began to walk
slowly but steadily on。 Only his face； which was white and set； and the
convulsive grip of his hand on her arm betrayed the effort。 At the end of
ten minutes she stopped。 They stood before the splintered； lightning…
scarred shaft in the opening of the woods； where Low had built her first
camp…fire。 She carefully picked up the herbarium； but her quick eye had
already detected in the distance； before she had allowed Dunn to enter the
opening with her； that her note was gone。 Low had been there before
them； he had been warned； as his absence from the cabin showed； he
would not return there。 They were free from interruptionbut where had
he gone？
The sick man drew a long breath of relief as she seated him in the
clover…grown hollow where she had slept the second night of her stay。
〃It's cooler than those cursed woods；〃 he said。 〃I suppose it's because it's
a little like a grave。 What are you going to do now？〃 he added； as she
brought a cup of water and placed it at his side。
〃I am going to leave you here for a little while；〃 she said cheerfully；
but with a pale face and nervous hands。 〃I'm going to leave you while I
seek Low。〃
The sick man raised his head。 〃I'm good for a spurt； Teresa； like that
I've just got through； but I don't think I'm up to a family party。 Couldn't
you issue cards later on？〃
〃You don't understand；〃 she said。 〃I'm going to get Low to send
some one of your friends to you here。 I don't think he'll begrudge leaving
HER a moment for that；〃 she added to herself bitterly。
〃What's that you're saying？〃 he queried； with the nervous quickness of
an invalid。
〃Nothingbut that I'm going now。〃 She turned her face aside to hide
her moistened eyes。 〃Wish me good luck； won't you？〃 she asked； half
sadly； half pettishly。
〃Come here！〃
She came and bent over him。 He suddenly raised his hands； and；
drawing her face down to his own； kissed her forehead。
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〃Give that to HIM；〃 he whispered； 〃from ME。〃
She turned and fled； happily for her sentiment； not hearing the feeble
laugh that followed； as Dunn； in sheer imbecility； again referred to the
extravagant ludicrousness of the situation。 〃It is about the biggest thing
in the way of a sell all round；〃 he repeated； lying on his back；
confidentially to the speck of smoke…obscured sky above him。 He
pictured himself repeating it； not to Nellieher severe propriety might at
last overlook the fact； but would not tolerate the jokebut to her father！
It would be one of those characteristic Californian jokes Father Wynn
would admire。
To his exhaustion fever presently succeeded； and he began to grow
restless。 The heat too seemed to invade his retreat； and from time to time
the little patch of blue sky was totally obscured by clouds of smoke。 He
amused himself with watching a lizard who was investigating a folded
piece of paper； whose elasticity gave the little creature lively
apprehensions of its vitality。 At last he could stand the stillness of his
retreat and his supine position no longer； and rolled himself out of the bed
of leaves that Teresa had so carefully prepared for him。 He rose to his
feet stiff and sore； and； supporting himself by the nearest tree； moved a
few steps from the dead ashes of the camp…fire。 The movement
frightened the lizard； who abandoned the paper and fled。 With a satirical
recollection of Brace and his 〃ridiculous〃 discovery through the medium
of this animal； he stooped and picked up the paper。 〃Like as not；〃 he said
to himself； with grim irony； 〃these yer lizards are in the discovery business。
P'r'aps this may lead to another mystery；〃 and he began to unfold the paper
with a smile。 But the smile ceased as his eye suddenly caught his own
name。
A dozen lines were written in pencil on what seemed to be a blank leaf
originally torn from some book。 He trembled so that he was obliged to
sit down to read these words：
〃When you get this keep away from the woods。 Dunn and another
man are in deadly pursuit of you and your companion。 I overheard their
plan to surprise you in our cabin。 DON'T GO THERE； and I will delay
them and put them off the scent。 Don't mind me。 God bless you； and if
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you never see me again think sometimes of
〃TERESA。〃
His trembling ceased； he did not start； but rose in an abstracted way；
and made a few deliberate steps in the direction Teresa had gone。 Even
then he was so confused that he was obliged to refer to the paper again；
but with so little effect that he could only repeat the last words； 〃think
sometimes of Teresa。〃 He was conscious that this
