a waif of the plains-第16章

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feeling　common　to　his　age；　but　which　he　had　always　timidly　hidden
under　dogged　demeanor。　　Flynn；　his　only　friend！　　Flynn；　his　only
boyish　confidant！　　Flynn；　his　latest　hero；　was　going　away　and
forsaking　him　without　a　word　of　parting！　　It　was　true　that　he　had
only　agreed　to　take　him　to　his　guardian；　but　still　Flynn　need　not
have　left　him　without　a　word　of　hope　or　encouragement！　　With　any
one　else　Clarence　would　probably　have　taken　refuge　in　his　usual
Indian　stoicism；　but　the　same　feeling　that　had　impelled　him　to
offer　Flynn　his　boyish　confidences　on　their　first　meeting　now
overpowered　him。　　He　dropped　his　book；　ran　out　into　the　corridor；
and　made　his　way　to　the　court…yard；　just　as　Flynn　galloped　out　from
the　arch。

But　the　boy　uttered　a　despairing　shout　that　reached　the　rider。　　He
drew　rein；　wheeled；　halted；　and　sat　facing　Clarence　impatiently。
To　add　to　Clarence's　embarrassment　his　cousin　had　lingered　in　the
corridor；　attracted　by　the　interruption；　and　a　peon；　lounging　in
the　archway；　obsequiously　approached　Flynn's　bridle…rein。　　But　the
rider　waved　him　off；　and；　turning　sternly　to　Clarence；　said：

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Clarence；　striving　to　keep　back　the　hot　tears　that
rose　in　his　eyes。　　〃But　you　were　going　away　without　saying　'good…
by。'　　You've　been　very　kind　to　me；　andandI　want　to　thank　you！〃

A　deep　flush　crossed　Flynn's　face。　　Then　glancing　suspiciously
towards　the　corridor；　he　said　hurriedly；

〃Did　HE　send　you？〃

〃No；　I　came　myself。　　I　heard　you　going。〃

〃All　right。　　Good…by。〃　　He　leaned　forward　as　if　about　to　take
Clarence's　outstretched　hand；　checked　himself　suddenly　with　a　grim
smile；　and　taking　from　his　pocket　a　gold　coin　handed　it　to　the　boy。

Clarence　took　it；　tossed　it　with　a　proud　gesture　to　the　waiting
peon；　who　caught　it　thankfully；　drew　back　a　step　from　Flynn；　and
saying；　with　white　cheeks；　〃I　only　wanted　to　say　good…by；〃　dropped
his　hot　eyes　to　the　ground。　　But　it　did　not　seem　to　be　his　own
voice　that　had　spoken；　nor　his　own　self　that　had　prompted　the　act。

There　was　a　quick　interchange　of　glances　between　the　departing
guest　and　his　late　host；　in　which　Flynn's　eyes　flashed　with　an　odd；
admiring　fire；　but　when　Clarence　raised　his　head　again　he　was　gone。
And　as　the　boy　turned　back　with　a　broken　heart　towards　the
corridor；　his　cousin　laid　his　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃Muy　hidalgamente；　Clarence；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　　〃Yes；　we　shall
make　something　of　you！〃


CHAPTER　X


Then　followed　to　Clarence　three　uneventful　years。　　During　that
interval　he　learnt　that　Jackson　Brant；　or　Don　Juan　Robinsonfor
the　tie　of　kinship　was　the　least　factor　in　their　relations　to　each
other；　and　after　the　departure　of　Flynn　was　tacitly　ignored　by
bothwas　more　Spanish　than　American。　　An　early　residence　in　Lower
California；　marriage　with　a　rich　Mexican　widow；　whose　dying
childless　left　him　sole　heir；　and　some　strange　restraining
idiosyncrasy　of　temperament　had　quite　denationalized　him。　　A
bookish　recluse；　somewhat　superfastidious　towards　his　own
countrymen；　the　more　Clarence　knew　him　the　more　singular　appeared
his　acquaintance　with　Flynn；　but　as　he　did　not　exhibit　more
communicativeness　on　this　point　than　upon　their　own　kinship；
Clarence　finally　concluded　that　it　was　due　to　the　dominant
character　of　his　former　friend；　and　thought　no　more　about　it。　　He
entered　upon　the　new　life　at　El　Refugio　with　no　disturbing　past。
Quickly　adapting　himself　to　the　lazy　freedom　of　this　hacienda
existence；　he　spent　the　mornings　on　horseback　ranging　the　hills
among　his　cousin's　cattle；　and　the　afternoons　and　evenings　busied
among　his　cousin's　books　with　equally　lawless　and　undisciplined
independence。　　The　easy…going　Don　Juan；　it　is　true；　attempted　to
make　good　his　rash　promise　to　teach　the　boy　Spanish；　and　actually
set　him　a　few　tasks；　but　in　a　few　weeks　the　quick…witted　Clarence
acquired　such　a　colloquial　proficiency　from　his　casual　acquaintance
with　vaqueros　and　small　traders　that　he　was　glad　to　leave　the
matter　in　his　young　kinsman's　hands。　　Again；　by　one　of　those
illogical　sequences　which　make　a　lifelong　reputation　depend　upon　a
single　trivial　act；　Clarence's　social　status　was　settled　forever　at
El　Refugio　Rancho　by　his　picturesque　diversion　of　Flynn's　parting
gift。　　The　grateful　peon　to　whom　the　boy　had　scornfully　tossed　the
coin　repeated　the　act；　gesture；　and　spirit　of　the　scene　to　his
companion；　and　Don　Juan's　unknown　and　youthful　relation　was　at　once
recognized　as　hijo　de　la　familia；　and　undeniably　a　hidalgo　born　and
bred。　　But　in　the　more　vivid　imagination　of　feminine　El　Refugio　the
incident　reached　its　highest　poetic　form。　　〃It　is　true；　Mother　of
God；〃　said　Chucha　of　the　Mill；　〃it　was　Domingo　who　himself　relates
it　as　it　were　the　Creed。　　When　the　American　escort　had　arrived　with
the　young　gentleman；　this　escort；　look　you；　being　not　of　the　same
quality；　he　is　departing　again　without　a　word　of　permission。　　Comes
to　him　at　this　moment　my　little　hidalgo。　　'You　have　yourself
forgotten　to　take　from　me　your　demission；'　he　said。　　This　escort；
thinking　to　make　his　peace　with　a　mere　muchacho；　gives　to　him　a
gold　piece　of　twenty　pesos。　　The　little　hidalgo　has　taken　it　SO；
and　with　the　words；　'Ah！　you　would　make　of　me　your　almoner　to　my
cousin's　people；'　has　given　it　at　the　moment　to　Domingo；　and　with　a
grace　and　fire　admirable。〃　　But　it　is　certain　that　Clarence's
singular　simplicity　and　truthfulness；　a　faculty　of　being
picturesquely　indolent　in　a　way　that　suggested　a　dreamy　abstraction
of　mind　rather　than　any　vulgar　tendency　to　bodily　ease　and　comfort；
and　possibly　the　fact　that　he　was　a　good　horseman；　made　him　a
popular　hero　at　El　Refugio。　　At　the　end　of　three　years　Don　Juan
found　that　this　inexperienced　and　apparently　idle　boy　of　fourteen
knew　more　of　the　practical　ruling　of　the　rancho　than　he　did
himself；　also　that　this　unlettered　young　rustic　had　devoured　nearly
all　the　books　in　his　library　with　boyish　recklessness　of　digestion。
He　found；　too；　that　in　spite　of　his　singular　independence　of
action；　Clarence　was　possessed　of　an　invincible　loyalty　of
principle；　and　that；　asking　no　sentimental　affection；　and　indeed
yielding　none；　he　was；　without　presuming　on　his　relationship；
devoted　to　his　cousin's　interest。　　It　seemed　that　from　being　a
glancing　ray　of　sunshine　in　the　house；　evasive　but　never　obtrusive；
he　had　become　a　daily　necessity　of　comfort　and　security　to　his
benefactor。

Clarence　was；　however；　astonished；　when；　one　morning；　Don　Juan；
with　the　same　embarrassed　manner　he　had　shown　at　their　first
meeting；　suddenly　asked　him；　〃what　business　he　expected　to　follow。〃
It　seemed　the　more　singular；　as　the　speaker；　like　most　abstracted
men；　had　hitherto　always　studiously　ignored　the　future；　in　their
daily　intercourse。　　Yet　this　might　have　been　either　the　habit　of
security　or　the　caution　of　doubt。　　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　some
sudden　disturbance　of　Don　Juan's　equanimity；　as　disconcerting　to
himself　as　it　was　to　Clarence。　　So　conscious　was　the　boy　of　this
that；　without　replying　to　his　cousin's　question；　but　striving　in
vain　to　recall　some　delinquency　of　his　own；　he　asked；　with　his
usual　boyish　directness

〃Has　anything　happened？　　Have　I　done　anything　wrong？〃

〃No；　no；〃　returned　Don　Juan　hurriedly。　　〃But；　you　see；　it's　time
that　you　should　think　of　your　futureor　at　least　prepare　for　it。
I　mean　you　ought　to　have　some　more　regular　education。　　You　will
have　to　go　to　school。　　It's　too　bad；〃　he　added　fretfully；　with　a
certain　impatient　forgetfulness　of　Clarence's　presence；　and　as　if
following　his　own　thought。　　〃Just　as　you　are　becoming　of　service　to
me；　and　justifying　your　ridiculous　position　hereand　all　this　dd
nonsense　that's　gone　beforeI　mean；　of　course；　Clarence；〃　he
interrupted　himself；　catching　sight　of　the　boy's　whitening　cheek
and　darkening　eye；　〃I　mean；　you　knowthis　ridiculousness　of　my
keeping　you　from　school　at　your　age；　and　trying　to　teach　you
myselfdon't　you　see。〃

〃You　think　it　isridiculous；〃　repeated　Clarence；　with　dogged
persistency。

〃I　mean　I　am　ridiculous；〃　said　Don　Juan　hastily。　　〃There！　there！
let's　say　no　more　about　it。　　To…morrow　we'll　ride　over　to　San　Jose
and　see　the　Father　Secretary　at　the　Jesuits'　College　about　your
entering　at　once。　　It's　a　good　school；　and　you'll　always　be　near
the　rancho！〃　　And　so　the　interview　ended。

I　am　afraid　that　Clarence's　first　idea　was　to　run　away。　　There　are
few　experiences　more　crushing　to　an　ingenuous　nature　than　the
sudden　revelation　of　the　aspect　in　which　it　is　regarded　by　others。
The　unfortunate　Clarence；　conscious　only　of　his　loyalty　to　his
cousin's　interest　and　what　he　believed　were　the　duties　of　his
position；　awoke　to　find　that　position　〃ridiculous。〃　　In　an
afternoon's　gloomy　ride　through　the　lonely　hills；　and　later　in　the
sleepless　solitude　of　his　room　at　night；　he　concluded　that　his
cousin　was　right。　　He　would　go　to　school；　he　would　study　hardso
hard　that　in　a　little；　a　very　little　while；　he　could　make　a　living
for　himself。　　He　awoke　contented。　　It　was　the　blessing　of　youth
that　this　resolve　and　execution　seemed　as　one　and　the　same　thing。

The　next　day　found　him　installed　as　a　pupil　and　boarder　in　the
college。　　Don　Juan's　position　and　Spanish　predilections　naturally
made　his　relation　acceptable　to　the　faculty；　but　Clarence　could　not
help　perceiving　that　Father　Sobriente；　the　Principal；　regarded　him
at　times　with　a　thoughtful　curiosity　that　made　him　suspect　that　his
cousin　had　especially　bespoken　that　attention；　and　that　he
occasionally　questioned　him　on　his　antecedents　in　a　way　that　made
him　dread　a　renewal　of　the　old　questioning　about　his　progenitor。
For　the　rest；　he　was　a　polished；　cultivated　man；　yet；　in　the
characteristic；　material　criticism　of　youth；　I　am　afraid　that
Clarence　chiefly　identified　him　as　a　priest　with　large　hands；　whose
soft　palms　seemed　to　be　cushioned　with　kindness；　and　whose　equally
large　feet；　encased　in　extraordinary　shapeless　shoes　of　undyed
leather；　seemed　to　tread　down　noiselesslyrather　than　to
ostentatiously　crushthe　obstacles　that　beset　the　path　of　the
young　student。　　In　the　cloistered　galleries　of　the　court…yard
Clarence　sometimes　felt　himself　borne　down　by　the　protecting　weight
of　this　paternal　hand；　in　the　midnight　silence　of　the　dormitory　he
fancied　he　was　often　conscious　of　the　soft　browsing　tread　and
snuffly　muffled　breathing　of　his　elephantine…footed　mentor。

His　relations　with　his　school…fellows　were　at　first　far　from
pleasant。　Whether　they　suspected　favoritism；　whether　they　resented
that　old　and　unsympathetic　manner　which　sprang　from　his　habits　of
association　with　his　elders；　or　whether　they　rested　their
objections　on　the　broader　grounds　of　his　being　a　stranger；　I　do　not
know；　but　they　presently　passed　from　cruel　sneers　to　physical
opposition。　　It　was　then　found　that　this　gentle　and　reserved　youth
had　retained　certain　objectionable；　rude；　direct；　rustic　qualities
of　fist　and　foot；　and　that；　violating　all　rules　and　disdaining　the
pomp　and　circumstance　of　school…boy　warfare；　of　which　he　knew
nothing；　he　simply　thrashed　a　few　of　his　equals　out　of　hand；　with
or　without　ceremony；　as　the　occasion　or　the　insult　happened。　　In
this　emergency　one　of　the　seniors　was　selected　to　teac