a ward of the golden gate-第12章

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〃A　very　narrow　escape　from　an　apparently　gratuitous　insult；〃　said
Paul；　gravely；　but　fixing　his　eyes；　now　more　luminous　than　ever
with　anger；　not　on　the　speakers　but　on　the　face　of　Don　Caesar；　who
was　standing　at　his　side。　　〃you　were　about　to　say；〃

〃Ehohah！　this　Kate　Howard？　　So！　　I　have　heard　of　heryees！
And　Miss　Yerbaahshe　is　of　my　countryI　think。　　Yeswe　shall
claim　herof　a　truthyes。〃

〃Your　countrymen；　I　believe；　are　in　the　habit　of　making　claims　that
are　more　often　founded　on　profit　than　verity；〃　said　Paul；　with
smileless　and　insulting　deliberation。　　He　knew　perfectly　what　he
was　saying；　and　the　result　he　expected。　　Only　twenty…four　hours
before　he　had　smiled　at　Pendleton's　idea　of　averting　scandal　and
discovery　by　fighting；　yet　he　was　endeavoring　to　pick　a　quarrel
with　a　man；　merely　on　suspicion；　for　the　same　purpose；　and　he　saw
nothing　strange　in　it。　　A　vague　idea；　too；　that　this　would
irrevocably　confirm　him　in　opposition　to　Yerba's　illusions　probably
determined　him。

But　Don　Caesar；　albeit　smiling　lividly；　did　not　seem　inclined　to
pick　up　the　gauntlet；　and　Woods　interfered　hastily。　　〃Don　Caesar
means　that　your　ward　has　some　idea　herself　that　she　is　of　Spanish
originat　least；　Milly　says　so。　　But　of　course；　as　one　of　the
oldest　trustees；　YOU　know　the　facts。〃

In　another　moment　Paul　would　have　committed　himself。　　〃I　think
we'll　leave　Miss　Yerba　out　of　the　question；〃　he　said；　coldly。　　〃My
remark　was　a　general　one；　although；　of　course；　I　am　responsible　for
any　personal　application　of　it。〃

〃Spoken　like　a　politician；　Hathaway；〃　said　Judge　Baker；　with　an
effusive　enthusiasm；　which　he　hoped　would　atone　for　the　alarming
results　of　his　infelicitous　speech。　　〃That's　right；　gentlemen！　　You
can't　get　the　facts　from　him　before　he　is　ready　to　give　them。　　Keep
your　secret；　Mr。　Hathaway；　the　court　is　with　you。〃

Nevertheless；　as　they　passed　out　of　the　room　to　join　the　ladies；
the　Mayor　lingered　a　little　behind　with　Woods。　　〃It's　easy　to　see
the　influence　of　that　Pendleton　on　our　young　friend；〃　he　said；
significantly。　　〃Somebody　ought　to　tell　him　that　it's　played　out
down　hereas　Pendleton　is。　　It's　quite　enough　to　ruin　his　career。〃

Paul　was　too　observant　not　to　notice　this；　but　it　brought　him　no
sense　of　remorse；　and　his　youthful　belief　in　himself　and　his　power
kept　him　from　concern。　　He　felt　as　if　he　had　done　something；　if
only　to　show　Don　Caesar　that　the　girl's　weakness　or　ignorance　could
not　be　traded　upon　with　impunity。　　But　he　was　still　undecided　as　to
the　course　he　should　pursue。　　But　he　should　determine　that　to…
night。　　At　present　there　seemed　no　chance　of　talking　to　her　alone
she　was　unconcernedly　conversing　with　Milly　and　Mrs。　Woods；　and
already　the　visitors　who　had　been　invited　to　this　hurried　levee　in
his　honor　were　arriving。　　In　view　of　his　late　indiscretion；　he
nervously　exerted　his　fullest　powers；　and　in　a　very　few　minutes　was
surrounded　by　a　breathless　and　admiring　group　of　worshipers。　　A
ludicrous　resemblance　to　the　scene　in　the　Golden　Gate　Hotel　passed
through　his　mind；　he　involuntarily　turned　his　eyes　to　seek　Yerba　in
the　half…fear；　half…expectation　of　meeting　her　mischievous　smile。
Their　glances　met；　to　his　surprise　hers　was　smileless；　and
instantly　withdrawn；　but　not　until　he　had　been　thrilled　by　an
unconscious　prepossession　in　its　luminous　depths　that　he　scarcely
dared　to　dwell　upon。　　What　mattered　now　this　passage　with　Don
Caesar　or　the　plaudits　of　his　friends？　　SHE　was　proud　of　him！

Yet；　after　that　glance；　she　was　shy；　preoccupying　herself　with
Milly；　or　even　listening　sweetly　to　Judge　Baker's　somewhat
practical　and　unromantic　reminiscences　of　the　deprivations　and　the
hardships　of　California　early　days；　as　if　to　condone　his　past
infelicity。　　She　was　pleasantly　unaffected　with　Don　Caesar；
although　she　managed　to　draw　Dona　Anna　into　the　conversation；　she
was　unconventional；　Paul　fancied；　to　all　but　himself。　　Once　or
twice；　when　he　had　artfully　drawn　her　towards　the　open　French
window　that　led　to　the　moonlit　garden　and　shadowed　veranda；　she　had
managed　to　link　Milly's　arm　in　her　own；　and　he　was　confident　that　a
suggestion　to　stroll　with　him　in　the　open　air　would　be　followed　by
her　invitation　to　Milly　to　accompany　them。　　Disappointed　and
mortified　as　he　was；　he　found　some　solace　in　her　manner；　which　he
still　believed　suggested　the　hope　that　she　might　be　made　accessible
to　his　persuasions。　　Persuasions　to　what？　　He　did　not　know。

The　last　guest　had　departed；　he　lingered　on　the　veranda　with　a
cigar；　begging　his　host　and　hostess　not　to　trouble　themselves　to
keep　him　company。　　Milly　and　Yerba　had　retired　to　the　former's
boudoir；　but；　as　they　had　not　yet　formally　bade　him　good　night；
there　was　a　chance　of　their　returning。　　He　still　stayed　on　in　this
hope　for　half　an　hour；　and　then；　accepting　Yerba's　continued
absence　as　a　tacit　refusal　of　his　request；　he　turned　abruptly　away。
But　as　he　glanced　around　the　garden　before　reentering　the　house；　he
was　struck　by　a　singular　circumstancea　white　patch；　like　a
forgotten　shawl；　which　he　had　observed　on　the　distant　ceanothus
hedge；　and　which　had　at　first　thrilled　him　with　expectation；　had
certainly　CHANGED　ITS　POSITION。　　Before；　it　seemed　to　be　near　the
summer…house；　now　it　was；　undoubtedly；　farther　away。　　Could　they；
or　SHE　alone；　have　slipped　from　the　house　and　be　awaiting　him
there？　　With　a　muttered　exclamation　at　his　stupidity　he　stepped
hastily　from　the　veranda　and　walked　towards　it。　　But　he　had
scarcely　proceeded　a　dozen　yards　before　it　disappeared。　　He　reached
the　summer…houseit　was　empty；　he　followed　the　line　of　hedgeno
one　was　there。　　It　could　not　have　been　her；　or　she　would　have
waited；　unless　he　were　the　victim　of　a　practical　joke。　　He　turned
impatiently　back　to　the　house；　reentered　the　drawing…room　by　the
French　window；　and　was　crossing　the　half…lit　apartment；　when　he
heard　a　slight　rustle　in　the　shadow　of　the　window。　　He　looked
around　quickly；　and　saw　that　it　was　Yerba；　in　a　white；　loose　gown；
for　which　she　had　already　exchanged　her　black　evening　dress；
leaning　back　composedly　on　the　sofa；　her　hands　clasped　behind　her
shapely　head。

〃I　am　waiting　for　Milly；〃　she　said；　with　a　faint　smile　on　her　lips。
He　fancied；　in　the　moonlight　that　streamed　upon　her；　that　her
beautiful　face　was　pale。　　〃She　has　gone　to　the　other　wing　to　see
one　of　the　servants　who　is　ill。　　We　thought　you　were　on　the　veranda
smoking　and　I　should　have　company；　until　I　saw　you　start　off；　and
rush　up　and　down　the　hedge　like　mad。〃

Paul　felt　that　he　was　losing　his　self…possession；　and　becoming
nervous　in　her　presence。　　〃I　thought　it　was　YOU；〃　he　stammered。

〃Me！　　Out　in　the　garden　at　this　hour；　alone；　and　in　the　broad
moonlight？　　What　are　you　thinking　of；　Mr。　Hathaway？　　Do　you　know
anything　of　convent　rules；　or　is　that　your　idea　of　your　ward's
education？〃

He　fancied　that；　though　she　smiled　faintly；　her　voice　was　as
tremulous　as　his　own。

〃I　want　to　speak　with　you；〃　he　said；　with　awkward　directness。　　〃I
even　thought　of　asking　you　to　stroll　with　me　in　the　garden。〃

〃Why　not　talk　here？〃　she　returned；　changing　her　position；　pointing
to　the　other　end　of　the　sofa；　and　drawing　the　whole　overflow　of　her
skirt　to　one　side。　　〃It　is　not　so　very　late；　and　Milly　will　return
in　a　few　moments。〃

Her　face　was　in　shadow　now；　but　there　was　a　glow…worm　light　in　her
beautiful　eyes　that　seemed　faintly　to　illuminate　her　whole　face。
He　sank　down　on　the　sofa　at　her　side；　no　longer　the　brilliant　and
ambitious　politician；　but；　it　seemed　to　him；　as　hopelessly　a
dreaming；　inexperienced　boy　as　when　he　had　given　her　the　name　that
now　was　all　he　could　think　of；　and　the　only　word　that　rose　to　his
feverish　lips。

〃Yerba！〃

〃I　like　to　hear　you　say　it；〃　she　said　quickly；　as　if　to　gloss　over
his　first　omission　of　her　formal　prefix；　and　leaning　a　little
forward；　with　her　eyes　on　his。　　〃One　would　think　you　had　created
it。　　You　almost　make　me　regret　to　lose　it。〃

He　stopped。　　He　felt　that　the　last　sentence　had　saved　him。　　〃It　is
of　that　I　want　to　speak；〃　he　broke　out　suddenly　and　almost　rudely。
〃Are　you　satisfied　that　it　means　nothing；　and　can　mean　nothing；　to
you？　　Does　it　awaken　no　memory　in　your　mindrecall　nothing　you
care　to　know？　　Think！　　I　beg　you；　I　implore　you　to　be　frank　with
me！〃

She　looked　at　him　with　surprise。

〃I　have　told　you　already　that　my　present　name　must　be　some　absurd
blunder；　or　some　intentional　concealment。　　But　why　do　you　want　to
know　NOW？〃　she　continued；　adding　her　faint　smile　to　the　emphasis。

〃To　help　you！〃　he　said；　eagerly。　　〃For　that　alone！　　To　do　all　I　can
to　assist　you；　if　you　really　believe；　and　want　to　believe；　that　you
have　another。　　To　ask　you　to　confide　in　me；　to　tell　me　all　you　have
been　told；　all　that　you　know；　think　you　know；　or　WANT　to　know　about
your　relationship　to　the　Arguellosor　toany　one。　　And　then　to
devote　myself　entirely　to　proving　what　you　shall　say　is　your
desire。　　You　see；　I　am　frank　with　you；　Yerba。　　I　only　ask　you　to　be
as　frank　with　me；　to　let　me　know　your　doubts；　that　I　may　counsel
you；　your　fears；　that　I　may　give　you　courage。〃

〃Is　that　all　you　came　here　to　tell　me？〃　she　asked　quietly。

〃No；　Yerba；〃　he　said；　eagerly；　taking　her　unresisting　but
indifferent　hand；　〃not　all；　but　all　that　I　must　say；　all　that　I
have　the　right　to　say；　all　that　you；　Yerba；　would　permit　me　to　tell
you　NOW。　　But　let　me　hope　that　the　day　is　not　far　distant　when　I
can　tell　you　ALL；　when　you　will　understand　that　this　silence　has
been　the　hardest　sacrifice　of　the　man　who　now　speaks　to　you。〃

〃And　yet　not　unworthy　of　a　rising　politician；〃　she　added；　quickly
withdrawing　her　hand。　　〃I　agree；〃　she　went　on；　looking　towards　the
door；　yet　without　appearing　to　avoid　his　eager　eyes；　〃and　when　I
have　settled　upon　'a　local　habitation　and　a　name'　we　shall　renew
this　interesting　conversation。　　Until　then；　as　my　fourth　official
guardian　used　to　sayhe　was　a　lawyer；　Mr。　Hathaway；　like　yourself
when　he　was　winding　up　his　conjectures　on　the　subjectall　that
has　passed　is　to　be　considered　'without　prejudice。'〃

〃But　Yerba〃began　Paul；　bitterly。

She　slightly　raised　her　hand　as　if　to　check　him　with　a　warning
gesture。　　〃Yes；　dear；〃　she　said　suddenly；　lifting　her　musical
voice；　with　a　mischievous　side…glance　at　Paul；　as　if　to　indicate
her　conception　of　the　irony　of　a　possible　application；　〃this　way。
Here　we　are　waiting　for　you。〃　　Her　listening　ear　had　detected
Milly's　step　in　the　passage；　and　in　another　moment　that　cheerful
young　woman　discreetly　stopped　on　the　threshold　of　the　room；　with
every　expression　of　apologetic　indiscretion　in　her　face。

〃We　have　finished　our　talk；　and　Mr。　Hathaway　has　been　so　concerned
about　my　having　no　real　name　that　he　has　been　promising　me
everything；　but　his　own；　for　a　suitable　one。　　Haven't　you；　Mr。
Hathaway？〃　　She　rose　slowly　and；　going　over　to　Milly；　put　her　arm
around　her　waist　and　stood　for　one　instant　gazing　at　him　between
the　curtains　of　the　doorway。　　〃Good　night。　　My　very　proper　chaperon
is　dreadfully　shocked　at　this　midnight　interview；　and　is　taking　me
away。　　Only　think　of　it；　Milly；　he　actually　proposed　to　me　to　walk
in　the　garden　with　him！　　Good　night；　or；　as　my　ancestorsdon't
forget；　MY　ANCESTORSused　to　say：　'Bu