a ward of the golden gate-第7章

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right　angles　with　the　deep；　long　veranda　of　the　casa。　　Yet；　in
spite　of　the　chill；　the　old　Spanish　house　and　gardens　presented　a
luxurious；　almost　tropical；　picture　from　the　roadside。　　Banks；
beds；　and　bowers　of　roses　lent　their　name　and　color　to　the　grounds；
tree…like　clusters　of　hanging　fuchsias；　mound…like　masses　of
variegated　verbena；　and　tangled　thickets　of　ceanothus　and　spreading
heliotrope　were　set　in　boundaries　of　venerable　olive；　fig；　and　pear
trees。　　The　old　house　itself；　a　picturesque　relief　to　the　glaring
newness　of　the　painted　villas　along　the　road；　had　been　tastefully
modified　to　suit　the　needs　and　habits　of　a　later　civilization；　the
galleries　of　the　inner　courtyard；　or　patio；　had　been　transferred　to
the　outside　walls　in　the　form　of　deep　verandas；　while　the　old　adobe
walls　themselves　were　hidden　beneath　flowing　Cape　jessamine　or
bestarred　passion　vines；　and　topped　by　roofs　of　cylindrical　red
tiles。

〃Miss　Yerba！〃　said　a　dry；　masculine　voice　from　the　veranda。

The　taller　young　girl　started；　and　drew　herself　suddenly　behind　a
large　Castilian　rose…tree；　dragging　her　companion　with　her；　and
putting　her　finger　imperatively　upon　a　pretty　but　somewhat
passionate　mouth。　　The　other　girl　checked　a　laugh；　and　remained
watching　her　friend's　wickedly　leveled　brows　in　amused　surprise。

The　call　was　repeated　from　the　veranda。　　After　a　moment's　pause
there　was　the　sound　of　retreating　footsteps；　and　all　was　quiet
again。

〃Why；　for　goodness'　sake；　didn't　you　answer；　Yerba？〃　asked　the
shorter　girl。

〃Oh；　I　hate　him！〃　responded　Yerba。　　〃He　only　wanted　to　bore　me　with
his　stupid；　formal；　sham…parental　talk。　　Because　he's　my　official
guardian　he　thinks　it　necessary　to　assume　this　manner　towards　me
when　we　meet；　and　treats　me　as　if　I　were　something　between　his
stepdaughter　and　an　almshouse　orphan　or　a　police　board。　　It's
perfectly　ridiculous；　for　it's　only　put　on　while　he　is　in　office；
and　he　knows　it；　and　I　know　it；　and　I'm　tired　of　making　believe。
Why；　my　dear；　they　change　every　election；　I've　had　seven　of　them；
all　more　or　less　of　this　kind；　since　I　can　remember。〃

〃But　I　thought　there　were　two　others；　dear；　that　were　not
official；〃　said　her　companion；　coaxingly。

Yerba　sighed。　　〃No；　there　was　another；　who　was　president　of　a　bank；
but　that　was　also　to　be　official　if　he　died。　　I　used　to　like　him；
he　seemed　to　be　the　only　gentleman　among　them；　but　it　appears　that
he　is　dreadfully　improper；　shoots　people　now　and　then　for　nothing
at　all；　and　burst　up　his　bankand；　of　course；　he's　impossible；
and；　as　there's　no　more　bank；　when　he　dies　there'll　be　no　more
trustee。〃

〃And　there's　the　third；　you　knowa　stranger；　who　never　appears？〃
suggested　the　younger　girl。

〃And　who　do　you　suppose　HE　turns　out　to　be？　　Do　you　remember　that
conceited　little　wretchthat　'Baby　Senator；'　I　think　they　called
himwho　was　in　the　parlor　of　the　Golden　Gate　the　other　morning
surrounded　by　his　idiotic　worshipers　and　toadies　and　ballot…box
stuffers？　　Well；　if　you　please；　THAT'S　Mr。　Paul　Hathawaythe
Honorable　Paul　Hathaway；　who　washed　his　hands　of　me；　my　dear；　at
the　beginning！〃

〃But　really；　Yerba；　I　thought　that　he　looked　and　acted〃

〃You　thought　of　nothing　at　all；　Milly；〃　returned　Yerba；　with
authority。　　〃I　tell　you　he's　a　mass　of　conceit。　　What　else　can　you
expect　of　a　Mantoadied　and　fawned　upon　to　that　extent？　　It　made
me　sick！　　I　could　have　just　shaken　them！〃

As　if　to　emphasize　her　statement；　she　grasped　one　of　the　long
willowy　branches　of　the　enormous　rose…bush　where　she　stood；　and
shook　it　lightly。　　The　action　detached　a　few　of　the　maturer
blossoms；　and　sent　down　a　shower　of　faded　pink　petals　on　her　dark
hair　and　yellow　dress。　　〃I　can't　bear　conceit；〃　she　added。

〃Oh；　Yerba；　just　stand　as　you　are！　　I　do　wish　the　girls　could　see
you。　　You　make　the　LOVELIEST　picture！〃

She　certainly　did　look　very　pretty　as　she　stood　therea　few　leaves
lodged　in　her　hair；　clinging　to　her　dress；　and　suggesting　by
reflection　the　color　that　her　delicate　satin　skin　would　have
resented　in　its　own　texture。　　But　she　turned　impatiently　away
perhaps　not　before　she　had　allowed　this　passing　vision　to　impress
the　mind　of　her　devoted　adherentand　said；　〃Come　along；　or　that
dreadful　man　will　be　out　on　the　veranda　again。〃

〃But；　if　you　dislike　him　so；　why　did　you　accept　the　invitation　to
meet　him　here　at　luncheon？〃　said　the　curious　Milly。

〃I　didn't　accept；　the　Mother　Superior　did　for　me；　because　he's　the
Mayor　of　San　Francisco　visiting　your　uncle；　and　she's　always
anxious　to　placate　the　powers　that　be。　　And　I　thought　he　might　have
some　information　that　I　could　get　out　of　him。　　And　it　was　better
than　being　in　the　convent　all　day。　　And　I　thought　I　could　stand　HIM
if　you　were　here。〃

Milly　gratefully　accepted　this　doubtful　proof　of　affection　by
squeezing　her　companion's　arm。　　〃And　you　didn't　get　any
information；　dear？〃

〃Of　course　not！　　The　idiot　knows　only　the　old　tradition　of　his
officethat　I　was　a　mysterious　Trust　left　in　Mayor　Hammersley's
hands。　　He　actually　informed　me　that　'Buena'　meant　'Good'；　that　it
was　likely　the　name　of　the　captain　of　some　whaler；　that　put　into
San　Francisco　in　the　early　days；　whose　child　I　was；　and　that；　if　I
chose　to　call　myself　'Miss　Good；'　he　would　allow　it；　and　get　a　bill
passed　in　the　Legislature　to　legalize　it。　　Think　of　it；　my　dear！
'Miss　Good；'　like　one　of　Mrs。　Barbauld's　stories；　or　a　moral
governess　in　the　'Primary　Reader。'〃

〃'Miss　Good；'〃　repeated　Milly；　innocently。　　〃Yes；　you　might　put　an
e　at　the　endG…double…o…d…e。　　There　are　Goodes　in　Philadelphia。
And　then　you　won't　have　to　sacrifice　that　sweet　pretty　'Yerba；'
that's　so　stylish　and　musical；　for　you'd　still　be　'Yerba　Good。'
But；〃　she　added；　as　Yerba　made　an　impatient　gesture；　〃why　do　you
worry　yourself　about　THAT？　　You　wouldn't　keep　your　own　name　long；
whatever　it　was。　　An　heiress　like　you；　dear；lovely　and
accomplished；would　have　the　best　names　as　well　as　the　best　men　in
America　to　choose　from。〃

〃Now　please　don't　repeat　that　idiot's　words。　　That's　what　HE　says；
that's　what　they　ALL　say！〃　returned　Yerba；　pettishly。　　〃One　would
really　think　it　was　necessary　for　me　to　get　married　to　become
anybody　at　all；　or　have　any　standing　whatever。　　And；　whatever　you
do；　don't　go　talking　of　me　as　if　I　were　named　after　a　vegetable。
'Yerba　Buena'　is　the　name　of　an　island　in　the　bay　just　off　San
Francisco。　　I'm　named　after　that。〃

〃But　I　don't　see　the　difference；　dear。　　The　island　was　named　after
the　vine　that　grows　on　it。〃

〃YOU　don't　see　the　difference？〃　said　Yerba；　darkly。　　〃Well；　I　do。
But　what　are　you　looking　at？〃

Her　companion　had　caught　her　arm；　and　was　gazing　intently　at　the
house。

〃Yerba；〃　she　said　quickly；　〃there's　the　Mayor；　and　uncle；　and　a
strange　gentleman　coming　down　the　walk。　　They're　looking　for　us。
And；　as　I　live；　Yerb！　the　strange　gentleman　is　that　young　senator；
Mr。　Hathaway！〃

〃Mr。　Hathaway？　　Nonsense！〃

〃Look　for　yourself。〃

Yerba　glanced　at　the　three　gentlemen；　who；　a　hundred　yards　distant；
were　slowly　advancing　in　the　direction　of　the　ceanothus…hedge；
behind　which　the　girls　had　instinctively　strayed　during　their
conversation。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　said　Milly；　eagerly。　　〃They're　coming
straight　this　way。　　Shall　we　stay　here　and　let　them　pass；　or　make　a
run　for　the　house？〃

〃No；〃　said　Yerba；　to　Milly's　great　surprise。　　〃That　would　look　as
if　we　cared。　　Besides；　I　don't　know　that　Mr。　Hathaway　has　come　to
see　ME。　　We'll　stroll　out　and　meet　them　accidentally。〃

Milly　was　still　more　astonished。　　However；　she　said；　〃Wait　a
moment；　dear！〃　and；　with　the　instinctive　deftness　of　her　sex；　in
three　small　tugs　and　a　gentle　hitch；　shook　Yerba's　gown　into
perfect　folds；　passed　her　fingers　across　her　forehead　and　over　her
ears；　securing；　however；　with　a　hairpin　on　their　passage　three　of
the　rose　petals　where　they　had　fallen。　　Then；　discharging　their
faces　of　any　previous　expression；　these　two　charming　hypocrites
sallied　out　innocently　into　the　walk。　　Nothing　could　be　more
natural　than　their　manner：　if　a　criticism　might　be　ventured　upon；
it　was　that　their　elbows　were　slightly　drawn　inwards　and　before
them；　leaving　their　hands　gracefully　advanced　in　the　line　of　their
figures；　an　attitude　accepted　throughout　the　civilized　world　of
deportment　as　indicating　fastidious　refinement　not　unmingled　with
permissible　hauteur。

The　three　gentlemen　lifted　their　hats　at　this　ravishing　apparition；
and　halted。　　The　Mayor　advanced　with　great　politeness。

〃I　feared　you　didn't　hear　me　call　you；　Miss　Yerba；　so　we　ventured
to　seek　you。　　As　the　two　girls　exchanged　almost　infantile　glances
of　surprise；　he　continued：　〃Mr。　Paul　Hathaway　has　done　us　the　honor
of　seeking　you　here；　as　he　did　not　find　you　at　the　convent。　　You
may　have　forgotten　that　Mr。　Hathaway　is　the　third　one　of　your
trustees。〃

〃And　so　inefficient　and　worthless　that　I　fear　he　doesn't　count；〃
said　Paul；　〃but；〃　raising　his　eyes　to　Yerba's；　〃I　fancy　that　I　have
already　had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you；　and；　I　fear；　the
mortification　of　having　disturbed　you　and　your　friends　in　the
parlor　of　the　Golden　Gate　Hotel　yesterday。〃

The　two　girls　looked　at　each　other　with　the　same　childlike
surprise。　　Yerba　broke　the　silence　by　suddenly　turning　to　Milly。
〃Certainly；　you　remember　how　greatly　interested　we　were　in　the
conversation　of　a　party　of　gentlemen　who　were　there　when　we　came
in。　　I　am　afraid　our　foolish　prattle　must　have　disturbed　YOU。　　I
know　that　we　were　struck　with　the　intelligent　and　eloquent　devotion
of　your　friends。〃

〃Oh；　perfectly；〃　chimed　in　the　loyal　but　somewhat　infelix　Milly；
〃and　it　was　so　kind　and　thoughtful　of　Mr。　Hathaway　to　take　them
away　as　he　did。〃

〃I　felt　the　more　embarrassed；〃　continued　Hathaway；　smiling；　but
still　critically　examining　Yerba　for　an　indication　of　something
characteristic；　beyond　this　palpable　conventionality；　〃as　I
unfortunately　must　present　my　credentials　from　a　gentleman　as　much
of　a　stranger　as　myselfColonel　Pendleton。〃

The　trade…wind　was　evidently　making　itself　felt　even　in　this
pastoral　retreat；　for　the　two　gentlemen　appeared　to　shrink　slightly
within　themselves；　and　a　chill　seemed　to　have　passed　over　the
group。　　The　Mayor　coughed。　　The　avuncular　Woods　gazed　abstractedly
at　a　large　cactus。　　Even　Paul；　prepared　by　previous　experience；
stopped　short。

〃Colonel　Pendleton！　　Oh；　do　tell　me　all　about　him！〃　flashed　out
Yerba；　suddenly；　with　clasped　hands　and　eager　girlish　breath。

Paul　cast　a　quick　grateful　glance　at　the　girl。　　Whether　assumed　or
not；　her　enthusiastic　outburst　was　effective。　　The　Mayor　looked
uneasily　at　Woods；　and　turned　to　Paul。

〃Ah；　yes！　　You　and　he　are　original　co…trustees。　　I　believe
Pendleton　is　in　reduced　circumstances。　　Never　quite　got　over　that
bank　trouble。〃

〃That　is　only　a　question　of　legislative　investigation　and　relief；〃
said　Paul　lightly；　yet　with　purposely　vague　official　mystery　of
manner。　　Then；　turning　quickly　to　Yerba；　as　if　replying　to　the　only
real　question　at　issue；　he　continued　pointedly；　〃I　am　sorry　to　say
the　colonel's　health　is　so　poor　that　it　keeps　him　quite　a　recluse。
I　have　a　letter　from　him　and　a　message　for　you。〃　　His　bright　eyes
added　plainly〃as　soon　as　we　can　get　rid　of　those　people