the crusade of the excelsior-第30章

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Hurlstone　laughed；　but　suddenly　looking　down　upon　her　face　he　was

struck　with　its　youthfulness。　　She　had　always　impressed　him　before

through　her　reserve　and　independenceas　older；　and　more　matured

in　character。　　He　did　not　know　how　lately　she　was　finding　her　lost

youth　as　he　asked　her；　quite　abruptly；　if　she　ever　had　any　little

brothers　and　sisters。



The　answer　to　this　question　involved　the　simple　story　of　Miss

Keene's　life；　which　she　gave　with　naive　detail。　　She　told　him　of

her　early　childhood；　and　the　brother　who　was　only　an　indistinct

memory；　of　her　school　days；　and　her　friendships　up　to　the　moment　of

her　first　step　into　the　great　world　that　was　so　strangely　arrested

at　Todos　Santos。　　He　was　touched　with　the　almost　pathetic　blankness

of　this　virgin　page。　　Encouraged　by　his　attention；　and　perhaps

feeling　a　sympathy　she　had　lately　been　longing　for；　she　confessed

to　him　the　thousand　little　things　which　she　had　reserved　from　even

Mrs。　Markham　during　her　first　apathetic　weeks　at　Todos　Santos。



〃I'm　sure　I　should　have　been　much　happier　if　I　had　had　any　one　to

talk　to；〃　she　added；　looking　up　into　his　face　with　a　naivete　of

faint　reproach；　〃it's　very　different　for　men；　you　know。　　They　can

always　distract　themselves　with　something。　　Although；〃　she

continued　hesitatingly；　〃I've　sometimes　thought　YOU　would　have　been

happier　if　you　had　had　somebody　to　tell　your　troubles　toI　don't

mean　the　Padre；　for；　good　as　he　is；　he　is　a　foreigner；　you　know；

and　wouldn't　look　upon　things　as　WE　dobut　some　one　in　sympathy

with　you。〃



She　stopped；　alarmed　at　the　change　of　expression　in　his　face。　　A

quick　flush　had　crossed　his　cheek；　for　an　instant　he　had　looked

suspiciously　into　her　questioning　eyes。　　But　the　next　moment　the

idea　of　his　quietly　selecting　this　simple；　unsophisticated　girl　as

the　confidant　of　his　miserable　marriage；　and　the　desperation　that

had　brought　him　there；　struck　him　as　being　irresistibly　ludicrous

and　he　smiled。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　the　habitual　morbid

intensity　of　his　thoughts　on　that　one　subject　had　ever　been

disturbed　by　reaction；　it　was　the　first　time　that　a　clear　ray　of

reason　had　pierced　the　gloom　in　which　he　had　enwrapped　it。　　Seeing

him　smile；　the　young　girl　smiled　too。　　Then　they　smiled　together

vaguely　and　sympathetically；　as　over　some　unspoken　confidence。

But；　unknown　and　unsuspected　by　himself；　that　smile　had　completed

his　emancipation　and　triumph。　　The　next　moment；　when　he　sought　with

a　conscientious　sigh　to　reenter　his　old　mood；　he　was　half　shocked

to　find　it　gone。　　Whatever　gradual　influencethe　outcome　of　these

few　months　of　rest　and　reposemay　have　already　been　at　work　to

dissipate　his　clouded　fancy；　he　was　only　vaguely　conscious　that　the

laughing　breath　of　the　young　girl　had　blown　it　away　forever。



The　perilous　point　passed；　unconsciously　to　both　of　them；　they　fell

into　freer　conversation；　tacitly　avoiding　the　subject　of　Mr。

Hurlstone's　past　reserve　only　as　being　less　interesting。　　Hurlstone

did　not　return　Miss　Keene's　confidencesnot　because　he　wished　to

deceive　her；　but　that　he　preferred　to　entertain　her；　while　she　did

not　care　to　know　his　secret　now　that　it　no　longer　affected　their

sympathy　in　other　things。　　It　was　a　pleasant；　innocent　selfishness；

that；　however；　led　them　along；　step　by　step；　to　more　uncertain　and

difficult　ground。




In　their　idle；　happy　walk　they　had　strayed　towards　the　beach；　and

had　come　upon　a　large　stone　cross　with　its　base　half　hidden　in

sand；　and　covered　with　small　tenacious；　sweet…scented　creepers；

bearing　a　pale　lilac　blossom　that　exhaled　a　mingled　odor　of　sea　and

shore。　　Hurlstone　pointed　out　the　cross　as　one　of　the　earliest

outposts　of　the　Church　on　the　edge　of　the　unclaimed　heathen

wilderness。　　It　was　hung　with　strings　of　gaudy　shells　and　feathers；

which　Hurlstone　explained　were　votive　offerings　in　which　their

pagan　superstitions　still　mingled　with　their　new　faith。



〃I　don't　like　to　worry　that　good　old　Padre；〃　he　continued；　with　a

light　smile；　〃but　I'm　afraid　that　they　prefer　this　cross　to　the

chapel　for　certain　heathenish　reasons　of　their　own。　　I　am　quite

sure　that　they　still　hold　some　obscure　rites　here　under　the　good

Father's　very　nose；　and　that；　in　the　guise　of　this　emblem　of　our

universal　faith；　they　worship　some　deity　we　have　no　knowledge　of。〃



〃It's　a　shame；〃　said　Miss　Keene　quickly。



To　her　surprise；　Hurlstone　did　not　appear　so　shocked　as　she；　in　her

belief　of　his　religious　sympathy　with　the　Padre；　had　imagined。



〃They're　a　harmless　race；〃　he　said　carelessly。　　〃The　place　is　much

frequented　by　the　childrenespecially　the　young　girls；　a　good　many

of　these　offerings　came　from　them。〃



The　better　to　examine　these　quaint　tributes；　Miss　Keene　had　thrown

herself；　with　an　impulsive；　girlish　abandonment；　on　the　mound　by

the　cross；　and　Hurlstone　sat　down　beside　her。　　Their　eyes　met　in　an

innocent　pleasure　of　each　other's　company。　　She　thought　him　very

handsome　in　the　dark；　half　official　Mexican　dress　that　necessity

alone　had　obliged　him　to　assume；　and　much　more　distinguished…

looking　than　his　companions　in　their　extravagant　foppery；　he

thought　her　beauty　more　youthful　and　artless　than　he　had　imagined

it　to　be；　and　with　his　older　and　graver　experiences　felt　a　certain

protecting　superiority　that　was　pleasant　and　reassuring。



Nevertheless；　seated　so　near　each　other；　they　were　very　quiet。

Hurlstone　could　not　tell　whether　it　was　the　sea　or　the　flowers；　but

the　dress　of　the　young　girl　seemed　to　exhale　some　subtle　perfume　of

her　own　freshness　that　half　took　away　his　breath。　　She　had　scraped

up　a　handful　of　sand；　and　was　allowing　it　to　escape　through　her

slim　fingers　in　a　slender　rain　on　the　ground。　　He　was　watching　the

operation　with　what　he　began　to　fear　was　fatuous　imbecility。



〃Miss　Keene？I　beg　your　pardon〃



〃Mr。　Hurlstone？Excuse　me；　you　were　saying〃



They　had　both　spoken　at　the　same　moment；　and　smiled　forgivingly　at

each　other。　　Hurlstone　gallantly　insisted　upon　the　precedence　of

her　thoughtthe　scamp　had　doubted　the　coherency　of　his　own。



〃I　used　to　think；〃　she　began〃you　won't　be　angry；　will　you？〃



〃Decidedly　not。〃



〃I　used　to　think　you　had　an　idea　of　becoming　a　priest。〃



〃Why？〃



〃Becauseyou　are　sure　you　won't　be　angrybecause　I　thought　you

hated　women！〃



〃Father　Esteban　is　a　priest；〃　said　Hurlstone；　with　a　faint　smile；

〃and　you　know　he　thinks　kindly　of　your　sex。〃



〃Yes；　but　perhaps　HIS　life　was　never　spoiled　by　some　wicked　woman

likelike　yours。〃



For　an　instant　he　gazed　intently　into　her　eyes。



〃Who　told　you　that？〃



〃No　one。〃



She　was　evidently　speaking　the　absolute　truth。　　There　was　no　deceit

or　suppression　in　her　clear　gaze；　if　anything；　only　the　faintest

look　of　wonder　at　his　astonishment。　　And　hethis　jealously　guarded

secret；　the　curse　of　his　whole　wretched　life；　had　been　guessed　by

this　simple　girl；　without　comment；　without　reserve；　without　horror！

And　there　had　been　no　scene；　no　convulsion　of　Nature；　no　tragedy；

he　had　not　thrown　himself　into　yonder　sea；　she　had　not　fled　from

him　shrinking；　but　was　sitting　there　opposite　to　him　in　gentle

smiling　expectation；　the　golden　light　of　Todos　Santos　around　them；

a　bit　of　bright　ribbon　shining　in　her　dark　hair；　and　he；　miserable；

outcast；　and　recluse；　had　not　even　changed　his　position；　but　was

looking　up　without　tremulousness　or　excitement；　and　smiling；　too。



He　raised　himself　suddenly　on　his　knee。



〃And　what　if　it　were　all　true？〃　he　demanded。



〃I　should　be　very　sorry　for　you；　and　glad　it　were　all　over　now；〃

she　said　softly。



A　faint　pink　flush　covered　her　cheek　the　next　moment；　as　if　she　had

suddenly　become　aware　of　another　meaning　in　her　speech；　and　she

turned　her　head　hastily　towards　the　village。　　To　her　relief　she

discerned　that　a　number　of　Indian　children　had　approached　them　from

behind　and　had　halted　a　few　paces　from　the　cross。　　Their　hands　were

full　of　flowers　and　shells　as　they　stood　hesitatingly　watching　the

couple。



〃They　are　some　of　the　school…children；〃　said　Hurlstone；　in　answer

to　her　inquiring　look；　〃but　I　can't　understand　why　they　come　here

so　openly。〃



〃Oh；　don't　scold　them！〃　said　Eleanor；　forgetting　her　previous

orthodox　protest；　〃let　us　go　away；　and　pretend　we　don't　notice

them。〃



But　as　she　was　about　to　rise　to　her　feet　the　hesitation　of　the

little　creatures　ended　in　a　sudden　advance　of　the　whole　body；　and

before　she　comprehended　what　they　were　doing　they　had　pressed　the

whole　of　their　floral　tributes　in　her　lap。　　The　color　rose　again

quickly　to　her　laughing　face　as　she　looked　at　Hurlstone。



〃Do　you　usually　get　up　this　pretty　surprise　for　visitors？〃　she　said

hesitatingly。



〃I　assure　you　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　he　answered；　with

frank　amazement；　〃it's　quite　spontaneous。　　And　lookthey　are　even

decorating　ME。〃



It　was　true；　they　had　thrown　a　half　dozen　strings　of　shells　on

Hurlstone's　unresisting　shoulders；　and；　unheeding　the　few　words　he

laughingly　addressed　them　in　their　own　dialect；　they　ran　off　a　few

paces；　and　remained　standing；　as　if　gravely　contemplating　their

work。　　Suddenly；　with　a　little　outcry　of　terror；　they　turned；　fled

wildly　past　them；　and　disappeared　in　the　bushes。



Miss　Keene　and　Hurlstone　rose　at　the　same　moment；　but　the　young

girl；　taking　a　step　forward；　suddenly　staggered；　and　was　obliged　to

clasp　one　of　the　arms　of　the　cross　to　keep　herself　from　falling。

Hurlstone　sprang　to　her　side。



〃Are　you　ill？〃　he　asked　hurriedly。　　〃You　are　quite　white。　　What　is

the　matter？〃



A　smile　crossed　her　colorless　face。



〃I　am　certainly　very　giddy；　everything　seems　to　tremble。〃



〃Perhaps　it　is　the　flowers；〃　he　said　anxiously。　　〃Their　heavy

perfume　in　this　close　air　affects　you。　　Throw　them　away；　for

Heaven's　sake！〃



But　she　clutched　them　tighter　to　her　heart　as　she　leaned　for　a

moment；　pale　yet　smiling；　against　the　cross。



〃No；　no！〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃it　was　not　that。　　But　the　children

were　frightened；　and　their　alarm　terrified　me。　　There；　it　is　over

now。〃



She　let　him　help　her　to　her　seat　again　as　he　glanced　hurriedly

around　him。　　It　must　have　been　sympathy　with　her；　for　he　was

conscious　of　a　slight　vertigo　himself。　　The　air　was　very　close　and

still。　　Even　the　pleasant　murmur　of　the　waves　had　ceased。



〃How　very　low　the　tide　is！〃　said　Eleanor　Keene；　resting　her　elbow

on　her　knees　and　her　round　chin　upon　her　hand。　　〃I　wonder　if　that

could　have　frightened　those　dear　little　midgets？〃　　The　tide；　in

fact；　had　left　the　shore　quite　bare　and　muddy　for　nearly　a　quarter

of　a　mile　to　seaward。



Hurlstone　arose；　with　grave　eyes；　but　a　voice　that　was　unchanged。



〃Suppose　we　inquire？　　Lean　on　my　arm；　and　we'll　go　up　the　hill

towards　the　Mission　garden。　　Bring　your　flowers　with　you。〃



The　color　had　quite　returned　to　her　cheek　as　she　leant　on　his

proffered　arm。　　Yet　per