a first family of tasajara-第13章

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Harcourt　would　have　found　this　rather　difficult　with　her　other

social　duties；〃　he　said；　〃and　would　have　left　it　to　her　married

sister。〃　　He　thought　it　better　not　to　appear　as　if　avoiding

reference　to　Euphemia；　although　quietly　ignoring　her　late

experiences。　　Mr。　Harcourt　was　less　easy　in　his　response。



〃Now　that　Euphemia　is　again　with　her　own　family；〃　he　said

ponderously；　with　an　affectation　of　social　discrimination　that　was

in　weak　contrast　to　his　usual　direct　business　astuteness；　〃I

suppose　she　may　take　her　part　in　these　things；　but　just　now　she

requires　rest。　　You　may　have　heard　some　rumor　that　she　is　going

abroad　for　a　time？　　The　fact　is　she　hasn't　the　least　intention　of

doing　so；　nor　do　we　consider　there　is　the　slightest　reason　for　her

going。〃　　He　paused　as　if　to　give　great　emphasis　to　a　statement　that

seemed　otherwise　unimportant。　　〃But　here's　Clementina　coming；　and　I

must　get　you　to　excuse　ME。　　I've　to　meet　the　trustees　of　the　church

in　ten　minutes；　but　I　hope　she'll　persuade　you　to　stay；　and　I'll

see　you　later　at　the　hall。〃



As　Clementina　entered　the　room　her　father　vanished　and；　I　fear；　as

completely　dropped　out　of　Mr。　Grant's　mind。　　For　the　daughter's

improvement　was　greater　than　her　father's；　yet　so　much　more　refined

as　to　be　at　first　only　delicately　perceptible。　　Grant　had　been

prepared　for　the　vulgar　enhancement　of　fine　clothes　and　personal

adornment；　for　the　specious　setting　of　luxurious　circumstances　and

surroundings；　for　the　aplomb　that　came　from　flattery　and　conscious

power。　　But　he　found　none　of　these；　her　calm　individuality　was

intensified　rather　than　subdued；　she　was　dressed　simply；　with　an

economy　of　ornament；　rich　material；　and　jewelry；　but　an　accuracy　of

taste　that　was　always　dominant。　　Her　plain　gray　merino　dress；

beautifully　fitting　her　figure；　suggested；　with　its　pale　blue

facings；　some　uniform；　as　of　the　charitable　society　she　patronized。

She　came　towards　him　with　a　graceful　movement　of　greeting；　yet　her

face　showed　no　consciousness　of　the　interval　that　had　elapsed　since

they　met；　he　almost　fancied　himself　transported　back　to　the

sitting…room　at　Sidon　with　the　monotonous　patter　of　the　leaves

outside；　and　the　cool　moist　breath　of　the　bay　and　alder　coming　in

at　the　window。



〃Father　says　that　you　are　only　passing　through　Tasajara　to…day；　as

you　did　through　Sidon　five　years　ago；〃　she　said　with　a　smiling

earnestness　that　he　fancied　however　was　the　one　new　phase　of　her

character。　　〃But　I　won't　believe　it！　　At　least　we　will　not　accept

another　visit　quite　as　accidental　as　that；　even　though　you　brought

us　twice　the　good　fortune　you　did　then。　　You　see；　we　have　not

forgotten　it　if　you　have；　Mr。　Grant。　　And　unless　you　want　us　to

believe　that　your　fairy　gifts　will　turn　some　day　to　leaves　and

ashes；　you　will　promise　to　stay　with　us　tonight；　and　let　me　show

you　some　of　the　good　we　have　done　with　them。　　Perhaps　you　don't

know；　or　don't　want　to　know；　that　it　was　I　who　got　up　this　'Library

and　Home　Circle　of　the　Sisters　of　Tasajara'　which　we　are　to　open

to…day。　　And　can　you　imagine　why？　　You　rememberor　have　you

forgottenthat　you　once　affected　to　be　concerned　at　the　social

condition　of　the　young　ladies　on　the　plains　of　Sidon？　　Well；　Mr。

Grant；　this　is　gotten　up　in　order　that　the　future　Mr。　Grants　who

wander　may　find　future　Miss　Billingses　who　are　worthy　to　converse

with　them　and　entertain　them；　and　who　no　longer　wear　men's　hats　and

live　on　the　public　road。〃



It　was　such　a　long　speech　for　one　so　taciturn　as　he　remembered

Clementina　to　have　been；　so　unexpected　in　tone　considering　her

father's　attitude　towards　him；　and　so　unlooked　for　in　its　reference

to　a　slight　incident　of　the　past；　that　Grant's　critical　contemplation

of　her　gave　way　to　a　quiet　and　grateful　glance　of　admiration。　　How

could　he　have　been　so　mistaken　in　her　character？　　He　had　always

preferred　the　outspoken　Euphemia；　and　yet　why　should　he　not　have

been　equally　mistaken　in　her？　　Without　having　any　personal　knowledge

of　Rice's　matrimonial　troublesfor　their　intimate　companionship　had

not　continued　after　the　surveyhe　had　been　inclined　to　blame　him；

now　he　seemed　to　find　excuses　for　him。　　He　wondered　if　she　really　had

liked　him　as　Peters　had　hinted；　he　wondered　if　she　knew　that　he；

Grant；　was　no　longer　intimate　with　him　and　knew　nothing　of　her

affairs。　　All　this　while　he　was　accepting　her　proffered　hospitality

and　sending　to　the　hotel　for　his　luggage。　　Then　he　drifted　into　a

conversation；　which　he　had　expected　would　be　brief；　pointless；　and

confined　to　a　stupid　resume　of　their　mutual　and　social　progress

since　they　had　left　Sidon。　　But　here　he　was　again　mistaken；　she　was

talking　familiarly　of　present　social　topics；　of　things　that　she　knew

clearly　and　well；　without　effort　or　attitude。　　She　had　been　to　New

York　and　Boston　for　two　winters；　she　had　spent　the　previous　summer

at　Newport；　it　might　have　been　her　whole　youth　for　the　fluency；

accuracy；　and　familiarity　of　her　detail；　and　the　absence　of

provincial　enthusiasm。　　She　was　going　abroad；　probably　in　the

spring。　　She　had　thought　of　going　to　winter　in　Italy；　but　she　would

wait　now　until　her　sister　was　ready　to　go　with　her。　　Mr。　Grant　of

course　knew　that　Euphemia　was　separated　from　Mr。　Ricenonot　until

her　father　told　him？　　Wellthe　marriage　had　been　a　wild　and　foolish

thing　for　both。　　But　Euphemia　was　back　again　with　them　in　the　San

Francisco　house；　she　had　talked　of　coming　to　Tasajara　to…day；

perhaps　she　might　be　there　tonight。　　And；　good　heavens！　it　was

actually　three　o'clock　already；　and　they　must　start　at　once　for　the

Hall。　　She　would　go　and　get　her　hat　and　return　instantly。



It　was　true；　he　had　been　talking　with　her　an　hourpleasantly；

intelligently；　and　yet　with　a　consciousness　of　an　indefinite

satisfaction　beyond　all　this。　　It　must　have　been　surprise　at　her

transformation；　or　his　previous　misconception　of　her　character。

He　had　been　watching　her　features　and　wondering　why　he　had　ever

thought　them　expressionless。　　There　was　also　the　pleasant

suggestioncommon　to　humanity　in　such　instancesthat　he　himself

was　in　some　way　responsible　for　the　change；　that　it　was　some

awakened　sympathy　to　his　own　nature　that　had　breathed　into　this

cold　and　faultless　statue　the　warmth　of　life。　　In　an　odd　flash　of

recollection　he　remembered　how；　five　years　ago；　when　Rice　had

suggested　to　her　that　she　was　〃hard　to　please；〃　she　had　replied

that　she　〃didn't　know；　but　that　she　was　waiting　to　see。〃　　It　did

not　occur　to　him　to　wonder　why　she　had　not　awakened　then；　or　if

this　awakening　had　anything　to　do　with　her　own　volition。　　It　was

not　probable　that　they　would　meet　again　after　to…day；　or　if　they

did；　that　she　would　not　relapse　into　her　former　self　and　fail　to

impress　him　as　she　had　now。　　Buthere　she　wasa　paragon　of

feminine　promptitudealready　standing　in　the　doorway；　accurately

gloved　and　booted；　and　wearing　a　demure　gray　hat　that　modestly

crowned　her　decorously　elegant　figure。



They　crossed　the　plaza　side　by　side；　in　the　still　garish　sunlight

that　seemed　to　mock　the　scant　shade　of　the　youthful　eucalyptus

trees；　and　presently　fell　in　with　the　stream　of　people　going　in

their　direction。　　The　former　daughters　of　Sidon；　the　Billingses；

the　Peterses；　and　Wingates；　were　there　bourgeoning　and　expanding　in

the　glare　of　their　new　prosperity；　with　silk　and　gold；　there　were

newer　faces　still；　and　pretty　ones；for　Tasajara　as　a　〃Cow　County〃

had　attracted　settlers　with　large　families；and　there　were　already

the　contrasting　types　of　East　and　West。　　Many　turned　to　look　after

the　tall　figure　of　the　daughter　of　the　Founder　of　Tasajara；a

spectacle　lately　rare　to　the　town；　a　few　glanced　at　her　companion；

equally　noticeable　as　a　stranger。　　Thanks；　however；　to　some

judicious　preliminary　advertising　from　the　hotel　clerk；　Peters；　and

Daniel　Harcourt　himself；　by　the　time　Grant　and　Miss　Harcourt　had

reached　the　Hall　his　name　and　fame　were　already　known；　and

speculation　had　already　begun　whether　this　new　stroke　of　Harcourt's

shrewdness　might　not　unite　Clementina　to　a　renowned　and　profitable

partner。



The　Hall　was　in　one　of　the　further　and　newly　opened　suburbs；　and

its　side　and　rear　windows　gave　immediately　upon　the　outlying　and

illimitable　plain　of　Tasajara。　　It　was　a　tasteful　and　fair…seeming

structure　of　wood；　surprisingly　and　surpassingly　new。　　In　fact　that

was　its　one　dominant　feature；　nowhere　else　had　youth　and　freshness

ever　shown　itself　as　unconquerable　and　all…conquering。　　The　spice

of　virgin　woods　and　trackless　forests　still　rose　from　its　pine

floors；　and　breathed　from　its　outer　shell　of　cedar　that　still　oozed

its　sap；　and　redwood　that　still　dropped　its　life…blood。　　Nowhere

else　were　the　plastered　walls　and　ceilings　as　white　and　dazzling　in

their　unstained　purity；　or　as　redolent　of　the　outlying　quarry　in

their　clear　cool　breath　of　lime　and　stone。　　Even　the　turpentine　of

fresh　and　spotless　paint　added　to　this　sense　of　wholesome

germination；　and　as　the　clear　and　brilliant　Californian　sunshine

swept　through　the　open　windows　west　and　east；　suffusing　the　whole

palpitating　structure　with　its　searching　and　resistless　radiance；

the　very　air　seemed　filled　with　the　aroma　of　creation。



The　fresh　colors　of　the　young　Republic；　the　bright　blazonry　of　the

newest　State；　the　coat…of…arms　of　the　infant　County　of　Tasajara（a

vignette　of　sunset…tules　cloven　by　the　steam　of　an　advancing

train）hanging　from　the　walls；　were　all　a　part　of　this　invincible

juvenescence。　　Even　the　newest　silks；　ribbons　and　prints　of　the

latest　holiday　fashions　made　their　first　virgin　appearance　in　the

new　building　as　if　to　consecrate　it；　until　it　was　stirred　by　the

rustle　of　youth；　as　with　the　sound　and　movement　of　budding　spring。



A　strain　from　the　new　organwhose　heart；　however；　had　prematurely

learned　its　own　bitternessand　a　thin；　clear；　but　somewhat　shrill

chanting　from　a　choir　of　young　ladies　were　followed　by　a　prayer

from　the　Reverend　Mr。　Pilsbury。　　Then　there　was　a　pause　of

expectancy；　and　Grant's　fair　companion；　who　up　to　that　moment　had

been　quietly　acting　as　guide　and　cicerone　to　her　father's　guest；

excused　herself　with　a　little　grimace　of　mock　concern　and　was　led

away　by　one　of　the　committee。　　Grant's　usually　keen　eyes　were

wandering　somewhat　abstractedly　over　the　agitated　and　rustling

field　of　ribbons；　flowers　and　feathers　before　him；　past　the

blazonry　of　banner　on　the　walls；　and　through　the　open　windows　to

the　long　sunlit　levels　beyond；　when　he　noticed　a　stir　upon　the

raised　dais　or　platform　at　the　end　of　the　room；　where　the　notables

of　Tasajara　were　formally　assembled。　　The　mass　of　black　coats

suddenly　parted　and　drew　back　against　the　wall　to　allow　the　coming

forward　of　a　single　graceful　figure。　　A　thrill　of　nervousness　as

unexpected　as　unaccountable　passed　over　him　as　he　recognized

Clementina。　　In　the　midst　of　a　sudden　silence　she　read　the　report

of　the　committee　from　a　paper　in　her