按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
L'Hommadieu； devoted herself to bringing up her children after the
extremest of French methods； and in resurrecting a 〃de〃 from her
own family to give a distinct and aristocratic character to their
name。 The 〃de Fontanges l'Hommadieu〃 were； however； only known to
their neighbors； after the Western fashion； by their stepfather's
name；when they were known at allwhich was seldom。 For the boy
was unpleasantly conceited as a precocious worldling； and the girl
as unpleasantly complacent in her role of ingenue。 The household
was completely dominated by Mrs。 Randolph。 A punctilious Catholic；
she attended all the functions of the adjacent mission； and the
shadow of a black soutane at twilight gliding through the wild oat…
fields behind the ranch had often been mistaken for a coyote。 The
peace…loving major did not object to a piety which； while it left
his own conscience free； imparted a respectable religious air to
his household； and kept him from the equally distasteful approaches
of the Puritanism of his neighbors； and was blissfully unconscious
that he was strengthening the antagonistic foreign element in his
family with an alien church。
Meantime； as the repaired buggy was slowly making its way towards
his house； Major Randolph entered his wife's boudoir with a letter
which the San Francisco post had just brought him。 A look of
embarrassment on his good…humored face strengthened the hard lines
of hers； she felt some momentary weakness of her natural enemy； and
prepared to give battle。
〃I'm afraid here's something of a muddle； Josephine；〃 he began with
a deprecating smile。 〃Mallory； who was coming down here with his
daughter； you know〃
〃This is the first intimation I have had that anything has been
settled upon；〃 interrupted the lady； with appalling deliberation。
〃However； my dear； you know I told you last week that he thought of
bringing her here while he went South on business。 You know； being
a widower； he has no one to leave her with。〃
〃And I suppose it is the American fashion to intrust one's
daughters to any old boon companions？〃
〃Mallory is an old friend；〃 interrupted the major； impatiently。
〃He knows I'm married； and although he has never seen YOU； he is
quite willing to leave his daughter here。〃
〃Thank you！〃
〃Come； you know what I mean。 The man naturally believes that my
wife will be a proper chaperone for his daughter。 But that is not
the present question。 He intended to call here； I expected to take
you over to San Jose to see her and all that； you know； but the
fact of it isthat isit seems from this letter thathe's been
called away sooner than he expected； and thatwellhang it！ the
girl is actually on her way here now。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃I suppose so。 You know one thinks nothing of that here。〃
〃Or any other propriety； for that matter。〃
〃For heaven's sake； Josephine； don't be ridiculous！ Of course it's
stupid her coming in this way； and Mallory ought to have brought
herbut she's coming； and we must receive her。 By Jove！ Here she
is now！〃 he added； starting up after a hurried glance through the
window。 〃But what kind of a dd turn…out is that； anyhow？〃
It certainly was an odd…looking conveyance that had entered the
gates； and was now slowly coming up the drive towards the house。
A large draught horse harnessed to a dust…covered buggy； whose
strained fore…axle； bent by the last mile of heavy road； had
slanted the tops of the fore…wheels towards each other at an
alarming angle。 The light； graceful dress and elegant parasol of
the young girl； who occupied half of its single seat； looked
ludicrously pronounced by the side of the slouching figure and
grimy duster of the driver； who occupied the other half。
Mrs。 Randolph gave a gritty laugh。 〃I thought you said she was
alone。 Is that an escort she has picked up； American fashion； on
the road？〃
〃That's her hired driver； no doubt。 Hang it！ she can't drive here
by herself；〃 retorted the major； impatiently； hurrying to the door
and down the staircase。 But he was instantly followed by his wife。
She had no idea of permitting a possible understanding to be
exchanged in their first greeting。 The late M。 l'Hommadieu had
been able to impart a whole plan of intrigue in a single word and
glance。
Happily； Rose Mallory； already in the hall； in a few words detailed
the accident that had befallen her； to the honest sympathy of the
major and the coldly…polite concern of Mrs。 Randolph； who； in
deliberately chosen sentences； managed to convey to the young girl
the conviction that accidents of any kind to young ladies were to
be regarded as only a shade removed from indiscretions。 Rose was
impressed； and even flattered； by the fastidiousness of this
foreign…appearing woman； and after the fashion of youthful natures；
accorded to her the respect due to recognized authority。 When to
this authority； which was evident； she added a depreciation of the
major； I fear that some common instinct of feminine tyranny
responded in Rose's breast； and that on the very threshold of the
honest soldier's home she tacitly agreed with the wife to look down
upon him。 Mrs。 Randolph departed to inform her son and daughter of
their guest's arrival。 As a matter of fact； however； they had
already observed her approach to the house through the slits of
their drawn window…blinds； and those even narrower prejudices and
limited comprehensions which their education had fostered。 The
girl； Adele； had only grasped the fact that Rose had come to their
house in fine clothes； alone with a man； in a broken…down vehicle；
and was moved to easy mirth and righteous wonder。 The young man；
Emile； had agreed with her； with the mental reservation that the
guest was pretty； and must eventually fall in love with him。 They
both； however； welcomed her with a trained politeness and a
superficial attention that； while the indifference of her own
countrymen in the wheat…field was still fresh in her recollection；
struck her with grateful contrast； the major's quiet and unobtrusive
kindliness naturally made less impression； or was accepted as a
matter of course。
〃Well；〃 said the major； cheerfully but tentatively； to his wife
when they were alone again； 〃she seems a nice girl； after all； and
a good deal of pluck and character； by Jove！ to push on in that
broken buggy rather than linger or come in a farm cart； eh？〃
〃She was alone in that wheat…field；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph； with grim
deliberation； 〃for half an hour； she confesses it herselfTALKING
WITH A YOUNG MAN！〃
〃Yes； but the others had gone for the buggy。 And； in the name of
Heaven； what would you have her dohide herself in the grain？〃
said the major； desperately。 〃Besides；〃 he added； with a
recklessness he afterwards regretted； 〃that mechanical chap they've
got there is really intelligent and worth talking to。〃
〃I have no doubt SHE thought so；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph； with a
mirthless smile。 〃In fact； I have observed that the American
freedom generally means doing what you WANT to do。 Indeed； I
wonder she didn't bring him with her！ Only I beg； major； that you
will not again； in the presence of my daughter；and I may even
say； of my son；talk lightly of the solitary meetings of young
ladies with mechanics； even though their faces were smutty； and
their clothes covered with oil。〃
The major here muttered something about there being less danger in
a young lady listening to the intelligence of a coarsely…dressed
laborer than to the compliments of a rose…scented fop； but Mrs。
Randolph walked out of the room before he finished the evident
platitude。
That night Rose Mallory retired to her room in a state of sell…
satisfaction that she even felt was to a certain extent a virtue。
She was delighted with her reception and with her hostess and
family。 It was strange her father had not spoken more of MRS。
Randolph； who was clearly the