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！
laugh：
〃I say； Hathaway； I pulled up just in time to save myself from
making an awful speech； just now； to your ward。〃
Paul looked at him with cold curiosity。
〃Yes。 Gad！ Do you know WHO was my rival in that necklace
transaction？〃
〃No；〃 said Paul； with frigid carelessness。
〃Why； Kate Howard！ Fact； sir。 She bought it right under my nose
and overbid me； too。〃
Paul did not lose his self…possession。 Thanks to the fact that
Yerba was not present； and that Don Caesar； who had overheard the
speech； moved forward with a suggestive and unpleasant smile； his
agitation congealed into a coldly placid fury。
〃And I suppose；〃 he returned； with perfect calmness； 〃that； after
the usual habit of this class of women； the necklace very soon
found its way back； through the pawnbroker； to the jeweler again。
It's a common fate。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 said Judge Baker； cheerfully。 〃You're quite
right。 That's undoubtedly the solution of it。 But；〃 with a laugh；
〃I had a narrow escape from saying somethingeh？〃
〃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 draw