a ward of the golden gate-第15章

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woman　looking　her　best；　but　the　next　moment　she　appeared
preoccupied　with　the　others；　and　the　eager　advances　of　Don　Caesar。

〃Your　brother　seems　to　admire　Miss　Yerba；〃　said　Paul。

〃Ah；　yees；〃　returned　Dona　Anna。　　〃And　you？〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Paul；　gayly；　〃I？　　I　am　her　guardianwith　me　it　is
simple　egotism；　you　know。〃

〃Ah！〃　returned　the　arch　Dona　Anna；　〃you　are　then　already　SO　certain
of　her？　　Good！　　I　shall　warn　him。〃

A　precaution　that　did　seem　necessary；　as　later；　when　Paul；　at　a
signal　from　his　hostess；　offered　his　arm　to　Yerba；　the　young
Spaniard　regarded　him　with　a　look　of　startled　curiosity。

〃I　thank　you　for　selecting　me　to　wear　your　colors；〃　said　Paul　with
a　glance　at　the　flowers　in　her　corsage；　as　they　sat　at　table；　〃and
I　think　I　deserve　them；　since；　but　for　you；　I　should　have　been　on
my　way　to　San　Francisco　at　this　moment。　　Shall　I　have　an
opportunity　of　talking　to　you　a　few　minutes　later　in　the　evening？〃
he　added；　in　a　lower　tone。

〃Why　not　now？〃　returned　Yerba；　mischievously。　　〃We　are　set　here
expressly　for　that　purpose。〃

〃Surely　not　to　talk　of　our　own　businessI　should　say；　of　our
FAMILY　affairs；〃　said　Paul；　looking　at　her　with　equal　playfulness；
〃though　I　believe　your　friend　Don　Caesar；　opposite；　would　be　more
pleased　if　he　were　sure　that　was　all　we　did。〃

〃And　you　think　his　sister　would　share　in　that　pleasure？〃　retorted
Yerba。　　〃I　warn　you；　Mr。　Hathaway；　that　you　have　been　quite
justifying　the　Reverend　Mother's　doubts　about　your　venerable
pretensions。　　Everybody　is　staring　at　you　now。〃

Paul　looked　up　mechanically。　　It　was　true。　　Whether　from　some
occult　sympathy；　from　a　human　tendency　to　admire　obvious　fitness
and　symmetry；　or　the　innocent　love　with　which　the　world　regards
innocent　lovers；　they　were　all　observing　Yerba　and　himself　with
undisguised　attention。　　A　good　talker；　he　quickly　led　the
conversation　to　other　topics。　　It　was　then　that　he　discovered　that
Yerba　was　not　only　accomplished；　but　that　this　convent…bred　girl
had　acquired　a　singular　breadth　of　knowledge　apart　from　the
ordinary　routine　of　the　school　curriculum。　　She　spoke　and　thought
with　independent　perceptions　and　clearness；　yet　without　the
tactlessness　and　masculine　abruptness　that　is　apt　to　detract　from
feminine　originality　of　reflection。　　By　some　tacit　understanding
that　had　the　charm　of　mutual　confidence；　they　both　exerted
themselves　to　please　the　company　rather　than　each　other；　and　Paul；
in　the　interchange　of　sallies　with　Dona　Anna；　had　a　certain
pleasure　in　hearing　Yerba　converse　in　Spanish　with　Don　Caesar。　　But
in　a　few　moments　he　observed；　with　some　uneasiness；　that　they　were
talking　of　the　old　Spanish　occupation；　and　presently　of　the　old
Spanish　families。　　Would　she　prematurely　expose　an　ignorance　that
might　be　hereafter　remembered　against　her；　or　invite　some　dreadful
genealogical　reminiscence　that　would　destroy　her　hopes　and　raze　her
Spanish　castles？　　Or　was　she　simply　collecting　information？　　He
admired　the　dexterity　with　which；　without　committing　herself；　she
made　Don　Caesar　openly　and　even　confidentially　communicative。　　And
yet　he　was　on　thorns；　at　times　it　seemed　as　if　he　himself　were
playing　a　part　in　this　imposture　of　Yerba's。　　He　was　aware　that　his
wandering　attention　was　noticed　by　the　quick…witted　Dona　Anna；　when
he　regained　his　self…possession　by　what　appeared　to　be　a　happy
diversion。　　It　was　the　voice　of　Mrs。　Judge　Baker　calling　across　the
table　to　Yerba。　　By　one　of　the　peculiar　accidents　of　general
conversation；　it　was　the　one　apparently　trivial　remark　that　in　a
pause　challenged　the　ears　of　all。

〃We　were　admiring　your　necklace；　Miss　Yerba。〃

Every　eye　was　turned　upon　the　slender　throat　of　the　handsome　girl。
The　excuse　was　so　natural。

Yerba　put　her　hand　to　her　neck　with　a　smile。　　〃You　are　joking；　Mrs。
Baker。　　I　know　it　is　ridiculously　small；　but　it　is　a　child's
necklace；　and　I　wear　it　because　it　was　a　gift　from　my　mother。〃

Paul's　heart　sank　again　with　consternation。　　It　was　the　first　time
he　had　heard　the　girl　distinctly　connect　herself　with　her　actual
mother；　and　for　an　instant　he　felt　as　startled　as　if　the　forgotten
Outcast　herself　had　returned　and　taken　a　seat　at　the　board。

〃I　told　you　it　couldn't　be　so？〃　remarked　Mrs。　Baker；　to　her
husband。

Everybody　naturally　looked　inquiringly　upon　the　couple；　and　Mrs。
Baker　explained　with　a　smile：　〃Bob　thinks　he's　seen　it　before；　men
are　so　obstinate。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　Yerba；〃　said　the　Judge；　blandly；　〃would　you　mind
showing　it　to　me；　if　it　is　not　too　much　trouble？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Yerba；　smiling；　and　detaching　the　circlet　from
her　neck。　　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　find　it　rather　old…fashioned。〃

〃That's　just　what　I　hope　to　find　it；〃　said　Judge　Baker；　with　a
triumphant　glance　at　his　wife。　　〃It　was　eight　years　ago　when　I　saw
it　in　Tucker's　jewelry　shop。　　I　wanted　to　buy　it　for　my　little
Minnie；　but　as　the　price　was　steep　I　hesitated；　and　when　I　did　make
up　my　mind　he　had　disposed　of　it　to　another　customer。　　Yes；〃　he
added；　examining　the　necklace　which　Yerba　had　handed　to　him。　　〃I　am
certain　it　is　the　same：　it　was　unique；　like　this。　　Odd；　isn't　it？〃

Everybody　said　it　WAS　odd；　and　looked　upon　the　occurrence　with　that
unreasoning　satisfaction　with　which　average　humanity　receives　the
most　trivial　and　unmeaning　coincidences。　　It　was　left　to　Don　Caesar
to　give　it　a　gallant　application。

〃I　have　not…a　the　pleasure　of　knowing…a　the　Miss　Minnie；　but　the
jewelry；　when　she　arrives；　to　the　throat…a　of　Miss　Yerba；　she　has
not　lost　the　valuethe　beautythe　charm。〃

〃No；〃　said　Woods；　cheerily。　　〃The　fact　is；　Baker；　you　were　too
slow。　　Miss　Yerba's　folks　gobbled　up　the　necklace　while　you　were
thinking。　　You　were　a　new…comer。　　Old　'forty…niners'　did　not
hesitate　over　a　thing　they　wanted。〃

〃You　never　knew　who　was　your　successful　rival；　eh？〃　said　Dona　Anna；
turning　to　Judge　Baker　with　a　curious　glance　at　Paul's　pale　face　in
passing。

〃No；〃　said　Baker；　〃but〃he　stopped　with　a　hesitating　laugh　and
some　little　confusion。　　〃No；　I've　mixed　it　up　with　something　else。
It's　so　long　ago。　　I　never　knew；　or　if　I　did　I've　forgotten。　　But
the　necklace　I　remember。〃　　He　handed　it　back　to　Yerba　with　a　bow；
and　the　incident　ended。

Paul　had　not　looked　at　Yerba　during　this　conversation；　an
unreasoning　instinct　that　he　might　confuse　her；　an　equally
unreasoning　dread　that　he　might　see　her　confused　by　others；
possessing　him。　　And　when　he　did　glance　at　her　calm；　untroubled
face；　that　seemed　only　a　little　surprised　at　his　own　singular
coldness；　he　was　by　no　means　relieved。　　He　was　only　convinced　of
one　thing。　　In　the　last　five　minutes　he　had　settled　upon　the
irrevocable　determination　that　his　present　relations　with　the　girl
could　exist　no　longer。　　He　must　either　tell　her　everything；　or　see
her　no　more。　　There　was　no　middle　course。　　She　was　on　the　brink　of
an　exposure　at　any　moment；　either　through　her　ignorance　or　her
unhappy　pretension。　　In　his　intolerable　position；　he　was　equally
unable　to　contemplate　her　peril；　accept　her　defense；　or　himself
defend　her。

As　if；　with　some　feminine　instinct；　she　had　attributed　his　silence
to　some　jealousy　of　Don　Caesar's　attentions；　she　more　than　once
turned　from　the　Spaniard　to　Paul　with　an　assuring　smile。　　In　his
anxiety；　he　half　accepted　the　rather　humiliating　suggestion；　and
managed　to　say　to　her；　in　a　lower　tone：

〃On　this　last　visit　of　your　American　guardian；　one　would　think；　you
need　not　already　anticipate　your　Spanish　relations。〃

He　was　thrilled　with　the　mischievous　yet　faintly　tender　pleasure
that　sparkled　in　her　eyes　as　she　said；

〃You　forget　it　is　my　American　guardian's　FIRST　visit；　as　well　as
his　last。〃

〃And　as　your　guardian；〃　he　went　on；　with　half…veiled　seriousness；
〃I　protest　against　your　allowing　your　treasures；　the　property　of
the　Trust；〃　he　gazed　directly　into　her　beautiful　eyes；　〃being
handled　and　commented　upon　by　everybody。〃

When　the　ladies　had　left　the　table；　he　was；　for　a　moment；　relieved。
But　only　for　a　moment。　　Judge　Baker　drew　his　chair　beside　Paul's；
and；　taking　his　cigar　from　his　lips；　said；　with　a　perfunctory
laugh：

〃I　say；　Hathaway；　I　pulled　up　just　in　time　to　save　myself　from
making　an　awful　speech；　just　n