a ward of the golden gate-第25章
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flashed upon him。
〃This is George's work。 He and Colonel Pendleton were here with me
last night。〃
〃Then you have seen the colonel already？〃 she said； with a scarcely
perceptible alteration of expression； which； however； struck Paul。
〃Yes。 I met him at the theatre last evening。〃 He was about to
plunge into an animated description of the colonel's indignation；
but checked himself； he knew not why。 But he was thankful the next
moment that he had。
〃That accounts for everything；〃 she said； lifting her pretty
shoulders with a slight shrug of weariness。 〃I had to put a step
to George's talking about ME three months ago；his extravagance is
something TOO awful。 And the colonel； who is completely in his
hands；trusting him for everything； even the language；doesn't
see it。〃
〃But he is extravagant in the praise of his friends only； and you
certainly justify all he can say。〃
She was taking off her hat； and stopped for a moment to look at him
thoughtfully； with the soft tendrils of her hair clinging to her
forehead。 〃Did the colonel talk much about me？〃
〃A great deal。 In fact； I think we talked of nothing else。 He has
told me of your triumphs and your victims； of your various
campaigns and your conquests。 And yet I dare say he has not told
me alland I am dying to hear more。〃
She had laid down her hat and unloosed a large bow of her mantle；
but stopped suddenly in the midst of it and sat down again。
〃I wish you'd do something for me。〃
〃You have only to name it。〃
〃Well； drop all this kind of talk！ Try to think of me as if I had
just come from Californiaor； better； as if you had never known
anything of me at alland we met for the first time。 You could； I
dare say； make yourself very agreeable to such a young lady who was
willing to be pleasedwhy not to me？ I venture to say you have
not ever troubled yourself about me since we last met。 Nohear me
throughwhy； then； should you wish to talk over what didn't
concern you at the time？ Promise me you will stop this reminiscent
gossip； and I promise you I will not only not bore you with it； but
take care that it is not intruded upon you by others。 Make
yourself pleasant to me by talking about yourself and your
prospectsanything but MEand I will throw over those princes and
barons that the colonel has raved about and devote myself to you
while you are here。 Does that suit your Excellency？〃 She had
crossed her knees； and； with her hands clasped over them； and the
toe of her small boot advanced beyond her skirt； leaned forward in
the attitude he remembered to have seen her take in the summer…
house at Rosario。
〃Perfectly；〃 he said。
〃How long will you be here？〃
〃About three weeks： that； I believe； is the time allotted for my
cure。〃
〃Are you really ill；〃 she said quietly； 〃or imagine yourself so？〃
〃It amounts to about the same thing。 But my cure may not take so
long；〃 he added； fixing his bright eyes upon her。
She returned his gaze thoughtfully； and they remained looking at
each other silently。
〃Then you are stronger than you give yourself credit for。 That is
very often the case；〃 she said quietly。 〃There；〃 she added in
another tone； 〃it is settled。 You will come and go as you like；
using this salon as your own。 Stay； we can do something today。
What do you say to a ride in the forest this afternoon？ Milly
isn't here yet； but it will be quite proper for you to accompany me
on horseback； though； of course； we couldn't walk a hundred yards
down the Allee together unless we were verlobt。〃
〃But；〃 said Paul； 〃you are expecting company this afternoon。 Don
CaesarI mean Miss Briones and her brother are coming here to say
good…by。〃
She regarded him curiously； but without emotion。
〃Colonel Pendleton should have added that they were to remain here
overnight as my guests；〃 she said composedly。 And of course we
shall be back in time for dinner。 But that is nothing to you。 You
have only to be ready at three o'clock。 I will see that the horses
are ordered。 I often ride here； and the people know my tastes and
habits。 We will have a pleasant ride and a good long talk
together； and I'll show you a ruin and a distant view of the villa
where I have been staying。〃 She held out her hand with a frank
girlish smile； and even a girlish anticipation of pleasure in her
brown eyes。 He bent over her slim fingers for a moment； and
withdrew。
When he was in his own room again； he was conscious only of a
strong desire to avoid the colonel until after his ride with Yerba。
He would keep his word so far as to abstain from allusion to her
family or her past： indeed； he had his own opinion of its futility。
But it would be strange if； with his past experience； he could not
find some other way to determine her convictions or win her
confidence during those two hours of companionship。 He would
accept her terms fairly； if she had any ulterior design in her
advances； he would detect it； if she had the least concern for him；
she could not continue long an artificial friendship。 But he must
not think of that！
By absenting himself from the hotel he managed to keep clear of
Pendleton until the hour arrived。 He was gratified to find Yerba
in the simplest and most sensible of habits； as if she had already
divined his tastes and had wished to avoid attracting undue
attention。 Nevertheless； it very prettily accented her tall
graceful figure； and Paul； albeit； like most artistic admirers of
the sex； not recognizing a woman on a horse as a particularly
harmonious spectacle； was forced to admire her。 Both rode well；
and naturallyhaving been brought up in the same Western school
the horses recognized it； and instinctively obeyed them； and their
conversation had the easy deliberation and inflection of a tete…a…
tete。 Paul； in view of her previous hint； talked to her of himself
and his fortunes； of which she appeared； however； to have some
knowledge。 His health had obliged him lately to abandon politics
and office； he had been successful in some ventures； and had become
a junior partner in a bank with foreign correspondence。 She
listened to him for some time with interest and attention； but at
last her face became abstracted and thoughtful。 〃I wish I were a
man！〃 she said suddenly。
Paul looked at her quickly。 For the first time he detected in the
ring of her voice something of the passionate quality he fancied he
had always seen in her face。
〃Except that it might give you better control of your horse； I
don't see why；〃 said Paul。 〃And I don't entirely believe you。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because no woman really wishes to be a man unless she is conscious
of her failure as a woman。〃
〃And how do you know I'm not？〃 she said； checking her horse and
looking in his face。 A quick conviction that she was on the point
of some confession sprang into his mind； but unfortunately showed
in his face。 She beat back his eager look with a short laugh。
〃There； don't speak； and don't look like that。 That remark was
worthy the usual artless maiden's invitation to a compliment；
wasn't it？ Let us keep to the subject of yourself。 Why； with your
political influence； don't you get yourself appointed to some
diplomatic position over here？〃
〃There are none in our service。 You wouldn't want me to sink
myself in some absurd social functions； which are called by that
name； merely to become the envy and hatred of a few rich
republicans； like your friends who haunt foreign courts？〃
〃That's not a pretty speechbut I suppose I invited THAT too。
Don't apologize。 I'd rather see you flare out like that than pay
compliments。 Yet I fancy you're a diplomatist； for all that。〃
〃You did me the honor to believe I was one once； when I was simply
the most palpable ass and bungler living；〃 said Paul bitterly。
She was still sweetly silent； apparently preoccupied in smoothing
out the mane of her walking horse。 〃Did I？〃 she said softly。 He
drew close beside her。
〃How different the vegetation is here from what it is with us！〃 she
said with nervous quickness； directing his attention to the grass
road beneath them； without lifting her eyes。 〃I don't mean what is
cultivated；for I suppos
