susy, a story of the plains-第3章
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your father has invited that boy; Clarence Brant;you know that
creature we picked up and assisted on the plains; when you were a
mere baby;to come down here and make us a visit。〃
Her heart seemed to stop beating as she gazed breathlessly at the
girl。 But Susy's face; unchanged except for the alert; questioning
eyes; remained fixed for a moment; then a childish smile of wonder
opened her small red mouth; expanded it slightly as she said
simply:
〃Lor; mar! He hasn't; really!〃
Inexpressibly; yet unreasonably reassured; Mrs。 Peyton hurriedly
recounted her husband's story of Clarence's fortune; and was even
joyfully surprised into some fairness of statement。
〃But you don't remember him much; do you; dear? It was so long ago;
andyou are quite a young lady now;〃 she added eagerly。
The open mouth was still fixed; the wondering smile would have been
idiotic in any face less dimpled; rosy; and piquant than Susy's。
After a slight gasp; as if in still incredulous and partly
reminiscent preoccupation; she said without replying:
〃How funny! When is he coming?〃
〃Day after to…morrow;〃 returned Mrs。 Peyton; with a contented smile。
〃And Mary Rogers will be here; too。 It will be real fun for her。〃
Mrs。 Peyton was more than reassured。 Half ashamed of her jealous
fears; she drew Susy's golden head towards her and kissed it。 And
the young girl; still reminiscent; with smilingly abstracted
toleration; returned the caress。
CHAPTER II。
It was not thought inconsistent with Susy's capriciousness that she
should declare her intention the next morning of driving her pony
buggy to Santa Inez to anticipate the stage…coach and fetch Mary
Rogers from the station。 Mrs。 Peyton; as usual; supported the young
lady's whim and opposed her husband's objections。
〃Because the stage…coach happens to pass our gate; John; it is no
reason why Susy shouldn't drive her friend from Santa Inez if she
prefers it。 It's only seven miles; and you can send Pedro to follow
her on horseback to see that she comes to no harm。〃
〃But that isn't Pedro's business;〃 said Peyton。
〃He ought to be proud of the privilege;〃 returned the lady; with a
toss of her head。
Peyton smiled grimly; but yielded; and when the stage…coach drew up
the next afternoon at the Santa Inez Hotel; Susy was already waiting
in her pony carriage before it。 Although the susceptible driver;
expressman; and passengers generally; charmed with this golden…
haired vision; would have gladly protracted the meeting of the two
young friends; the transfer of Mary Rogers from the coach to the
carriage was effected with considerable hauteur and youthful dignity
by Susy。 Even Mary Rogers; two years Susy's senior; a serious
brunette; whose good…humor did not; however; impair her capacity for
sentiment; was impressed and even embarrassed by her demeanor; but
only for a moment。 When they had driven from the hotel and were
fairly hidden again in the dust of the outlying plain; with the
discreet Pedro hovering in the distance; Susy dropped the reins;
and; grasping her companion's arm; gasped; in tones of dramatic
intensity:
〃He's been heard from; and is coming HERE!〃
〃Who?〃
A sickening sense that her old confidante had already lost touch
with herthey had been separated for nearly two weeksmight have
passed through Susy's mind。
〃Who?〃 she repeated; with a vicious shake of Mary's arm; 〃why;
Clarence Brant; of course。〃
〃No!〃 said Mary; vaguely。
Nevertheless; Susy went on rapidly; as if to neutralize the effect
of her comrade's vacuity。
〃You never could have imagined it! Never! Even I; when mother told
me; I thought I should have fainted; and ALL would have been
revealed!〃
〃But;〃 hesitated the still wondering confidante; 〃I thought that was
all over long ago。 You haven't seen him nor heard from him since
that day you met accidentally at Santa Clara; two years ago; have
you?〃
Susy's eyes shot a blue ray of dark but unutterable significance
into Mary's; and then were carefully averted。 Mary Rogers; although
perfectly satisfied that Susy had never seen Clarence since;
nevertheless instantly accepted and was even thrilled with this
artful suggestion of a clandestine correspondence。 Such was the
simple faith of youthful friendship。
〃Mother knows nothing of it; of course; and a word from you or him
would ruin everything;〃 continued the breathless Susy。 〃That's why
I came to fetch you and warn you。 You must see him first; and warn
him at any cost。 If I hadn't run every risk to come here to…day;
Heaven knows what might have happened! What do you think of the
ponies; dear? They're my own; and the sweetest! This one's Susy;
that one Clarence;but privately; you know。 Before the world and
in the stables he's only Birdie。〃
〃But I thought you wrote to me that you called them 'Paul and
Virginie;'〃 said Mary doubtfully。
〃I do; sometimes;〃 said Susy calmly。 〃But one has to learn to
suppress one's feelings; dear!〃 Then quickly; 〃I do so hate deceit;
don't you? Tell me; don't you think deceit perfectly hateful?〃
Without waiting for her friend's loyal assent; she continued
rapidly: 〃And he's just rolling in wealth! and educated; papa says;
to the highest degree!〃
〃Then;〃 began Mary; 〃if he's coming with your mother's consent; and
if you haven't quarreled; and it is not broken off; I should think
you'd be just delighted。〃
But another quick flash from Susy's eyes dispersed these beatific
visions of the future。 〃Hush!〃 she said; with suppressed dramatic
intensity。 〃You know not what you say! There's an awful mystery
hangs over him。 Mary Rogers;〃 continued the young girl; approaching
her small mouth to her confidante's ear in an appalling whisper。
〃His father wasa PIRATE! Yeslived a pirate and was killed a
pirate!〃
The statement; however; seemed to be partly ineffective。 Mary
Rogers was startled but not alarmed; and even protested feebly。
〃But;〃 she said; 〃if the father's dead; what's that to do with
Clarence? He was always with your papaso you told me; dearor
other people; and couldn't catch anything from his own father。 And
I'm sure; dearest; he always seemed nice and quiet。〃
〃Yes; SEEMED;〃 returned Susy darkly; 〃but that's all you know! It
was in his BLOOD。 You know it always is;you read it in the
books;you could see it in his eye。 There were times; my dear;
when he was thwarted;when the slightest attention from another
person to me revealed it! I have kept it to myself;but think;
dearest; of the effects of jealousy on that passionate nature!
Sometimes I tremble to look back upon it。〃
Nevertheless; she raised her hands and threw back her lovely golden
mane from her childish shoulders with an easy; untroubled gesture。
It was singular that Mary Rogers; leaning back comfortably in the
buggy; also accepted these heart…rending revelations with
comfortably knitted brows and luxuriously contented concern。 If she
found it difficult to recognize in the picture just drawn by Susy
the quiet; gentle; and sadly reserved youth she had known; she said
nothing。 After a silence; lazily watching the distant wheeling
vacquero; she said:
〃And your father always sends an outrider like that with you? How
nice! So picturesqueand like the old Spanish days。〃
〃Hush!〃 said Susy; with another unutterable glance。
But this time Mary was in full sympathetic communion with her
friend; and equal to any incoherent hiatus of revelation。
〃No!〃 she said promptly; 〃you don't mean it!〃
〃Don't ask me; I daren't say anything to papa; for he'd be simply
furious。 But there are times when we're alone; and Pedro wheels
down so near with SUCH a look in his black eyes; that I'm all in a
tremble。 It's dreadful! They say he's a real Briones;and he
sometimes says something in Spanish; ending with 'senorita;' but I
pre