in the carquinez woods-第12章

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could　find　any　plant　from　another　I　should　give　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Or　from　a　drawing　of　it〃

〃Yes；　perhaps　even　if　you　described　it　to　me。〃

A　half…confidential；　half…fraternal　silence　followed。

〃I　tell　you　what。　　I've　got　a　book〃

〃I　know　it；〃　interrupted　Teresa；　〃full　of　these　things。〃

〃Yes。　　Do　you　think　you　could〃

〃Of　course　I　could；〃　broke　in　Teresa；　again。

〃But　you　don't　know　what　I　mean；〃　said　the　imperturbable　Low。

〃Certainly　I　do。　　Why；　find　'em；　and　preserve　all　the　different
ones　for　you　to　write　underthat's　it；　isn't　it？〃

Low　nodded　his　head；　gratified　but　not　entirely　convinced　that
she　had　fully　estimated　the　magnitude　of　the　endeavor。

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Teresa；　in　the　feminine　postscriptum　voice
which　it　would　seem　entered　even　the　philosophical　calm　of　the
aisles　they　were　treading〃I　suppose　that　SHE　places　great　value
on　them？〃

Low　had　indeed　heard　Science　personified　before；　nor　was　it　at
all　impossible　that　the　singular　woman　walking　by　his　side　had
also。　　He　said　〃Yes；〃　but　added；　in　mental　reference　to　the
Linnean　Society　of　San　Francisco；　that　〃THEY　were　rather
particular　about　the　rarer　kinds。〃

Content　as　Teresa　had　been　to　believe　in　Low's　tender　relations
with　some　favored　ONE　of　her　sex；　this　frank　confession　of　a
plural　devotion　staggered　her。

〃They？〃　she　repeated。

〃Yes；〃　he　continued　calmly。　　〃The　Botanical　Society　I　correspond
with　are　more　particular　than　the　Government　Survey。〃

〃Then　you　are　doing　this　for　a　society？〃　demanded　Teresa；　with　a
stare。

〃Certainly。　　I'm　making　a　collection　and　classification　of
specimens。　　I　intendbut　what　are　you　looking　at？〃

Teresa　had　suddenly　turned　away。　　Putting　his　hand　lightly　on　her
shoulder；　the　young　man　brought　her　face　to　face　him　again。

She　was　laughing。

〃I　thought　all　the　while　it　was　for　a　girl；〃　she　said；　〃and〃
But　here　the　mere　effort　of　speech　sent　her　off　into　an　audible
and　genuine　outburst　of　laughter。　　It　was　the　first　time　he　had
seen　her　even　smile　other　than　bitterly。　　Characteristically
unconscious　of　any　humor　in　her　error；　he　remained　unembarrassed。
But　he　could　not　help　noticing　a　change　in　the　expression　of　her
face；　her　voice；　and　even　her　intonation。　　It　seemed　as　if　that
fit　of　laughter　had　loosed　the　last　ties　that　bound　her　to　a
self…imposed　character；　had　swept　away　the　last　barrier　between
her　and　her　healthier　nature；　had　dispossessed　a　painful
unreality；　and　relieved　the　morbid　tension　of　a　purely　nervous
attitude。　　The　change　in　her　utterance　and　the　resumption　of　her
softer　Spanish　accent　seemed　to　have　come　with　her　confidences；
and　Low　took　leave　of　her　before　their　sylvan　cabin　with　a
comrade's　heartiness；　and　a　complete　forgetfulness　that　her　voice
had　ever　irritated　him。

When　he　returned　that　afternoon　he　was　startled　to　find　the　cabin
empty。　　But　instead　of　bearing　any　appearance　of　disturbance　or
hurried　flight；　the　rude　interior　seemed　to　have　magically
assumed　a　decorous　order　and　cleanliness　unknown　before。　　Fresh
bark　hid　the　inequalities　of　the　floor。　　The　skins　and　blankets
were　folded　in　the　corners；　the　rude　shelves　were　carefully
arranged；　even　a　few　tall　ferns　and　bright　but　quickly　fading
flowers　were　disposed　around　the　blackened　chimney。　　She　had
evidently　availed　herself　of　the　change　of　clothing　he　had
brought　her；　for　her　late　garments　were　hanging　from　the　hastily…
devised　wooden　pegs　driven　in　the　wall。　　The　young　man　gazed
around　him　with　mixed　feelings　of　gratification　and　uneasiness。
His　presence　had　been　dispossessed　in　a　single　hour；　his　ten
years　of　lonely　habitation　had　left　no　trace　that　this　woman　had
not　effaced　with　a　deft　move　of　her　hand。　　More　than　that；　it
looked　as　if　she　had　always　occupied　it；　and　it　was　with　a
singular　conviction　that　even　when　she　should　occupy　it　no　longer
it　would　only　revert　to　him　as　her　dwelling　that　he　dropped　the
bark　shutters　athwart　the　opening；　and　left　it　to　follow　her。

To　his　quick　ear；　fine　eye；　and　abnormal　senses；　this　was　easy
enough。　　She　had　gone　in　the　direction　of　this　morning's　camp。
Once　or　twice　he　paused　with　a　half…gesture　of　recognition　and　a
characteristic　〃Good！〃　at　the　place　where　she　had　stopped；　but
was　surprised　to　find　that　her　main　course　had　been　as　direct　as
his　own。　　Deviating　from　this　direct　line　with　Indian　precaution；
he　first　made　a　circuit　of　the　camp；　and　approached　the　shattered
trunk　from　the　opposite　direction。　　He　consequently　came　upon
Teresa　unawares。　　But　the　momentary　astonishment　and
embarrassment　were　his　alone。

He　scarcely　recognized　her。　　She　was　wearing　the　garments　he　had
brought　her　the　day　beforea　certain　discarded　gown　of　Miss
Nellie　Wynn；　which　he　had　hurriedly　begged　from　her　under　the
pretext　of　clothing　the　wife　of　a　distressed　overland　emigrant
then　on　the　way　to　the　mines。　　Although　he　had　satisfied　his
conscience　with　the　intention　of　confessing　the　pious　fraud　to
her　when　Teresa　was　gone　and　safe　from　pursuit；　it　was　not
without　a　sense　of　remorse　that　he　witnessed　the　sacrilegious
transformation。　　The　two　women　were　nearly　the　same　height　and
size；　and　although　Teresa's　maturer　figure　accented　the　outlines
more　strongly；　it　was　still　becoming　enough　to　increase　his
irritation。

Of　this　becomingness　she　was　doubtless　unaware　at　the　moment　that
he　surprised　her。　　She　was　conscious　of　having　〃a　change；〃　and
this　had　emboldened　her　to　〃do　her　hair〃　and　otherwise　compose
herself。　　After　their　greeting　she　was　the　first　to　allude　to　the
dress；　regretting　that　it　was　not　more　of　a　rough　disguise；　and
that；　as　she　must　now　discard　the　national　habit　of　wearing　her
shawl　〃manta〃　fashion　over　her　head；　she　wanted　a　hat。　　〃But　you
must　not；〃　she　said；　〃borrow　any　more　dresses　for　me　from　your
young　woman。　　Buy　them　for　me　at　some　shop。　　They　left　me　enough
money　for　that。〃　　Low　gently　put　aside　the　few　pieces　of　gold　she
had　drawn　from　her　pocket；　and　briefly　reminded　her　of　the
suspicion　such　a　purchase　by　him　would　produce。　　〃That's　so；〃　she
said；　with　a　laugh。　　〃Caramba！　what　a　mule　I'm　becoming！　　Ah！
wait　a　moment。　　I　have　it！　　Buy　me　a　common　felt　hata　man's
hatas　if　for　yourself；　as　a　change　to　that　animal；〃　pointing　to
the　fox…tailed　cap　he　wore　summer　and　winter；　〃and　I'll　show　you
a　trick。　　I　haven't　run　a　theatrical　wardrobe　for　nothing。〃　　Nor
had　she；　for　the　hat　thus　procured；　a　few　days　later；　became；　by
the　aid　of　a　silk　handkerchief　and　a　bluejay's　feather；　a
fascinating　〃pork　pie。〃

Whatever　cause　of　annoyance　to　Low　still　lingered　in　Teresa's
dress；　it　was　soon　forgotten　in　a　palpable　evidence　of　Teresa's
value　as　a　botanical　assistant。　　It　appeared　that　during　the
afternoon　she　had　not　only　duplicated　his　specimens；　but　had
discoverd　one　or　two　rare　plants　as　yet　unclassified　in　the　flora
of　the　Carquinez　Woods。　　He　was　delighted；　and　in　turn；　over　the
campfire；　yielded　up　some　details　of　his　present　life　and　some　of
his　earlier　recollections。

〃You　don't　remember　anything　of　your　father？〃　she　asked。　　〃Did　he
ever　try　to　seek　you　out？〃

〃No！　　Why　should　he？〃　replied　the　imperturbable　Low；　〃he　was　not
a　Cherokee。〃

〃No；　he　was　a　beast；〃　responded　Teresa　promptly。　　〃And　your
motherdo　you　remember　her？〃

〃No；　I　think　she　died。〃

〃You　THINK　she　died？　　Don't　you　know？〃

〃No！〃

〃Then　you're　another！〃　said　Teresa。　　Notwithstanding　this
frankness；　they　shook　hands　for　the　night：　Teresa　nestling　like　a
rabbit　in　a　hollow　by　the　side　of　the　campfire；　Low　with　his　feet
towards　it；　Indian…wise；　and　his　head　and　shoulders　pillowed　on
his　haversack；　only　half　distinguishable　in　the　darkness　beyond。

With　such　trivial　details　three　uneventful　days　slipped　by。
Their　retreat　was　undisturbed；　nor　could　Low　detect；　by　the　least
evidence　to　his　acute　perceptive　faculties；　that　any　intruding
feet　had　since　crossed　the　belt　of　shade。　　The　echoes　of　passing
events　at　Indian　Spring　had　recorded　the　escape　of　Teresa　as
occurring　at　a　remote　and　purely　imaginative　distance；　and　her
probable　direction　the　county　of　Yolo。

〃Can　you　remember；〃　he　one　day　asked　her；　〃what　time　it　was　when
you　cut　the　riata　and　got　away？〃

Teresa　pressed