sally dows-第21章

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of　or　even　knowing　his　older　and　unequal　companionship；　it　gave　her
a　freedom　her　girlhood　had　never　known；　yet　added　a　protection　that
suited　her　still　childish　dependency；　while　it　tickled　her　pride
with　its　equality。　　When　not　engaged　in　her　easy　household　duties
in　her　three…roomed　cottage；　or　the　care　of　her　rocky　garden　patch；
she　found　time　enough　to　indulge　her　fancy　over　the　mysterious　haze
that　wrapped　the　invisible　city　so　near　and　yet　unknown　to　her；　in
the　sails　that　slipped　in　and　out　of　the　Golden　Gate；　but　of　whose
destination　she　knew　nothing；　and　in　the　long　smoke　trail　of　the
mail　steamer　which　had　yet　brought　her　no　message。　　Like　all
dwellers　by　the　sea；　her　face　and　her　thoughts　were　more　frequently
turned　towards　it；　and　as　with　them；　it　also　seemed　to　her　that
whatever　change　was　coming　into　her　life　would　come　across　that
vast　unknown　expanse。　　But　it　was　here　that　Mrs。　Bunker　was
mistaken。

It　had　been　a　sparkling　summer　morning。　　The　waves　were　running
before　the　dry　northwest　trade　winds　with　crystalline　but　colorless
brilliancy。　　Sheltered　by　the　high；　northerly　bluff；　the　house　and
its　garden　were　exposed　to　the　untempered　heat　of　the　cloudless　sun
refracted　from　the　rocky　wall　behind　it。　　Some　tarpaulin　and　ropes
lying　among　the　rocks　were　sticky　and　odorous；　the　scrub　oaks　and
manzanita　bushes　gave　out　the　aroma　of　baking　wood；　occasionally　a
faint　pot…pourri　fragrance　from　the　hot　wild　roses　and　beach　grass
was　blown　along　the　shore；　even　the　lingering　odors　of　Bunker's
vocation；　and　of　Mrs。　Bunker's　cooking；　were　idealized　and　refined
by　the　saline　breath　of　the　sea　at　the　doors　and　windows。　　Mrs。
Bunker；　in　the　dazzling　sun；　bending　over　her　peas　and　lettuces
with　a　small　hoe；　felt　the　comfort　of　her　brown　holland　sunbonnet。
Secure　in　her　isolation；　she　unbuttoned　the　neck　of　her　gown　for
air；　and　did　not　put　up　the　strand　of　black　hair　that　had　escaped
over　her　shoulder。　　It　was　very　hot　in　the　lee　of　the　bluff；　and
very　quiet　in　that　still　air。　　So　quiet　that　she　heard　two　distinct
reports；　following　each　other　quickly；　but　very　faint　and　far。
She　glanced　mechanically　towards　the　sea。　　Two　merchant…men　in
midstream　were　shaking　out　their　wings　for　a　long　flight；　a　pilot
boat　and　coasting　schooner　were　rounding　the　point；　but　there　was
no　smoke　from　their　decks。　　She　bent　over　her　work　again；　and　in
another　moment　had　forgotten　it。　　But　the　heat；　with　the　dazzling
reflection　from　the　cliff；　forced　her　to　suspend　her　gardening；　and
stroll　along　the　beach　to　the　extreme　limit　of　her　domain。　　Here
she　looked　after　the　cow　that　had　also　strayed　away　through　the
tangled　bush　for　coolness。　　The　goats；　impervious　to　temperature；
were　basking　in　inaccessible　fastnesses　on　the　cliff　itself　that
made　her　eyes　ache　to　climb。　　Over　an　hour　passed；　she　was
returning；　and　had　neared　her　house；　when　she　was　suddenly　startled
to　see　the　figure　of　a　man　between　her　and　the　cliff。　　He　was
engaged　in　brushing　his　dusty　clothes　with　a　handkerchief；　and
although　he　saw　her　coming；　and　even　moved　slowly　towards　her；
continued　his　occupation　with　a　half…impatient；　half…abstracted
air。　　Her　feminine　perception　was　struck　with　the　circumstance　that
he　was　in　deep　black；　with　scarcely　a　gleam　of　white　showing　even
at　his　throat；　and　that　he　wore　a　tall　black　hat。　　Without　knowing
anything　of　social　customs；　it　seemed　to　her　that　his　dress　was
inconsistent　with　his　appearance　there。

〃Good…morning；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　hat　with　a　preoccupied　air。
〃Do　you　live　here？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　wonderingly。

〃Anybody　else？〃

〃My　husband。〃

〃I　mean　any　other　people？　　Are　there　any　other　houses？〃　he　said
with　a　slight　impatience。

〃No。〃

He　looked　at　her　and　then　towards　the　sea。　　〃I　expect　some　friends
who　are　coming　for　me　in　a　boat。　　I　suppose　they　can　land　easily
here？〃

〃Didn't　you　yourself　land　here　just　now？〃　she　said　quickly。

He　half　hesitated；　and　then；　as　if　scorning　an　equivocation；　made　a
hasty　gesture　over　her　shoulder　and　said　bluntly；　〃No；　I　came　over
the　cliff。〃

〃Down　the　cliff？〃　she　repeated　incredulously。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　his　clothes；　〃it　was　a　rough　scramble；
but　the　goats　showed　me　the　way。〃

〃And　you　were　up　on　the　bluff　all　the　time？〃　she　went　on　curiously。

〃Yes。　　You　seeI〃he　stopped　suddenly　at　what　seemed　to　be　the
beginning　of　a　prearranged　and　plausible　explanation；　as　if
impatient　of　its　weakness　or　hypocrisy；　and　said　briefly；　〃Yes；　I
was　there。〃

Like　most　women；　more　observant　of　his　face　and　figure；　she　did　not
miss　this　lack　of　explanation。　　He　was　a　very　good…looking　man　of
middle　age；　with　a　thin；　proud；　high…bred　face；　which　in　a　country
of　bearded　men　had　the　further　distinction　of　being　smoothly
shaven。　　She　had　never　seen　any　one　like　him　before。　　She　thought
he　looked　like　an　illustration　of　some　novel　she　had　read；　but　also
somewhat　melancholy；　worn；　and　tired。

〃Won't　you　come　in　and　rest　yourself？〃　she　said；　motioning　to　the
cabin。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　still　half　absently。　　〃Perhaps　I'd　better。
It　may　be　some　time　yet　before　they　come。〃

She　led　the　way　to　the　cabin；　entered　the　living　rooma　plainly
furnished　little　apartment　between　the　bedroom　and　the　kitchen
pointed　to　a　large　bamboo　armchair；　and　placed　a　bottle　of　whiskey
and　some　water　on　the　table　before　him。　　He　thanked　her　again　very
gently；　poured　out　some　spirits　in　his　glass；　and　mixed　it　with
water。　　But　when　she　glanced　towards　him　again　he　had　apparently
risen　without　tasting　it；　and　going　to　the　door　was　standing　there
with　his　hand　in　the　breast　of　his　buttoned　frock　coat；　gazing
silently　towards　the　sea。　　There　was　something　vaguely　historical
in　his　attitudeor　what　she　thought　might　be　historicalas　of
somebody　of　great　importance　who　had　halted　on　the　eve　of　some
great　event　at　the　door　of　her　humble　cabin。

His　apparent　unconsciousness　of　her　and　of　his　surroundings；　his
preoccupation　with　something　far　beyond　her　ken；　far　from　piquing
her；　only　excited　her　interest　the　more。　　And　then　there　was　such
an　odd　sadness　in　his　eyes。

〃Are　you　anxious　for　your　folks'　coming？〃　she　said　at　last；
following　his　outlook。

〃Ioh　no！〃　he　returned；　quickly　recalling　himself；　〃they'll　be
sure　to　comesooner　or　later。　　No　fear　of　that；〃　he　added；　half
smilingly；　half　wearily。

Mrs。　Bunker　passed　into　the　kitchen；　where；　while　apparently
attending　to　her　household　duties；　she　could　still　observe　her
singular　guest。　　Left　alone；　he　seated　himself　mechanically　in　the
chair；　and　gazed　fixedly　at　the　fireplace。　　He　remained　a　long　time
so　quiet　and　unmoved；　in　spite　of　the　marked　ostentatious　clatter
Mrs。　Bunker　found　it　necessary　to　make　with　her　dishes；　that　an
odd　fancy　that　he　was　scarcely　a　human　visitant　began　to　take
possession　of　her。　　Yet　she　was　not　frightened。　　She　remembered
distinctly　afterwards　that；　far　from　having　any　concern　for
herself；　she　was　only　moved　by　a　strange　and　vague　admiration　of
him。

But　her　prolonged　scrutiny　was　not　without　effect。　　Suddenly　he
raised　his　dark　eyes；　and　she　felt　them　pierce　the　obscurity　of　her
kitchen　with　a　quick；　suspicious；　impatient　penetration；　which　as
they　met　hers　gave　way；　however；　to　a　look　that　she　thought　was
gently　reproachful。　　Then　he　rose；　stretched　himself　to　his　full
height；　and　approaching　the　kitchen　door　leaned　listlessly　against
the　door…post。

〃I　don't　suppose　you　are　ever　lonely　here？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Of　course　not。　　You　have　yourself　and　husband。　　Nobody　interferes
with　you。　　You　are　contented　and　happy　together。〃

Mrs。　Bunker　did　not　say；　what　was　the　fact；　that　she　had　never
before　connected　the　sole　companionship　of　her　husband　with　her
happiness。　　Perhaps　it　had　never　occurred　to　her　until　that　moment
how　little　it　had　to　do　with　it。　　She　only　smiled　gratefully　at　the
change　in　her　guest's　abstraction。

〃Do　you　often　go　to　San　Francisco？〃　he　continued。

〃I　have　never　been　there　at　all。　　Some　day　I　expect　we　will　go
there　to　live。〃

〃I　wouldn't　advise　you　to；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　gravely。　　〃I
don't　think　it　will　pay　you。　　You'll　never　be　happy　there　as　here。
You'll　never　have　the　indep