a summer in a canyon-第4章

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mignonette　mingled　with　the　cloying　fragrance　of　the　datura　is　heavy
in　the　still　air。　　The　bending；　willowy　pepper…trees　show　myriad
bunches　of　yellow　blossoms；　crimson　seed…berries；　and　fresh　green
leaves；　whose　surface；　not　rain…washed　for　months；　is　as　full　of
colour　as　ever。　　The　palm…trees　rise　without　a　branch；　tall；　slender；
and　graceful；　from　the　warmly　generous　earth；　and　spread　at　last；　as
if　tired　of　their　straightness；　into　beautiful　crowns　of　fans；　which
sway　toward　each　other　with　every　breath　of　air。　　Innumerable
butterflies　and　humming…birds；　in　the　hot；　dazzling　sunshine　of
noonday；　will　be　hovering　over　the　beds　of　sweet　purple　heliotrope
and　finding　their　way　into　the　hearts　of　the　passion…flowers；　but　as
yet　not　the　faintest　whirr　of　wings　can　be　heard。　　Looking　eastward
or　westward；　you　see　either　brown　foot…hills；　or；　a　little　later　on；
emerald　slopes　whose　vines　hang　heavy　with　the　half…ripened　grapes。

And　hark！　　A　silvery　note　strikes　on　the　dewy　stillness。　　It　is　the
mission　bell　ringing　for　morning　mass；　and　if　you　look　yonder　you　may
see　the　Franciscan　friars　going　to　prayers；　with　their　loose　grey
gowns；　their　girdle　of　rope；　their　sandaled　feet；　and　their　jingling
rosaries；　and　perhaps　a　Spanish　senorita；　with　her　trailing　dress；
and　black　shawl　loosely　thrown　over　her　head；　from　out　the　folds　of
which　her　two　dark　eyes　burn　like　gleaming　fires。　　A　solitary　Mexican
gallops　by；　with　gayly　decorated　saddle　and　heavily　laden　saddle…bags
hanging　from　it；　perhaps　he　is　taking　home　provisions　to　his　wife　and
dark…eyed　babies　who　live　up　in　a　little　dimple　of　the　mountain　side；
almost　hidden　from　sight　by　the　olive…trees。　　And　then　a　patient；
hardy　little　mustang　lopes　along　the　street；　bearing　on　his　back
three　laughing　boys；　one　behind　the　other；　on　a　morning　ride　into
town　from　the　mesa。

The　mist　had　floated　away　from　the　old　mission　now；　the　sun　has
climbed　a　little　higher；　and　Bell　has　come　away　from　the　window　in　a
gentle　mood。

'Oh；　Polly；　I　don't　see　how　anybody　can　be　wicked　in　such　a
beautiful；　beautiful　world。'

'Humph！'　said　Polly；　dipping　her　curly　head　deep　into　the　water…bowl；
and　coming　up　looking　like　a　little　drowned　kitten。　　'When　you　want
to　be　hateful；　you　don't　stop　to　think　whether　you're　looking　at　a
cactus　or　a　rosebush；　do　you？'

'Very　true；'　sighed　Bell；　quite　silenced　by　this　practical
illustration。　　'Now　I'll　try　the　effect　of　the　landscape　on　my　temper
by　dressing　Dicky；　while　he　dances　about　the　room　and　plays　with　his
tan　terrier。'

But　it　happened　that　Dicky　was　on　his　very　best　behaviour；　and　stood
as　still　as　a　signpost　while　being　dressed。　　It　is　true　he　ate　a
couple　of　matches　and　tumbled　down…stairs　twice　before　breakfast；　so
that　after　that　hurried　meal　Bell　tied　him　to　one　of　the　verandah
posts；　that　he　might　not　commit　any　act　vicious　enough　to　keep　them
at　home。　　As　he　had　a　huge　pocket　full　of　apricots　he　was　in　perfect
good…humour；　not　taking　his　confinement　at　all　to　heart；　inasmuch　as
it　commanded　a　full　view　of　the　scene　of　action。　　His　amiability　was
further　increased；　moreover；　by　the　possession　of　a　bright　new
policeman's　whistle；　which　was　carefully　tied　to　his　button…hole　by　a
neat　little　silk　cord；　and　which　his　fond　parents　intended　that　he
should　blow　if　he　chanced　to　fall　into　danger　during　his　rambles
about　the　camp。　　We　might　as　well　state　here；　however；　that　this
precaution　proved　fruitless；　for　he　blew　it　at　all　times　and　seasons；
and　everybody　became　so　hardened　to　its　melodious　shriek　that　they
paid　no　attention　to　it　whatever；history；　or　fable；　thus　again
repeating　itself。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Noble　had　driven　Margery　and　Phil　into　town　from　the
fruit　ranch；　and　were　waiting　to　see　the　party　off。

Mrs。　Oliver　was　to　live　in　the　Winship　house　during　the　absence　of
the　family；　and　was　aiding　them　to　do　those　numberless　little　things
that　are　always　found　undone　at　the　last　moment。　　She　had　given　her
impetuous　daughter　a　dozen　fond　embraces；　smothering　in　each　a　gentle
warning；　and　stood　now　with　Mrs。　Winship　at　the　gate；　watching　the
three　girls；　who　had　gone　on　to　bid　Elsie　good…bye。

'I　hope　Pauline　won't　give　you　any　trouble；'　she　said。　　'She　is　so
apt　to　be　too　impulsive　and　thoughtless。'

'I　shall　enjoy　her；'　said　sweet　Aunt　Truth；　with　that　bright；　cordial
smile　of　hers　that　was　like　a　blessing。　　'She　has　a　very　loving
heart；　and　is　easily　led。　　How　pretty　the　girls　look；　and　how
different　they　are！　　Polly　is　like　a　thistledown　or　a　firefly；
Margery　like　one　of　our　home　Mayflowers；　and　I　can't　help　thinking　my
Bell　like　a　sunbeam。'

The　girls　did　look　very　pretty；　for　their　mothers　had　fashioned　their
camping…dresses　with　much　care　and　taste；　taking　great　pains　to　make
them　picturesque　and　appropriate　to　their　summer　life　'under　the
greenwood　tree。'

Over　a　plain　full　skirt　of　heavy　crimson　serge　Bell　wore　a　hunting
jacket　and　drapery　of　dark　leaf…green；　like　a　bit　of　forest　against　a
sunset。　　Her　hair；　which　fell　in　a　waving　mass　of　burnished
brightness　to　her　waist；　was　caught　by　a　silver　arrow；　and　crowned　by
a　wide　soft　hat　of　crimson　felt　encircled　with　a　bird's　breast。

Margery　wore　a　soft　grey　flannel；　the　colour　of　a　dove's　throat；
adorned　with　rows　upon　rows　of　silver　braid　and　sparkling　silver
buttons；　while　her　big　grey　hat　had　nothing　but　a　silver　cord　and
tassel　tied　round　it　in　Spanish　fashion。

Polly　was　all　in　sailor　blue；　with　a　distractingly　natty　little
double…breasted　coat　and　great　white　rolling　collar。　　Her　hat　swung
in　her　hand；　as　usual；　showing　her　boyish　head　of　sunny　auburn　curls；
and　she　carried　on　a　neat　chatelaine　a　silver　cup　and　little　clasp…
knife；　as　was　the　custom　in　the　party。

'It's　very　difficult；'　Polly　often　exclaimed；　'to　get　a　dress　that
will　tone　down　your　hair　and　a　hat　that　will　tone　up　your　nose；　when
the　first　is　red　and　the　last　a　snub！　　My　nose　is　the　root　of　all
evil；　it　makes　people　think　I'm　saucy　before　I　say　a　word；　and　as　for
my　hair；　they　think　I　must　be　peppery；　no　matter　if　I　were　really　as
meek　as　Moses。　　Now　there's　Margery；　the　dear；　darling　mouse！　　People
look　at　her　two　sleek　braids；　every　hair　doing　just　what　it　ought　to
do　and　lying　straight　and　smooth；　and　ask；　〃Who　is　that　sweet　girl？〃
There's　something　wrong　somewhere。　　I　ought　not　to　suffer　because　of
one　small；　simple；　turned…up　nose　and　a　head　of　hair　which　reveals
the　glowing　tints　of　autumn；　as　Jack　gracefully　says。'

'Here　they　come！'　shouted　Jack　from　the　group　on　the　Howards'　piazza。
'Christopher　Columbus；　what　gorgeousness！　　The　Flamingo；　the　Dove；
and　the　Blue…jay！　　Good…morning；　young　ladies；　may　we　be　allowed　to
travel　in　the　same　steamer　with　your　highnesses？'

'You　needn't　be　troubled；'　laughed　Bell。　　'We　shall　not　disclose
these　glories　until　we　reach　the　camp。　　But　you　are　dressed　as　usual。
What's　the　matter？'

'Why；　the　fact　is；'　answered　Geoffrey；　'our　courage　failed　us　at　the
last　moment。　　We　donned　our　uniforms；　and　looked　like　brigands；
highway　robbers；　cowboys；　firemen；anything　but　modest　young　men；
and　as　it　was　too　warm　for　ulsters；　we　took　refuge　in　civilised
raiment　for　to…day。　　When　we　arrive；　you　shall　behold　our　dashing
sombreros　fixed　up　with　peacock　feathers；　and　our　refulgent　shirts；
which　are　of　the　most　original　style　and　decoration。'

'Aboriginal；　in　fact；'　said　Jack。　　'We　have　broad　belts　of　alligator
skin；　pouches；　pistols；　bowie…knives；　and　tan…coloured　shoes；　but　we
dislike　to　flaunt　them　before　the　eyes　of　a　city　public。'

'Here　they　are！'　cried　Geoffrey；　from　the　gate。　　'Uncle；　and　aunt；
and　Dicky；　andgood　gracious！　　Is　he　really　going　to　take　that
wretched　tan　terrier？'

'Won't　go　without　him；'　said　Bell；　briefly。　　'There　are　cases　where
it　is　better　to　submit　than　to　fight。'

So　the　last　good…byes　were　said；　and　Elsie　bore　up　bravely；　better；
indeed；　than　the　others；　who　shed　many　a　furtive　tear　at　leaving　her。
'Make　haste　and　get　well；　darling；'　whispered　the　girls；　lovingly。

'Pray；　pray；　dear　Mrs。　Howard；　bring　her　down　to　us　as　soon　as
possible。　　We'll　take　such　good　care　of　her；'　teased　Bell；　with　one
last　squeeze；　and　strong　signs　of　a