a sappho of green springs-第17章
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her desk and closed the open drawers without attracting Dick
Shipley's attention。 In the morning； hearing that the patient was
still in the semiconscious exhaustion of his late attack； but
without seeing him； she sent for Dr。 Duchesne。 The doctor arrived
while she was absent at the mill； where； after a careful
examination of his patient； he sought her with some little
excitement。
〃Well？〃 she said； with eager gravity。
〃Well； it looks as if your wish would be gratified。 Your friend
has had an epileptic fit； but the physical shock has started his
mental machinery again。 He has recovered his faculties； his memory
is returning： he thinks and speaks coherently； he is as sane as you
and I。〃
〃And〃said Josephine； questioning the doctor's knitted eyebrows。
〃I am not yet sure whether it was the result of some shock he
doesn't remember； or an irritation of the brain； which would
indicate that the operation had not been successful and that there
was still some physical pressure or obstruction therein which
case he would be subject to these attacks all his life。〃
〃Do you think his reason came before the fit or after？〃 asked the
girl； anxiously。
〃I couldn't say。 Had anything happened？〃
〃I was away； and found him on the floor on my return；〃 she
answered； half uneasily。 After a pause she said； 〃Then he has
told you his name and all about himself？〃
〃Yes； it's nothing at all！ He was a stranger just arrived from
the States； going to the minesthe old story； had no near
relations； of course； wasn't missed or asked after； remembers
walking along the ridge and falling over； name； John Baxter； of
Maine。〃 He paused； and relaxing into a slight smile； added； 〃I
haven't spoiled your romance； have I？〃
〃No；〃 she said； with an answering smile。 Then as the doctor walked
briskly away she slightly knitted her pretty brows； hung her head；
patted the ground with her little foot beyond the hem of her gown；
and said to herself； 〃The man was lying to him。〃
CHAPTER III
On her return to the house； Josephine apparently contented herself
with receiving the bulletin of the stranger's condition from the
servant； for she did not enter his room。 She had obtained no
theory of last night's incident from her parents； who； beyond a
querulous agitation that was quickened by the news of his return to
reason； refrained from even that insidious comment which she half
feared would follow。 When another day passed without her seeing
him； she nevertheless was conscious of a little embarrassment when
his attendant brought her the request that she would give him a
moment's speech in the porch； whither he had been removed。
She found him physically weaker； indeed； so much so that she was
fain； even in her embarrassment； to assist him back to the bench
from which he had ceremoniously risen。 But she was so struck with
the change in his face and manner； a change so virile and
masterful； in spite of its gentle sadness of manner； that she
recoiled with a slight timidity as if he had been a stranger；
although she was also conscious that he seemed to be more at his
ease than she was。 He began in a low exhausted voice； but before
he had finished his first sentence； she felt herself in the
presence of a superior。
〃My thanks come very late； Miss Forsyth；〃 he said； with a faint
smile； 〃but no one knows better than yourself the reason why； or
can better understand that they mean that the burden you have so
generously taken on yourself is about to be lifted。 I know all；
Miss Forsyth。 Since yesterday I have learned how much I owe you；
even my life I believe； though I am afraid I must tell you in the
same breath that THAT is of little worth to any one。 You have
kindly helped and interested yourself in a poor stranger who turns
out to be a nobody； without friends； without romance； and without
even mystery。 You found me lying in the road down yonder； after a
stupid accident that might have happened to any other careless
tramp； and which scarcely gave me a claim to a bed in the county
hospital； much less under this kindly roof。 It was not my fault；
as you know； that all this did not come out sooner； but while it
doesn't lessen your generosity； it doesn't lessen my debt； and
although I cannot hope to ever repay you； I can at least keep the
score from running on。 Pardon my speaking so bluntly； but my
excuse for speaking at all was to say 'Good…by' and 'God bless
you。' Dr。 Duchesne has promised to give me a lift on my way in his
buggy when he goes。〃
There was a slight touch of consciousness in his voice in spite of
its sadness； which struck the young girl as a weak and even
ungentlemanly note in his otherwise self…abnegating and
undemonstrative attitude。 If he was a common tramp； he wouldn't
talk in that way； and if he wasn't； why did he lie？ Her practical
good sense here asserted itself。
〃But you are far from strong yet； in fact； the doctor says you
might have a relapse at any moment； and you havethat is； you SEEM
to have no money；〃 she said gravely。
〃That's true；〃 he said； quickly。 〃I remember I was quite played
out when I entered the settlement； and I think I had parted from
even some little trifles I carried with me。 I am afraid I was a
poor find to those who picked me up； and you ought to have taken
warning。 But the doctor has offered to lend me enough to take me
to San Francisco； if only to give a fair trial to the machine he
has set once more a…going。〃
〃Then you have friends in San Francisco？〃 said the young girl
quickly。 〃Those who know you？ Why not write to them first； and
tell them you are here？〃
〃I don't think your postmaster here would be preoccupied with
letters for John Baxter； if I did；〃 he said； quietly。 〃But here
is the doctor waiting。 Good…by。〃
He stood looking at her in a peculiar； yet half…resigned way； and
held out his hand。 For a moment she hesitated。 Had he been less
independent and strong； she would have refused to let him gohave
offered him some slight employment at the ranch； for oddly enough；
in spite of the suspicion that he was concealing something； she
felt that she would have trusted him； and he would have been a help
to her。 But he was not only determined； but SHE was all the time
conscious that he was a totally different man from the one she had
taken care of； and merely ordinary prudence demanded that she
should know something more of him first。 She gave him her hand
constrainedly； he pressed it warmly。
Dr。 Duchesne drove up； helped him into the buggy； smiled a good…
natured but half…perfunctory assurance that he would look after
〃her patient；〃 and drove away。
The whole thing was over； but so unexpectedly； so suddenly； so
unromantically； so unsatisfactorily； that； although her common
sense told her that it was perfectly natural； proper； business…
like； and reasonable； and； above all； final and complete； she did
not know whether to laugh or be angry。 Yet this was her parting
from the man who had but a few days ago moved her to tears with a
single hopeless gesture。 Well； this would teach her what to
expect。 Well； what had she expected？ Nothing！
Yet for the rest of the day she was unreasonably irritable； and；
if the conjointure be not paradoxical； severely practical； and
inhumanly just。 Falling foul of some presumption of Miguel's；
based upon his prescriptive rights through long service on the
estate； with the recollection of her severity towards his
antagonist in her mind； she rated that trusted retainer with such
pitiless equity and unfeminine logic that his hot Latin blood
chilled in his veins； and he stood livid on the road。 Then；
informing Dick Shipley with equally relentless calm that she might
feel it necessary to change ALL her foremen unless they could agree
in harmony； she sought the dignified seclusion of her castle。 But
her respected parents； whose trium
