第 8 节
作者:
暖暖 更新:2022-11-23 12:12 字数:9322
whom she never knew; and who is legally dead to her?〃
〃In my day; sir; no one who knew the circumstances;〃 returned the
colonel; quickly。 〃But we are living in a blessed era of Christian
retribution and civilized propriety; and I believe there are a lot of men and
women about who have no other way of showing their own virtue than by
showing up another's vice。 We're in a reaction of reform。 It's the old
drunkards who are always more clamorous for total abstinence than the
moderately temperate。 I tell you; Hathaway; there couldn't be an unluckier
moment for our secret coming out。〃
〃But she will be of age soon。〃
〃In two months。〃
〃And sure to marry。〃
〃Marry!〃 repeated Pendleton; with grim irony。 〃Would YOU marry
her?〃
26
… Page 27…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃That's another question;〃 said the young man; promptly; 〃and one of
individual taste; but it does not affect my general belief that she could
easily find a husband as good and better。〃
〃Suppose she found one BEFORE the secret is out。 Ought he be told?〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃And that would imply telling HER?〃
〃Yes;〃 said Paul; but not so promptly。 〃And you consider THAT
fulfilling the promise of the Trustthe pledges exchanged with that
woman?〃 continued Pendleton; with glittering eyes and a return to his own
dominant tone。
〃My dear colonel;〃 said Paul; somewhat less positively; but still
smiling; 〃you have made a romantic; almost impossible compact with Mrs。
Howard that; you yourself are now obliged to admit; circumstances may
prevent your carrying out substantially。 You forget; also; that you have just
told me that you have already broken your pledgeunder circumstances; it
is true; that do you honorand that now your desperate attempts to retrieve
it have failed。 Now; I really see nothing wrong in your telling to a
presumptive well…wisher of the girl what you have told to her enemy。〃
There was a dead silence。 The prostrate man uttered a slight groan; as
if in pain; and drew up his leg to change his position。 After a pause; he
said; in a restrained voice; 〃I differ from you; Mr。 Hathaway; but enough
of this for the present。 I have something else to say。 It will be necessary for
one of us to go at once to Santa Clara and see Miss Yerba Buena。〃
〃Good heavens!〃 said Paul; quickly。 〃Do you call her THAT?〃
〃Certainly; sir。 You gave her the name。 Have you forgotten?〃
〃I only suggested it;〃 returned Paul; hopelessly; 〃but no matter go
on。〃
〃I cannot go there; as you see;〃 continued Pendleton; with a weary
gesture towards his crippled ankle; 〃and I should particularly like you to
see her before we make the joint disposition of her affairs with the Mayor;
two months hence。 I have some papers you can show her; and I have
already written a letter introducing you to the Lady Superior at the convent;
and to her。 You have never seen her?〃
〃No;〃 said Paul。 〃But of course you have?〃
27
… Page 28…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃Not for three years。〃
Paul's eyes evidently expressed some wonder; for a moment after the
colonel added; 〃I believe; Hathaway; I am looked upon as a queer survival
of a rather lawless and improper past。 At least; I have thought it better not
socially to compromise her by my presence。 The Mayor goes thereat the
examinations and exercises; I believe; sir; they make a sort of reception for
himwith aabanquet lemonade and speeches。〃
〃I had intended to leave for Sacramento to…morrow night;〃 said Paul;
glancing curiously at the helpless man; 〃but I will go there if you wish。〃
〃Thank you。 It will be better。〃
There were a few words of further explanation of the papers; and
Pendleton placed the packet in his visitor's hands。 Paul rose。 Somehow; it
appeared to him that the room looked more faded and forgotten than when
he entered it; and the figure of the man before him more lonely; helpless;
and abandoned。 With one of his sympathetic impulses he said:
〃I don't like to leave you here alone。 Are you sure you can help
yourself without George? Can I do anything before I go?〃
〃I am quite accustomed to it;〃 said Pendleton; quietly。 〃It happens once
or twice a year; and when I go outwellI miss more than I do here。〃
He took Paul's proffered hand mechanically; with a slight return of the
critical; doubting look he had cast upon him when he entered。 his voice;
too; had quite recovered its old dominance; as he said; with half…
patronizing conventionality; 〃You'll have to find your way out alone。 Let
me know how you have sped at Santa Clara; will you? Good…by。〃
The staircase and passage seemed to have grown shabbier and meaner
as Paul; slowly and hesitatingly; descended to the street。 At the foot of the
stairs he paused irresolutely; and loitered with a vague idea of turning back
on some pretense; only that he might relieve himself of the sense of
desertion。 He had already determined upon making that inquiry into the
colonel's personal and pecuniary affairs which he had not dared to offer
personally; and had a half…formed plan of testing his own power and
popularity in a certain line of relief that at once satisfied his sympathies
and ambitions。 Nevertheless; after reaching the street; he lingered a
moment; when an odd idea of temporizing with his inclinations struck him。
28
… Page 29…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
At the farther end of the hotelone of the parasites living on its decayed
fortuneswas a small barber's shop。 By having his hair trimmed and his
clothes brushed he could linger a little longer beneath the same roof with
the helpless solitary; and perhaps come to some conclusion。 He entered the
clean but scantily furnished shop; and threw himself into one of the
nearest chairs; hardly noting that there were no other customers; and that a
single assistant; stropping a razor behind a glass door; was the only
occupant。 But there was a familiar note of exaggerated politeness about
the voice of this man as he opened the door and came towards the back of
the chair with the formula:
〃Mo'nin'; sah! Shall we hab de pleshure of shavin' or hah…cuttin' dis
mo'nin'?〃 Paul raised his eyes quickly to the mirror before him。 It reflected
the black face and grizzled hair of George。
More relieved at finding the old servant still near his master than
caring to comprehend the reason; Hathaway said pleasantly; 〃Well; George;
is this the way you look after your family?〃
The old man started; for an instant his full red lips seemed to become
dry and ashen; the whites of his eyes were suffused and staring; as he met
Paul's smiling face in the glass。 But almost as quickly he recovered
himself; and; with a polite but deprecating bow; said;〃For God sake; sah!
I admit de sarkumstances is agin me; but de simple fack is dat I'm
temper'ly occupyin' de place of an ole frien'; sah; who is called round de
cornah。〃
〃And I'm devilish glad of any fact; George; that gives me a chance of
having my hair cut by Colonel Pendleton's right…hand man。 So fire away!〃
The gratified smile which now suddenly overspread the whole of the
old man's face; and seemed to quickly stiffen the rugged and wrinkled
fingers that had at first trembled in drawing a pair of shears from a ragged
pocket; appeared to satisfy Paul's curiosity for the present。 But after a few
moments' silent snipping; during which he could detect in the mirror some
traces of agitation still twitching the negro's face; he said with an air of
conviction:
〃Look here; Georgewhy don't you regularly use your leisure
moments in this trade? You'd make your fortune by your taste and skill at
29
… Page 30…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
it。〃
For the next half minute the old man's frame shook with silent
childlike laughter