按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
up a riding party to San Mateo for Mrs。 Ashwood。 We must show them
some civility； and that Boston brother of hers； Mr。 Shipley； will
have to be invited also。 I can't get away； and my wife； of course；
will only be able to join them at San Mateo in the carriage。 I
reckon it would be easier for Clementina if you took my place； and
helped her look after the riding party。 It will need a man； and I
think she'd prefer youas you know she's rather particular
unless； of course； you'd be wanted for Mrs。 Ashwood or Phemie； or
somebody else。〃
From his shadowed corner he could see that a pleasant light had
sprung into Grant's eyes； although his reply was in his ordinary
easy banter。 〃I shall be only too glad to act as Miss Clementina's
vaquero； and lasso her runaways； or keep stragglers in the road。〃
There seemed to be small necessity； however； for this active co…
operation； for when the cheerful cavalcade started from the house a
few mornings later； Mr。 Lawrence Grant's onerous duties seemed to
be simply confined to those of an ordinary cavalier at the side of
Miss Clementina； a few paces in the rear of the party。 But this
safe distance gave them the opportunity of conversing without being
overheard；an apparently discreet precaution。
〃Your father was so exceedingly affable to me the other day that if
I hadn't given you my promise to say nothing； I think I would have
fallen on my knees to him then and there； revealed my feelings；
asked for your hand and his blessingor whatever one does at such
a time。 But how long do you intend to keep me in this suspense？〃
Clementina turned her clear eyes half abstractedly upon him； as if
imperfectly recalling some forgotten situation。 〃You forget；〃 she
said； 〃that part of your promise was that you wouldn't even speak
of it to me again without my permission。〃
〃But my time is so short now。 Give me some definite hope before I
go。 Let me believe that when we meet in New York〃
〃You will find me just the same as now！ Yes； I think I can promise
THAT。 Let that suffice。 You said the other day you liked me
because I had not changed for five years。 You can surely trust
that I will not alter in as many months。〃
〃If I only knew〃
〃Ah； if I only knew；if WE ALL only knew。 But we don't。 Come；
Mr。 Grant； let it rest as it is。 Unless you want to go still
further back and have it as it WAS； at Sidon。 There I think you
fancied Euphemia most。〃
〃Clementina！〃
〃That is my name； and those people ahead of us know it already。〃
〃You are called CLEMENTINA；but you are not merciful！〃
〃You are very wrong； for you might see that Mr。 Shipley has twice
checked his horse that he might hear what you are saying； and
Phemie is always showing Mrs。 Ashwood something in the landscape
behind us。〃
All this was the more hopeless and exasperating to Grant since in
the young girl's speech and manner there was not the slightest
trace of coquetry or playfulness。 He could not help saying a
little bitterly： 〃I don't think that any one would imagine from
your manner that you were receiving a declaration。〃
〃But they might imagine from yours that you had the right to
quarrel with me；which would be worse。〃
〃We cannot part like this！ It is too cruel to me。〃
〃We cannot part otherwise without the risk of greater cruelty。〃
〃But say at least； Clementina； that I have no rival。 There is no
other more favored suitor？〃
〃That is so like a manand yet so unlike the proud one I believed
you to be。 Why should a man like you even consider such a
possibility？ If I were a man I know I couldn't。〃 She turned upon
him a glance so clear and untroubled by either conscious vanity or
evasion that he was hopelessly convinced of the truth of her
statement； and she went on in a slightly lowered tone； 〃You have no
right to ask me such a question；but perhaps for that reason I am
willing to answer you。 There is none。 Hush！ For a good rider you
are setting a poor example to the others； by crowding me towards
the bank。 Go forward and talk to Phemie； and tell her not to worry
Mrs。 Ashwood's horse nor race with her； I don't think he's quite
safe； and Mrs。 Ashwood isn't accustomed to using the Spanish bit。
I suppose I must say something to Mr。 Shipley； who doesn't seem to
understand that I'M acting as chaperon； and YOU as captain of the
party。〃
She cantered forward as she spoke； and Grant was obliged to join
her sister； who； mounted on a powerful roan； was mischievously
exciting a beautiful quaker…colored mustang ridden by Mrs。 Ashwood；
already irritated by the unfamiliar pressure of the Eastern woman's
hand upon his bit。 The thick dust which had forced the party of
twenty to close up in two solid files across the road compelled
them at the first opening in the roadside fence to take the field
in a straggling gallop。 Grant； eager to escape from his own
discontented self by doing something for others； reined in beside
Euphemia and the fair stranger。
〃Let me take your place until Mrs。 Ashwood's horse is quieted；〃 he
half whispered to Euphemia。
〃Thank you；and I suppose it does not make any matter to Clem who
quiets mine；〃 she said； with provoking eyes and a toss of her head
worthy of the spirited animal she was riding。
〃She thinks you quite capable of managing yourself and even
others；〃 he replied with a playful glance at Shipley； who was
riding somewhat stiffly on the other side。
〃Don't be too sure；〃 retorted Phemie with another dangerous look；
〃I may give you trouble yet。〃
They were approaching the first undulation of the russet plain they
had emerged upon；an umbrageous slope that seemed suddenly to
diverge in two defiles among the shaded hills。 Grant had given a
few words of practical advice to Mrs。 Ashwood； and shown her how to
guide her mustang by the merest caressing touch of the rein upon
its sensitive neck。 He had not been sympathetically inclined
towards the fair stranger； a rich and still youthful widow；
although he could not deny her unquestioned good breeding； mental
refinement； and a certain languorous thoughtfulness that was almost
melancholy； which accented her blonde delicacy。 But he had noticed
that her manner was politely reserved and slightly constrained
towards the Harcourts； and he had already resented it with a lover's
instinctive loyalty。 He had at first attributed it to a want of
sympathy between Mrs。 Ashwood's more intellectual sentimentalities
and the Harcourts' undeniable lack of any sentiment whatever。 But
there was evidently some other innate antagonism。 He was very
polite to Mrs。 Ashwood； she responded with a gentlewoman's courtesy；
and； he was forced to admit； even a broader comprehension of his own
merits than the Harcourt girls had ever shown； but he could still
detect that she was not in accord with the party。
〃I am afraid you do not like California； Mrs。 Ashwood？〃 he said
pleasantly。 〃You perhaps find the life here too unrestrained and
unconventional？〃
She looked at him in quick astonishment。 〃Are you quite sincere？
Why； it strikes me that this is just what it is NOT。 And I have so
longed for something quite different。 From what I have been told
about the originality and adventure of everything here； and your
independence of old social forms and customs； I am afraid I
expected the opposite of what I've seen。 Why； this very party
except that the ladies are prettier and more expensively gotten up
is like any party that might have ridden out at Saratoga or New
York。〃
〃And as stupid； you would say。〃
〃As CONVENTIONAL； Mr。 Grant； always excepting this lovely creature
beneath me； whom I can't make out and who doesn't seem to care that
I should。 There！ look！ I told you so！〃
Her mustang had suddenly bounded forward； but as Grant followed he
could see that the cause was the example of Phemie； who had； in
some mad freak； dashed out in a frantic gallop。 A half…dozen of
the younger people hilariously accepted the challenge； the
excitement was communicated to the others； until the whole
cavalcade was sweeping down the slope。 Grant was still at Mrs。
Ashwood's side； restraining her mustang and his own impatient horse
when Clementina joined them。 〃Phemie's mare has really bolted； I
fear；〃 she said in a quick whisper； 〃ride on； and never mind us。〃
Grant looked quickly ahead； Phemie's roan； excited by the shouts
behind her and to all appearance ungovernable； was fast disappearing
with her rider。 Without a word； trusting to his own good
horsemanship and better knowledge of the ground； he darted out of
the cavalcade to overtake her。
But the unfortunate result of this was to give further impulse to
the now racing horses as they approached a point where the slope
terminated in two diverging canyons。 Mrs。 Ashwood gave a sharp
pull upon her bit。 To her consternation the mustang stopped short
almost i