a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第14章
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and with her graceful head a little on one side； was softly caressing her
cheek with it。 She certainly was very pretty。 From the crown of her dark
little head to the narrow rosetted slippers that had been idly tapping the
ground； but now seemed to press it more proudly； with arched insteps and
small ankles； she was pleasant to look upon。
〃But you surely have something else to think about； Miss Yerba？〃 said
the young man； with conviction。 〃In a few months you will be of age； and
rid of those dreadfully stupid guardians； with your〃
The loosened rose…spray flew from her hand out of the window as she
made a gesture； half real； half assumed； of imploring supplication。 〃Oh；
please； Mr。 Hathaway； for Heaven's sake don't YOU begin too！ You are
going to say that； with my wealth； my accomplishments； my beauty； my
friends； what more can I want？ What do I care about a secret that can
neither add to them nor take them away？ Yes； you were！ It's the regular
thing to sayeverybody says it。 Why； I should have thought 'the youngest
senator' could afford to have been more original。〃
〃I plead guilty to ALL the weaknesses of humanity；〃 said Paul； warmly；
again beginning to believe that he had been most unjust to her
independence。
〃Well； I forgive you； because you have forgotten to say that； if I don't
like the name of Yerba Buena； I could SO easily change that too。〃
〃But you DO like it；〃 said Paul； touched with this first hearing of her
name in her own musical accents； 〃or would like it if you heard yourself
pronounce it。〃 It suddenly recurred to him； with a strange thrill of pleasure；
that he himself had given it to her。 It was as if he had created some
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musical instrument to which she had just given voice。 In his enthusiasm he
had thrown himself on the bench beside her in an attitude that； I fear； was
not as dignified as became his elderly office。
〃But you don't think that is my NAME；〃 said the girl； quickly。
〃I beg your pardon？〃 said Paul； hesitatingly。
〃You don't think that anybody would have been so utterly idiotic as to
call me after a ground…vinea vegetable？〃 she continued petulantly。
〃Eh？〃 stammered Paul。
〃A name that could be so easily translated；〃 she went on； half
scornfully； 〃and when translated； was no possible title for anybody？ Think
of itMiss Good Herb！ It is too ridiculous for anything。〃
Paul was not usually wanting in self…possession in an emergency； or in
skill to meet attack。 But he was so convinced of the truth of the girl's
accusation； and now recalled so vividly his own consternation on hearing
the result of his youthful and romantic sponsorship for the first time from
Pendleton； that he was struck with confusion。
〃But what do you suppose it was intended for？〃 he said at last； vaguely。
〃It was certainly 'Yerba Buena' in the Trust。 At least； I suppose so；〃 he
corrected himself hurriedly。
〃It is only a supposition；〃 she said quietly； 〃for you know it cannot be
proved。 The Trust was never recorded； and the only copy could not be
found among Mr。 Hammersley's papers。 It is only part of the name； of
which the first is lost。〃
〃Part of the name？〃 repeated Paul； uneasily。
〃Part of it。 It is a corruption of de la Yerba Buena；of the Yerba
Buena；and refers to the island of Yerba Buena in the bay； and not to the
plant。 That island was part of the property of my familythe Arguellos
you will find it so recorded in the Spanish grants。 My name is Arguello de
la Yerba Buena。〃
It is impossible to describe the timid yet triumphant； the half…
appealing yet complacent； conviction of the girl's utterance。 A moment
before； Paul would have believed it impossible for him to have kept his
gravity and his respect for his companion under this egregious illusion。
But he kept both。 For a sudden conviction that she suspected the truth； and
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had taken this audacious and original plan of crushing it； overpowered all
other sense。 The Arguellos； it flashed upon him； were an old Spanish
family； former owners of Yerba Buena Island； who had in the last years
become extinct。 There had been a story that one of them had eloped with
an American ship captain's wife at Monterey。 The legendary history of
early Spanish California was filled with more remarkable incidents；
corroborated with little difficulty from Spanish authorities； who； it was
alleged； lent themselves readily to any fabrication or forgery。 There was no
racial pride： on the contrary； they had shown an eager alacrity to ally
themselves with their conquerors。 The friends of the Arguellos would be
proud to recognize and remember in the American heiress the descendant
of their countrymen。 All this passed rapidly through his mind after the first
moment of surprise； all this must have been the deliberate reasoning of
this girl of seventeen； whose dark eyes were bent upon him。 Whether she
was seeking corroboration or complicity he could not tell。
〃Have you found this out yourself？〃 he asked； after a pause。
〃Yes。 One of my friends at the convent was Josita Castro； she knew all
the history of the Arguellos。 She is perfectly satisfied。〃
For an instant Paul wondered if it was a joint conception of the two
schoolgirls。 But； on reflection； he was persuaded that Yerba would commit
herself to no accompliceof her own sex。 She might have dominated the
girl； and would make her a firm partisan； while the girl would be
convinced of it herself； and believe herself a free agent。 He had had such
experience with men himself。
〃But why have you not spoken of it beforeand to Colonel
Pendleton？〃
〃He did not choose to tell ME；〃 said Yerba； with feminine dexterity。 〃I
have preferred to keep it myself a secret till I am of age。〃
〃When Colonel Pendleton and some of the other trustees have no right
to say anything；〃 thought Paul quickly。 She had evidently trusted him。 Yet；
fascinated as he had been by her audacity； he did not know whether to be
pleased； or the reverse。 He would have preferred to be placed on an equal
footing with Josita Castro。 She anticipated his thoughts by saying； with
half…raised eyelids：
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〃What do YOU think of it？〃
〃It seems to be so natural and obvious an explanation of the mystery
that I only wonder it was not thought of before；〃 said Paul； with that
perfect sincerity that made his sympathy so effective。
〃You see；〃still under her pretty eyelids； and the tender promise of a
smile parting her little mouth；〃I'm believing that you tell the truth when
you say you don't know anything about it。〃
It was a desperate moment with Paul； but his sympathetic instincts；
and possibly his luck； triumphed。 His momentary hesitation easily
simulated the caution of a conscientious man； his knit eyebrows and bright
eyes； lowered in an effort of memory；
