a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第20章
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company。 Milly and Yerba had retired to the former's boudoir； but； as they
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had not yet formally bade him good night； there was a chance of their
returning。 He still stayed on in this hope for half an hour； and then；
accepting Yerba's continued absence as a tacit refusal of his request； he
turned abruptly away。 But as he glanced around the garden before
reentering the house； he was struck by a singular circumstancea white
patch； like a forgotten shawl； which he had observed on the distant
ceanothus hedge； and which had at first thrilled him with expectation； had
certainly CHANGED ITS POSITION。 Before； it seemed to be near the
summer…house； now it was； undoubtedly； farther away。 Could they； or SHE
alone； have slipped from the house and be awaiting him there？ With a
muttered exclamation at his stupidity he stepped hastily from the veranda
and walked towards it。 But he had scarcely proceeded a dozen yards
before it disappeared。 He reached the summer…houseit was empty； he
followed the line of hedgeno one was there。 It could not have been her；
or she would have waited； unless he were the victim of a practical joke。 He
turned impatiently back to the house； reentered the drawing…room by the
French window； and was crossing the half…lit apartment； when he heard a
slight rustle in the shadow of the window。 He looked around quickly； and
saw that it was Yerba； in a white； loose gown； for which she had already
exchanged her black evening dress； leaning back composedly on the sofa；
her hands clasped behind her shapely head。
〃I am waiting for Milly；〃 she said； with a faint smile on her lips。 He
fancied； in the moonlight that streamed upon her； that her beautiful face
was pale。 〃She has gone to the other wing to see one of the servants who is
ill。 We thought you were on the veranda smoking and I should have
company； until I saw you start off； and rush up and down the hedge like
mad。〃
Paul felt that he was losing his self…possession； and becoming nervous
in her presence。 〃I thought it was YOU；〃 he stammered。
〃Me！ Out in the garden at this hour； alone； and in the broad moonlight？
What are you thinking of； Mr。 Hathaway？ Do you know anything of
convent rules； or is that your idea of your ward's education？〃
He fancied that； though she smiled faintly； her voice was as tremulous
as his own。
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〃I want to speak with you；〃 he said； with awkward directness。 〃I even
thought of asking you to stroll with me in the garden。〃
〃Why not talk here？〃 she returned； changing her position； pointing to
the other end of the sofa； and drawing the whole overflow of her skirt to
one side。 〃It is not so very late； and Milly will return in a few moments。〃
Her face was in shadow now； but there was a glow…worm light in her
beautiful eyes that seemed faintly to illuminate her whole face。 He sank
down on the sofa at her side； no longer the brilliant and ambitious
politician； but； it seemed to him； as hopelessly a dreaming； inexperienced
boy as when he had given her the name that now was all he could think of；
and the only word that rose to his feverish lips。
〃Yerba！〃
〃I like to hear you say it；〃 she said quickly； as if to gloss over his first
omission of her formal prefix； and leaning a little forward； with her eyes
on his。 〃One would think you had created it。 You almost make me regret to
lose it。〃
He stopped。 He felt that the last sentence had saved him。 〃It is of that I
want to speak；〃 he broke out suddenly and almost rudely。 〃Are you
satisfied that it means nothing； and can mean nothing； to you？ Does it
awaken no memory in your mindrecall nothing you care to know？ Think！
I beg you； I implore you to be frank with me！〃
She looked at him with surprise。
〃I have told you already that my present name must be some absurd
blunder； or some intentional concealment。 But why do you want to know
NOW？〃 she continued； adding her faint smile to the emphasis。
〃To help you！〃 he said； eagerly。 〃For that alone！ To do all I can to
assist you； if you really believe； and want to believe； that you have another。
To ask you to confide in me； to tell me all you have been told； all that you
know； think you know； or WANT to know about your relationship to the
Arguellosor toany one。 And then to devote myself entirely to proving
what you shall say is your desire。 You see； I am frank with you； Yerba。 I
only ask you to be as frank with me； to let me know your doubts； that I
may counsel you； your fears； that I may give you courage。〃
〃Is that all you came here to tell me？〃 she asked quietly。
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〃No； Yerba；〃 he said； eagerly； taking her unresisting but indifferent
hand； 〃not all； but all that I must say； all that I have the right to say； all that
you； Yerba； would permit me to tell you NOW。 But let me hope that the
day is not far distant when I can tell you ALL； when you will understand
that this silence has been the hardest sacrifice of the man who now speaks
to you。〃
〃And yet not unworthy of a rising politician；〃 she added； quickly
withdrawing her hand。 〃I agree；〃 she went on； looking towards the door；
yet without appearing to avoid his eager eyes； 〃and when I have settled
upon 'a local habitation and a name' we shall renew this interesting
conversation。 Until then； as my fourth official guardian used to sayhe
was a lawyer； Mr。 Hathaway； like yourself when he was winding up his
conjectures on the subjectall that has passed is to be considered 'without
prejudice。'〃
〃But Yerba〃began Paul； bitterly。
She slightly raised her hand as if to check him with a warning gesture。
〃Yes； dear；〃 she said suddenly； lifting her musical voice； with a
mischievous side…glance at Paul； as if to indicate her conception of the
irony of a possible application； 〃this way。 Here we are waiting for you。〃
Her listening ear had detected Milly's step in the passage； and in another
moment that cheerful young woman discreetly stopped on the threshold of
the room； with every expression of apologetic indiscretion in her face。
〃We have finished our talk； and Mr。 Hathaway has been so concerned
about my having no real name that he has been promising me everything；
but his own； for a suitable one。 Haven't you； Mr。 Hathaway？〃 She rose
slowly and； going over to Milly； put her arm around her waist and stood
for one instant gazing at him between the curtains of the doorway。 〃Good
night。 My very proper chaperon is dreadfully shocked at this midnight
interview； and is taking me away。 Only think of it； Milly； he actually
proposed to me to walk in the garden with him！ Good night； or； as my
ancestorsdon't forget； MY ANCESTORSused to say： 'Buena noche
hasta manana！'〃 She lingered over the Spanish syllables with an imitation
of Dona Anna's lisp； and with another smile； but more faint and more
ghostlike than before； vani
