a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第13章
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grave sigh； as he looked at the delicate features before him； which recalled
the face of the absent Mamie。
〃That's not very complimentary；〃 said the younger girl； laughingly；
〃for pa didn't recognize us； and only remembered us as little girls。〃
〃Vashti！〃 interrupted Esther； rebukingly； then； turning to Don Caesar；
she added； 〃My sister； Vashti； means that father remembers more what
happened before he came to California； when we were quite young； than
he does of the interval that elapsed。 Dr。 Duchesne says it's a singular
case。 He thinks that； with his present progress； he will recover the
perfect use of his limbs； though his memory may never come back again。〃
〃Unless You forget what the doctor told us this morning；〃
interrupted Vashti again； briskly。
〃I was going to say it；〃 said Esther； a little curtly。 〃UNLESS he has
another stroke。 Then he will either die or recover his mind entirely。〃
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Don Caesar glanced at the bright faces； a trifle heightened in color by
their eager recital and the slight rivalry of narration； and looked grave。
He was a little shocked at a certain lack of sympathy and tenderness
towards their unhappy parent。 They seemed to him not only to have
caught that dry； curious toleration of helplessness which characterizes
even relationship in its attendance upon chronic suffering and weakness；
but to have acquired an unconscious habit of turning it to account。 In his
present sensitive condition； he even fancied that they flirted mildly over
their parent's infirmity。
〃My brother Harry has gone to Red Dog；〃 continued Esther； 〃he'll be
right sorry to have missed you。 Mrs。 Mulrady spoke to him about you；
you seem to have been great friends。 I s'pose you knew her daughter；
Mamie； I hear she is very pretty。〃
Although Don Caesar was now satisfied that the Slinns knew nothing
of Mamie's singular behavior to him； he felt embarrassed by this
conversation。 〃Miss Mulrady is very pretty；〃 he said； with grave courtesy；
〃it is a custom of her race。 She left suddenly；〃 he added with affected
calmness。
〃I reckon she did calculate to stay here longerso her mother said； but
the whole thing was settled a week ago。 I know my brother was quite
surprised to hear from Mr。 Mulrady that if we were going to decide about
this house we must do it at once； he had an idea himself about moving out
of the big one into this when they left。〃
〃Mamie Mulrady hadn't much to keep her here； considerin' the money
and the good looks she has； I reckon；〃 said Vashti。 〃She isn't the sort of
girl to throw herself away in the wilderness； when she can pick and choose
elsewhere。 I only wonder she ever come back from Sacramento。 They
talk about papa Mulrady having BUSINESS at San Francisco； and THAT
hurrying them off！ Depend upon it； that 'business' was Mamie herself。
Her wish is gospel to them。 If she'd wanted to stay and have a farewell
party； old Mulrady's business would have been nowhere。〃
〃Ain't you a little rough on Mamie；〃 said Esther； who had been quietly
watching the young man's face with her large languid eyes； 〃considering
that we don't know her； and haven't even the right of friends to criticise？〃
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〃I don't call it rough；〃 returned Vashti； frankly； 〃for I'd do the same if I
were in her shoesand they're four…and…a…halves； for Harry told me so。
Give me her money and her looks； and you wouldn't catch me hanging
round these diggingsgoin' to choir meetings Saturdays； church Sundays；
and buggy…riding once a month for society！ NoMamie's head was
levelyou bet！〃
Don Caesar rose hurriedly。 They would present his compliments to
their father； and he would endeavor to find their brother at Red Dog。 He；
alas！ had neither father； mother； nor sister； but if they would receive his
aunt； the Dona Inez Sepulvida； the next Sunday； when she came from
mass； she should be honored and he would be delighted。 It required all
his self…possession to deliver himself of this formal courtesy before he
could take his leave； and on the back of his mustang give way to the rage；
disgust and hatred of everything connected with Mamie that filled his
heart。 Conscious of his disturbance； but not entirely appreciating their
own share in it； the two girls somewhat wickedly prolonged the interview
by following him into the garden。
〃Well； if you MUST leave now；〃 said Esther； at last； languidly； 〃it ain't
much out of your way to go down through the garden and take a look at pa
as you go。 He's somewhere down there； near the woods； and we don't
like to leave him alone too long。 You might pass the time of day with
him； see if he's right side up。 Vashti and I have got a heap of things to fix
here yet； but if anything's wrong with him； you can call us。 So…long。〃
Don Caesar was about to excuse himself hurriedly； but that sudden and
acute perception of all kindred sorrow which belongs to refined suffering；
checked his speech。 The loneliness of the helpless old man in this
atmosphere of active and youthful selfishness touched him。 He bowed
assent； and turned aside into one of the long perspectives of bean…poles。
The girls watched him until out of sight。
〃Well；〃 said Vashti； 〃don't tell ME。 But if there wasn't something
between him and that Mamie Mulrady； I don't know a jilted man when I
see him。〃
〃Well； you needn't have let him SEE that you knew it； so that any
civility of ours would look as if we were ready to take up with her
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leavings；〃 responded Esther； astutely； as the girls reentered the house。
Meantime； the unconscious object of their criticism walked sadly
down the old market…garden； whose rude outlines and homely details he
once clothed with the poetry of a sensitive man's first love。 Well； it was a
common cabbage field and potato patch after all。 In his disgust he felt
conscious of even the loss of that sense of patronage and superiority which
had invested his affection for a girl of meaner condition。 His self…respect
was humiliated with his love。 The soil and dirt of those wretched
cabbages had clung to him； but not to her。 It was she who had gone
higher； it was he who was left in the vulgar ruins of his misplaced passion。
He reached the bottom of the garden without observing any sign of the
lonely invalid。 He looked up and down the cabbage rows； and through
the long perspective of pea…vines； without result。 There was a newer trail
leading from a gap in the pines to the wooded hollow； which undoubtedly
intersected the little path that he and Mamie had once followed from the
