a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第26章
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again the next day's ride was through an apparently unbroken wilderness
of scattered wood and rolling plain。 Yet to Clarence； with his pantheistic
reliance and joyous sympathy with nature； the change was filled with
exhilarating pleasure。 The vast seas of tossing wild oats； the hillside still
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variegated with strange flowers； the virgin freshness of untrodden woods
and leafy aisles； whose floors of moss or bark were undisturbed by human
footprint； were a keen delight and novelty。 More than this； his quick eye；
trained perceptions； and frontier knowledge now stood him in good stead。
His intuitive sense of distance； instincts of woodcraft； and his unerring
detection of those signs； landmarks； and guideposts of nature；
undistinguishable to aught but birds and beasts and some children； were
now of the greatest service to his less favored companion。 In this part of
their strange pilgrimage it was the boy who took the lead。 Flynn； who
during the past two days seemed to have fallen into a mood of watchful
reserve； nodded his approbation。 〃This sort of thing's yer best holt； boy；〃
he said。 〃Men and cities ain't your little game。〃
At the next stopping…place Clarence had a surprise。 They had again
entered a town at nightfall； and lodged with another friend of Flynn's in
rooms which from vague sounds appeared to be over a gambling saloon。
Clarence woke late in the morning； and； descending into the street to
mount for the day's journey； was startled to find that Flynn was not on the
other horse； but that a well…dressed and handsome stranger had taken his
place。 But a laugh； and the familiar command； 〃Jump up； boy；〃 made
him look again。 It WAS Flynn； but completely shaven of beard and
mustache； closely clipped of hair； and in a fastidiously cut suit of black！
〃Then you didn't know me？〃 said Flynn。
〃Not till you spoke；〃 replied Clarence。
〃So much the better；〃 said his friend sententiously； as he put spurs to
his horse。 But as they cantered through the street； Clarence； who had
already become accustomed to the stranger's hirsute adornment； felt a little
more awe of him。 The profile of the mouth and chin now exposed to his
sidelong glance was hard and stern； and slightly saturnine。 Although
unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known； it
seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad
experience。 But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly； and the boy later
believed that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have
loved it better。 For it was the last and only day he was to see it； as； late
that afternoon； after a dusty ride along more traveled highways； they
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reached their journey's end。
It was a low…walled house； with red…tiled roofs showing against the
dark green of venerable pear and fig trees； and a square court…yard in the
centre； where they had dismounted。 A few words in Spanish from Flynn
to one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden corridor； and
thence to a long； low room； which to Clarence's eyes seemed literally piled
with books and engravings。 Here Flynn hurriedly bade him stay while he
sought the host in another part of the building。 But Clarence did not miss
him； indeed； it may be feared； he forgot even the object of their journey in
the new sensations that suddenly thronged upon him； and the boyish vista
of the future that they seemed to open。 He was dazed and intoxicated。 He
had never seen so many books before； he had never conceived of such
lovely pictures。 And yet in some vague way he thought he must have
dreamt of them at some time。 He had mounted a chair； and was gazing
spellbound at an engraving of a sea…fight when he heard Flynn's voice。
His friend had quietly reentered the room； in company with an oldish；
half…foreign…looking man； evidently his relation。 With no helping
recollection； with no means of comparison beyond a vague idea that his
cousin might look like himself； Clarence stood hopelessly before him。
He had already made up his mind that he would have to go through the
usual cross…questioning in regard to his father and family； he had even
forlornly thought of inventing some innocent details to fill out his
imperfect and unsatisfactory recollection。 But； glancing up； he was
surprised to find that his elderly cousin was as embarrassed as he was；
Flynn； as usual； masterfully interposed。
〃Of course ye don't remember each other； and thar ain't much that
either of you knows about family matters； I reckon；〃 he said grimly； 〃and
as your cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson；〃 he added to Clarence；
〃it's just as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' slide。 I know him better than
you； but you'll get used to him； and he to you； soon enough。 At least；
you'd better；〃 he concluded； with his singular gravity。
As he turned as if to leave the room with Clarence's embarrassed
relativemuch to that gentleman's apparent reliefthe boy looked up at
the latter and said timidly
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〃May I look at those books？〃
His cousin stopped； and glanced at him with the first expression of
interest he had shown。
〃Ah； you read； you like books？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence。 As his cousin remained still looking at him
thoughtfully； he added； 〃My hands are pretty clean； but I can wash them
first； if you like。〃
〃You may look at them；〃 said Don Juan smilingly； 〃and as they are old
books you can wash your hands afterwards。〃 And； turning to Flynn
suddenly； with an air of relief； 〃I tell you what I'll do I'll teach him
Spanish！〃
They left the room together； and Clarence turned eagerly to the shelves。
They were old books； some indeed very old； queerly bound； and worm…
eaten。 Some were in foreign languages； but others in clear； bold English
type； with quaint wood…cuts and illustrations。 One seemed to be a
chronicle of battles and sieges； with pictured representations of
combatants spitted with arrows； cleanly lopped off in limb； or toppled over
distinctly by visible cannon…shot。 He was deep in its perusal when he
heard the clatter of a horse's hoofs in the court…yard and the voice of Flynn。
He ran to the window； and was astonished to see his friend already on
horseback； taking leave of his host。
For one instant Clarence felt one of those sudden revulsions of feeling
common to his age； but which he had always timidly hidden under dogged
demeanor。 Flynn； his only friend！ Flynn； his
