the golden fleece-第4章

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〃Yes；　but　I　like　to　talk　about　it；〃　interposed　Freeman；　earnestly。　　〃I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　open　my　heart；　you　know；　for　at　least　six　months。　　And　though　you　and　I　haven't　known　each　other　long；　I　believe　you　to　be　capable　of　appreciating　what　a　man　feels　when　he　is　on　his　way　to　meet　some　one　who〃

〃Thank　you！　　You　are　most　considerate！　　But　I　shall　be　additionally　obliged　if　you　would　tell　me　in　what　respect　I　can　have　so　far　forgotten　myself　as　to　lead　you　to　think　me　likely　to　appreciate　anything　of　the　kind。　　I　assure　you；　Mr。　Freeman；　I　have　never　cared　for　any　one；　and　nothing　I　have　seen　since　I　left　home　makes　it　probable　that　I　shall　begin　now。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　said　Freeman；　slowly　drawing　another　cigarette　out　of　his　bundle；　and　beginning　to　re…roll　it　with　a　dejected　air。

〃Indeed！〃

〃Yes：　the　fact　is；　I　had　hoped　that　you　had　begun　to　have　a　little　friendly　feeling　for　me。　　I　am　more　than　ready　to　reciprocate。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　spare　me　any　insults；　sir。　　I　have　no　one　to　protect　me；　but〃

〃I　assure　you；　I　mean　no　insult。　　You　cannot　help　knowing　that　I　think　you　as　beautiful　and　fascinating　a　woman　as　I　have　ever　met；　but　of　course　you　can't　help　being　beautiful　and　fascinating。　　Do　I　insult　you　by　having　eyes？　　If　so；　I　am　sorry；　but　you　will　have　to　make　the　best　of　it。〃

With　this；　he　turned　in　his　seat；　and　calmly　confronted　her。　　Beautiful　she　certainly　was；　at　that　moment；　but　it　was　the　beauty　of　an　angry　serpent。　　She　had　a　pencil　in　her　hand；　with　which；　a　little　while　before；　she　had　been　sketching　heads　of　some　of　the　passengers　in　her　little　notebook。　　She　was　now　handling　this　inoffensive　object　in　such　a　way　as　to　justify　the　fancy　that；　had　it　been　charged　with　a　deadly　poison　in　its　point；　instead　of　with　a　bit　of　plumbago　of　the　HH　quality；　she　would　have　driven　it　into　Freeman's　heart　then　and　there。

〃Is　it　no　insult；〃　said　she；　in　a　sibilant　voice；　〃to　talk　to　me　as　you　are　doing；　when　you　have　just　told　me　that　you　love　another　woman；　and　are　going　to　meet　her？〃

Freeman's　brows　gradually　knitted　themselves　in　a　frown　of　apparent　perplexity。　　〃I　must　say　I　don't　understand　you；〃　he　observed；　at　length。　　〃I　am　quite　sure　I　have　said　nothing　of　the　sort。　　How　could　I？〃

〃If　you　wish　to　quibble　about　words；　perhaps　not。　　But　was　not　that　your　meaning？〃

〃No；　it　wasn't。　　You　are　the　only　woman　who　has　been　in　my　thoughts　to…day。〃

〃Mr。　Freeman！〃

〃Well？〃

〃You　have　intimated　very　clearly　that　you　are　engagedmarried；　for　aught　I　know　to　a　woman　whom　you　are　now　on　your　way　to　meet〃

At　this　point　she　stopped。　　Freeman　had　interrupted　her　with　a　shout　of　laughter。

She　had　been　very　pale。　　She　now　flushed　all　over　her　face；　and　jumped　to　her　feet。

〃Sit　down；〃　he　said；　laying　a　hand　on　her　dress　and　（aided　by　a　lurch　of　the　vessel）　pulling　her　into　her　seat　again；　〃and　listen　to　me。　　And　then　I　shall　insist　upon　an　apology。　　This　is　too　much！〃

〃I　shall　ask　the　captain〃

〃You　will　not；　I　promise　you。　　Look　here！　　When　I　was　in　Panama；　I　met　there　a　fellow　I　used　to　know　in　New　York。　　He　told　me　that　he　had　recently　crossed　the　continent　with　Professor　Meschines；　who　used　to　teach　geology　and　botany　at　Yale　College；　when　he　and　I　were　students　there。　　The　professor　had　come　over　partly　for　the　fun　of　the　thing；　and　partly　to　look　for　specimens　in　the　line　of　his　profession。　　My　friend　parted　from　him　at　San　Francisco：　the　professor　was　going　farther　south。〃

〃What　has　all　this　to　do　with　the　woman　who〃

〃It　has　this　to　do　with　it；that　the　professor　is　the　woman！　　He　is　over　sixty　years　old；　and　has　always　been　a　good　friend　of　mine；　but　I　am　not　going　to　marry　him。　　I　am　not　engaged　to　him；　he　is　not　beautiful；　nor　even　fascinating；　except　in　the　way　of　an　elderly　man　of　science。　　And　he　is　the　only　human　being；　besides　yourself；　that　I　know　or　have　ever　heard　of　on　the　Pacific　coast。　　Now　for　your　apology！〃

Grace　emitted　a　long　breath；　and　sank　back　in　her　seat；　with　her　hands　clasped　in　her　lap。　　She　raised　her　hands　and　covered　her　face　with　them。　　She　removed　them；　sat　erect；　and　bent　an　open…eyed；　intent　gaze　upon　her　companion。

After　this　pantomime；　she　exclaimed；　in　the　lowest　and　most　musical　of　tones；　〃Oh！　how　hateful　you　are！〃　　Then　she　cried　out　with　animation；　〃I　believe　you　did　it　on　purpose！〃　　Finally；　she　sank　back　again；　with　a　soft　laugh　and　sparkling　eyes；　at　the　same　time　stretching　out　her　right　arm　towards　him　and　placing　her　hand　on　his；　with　a　whispered；　〃There；　then！〃

Freeman；　accepting　the　hand　for　the　apology；　kissed　it；　and　continued　to　hold　it　afterwards。

〃Am　I　not　a　little　goose？〃　she　murmured。

〃You　certainly　are；〃　replied　Freeman。

〃You　mustn't　hold　my　hand　any　more。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　withdraw　your　apology？〃

〃Nno；　but　it　doesn't　follow　that〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　does。　　Besides；　when　a　man　receives　such　a　delicate；　refined；　graceful；　exquisite　apology　as　this；〃here　he　lifted　the　hand；　looked　at　it　critically；　and　bestowed　another　kiss　upon　it；〃he　would　be　a　fool　not　to　make　the　most　of　it。〃

〃Ah；　I'm　afraid　you're　dangerous。　　You　are　well　namedFreeman！〃

〃My　name　is　Harvey：　won't　you　call　me　by　it？〃

〃Oh；　I　can't！〃

〃Try！　　Would　it　make　it　easier　if　I　were　to　call　you　by　yours？〃

〃Mine　is　Miss　Parsloe。〃

〃Pooh！　　How　can　that　be　your　name　which　you　are　going　to　change　so　soon？　　When　I　look　at　you；　I　see　your　name；　when　I　think　of　you；　I　say　it　to　myself；Grace！〃

〃How　do　you　know　I　am　going　to　change　my　name　soonor　ever？〃

〃Whom　are　you　talking　to？〃

〃To　you；Harvey！　　Oh！〃　She　snatched　her　hand　away　and　pressed　it　over　her　lips。

〃How　do　I　know　you　are　beautiful；　Grace；　andirresistible？〃

〃But　I'm　not！　　You're　making　fun　of　me！　　Besides；　I'm　twenty。〃

〃How　many　times　have　you　been　engaged？〃

〃Never。　　Nobody　wants　to　be　engaged　to　a　poor　girl。　　Oh　me！〃

〃Do　you　know　what　you　are　made　of；　Grace？　　Fire　and　flowers！　　Few　men　in　the　world　are　men　enough　to　be　a　match　for　you。　　But　what　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself　all　this　time？　　Why　do　you　come　to　a　place　like　this？〃

〃Maybe　I　had　a　presentiment　that　。　。　。　　What　nonsense　we　are　talking！　　But　what　you　said　reminds　me。　　It's　the　strangest　coincidence！〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Your　Professor　Meschines〃

〃On　the　contrary；　he　is　a　most　matter…　of…fact　old　gentleman。〃

〃Do　be　quiet；　and　listen　to　me！　　When　my　mamma　was　a　girl　in　school；　there　were　two　boys　there；it　was　a　boy…and…girls'　school；and　they　were　great　friends。　　But　they　both　fell　in　love　with　my　mamma〃

〃I　can　understand　that；〃　put　in　Freeman。

〃How　do　you　know　I　am　like　my　mamma？　　Well；　as　I　was　saying；　they　both　fell　in　love　with　her；　and　quarrelled　with　each　other；　and　had　a　fight。　　The　boy　that　won　the　fight　is　the　man　to　whose　house　I　am　going。〃

〃Then　he　didn't　marry　your　mamma？〃

〃Oh；　no；　that　was　only　a　childish　affair；　and　she　married　another　man。〃

〃The　one　who　got　thrashed？〃

〃Of　course　not。　　But　the　one　who　got　thrashed　is　your　Professor　Meschines。〃

〃I　see！　　The　poor　old　professor！　　And　he　has　remained　a　bachelor　all　his　life。〃

〃Mamma　has　often　told　me　the　story；　and　that　the　Trednoke　boy　went　to　West　Point；　and　distinguished　himself　in　the　Mexican　war；　and　married　a　Mexican　woman；　and　the　Meschines　boy　became　a　professor　in　Yale　College。　　And　now　I　am　going　to　see　one　of　them；　and　you　to　see　the　other。　　Isn't　that　a　coincidence？〃

〃The　first　of　a　long　series；　I　trust。　　Is　this　West…Pointer　a　permanent　settler　here？〃

〃Yes；　for　ever　so　long；twenty　years。　　He's　a　widower；　but　he　has　a　daughter　　Oh；　I　know　you'll　fall　in　love　with　her！〃

〃Is　she　like　you？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I've　never　seen　her；　or　General　Trednoke　either。〃

〃Come　to　think　of　it；　though；　nobody　is　like　you；　Grace。　　Now；　will　you　be　so　good　as　to　apologize　again？〃

〃Don't　you　think　you're　rather　exacting；　Harvey？〃

However；　the　apology　was　finally　repeated；　and　continued；　more　or　less；　during　the　rest　of　the　voyage；　and　Grace　quite　forgot　that　she　had　never　made　Harvey　tell　what　was　really　the　cause　of　his　coming　to　California。　　But　she；　on　her　side；　had　a　secret。　　She　never　allowed　him　to　suspect　that　the　past　eighteen　months　of　her　life　had　been　passed　as　employee　in　a　New　York　dry…　goods　store。



CHAPTER　III。

General　Trednoke's　house　was　built　by　Spanish　missionaries　in　the　sixteenth　century；　and　in　its　main　features　it　was　little　altered　in　three　hundred　years。　　In　a　climate　where　there　is　no　frost；　walls　of　adobe　last　as　long　as　granite。　　The　house　consisted；　practically；　of　but　one　story；　for　although　there　were　rooms　under　the　roof；　they　were　used　only　for　storage；　no　one　slept　in　them。　　The　plan　of　the　building　was　not　unlike　that　of　a　train　of　railway…cars；　or；　it　might　be　more　appropriate　to　say；　of　emigrant…wagons。　　There　was　a　series　of　rooms；　ranged　in　a　line；　access　to　them　being　had　from　a　narrow　corridor；　which　opened　on　the　rear　veranda。　　Several　of　the　rooms　also　communicated　directly　with　each　other；　and；　through　low　windows；　gave　on　the　veranda　in　front；　for　the　house　was　merely　a　comparatively　narrow　array　of　apartments　between　two　broad　verandas；　where　most　of　the　living；　including　much　of　the　sleeping；　was　done。

Logically；　there　can　be　nothing　uglier　than　a　Spanish…American　dwelling　of　this　type。　　But；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　they　appear　seductively　beautiful。　　The　thick　white　walls　acquire　a　certain　softness　of　tone；　the　surface　scales　off　here　and　there；　and　cracks　and　crevices　appear。　　In　a　damp　country；　like　England；　they　would　soon　become　covered　with　moss；　but　moss　is　not　to　be　had　in　this　region；　though　one　were　to　offer　for　it　the　price　of　the　silk　velvet；　triple　ply；　which　so　much　resembles　it。　　Nevertheless；　there　are　compensations。　　The　soil　is　inexhaustibly　fertile；　and　its　fertility　expresses　itself　in　the　most　inveterate　beauty。　　Such　colors　and　varieties　of　flowers　exist　nowhere　else；　and　they　continue　all　the　year　round。　　Climbing　vines　storm　the　walls；　and　toss　their　green　ladders　all　over　it；　for　beauty　to　walk　up　and　down。　　Huge　jars；　standing　on　the　verandas；　emit　volcanoes　of　lovely　blossoms；　and　vases　swung　from　the　roof　drip　and　overflow　with　others；　as　if　water　had　turned　to　flowers。　　In　the　garden；　which　extends　over　several　acres　at　the　front　of　the　house；　and；　as　it　were；　makes　it　an　island　in　a　gorgeous　sea　of　petals；　there　are　roses；　almonds；　oranges；　vines；　pomegranates；　and　a　hundred　rivals　whose　names　are　unknown　to　the　present　historian；　marching　joyfully　and　triumphantly　through　the　seasons；　as　the　symphony　moves　through　changes　along　its　central　theme。

Everything　that　is　not　an　animal　or　a　mineral　seems　to　be　a　flower。　　There　are　too　many　flowers；or；　rather；　there　is　not　enough　of　anything　else。　　The　faculty　of　appreciation　wearies；　and　at　last　ceases　to　take　note。　　It　is　like　conversing　with　a　person　whose　every　word　is　an　epigram。　　The　senses　have　their　limitations；　and　imagination　and　expectation　are　half　of　beauty　and　delight；　and　the　better　half；　otherwise　we　should　have　no　souls。　　A　single　violet；　discovered　by　chance　in　the　by…ways　of　an　April　forest　in　New　England；　gives　a　pleasure　as　poignant　as；　and　more　spiritual　than；　the　miles　upon　miles　of　Californian　splendors。

Monotony　is　the　ruling　charact