a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第21章
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Father Sobriente； the Principal； regarded him at times with a thoughtful
curiosity that made him suspect that his cousin had especially bespoken
that attention； and that he occasionally questioned him on his antecedents
in a way that made him dread a renewal of the old questioning about his
progenitor。 For the rest； he was a polished； cultivated man； yet； in the
characteristic； material criticism of youth； I am afraid that Clarence chiefly
identified him as a priest with large hands； whose soft palms seemed to be
cushioned with kindness； and whose equally large feet； encased in
extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed leather； seemed to tread down
noiselesslyrather than to ostentatiously crushthe obstacles that beset the
path of the young student。 In the cloistered galleries of the court…yard
Clarence sometimes felt himself borne down by the protecting weight of
this paternal hand； in the midnight silence of the dormitory he fancied he
was often conscious of the soft browsing tread and snuffly muffled
breathing of his elephantine…footed mentor。
His relations with his school…fellows were at first far from pleasant。
Whether they suspected favoritism； whether they resented that old and
unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of association with
his elders； or whether they rested their objections on the broader grounds
of his being a stranger； I do not know； but they presently passed from cruel
sneers to physical opposition。 It was then found that this gentle and
reserved youth had retained certain objectionable； rude； direct； rustic
qualities of fist and foot； and that； violating all rules and disdaining the
pomp and circumstance of school…boy warfare； of which he knew nothing；
he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand； with or without
ceremony； as the occasion or the insult happened。 In this emergency one
of the seniors was selected to teach this youthful savage his proper
position。 A challenge was given； and accepted by Clarence with a
feverish alacrity that surprised himself as much as his adversary。 This
was a youth of eighteen； his superior in size and skill。
The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood。 But the
sanguinary chrism； to the alarm of the spectators； effected an
instantaneous and unhallowed change in the boy。 Instantly closing with
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his adversary； he sprang at his throat like an animal； and locking his arm
around his neck began to strangle him。 Blind to the blows that rained
upon him； he eventually bore his staggering enemy by sheer onset and
surprise to the earth。 Amidst the general alarm； the strength of half a
dozen hastily summoned teachers was necessary to unlock his hold。
Even then he struggled to renew the conflict。 But his adversary had
disappeared； and from that day forward Clarence was never again
molested。
Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary； with swollen and
bandaged face； and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the murky
light of his own blood； Clarence felt the soft weight of the father's hand
upon his knee。
〃My son；〃 said the priest gently； 〃you are not of our religion； or I
should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at this moment。
But as to a good friend； Claro； a good friend；〃 he continued； patting the
boy's knee； 〃you will tell me； old Father Sobriente； frankly and truthfully；
as is your habit； one little thing。 Were you not afraid？〃
〃No；〃 said Clarence doggedly。 〃I'll lick him again to…morrow。〃
〃Softly； my son！ It was not of HIM I speak； but of something more
terrible and awful。 Were you not afraid ofof〃 he paused； and suddenly
darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's soul； added〃of
YOURSELF？〃
The boy started； shuddered； and burst into tears。
〃So； so；〃 said the priest gently； 〃we have found our real enemy。 Good！
Now； by the grace of God； my little warrior； we shall fight HIM and
conquer。〃
Whether Clarence profited by this lesson； or whether this brief
exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause； the episode
was soon forgotten。 As his school…fellows had never been his associates
or confidants； it mattered little to him whether they feared or respected
him； or were hypocritically obsequious； after the fashion of the weaker。
His studies； at all events； profited by this lack of distraction。 Already his
two years of desultory and omnivorous reading had given him a facile
familiarity with many things； which left him utterly free of the timidity；
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awkwardness； or non…interest of a beginner。 His usually reserved manner；
which had been lack of expression rather than of conviction； had deceived
his tutors。 The audacity of a mind that had never been dominated by
others； and owed no allegiance to precedent； made his merely superficial
progress something marvelous。
At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar； who seemed
capable of anything。 Nevertheless； Father Sobriente had an interview
with Don Juan； and as a result Clarence was slightly kept back in his
studies； a little more freedom from the rules was conceded to him； and he
was even encouraged to take some diversion。 Of such was the privilege to
visit the neighboring town of Santa Clara unrestricted and unattended。
He had always been liberally furnished with pocket…money； for which； in
his companionless state and Spartan habits； he had a singular and unboyish
contempt。 Nevertheless； he always appeared dressed with scrupulous
neatness； and was rather distinguished…looking in his older reserve and
melancholy self…reliance。
Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda； a leafy avenue set out by
the early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the convent
of Santa Clara； he saw a double file of young girls from the convent
approaching； on their usual promenade。 A view of this procession being
the fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian； and especially interdicted
and circumvented by the good Fathers attending the college excursions；
Clarence felt for it the profound indifference of a boy who； in the
intermediate temperate zone of fifteen years； thinks that he is no longer
young and romantic！ He was passing them with a careless glance； when
a pair of deep violet eyes caught his own under the broad shade of a
coquettishly beribboned hat； even as it had once looked at him from the
depths of a calico sunbonnet。 Susy！ He started； and would have spoken；
but with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning glance at the two
nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file； she indicated him to
follow。 He did so at a respectful distance； albeit wondering。 A little
further on Susy dropped her handkerchief； and was obliged to dart out and
run back to the end of the file to recover it。 But she gave another swift
glance of her blue eyes as she snatched it up and demurely ran back to her
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place。 The procession passed on； but when Clarence reached the spot
where she had paused he saw a three…cornered bit of paper lying in the
grass。 He was too discreet to pick it up while the girls were still in sight；
but continued on； returning to it later。 It contained a few words in a
schoolgirl's hand； hastily scrawled in pencil： 〃Come to the south wall near
the big pear…tree at six。〃
Delighted as Clarence felt； he was at the same time embarrassed。 He
could not understand the necessity of this mysterious rendezvous。 He
knew that if she was a scholar she was under certain conventual restraints；
but with the privileges of his position and friendship with his teachers； he
believed that Father Sobriente would easily procure him an interview with
this old play… fellow； of whom he had often spoken； and who was； with
himself； the sole survivor of his tragical past。 And trusted as he was by
Sobriente； there was something in this clandestine though innocent
rendezvous that went against his loyalty。 Nevertheless； he kept the
appointment； and at the stated time was at the south wall of the convent；
over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing pear…tree hung。
Hard by in the wall was a grated wicket door that seemed unused。
Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall？ Either
would be like the old Susy。 But to his surprise he heard the sound of the
key turning in the lock。 The grated door suddenly swung on its hinges；
and Susy slipped out。 Grasping his hand； she said； 〃Let's run； Clarence；〃
and before he could reply she started off with him at a rapid pace。 Down
the lane they flewvery much； as it seemed to Clarence's fancy； as they
had flown from the old emigrant wagon on the prairie； four years before。
He glanced at the fluttering； fairy…like figure beside him。 She had grown
taller and more graceful； she was dressed in exquisite taste； with a
minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke the spoilt child； but there was
the same prodigal outburst of
