按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The superior position was still too recent and accidental for
either to resent or criticise qualities that were common to both。
At least； this was what he thought when not abandoning himself to
the gratification of a convalescent appetite； to the presence of
two pretty women； the sympathy of a genial friend； the healthy
intoxication of the white sunlight that glanced upon the pine
walls； the views that mirrored themselves in the open windows； and
the pure atmosphere in which The Lookout seemed to swim。 Wandering
breezes of balm and spice lightly stirred the flowers on the table；
and seemed to fan his hair and forehead with softly healing breath。
Looking up in an interval of silence； he caught Bradley's gray eyes
fixed upon him with a subdued light of amusement and affection； as
of an elder brother regarding a schoolboy's boisterous appetite at
some feast。 Mainwaring laid down his knife and fork with a
laughing color； touched equally by Bradley's fraternal kindliness
and the consciousness of his gastronomical powers。
〃Hang it； Bradley； look here！ I know my appetite's disgraceful；
but what can a fellow do？ In such air； with such viands and such
company！ It's like the bees getting drunk on Hybla and Hymettus；
you know。 I'm not responsible！〃
〃It's the first square meal I believe you've really eaten in six
months；〃 said Bradley； gravely。 〃I can't understand why your
doctor allowed you to run down so dreadfully。〃
〃I reckon you ain't as keerful of yourself； you Britishers； ez us；〃
said Minty。 〃Lordy！ Why there's Pop invests in more patent
medicines in one day than you have in two weeks； and he'd make two
of you。 Mebbe your folks don't look after you enough。〃
〃I'm a splendid advertisement of what YOUR care and your medicines
have done；〃 said Mainwaring； gratefully； to Mrs。 Bradley； 〃and if
you ever want to set up a 'Cure' here； I'm ready with a ten…page
testimonial。〃
〃Have a care； Mainwaring；〃 said Bradley； laughing； 〃that the ladies
don't take you at your word。 Louise and Jenny have been doing
their best for the last year to get me to accept a flattering offer
from a Sacramento firm to put up a hotel for tourists on the site
of The Lookout。 Why； I believe that they have already secretly in
their hearts concocted a flaming prospectus of 'Unrivalled Scenery'
and 'Health…giving Air；' and are looking forward to Saturday night
hops on the piazza。〃
〃Have you really； though？〃 said Mainwaring； gazing from the one to
the other。
〃We should certainly see more company than we do now； and feel a
little less out of the world；〃 said Louise； candidly。 〃There are
no neighbors hereI mean the people at the Summit are not；〃 she
added； with a slight glance towards Minty。
〃And Mr。 Bradley would find it more profitablenot to say more
suitable to a man of his positionthan this wretched saw…mill and
timber business；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； decidedly。
Mainwaring was astounded； was it possible they considered it more
dignified for a lawyer to keep a hotel than a saw…mill？ Bradley；
as if answering what was passing in his mind； said mischievously；
〃I'm not sure； exactly； what my position is； my dear； and I'm
afraid I've declined the hotel on business principles。 But； by the
way； Mainwaring； I found a letter at the mill this morning from Mr。
Richardson。 He is about to pay us the distinguished honor of
visiting The Lookout； solely on your account； my dear fellow。〃
〃But I wrote him that I was much better； and it wasn't necessary
for him to come；〃 said Mainwaring。
〃He makes an excuse of some law business with me。 I suppose he
considers the mere fact of his taking the trouble to come here； all
the way from San Francisco； a sufficient honor to justify any
absence of formal invitation；〃 said Bradley； smiling。
〃But he's onlyI mean he's my father's banker；〃 said Mainwaring；
correcting himself； 〃andyou don't keep a hotel。〃
〃Not yet；〃 returned Bradley； with a mischievous glance at the two
women； 〃but The Lookout is elastic； and I dare say we can manage to
put him up。〃
A silence ensued。 It seemed as if some shadow； or momentary
darkening of the brilliant atmosphere； some film across the mirror…
like expanse of the open windows； or misty dimming of their
wholesome light； had arisen to their elevation。 Mainwaring felt
that he was looking forward with unreasoning indignation and
uneasiness to this impending interruption of their idyllic life；
Mrs。 Bradley and Louise； who had become a little more constrained
and formal under Minty's freedom； were less sympathetic； even the
irrepressible Minty appeared absorbed in the responsibilities of
the dinner。
Bradley alone preserved his usual patient good…humor。 〃We'll take
our coffee on the veranda； and the ladies will join us by and by；
Mainwaring； besides； I don't know that I can allow you； as an
invalid； to go entirely through Minty's bountiful menu at present。
You shall have the sweets another time。〃
When they were alone on the veranda； he said； between the puffs of
his black brier…wood pipe；a pet aversion of Mrs。 Bradley；〃I
wonder how Richardson will accept Minty！〃
〃If I can； I think he MUST；〃 returned Mainwaring； dryly。 〃By Jove；
it will be great fun to see him； but〃he stopped and hesitated〃I
don't know about the ladies。 I don't think； you know； that they'll
stand Minty again before another stranger。〃
Bradley glanced quickly at the young man； their eyes met； and they
both joined in a superior and； I fear； disloyal smile。 After a
pause Bradley； as if in a spirit of further confidence； took his
pipe from his mouth and pointed to the blue abyss before them。
〃Look at that profundity； Mainwaring； and think of it ever being
bullied and overawed by a long veranda…load of gaping； patronizing
tourists； and the idiotic flirting females of their species。 Think
of a lot of over…dressed creatures flouting those severe outlines
and deep…toned distances with frippery and garishness。 You know
how you have been lulled to sleep by that delicious； indefinite；
far…off murmur of the canyon at nightthink of it being broken by
a crazy waltz or a monotonous germanby the clatter of waiters and
the pop of champagne corks。 And yet； by thunder； those women are
capable of liking both and finding no discord in them！〃
〃Dancing ain't half bad； you know；〃 said Mainwaring； conscientiously；
〃if a chap's got the wind to do it； and all Americans； especially
the women； dance better than we do。 But I say； Bradley； to hear you
talk； a fellow wouldn't suspect you were as big a Vandal as anybody；
with a beastly； howling saw…mill in the heart of the primeval
forest。 By Jove； you quite bowled me over that first day we met；
when you popped your head out of that delirium tremens shaking mill；
like the very genius of destructive improvement。〃
〃But that was FIGHTING Nature； not patronizing her； and it's a
business that pays。 That reminds me tha