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！
He remained silent； looking at her half…brightening cheek and
conscious profile。 Then he spoke with awkward directness。
〃You are changed； Susy； more than in looks。〃
〃Hush；〃 said the girl in a tragic whisper； with a warning gesture
towards the blandly unconscious Mary。
〃But；〃 returned Clarence wonderingly； 〃she's yourour friend； you
know。〃
〃I DON'T know；〃 said Susy； in a still deeper tone； 〃that isoh；
don't ask me！ But when you're always surrounded by spies； when you
can't say your soul is your own； you doubt everybody！〃 There was
such a pretty distress in her violet eyes and curving eyebrows； that
Clarence； albeit vague as to its origin and particulars；
nevertheless possessed himself of the little hand that was
gesticulating dangerously near his own； and pressed it
sympathetically。 Perhaps preoccupied with her emotions； she did not
immediately withdraw it； as she went on rapidly： 〃And if you were
cooped up here； day after day； behind these bars；〃 pointing to the
grille； 〃you'd know what I suffer。〃
〃But〃began Clarence。
〃Hush！〃 said Susy； with a stamp of her little foot。
Clarence； who had only wished to point out that the whole lower end
of the garden wall was in ruins and the grille really was no
prevention； 〃hushed。〃
〃And listen！ Don't pay me much attention to…day； but talk to HER；〃
indicating the still discreet and distant Mary； 〃before father and
mother。 Not a word to her of this confidence； Clarence。 To…morrow
ride out alone on your beautiful horse； and come back by way of the
woods； beyond our turning； at four o'clock。 There's a trail to the
right of the big madrono tree。 Take that。 Be careful and keep a
good lookout； for she mustn't see you。〃
〃Who mustn't see me？〃 said the puzzled Clarence。
〃Why； Mary； of course； you silly boy！〃 returned the girl
impatiently。 〃She'll be looking for ME。 Go now； Clarence！ Stop！
Look at that lovely big maiden's…blush up there；〃 pointing to a
pink…suffused specimen of rose grandiflora hanging on the wall。
〃Get it； Clarence；that one；I'll show you where；there！〃 They
had already plunged into the leafy bramble； and； standing on tiptoe；
with her hand on his shoulder and head upturned； Susy's cheek had
innocently approached Clarence's own。 At this moment Clarence；
possibly through some confusion of color； fragrance； or softness of
contact； seemed to have availed himself of the opportunity； in a way
which caused Susy to instantly rejoin Mary Rogers with affected
dignity； leaving him to follow a few moments later with the captured
flower。
Without trying to understand the reason of to…morrow's rendezvous；
and perhaps not altogether convinced of the reality of Susy's
troubles； he； however； did not find that difficulty in carrying out
her other commands which he had expected。 Mrs。 Peyton was still
gracious； and； with feminine tact； induced him to talk of himself；
until she was presently in possession of his whole history； barring
the episode of his meeting with Susy； since he had parted with them。
He felt a strange satisfaction in familiarly pouring out his
confidences to this superior woman； whom he had always held in awe。
There was a new delight in her womanly interest in his trials and
adventures； and a subtle pleasure even in her half…motherly
criticism and admonition of some passages。 I am afraid he forgot
Susy； who listened with the complacency of an exhibitor； Mary； whose
black eyes dilated alternately with sympathy for the performer and
deprecation of Mrs。 Peyton's critical glances； and Peyton； who；
however； seemed lost in thought； and preoccupied。 Clarence was
happy。 The softly shaded lights in the broad； spacious； comfortably
furnished drawing…room shone on the group before him。 It was a
picture of refined domesticity which the homeless Clarence had never
known except as a vague； half…painful； boyish remembrance； it was a
realization of welcome that far exceeded his wildest boyish vision
of the preceding night。 With that recollection came another；a
more uneasy one。 He remembered how that vision had been interrupted
by the strange voices in the road； and their vague but ominous
import to his host。 A feeling of self…reproach came over him。 The
threats had impressed him as only mere braggadocio；he knew the
characteristic exaggeration of the race；but perhaps he ought to
privately tell Peyton of the incident at once。
The opportunity came later； when the ladies had retired； and Peyton；
wrapped in a poncho in a rocking…chair； on the now chilly veranda；
looked up from his reverie and a cigar。 Clarence casually
introduced the incident； as if only for the sake of describing the
supernatural effect of the hidden voices； but he was concerned to
see that Peyton was considerably disturbed by their more material
import。 After questioning him as to the appearance of the two men；
his host said： 〃I don't mind telling you； Clarence； that as far as
that fellow's intentions go he is quite sincere； although his
threats are only borrowed thunder。 He is a man whom I have just
dismissed for carelessness and insolence；two things that run in
double harness in this country；but I should be more afraid to find
him at my back on a dark night； alone on the plains； than to
confront him in daylight； in the witness box； against me。 He was
only repeating a silly rumor that the title to this rancho and the
nine square leagues beyond would be attacked by some speculators。〃
〃But I thought your title was confirmed two years ago；〃 said
Clarence。
〃The GRANT was confirmed；〃 returned Peyton； 〃which means that the
conveyance of the Mexican government of these lands to the ancestor
of Victor Robles was held to be legally proven by the United States
Land Commission； and a patent issued to all those who held under it。
I and my neighbors hold under it by purchase from Victor Robles；
subject to the confirmation of the Land Commission。 But that
confirmation was only of Victor's GREAT…GRANDFATHER'S TITLE； and it
is now alleged that as Victor's father died without making a will；
Victor has claimed and disposed of property which he ought to have
divided with his SISTERS。 At least； some speculating rascals in San
Francisco have set up what they call 'the Sisters' title；' and are
selling it to actual settlers on the unoccupied lands beyond。 As；
by the law； it would hold possession against the mere ordinary
squatters； whose only right is based； as you know； on the
presumption that there is NO TITLE CLAIMED； it gives the possessor
immunity to enjoy the use of the property until the case is decided；
and even should the original title hold good against his； the
successful litigant would probably be willing to pay for
improvements and possession to save the expensive and tedious
process of ejectment。〃
〃But this does not affect YOU； who have already possession？〃 said
Clarence quickly。
〃No； not as far as THIS HOUSE and the lands I act