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！
forgetfulness； and she isn't really finding US as stupid as the
rancho；〃 replied her husband cheerfully； 〃I suppose we mustn't
complain。〃
〃John； how can you talk such nonsense？〃 said Mrs。 Peyton impatiently。
〃But I have no fear of that；〃 she added； with a slightly ostentatious
confidence。 〃I only wish I was as sure〃
〃Of what？〃
〃Of nothing happening that could take her from us。 I do not mean
death； John；like our first little one。 That does not happen to
one twice； but I sometimes dread〃
〃What？ She's only fifteen； and it's rather early to think about the
only other inevitable separation；marriage。 Come； Ally； this is
mere fancy。 She has been given up to us by her family；at least；
by all that we know are left of them。 I have legally adopted her。
If I have not made her my heiress； it is because I prefer to leave
everything to YOU； and I would rather she should know that she was
dependent upon you for the future than upon me。〃
〃And I can make a will in her favor if I want to？〃 said Mrs。 Peyton
quickly。
〃Always；〃 responded her husband smilingly； 〃but you have ample time
to think of that； I trust。 Meanwhile I have some news for you which
may make Susy's visit to the rancho this time less dull to her。 You
remember Clarence Brant； the boy who was with her when we picked her
up； and who really saved her life？〃
〃No； I don't；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton pettishly； 〃nor do I want to！ You
know； John； how distasteful and unpleasant it is for me to have
those dreary； petty； and vulgar details of the poor child's past
life recalled； and； thank Heaven； I have forgotten them except when
you choose to drag them before me。 You agreed； long ago； that we
were never to talk of the Indian massacre of her parents； so that we
could also ignore it before her； then why do you talk of her vulgar
friends； who are just as unpleasant？ Please let us drop the past。〃
〃Willingly； my dear； but； unfortunately； we cannot make others do
it。 And this is a case in point。 It appears that this boy； whom we
brought to Sacramento to deliver to a relative〃
〃And who was a wicked little impostor；you remember that yourself；
John； for he said that he was the son of Colonel Brant； and that he
was dead； and you know； and my brother Harry knew； that Colonel
Brant was alive all the time； and that he was lying； and Colonel
Brant was not his father；〃 broke in Mrs。 Peyton impatiently。
〃As it seems you do remember that much；〃 said Peyton dryly； 〃it is
only just to him that I should tell you that it appears that he was
not an impostor。 His story was TRUE。 I have just learned that
Colonel Brant WAS actually his father； but had concealed his lawless
life here； as well as his identity； from the boy。 He was really
that vague relative to whom Clarence was confided； and under that
disguise he afterwards protected the boy； had him carefully educated
at the Jesuit College of San Jose； and； dying two years ago in that
filibuster raid in Mexico； left him a considerable fortune。〃
〃And what has he to do with Susy's holidays？〃 said Mrs。 Peyton； with
uneasy quickness。 〃John； you surely cannot expect her ever to meet
this common creature again； with his vulgar ways。 His wretched
associates like that Jim Hooker； and； as you yourself admit； the
blood of an assassin； duelist； andHeaven knows what kind of a
pirate his father wasn't at the lastin his veins！ You don't
believe that a lad of this type； however much of his father's ill…
gotten money he may have； can be fit company for your daughter？ You
never could have thought of inviting him here？〃
〃I'm afraid that's exactly what I have done； Ally；〃 said the smiling
but unmoved Peyton； 〃but I'm still more afraid that your conception
of his present condition is an unfair one； like your remembrance of
his past。 Father Sobriente； whom I met at San Jose yesterday； says
he is very intelligent； and thoroughly educated； with charming
manners and refined tastes。 His father's money； which they say was
an investment for him in Carson's Bank five years ago； is as good as
any one's； and his father's blood won't hurt him in California or
the Southwest。 At least； he is received everywhere； and Don Juan
Robinson was his guardian。 Indeed； as far as social status goes； it
might be a serious question if the actual daughter of the late John
Silsbee； of Pike County； and the adopted child of John Peyton was in
the least his superior。 As Father Sobriente evidently knew
Clarence's former companionship with Susy and her parents； it would
be hardly politic for us to ignore it or seem to be ashamed of it。
So I intrusted Sobriente with an invitation to young Brant on the
spot。〃
Mrs。 Peyton's impatience； indignation； and opposition； which had
successively given way before her husband's quiet； masterful good
humor； here took the form of a neurotic fatalism。 She shook her
head with superstitious resignation。
〃Didn't I tell you； John； that I always had a dread of something
coming〃
〃But if it comes in the shape of a shy young lad； I see nothing
singularly portentous in it。 They have not met since they were
quite small； their tastes have changed； if they don't quarrel and
fight they may be equally bored with each other。 Yet until then； in
one way or another； Clarence will occupy the young lady's vacant
caprice； and her school friend； Mary Rogers； will be here； you know；
to divide his attentions； and；〃 added Peyton； with mock solemnity；
preserve the interest of strict propriety。 Shall I break it to
her；or will you？〃
〃No；yes；〃 hesitated Mrs。 Peyton； 〃perhaps I had better。〃
〃Very well； I leave his character in your hands； only don't
prejudice her into a romantic fancy for him。〃 And Judge Peyton
lounged smilingly away。
Then two little tears forced themselves from Mrs。 Peyton's eyes。
Again she saw that prospect of uninterrupted companionship with
Susy； upon which each successive year she had built so many maternal
hopes and confidences； fade away before her。 She dreaded the coming
of Susy's school friend； who shared her daughter's present thoughts
and intimacy； although she had herself invited her in a more
desperate dread of the child's abstracted； discontented eyes； she
dreaded the advent of the boy who had shared Susy's early life
before she knew her； she dreaded the ordeal of breaking the news and
perhaps seeing that pretty animation spring into her eyes； which she
had begun to believe no solicitude or tenderness of her own ever
again awakened；and yet she dreaded still more that her husband
should see it too。 For the love of this recreated woman； although
not entirely materialized with her changed fibre； had nevertheless
become a coarser selfishness fostered by her loneliness and limited
experience。 The maternal yearning left unsatisfied by the loss of
her first…born had never been filled by Susy's thoughtless
acceptance of it； she had been led astray by the child's easy