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 said gravely。
〃Then she DID run away from home as they said；〃 said Phoebe
impulsively。
〃Not EXACTLY as they said；〃 said Clarence gently。 〃She elected to
make her home with her aunt； Mrs。 McClosky； who is the wife of the
manager of this theatre； and she adopted the profession a month ago。
As it now appears that there was some informality in the old
articles of guardianship； Mrs。 Peyton would have been powerless to
prevent her from doing either； even if she had wished to。〃
The infelicity of questioning Clarence regarding Susy suddenly
flashed upon the forgetful Phoebe； and she colored。 Yet； although
sad； he did not look like a rejected lover。
〃Of course； if she is here with her own relatives； that makes all
the difference；〃 she said gently。 〃It is protection。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Clarence。
〃And；〃 continued Phoebe hesitatingly； 〃she is playing withwithan
old friendMr。 Hooker！〃
〃That is quite proper； too； considering their relations；〃 said
Clarence tolerantly。
〃Idon'tunderstand；〃 stammered Phoebe。
The slightly cynical smile on Clarence's face changed as he looked
into Phoebe's eyes。
〃I've just heard that they are married；〃 he returned gently。
CHAPTER XII。
Nowhere had the long season of flowers brought such glory as to the
broad plains and slopes of Robles Rancho。 By some fortuitous chance
of soil； or flood； or drifting pollen； the three terraces had each
taken a distinct and separate blossom and tint of color。 The
straggling line of corral； the crumbling wall of the old garden； the
outlying chapel； and even the brown walls of the casa itself； were
half sunken in the tall racemes of crowding lupines； until from the
distance they seemed to be slowly settling in the profundity of a
dark…blue sea。 The second terrace was a league…long flow of gray
and gold daisies； in which the cattle dazedly wandered mid…leg deep。
A perpetual sunshine of yellow dandelions lay upon the third。 The
gentle slope to the dark…green canada was a broad cataract of
crimson poppies。 Everywhere where water had stood； great patches of
color had taken its place。 It seemed as if the rains had ceased
only that the broken heavens might drop flowers。
Never before had its beautya beauty that seemed built upon a
cruel； youthful； obliterating forgetfulness of the paststruck
Clarence as keenly as when he had made up his mind that he must
leave the place forever。 For the tale of his mischance and ill…
fortune； as told by Hopkins； was unfortunately true。 When he
discovered that in his desire to save Peyton's house by the purchase
of the Sisters' title he himself had been the victim of a gigantic
fraud； he accepted the loss of the greater part of his fortune with
resignation； and was even satisfied by the thought that he had at
least effected the possession of the property for Mrs。 Peyton。 But
when he found that those of his tenants who had bought under him had
acquired only a dubious possession of their lands and no title； he
had unhesitatingly reimbursed them for their improvements with the
last of his capital。 Only the lawless Gilroy had good…humoredly
declined。 The quiet acceptance of the others did not； unfortunately；
preclude their settled belief that Clarence had participated in the
fraud； and that even now his restitution was making a dangerous
precedent； subversive of the best interests of the State； and
discouraging to immigration。 Some doubted his sanity。 Only one；
struck with the sincerity of his motive； hesitated to take his
money； with a look of commiseration on his face。
〃Are you not satisfied？〃 asked Clarence； smiling。
〃Yes； but〃
〃But what？〃
〃Nothin'。 Only I was thinkin' that a man like you must feel awful
lonesome in Calforny！〃
Lonely he was； indeed； but his loneliness was not the loss of
fortune nor what it might bring。 Perhaps he had never fully
realized his wealth； it had been an accident rather than a custom of
his life； and when it had failed in the only test he had made of its
power； it is to be feared that he only sentimentally regretted it。
It was too early yet for him to comprehend the veiled blessings of
the catastrophe in its merciful disruption of habits and ways of
life； his loneliness was still the hopeless solitude left by
vanished ideals and overthrown idols。 He was satisfied that he had
never cared for Susy； but he still cared for the belief that he had。
After the discovery of Pedro's body that fatal morning； a brief but
emphatic interview between himself and Mrs。 McClosky had followed。
He had insisted upon her immediately accompanying Susy and himself
to Mrs。 Peyton in San Francisco。 Horror…stricken and terrified at
the catastrophe； and frightened by the strange looks of the excited
servants； they did not dare to disobey him。 He had left them with
Mrs。 Peyton in the briefest preliminary interview； during which he
spoke only of the catastrophe； shielding the woman from the
presumption of having provoked it； and urging only the importance of
settling the question of guardianship at once。 It was odd that Mrs。
Peyton had been less disturbed than he imagined she would be at even
his charitable version of Susy's unfaithfulness to her； it even
seemed to him that she had already suspected it。 But as he was
about to withdraw to leave her to meet them alone； she had stopped
him suddenly。
〃What would you advise me to do？〃
It was his first interview with her since the revelation of his own
feelings。 He looked into the pleading； troubled eyes of the woman
he now knew he had loved； and stammered：
〃You alone can judge。 Only you must remember that one cannot force
an affection any more than one can prevent it。〃
He felt himself blushing； and； conscious of the construction of his
words； he even fancied that she was displeased。
〃Then you have no preference？〃 she said； a little impatiently。
〃None。〃
She made a slight gesture with her handsome shoulders； but she only
said； 〃I should have liked to have pleased you in this；〃 and turned
coldly away。 He had left without knowing the result of the
interview； but a few days later he received a letter from her
stating that she had allowed Susy to return to her aunt； and that
she had resigned all claims to her guardianship。
〃It seemed to be a foregone conclusion；〃 she wrote； 〃and although I
cannot think such a change will be for her permanent welfare； it is
her present WISH； and who knows； indeed； if the change will be
permanent？ I have not allowed the legal question to interfere with
my judgment； although her friends must know that she forfeits any
claim upon the estate by her action； but at the same time； in the
event of her suitable marriage； I should try to carry out what I
believe would have been Mr。 Peyton's wishes。〃
There were a few lines of postscript： 〃It seems to me that the
change would leave you more free to consult your own wi