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！
valuable gifts might have influential friends。 But a glance at the bare
room； which looked like a camp； and the strange； unconventional garb of
its occupant； restored his former convictions。 There might be a promise
of intelligence； but scarcely of prosperity； in the figure before him。
〃Ah！ We must not forget that we are watched over in the night
season；〃 he said； laying his hand on Low's shoulder； with an illustration of
celestial guardianship that would have been impious but for its palpable
grotesqueness。 〃No； sir； we know not what a day may bring forth。〃
Unfortunately； Low's practical mind did not go beyond a mere human
interpretation。 It was enough； however； to put a new light in his eye and
a faint color in his cheek。
〃Could it have been Miss Nellie？〃 he asked； with half…boyish
hesitation。
Mr。 Wynn was too much of a Christian not to bow before what
appeared to him the purely providential interposition of this suggestion。
Seizing it and Low at the same moment； he playfully forced him down
again in his chair。
〃Ah； you rascal！〃 he said； with infinite archness； 〃that's your game； is
it？ You want to trap poor Father Wynn。 You want to make him say
94
… Page 95…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
'No。' You want to tempt him to commit himself。 No； sir！never； sir！
no； no！〃
Firmly convinced that the present was Nellie's； and that her father only
good…humoredly guessed it； the young man's simple； truthful nature was
embarrassed。 He longed to express his gratitude； but feared to betray the
young girl's trust。 The Reverend Mr。 Wynn speedily relieved his mind。
〃No〃 he continued； bestriding a chair； and familiarly confronting Low
over its back。 〃No； sirno！ And you want me to say 'No；' don't you；
regarding the little walks of Nellie and a certain young man in the
Carquinez Woods？ha； ha！ You'd like me to say that I knew nothing of
the botanizings； and the herb collectings； and the picknickings therehe；
he！you sly dog！ Perhaps you'd like to tempt Father Wynn further； and
make him swear he knows nothing of his daughter disguising herself in a
duster and meeting another young manisn't it another young man？all
alone； eh？ Perhaps you want poor old Father Wynn to say No。 No； sir；
nothing of the kind ever occurred。 Ah； you young rascal！〃
Slightly troubled； in spite of Wynn's hearty manner； Low； with his
usual directness； however； said； 〃I do not want anyone to deny that I have
seen Miss Nellie。〃
〃Certainly； certainly；〃 said Wynn； abandoning his method；
considerably disconcerted by Low's simplicity； and a certain natural
reserve that shook off his familiarity。 〃Certainly it's a noble thing to be
able to put your hand on your heart and say to the world； 'Come on； all of
you！ Observe me； I have nothing to conceal。 I walk with Miss Wynn in
the woods as her instructorher teacher； in fact。 We cull a flower here
and there； we pluck an herb fresh from the hands of the Creator。 We look；
so to speak； from Nature to Nature's God。' Yes； my young friend； we
should be the first to repel the foul calumny that could misinterpret our
most innocent actions。〃
〃Calumny？〃 repeated Low； starting to his feet。 〃What calumny？〃
〃My friend； my noble young friend； I recognize your indignation。 I
know your worth。 When I said to Nellie； my only child； my perhaps too
simple offspringa mere wildflower like yourself when I said to her； 'Go；
my child； walk in the woods with this young man； hand in hand。 Let him
95
… Page 96…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
instruct you from the humblest roots； for he has trodden in the ways of the
Almighty。 Gather wisdom from his lips； and knowledge from his simple
woodman's craft。 Make； in fact； a collection not only of herbs； but of
moral axioms and experience'I knew I could trust you； and； trusting you；
my young friend； I felt I could trust the world。 Perhaps I was weak； foolish。
But I thought only of her welfare。 I even recall how that to preserve the
purity of her garments； I bade her don a simple duster； that； to secure her
from the trifling companionship of others； I bade her keep her own
counsel； and seek you at seasons known but to yourselves。〃
〃But 。 。 。 did Nellie 。 。 。 understand you？〃 interrupted Low hastily。
〃I see you read her simple nature。 Understand me？ No； not at first！
Her maidenly instinctperhaps her duty to anothertook the alarm。 I
remember her words。 'But what will Dunn say？' she asked。 'Will he not
be jealous？'〃
〃Dunn！ jealous！ I don't understand；〃 said Low； fixing his eyes on
Wynn。
〃That's just what I said to Nellie。 'Jealous！' I said。 'What； Dunn；
your affianced husband； jealous of a mere frienda teacher； a guide； a
philosopher。 It is impossible。' Well； sir； she was right。 He is jealous。
And； more than that； he has imparted his jealousy to others！ In other
words； he has made a scandal！〃
Low's eyes flashed。 〃Where is your daughter now？〃 he said sternly。
〃At present in bed； suffering from a nervous attack brought on by these
unjust suspicions。 She appreciates your anxiety； and； knowing that you
could not see her； told me to give you this。〃 He handed Low the ring and
the letter。
The climax had been forced； and； it must be confessed； was by no
means the one Mr。 Wynn had fully arranged in his own inner
consciousness。 He had intended to take an ostentatious leave of Low in
the bar…room； deliver the letter with archness； and escape before a possible
explosion。 He consequently backed towards the door for an emergency。
But he was again at fault。 That unaffected stoical fortitude in acute
suffering； which was the one remaining pride and glory of Low's race； was
yet to be revealed to Wynn's civilized eyes。
96
… Page 97…