in a hollow of the hills-第17部分

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touched　him　now；　as　when　a　boy；　with　a　sense　of　its　pathetic
isolation。　　His　head　bowed　with　boyish　deference　as　she　approached
gently；　passed　him　a　slight　salutation；　and　closed　the　door　that　he
had　forgotten　to　shut　behind　him。

Then；　with　a　rapid　movement；　so　quick　that　he　could　scarcely　follow
it；　the　coif；　veil；　rosary；　and　crucifix　were　swept　off；　and　the
young　pupil　of　the　convent　stood　before　him。

For　all　the　sombre　suggestiveness　of　her　disguise　and　its
ungraceful　contour；　there　was　no　mistaking　the　adorable　little
head；　tumbled　all　over　with　silky　tendrils　of　hair　from　the　hasty
withdrawal　of　her　coif；　or　the　blue　eyes　that　sparkled　with　frank
delight　beneath　them。　　Key　thought　her　more　beautiful　than　ever。
Yet　the　very　effect　of　her　frankness　and　beauty　was　to　recall　him
to　all　the　danger　and　incongruity　of　her　position。

〃This　is　madness；〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃You　may　be　followed　here　and
discovered　in　this　costume　at　any　moment！〃　　Nevertheless；　he　caught
the　two　little　hands　that　had　been　extended　to　him；　and　held　them
tightly；　and　with　a　frank　familiarity　that　he　would　have　wondered
at　an　instant　before。

〃But　I　won't；〃　she　said　simply。　　〃You　see　I'm　doing　a　'half…
retreat'；　and　I　stay　with　Sister　Seraphina　in　her　room；　and　she
always　sleeps　two　hours　after　the　Angelus；　and　I　got　out　without
anybody　knowing　me；　in　her　clothes。　　I　see　what　it　is；〃　she　said；
suddenly　bending　a　reproachful　glance　upon　him；　〃you　don't　like　me
in　them。　　I　know　they're　just　horrid；　but　it　was　the　only　way　I
could　get　out。〃

〃You　don't　understand　me；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃I　don't　like　you　to
run　these　dreadful　risks　and　dangers　for〃He　would　have　said
〃for　me；〃　but　added　with　sudden　humility〃for　nothing。　　Had　I
dreamed　that　you　cared　to　see　me；　I　would　have　arranged　it　easily
without　this　indiscretion；　which　might　make　others　misjudge　you。
Every　instant　that　you　remain　hereworse；　every　moment　that　you
are　away　from　the　convent　in　that　disguise；　is　fraught　with　danger。
I　know　you　never　thought　of　it。〃

〃But　I　did；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃I　thought　of　it；　and　thought　that
if　Sister　Seraphina　woke　up；　and　they　sent　for　me；　you　would　take
me　away　with　you　to　that　dear　little　hollow　in　the　hills；　where　I
first　heard　your　voice。　　You　remember　it；　don't　you？　　You　were
lost；　I　think；　in　the　darkness；　and　I　used　to　say　to　myself
afterwards　that　I　found　you。　　That　was　the　first　time。　　Then　the
second　time　I　heard　you；　was　here　in　the　hall。　　I　was　alone　in　the
other　room；　for　Mrs。　Barker　had　gone　out。　　I　did　not　know　you　were
here；　but　I　knew　your　voice。　　And　the　third　time　was　before　the
convent　gate；　and　then　I　knew　you　knew　me。　　And　after　that　I　didn't
think　of　anything　but　coming　to　you；　for　I　knew　that　if　I　was　found
out；　you　would　take　me　back　with　you；　and　perhaps　send　word　to　my
brother　where　we　were；　and　then〃　　She　stopped　suddenly；　with　her
eyes　fixed　on　Key's　blank　face。　　Her　own　grew　blank；　the　joy　faded
out　of　her　clear　eyes；　she　gently　withdrew　her　hand　from　his；　and
without　a　word　began　to　resume　her　disguise。

〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　Key　passionately。　　〃I　am　thinking　only　of　YOU。
I　want　to；　and　WILL；　save　you　from　any　blame；blame　you　do　not
understand　even　now。　　There　is　still　time。　　I　will　go　back　to　the
convent　with　you　at　once。　　You　shall　tell　me　everything；　I　will
tell　you　everything　on　the　way。〃

She　had　already　completely　resumed　her　austere　garb；　and　drew　the
veil　across　her　face。　　With　the　putting　on　her　coif　she　seemed　to
have　extinguished　all　the　joyous　youthfulness　of　her　spirit；　and
moved　with　the　deliberateness　of　renunciation　towards　the　door。
They　descended　the　staircase　without　a　word。　　Those　who　saw　them
pass　made　way　for　them　with　formal　respect。

When　they　were　in　the　street；　she　said　quietly；　〃Don't　give　me　your
armSisters　don't　take　it。〃　　When　they　had　reached　the　street
corner；　she　turned　it；　saying；　〃This　is　the　shortest　way。〃

It　was　Key　who　was　now　restrained；　awkward；　and　embarrassed。　　The
fire　of　his　spirit；　the　passion　he　had　felt　a　moment　before；　had
gone　out　of　him；　as　if　she　were　really　the　character　she　had
assumed。　　He　said　at　last　desperately：

〃How　long　did　you　live　in　the　hollow？〃

〃Only　two　days。　　My　brother　was　bringing　me　here　to　school；　but　in
the　stage　coach　there　was　some　one　with　whom　he　had　quarreled；　and
he　didn't　want　to　meet　him　with　me。　　So　we　got　out　at　Skinner's；
and　came　to　the　hollow；　where　his　old　friends；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Barker；
lived。〃

There　was　no　hesitation　nor　affectation　in　her　voice。　　Again　he
felt　that　he　would　as　soon　have　doubted　the　words　of　the　Sister　she
represented　as　her　own。

〃And　your　brotherdid　you　live　with　him？〃

〃No。　　I　was　at　school　at　Marysville　until　he　took　me　away。　　I　saw
little　of　him　for　the　past　two　years；　for　he　had　business　in　the
mountainsvery　rough　business；　where　he　couldn't　take　me；　for　it
kept　him　away　from　the　settlements　for　weeks。　　I　think　it　had
something　to　do　with　cattle；　for　he　was　always　having　a　new　horse。
I　was　all　alone　before　that；　too；　I　had　no　other　relations；　I　had
no　friends。　　We　had　always　been　moving　about　so　much；　my　brother
and　I。　　I　never　saw　any　one　that　I　liked；　except　you；　and　until
yesterday　I　had　only　HEARD　you。〃

Her　perfect　naivete　alternately　thrilled　him　with　pain　and　doubt。
In　his　awkwardness　and　uneasiness　he　was　brutal。

〃Yes；　but　you　must　have　met　somebodyother　menhere　even；　when
you　were　out　with　your　schoolfellows；　or　perhaps　on　an　adventure
like　this。〃

Her　white　coif　turned　towards　him　quickly。　　〃I　never　wanted　to　know
anybody　else。　　I　never　cared　to　see　anybody　else。　　I　never　would
have　gone　out　in　this　way　but　for　you；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　　After
a　pause　she　added　in　a　frightened　tone：　〃That　didn't　sound　like
your　voice　then。　　It　didn't　sound　like　it　a　moment　ago　either。〃

〃But　you　are　sure　that　you　know　my　voice；〃　he　said；　with　affected
gayety。　　〃There　were　two　others　in　the　hollow　with　me　that　night。〃

〃I　know　that；　too。　　But　I　know　even　what　you　said。　　You　reproved
them　for　throwing　a　lighted　match　in　the　dry　grass。　　You　were
thinking　of　us　then。　　I　know　it。〃

〃Of　US？〃　said　Key　quickly。

〃Of　Mrs。　Barker　and　myself。　　We　were　alone　in　the　house；　for　my
brother　and　her　husband　were　both　away。　　What　you　said　seemed　to
forewarn　me；　and　I　told　her。　　So　we　were　prepared　when　the　fire
came　nearer；　and　we　both　escaped　on　the　same　horse。〃

〃And　you　dropped　your　shoes　in　your　flight；〃　said　Key　laughingly；
〃and　I　picked　them　up　the　next　day；　when　I　came　to　search　for　you。
I　have　kept　them　still。〃

〃They　were　HER　shoes；〃　said　the　girl　quickly；　〃I　couldn't　find　mine
in　our　hurry；　and　hers　were　too　large　for　me；　and　dropped　off。〃
She　stopped；　and　with　a　faint　return　of　her　old　gladness　said；
〃Then　you　DID　come　back？　　I　KNEW　you　would。〃

〃I　should　have　stayed　THEN；　but　we　got　no　reply　when　we　shouted。
Why　was　that？〃　he　demanded　suddenly。

〃Oh；　we　were　warned　against　speaking　to　any　stranger；　or　even　being
seen　by　any　one　while　we　were　alone；〃　returned　the　girl　simply。

〃But　why？〃　persisted　Key。

〃Oh；　because　there　were　so　many　highwaymen　and　horse…stealers　in
the　woods。　　Why；　they　had　stopped　the　coach　only　a　few　weeks
before；　and　only　a　day　or　two　ago；　when　Mrs。　Barker　came　down。　　SHE
saw　them！〃

Key　with　difficulty　suppressed　a　groan。　　They　walked　on　in　silence
for　some　moments；　he　scarcely　daring　to　lift　his　eyes　to　the
decorous　little　figure　hastening　by　his　side。　　Alternately　touched
by　mistrust　and　pain；　at　last　an　infinite　pity；　not　unmingled　with
a　desperate　resolution；　took　possession　of　him。

〃I　must　make　a　confession　to　you；　Miss　Rivers；〃　he　began　with　the
bashful　haste　of　a　very　boy；　〃that　is〃he　stammered　with　a　half
hysteric　laugh；〃that　isa　confession　as　if　you　were　really　a
sister　or　a　priest；　you　knowa　sort　of　confidence　to　youto　your
dress。　　I　HAVE　seen　you；　or　THOUGHT　I　saw　you　before。　　It　was　that
which　brought　me　here；　that　which　made　me　follow　Mrs。　Barkermy
only　clue　to　youto　the　door　of　that　convent。　　That　night；　in　the
hollow；　I　saw　a　profile　at　the　lighted　window；　which　I　thought　was
yours。〃

〃I　never　was　near　the　window；〃　said　the　young　girl　quickly。　　〃It
must　have　been　Mrs。　Barker。〃

〃I　know　that　now；〃　returned　Key。　　〃But　remember；　it　was　my　only
clue　to　you。　　I　mean；〃　he　added　awkwardly；　〃it　was　the　means　of　my
finding　you。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　it　made　you　think　of　me；　whom　you　never　saw；　to
see　another　woman's　profile；〃　she　retorted；　with　the　faintest　touch
of　asperity　in　her　childlike　voice。　　〃But；〃　she　added；　more　gently
and　with　a　relapse　into　her　adorable　naivete；　〃most　people's
profiles　look　alike。〃

〃It　was　not　that；〃　protested　Key；　still　awkwardly；　〃it　was　only
that　I　realized　somethingonly　a　dream；　perhaps。〃

She　did　not　reply；　and　they　continued　on　in　silence。　　The　gray　wall
of　the　convent　was　already　in　sight。　　Key　felt　he　had　achieved
nothing。　　Except　for　information　that　was　hopeless；　he　had　come　to
no　nearer　understanding　of　the　beautiful　girl　beside　him；　and　his
future　appeared　as　vague　as　before；　and；　above　all；　he　was
conscious　of　an　inferiority　of　character　and　purpose　to　this　simple
creature；　who　had　obeyed　him　so　submissively。　　Had　he　acted　wisely？
Would　it　not　have　been　better　if　he　had　followed　her　own　frankness；
and

〃Then　it　was　Mrs。　Barker's　profile　that　brought　you　here？〃　resumed
the　voice　beneath　the　coif。　　〃You　know　she　has　gone　back。　　I
suppose　you　will　follow？〃

〃You　will　not　understand　me；〃　said　Key　desperately。　　〃But；〃　he
added　in　a　lower　voice；　〃I　shall　remain　here　until　you　do。〃

He　drew　a　little　closer　to　her　side。

〃Then　you　must　not　begin　by　walking　so　close　to　me；〃　she　said；
moving　slightly　away；　〃they　may　see　you　from　the　gate。　　And　you
must　not　go　with　me　beyond　that　corner。　　If　I　have　been　missed
already　they　will　suspect　you。〃

〃But　how　shall　I　know？〃　he　said；　attempting　to　take　her　hand。　　〃Let
me　walk　past　the　gate。　　I　cannot　leave　you　in　this　uncertainty。〃

〃You　will　know　soon　enough；〃　she　said　gravely；　evading　his　hand。
〃You　must　not　go　further　now。　　Good…night。〃

She　had　stopped　at　the　corner　of　the　wall。　　He　again　held　out　his
hand。　　Her　little　fingers　slid　coldly　b