in a hollow of the hills-第20部分

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posture　to　the　ground。　　Collinson　cast　himself　at　her　side；　and　put
his　arm　round　her。

〃Wot's　gone　o'　ye；　Sade？　　You're　cold　and　sick。　　Listen。　　Your　hoss
is　just　over　thar　feedin'。　　I'll　put　you　back　on　him；　run　in　and
tell　'em　I'm　off；　and　be　with　ye　in　a　jiffy；　and　take　ye　back　to
Skinner's。〃

〃Wait；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃Wait。〃

〃Or　to　the　Silver　Hollowit's　not　so　far。〃

She　had　caught　his　hands　again；　her　rigid　face　close　to　his；　〃What
hollow？speak！〃　she　said　breathlessly。

〃The　hollow　whar　a　friend　o'　mine　struck　silver。　　He'll　take　yur
in。〃

Her　head　sank　against　his　shoulder。　　〃Let　me　stay　here；〃　she
answered；　〃and　wait。〃

He　supported　her　tenderly；　feeling　the　gentle　brushing　of　her　hair
against　his　cheek　as　in　the　old　days。　　He　was　content　to　wait；
holding　her　thus。　　They　were　very　silent；　her　eyes　half　closed；　as
if　in　exhaustion；　yet　with　the　strange　suggestion　of　listening　in
the　vacant　pupils。

〃Ye　ain't　hearin'　anythin'；　deary？〃　he　said；　with　a　troubled　face。

〃No；　but　everything　is　so　deathly　still；〃　she　said　in　a　frightened
whisper。

It　certainly　was　very　still。　　A　singular　hush　seemed　to　have　slid
over　the　landscape；　there　was　no　longer　any　sound　from　the　mill；
there　was　an　ominous　rest　in　the　woodland；　so　perfect　that　the　tiny
rustle　of　an　uneasy　wing　in　the　tree　above　them　had　made　them
start；　even　the　moonlight　seemed　to　hang　suspended　in　the　air。

〃It's　like　the　lull　before　the　storm；〃　she　said　with　her　strange
laugh。

But　the　non…imaginative　Collinson　was　more　practical。　　〃It's　mighty
like　that　earthquake　weather　before　the　big　shake　thet　dried　up　the
river　and　stopped　the　mill。　　That　was　just　the　time　I　got　the　news
o'　your　bein'　dead　with　yellow　fever。　　Lord！　honey；　I　allus　allowed
to　myself　thet　suthin'　was　happenin'　to　ye　then。〃

She　did　not　reply；　but　he；　holding　her　figure　closer　to　him；　felt
it　trembling　with　a　nervous　expectation。　　Suddenly　she　threw　him
off；　and　rose　to　her　feet　with　a　cry。　　〃There！〃　she　screamed
frantically；　〃they've　come！　they've　come！〃

A　rabbit　had　run　out　into　the　moonlight　before　them；　a　gray　fox　had
dashed　from　the　thicket　into　the　wood；　but　nothing　else。

〃Who's　come？〃　said　Collinson；　staring　at　her。

〃The　sheriff　and　his　posse！　　They're　surrounding　them　now。　　Don't
you　hear？〃　she　gasped。

There　was　a　strange　rattling　in　the　direction　of　the　mill；　a　dull
rumble；　with　wild　shouts　and　outcries；　and　the　trampling　of　feet　on
its　wooden　platform。　　Collinson　staggered　to　his　feet；　but　at　the
same　moment　he　was　thrown　violently　against　his　wife；　and　they　both
clung　helplessly　to　the　tree；　with　their　eyes　turned　toward　the
ledge。　　There　was　a　dense　cloud　of　dust　and　haze　hanging　over　it。

She　uttered　another　cry；　and　ran　swiftly　towards　the　rocky　grade。
Collinson　ran　quickly　after　her；　but　as　she　reached　the　grade　he
suddenly　shouted；　with　an　awful　revelation　in　his　voice；　〃Come
back！　　Stop；　Sadie；　for　God's　sake！〃　　But　it　was　too　late。　　She　had
already　disappeared；　and　as　he　reached　the　rock　on　which　Chivers
had　leaped；　he　felt　it　give　way　beneath　him。

But　there　was　no　sound；　only　a　rush　of　wind　from　the　valley　below。
Everything　lapsed　again　into　its　awful　stillness。　　As　the　cloud
lifted　from　where　the　mill　had　stood；　the　moon　shone　only　upon
empty　space。　　There　was　a　singular　murmuring　and　whispering　from
the　woods　beyond　that　increased　in　sound；　and　an　hour　later　the　dry
bed　of　the　old　mill…stream　was　filled　with　a　rushing　river。


CHAPTER　VIII。


Preble　Key　returned　to　his　hotel　from　the　convent；　it　is　to　be
feared；　with　very　little　of　that　righteous　satisfaction　which　is
supposed　to　follow　the　performance　of　a　good　deed。　　He　was　by　no
means　certain　that　what　he　had　done　was　best　for　the　young　girl。
He　had　only　shown　himself　to　her　as　a　worldly　monitor　of　dangers；
of　which　her　innocence　was　providentially　unconscious。　　In　his
feverish　haste　to　avert　a　scandal；　he　had　no　chance　to　explain　his
real　feelings；　he　had；　perhaps；　even　exposed　her　thwarted　impulses
to　equally　naive　but　more　dangerous　expression；　which　he　might　not
have　the　opportunity　to　check。　　He　tossed　wakefully　that　night　upon
his　pillow；　tormented　with　alternate　visions　of　her　adorable
presence　at　the　hotel；　and　her　bowed；　renunciating　figure　as　she
reentered　the　convent　gate。　　He　waited　expectantly　the　next　day　for
the　message　she　had　promised；　and　which　he　believed　she　would　find
some　way　to　send。　　But　no　message　was　forthcoming。　　The　day　passed；
and　he　became　alarmed。　　The　fear　that　her　escapade　had　been
discovered　again　seized　him。　　If　she　were　in　close　restraint；　she
could　neither　send　to　him；　nor　could　he　convey　to　her　the
solicitude　and　sympathy　that　filled　his　heart。　　In　her　childish
frankness　she　might　have　confessed　the　whole　truth；　and　this　would
not　only　shut　the　doors　of　the　convent　against　him；　under　his
former　pretext；　but　compromise　her　still　more　if　he　boldly　called。
He　waylaid　the　afternoon　procession；　she　was　not　among　them。
Utterly　despairing；　the　wildest　plans　for　seeing　her　passed　through
his　brain；plans　that　recalled　his　hot…headed　youth；　and　a　few
moments　later　made　him　smile　at　his　extravagance；　even　while　it
half　frightened　him　at　the　reality　of　his　passion。　　He　reached　the
hotel　heart…sick　and　desperate。　　The　porter　met　him　on　the　steps。
It　was　with　a　thrill　that　sent　the　blood　leaping　to　his　cheeks　that
he　heard　the　man　say：

〃Sister　Seraphina　is　waiting　for　you　in　the　sitting…room。〃

There　was　no　thought　of　discovery　or　scandal　in　Preble　Key's　mind
now；　no　doubt　or　hesitation　as　to　what　he　would　do；　as　he　sprang　up
the　staircase。　　He　only　knew　that　he　had　found　her　again；　and　was
happy！　　He　burst　into　the　room；　but　this　time　remembered　to　shut
the　door　behind　him。　　He　looked　eagerly　towards　the　window　where
she　had　stood　the　day　before；　but　now　she　rose　quickly　from　the
sofa　in　the　corner；　where　she　had　been　seated；　and　the　missal　she
had　been　reading　rolled　from　her　lap　to　the　floor。　　He　ran　towards
her　to　pick　it　up。　　Her　namethe　name　she　had　told　him　to　call
herwas　passionately　trembling　on　his　lips；　when　she　slowly　put
her　veil　aside；　and　displayed　a　pale；　kindly；　middle…aged　face；
slightly　marked　by　old　scars　of　smallpox。　　It　was　not　Alice；　it　was
the　real　Sister　Seraphina　who　stood　before　him。

His　first　revulsion　of　bitter　disappointment　was　so　quickly
followed　by　a　realization　that　all　had　been　discovered；　and　his
sacrifice　of　yesterday　had　gone　for　naught；　that　he　stood　before
her；　stammering；　but　without　the　power　to　say　a　word。　　Luckily　for
him；　his　utter　embarrassment　seemed　to　reassure　her；　and　to　calm
that　timidity　which　his　brusque　man…like　irruption　might　well
produce　in　the　inexperienced；　contemplative　mind　of　the　recluse。
Her　voice　was　very　sweet；　albeit　sad；　as　she　said　gently：

〃I　am　afraid　I　have　taken　you　by　surprise；　but　there　was　no　time　to
arrange　for　a　meeting；　and　the　Lady　Superior　thought　that　I；　who
knew　all　the　facts；　had　better　see　you　confidentially。　　Father
Cipriano　gave　us　your　address。〃

Amazed　and　wondering；　Key　bowed　her　to　a　seat。

〃You　will　remember；〃　she　went　on　softly；　〃that　the　Lady　Superior
failed　to　get　any　information　from　you　regarding　the　brother　of　one
of　our　dear　children；　whom　he　committed　to　our　charge　through　aa
companion　or　acquaintancea　Mrs。　Barker。　　As　she　was　armed　with
his　authority　by　letter；　we　accepted　the　dear　child　through　her；
permitted　her　as　his　representative　to　have　free　access　to　his
sister；　and　even　allowed　her；　as　an　unattended　woman；　to　pass　the
night　at　the　convent。　　We　were　therefore　surprised　this　morning　to
receive　a　letter　from　him；　absolutely　forbidding　any　further
intercourse；　correspondence；　or　association　of　his　sister　with　this
companion；　Mrs。　Barker。　　It　was　necessary　to　inform　the　dear　child
of　this　at　once；　as　she　was　on　the　point　of　writing　to　this　woman；
but　we　were　pained　and　shocked　at　her　reception　of　her　brother's
wishes。　　I　ought　to　say；　in　justice　to　the　dear　child；　that　while
she　is　usually　docile；　intelligent；　and　tractable　to　discipline；
and　a　devote　in　her　religious　feelings；　she　is　singularly
impulsive。　　But　we　were　not　prepared　for　the　rash　and　sudden　step
she　has　taken。　　At　noon　to…day　she　escaped　from　the　convent！〃

Key；　who　had　been　following　her　with　relief；　sprang　to　his　feet　at
this　unexpected　culmination。

〃Escaped！〃　he　said。　　〃Impossible！　　I　mean；〃　he　added；　hurriedly
recalling　himself；　〃your　rules；　your　discipline；　your　attendants
are　so　perfect。〃

〃The　poor　impulsive　creature　has　added　sacrilege　to　her　madnessa
sacrilege　we　are　willing　to　believe　she　did　not　understand；　for　she
escaped　in　a　religious　habitmy　own。〃

〃But　this　would　sufficiently　identify　her；〃　he　said；　controlling
himself　with　an　effort。

〃Alas；　not　so！　　There　are　many　of　us　who　go　abroad　on　our　missions
in　these　garments；　and　they　are　made　all　alike；　so　as　to　divert
rather　than　attract　attention　to　any　individuality。　　We　have　sent
private　messengers　in　all　directions；　and　sought　her　everywhere；
but　without　success。　　You　will　understand　that　we　wish　to　avoid
scandal；　which　a　more　public　inquiry　would　create。〃

〃And　you　come　to　me；〃　said　Key；　with　a　return　of　his　first
suspicion；　in　spite　of　his　eagerness　to　cut　short　the　interview　and
be　free　to　act；〃to　me；　almost　a　stranger？〃

〃Not　a　stranger；　Mr。　Key；〃　returned　the　religieuse　gently；　〃but　to
a　well…known　mana　man　of　affairs　in　the　country　where　this
unhappy　child's　brother　livesa　friend　who　seems　to　be　sent　by
Heaven　to　find　out　this　brother　for　us；　and　speed　this　news　to　him。
We　come　to　the　old　pupil　of　Father　Cipriano；　a　friend　of　the　Holy
Church；　to　the　kindly　gentleman　who　knows　what　it　is　to　have　dear
relations　of　his　own；　and　who　only　yesterday　was　seeking　the
convent　to〃

〃Enough！〃　interrupted　Key　hurriedly；　with　a　slight　color。　　〃I　will
go　at　once。　　I　do　not　know　this　man；　but　I　will　do　my　best　to　find
him。　　And　thisthisyoung　girl？　　You　say　you　have　no　trace　of
her？　　May　she　not　still　be　here？　　I　should　have　some　clue　by　which
to　seek　herI　mean　that　I　could　give　to　her　brother。〃

〃Alas！　we　fear　she　is　already　far　away　from　here。　　If　she　went　at
once　to　San　Luis；　s