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tales of trail and town-第10部分

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out an exemplary force; or make a counter demonstration。  The

incident was allowed to drop。  At the reservation Peter had ignored

the previous conduct of the chiefs towards him; had with quiet

courage exposed himself fullyunarmed and unattendedamongst

them; and had as fully let it be known that this previous incident

was the reason that his sister had not accompanied him on his

second visit。  He left them at the close of the second day more

satisfied in his mind; and perhaps in a more enthusiastic attitude

towards his report。



As he came within sound of the sunset bugles; he struck a narrower

trail which led to the fort; through an oasis of oaks and

cottonwoods and a small stream or 〃branch;〃 which afterwards lost

itself in the dusty plain。  He had already passed a few settler's

cabins; a sutler's shop; and other buildings that had sprung up

around this armed nucleus of civilizationwhich; in due season;

was to become a frontier town。  But as yet the brief wood was wild

and secluded; frequented only by the women and children of the

fort; within whose protecting bounds it stood; and to whose formal

〃parade;〃 and trim white and green cottage 〃quarters;〃 it afforded

an agreeable relief。  As he rode abstractedly forward under the low

cottonwood vault he felt a strange influence stealing over him; an

influence that was not only a present experience but at the same

time a far…off memory。  The concave vault above deepened; the

sunset light from the level horizon beyond streamed through the

leaves as through the chequers of stained glass windows; through

the two shafts before him stretched the pillared aisles of Ashley

Church!  He was riding as in a dream; and when a figure suddenly

slipped across his pathway from a column…like tree trunk; he woke

with the disturbance and sense of unreality of a dream。  For he saw

Lady Elfrida standing before him!



It was not a mere memory conjured up by association; for although

the figure; face; and attitude were the same; there were certain

changes of costume which the eye of recollection noticed。  In place

of the smart narrow…brimmed sailor hat he remembered; she was

wearing a slouched cavalry hat with a gold cord around its crown;

that; with all its becomingness and picturesque audacity; seemed to

become characteristic and respectable; as a crest to her refined

head; and as historic as a Lely canvas。  She wore a flannel shirt;

belted in at her slight waist with a band of yellow leather;

defining her small hips; and short straight pleatless skirts that

fell to her trim ankles and buckled leather shoes。  She was fresh

and cool; wholesome and clean; free and unfettered; indeed; her

beauty seemed only an afterthought or accident。  So much so that

when Peter saw her afterwards; amidst the billowy; gauzy; and

challenging graces of the officer's wives; who were dressed in

their best and prettiest frocks to welcome her; the eye turned

naturally from that suggestion of enhancement to the girl who

seemed to defy it。  She was clearly not an idealized memory; a

spirit or a ghost; but naturalistic and rosy; he thought a trifle

rosier; as she laughingly addressed him:



〃I suppose it isn't quite fair to surprise you like that;〃 she

said; with an honest girlish hand…shake; 〃for you see I know all

about you now; and what you are doing here; and even when you were

expected; and I dare say you thought we were still in England; if

you remembered us at all。  And we haven't met since that day at

Ashley Church when I put my foot in it;or rather on your pet

protege's; the Indian's: you remember Major Atherly's tomb?  And to

think that all the while we didn't know that you were a public man

and a great political reformer; and had a fad like this。  Why; we'd

have got up meetings for you; and my father would have presided;

he's always fond of doing these things;and we'd have passed

resolutions; and given you subscriptions; and Bibles; and flannel

shirts; and revolversbut I believe you draw the line at that。  My

brother was saying only the other day that you weren't half praised

enough for going in for this sort of thing when you were so rich;

and needn't care。  And so that's why you rushed away from Ashley

Grange;just to come here and work out your mission?〃



His whole life; his first wild Californian dream; his English

visit; the revelation of Gray Eagle; the final collapse of his old

beliefs; were whirling through his brain to the music of this clear

young voice。  And by some cruel irony of circumstance it seemed now

to even mock his later dreams of expiation as it also called back

his unhappy experience of the last week。



〃Have youhave you〃he stammered with a faint smile; 〃seen my

sister?〃



〃Not yet;〃 said Lady Elfrida。  〃I believe she is not well and is

confined to her room; you will introduce me; won't you?〃 she added

eagerly。  〃Of course; when we heard that there was an Atherly here

we inquired about you; and I told them you were a relation of

ours;〃 she went on with a half…mischievous shyness;〃you remember

the de Bracys;and they seemed surprised and rather curious。  I

suppose one does not talk so much about these things over here; and

I dare say you have so much to occupy your mind you don't talk of

us in England。〃  With the quickness of a refined perception she saw

a slight shade in his face; and changed the subject。  〃And we have

had such a jolly time; we have met so many pleasant people; and

they've all been so awfully good to us; from the officials and

officers down to the plainest working…man。  And all so naturally

tooso different from us。  I sometimes think we have to work

ourselves up to be civil to strangers。〃  〃No;〃 she went on gayly;

in answer to his protesting gesture; and his stammered reminder of

his own reception。  〃No。  You came as a sort of kinsman; and Sir

Edward knew all about you before he asked you down to the Grange

or even sent over for me from the Towers。  No! you Americans take

people on their 'face value;' as my brother Reggy says; and we

always want to know what are the 'securities。'  And then American

men are more gallant; though;〃 she declared mischievously; 〃I think

you are an exception in that way。  Indeed;〃 she went on; 〃the more

I see of your countrymen the less you seem like them。  You are more

like us;more like an Englishmanindeed; more like an Englishman

than most Englishmen;I mean in the matter of reserve and all that

sort of thing; you know。  It's odd;isn't it?  Is your sister like

you?〃



〃You shall judge for yourself;〃 said Peter with a gayety that was

forced in proportion as his forebodings became more gloomy。  Would

his sister's peculiaritieseven her secretbe safe from the clear

eyes of the young girl?



〃I know I shall like her;〃 said Lady Elfrida; simply。  〃I mean to

make friends with her before we leave; and I hope to see a great

deal of her; and;〃 she said with a naive non sequitur; that;

however; had its painful significance to Peter; 〃I do want you to

show me some Indiansyour Indians; you know YOUR friends。  I've

seen some of them; of course; I am afraid I am a little prejudiced;

for I did not like them。  You see my taste has to be educated; I

suppose; but I thought them so foolishly vain and presuming。〃



〃That is their perfect childishness;〃 said Peter quickly。  〃It is

not; I believe; considered a moral defect;〃 he added bitterly。



Lady Elfrida laughed; and yet at the same moment a look of appeal

that was in itself quite as childlike shone in her blue eyes。

〃There; I have blundered again; I know; but I told you I have such

ridiculous prejudices!  And I really want to like them as you do。

Only;〃 she laughed again; 〃it seems strange that YOU; of all men;

should have interested yourself in people so totally different to

you。  But what will be the result if your efforts are successful?

Will they remain a distinct race?  Will you make citizens;

soldiers; congressmen; governors of them?  Will they intermarry

with the whites?  Is that a part of your plan?  I hope not!〃



It was a part of Peter's sensitive excitement that even through the

unconscious irony of this speech he was noticing the difference

between the young English girl's evident interest in a political

problem and the utter indifference of his own countrywomen。  Here

was a girl scarcely out of her teens; with no pretension to being a

blue stocking; with half the aplomb of an American girl of her own

age; gravely considering a question of political economy。  Oddly

enough; it added to his other irritation; and he said almost

abruptly; 〃Why not?〃



She took the question literally and with a little youthful

timidity。  〃But these mixed races never attain to anything; do

they?  I thought that was understood。  But;〃 she added with

feminine quickness; 〃and I suppose it's again only a PERSONAL

argument; YOU wouldn't like your sister to have married an Indian;

would you?〃



The irony of the situation had reached its climax to Peter。  It

didn't seem to be his voice that said; 〃I can answer by an argument

still more personal。  I have even thought myself of marrying an

Indian woman。〃



It seemed to him that what he said was irrevocable; but he was

desperate。  It seemed to him that in a moment more he would have

told her his whole secret。  But the young girl drew back from him

with a slight start of surprise。  There may have been something in

the tone of his voice and in his manner that verged upon a

seriousness she was never contemplating in her random talk; it may

have been an uneasiness of some youthful imprudence in pressing the

subject upon a man of his superiority; and that his abrupt climax

was a rebuke。  But it was only for a moment; her youthful buoyancy;

and; above all; a certain common sense that was not incompatible to

her high nature; came to her rescue。  〃But that;〃 she said with

quick mischievousness; 〃would be a SACRIFICE taken i
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