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！
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Markham positively； 〃when he's able to be out
again； I shall consider it my duty to look him up； and try to keep
him sufficiently awake in the daytime to ensure his resting better
at night。〃
〃No one can do it； dear Mrs。 Markham； better than you； and no one
would think of misunderstanding your motives；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer
sweetly。 〃But it's getting late； and the air seems to be ever so
much colder。 Captain Bunker says it's because we are really
nearing the Californian coast。 It seems so odd！ Mr。 Brimmer wrote
to me that it was so hot in Sacramento that you could do something
with eggs in the sunI forget what。〃
〃Hatch them？〃 suggested Miss Chubb。
〃I think so；〃 returned Mrs。 Brimmer； rising。 〃Let us go below。〃
The three ladies rustled away； but Miss Keene； throwing a wrap
around her shoulders； lingered by the railing。 With one little
hand supporting her round chin； she leaned over the darkly heaving
water。 She was thinking of her brief and only interview with that
lonely man whose name was now in everybody's mouth； but who； until
to…day； had been passed over by them with an unconcern equal to his
own。 And yet to her refined and delicately feminine taste there
appeared no reason why he should not have mingled with his fellows；
and have accepted the homage from them that SHE was instinctively
ready to give。 He seemed to her like a gentlemanand something
more。 In her limited but joyous knowledge of the worlda
knowledge gathered in the happy school…life of an orphan who but
faintly remembered and never missed a parent's careshe knew
nothing of the mysterious dominance of passion； suffering； or
experience in fashioning the outward expression of men； and saw
only that Mr。 Hurlstone was unlike any other。 That unlikeness was
fascinating。 He had said very little to her in that very brief
period。 He had not talked to her with the general gallantry which
she already knew her prettiness elicited。 Without knowing why； she
felt there was a subtle flattery in his tacit recognition of that
other self of which she； as yet； knew so little。 She could not
remember what they had talked aboutnor why。 Nor was she offended
that he had never spoken to her since； nor gone beyond a grave
lifting of his hat to her when he passed。
CHAPTER IV。
IN THE FOG。
By noon of the following day the coast of the Peninsula of
California had been sighted to leeward。 The lower temperature of
the northwest Trades had driven Mrs。 Brimmer and Miss Chubb into
their state…rooms to consult their wardrobes in view of an
impending change from the light muslins and easy languid toilets of
the Tropics。 That momentous question for the moment held all other
topics in abeyance； and even Mrs。 Markham and Miss Keene； though
they still kept the deck； in shawls and wraps； sighed over this
feminine evidence of the gentle passing of their summer holiday。
The gentlemen had already mounted their pea…jackets and overcoats；
with the single exception of Senor Perkins； who； in chivalrous
compliment to the elements； still bared his unfettered throat and
forehead to the breeze。 The aspect of the coast； as seen from the
Excelsior's deck； seemed to bear out Mr。 Banks' sweeping indictment
of the day before。 A few low； dome…like hills； yellow and treeless
as sand dunes； scarcely raised themselves above the horizon。 The
air； too； appeared to have taken upon itself a dry asperity； the
sun shone with a hard； practical brilliancy。 Miss Keene raised her
eyes to Senor Perkins with a pretty impatience that she sometimes
indulged in； as one of the privileges of accepted beauty and petted
youth。
〃I don't think much of your peninsula；〃 she said poutingly。 〃It
looks dreadfully flat and uninteresting。 It was a great deal nicer
on the other coast； or even at sea。〃
〃Perhaps you are judging hastily； my dear young friend；〃 said Senor
Perkins； with habitual tolerance。 〃I have heard that behind those
hills； and hidden from sight in some of the canyons； are perfect
little Edens of beauty and fruitfulness。 They are like some ardent
natures that cover their approaches with the ashes of their burnt…
up fires； but only do it the better to keep intact their glowing；
vivifying； central heat。〃
〃How very poetical； Mr。 Perkins！〃 said Mrs。 Markham； with blunt
admiration。 〃You ought to put that into verse。〃
〃I have；〃 returned Senor Perkins modestly。 〃They are some
reflections onI hardly dare call them an apostrophe tothe
crater of Colima。 If you will permit me to read them to you this
evening； I shall be charmed。 I hope also to take that opportunity
of showing you the verses of a gifted woman； not yet known to fame；
Mrs。 Euphemia M'Corkle； of Peoria； Illinois。〃
Mrs。 Markham coughed slightly。 The gifted M'Corkle was already
known to her through certain lines quoted by the Senor； and the
entire cabin had one evening fled before a larger and more
ambitious manuscript of the fair Illinoisian。 Miss Keene； who
dreaded the reappearance of this poetical phantom that seemed to
haunt the Senor's fancy； could not； however； forget that she had
been touched on that occasion by a kindly moisture of eye and
tremulousness of voice in the reader； and； in spite of the hopeless
bathos of the composition； she had forgiven him。 Though she did
not always understand Senor Perkins； she liked him too well to
allow him to become ridiculous to others； and at the present moment
she promptly interposed with a charming assumption of coquetry。
〃You forget that you promised to let ME read the manuscript first；
and in private； and that you engaged to give me my revenge at chess
this evening。 But do as you like。 You are all fast becoming
faithless。 I suppose it is because our holiday is drawing to a
close； and we shall soon forget we ever had any； or be ashamed we
ever played so long。 Everybody seems to be getting nervous and
fidgety and preparing for civilization again。 Mr。 Banks； for the
last few days； has dressed himself regularly as if he were going
down town to his office； and writes letters in the corner of the
saloon as if it were a counting…house。 Mr。 Crosby and Mr。 Winslow
do nothing but talk of their prospects； and I believe they are
drawing up articles of partnership together。 Here is Mr。 Brace
frightening me by telling me that my brother will lock me up； to
keep the rich miners from laying their bags of gold dust at my
feet； and Mrs。 Brimmer and Miss Chubb assure me that I haven't a
decent gown to go ashore in。〃
〃You forget Mr。 Hurlstone；〃 said Brace； with ill…concealed
bitterness； 〃he seems to have time enough on his hands； and I dare
say would sympathize with you。 You women like idle men。〃
〃If we do； it's because only the idle men have the time to amuse
us；〃 retorted Miss Keene。 〃But；〃 she added； with a laugh； 〃I
suppose I'm getting nervous and fidgety myself； for I find myself
every now and then