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！
isolated settlement； which had seemed to the other passengers as a
trivial and half humorous incident； affected her imagination
profoundly。 When she could escape the attentions of her
entertainers； or the frivolities of her companions； she tried to
touch the far…off past on the wings of her fancy； she tried to
imagine the life of those people； forgetting the world and
forgotten by it； she endeavored to picture the fifty years of
solitude amidst these decaying ruins； over which even ambition had
crumbled and fallen。 It seemed to her the true conventual
seclusion from the world without the loss of kinship or home
influences； she contrasted it with her boarding…school life in the
fashionable seminary； she wondered what she would have become had
she been brought up here； she thought of the happy ignorance of
Dona Isabel； andshuddered； and yet she felt herself examining the
odd furniture of the room with an equally childlike and admiring
curiosity。 And these people looked upon HER as a superior being！
From the deep embrasure of the window she could see the tops of the
pear and olive trees； in the misty light of an invisible moon that
suffused the old Mission garden with an ineffable and angelic
radiance。 To her religious fancy it seemed to be a spiritual
effusion of the church itself； enveloping the two gray dome…shaped
towers with an atmosphere and repose of its own； until it became
the incarnate mystery and passion where it stood。
She was suddenly startled by a moving shadow beside the wall；
almost immediately below herthe figure of a man！ He was stealing
cautiously towards the church； as if to gain the concealment of the
shrubbery that grew beside it； and； furtively glancing from side to
side； looked towards her window。 She unconsciously drew back；
forgetting at the moment that her light was extinguished； and that
it was impossible for the stranger to see her。 But she had seen
HIM； and in that instant recognized Mr。 Hurlstone！
Then he HAD come ashore； and secretly； for the other passengers
believed him still on the ship！ But what was he doing there？and
why had he not appeared with the others at the entertainment？ She
could understand his avoidance of them from what she knew of his
reserved and unsocial habits； but when he could so naturally have
remained on shipboard； she could not； at first； conceive why he
should wish to prowl around the town at the risk of detection。 The
idea suddenly occurred to her that he had had another attack of his
infirmity and was walking in his sleep； and for an instant she
thought of alarming the house； that some one might go to his
assistance。 But his furtive movements had not the serene
impassibility of the somnambulist。 Another thought withheld her；
he had looked up at her window！ Did he know she was there？ A
faint stirring of shame and pleasure sent a slight color to her
cheek。 But he had gained the corner of the shrubbery and was lost
in the shadow。 She turned from the window。 A gentle sense of
vague and half maternal pity suffused her soft eyes as she at last
sought her couch and fell into a deep slumber。
Towards daybreak a wind arose over the sleeping town and far
outlying waters。 It breathed through the leaves of the Mission
garden； brushed away the clinging mists from the angles of the
towers； and restored the sharp outlines of the ruined
fortifications。 It swept across the unruffled sea to where the
Excelsior； cradled in the softly heaving bay； had peacefully swung
at anchor on the previous night； and lifted the snowy curtain of
the fog to seaward as far as the fringe of surf； a league away。
But the cradle of the deep was emptythe ship was gone！
CHAPTER VII。
THE GENTLE CASTAWAYS。
Miss Keene was awakened from a heavy sleep by a hurried shake of
her shoulder and an indefinite feeling of alarm。 Opening her eyes；
she was momentarily dazed by the broad light of day； and the
spectacle of Mrs。 Brimmer； pale and agitated； in a half…Spanish
dishabille； standing at her bedside。
〃Get up and dress yourself； my dear； at once；〃 she said hurriedly；
but at the same time attentively examining Miss Keene's clothes；
that were lying on the chair： 〃and thank Heaven you came here in an
afternoon dress； and not in an evening costume like mine！ For
something awful has happened； and Heaven only knows whether we'll
ever see a stitch of our clothes again。〃
〃WHAT has happened？〃 asked Miss Keene impatiently； sitting up in
bed； more alarmed at the unusual circumstance of Mrs。 Brimmer's
unfinished toilet than at her incomplete speech。
〃What； indeed！ Nobody knows； but it's something awfula mutiny；
or shipwreck； or piracy。 But there's your friend； the Commander；
calling out the troops； and such a set of Christy Minstrels you
never saw before！ There's the Alcalde summoning the Council；
there's Mr。 Banks raving； and running round for a steamboatas if
these people ever heard of such a thing！and Captain Bunker； what
with rage and drink； gone off in a fit of delirium tremens； and
locked up in his room！ And the Excelsior gonethe Lord knows
where！〃
〃Gone！〃 repeated Miss Keene； hurrying on her clothes。 〃Impossible！
What does Father Esteban tell you？ What does Dona Isabel say？〃
〃That's the most horrible part of it！ Do you know those wretched
idiots believe it's some political revolution among ourselves； like
their own miserable government。 I believe that baby Isabel thinks
that King George and Washington have something to do with it； at
any rate； they're anxious to know to what side you belong！ So； for
goodness' sake！ if you have to humor them； say we're all on the
same sideI mean； don't you and Mrs。 Markham go against Miss Chubb
and me。〃
Scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry at Mrs。 Brimmer's
incoherent statement； Miss Keene hastily finished dressing as the
door flew open to admit the impulsive Dona Isabel and her sister
Juanita。 The two Mexican girls threw themselves in Miss Keene's
arms； and then suddenly drew back with a movement of bashful and
diffident respect。
〃Do； pray； ask them； for I daren't；〃 whispered Mrs。 Brimmer； trying
to clasp a mantilla around her； 〃how this thing is worn； and if
they haven't got something like a decent bonnet to lend me for a
day or two？〃
〃The Senora has not then heard that her goods； and all the goods of
the Senores and Senoras； have been discovered safely put ashore at
the Embarcadero？〃
〃No？〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer eagerly。
〃Ah； yes！〃 responded Dona Isabel。 〃Since the Senora is not of the
revolutionary party。〃
Mrs。 Brimmer cast a supplicatory look at Miss Keene； and hastily
quitted the room。 Miss Keene would have as quickly followed her；
but the young Ramirez girls threw themselves again tragically upon
her breast； and； with a mysterious gesture of silence； whispered；
〃Fear nothing； Excellencia！ We are yourswe will die for you； no
matter what