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！
〃I have no doubt SHE thought so；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph； with a
mirthless smile。 〃In fact； I have observed that the American
freedom generally means doing what you WANT to do。 Indeed； I
wonder she didn't bring him with her！ Only I beg； major； that you
will not again； in the presence of my daughter；and I may even
say； of my son；talk lightly of the solitary meetings of young
ladies with mechanics； even though their faces were smutty； and
their clothes covered with oil。〃
The major here muttered something about there being less danger in
a young lady listening to the intelligence of a coarsely…dressed
laborer than to the compliments of a rose…scented fop； but Mrs。
Randolph walked out of the room before he finished the evident
platitude。
That night Rose Mallory retired to her room in a state of sell…
satisfaction that she even felt was to a certain extent a virtue。
She was delighted with her reception and with her hostess and
family。 It was strange her father had not spoken more of MRS。
Randolph； who was clearly the superior of his old friend。 What
fine manners they all had； so different from other people she had
known！ There was quite an Old World civilization about them；
really； it was like going abroad！ She would make the most of her
opportunity and profit by her visit。 She would begin by improving
her French； they spoke it perfectly； and with such a pure accent。
She would correct certain errors she was conscious of in her own
manners； and copy Mrs。 Randolph as much as possible。 Certainly；
there was a great deal to be said of Mrs。 Randolph's way of looking
at things。 Now she thought of it calmly； there WAS too much
informality and freedom in American ways！ There was not enough
respect due to position and circumstances。 Take those men in the
wheat…field； for example。 Yet here she found it difficult to
formulate an indictment against them for 〃freedom。〃 She would like
to go there some day with the Randolphs and let them see what
company manners were！ She was thoroughly convinced now that her
father had done wrong in sending her alone； it certainly was most
disrespectful to them and careless of him （she had quite forgotten
that she had herself proposed to her father to go alone rather than
wait at the hotel）； and she must have looked very ridiculous in her
fine clothes and the broken…down buggy。 When her trunk came by
express to…morrow she would look out something more sober。 She
must remember that she was in a Catholic and religious household
now。 Ah； yes！ how very fine it was to see that priest at dinner in
his soutane； sitting down like one of the family； and making them
all seem like a picture of some historical and aristocratic
romance！ And then they were actually 〃de Fontanges l'Hommadieu。〃
How different he was from that shabby Methodist minister who used
to come to see her father in a black cravat with a hideous bow！
Really there was something to say for a religion that contained so
much picturesque refinement； and for her partbut that will do。 I
beg to say that I am not writing of any particular snob or feminine
monstrosity； but of a very charming creature； who was quite able to
say her prayers afterwards like a good girl； and lay her pretty
cheek upon her pillow without a blush。
She opened her window and looked out。 The moon； a great silver
dome； was uplifting itself from a bluish…gray level； which she knew
was the distant plain of wheat。 Somewhere in its midst appeared a
dull star； at times brightening as if blown upon or drawn upwards
in a comet…like trail。 By some odd instinct she felt that it was
the solitary forge of the young inventor； and pictured him standing
before it with his abstracted hazel eyes and a face more begrimed
in the moonlight than ever。 When DID he wash himself？ Perhaps not
until Sunday。 How lonely it must be out there！ She slightly
shivered and turned from the window。 As she did so； it seemed to
her that something knocked against her door from without。 Opening
it quickly； she was almost certain that the sound of a rustling
skirt retreated along the passage。 It was very late； perhaps she
had disturbed the house by shutting her window。 No doubt it was
the motherly interest of Mrs。 Randolph that impelled her to come
softly and look after her； and for once her simple surmises were
correct。 For not only the inspecting eyes of her hostess； but the
amatory glances of the youthful Emile； had been fastened upon her
window until the light disappeared； and even the Holy Mission
Church of San Jose had assured itself of the dear child's safety
with a large and supple ear at her keyhole。
The next morning Major Randolph took her with Adele in a light
cariole over the ranch。 Although his domain was nearly as large as
the adjoining wheat plain； it was not； like that； monopolized by
one enormous characteristic yield； but embraced a more diversified
product。 There were acres and acres of potatoes in rows of endless
and varying succession； there were miles of wild oats and barley；
which overtopped them as they drove in narrow lanes of dry and
dusty monotony； there were orchards of pears； apricots； peaches；
and nectarines； and vineyards of grapes； so comparatively dwarfed
in height that they scarcely reached to the level of their eyes；
yet laden and breaking beneath the weight of their ludicrously
disproportionate fruit。 What seemed to be a vast green plateau
covered with tiny patches； that headed the northern edge of the
prospect； was an enormous bed of strawberry plants。 But everywhere；
crossing the track； bounding the fields； orchards； and vineyards；
intersecting the paths of the whole domain； were narrow irrigating
ducts and channels of running water。
〃Those；〃 said the major； poetically； 〃are the veins and arteries of
the ranch。 Come with me now； and I'll show you its pulsating
heart。〃 Descending from the wagon into pedestrian prose again； he
led Rose a hundred yards further to a shed that covered a wonderful
artesian well。 In the centre of a basin a column of water rose
regularly with the even flow and volume of a brook。 〃It is one of
the largest in the State；〃 said the major； 〃and is the life of all
that grows here during six months of the year。〃
Pleased as the young girl was with those evidences of the prosperity
and position of her host； she was struck； however； with the fact
that the farm…laborers； wine…growers； nurserymen； and all field
hands scattered on the vast estate were apparently of the same
independent； unpastoral； and unprofessional character as the men of
the wheat…field。 There were no cottages or farm buildings that she
could see； nor any apparent connection between the household and the
estate； far from suggesting tenantry or retainers； the men who were
working in the fields glanced at them as they passed with the
indifference of strangers； or replied to the major's greetings or
questionings with perfect equality of m