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！
Clarence's outstretched hand； checked himself suddenly with a grim smile；
and taking from his pocket a gold coin handed it to the boy。
Clarence took it； tossed it with a proud gesture to the waiting peon；
who caught it thankfully； drew back a step from Flynn； and saying； with
white cheeks； 〃I only wanted to say good…by；〃 dropped his hot eyes to the
ground。 But it did not seem to be his own voice that had spoken； nor his
own self that had prompted the act。
There was a quick interchange of glances between the departing guest
and his late host； in which Flynn's eyes flashed with an odd； admiring fire；
but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone。 And as the boy
turned back with a broken heart towards the corridor； his cousin laid his
hand upon his shoulder。
〃Muy hidalgamente； Clarence；〃 he said pleasantly。 〃Yes； we shall
make something of you！〃
82
… Page 83…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
CHAPTER X
Then followed to Clarence three uneventful years。 During that
interval he learnt that Jackson Brant； or Don Juan Robinsonfor the tie of
kinship was the least factor in their relations to each other； and after the
departure of Flynn was tacitly ignored by bothwas more Spanish than
American。 An early residence in Lower California； marriage with a rich
Mexican widow； whose dying childless left him sole heir； and some
strange restraining idiosyncrasy of temperament had quite denationalized
him。 A bookish recluse； somewhat superfastidious towards his own
countrymen； the more Clarence knew him the more singular appeared his
acquaintance with Flynn； but as he did not exhibit more
communicativeness on this point than upon their own kinship； Clarence
finally concluded that it was due to the dominant character of his former
friend； and thought no more about it。 He entered upon the new life at El
Refugio with no disturbing past。 Quickly adapting himself to the lazy
freedom of this hacienda existence； he spent the mornings on horseback
ranging the hills among his cousin's cattle； and the afternoons and
evenings busied among his cousin's books with equally lawless and
undisciplined independence。 The easy…going Don Juan； it is true；
attempted to make good his rash promise to teach the boy Spanish； and
actually set him a few tasks； but in a few weeks the quick…witted Clarence
acquired such a colloquial proficiency from his casual acquaintance with
vaqueros and small traders that he was glad to leave the matter in his
young kinsman's hands。 Again； by one of those illogical sequences
which make a lifelong reputation depend upon a single trivial act；
Clarence's social status was settled forever at El Refugio Rancho by his
picturesque diversion of Flynn's parting gift。 The grateful peon to whom
the boy had scornfully tossed the coin repeated the act； gesture； and spirit
of the scene to his companion； and Don Juan's unknown and youthful
relation was at once recognized as hijo de la familia； and undeniably a
hidalgo born and bred。 But in the more vivid imagination of feminine El
Refugio the incident reached its highest poetic form。 〃It is true； Mother
83
… Page 84…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
of God；〃 said Chucha of the Mill； 〃it was Domingo who himself relates it
as it were the Creed。 When the American escort had arrived with the
young gentleman； this escort； look you； being not of the same quality； he is
departing again without a word of permission。 Comes to him at this
moment my little hidalgo。 'You have yourself forgotten to take from me
your demission；' he said。 This escort； thinking to make his peace with a
mere muchacho； gives to him a gold piece of twenty pesos。 The little
hidalgo has taken it SO； and with the words； 'Ah！ you would make of me
your almoner to my cousin's people；' has given it at the moment to
Domingo； and with a grace and fire admirable。〃 But it is certain that
Clarence's singular simplicity and truthfulness； a faculty of being
picturesquely indolent in a way that suggested a dreamy abstraction of
mind rather than any vulgar tendency to bodily ease and comfort； and
possibly the fact that he was a good horseman； made him a popular hero at
El Refugio。 At the end of three years Don Juan found that this
inexperienced and apparently idle boy of fourteen knew more of the
practical ruling of the rancho than he did himself； also that this unlettered
young rustic had devoured nearly all the books in his library with boyish
recklessness of digestion。 He found； too； that in spite of his singular
independence of action； Clarence was possessed of an invincible loyalty of
principle； and that； asking no sentimental affection； and indeed yielding
none； he was； without presuming on his relationship； devoted to his
cousin's interest。 It seemed that from being a glancing ray of sunshine in
the house； evasive but never obtrusive； he had become a daily necessity of
comfort and security to his benefactor。
Clarence was； however； astonished； when； one morning； Don Juan；
with the same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first meeting；
suddenly asked him； 〃what business he expected to follow。〃 It seemed the
more singular； as the speaker； like most abstracted men； had hitherto
always studiously ignored the future； in their daily intercourse。 Yet this
might have been either the habit of security or the caution of doubt。
Whatever it was； it was some sudden disturbance of Don Juan's
equanimity； as disconcerting to himself as it was to Clarence。 So
conscious was the boy of this that； without replying to his cousin's
84
… Page 85…
A WA