susy, a story of the plains-第23部分

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appealingly：



〃Whatever　are　your　other　intentions；　Mrs。　McClosky；　as　we　are　both

Susy's　guests；　I　beg　you　will　say　nothing　of　this　to　her　while　we

are　here；　and　particularly　that　you　will　not　allow　her　to　think　for

a　moment　that　I　have　discussed　MY　relations　to　her　with　anybody。〃



She　flung　herself　out　of　the　door　without　a　reply；　but　on　entering

the　dark　low…ceilinged　drawing…room　she　was　surprised　to　find　that

Susy　was　not　there。　　She　was　consequently　obliged　to　return　to　the

veranda；　where　Clarence　had　withdrawn；　and　to　somewhat

ostentatiously　demand　of　the　servants　that　Susy　should　be　sent　to

her　room　at　once。　　But　the　young　girl　was　not　in　her　own　room；　and

was　apparently　nowhere　to　be　found。　　Clarence；　who　had　now　fully

determined　as　a　last　resource　to　make　a　direct　appeal　to　Susy

herself；　listened　to　this　fruitless　search　with　some　concern。　　She

could　not　have　gone　out　in　the　rain；　which　was　again　falling。　　She

might　be　hiding　somewhere　to　avoid　a　recurrence　of　the　scene　she　had

perhaps　partly　overheard。　　He　turned　into　the　corridor　that　led　to

Mrs。　Peyton's　boudoir。　　As　he　knew　that　it　was　locked；　he　was

surprised　to　see　by　the　dim　light　of　the　hanging　lamp　that　a

duplicate　key　to　the　one　in　his　desk　was　in　the　lock。　　It　must　be

Susy's；　and　the　young　girl　had　probably　taken　refuge　there。　　He

knocked　gently。　　There　was　a　rustle　in　the　room　and　the　sound　of　a

chair　being　moved；　but　no　reply。　　Impelled　by　a　sudden　instinct　he

opened　the　door；　and　was　met　by　a　cool　current　of　air　from　some　open

window。　　At　the　same　moment　the　figure　of　Susy　approached　him　from

the　semi…darkness　of　the　interior。



〃I　did　not　know　you　were　here；〃　said　Clarence；　much　relieved；　he

knew　not　why；　〃but　I　am　glad；　for　I　wanted　to　speak　with　you　alone

for　a　few　moments。〃



She　did　not　reply；　but　he　drew　a　match　from　his　pocket　and　lit　the

two　candles　which　he　knew　stood　on　the　table。　　The　wick　of　one　was

still　warm；　as　if　it　had　been　recently　extinguished。　　As　the　light

slowly　radiated；　he　could　see　that　she　was　regarding　him　with　an　air

of　affected　unconcern；　but　a　somewhat　heightened　color。　　It　was　like

her；　and　not　inconsistent　with　his　idea　that　she　had　come　there　to

avoid　an　after　scene　with　Mrs。　McClosky　or　himself；　or　perhaps　both。

The　room　was　not　disarranged　in　any　way。　　The　window　that　was　opened

was　the　casement　of　the　deep　embrasured　one　in　the　rear　wall；　and

the　light　curtain　before　it　still　swayed　occasionally　in　the　night

wind。



〃I'm　afraid　I　had　a　row　with　your　aunt；　Susy；〃　he　began　lightly；　in

his　old　familiar　way；　〃but　I　had　to　tell　her　I　didn't　think　her

conduct　to　Mrs。　Peyton　was　exactly　the　square　thing　towards　one　who

had　been　as　devoted　to　you　as　she　has　been。〃



〃Oh；　for　goodness'　sake；　don't　go　over　all　that　again；〃　said　Susy

impatiently。　　〃I've　had　enough　of　it。〃



Clarence　flashed；　but　recovered　himself。



〃Then　you　overheard　what　I　said；　and　know　what　I　think；〃　he　said

calmly。



〃I　knew　it　BEFORE；〃　said　the　young　girl；　with　a　slight　supercilious

toss　of　the　head；　and　yet　a　certain　abstraction　of　manner　as　she

went　to　the　window　and　closed　it。　　〃Anybody　could　see　it！　　I　know

you　always　wanted　me　to　stay　here　with　Mrs。　Peyton；　and　be　coddled

and　monitored　and　catechised　and　shut　up　away　from　any　one；　until

YOU　had　been　coddled　and　monitored　and　catechised　by　somebody　else

sufficiently　to　suit　her　ideas　of　your　being　a　fit　husband　for　me。

I　told　aunty　it　was　no　use　our　coming　here　toto〃



〃To　do　what？〃　asked　Clarence。



〃To　put　some　spirit　into　you；〃　said　the　young　girl；　turning　upon　him

sharply；　〃to　keep　you　from　being　tied　to　that　woman's　apron…strings。

To　keep　her　from　making　a　slave　of　you　as　she　would　of　me。　　But　it

is　of　no　use。　　Mary　Rogers　was　right　when　she　said　you　had　no　wish

to　please　anybody　but　Mrs。　Peyton；　and　no　eyes　for　anybody　but　her。

And　if　it　hadn't　been　too　ridiculous；　considering　her　age　and　yours；

she'd　say　you　were　dead　in　love　with　her。〃



For　an　instant　Clarence　felt　the　blood　rush　to　his　face　and　then

sink　away；　leaving　him　pale　and　cold。　　The　room；　which　had　seemed　to

whirl　around　him；　and　then　fade　away；　returned　with　appalling

distinctness；the　distinctness　of　memory；and　a　vision　of　the

first　day　that　he　had　seen　Mrs。　Peyton　sitting　there；　as　he　seemed

to　see　her　now。　　For　the　first　time　there　flashed　upon　him　the

conviction　that　the　young　girl　had　spoken　the　truth；　and　had

brusquely　brushed　the　veil　from　his　foolish　eyes。　　He　WAS　in　love

with　Mrs。　Peyton！　　That　was　what　his　doubts　and　hesitation　regarding

Susy　meant。　　That　alone　was　the　source；　secret；　and　limit　of　his

vague　ambition。



But　with　the　conviction　came　a　singular　calm。　　In　the　last　few

moments　he　seemed　to　have　grown　older；　to　have　loosed　the　bonds　of

old　companionship　with　Susy；　and　the　later　impression　she　had　given

him　of　her　mature　knowledge；　and　moved　on　far　beyond　her　years　and

experience。　　And　it　was　with　an　authority　that　was　half　paternal；

and　in　a　voice　he　himself　scarcely　recognized；　that　he　said：



〃If　I　did　not　know　you　were　prejudiced　by　a　foolish　and　indiscreet

woman；　I　should　believe　that　you　were　trying　to　insult　me　as　you

have　your　adopted　mother；　and　would　save　you　the　pain　of　doing　both

in　HER　house　by　leaving　it　now　and　forever。　　But　because　I　believe

you　are　controlled　against　your　best　instinct　by　that　woman；　I　shall

remain　here　with　you　to　frustrate　her　as　best　I　can；　or　until　I　am

able　to　lay　everything　before　Mrs。　Peyton　except　the　foolish　speech

you　have　just　made。〃



The　young　girl　laughed。　　〃Why　not　THAT　one　too；　while　you're　about

it？　　See　what　she'll　say。〃



〃I　shall　tell　her；〃　continued　Clarence　calmly；　〃only　what　YOU

yourself　have　made　it　necessary　for　me　to　tell　her　to　save　you　from

folly　and　disgrace；　and　only　enough　to　spare　her　the　mortification

of　hearing　it　first　from　her　own　servants。〃



〃Hearing　WHAT　from　her　own　servants？　　What　do　you　mean？　　How　dare

you？〃　demanded　the　young　girl　sharply。



She　was　quite　real　in　her　anxiety　now；　although　her　attitude　of

virtuous　indignation　struck　him　as　being　like　all　her　emotional

expression；　namely；　acting。



〃I　mean　that　the　servants　know　of　your　correspondence　with　Mrs。

McClosky；　and　that　she　claims　to　be　your　aunt；〃　returned　Clarence。

〃They　know　that　you　confided　to　Pepita。　　They　believe　that　either

Mrs。　McClosky　or　you　have　seen〃



He　had　stopped　suddenly。　　He　was　about　to　say　that　the　servants

（particularly　Incarnacion）　knew　that　Pedro　had　boasted　of　having　met

Susy；　when；　for　the　first　time；　the　tremendous　significance　of　what

he　had　hitherto　considered　as　merely　an　idle　falsehood　flashed　upon

him。



〃Seen　whom？〃　repeated　Susy　in　a　higher　voice；　impatiently　stamping

her　foot。



Clarence　looked　at　her；　and　in　her　excited；　questioning　face　saw　a

confirmation　of　his　still　half…formed　suspicions。　　In　his　own　abrupt

pause　and　knitted　eyebrows　she　must　have　read　his　thoughts　also。

Their　eyes　met。　　Her　violet　pupils　dilated；　trembled；　and　then

quickly　shifted　as　she　suddenly　stiffened　into　an　attitude　of

scornful　indifference；　almost　grotesque　in　its　unreality。　　His　eyes

slowly　turned　to　the　window；　the　door；　the　candles　on　the　table　and

the　chair　before　it；　and　then　came　back　to　her　face　again。　　Then　he

drew　a　deep　breath。



〃I　give　no　heed　to　the　idle　gossip　of　servants；　Susy；〃　he　said

slowly。　　〃I　have　no　belief　that　you　have　ever　contemplated　anything

worse　than　an　act　of　girlish　folly；　or　the　gratification　of　a

passing　caprice。　　Neither　do　I　want　to　appeal　to　you　or　frighten

you；　but　I　must　tell　you　now；　that　I　know　certain　facts　that　might

make　such　a　simple　act　of　folly　monstrous；　inconceivable　in　YOU；　and

almost　accessory　to　a　crime！　　I　can　tell　you　no　more。　　But　so

satisfied　am　I　of　such　a　possibility；　that　I　shall　not　scruple　to

take　any　meansthe　strongestto　prevent　even　the　remotest　chance

of　it。　　Your　aunt　has　been　looking　for　you；　you　had　better　go　to　her

now。　　I　will　close　the　room　and　lock　the　door。　　Meantime；　I　should

advise　you　not　to　sit　so　near　an　open　window　with　a　candle　at　night

in　this　locality。　　Even　if　it　might　not　be　dangerous　for　you；　it

might　be　fatal　to　the　foolish　creatures　it　might　attract。〃



He　took　the　key　from　the　door　as　he　held　it　open　for　her　to　pass

out。　　She　uttered　a　shrill　little　laugh；　like　a　nervous；　mischievous

child；　and；　slipping　out　of　her　previous　artificial　attitude　as　if

it　had　been　a　mantle；　ran　out　of　the　room。





CHAPTER　X。





As　Susy's　footsteps　died　away；　Clarence　closed　the　door；　walked　to

the　window；　and　examined　it　closely。　　The　bars　had　been　restored

since　he　had　wrenched　them　off　to　give　ingress　to　the　family　on　the

day　of　recapture。　　He　glanced　around　the　room；　nothing　seemed　to

have　been　disturbed。　　Nevertheless　he　was　uneasy。　　The　suspicions　of

a　frank；　trustful　nature　when　once　aroused　are　apt　to　be　more

general　and　far…reaching　than　the　specific　distrusts　of　the

disingenuous；　for　they　imply　the　overthrow　of　a　whole　principle　and

not　a　mere　detail。　　Clarence's　conviction　that　Susy　had　seen　Pedro

recently　since　his　dismissal　led　him　into　the　wildest　surmises　of

her　motives。　　It　was　possible　that　without　her　having　reason　to

suspect　Pedro's　greater　crime；　he　might　have　confided　to　her　his

intention　of　reclaiming　the　property　and　installing　her　as　the

mistress　and　chatelaine　of　the　rancho。　　The　idea　was　one　that　might

have　appealed　to　Susy's　theatrical　imagination。　　He　recalled　Mrs。

McClosky's　sneer　at　his　own　pretensions　and　her　vague　threats　of　a

rival　of　more　lineal　descent。　　The　possible　infidelity　of　Susy　to

himself　touched　him　lightly　when　the　first　surprise　was　over；

indeed；　it　scarcely　could　be　called　infidelity；　if　she　knew　and

believed　Mary　Rogers's　discovery；　and　the　conviction　that　he　and　she

had　really　never　loved　each　other　now　enabled　him；　as　he　believed；

to　l