a first family of tasajara-第21部分

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reached　the　Hall　his　name　and　fame　were　already　known；　and

speculation　had　already　begun　whether　this　new　stroke　of　Harcourt's

shrewdness　might　not　unite　Clementina　to　a　renowned　and　profitable

partner。



The　Hall　was　in　one　of　the　further　and　newly　opened　suburbs；　and

its　side　and　rear　windows　gave　immediately　upon　the　outlying　and

illimitable　plain　of　Tasajara。　　It　was　a　tasteful　and　fair…seeming

structure　of　wood；　surprisingly　and　surpassingly　new。　　In　fact　that

was　its　one　dominant　feature；　nowhere　else　had　youth　and　freshness

ever　shown　itself　as　unconquerable　and　all…conquering。　　The　spice

of　virgin　woods　and　trackless　forests　still　rose　from　its　pine

floors；　and　breathed　from　its　outer　shell　of　cedar　that　still　oozed

its　sap；　and　redwood　that　still　dropped　its　life…blood。　　Nowhere

else　were　the　plastered　walls　and　ceilings　as　white　and　dazzling　in

their　unstained　purity；　or　as　redolent　of　the　outlying　quarry　in

their　clear　cool　breath　of　lime　and　stone。　　Even　the　turpentine　of

fresh　and　spotless　paint　added　to　this　sense　of　wholesome

germination；　and　as　the　clear　and　brilliant　Californian　sunshine

swept　through　the　open　windows　west　and　east；　suffusing　the　whole

palpitating　structure　with　its　searching　and　resistless　radiance；

the　very　air　seemed　filled　with　the　aroma　of　creation。



The　fresh　colors　of　the　young　Republic；　the　bright　blazonry　of　the

newest　State；　the　coat…of…arms　of　the　infant　County　of　Tasajara（a

vignette　of　sunset…tules　cloven　by　the　steam　of　an　advancing

train）hanging　from　the　walls；　were　all　a　part　of　this　invincible

juvenescence。　　Even　the　newest　silks；　ribbons　and　prints　of　the

latest　holiday　fashions　made　their　first　virgin　appearance　in　the

new　building　as　if　to　consecrate　it；　until　it　was　stirred　by　the

rustle　of　youth；　as　with　the　sound　and　movement　of　budding　spring。



A　strain　from　the　new　organwhose　heart；　however；　had　prematurely

learned　its　own　bitternessand　a　thin；　clear；　but　somewhat　shrill

chanting　from　a　choir　of　young　ladies　were　followed　by　a　prayer

from　the　Reverend　Mr。　Pilsbury。　　Then　there　was　a　pause　of

expectancy；　and　Grant's　fair　companion；　who　up　to　that　moment　had

been　quietly　acting　as　guide　and　cicerone　to　her　father's　guest；

excused　herself　with　a　little　grimace　of　mock　concern　and　was　led

away　by　one　of　the　committee。　　Grant's　usually　keen　eyes　were

wandering　somewhat　abstractedly　over　the　agitated　and　rustling

field　of　ribbons；　flowers　and　feathers　before　him；　past　the

blazonry　of　banner　on　the　walls；　and　through　the　open　windows　to

the　long　sunlit　levels　beyond；　when　he　noticed　a　stir　upon　the

raised　dais　or　platform　at　the　end　of　the　room；　where　the　notables

of　Tasajara　were　formally　assembled。　　The　mass　of　black　coats

suddenly　parted　and　drew　back　against　the　wall　to　allow　the　coming

forward　of　a　single　graceful　figure。　　A　thrill　of　nervousness　as

unexpected　as　unaccountable　passed　over　him　as　he　recognized

Clementina。　　In　the　midst　of　a　sudden　silence　she　read　the　report

of　the　committee　from　a　paper　in　her　hand；　in　a　clear；　untroubled

voicethe　old　voice　of　Sidonand　formally　declared　the　building

opened。　　The　sunlight；　nearly　level；　streamed　through　the　western

window　across　the　front　of　the　platform　where　she　stood　and

transfigured　her　slight　but　noble　figure。　　The　hush　that　had　fallen

upon　the　Hall　was　as　much　the　effect　of　that　tranquil；　ideal

presence　as　of　the　message　with　which　it　was　charged。　　And　yet　that

apparition　was　as　inconsistent　with　the　clear；　searching　light

which　helped　to　set　it　off；　as　it　was　with　the　broad　new　blazonry

of　decoration；　the　yet　unsullied　record　of　the　white　walls；　or　even

the　frank；　animated　and　pretty　faces　that　looked　upon　it。　　Perhaps

it　was　some　such　instinct　that　caused　the　applause　which　hesitatingly

and　tardily　followed　her　from　the　platform　to　appear　polite　and　half

restrained　rather　than　spontaneous。



Nevertheless　Grant　was　honestly　and　sincerely　profuse　in　his

congratulations。　　〃You　were　far　cooler　and　far　more　self…contained

than　I　should　have　been　in　your　place；〃　he　said；　〃than　in　fact　I

actually　WAS；　only　as　your　auditor。　　But　I　suppose　you　have　done　it

before？〃



She　turned　her　beautiful　eyes　on　his　wonderingly。　　〃No；this　is

the　first　time　I　ever　appeared　in　public；not　even　at　school；　for

even　there　I　was　always　a　private　pupil。〃



〃You　astonish　me；〃　said　Grant；　〃you　seemed　like　an　old　hand　at　it。〃



〃Perhaps　I　did；　or　rather　as　if　I　didn't　think　anything　of　it

myself；and　that　no　doubt　is　why　the　audience　didn't　think

anything　of　it　either。〃



So　she　HAD　noticed　her　cold　reception；　and　yet　there　was　not　the

slightest　trace　of　disappointment；　regret；　or　wounded　vanity　in　her

tone　or　manner。　　〃You　must　take　me　to　the　refreshment　room　now；〃

she　said　pleasantly；　〃and　help　me　to　look　after　the　young　ladies

who　are　my　guests。　　I'm　afraid　there　are　still　more　speeches　to

come；　and　father　and　Mr。　Pilsbury　are　looking　as　if　they

confidently　expected　something　more　would　be　'expected'　of　them。〃



Grant　at　once　threw　himself　into　the　task　assigned　to　him；　with　his

natural　gallantry　and　a　certain　captivating　playfulness　which　he

still　retained。　　Perhaps　he　was　the　more　anxious　to　please　in　order

that　his　companion　might　share　some　of　his　popularity；　for　it　was

undeniable　that　Miss　Harcourt　still　seemed　to　excite　only　a

constrained　politeness　among　those　with　whom　she　courteously

mingled。　　And　this　was　still　more　distinctly　marked　by　the　contrast

of　a　later　incident。



For　some　moments　the　sound　of　laughter　and　greeting　had　risen　near

the　door　of　the　refreshment　room　that　opened　upon　the　central　hall；

and　there　was　a　perceptible　movement　of　the　crowdparticularly　of

youthful　male　Tasajarain　that　direction。　　It　was　evident　that　it

announced　the　unexpected　arrival　of　some　popular　resident。

Attracted　like　the　others；　Grant　turned　and　saw　the　company　making

way　for　the　smiling；　easy；　half…saucy；　half…complacent　entry　of　a

handsomely　dressed　young　girl。　　As　she　turned　from　time　to　time　to

recognize　with　rallying　familiarity　or　charming　impertinence　some

of　her　admirers；　there　was　that　in　her　tone　and　gesture　which

instantly　recalled　to　him　the　past。　　It　was　unmistakably　Euphemia！

His　eyes　instinctively　sought　Clementina's。　　She　was　gazing　at　him

with　such　a　grave；　penetrating　look；half　doubting；　half　wistful；

a　look　so　unlike　her　usual　unruffled　calm　that　he　felt　strangely

stirred。　　But　the　next　moment；　when　she　rejoined　him；　the　look　had

entirely　gone。　　〃You　have　not　seen　my　sister　since　you　were　at

Sidon；　I　believe？〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃She　would　be　sorry　to　miss

you。〃　　But　Euphemia　and　her　train　were　already　passing　them　on　the

opposite　side　of　the　long　table。　　She　had　evidently　recognized

Grant；　yet　the　two　sisters　were　looking　intently　into　each　other's

eyes　when　he　raised　his　own。　　Then　Euphemia　met　his　bow　with　a

momentary　accession　of　color；　a　coquettish　wave　of　her　hand　across

the　table