the twins of table mountain-第3部分

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the　same　moment　deftly　caught　her　flying　skirt；　whipped　it　around
her　ankles；　and；　slightly　raising　it　behind；　permitted　the　chaste
display　of　an　inch　or　two　of　frilled　white　petticoat。　　The　most
irreverent　critic　of　the　sex　will；　I　think；　admit　that　it　has　some
movements　that　are　automatic。

〃Hope　I　didn't　disturb　ye；〃　said　Rand；　pointing　to　the　flag…staff。

The　young　lady　slightly　turned　her　head。　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃but　I
didn't　know　anybody　was　here；　of　course。　　Our　PARTY〃she
emphasized　the　word；　and　accompanied　it　with　a　look　toward　the
further　extremity　of　the　plateau；　to　show　she　was　not　alone〃our
party　climbed　this　ridge；　and　put　up　this　pole　as　a　sign　to　show
they　did　it。〃　　The　ridiculous　self…complacency　of　this　record　in
the　face　of　a　man　who　was　evidently　a　dweller　on　the　mountain
apparently　struck　her　for　the　first　time。　　〃We　didn't　know；〃　she
stammered；　looking　at　the　shaft　from　which　Rand　had　emerged；　〃that
that〃　　She　stopped；　and；　glancing　again　towards　the　distant
range　where　her　friends　had　disappeared；　began　to　edge　away。

〃They　can't　be　far　off；〃　interposed　Rand　quietly；　as　if　it　were　the
most　natural　thing　in　the　world　for　the　lady　to　be　there。　　〃Table
Mountain　ain't　as　big　as　all　that。　　Don't　you　be　scared！　　So　you
thought　nobody　lived　up　here？〃

She　turned　upon　him　a　pair　of　honest　hazel　eyes；　which　not　only
contradicted　the　somewhat　meretricious　smartness　of　her　dress；　but
was　utterly　inconsistent　with　the　palpable　artificial　color　of　her
hair；an　obvious　imitation　of　a　certain　popular　fashion　then　known
in　artistic　circles　as　the　〃British　Blonde；〃and　began　to
ostentatiously　resume　a　pair　of　lemon…colored　kid　gloves。　　Having；
as　it　were；　thus　indicated　her　standing　and　respectability；　and　put
an　immeasurable　distance　between　herself　and　her　bold　interlocutor；
she　said　impressively；　〃We　evidently　made　a　mistake：　I　will　rejoin
our　party；　who　will；　of　course；　apologize。〃

〃What's　your　hurry？〃　said　the　imperturbable　Rand；　disengaging
himself　from　the　rope；　and　walking　towards　her。　　〃As　long　as　you're
up　here；　you　might　stop　a　spell。〃

〃I　have　no　wish　to　intrude；　that　is；　our　party　certainly　has　not；〃
continued　the　young　lady；　pulling　the　tight　gloves；　and　smoothing
the　plump；　almost　bursting　fingers；　with　an　affectation　of
fashionable　ease。

〃Oh！　I　haven't　any　thing　to　do　just　now；〃　said　Rand；　〃and　it's
about　grub　time；　I　reckon。　　Yes；　I　live　here；　Ruth　and　me；right
here。〃

The　young　woman　glanced　at　the　shaft。

〃No；　not　down　there；〃　said　Rand；　following　her　eye；　with　a　laugh。
〃Come　here；　and　I'll　show　you。〃

A　strong　desire　to　keep　up　an　appearance　of　genteel　reserve；　and　an
equally　strong　inclination　to　enjoy　the　adventurous　company　of　this
good…looking；　hearty　young　fellow；　made　her　hesitate。　　Perhaps　she
regretted　having　undertaken　a　role　of　such　dignity　at　the
beginning：　she　could　have　been　so　perfectly　natural　with　this
perfectly　natural　man；　whereas　any　relaxation　now　might　increase
his　familiarity。　　And　yet　she　was　not　without　a　vague　suspicion
that　her　dignity　and　her　gloves　were　alike　thrown　away　on　him；a
fact　made　the　more　evident　when　Rand　stepped　to　her　side；　and；
without　any　apparent　consciousness　of　disrespect　or　gallantry；　laid
his　large　hand；　half　persuasively；　half　fraternally；　upon　her
shoulder；　and　said；　〃Oh；　come　along；　do！〃

The　simple　act　either　exceeded　the　limits　of　her　forbearance；　or
decided　the　course　of　her　subsequent　behavior。　　She　instantly
stepped　back　a　single　pace；　and　drew　her　left　foot　slowly　and
deliberately　after　her；　then　she　fixed　her　eyes　and　uplifted
eyebrows　upon　the　daring　hand；　and；　taking　it　by　the　ends　of　her
thumb　and　forefinger；　lifted　it；　and　dropped　it　in　mid…air。　　She
then　folded　her　arms。　　It　was　the　indignant　gesture　with　which
〃Alice；〃　the　Pride　of　Dumballin　Village；　received　the　loathsome
advances　of　the　bloated　aristocrat；　Sir　Parkyns　Parkyn；　and　had　at
Marysville；　a　few　nights　before；　brought　down　the　house。

This　effect　was；　I　think；　however；　lost　upon　Rand。　　The　slight
color　that　rose　to　his　cheek　as　he　looked　down　upon　his　clay…soiled
hands　was　due　to　the　belief　that　he　had　really　contaminated　her
outward　superfine　person。　　But　his　color　quickly　passed：　his　frank；
boyish　smile　returned；　as　he　said；　〃It'll　rub　off。　　Lord；　don't
mind　that！　　Thar；　nowcome　on！〃

The　young　woman　bit　her　lip。　　Then　nature　triumphed；　and　she
laughed；　although　a　little　scornfully。　　And　then　Providence
assisted　her　with　the　sudden　presentation　of　two　figures；　a　man　and
woman；　slowly　climbing　up　over　the　mountain　verge；　not　far　from
them。　　With　a　cry　of　〃There's　Sol；　now！〃　she　forgot　her　dignity　and
her　confusion；　and　ran　towards　them。

Rand　stood　looking　after　her　neat　figure；　less　concerned　in　the
advent　of　the　strangers　than　in　her　sudden　caprice。　　He　was　not　so
young　and　inexperienced　but　that　he　noted　certain　ambiguities　in
her　dress　and　manner：　he　was　by　no　means　impressed　by　her　dignity。
But　he　could　not　help　watching　her　as　she　appeared　to　be　volubly
recounting　her　late　interview　to　her　companions；　and；　still
unconscious　of　any　impropriety　or　obtrusiveness；　he　lounged　down
lazily　towards　her。　　Her　humor　had　evidently　changed；　for　she
turned　an　honest；　pleased　face　upon　him；　as　she　girlishly　attempted
to　drag　the　strangers　forward。

The　man　was　plump　and　short；　unlike　the　natives　of　the　locality；　he
was　closely　cropped　and　shaven；　as　if　to　keep　down　the　strong　blue…
blackness　of　his　beard　and　hair；　which　nevertheless　asserted　itself
over　his　round　cheeks　and　upper　lip　like　a　tattooing　of　Indian　ink。
The　woman　at　his　side　was　reserved　and　indistinctive；　with　that
appearance　of　being　an　unenthusiastic　family　servant　peculiar　to
some　men's　wives。　　When　Rand　was　within　a　few　feet　of　him；　he
started；　struck　a　theatrical　attitude；　and；　shading　his　eyes　with
his　hand；　cried；　〃What；　do　me　eyes　deceive　me！〃　burst　into　a　hearty
laugh；　darted　forward；　seized　Rand's　hand；　and　shook　it　briskly。

〃Pinkney；　Pinkney；　my　boy！　how　are　you？　　And　this　is　your　little
'prop'？　your　quarter…section；　your　country…seat；　that　we've　been
trespassing　on；　eh？　　A　nice　little　spot；　cool；　sequestered；
remote；a　trifle　unimproved；　carriage…road　as　yet　unfinished。　　Ha；
ha！　　But　to　think　of　our　making　a　discovery　of　this　inaccessible
mountain；　climbing　it；　sir；　for　two　mortal　hours；　christening　it
'Sol's　Peak；'　getting　up　a　flag…pole；　unfurling　our　standard　to　the
breeze；　sir；　and　then；　by　Gad；　winding　up　by　finding　Pinkney；　the
festive　Pinkney；　living　on　it　at　home！〃

Completely　surprised；　but　still　perfectly　good…humored；　Rand　shook
the　stranger's　right　hand　warmly；　and　received　on　his　broad
shoulders　a　welcoming　thwack　from　the　left；　without　question。　　〃She
don't　mind　her　friends　making　free　with　ME　evidently；〃　said　Rand　to
himself；　as　he　tried　to　suggest　that　fact　to　the　young　lady　in　a
meaning　glance。

The　stranger　noted　his　glance；　and　suddenly　passed　his　hand
thoughtfully　over　his　shaven　cheeks。　　〃No；〃　he　said〃yes；　surely；
I　forgetyes；　I　see；　of　course　you　don't！　　Rosy；〃　turning　to　his
wife；　〃of　course　Pinkney　doesn't　know　Phemie；　eh？〃

〃No；　nor　ME　either；　Sol；〃　said　that　lady　warningly。

〃Certainly！〃　continued　Sol。　　〃It's　his　misfortune。　　You　weren't
with　me　at　Gold　Hill。Allow　me；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Rand；　〃to
present　Mrs。　Sol　Saunders；　wife　of　the　undersigned；　and　Miss
Euphemia　Neville；　otherwise　known　as　the　'Marysville　Pet；'　the　best
variety　actress　known　on　the　provincial　boards。　　Played　Ophelia　at
Marysville；　Friday；　domestic　drama　at　Gold　Hill；　Saturday；　Sunday
night；　four　songs　in　character；　different　dress　each　time；　and　a
clog…dance。　　The　best　clog…dance　on　the　Pacific　Slope；〃　he　added　in
a　stage　aside。　　〃The　minstrels　are　crazy　to　get　her　in　'Frisco。
But　money　can't　buy　herprefers　the　legitimate　drama　to　this　sort
of　thing。〃　　Here　he　took　a　few　steps　of　a　jig；　to　which　the
〃Marysville　Pet〃　beat　time　with　her　feet；　and　concluded　with　a
laugh　and　a　winkthe　combined　expression　of　an　artist's　admiration
for　her　ability；　and　a　man　of　the　world's　scepticism　of　feminine
ambition。

Miss　Euphemia　responded　to　the　formal　introduction　by　extending　her
hand　frankly　with　a　re…assuring　smile　to　Rand；　and　an　utter
obliviousness　of　her　former　hauteur。　　Rand　shook　it　warmly；　and
then　dropped　carelessly　on　a　rock　beside　them。

〃And　you　never　told　me　you　lived　up　here　in　the　attic；　you　rascal！〃
continued　Sol　with　a　laugh。

〃No；〃　replied　Rand　simply。　　〃How　could　I？　　I　never　saw　you　before；
that　I　remember。〃

Miss　Euphemia　stared　at　Sol。　　Mrs。　Sol　looked　up　in　her　lord's
face；　and　folded　her　arms　in　a　resigned　expression。　　Sol　rose　to
his　feet　again；　and　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　but　this　time
quite　seriously；　and　gazed　at　Rand's　smiling　face。

〃Good　Lord！　　Do　you　mean　to　say　your　name　isn't　Pinkney？〃　he　asked；
with　a　half　embarrassed　laugh。

〃It　IS　Pinkney；〃　said　Rand；　〃but　I　never　met　you　before。〃

〃Didn't　you　come　to　see　a　young　lady　that　joined　my　troupe　at　Gold
Hill　last　month；　and　say　you'd　meet　me　at　Keeler's　Ferry　in　a　day
or　two？〃

〃No…o…o；〃　said　Rand；　with　a　good…humored　laugh。　　〃I　haven't　left
this　mountain　for　two　months。〃

He　might　have　added　more；　but　his　attention　was　directed　to　Miss
Euphemia；　who　during　this　short　dialogue；　having　stuffed
alternately　her　handkerchief；　the　corner　of　her　mantle；　and　her
gloves；　into　her　mouth；　restrained　herself　no　longer；　but　gave　way
to　an　uncontrollable　fit　of　laughter。　　〃O　Sol！〃　she　gasped
explanatorily；　as　she　threw　herself　alternately　against　him；　Mrs。
Sol；　and　a　bowlder；　〃you'll　kill　me　yet！　　O　Lord！　first　we　take
possession　of　this　man's　property；　then　we　claim　HIM。〃　　The
contemplation　of　this　humorous　climax　affected　her　so　that　she　was
fain　at　last　to　walk　away；　and　confide　the　rest　of　her　speech　to
space。

Sol　joined　in　the　laugh　until　his　wife　plucked　his　sleeve；　and
whispered　something　in　his　ear。　　In　an　instant　his　face　became　at
once　mysterious　and　demure。　　〃I　owe　you　an　apology；〃　he　said；
turning　to　Rand；　but　in　a　voice　ostentatiously　pitched　high　enough
for　Miss　Euphemia　to　overhear：　〃I　see　I　have　made　a　mistake。　　A
resemblanceonly　a　mere　resemblance；　as　I　lo