in a hollow of the hills-第15部分

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there　was　something　behind　him　that　he　could　not　make　way　with。
That　was　why　this　accomplished　rascal　felt　his　flaccid　cheeks　grow
purple　and　his　glib　tongue　trip　before　his　captive。

But　Collinson；　more　occupied　with　his　own　shortcomings；　took　no
note　of　this；　and　Chivers　quickly　recovered　his　wits；　if　not　his
former　artificiality。　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　quickly；　with　a　hurried
glance　at　the　door　behind　him。　　〃Now　that　you　think　better　of　it；
I'll　be　frank　with　you；　and　tell　you　I'm　your　friend。　　You
understand；your　friend。　　Don't　talk　much　to　those　mendon't　give
yourself　away　to　them；〃　he　laughed　this　time　in　absolute　natural
embarrassment。　　〃Don't　talk　about　your　wife；　and　this　house；　but
just　say　you've　made　the　thing　up　with　me；with　ME；　you　know；　and
I'll　see　you　through。〃　　An　idea；　as　yet　vague；　that　he　could　turn
Collinson's　unexpected　docility　to　his　own　purposes；　possessed　him
even　in　his　embarrassment；　and　he　was　still　more　strangely
conscious　of　his　inordinate　vanity　gathering　a　fearful　joy　from
Collinson's　evident　admiration。　　It　was　heightened　by　his　captive's
next　words。

〃Ef　I　wasn't　tied　I'd　shake　hands　with　ye　on　that。　　You're　the　kind
o'　man；　Mr。　Chivers；　that　I　cottoned　to　from　the　first。　　Ef　this
house　wasn't　HERS；　I'd　a'　bin　tempted　to　cotton　to　yer　offer；　too；
and　mebbee　made　yer　one　myself；　for　it　seems　to　me　your　style　and
mine　would　sorter　jibe　together。　　But　I　see　you　sabe　what's　in　my
mind；　and　make　allowance。　　WE　don't　want　no　bit　o'　paper　to　shake
hands　on　that。　　Your　secret　and　your　folk's　secret　is　mine；　and　I
don't　blab　that　any　more　than　I'd　blab　to　them　wot　you've　just　told
me。〃

Under　a　sudden　impulse；　Chivers　leaned　forward；　and；　albeit　with
somewhat　unsteady　hands　and　an　embarrassed　will；　untied　the　cords
that　held　Collinson　in　his　chair。　　As　the　freed　man　stretched
himself　to　his　full　height；　he　looked　gravely　down　into　the　bleared
eyes　of　his　captor；　and　held　out　his　strong　right　hand。　　Chivers
took　it。　　Whether　there　was　some　occult　power　in　Collinson's　honest
grasp；　I　know　not；　but　there　sprang　up　in　Chivers's　agile　mind　the
idea　that　a　good　way　to　get　rid　of　Mrs。　Collinson　was　to　put　her　in
the　way　of　her　husband's　finding　her；　and　for　an　instant；　in　the
contemplation　of　that　idea；　this　supreme　rascal　absolutely　felt　an
embarrassing　glow　of　virtue。


CHAPTER　VI。


The　astonishment　of　Preble　Key　on　recognizing　the　gateway　into
which　the　mysterious　lady　had　vanished　was　so　great　that　he　was　at
first　inclined　to　believe　her　entry　THERE　a　mere　trick　of　his
fancy。　　That　the　confederate　of　a　gang　of　robbers　should　be
admitted　to　the　austere　recesses　of　the　convent；　with　a　celerity
that　bespoke　familiarity；　was　incredible。　　He　again　glanced　up　and
down　the　length　of　the　shadowed　but　still　visible　wall。　　There　was
no　one　there。　　The　wall　itself　contained　no　break　or　recess　in
which　one　could　hide；　and　this　was　the　only　gateway。　　The　opposite
side　of　the　street　in　the　full　moonlight　stared　emptily。　　No！
Unless　she　were　an　illusion　herself　and　his　whole　chase　a　dream；
she　MUST　have　entered　here。

But　the　chase　was　not　hopeless。　　He　had　at　least　tracked　her　to　a
place　where　she　could　be　identified。　　It　was　not　a　hotel；　which　she
could　leave　at　any　moment　unobserved。　　Though　he　could　not　follow
her　and　penetrate　its　seclusion　now；　he　could　laterthanks　to　his
old　associations　with　the　padres　of　the　contiguous　collegegain　an
introduction　to　the　Lady　Superior　on　some　pretext。　　She　was　safe
there　that　night。　　He　turned　away　with　a　feeling　of　relief。　　The
incongruity　of　her　retreat　assumed　a　more　favorable　aspect　to　his
hopes。　　He　looked　at　the　hallowed　walls　and　the　slumbering
peacefulness　of　the　gnarled　old　trees　that　hid　the　convent；　and　a
gentle　reminiscence　of　his　youth　stole　over　him。　　It　was　not　the
first　time　that　he　had　gazed　wistfully　upon　that　chaste　refuge
where；　perhaps；　the　bright　eyes　that　he　had　followed　in　the　quaint
school　procession　under　the　leafy　Alameda　in　the　afternoon；　were　at
last　closed　in　gentle　slumber。　　There　was　the　very　grille　through
which　the　wicked　Conchitaor；　was　it　Dolores？had　shot　her
Parthian　glance　at　the　lingering　student。　　And　the　man　of　thirty…
five；　prematurely　gray　and　settled　in　fortune；　smiled　as　he　turned
away；　and　forgot　the　adventuress　of　thirty　who　had　brought　him
there。

The　next　morning　he　was　up　betimes　and　at　the　college　of　San　Jose。
Father　Cipriano；　a　trifle　more　snuffy　and　aged；　remembered　with
delight　his　old　pupil。　　Ah！　it　was　true；　then；　that　he　had　become　a
mining　president；　and　that　was　why　his　hair　was　gray；　but　he
trusted　that　Don　Preble　had　not　forgot　that　this　was　not　all　of
life；　and　that　fortune　brought　great　responsibilities　and　cares。
But　what　was　this；　then？　　He　HAD　thought　of　bringing　out　some　of
his　relations　from　the　States；　and　placing　a　niece　in　the　convent。
That　was　good　and　wise。　　Ah；　yes。　　For　education　in　this　new
country；　one　must　turn　to　the　church。　　And　he　would　see　the　Lady
Superior？　　Ah！　that　was　but　the　twist　of　one's　finger　and　the
lifting　of　a　latch　to　a　grave　superintendent　and　a　gray　head　like
that。　　Of　course；　he　had　not　forgotten　the　convent　and　the　young
senoritas；　nor　the　discipline　and　the　suspended　holidays。　　Ah！　it
was　a　special　grace　of　our　Lady　that　he；　Father　Cipriano；　had　not
been　worried　into　his　grave　by　those　foolish　muchachos。　　Yet；　when
he　had　extinguished　a　snuffy　chuckle　in　his　red　bandana
handkerchief；　Key　knew　that　he　would　accompany　him　to　the　convent
that　noon。

It　was　with　a　slight　stirring　of　shame　over　his　elaborate　pretext
that　he　passed　the　gate　of　the　Sacred　Heart　with　the　good　father。
But　it　is　to　be　feared　that　he　speedily　forgot　that　in　the
unexpected　information　that　it　elicited。　　The　Lady　Superior　was
gracious；　and　even　enthusiastic。　　Ah；　yes；　it　was　a　growing　custom
of　the　American　caballeroswho　had　no　homes；　nor　yet　time　to
create　anyto　bring　their　sisters；　wards；　and　nieces　here；　and
with　a　dove…like　side…glance　towards　Keyeven　the　young　senoritas
they　wished　to　fit　for　their　Christian　brides！　　Unlike　the
caballero；　there　were　many　business　men　so　immersed　in　their
affairs　that　they　could　not　find　time　for　a　personal　examination　of
the　convent；which　was　to　be　regretted；but　who；　trusting　to　the
reputation　of　the　Sacred　Heart　and　its　good　friends；　simply　sent
the　young　lady　there　by　some　trusted　female　companion。　　Notably
this　was　the　case　of　the　Senor　Rivers；did　Don　Preble　ever　know
him？a　great　capitalist　in　the　Sierras；　whose　sweet　young　sister；
a　naive；　ingenuous　creature；　was　the　pride　of　the　convent。　　Of
course；　it　was　better　that　it　was　so。　　Discipline　and　seclusion　had
to　be　maintained。　　The　young　girl　should　look　upon　this　as　her
home。　　The　rules　for　visitors　were　necessarily　severe。　　It　was　rare
indeedexcept　in　a　case　of　urgency；　such　as　happened　last　night
that　even　a　lady；　unless　the　parent　of　a　scholar；　was　admitted　to
the　hospitality　of　the　convent。　　And　this　lady　was　only　the　friend
of　that　same　sister　of　the　American　capitalist；　although　she　was
the　one　who　had　brought　her　there。　　No；　she　was　not　a　relation。
Perhaps　Don　Preble　had　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Barker；the　friend　of
Rivers　of　the　Sierras。　　It　was　a　queer　combination　of　names。　　But
what　will　you？　　The　names　of　Americanos　mean　nothing。　　And　Don
Preble　knows　them　not。　　Ah！　possibly？good！　　The　lady　would　be
remembered；　being　tall；　dark；　and　of　fine　presence；　though　sad。　　A
few　hours　earlier　and　Don　Preble　could　have　judged　for　himself；
for；　as　it　were；　she　might　have　passed　through　this　visitors'　room。
But　she　was　gonedeparted　by　the　coach。　　It　was　from　a　telegram
those　heathen　contrivances　that　blurt　out　things　to　you；　with　never
an　excuse；　nor　a　smile；　nor　a　kiss　of　the　hand！　　For　her　part；　she
never　let　her　scholars　receive　them；　but　opened　them　herself；　and
translated　them　in　a　Christian　spirit；　after　due　preparation；　at
her　leisure。　　And　it　was　this　telegram　that　made　the　Senora　Barker
go；　or；　without　doubt；　she　would　have　of　herself　told　to　the　Don
Preble；　her　compatriot　of　the　Sierras；　how　good　the　convent　was　for
his　niece。

Stung　by　the　thought　that　this　woman　had　again　evaded　him；　and
disconcerted　and　confused　by　the　scarcely　intelligible　information
he　had　acquired；　Key　could　with　difficulty　maintain　his　composure。
〃The　caballero　is　tired　of　his　long　pasear；〃　said　the　Lady　Superior
gently。　　〃We　will　have　a　glass　of　wine　in　the　lodge　waiting…room。〃
She　led　the　way　from　the　reception　room　to　the　outer　door；　but
stopped　at　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　and　rustling　muslin
along　the　gravel　walk。　　〃The　second　class　are　going　out；〃　she　said；
as　a　gentle　procession　of　white　frocks；　led　by　two　nuns；　filed
before　the　gateway。　　〃We　will　wait　until　they　have　passed。　　But　the
senor　can　see　that　my　children　do　not　look　unhappy。〃

They　certainly　looked　very　cheerful；　although　they　had　halted
before　the　gateway　with　a　little　of　the　demureness　of　young　people
who　know　they　are　overlooked　by　authority；　and　had　bumped　against
each　other　with　affected　gravity。　　Somewhat　ashamed　of　his　useless
deception；　and　the　guileless　simplicity　of　the　good　Lady　Superior；
Key　hesitated　and　began：　〃I　am　afraid　that　I　am　really　giving　you
too　much　trouble；〃　and　suddenly　stopped。

For　as　his　voice　broke　the　demure　silence；　one　of　the　nearesta
young　girl　of　apparently　seventeenturned　towards　him　with　a　quick
and　an　apparently　irresistible　impulse；　and　as　quickly　turned　away
again。　　But　in　that　instant　Key　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　face　that
might　not　only　have　thrilled　him　in　its　beauty；　its　freshness；　but
in　some　vague　suggestiveness。　　Yet　it　was　not　that　which　set　his
pulses　beating；　it　was　the　look　of　joyous　recognition　set　in　the
parted　lips　and　sparkling　eyes；　the　glow　of　childlike　innocent
pleasure　that　mantled　the　sweet　young　face；　the　frank　confusion　of
suddenly　realized　expectancy　and　longing。　　A　great　truth　gripped
his　throbbing　heart；　and　held　it　still。　　It　was　the　face　that　he
had　seen　in　the　hollow！

The　movement　of　the　young　girl　was　too　marked　to　escape　the　eye　of
the　Lady　Superior；　though　she　had　translated　it　differently。　　〃You
must　not　believe　our　young　ladies　are　all　s