to have and to hold-第14节

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His　devout　faith　in　his　own　distaste　for　soft　living　and　his　longings　after　a　hermit's　cell　was　an　edifying　spectacle。　So　was　the　evident　pride　which　he　took　in　his　domain；　the　complacence　with　which　he　pointed　　out　the　shady；　well…stocked　garden；　and　the　delight　with　which　he　produced　and　set　upon　the　table　a　huge　pasty　and　a　flagon　of　wine。

〃It　is　a　fast　day　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　may　neither　eat　nor　drink　until　the　sun　goes　down。　The　flesh　is　a　strong　giant；　very　full　of　pride　and　lust　of　living；　and　the　spirit　must　needs　keep　watch　and　ward；　seizing　every　opportunity　to　mortify　and　deject　its　adversary。　Goodwife　Allen　is　still　gaping　with　the　crowd　at　the　fort；　and　your　man　and　maid　have　not　yet　come；　but　I　shall　be　overhead　if　you　need　aught。　Mistress　Percy　must　want　rest　after　her　ride。〃

He　was　gone；　leaving　us　two　alone　together。　She　stood　opposite　me；　beside　the　window；　from　which　she　had　not　moved　since　entering　the　room。　The　color　was　still　in　her　cheeks；　the　light　in　her　eyes；　and　she　still　held　the　roses　with　which　Sparrow　had　heaped　her　arms。　I　was　moving　to　the　table。

〃Wait！〃　she　said；　and　I　turned　toward　her　again。

〃Have　you　no　questions　to　ask？〃　she　demanded。

I　shook　my　head。　〃None；　madam。〃

〃I　was　the　King's　ward！〃　she　cried。

I　bowed；　but　spoke　no　word；　though　she　waited　for　me。

〃If　you　will　listen；〃　she　said　at　last；　proudly；　and　yet　with　a　pleading　sweetness；　…　〃if　you　will　listen；　I　will　tell　you　how　it　was　that　I　…　that　I　came　to　wrong　you　so。〃

〃I　am　listening；　madam；〃　I　replied。

She　stood　against　the　light；　the　roses　pressed　to　her　bosom；　her　dark　eyes　upon　me；　her　head　held　high。　〃My　mother　died　when　I　was　born；　my　father；　years　ago。　I　was　the　King's　ward。　While　the　Queen　lived　she　kept　me　with　her；　…　she　loved　me；　I　think；　and　　the　King　too　was　kind；　…　would　have　me　sing　to　him；　and　would　talk　to　me　about　witchcraft　and　the　Scriptures；　and　how　rebellion　to　a　king　is　rebellion　to　God。　When　I　was　sixteen；　and　he　tendered　me　marriage　with　a　Scotch　lord；　I；　who　loved　the　gentleman　not；　never　having　seen　him；　prayed　the　King　to　take　the　value　of　my　marriage　and　leave　me　my　freedom。　He　was　so　good　to　me　then　that　the　Scotch　lord　was　wed　elsewhere；　and　I　danced　at　the　wedding　with　a　mind　at　ease。　Time　passed；　and　the　King　was　still　my　very　good　lord。　Then；　one　black　day；　my　Lord　Carnal　came　to　court；　and　the　King　looked　at　him　oftener　than　at　his　Grace　of　Buckingham。　A　few　months；　and　my　lord's　wish　was　the　King's　will。　To　do　this　new　favorite　pleasure　he　forgot　his　ancient　kindness　of　heart；　yea；　and　he　made　the　law　of　no　account。　I　was　his　kinswoman；　and　under　my　full　age；　he　would　give　my　hand　to　whom　he　chose。　He　chose　to　give　it　to　my　Lord　Carnal。〃

She　broke　off；　and　turned　her　face　from　me　toward　the　slant　sunshine　without　the　window。　Thus　far　she　had　spoken　quietly；　with　a　certain　proud　patience　of　voice　and　bearing；　but　as　she　stood　there　in　a　silence　which　I　did　not　break；　the　memory　of　her　wrongs　brought　the　crimson　to　her　cheeks　and　the　anger　to　her　eyes。　Suddenly　she　burst　forth　passionately：　〃The　King　is　the　King！　What　is　a　subject's　will　to　clash　with　his？　What　weighs　a　woman's　heart　against　his　whim？　Little　cared　he　that　my　hand　held　back；　grew　cold　at　the　touch　of　that　other　hand　in　which　he　would　have　put　it。　What　matter　if　my　will　was　against　that　marriage？　It　was　but　the　will　of　a　girl；　and　must　be　broken。　All　my　world　was　with　the　King；　I；　who　stood　alone；　was　but　a　woman；　young　　and　untaught。　Oh；　they　pressed　me　sore；　they　angered　me　to　the　very　heart！　There　was　not　one　to　fight　my　battle；　to　help　me　in　that　strait；　to　show　me　a　better　path　than　that　I　took。　With　all　my　heart；　with　all　my　soul；　with　all　my　might；　I　hate　that　man　which　that　ship　brought　here　to…day！　You　know　what　I　did　to　escape　them　all；　to　escape　that　man。　I　fled　from　England　in　the　dress　of　my　waiting　maid　and　under　her　name。　I　came　to　Virginia　in　that　guise。　I　let　myself　be　put　up；　appraised；　cried　for　sale；　in　that　meadow　yonder；　as　if　I　had　been　indeed　the　piece　of　merchandise　I　professed　myself。　The　one　man　who　approached　me　with　respect　I　gulled　and　cheated。　I　let　him；　a　stranger；　give　me　his　name。　I　shelter　myself　now　behind　his　name。　I　have　foisted　on　him　my　quarrel。　I　have　…　Oh；　despise　me；　if　you　will！　You　cannot　despise　me　more　than　I　despise　myself！〃

I　stood　with　my　hand　upon　the　table　and　my　eyes　studying　the　shadow　of　the　vines　upon　the　floor。　All　that　she　said　was　perfectly　true；　and　yet　…　I　had　a　vision　of　a　scarlet　and　black　figure　and　a　dark　and　beautiful　face。　I　too　hated　my　Lord　Carnal。

〃I　do　not　despise　you；　madam；〃　I　said　at　last。　〃What　was　done　two　weeks　ago　in　the　meadow　yonder　is　past　recall。　Let　it　rest。　What　is　mine　is　yours：　it's　little　beside　my　sword　and　my　name。　The　one　is　naturally　at　my　wife's　service；　for　the　other；　I　have　had　some　pride　in　keeping　it　untarnished。　It　is　now　in　your　keeping　as　well　as　my　own。　I　do　not　fear　to　leave　it　there；　madam。〃

I　had　spoken　with　my　eyes　upon　the　garden　outside　the　window；　but　now　I　looked　at　her；　to　see　that　she　was　trembling　in　every　limb；　…　trembling　so　that　I　　thought　she　would　fall。　I　hastened　to　her。　〃The　roses；〃　she　said；　…　〃the　roses　are　too　heavy。　Oh；　I　am　tired　…　and　the　room　goes　round。〃

I　caught　her　as　she　fell；　and　laid　her　gently　upon　the　floor。　There　was　water　on　the　table；　and　I　dashed　some　in　her　face　and　moistened　her　lips；　then　turned　to　the　door　to　get　woman's　help；　and　ran　against　Diccon。

〃I　got　that　bag　of　bones　here　at　last；　sir；〃　he　began。　〃If　ever　I〃　…　His　eyes　traveled　past　me；　and　he　broke　off。

〃Don't　stand　there　staring；〃　I　ordered。　〃Go　bring　the　first　woman　you　meet。〃

〃Is　she　dead？〃　he　asked　under　his　breath。　〃Have　you　killed　her？〃

〃Killed　her；　fool！〃　I　cried。　〃Have　you　never　seen　a　woman　swoon？〃

〃She　looks　like　death；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　thought〃　…

〃You　thought！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃You　have　too　many　thoughts。　Begone；　and　call　for　help！〃

〃Here　is　Angela；〃　he　said　sullenly　and　without　offering　to　move；　as；　light　of　foot；　soft　of　voice；　ox…eyed　and　docile；　the　black　woman　entered　the　room。　When　I　saw　her　upon　her　knees　beside　the　motionless　figure；　the　head　pillowed　on　her　arm；　her　hand　busy　with　the　fastenings　about　throat　and　bosom；　her　dark　face　as　womanly　tender　as　any　English　mother's　bending　over　her　nursling；　and　when　I　saw　my　wife；　with　a　little　moan；　creep　further　into　the　encircling　arms；　I　was　satisfied。

〃Come　away！〃　I　said；　and；　followed　by　Diccon；　went　out　and　shut　the　door。

My　Lord　Carnal　was　never　one　to　let　the　grass　ILLUSTRATION　　　　grow　beneath　his　feet。　An　hour　later　came　his　cartel；　borne　by　no　less　a　personage　than　the　Secretary　of　the　colony。

I　took　it　from　the　point　of　that　worthy's　rapier。　It　ran　thus：　〃SIR；　…　At　what　hour　to…morrow　and　at　what　place　do　you　prefer　to　die？　And　with　what　weapon　shall　I　kill　you？〃

〃Captain　Percy　will　give　me　credit　for　the　profound　reluctance　with　which　I　act　in　this　affair　against　a　gentleman　and　an　officer　so　high　in　the　esteem　of　the　colony；〃　said　Master　Pory；　with　his　hand　upon　his　heart。　〃When　I　tell　him　that　I　once　fought　at　Paris　in　a　duel　of　six　on　the　same　side　with　my　late　Lord　Carnal；　and　that　when　I　was　last　at　court　my　Lord　Warwick　did　me　the　honor　to　present　me　to　the　present　lord；　he　will　see　that　I　could　not　well　refuse　when　the　latter　requested　my　aid。〃

〃Master　Pory's　disinterestedness　is　perfectly　well　known；〃　I　said；　without　a　smile。　〃If　he　ever　chooses　the　stronger　side；　sure　he　has　strong　reasons　for　so　doing。　He　will　oblige　me　by　telling　his　principal　that　I　ever　thought　sunrise　a　pleasant　hour　for　dying；　and　that　there　could　be　no　fitter　place　than　the　field　behind　the　church；　convenient　as　it　is　to　the　graveyard。　As　for　weapons；　I　have　heard　that　he　is　a　good　swordsman；　but　I　have　some　little　reputation　that　way　myself。　If　he　prefers　pistols　or　daggers；　so　be　it。〃

〃I　think　we　may　assume　the　sword；〃　said　Master　Pory。

I　bowed。

〃You'll　bring　a　friend？〃　he　asked。

〃I　do　not　despair　of　finding　one；〃　I　answered；　〃though　my　second；　Master　Secretary；　will　put　himself　in　some　jeopardy。〃

〃It　is　combat　…　outrance；　I　believe？〃

〃I　understand　it　so。〃

〃Then　we'd　better　have　Bohun。　The　survivor　may　need　his　services。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　I　replied；　〃though　my　man　Diccon　dresses　my　scratches　well　enough。〃

He　bit　his　lip；　but　could　not　hide　the　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃You　are　cocksure；〃　he　said。　〃Curiously　enough；　so　is　my　lord。　There　are　no　further　formalities　to　adjust；　I　believe？　To…morrow　at　sunrise；　behind　the　church；　and　with　rapiers？〃

〃Precisely。〃

He　slapped　his　blade　back　into　its　sheath。　〃Then　that's　over　and　done　with；　for　the　nonce　at　least！　Sufficient　unto　the　day；　etcetera。　'S　life！　I'm　hot　and　dry！　You've　sacked　cities；　Ralph　Percy；　now　sack　me　the　minister's　closet　and　bring　out　his　sherris　I'll　be　at　charges　for　the　next　communion。〃

We　sat　us　down　upon　the　doorstep　with　a　tankard　of　sack　between　us；　and　Master　Pory　drank；　and　drank；　and　drank　again。

〃How's　the　crop？〃　he　asked。　〃Martin　reports　it　poorer　in　quality　than　ever；　but　Sir　George　will　have　it　that　it　is　very　Varinas。〃

〃It's　every　whit　as　good　as　the　Spanish；〃　I　answered。　〃You　may　tell　my　Lord　W