to have and to hold-第37节

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ndows；　her　face　buried　in　her　outstretched　arms；　her　dark　hair　shadowing　her　like　a　mantle。　When　I　spoke　to　her　she　did　not　answer。　With　a　sudden　fear　I　stooped　and　touched　her　clasped　hands。　A　shudder　ran　through　her　frame；　and　she　slowly　raised　a　colorless　face。

〃Are　you　come　back？〃　she　whispered。　〃I　thought　you　would　never　come　back。　I　thought　they　had　killed　you。　I　was　only　praying　before　I　killed　myself。〃

I　took　her　hands　and　wrung　them　apart　to　rouse　her；　she　was　so　white　and　cold；　and　spoke　so　strangely。　〃God　forbid　that　I　should　die　yet　awhile；　madam！〃　I　said。　〃When　I　can　no　longer　serve　you；　then　I　shall　not　care　how　soon　I　die。〃

The　eyes　with　which　she　gazed　upon　me　were　still　wide　and　unseeing。　〃The　guns！〃　she　cried；　wresting　her　hands　from　mine　and　putting　them　to　her　ears。　〃Oh；　the　guns！　they　shake　the　air。　And　the　screams　and　the　trampling　…　the　guns　again！　〃

I　brought　her　wine　and　made　her　drink　it；　then　sat　beside　her；　and　told　her　gently；　over　and　over　again；　that　there　was　no　longer　thunder　of　the　guns　or　screams　or　trampling。　At　last　the　long；　tearless　sobs　ceased；　and　she　rose　from　her　knees；　and　let　me　lead　her　to　the　door　of　her　cabin。　There　she　thanked　me　softly；　with　downcast　eyes　and　lips　that　yet　trembled；　then　vanished　from　my　sight；　leaving　me　first　to　wonder　at　that　terror　and　emotion　in　her　who　seldom　　showed　the　thing　she　felt；　and　finally　to　conclude　that　it　was　not　so　wonderful　after　all。

We　sailed　on；　…　southwards　to　Cuba；　then　north　again　to　the　Lucayas　and　the　Florida　straits；　looking　for　Spanish　ships　and　their　gold。　The　lights　yet　burned；　…　now　brightly；　now　so　sunken　that　it　seemed　as　though　the　next　hour　they　must　flicker　out。　We；　the　players；　flagged　not　in　that　desperate　masque；　but　we　knew　that；　in　spite　of　all　endeavor；　the　darkness　was　coming　fast　upon　us。

Had　it　been　possible；　we　would　have　escaped　from　the　ship；　hazarding　new　fortunes　on　the　Spanish　Main；　in　an　open　boat；　sans　food　or　water。　But　the　pirates　watched　us　very　closely。　They　called　me　〃captain〃　and　〃Kirby；〃　and　for　the　jest's　sake　gave　an　exaggerated　obedience；　with　laughter　and　flourishes；　but　none　the　less　I　was　their　prisoner；　…　I　and　those　I　had　brought　with　me　to　that　ship。

An　islet；　shaped　like　the　crescent　moon；　rose　from　out　the　sea　before　us。　We　needed　water；　and　so　we　felt　our　way　between　the　horns　of　the　crescent　into　the　blue　crystal　of　a　fairy　harbor。　One　low　hill；　rose…colored　from　base　to　summit；　with　scarce　a　hint　of　the　green　world　below　that　canopy　of　giant　bloom；　a　little　silver　beach　with　wonderful　shells　upon　it；　the　sound　of　a　waterfall　and　a　lazy　surf；　…　we　smelt　the　fruits　and　the　flowers；　and　a　longing　for　the　land　came　upon　us。　Six　men　were　left　on　the　ship；　and　all　besides　went　ashore。　Some　rolled　the　water　casks　toward　the　sound　of　the　cascade；　others　plunged　into　the　forest；　to　return　laden　with　strange　and　luscious　fruits；　birds；　guanas；　conies；　…　whatever　eatable　thing　they　could　lay　hands　upon；　others　scattered　along　the　beach　to　find　turtle　eggs；　or；　if　fortune　favored　　them；　the　turtle　itself。　They　laughed；　they　sang；　they　swore；　until　the　isle　rang　to　their　merriment。　Like　wanton　children；　they　called　to　each　other；　to　the　screaming　birds；　to　the　echoing　bloom…draped　hill。

I　spread　a　square　of　cloth　upon　the　sand；　in　the　shadow　of　a　mighty　tree　that　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　the　King's　ward　took　her　seat　upon　it；　and　looked；　in　the　golden　light　of　the　sinking　sun；　the　very　spirit　of　the　isle。　By　this　we　two　were　alone　on　the　beach。　The　hunters　for　eggs；　led　by　Diccon；　were　out　upon　the　farthest　gleaming　horn；　from　the　wood　came　the　loud　laughter　of　the　fruit　gatherers；　and　a　most　rollicking　song　issuing　from　the　mighty　chest　of　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow。　With　the　woodsmen　had　gone　my　lord。

I　walked　a　little　way　into　the　forest；　and　shouted　a　warning　to　Sparrow　against　venturing　too　far。　When　I　returned　to　the　giant　tree　and　the　cloth　in　the　shadow　of　its　outer　branches；　my　wife　was　writing　on　the　sand　with　a　pointed　shell。　She　had　not　seen　or　heard　me；　and　I　stood　behind　her　and　read　what　she　wrote。　It　was　my　name。　She　wrote　it　three　times；　slowly　and　carefully；　then　she　felt　my　presence；　glanced　swiftly　up；　smiled；　rubbed　out　my　name；　and　wrote　Sparrow's；　Diccon's；　and　the　King's　in　succession。　〃Lest　I　should　forget　to　make　my　letters；〃　she　explained。

I　sat　down　at　her　feet；　and　for　some　time　we　said　no　word。　The　light；　falling　between　the　heavy　blooms；　cast　bright　sequins　upon　her　dress　and　dark　hair。　The　blooms　were　not　more　pink　than　her　cheeks；　the　recesses　of　the　forest　behind　us　not　deeper　or　darker　than　her　eyes。　The　laughter　and　the　song　came　faintly　to　us　now。　The　sun　was　low　in　the　west；　and　a　wonderful　light　slept　upon　the　sea。

〃Last　year　we　had　a　masque　at　court；〃　she　said　at　length；　breaking　the　long　silence。　〃We　had　Calypso's　island；　and　I　was　Calypso。　The　island　was　built　of　boards　covered　with　green　velvet；　and　there　was　a　mound　upon　it　of　pink　silk　roses。　There　was　a　deep　blue　painted　sea　below；　and　a　deep　blue　painted　sky　above。　My　nymphs　danced　around　the　mound　of　roses；　while　I　sat　upon　a　real　rock　beside　the　painted　sea　and　talked　with　Ulysses　…　to　wit；　my　Lord　of　Buckingham　…　in　gold　armor。　That　was　a　strange；　bright；　unreal；　and　wearisome　day；　but　not　so　strange　and　unreal　as　this。〃

She　ceased　to　speak；　and　began　again　to　write　upon　the　sand。　I　watched　her　white　hand　moving　to　and　fro。　She　wrote；　〃How　long　will　it　last？〃

〃I　do　not　know。　Not　long。〃

She　wrote　again：　〃If　there　is　time　at　the　last；　when　you　see　that　it　is　best；　will　you　kill　me？〃

I　took　the　shell　from　her　hand；　and　wrote　my　answer　beneath　her　question。

The　forest　behind　us　sank　into　that　pause　and　breathless　hush　between　the　noises　of　the　day　and　the　noises　of　the　night。　The　sun　dropped　lower；　and　the　water　became　as　pink　as　the　blooms　above　us。

〃An　you　could；　would　you　change？〃　I　asked。　〃Would　you　return　to　England　and　safety？〃

She　took　a　handful　of　the　sand　and　let　it　slowly　drift　through　her　white　fingers。　〃You　know　that　I　would　not；〃　she　said；　〃not　if　the　end　were　to　come　to…night。　Only　…　only〃　…　She　turned　from　me　and　looked　far　out　to　sea。　I　could　not　see　her　face；　only　the　dusk　of　her　hair　and　her　heaving　bosom。　〃My　blood　may　be　upon　your　hands；〃　she　said　in　a　whisper；　〃but　yours　will　be　upon　my　soul。〃

She　turned　yet　further　away；　and　covered　her　eyes　with　her　hand。　I　arose；　and　bent　over　her　until　I　could　have　touched　with　my　lips　that　bowed　head。　〃Jocelyn；〃　I　said。

A　branch　of　yellow　fruit　fell　beside　us；　and　my　Lord　Carnal；　a　mass　of　gaudy　bloom　in　his　hand；　stepped　from　the　wood。　〃I　returned　to　lay　our　first…fruits　at　madam's　feet；〃　he　explained；　his　darkly　watchful　eyes　upon　us　both。　〃A　gift　from　one　poor　prisoner　to　another；　madam。〃　He　dropped　the　flowers　in　her　lap。　〃Will　you　wear　them；　lady？　They　are　as　fair　almost　as　I　could　wish。〃

She　touched　the　blossoms　with　listless　fingers；　said　they　were　fair；　then；　rising；　let　them　drop　upon　the　sand。　〃I　wear　no　flowers　save　of　my　husband's　gathering；　my　lord；〃　she　said。

There　was　a　pathos　and　weariness　in　her　voice；　and　a　mist　of　unshed　tears　in　her　eyes。　She　hated　him；　she　loved　me　not；　yet　was　forced　to　turn　to　me　for　help　at　every　point；　and　she　had　stood　for　weeks　upon　the　brink　of　death　and　looked　unfalteringly　into　the　gulf　beneath　her。

〃My　lord；〃　I　said；　〃you　know　in　what　direction　Master　Sparrow　led　the　men。　Will　you　re‰nter　the　wood　and　call　them　to　return？　The　sun　is　fast　sinking；　and　darkness　will　be　upon　us。〃

He　looked　from　her　to　me；　with　his　brows　drawn　downwards　and　his　lips　pressed　together。　Stooping；　he　took　up　the　fallen　flowers　and　deliberately　tore　them　to　pieces；　until　the　pink　petals　were　all　scattered　upon　the　sand。

〃I　am　weary　of　requests　that　are　but　sugared　commands；〃　he　said　thickly。　〃Go　seek　your　own　men；　an　you　will。　Here　we　are　but　man　to　man；　and　I　　budge　not。　I　stay；　as　the　King　would　have　me　stay；　beside　the　unfortunate　lady　whom　you　have　made　the　prisoner　and　the　plaything　of　a　pirate　ship。〃

〃You　wear　no　sword；　my　Lord　Carnal；〃　I　said　at　last；　〃and　so　may　lie　with　impunity。〃

〃But　you　can　get　me　one！〃　he　cried；　with　ill…concealed　eagerness。

I　laughed。　〃I　am　not　zealous　in　mine　enemy's　cause；　my　lord。　I　shall　not　deprive　Master　Sparrow　of　your　lordship's　sword。〃

Before　I　knew　what　he　was　about　he　crossed　the　yard　of　sand　between　us　and　struck　me　in　the　face。　〃Will　that　quicken　your　zeal？〃　he　demanded　between　his　teeth。

I　seized　him　by　the　arm；　and　we　stood　so；　both　white　with　passion；　both　breathing　heavily。　At　length　I　flung　his　arm　from　me　and　stepped　back。　〃I　fight　not　my　prisoner；〃　I　said；　〃nor；　while　the　lady　you　have　named　abides　upon　that　ship　with　the　nobleman　who；　more　than　myself；　is　answerable　for　her　being　there；　do　I　put　my　life　in　unnecessary　hazard。　I　will　endure　the　smart　as　best　I　may；　my　lord；　until　a　more　convenient　season；　when　I　will　salve　it　well。〃

I　turned　to　Mistress　Percy；　and　giving　her　my　hand　led　her　down　to　the　boats；　for　I　heard　the　fruit　gatherers　breaking　through　the　wood；　and　the　hunters　for　eggs；　black　figures　against　the　crimson　sky；　were　hurrying　down　the　beach。　Before　the　night　had　quit