to have and to hold-第43节

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nd　flung　that　dastard　out　of　the　way；　then　asked　me　plainly　to　become　his　wife；　and　there　was　no　laugh　or　insult　in　his　voice。　I　was　wearied　and　fordone　and　desperate。　。　。　。　So　I　met　my　husband；　and　so　I　married　him。　That　same　day　I　told　him　a　part　of　my　secret；　and　when　my　Lord　Carnal　was　come　I　told　him　all。　。　。　。　I　had　not　met　with　much　true　love　or　courtesy　or　compassion　in　my　life。　When　I　saw　the　danger　in　which　he　stood　because　of　me；　I　told　him　he　might　free　himself　from　that　coil；　might　swear　to　what　they　pleased；　whistle　me　off；　save　himself；　and　I　would　say　no　word　of　blame。　There　was　wine　upon　the　table；　and　he　filled　a　cup　and　brought　it　to　me；　and　we　drank　of　it　　together。　We　drank　of　the　same　cup　then；　your　Honor；　and　we　will　drink　of　it　still。　We　twain　were　wedded；　and　the　world　strove　to　part　us。　Which　of　you　here；　in　such　quarrel；　would　not　withstand　the　world？　Lady　Wyatt；　would　not　thy　husband　hold　thee；　while　he　lived；　against　the　world？　Then　speak　for　mine！〃

〃Frank；　Frank！〃　cried　Lady　Wyatt。　〃They　love　each　other！〃

〃If　he　withstood　the　King；〃　went　on　the　King's　ward；　〃it　was　for　his　honor　and　for　mine。　If　he　fled　from　Virginia；　it　was　because　I　willed　it　so。　Had　he　stayed；　my　Lord　Carnal；　and　had　you　willed　to　follow　me　again；　you　must　have　made　a　yet　longer　journey　to　a　most　distant　bourne。　That　wild　night　when　we　fled；　why　did　you　come　upon　us；　my　lord？　The　moon　burst　forth　from　a　black　cloud；　and　you　stood　there　upon　the　wharf　above　us；　calling　to　the　footsteps　behind　to　hasten。　We　would　have　left　you　there　in　safety；　and　gone　ourselves　alone　down　that　stream　as　black　and　strange　as　death。　Why　did　you　spring　down　the　steps　and　grapple　with　the　minister？　And　he　that　might　have　thrust　you　beneath　the　flood　and　drowned　you　there　did　but　fling　you　into　the　boat。　We　wished　not　your　company；　my　lord；　we　would　willingly　have　gone　without　you。　I　trust；　my　lord；　you　have　made　honest　report　of　this　matter；　and　have　told　these　gentlemen　that　my　husband　gave　you；　a　prisoner　whom　he　wanted　not；　all　fair　and　honorable　treatment。　That　you　have　done　this　I　dare　take　my　oath；　my　lord〃　…

She　stood　silent；　her　eyes　upon　his。　The　men　around　stirred；　and　a　little　flash　like　the　glint　of　drawn　steel　went　from　one　pair　of　eyes　to　another。

〃My　lord；　my　lord！〃　said　the　King's　ward。　〃Long　ago　you　won　my　hatred；　an　you　would　not　win　my　contempt；　speak　truth　this　day！〃

In　his　eyes；　which　he　had　never　taken　from　her　face；　there　leaped　to　meet　the　proud　appeal　in　her　own　a　strange　fire。　That　he　loved　her　with　a　great　and　evil　passion；　I；　who　needs　had　watched　him　closely；　had　long　known。　Suddenly　he　burst　into　jarring　laughter。　〃Yea；　he　treated　me　fairly　enough；　damn　him　to　everlasting　hell！　But　he　's　a　pirate；　sweet　bird；　he's　a　pirate；　and　must　swing　as　such！〃

〃A　pirate！〃　she　cried。　〃But　he　was　none！　My　lord；　you　know　he　was　none！　Your　Honor〃　…

The　Governor　interrupted　her：　〃He　made　himself　captain　of　a　pirate　ship；　lady。　He　took　and　sunk　ships　of　Spain。〃

〃In　what　sort　did　he　become　their　chief？〃　she　cried。　〃In　such　sort；　gentlemen；　as　the　bravest　of　you；　in　like　straits；　would　have　been　blithe　to　be；　an　you　had　had　like　measure　of　wit　and　daring！　Your　Honor；　the　wind　before　which　our　boat　drave　like　a　leaf；　the　waves　that　would　engulf　us；　wrecked　us　upon　a　desert　isle。　There　was　no　food　or　water　or　shelter。　That　night；　while　we　slept；　a　pirate　ship　anchored　off　the　beach；　and　in　the　morning　the　pirates　came　ashore　to　bury　their　captain。　My　husband　met　them　alone；　fought　their　would…be　leaders　one　by　one；　and　forced　the　election　to　fall　upon　himself。　Well　he　knew　that　if　he　left　not　that　isle　their　leader；　he　would　leave　it　their　captive；　and　not　he　alone！　God's　mercy；　gentlemen；　what　other　could　he　do？　I　pray　you　to　hold　him　absolved　from　a　willing　embrace　of　that　life！　Sunk　ships　of　Spain！　Yea；　forsooth；　and　how　long　hath　it　been　since　other　English　gentlemen　sunk　other　　ships　of　Spain？　The　world　hath　changed　indeed　if　to　fight　the　Spaniard　in　the　Indies；　e'en　though　at　home　we　be　at　peace　with　him；　be　conceived　so　black　a　crime！　He　fought　their　galleons　fair　and　knightly；　with　his　life　in　his　hand；　he　gave　quarter；　and　while　they　called　him　chief　those　pirates　tortured　no　prisoner　and　wronged　no　woman。　Had　he　not　been　there；　would　the　ships　have　been　taken　less　surely？　Had　he　not　been　there；　God　wot；　ships　and　ships'　boats　alike　would　have　sunk　or　burned；　and　no　Spanish　men　and　women　had　rowed　away　and　blessed　a　generous　foe。　A　pirate！　He；　with　me　and　with　the　minister　and　with　my　Lord　Carnal；　was　prisoner　to　the　pirates；　and　out　of　that　danger　he　plucked　safety　for　us　all！　Who　hath　so　misnamed　a　gallant　gentleman？　Was　it　you；　my　lord？〃

Eyes　and　voice　were　imperious；　and　in　her　cheeks　burned　an　indignant　crimson。　My　lord's　face　was　set　and　white；　he　looked　at　her；　but　spoke　no　word。

〃The　Spanish　ships　might　pass；　lady；〃　said　the　Governor；　〃but　this　is　an　English　ship；　with　the　flag　of　England　above　her。〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said。　〃What　then？〃

The　circle　rustled　again。　The　Governor　loosed　his　wife's　fingers　and　leaned　forward。　〃You　plead　well；　lady！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　might　win；　an　Captain　Percy　had　not　seen　fit　to　fire　upon　us。〃

A　dead　silence　followed　his　words。　Outside　the　square　window　a　cloud　passed　from　the　face　of　the　sun；　and　a　great　burst　of　sunshine　entered　the　cabin。　She　stood　in　the　heart　of　it；　and　looked　a　goddess　angered。　My　lord；　with　his　haggard　face　and　burning　eyes；　slowly　rose　from　his　seat；　and　they　faced　each　other。

〃You　told　them　not　who　fired　those　guns；　who　sunk　that　pirate　ship？〃　she　said。　〃Because　he　was　your　enemy；　you　held　your　tongue？　Knight　and　gentleman　…　my　Lord　Carnal　…　my　Lord　Coward！〃

〃Honor　is　an　empty　word　to　me；〃　he　answered。　〃For　you　I　would　dive　into　the　deepest　hell；　…　if　there　be　a　deeper　than　that　which　burns　me；　day　in；　day　out。　。　。　。　Jocelyn；　Jocelyn；　Jocelyn！〃

〃You　love　me　so？〃　she　said。　〃Then　do　me　pleasure。　Because　I　ask　it　of　you；　tell　these　men　the　truth。〃　She　came　a　step　nearer；　and　held　out　her　clasped　hands　to　him。　〃Tell　them　how　it　was；　my　lord；　and　I　will　strive　to　hate　you　no　longer。　The　harm　that　you　have　done　me　I　will　pray　for　strength　to　forgive。　Ah；　my　lord；　let　me　not　ask　in　vain！　Will　you　that　I　kneel　to　you？〃

〃I　fix　my　own　price；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　do　what　you　ask；　an　you　will　let　me　kiss　your　lips。〃

I　sprang　forward　with　an　oath。　Some　one　behind　caught　both　my　wrists　in　an　iron　grasp　and　pulled　me　back。　〃Be　not　a　fool！〃　growled　Clayborne　in　my　ear。　〃The　cord's　loosening　fast：　if　you　interfere；　it　may　tighten　with　a　jerk！〃　I　freed　my　hands　from　his　grasp。　The　Treasurer；　sitting　next　him；　leaned　across　the　table　and　motioned　to　the　two　seamen　beside　the　window。　They　left　their　station；　and　each　seized　me　by　an　arm。　〃Be　guided；　Captain　Percy；〃　said　Master　Sandys　in　a　low　voice。　〃We　wish　you　well。　Let　her　win　you　through。〃

〃First　tell　the　truth；　my　lord；〃　said　the　King's　ward；　〃then　come　and　take　the　reward　you　ask。〃

〃Jocelyn！〃　I　cried。　〃I　command　you〃　…

She　turned　upon　me　a　perfectly　colorless　face。　〃All　my　life　after　I　will　be　to　you　an　obedient　wife；〃　she　　said。　〃This　once　I　pray　you　to　hold　me　excused。　。　。　。　Speak；　my　lord。〃

There　was　the　mirth　of　the　lost　in　the　laugh　with　which　he　turned　to　the　Governor。　〃That　pretty　little　tale；　sir；　that　I　regaled　you　with；　the　day　you　obligingly　picked　me　up；　was　pure　imagination；　the　wetting　must　have　disordered　my　reason。　A　potion　sweeter　than　the　honey　of　Hybla；　which　I　am　about　to　drink；　hath　restored　me　beforehand。　Gentlemen　all；　there　was　mutiny　aboard　that　ship　which　so　providentially　sank　before　your　very　eyes。　For　why？　The　crew；　who　were　pirates；　and　the　captain；　who　was　yonder　gentleman；　did　not　agree。　The　one　wished　to　attack　you；　board　you；　rummage　you；　and　slay；　after　recondite　fashions；　every　mother's　son　of　you；　the　other　demurred；　…　so　strongly；　in　fact；　that　his　life　ceased　to　be　worth　a　pin's　purchase。　Indeed；　I　believe　he　resigned　his　captaincy　then　and　there；　and；　declining　to　lift　a　finger　against　an　English　ship；　defied　them　to　do　their　worst。　He　had　no　hand　in　the　firing　of　those　culverins；　the　mutineers　touched　them　off　without　so　much　as　a　'by　your　leave。'　His　attention　was　otherwise　occupied。　Good　sirs；　there　was　not　the　slightest　reason　in　nature　why　the　ship　should　have　struck　upon　that　sunken　reef；　to　the　damnation　of　her　people　and　the　salvation　of　yours。　Why　do　you　suppose　she　diverged　from　the　path　of　safety　to　split　into　slivers　against　that　fortunate　ledge？〃

The　men　around　drew　in　their　breath；　and　one　or　two　sprang　to　their　feet。　My　lord　laughed　again。　〃Have　you　seen　the　pious　man　who　left　Jamestown　and　went　aboard　the　pirate　ship　as　this　gentleman's　lieutenant？　He　hath　the　strength　of　a　bull。　Captain　Percy　here　had　but　to　nod　his　head；　and　hey；　presto！　　the　helmsman　was　bowled　over；　and　the　minister　had　the　helm。　The　ship　struck：　the　pirates　went　to　hell；　and　you；　gentlemen；　were　preserved　to　order　all　things　well　in　Virginia。　May　she　long　be　grateful！　The　man　who　dared　that　death　rather　than　attack　the　ship　he　guessed　to　be　the　Company's　is　my　mortal　foe；　whom　I　will　yet　sweep　from　my　path；　but　he　is　not　a　pirate。　Ay；　take　it　down；　an　it　pleas