westward ho-第77节

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〃What？　　Don't　laugh　at　me；　sir；　for　it's　no　laughing　matter。　　I　drank　that　night　naught　worse；　I　expect；　than　red　wine。　　Whatever　it　was；　we　swore　our　oaths；　Mr。　Cary；　and　oaths　are　oaths；　say　I。〃

〃Of　course；　Jack；　of　course；　but　to　go　to　look　for　herand　when　we've　found　her；　cut　her　lover's　throat。　　Absurd；　Jack；　even　if　she　were　worth　looking　for；　or　his　throat　worth　cutting。　　Tut；　tut；　tut〃

But　Jack　looked　steadfastly　in　his　face；　and　after　some　silence：

How　far　is　it　to　the　Caracas；　then；　sir？〃

〃What　is　that　to　thee；　man？〃

〃Why；　he　was　made　governor　thereof；　I　hear；　so　that　would　be　the　place　to　find　her？〃

〃You　don't　mean　to　go　thither　to　seek　her？〃　shouted　Cary；　forcing　a　laugh。

〃That　depends　on　whether　I　can　go；　sir；　but　if　I　can　scrape　the　money　together；　or　get　a　berth　on　board　some　ship；　why；　God's　will　must　be　done。〃

Will　looked　at　him；　to　see　if　he　had　been　drinking；　or　gone　mad；　but　the　little　pigs'　eyes　were　both　sane　and　sober。

Will　knew　no　answer。　　To　laugh　at　the　poor　fellow　was　easy　enough；　to　deny　that　he　was　right；　that　he　was　a　hero　and　cavalier；　outdoing　romance　itself　in　faithfulness；　not　so　easy；　and　Cary；　in　the　first　impulse；　wished　him　at　the　bottom　of　the　bay　for　shaming　him。　　Of　course；　his　own　plan　of　letting　ill　alone　was　the　rational；　prudent；　irreproachable　plan；　and　just　what　any　gentleman　in　his　senses　would　have　done；　but　here　was　a　vulgar；　fat　curate；　out　of　his　senses；　determined　not　to　let　ill　alone；　but　to　do　something；　as　Cary　felt　in　his　heart；　of　a　far　diviner　stamp。

〃Well；〃　said　Jack；　in　his　stupid　steadfast　way；　〃it's　a　very　bad　look…out；　but　mother's　pretty　well　off；　if　father　dies；　and　the　maidens　are　stout　wenches　enough；　and　will　make　tidy　servants；　please　the　Lord。　　And　you'll　see　that　they　come　to　no　harm；　Mr。　William；　for　old　acquaintance'　sake；　if　I　never　come　back。〃

Cary　was　silent　with　amazement。

〃And；　Mr。　William；　you　know　me　for　an　honest　man；　I　hope。　　Will　you　lend　me　a　five　pound；　and　take　my　books　in　pawn　for　them；　just　to　help　me　out？〃

〃Are　you　mad；　or　in　a　dream？　　You　will　never　find　her！〃

〃That's　no　reason　why　I　shouldn't　do　my　duty　in　looking　for　her；　Mr。　William。〃

〃But；　my　good　fellow；　even　if　you　get　to　the　Indies；　you　will　be　clapt　into　the　Inquisition；　and　burnt　alive；　as　sure　as　your　name　is　Jack。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　said　he；　in　a　doleful　tone；　〃and　a　sore　struggle　of　the　flesh　I　have　had　about　it；　for　I　am　a　great　coward；　Mr。　William；　a　dirty　coward；　and　always　was；　as　you　know：　but　maybe　the　Lord　will　take　care　of　me；　as　He　does　of　little　children　and　drunken　men；　and　if　not；　Mr。　Will；　I'd　sooner　burn；　and　have　it　over；　than　go　on　this　way　any　longer；　I　would！〃　and　Jack　burst　out　blubbering。

〃What　way；　my　dear　old　lad？〃　said　Will；　softened　as　he　well　might　be。

〃Why；　notnot　to　know　whetherwhetherwhether　she's　married　to　him　or　nother　that　I　looked　up　to　as　an　angel　of　God；　as　pure　as　the　light　of　day；　and　knew　she　was　too　good　for　a　poor　pot…head　like　me；　and　prayed　for　her　every　night；　God　knows；　that　she　might　marry　a　king；　if　there　was　one　fit　for　herand　I　not　to　know　whether　she's　living　in　sin　or　not；　Mr。　William。It's　more　than　I　can　bear；　and　there's　an　end　of　it。　　And　if　she　is　married　to　him　they　keep　no　faith　with　heretics；　they　can　dissolve　the　marriage；　or　make　away　with　her　into　the　Inquisition；　burn　her；　Mr。　Cary；　as　soon　as　burn　me；　the　devils　incarnate！〃

Cary　shuddered；　the　fact；　true　and　palpable　as　it　was；　had　never　struck　him　before。

〃Yes！　or　make　her　deny　her　God　by　torments；　if　she　hasn't　done　it　already　for　love　to　that　　I　know　how　love　will　make　a　body　sell　his　soul；　for　I've　been　in　love。　　Don't　you　laugh　at　me；　Mr。　Will；　or　I　shall　go　mad！〃

〃God　knows；　I　was　never　less　inclined　to　laugh　at　you　in　my　life；　my　brave　old　Jack。〃

〃Is　it　so；　then？　　Bless　you　for　that　word！〃　and　Jack　held　out　his　hand。　　〃But　what　will　become　of　my　soul；　after　my　oath；　if　I　don't　seek　her　out；　just　to　speak　to　her；　to　warn　her；　for　God's　sake；　even　if　it　did　no　good；　just　to　set　before　her　the　Lord's　curse　on　idolatry　and　Antichrist；　and　those　who　deny　Him　for　the　sake　of　any　creature；　though　I　can't　think　he　would　be　hard　on　her；for　who　could？　　But　I　must　speak　all　the　same。　　The　Lord　has　laid　the　burden　on　me；　and　done　it　must　be。　　God　help　me！〃

〃Jack；〃　said　Cary；　〃if　this　is　your　duty；　it　is　others'。〃

〃No；　sir；　I　don't　say　that；　you're　a　layman；　but　I　am　a　deacon；　and　the　chaplain　of　you　all；　and　sworn　to　seek　out　Christ's　sheep　scattered　up　and　down　this　naughty　world；　and　that　innocent　lamb　first　of　all。〃

〃You　have　sheep　at　Hartland；　Jack；　already。〃

〃There's　plenty　better　than　I　will　tend　them；　when　I　am　gone；　but　none　that　will　tend　her；　because　none　love　her　like　me；　and　they　won't　venture。　　Who　will？　　It　can't　be　expected；　and　no　shame　to　them？〃

〃I　wonder　what　Amyas　Leigh　would　say　to　all　this；　if　he　were　at　home？〃

〃Say？　　He'd　do。　　He　isn't　one　for　talking。　　He'd　go　through　fire　and　water　for　her；　you　trust　him；　Will　Cary；　and　call　me　an　ass　if　he　won't。〃

〃Will　you　wait；　then；　till　he　comes　back；　and　ask　him？〃

〃He　may　not　be　back　for　a　year　and　more。〃

〃Hear　reason；　Jack。　　If　you　will　wait　like　a　rational　and　patient　man；　instead　of　rushing　blindfold　on　your　ruin；　something　may　be　done。〃

〃You　think　so！〃

〃I　cannot　promise；　but〃

〃But　promise　me　one　thing。　　Do　you　tell　Mr。　Frank　what　I　sayor　rather；　I'll　warrant；　if　I　knew　the　truth；　he　has　said　the　very　same　thing　himself　already。〃

〃You　are　out　there；　old　man；　for　here　is　his　own　handwriting。〃

Jack　read　the　letter　and　sighed　bitterly。　　〃Well；　I　did　take　him　for　another　guess　sort　of　fine　gentleman。　　Still；　if　my　duty　isn't　his；　it's　mine　all　the　same。　　I　judge　no　man；　but　I　go；　Mr。　Cary。〃

〃But　go　you　shall　not　till　Amyas　returns。　　As　I　live；　I　will　tell　your　father；　Jack；　unless　you　promise；　and　you　dare　not　disobey　him。〃

〃I　don't　know　even　that；　for　conscience'　sake；〃　said　Jack；　doubtfully。

〃At　least；　you　stay　and　dine　here；　old　fellow；　and　we　will　settle　whether　you　are　to　break　the　fifth　commandment　or　not；　over　good　brewed　sack。〃

Now　a　good　dinner　was　（as　we　know）　what　Jack　loved；　and　loved　too　oft　in　vain；　so　he　submitted　for　the　nonce；　and　Cary　thought；　ere　he　went；　that　he　had　talked　him　pretty　well　round。　　At　least　he　went　home；　and　was　seen　no　more　for　a　week。

But　at　the　end　of　that　time　he　returned；　and　said　with　a　joyful　voice

〃I　have　settled　all；　Mr。　Will。　　The　parson　of　Welcombe　will　serve　my　church　for　two　Sundays；　and　I　am　away　for　London　town；　to　speak　to　Mr。　Frank。〃

〃To　London？　　How　wilt　get　there？〃

〃On　Shanks　his　mare；〃　said　Jack；　pointing　to　his　bandy　legs。　　〃But　I　expect　I　can　get　a　lift　on　board　of　a　coaster　so　far　as　Bristol；　and　it's　no　way　on　to　signify；　I　hear。〃

Cary　tried　in　vain　to　dissuade　him；　and　then　forced　on　him　a　small　loan；　with　which　away　went　Jack；　and　Cary　heard　no　more　of　him　for　three　weeks。

At　last　he　walked　into　Clovelly　Court　again　just　before　supper…　time；　thin　and　leg…weary；　and　sat　himself　down　among　the　serving…　men　till　Will　appeared。

Will　took　him　up　above　the　salt；　and　made　much　of　him　（which　indeed　the　honest　fellow　much　needed）；　and　after　supper　asked　him　in　private　how　he　had　sped。

〃I　have　learnt　a　lesson；　Mr。　William。　　I've　learnt　that　there　is　one　on　earth　loves　her　better　than　I；　if　she　had　but　had　the　wit　to　have　taken　him。〃

〃But　what　says　he　of　going　to　seek　her？〃

〃He　says　what　I　say；　Go！　and　he　says　what　you　say；　Wait。〃

〃Go？　　Impossible！　　How　can　that　agree　with　his　letter？〃

〃That's　no　concern　of　mine。　　Of　course；　being　nearer　heaven　than　I　am；　he　sees　clearer　what　he　should　say　and　do　than　I　can　see　for　him。　　Oh；　Mr。　Will；　that's　not　a　man；　he's　an　angel　of　God；　but　he's　dying；　Mr。　Will。〃

〃Dying？〃

〃Yes；　faith；　of　love　for　her。　　I　can　see　it　in　his　eyes；　and　hear　it　in　his　voice；　but　I　am　of　tougher　hide　and　stiffer　clay；　and　so　you　see　I　can't　die　even　if　I　tried。　　But　I'll　obey　my　betters；　and　wait。〃

And　so　Jack　went　home　to　his　parish　that　very　evening；　weary　as　he　was；　in　spite　of　all　entreaties　to　pass　the　night　at　Clovelly。　　But　he　had　left　behind　him　thoughts　in　Cary's　mind；　which　gave　their　owner　no　rest　by　day　or　night；　till　the　touch　of　a　seeming　accident　made　them　all　start　suddenly　into　shape；　as　a　touch　of　the　freezing　water　covers　it　in　an　instant　with　crystals　of　ice。

He　was　lounging　（so　he　told　Amyas）　one　murky　day　on　Bideford　quay；　when　up　came　Mr。　Salterne。　　Cary　had　shunned　him　of　late；　partly　from　delicacy；　partly　from　dislike　of　his　supposed　hard…　heartedness。　　But　this　time　they　happened　to　meet　full；　and　Cary　could　not　pass　without　speaking　to　him。

〃Well；　Mr。　Salterne；　and　how　goes　on　the　shipping　trade？〃

〃Well　enough；　sir；　if　some　of　you　young　gentlemen　would　but　follow　Mr。　Leigh's　example；　and　go　forth　to　find　us　stay…at…homes　new　markets　for　our　ware。〃

〃What？　you　want　to　be　rid　of　us；　eh？〃

〃I　don't　know　why　I　should；　sir。　　We　sha'n't　cross　each　other　now；　sir；　whatever　might　have　been　once。　　But　if　I　were　you；　I　should　be　in　the　Indies　about　now；　if　I　were　not　fighting　the　queen's　battles　nearer　home。〃

〃In　the　Indies？　　I　should　make　but　a　poor　hand　of　Drak