green mansions-第22章

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〃Every　animal；〃　he　replied；　〃gives　out　that　odour　which　is　peculiar　to　its　kind〃；　an　incontrovertible　fact　which　left　me　nothing　to　say。

When　I　had　sufficiently　recovered　the　suppleness　of　my　limbs　to　walk　with　ease；　I　went　for　a　ramble　in　the　wood；　in　the　hope　that　Rima　would　accompany　me；　and　that　out　among　the　trees　she　would　cast　aside　that　artificial　constraint　and　shyness　which　was　her　manner　in　the　house。

It　fell　out　just　as　I　had　expected；　she　accompanied　me　in　the　sense　of　being　always　near　me；　or　within　earshot；　and　her　manner　was　now　free　and　unconstrained　as　I　could　wish；　but　little　or　nothing　was　gained　by　the　change。　　She　was　once　more　the　tantalizing；　elusive；　mysterious　creature　I　had　first　known　through　her　wandering；　melodious　voice。　　The　only　difference　was　that　the　musical；　inarticulate　sounds　were　now　less　often　heard；　and　that　she　was　no　longer　afraid　to　show　herself　to　me。　　This　for　a　short　time　was　enough　to　make　me　happy；　since　no　lovelier　being　was　ever　looked　upon；　nor　one　whose　loveliness　was　less　likely　to　lose　its　charm　through　being　often　seen。

But　to　keep　her　near　me　or　always　in　sight　was；　I　found；　impossible：　she　would　be　free　as　the　wind；　free　as　the　butterfly；　going　and　coming　at　her　wayward　will；　and　losing　herself　from　sight　a　dozen　times　every　hour。　　To　induce　her　to　walk　soberly　at　my　side　or　sit　down　and　enter　into　conversation　with　me　seemed　about　as　impracticable　as　to　tame　the　fiery…hearted　little　humming…bird　that　flashes　into　sight；　remains　suspended　motionless　for　a　few　seconds　before　your　face；　then；　quick　as　lightning；　vanishes　again。

At　length；　feeling　convinced　that　she　was　most　happy　when　she　had　me　out　following　her　in　the　wood；　that　in　spite　of　her　bird…like　wildness　she　had　a　tender；　human　heart；　which　was　easily　moved；　I　determined　to　try　to　draw　her　closer　by　means　of　a　little　innocent　stratagem。　　Going　out　in　the　morning；　after　calling　her　several　times　to　no　purpose；　I　began　to　assume　a　downcast　manner；　as　if　suffering　pain　or　depressed　with　grief；　and　at　last；　finding　a　convenient　exposed　root　under　a　tree；　on　a　spot　where　the　ground　was　dry　and　strewn　with　loose　yellow　sand；　I　sat　down　and　refused　to　go　any　further。　　For　she　always　wanted　to　lead　me　on　and　on；　and　whenever　I　paused　she　would　return　to　show　herself；　or　to　chide　or　encourage　me　in　her　mysterious　language。　All　her　pretty　little　arts　were　now　practiced　in　vain：　with　cheek　resting　on　my　hand；　I　still　sat；

So　my　eyes　fixed　on　that　patch　of　yellow　sand　at　my　feet；　watching　how　the　small　particles　glinted　like　diamond　dust　when　the　sunlight　touched　them。　　A　full　hour　passed　in　this　way；　during　which　I　encouraged　myself　by　saying　mentally：　〃This　is　a　contest　between　us；　and　the　most　patient　and　the　strongest　of　will；　which　should　be　the　man；　must　conquer。　　And　if　I　win　on　this　occasion；　it　will　be　easier　for　me　in　the　futureeasier　to　discover　those　things　which　I　am　resolved　to　know；　and　the　girl　must　reveal　to　me；　since　the　old　man　has　proved　impracticable。〃

Meanwhile　she　came　and　went　and　came　again；　and　at　last；　finding　that　I　was　not　to　be　moved；　she　approached　and　stood　near　me。　　Her　face；　when　I　glanced　at　it；　had　a　somewhat　troubled　lookboth　troubled　and　curious。

〃Come　here；　Rima；〃　I　said；　〃and　stay　with　me　for　a　little　whileI　cannot　follow　you　now。〃

She　took　one　or　two　hesitating　steps；　then　stood　still　again；　and　at　length；　slowly　and　reluctantly；　advanced　to　within　a　yard　of　me。　　Then　I　rose　from　my　seat　on　the　root；　so　as　to　catch　her　face　better；　and　placed　my　hand　against　the　rough　bark　of　the　tree。

〃Rima；〃　I　said；　speaking　in　a　low；　caressing　tone；　〃will　you　stay　with　me　here　a　little　while　and　talk　to　me；　not　in　your　language；　but　in　mine；　so　that　I　may　understand？　　Will　you　listen　when　I　speak　to　you；　and　answer　me？〃

Her　lips　moved；　but　made　no　sound。　　She　seemed　strangely　disquieted；　and　shook　back　her　loose　hair；　and　with　her　small　toes　moved　the　sparkling　sand　at　her　feet；　and　once　or　twice　her　eyes　glanced　shyly　at　my　face。

〃Rime；　you　have　not　answered　me；〃　I　persisted。　　〃Will　you　not　say　yes？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Where　does　your　grandfather　spend　his　day　when　he　goes　out　with　his　dogs？〃

She　shook　her　head　slightly；　but　would　not　speak。

〃Have　you　no　mother；　Rima？　　Do　you　remember　your　mother？〃

〃My　mother！　　My　mother！〃　　she　exclaimed　in　a　low　voice；　but　with　a　sudden；　wonderful　animation。　　Bending　a　little　nearer；　she　continued：　〃Oh；　she　is　dead！　　Her　body　is　in　the　earth　and　turned　to　dust。　　Like　that；〃　and　she　moved　the　loose　sand　with　her　foot。　　〃Her　soul　is　up　there；　where　the　stars　and　the　angels　are；　grandfather　says。　But　what　is　that　to　me？　　I　am　heream　I　not？　　I　talk　to　her　just　the　same。　　Everything　I　see　I　point　out；　and　tell　her　everything。　In　the　daytimein　the　woods；　when　we　are　together。　　And　at　night　when　I　lie　down　I　cross　my　arms　on　my　breastso；　and　say：　'Mother；　mother；　now　you　are　in　my　arms；　let　us　go　to　sleep　together。'　Sometimes　I　say：　'Oh；　why　will　you　never　answer　me　when　I　speak　and　speak？'　Mothermothermother！〃

At　the　end　her　voice　suddenly　rose　to　a　mournful　cry；　then　sunk；　and　at　the　last　repetition　of　the　word　died　to　a　low　whisper。

〃Ah；　poor　Rima！　　she　is　dead　and　cannot　speak　to　youcannot　hear　you！　　Talk　to　me；　Rima；　I　am　living　and　can　answer。〃

But　now　the　cloud；　which　had　suddenly　lifted　from　her　heart；　letting　me　see　for　a　moment　into　its　mysterious　depthsits　fancies　so　childlike　and　feelings　so　intensehad　fallen　again；　and　my　words　brought　no　response；　except　a　return　of　that　troubled　look　to　her　face。

〃Silent　still？〃　　I　said。　　〃Talk　to　me；　then；　of　your　mother；　Rima。　Do　you　know　that　you　will　see　her　again　some　day？〃

〃Yes；　when　I　die。　　That　is　what　the　priest　said。〃

〃The　priest？〃

〃Yes；　at　Voado　you　know？　　Mother　died　there　when　I　was　smallit　is　so　far　away！　　And　there　are　thirteen　houses　by　the　side　of　the　riverjust　here；　and　on　this　sidetrees；　trees。〃

This　was　important；　I　thought；　and　would　lead　to　the　very　knowledge　I　wished　for；　so　I　pressed　her　to　tell　me　more　about　the　settlement　she　had　named；　and　of　which　I　had　never　heard。

〃Everything　have　I　told　you；〃　she　returned；　surprised　that　I　did　not　know　that　she　had　exhausted　the　subject　in　those　half…dozen　words　she　had　spoken。

Obliged　to　shift　my　ground；　I　said　at　a　venture：　〃Tell　me；　what　do　you　ask　of　the　Virgin　Mother　when　you　kneel　before　her　picture？　　Your　grandfather　told　me　that　you　had　a　picture　in　your　little　room。〃

〃You　know！〃　　flashed　out　her　answer；　with　something　like　resentment。

〃It　is　all　there　in　there；〃　waving　her　hand　towards　the　hut。　　〃Out　here　in　the　wood　it　is　all　gonelike　this；〃　and　stooping　quickly；　she　raised　a　little　yellow　sand　on　her　palm；　then　let　it　run　away　through　her　fingers。

Thus　she　illustrated　how　all　the　matters　she　had　been　taught　slipped　from　her　mind　when　she　was　out　of　doors；　out　of　sight　of　the　picture。　　After　an　interval　she　added：　〃Only　mother　is　herealways　with　me。〃

〃Ah；　poor　Rima！〃　　I　said；　〃alone　without　a　mother；　and　only　your　old　grandfather！　　He　is　oldwhat　will　you　do　when　he　dies　and　flies　away　to　the　starry　country　where　your　mother　is？〃

She　looked　inquiringly　at　me；　then　made　answer　in　a　low　voice：　〃You　are　here。〃

〃But　when　I　go　away？〃

She　was　silent；　and　not　wishing　to　dwell　on　a　subject　that　seemed　to　pain　her；　I　continued：　〃Yes；　I　am　here　now；　but　you　will　not　stay　with　me　and　talk　freely！　　Will　it　always　be　the　same　if　I　remain　with　you？　　Why　are　you　always　so　silent　in　the　house；　so　cold　with　your　old　grandfather？　　So　differentso　full　of　life；　like　a　bird；　when　you　are　alone　in　the　woods？　　Rima；　speak　to　me！　Am　I　no　more　to　you　than　your　old　grandfather？　　Do　you　not　like　me　to　talk　to　you？〃

She　appeared　strangely　disturbed　at　my　words。　　〃Oh；　you　are　not　like　him；〃　she　suddenly　replied。　　〃Sitting　all　day　on　a　log　by　the　fireall　day；　all　day；　Goloso　and　Susio　lying　beside　himsleep；　sleep。　　Oh；　when　I　saw　you　in　the　wood　I　followed　you；　and　talked　and　talked；　still　no　answer。　　Why　will　you　not　come　when　I　call？　To　me！〃　　Then；　mocking　my　voice：　〃Rime；　Rima！　　Come　here！　　Do　this！　Say　that！　　Rima！　　Rima！　　It　is　nothing；　nothingit　is　not　you；〃　pointing　to　my　mouth；　and　the