green mansions-第44章
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d thuswould you have gone so far away from your beloved people； never to return； never to hear of them or speak to them again？ Oh no； you could not； nor would she if her people had been in existence。 But she knew that she had survived them； that some great calamity had fallen upon and destroyed them。 They were few in number； perhaps； and surrounded on every side by hostile tribes； and had no weapons； and made no war。 They had been preserved because they inhabited a place apart； some deep valley perhaps； guarded on all sides by lofty mountains and impenetrable forests and marshes； but at last the cruel savages broke into this retreat and hunted them down； destroying all except a few fugitives； who escaped singly like your mother； and fled away to hide in some distant solitude。〃
The anxious expression on her face deepened as she listened to one of anguish and despair； and then； almost before I concluded； she suddenly lifted her hands to her head； uttering a low； sobbing cry； and would have fallen on the rock had I not caught her quickly in my arms。 Once more in my armsagainst my breast； her proper place！ But now all that bright life seemed gone out of her； her head fell on my shoulder； and there was no motion in her except at intervals a slight shudder in her frame accompanied by a low； gasping sob。 In a little while the sobs ceased； the eyes were closed； the face still and deathly white； and with a terrible anxiety in my heart I carried her down to the cave。
CHAPTER XVII
As I re…entered the cave with my burden Nuflo sat up and stared at me with a frightened look in his eyes。 Throwing my cloak down； I placed the girl on it and briefly related what had happened。
He drew near to examine her； then placed his hand on her heart。 〃Dead！she is dead！〃 he exclaimed。
My own anxiety changed to an irrational anger at his words。 〃Old fool！ She has only fainted；〃 I returned。 〃Get me some water； quick。〃
But the water failed to restore her； and my anxiety deepened as I gazed on that white； still face。 Oh； why had I told her that sad tragedy I had imagined with so little preparation？ Alas！ I had succeeded too well in my purpose； killing her vain hope and her at the same moment。
The old man； still bending over her； spoke again。 〃No； I will not believe that she is dead yet； but； sir； if not dead； then she is dying。〃
I could have struck him down for his words。 〃She will die in my arms； then；〃 I exclaimed； thrusting him roughly aside； and lifting her up with the cloak beneath her。
And while I held her thus； her head resting on my arm； and gazed with unutterable anguish into her strangely white face； insanely praying to Heaven to restore her to me； Nuflo fell on his knees before her； and with bowed head； and hands clasped in supplication； began to speak。
〃Rima！ Grandchild！〃 he prayed； his quivering voice betraying his agitation。 〃Do not die just yet： you must not dienot wholly dieuntil you have heard what I have to say to you。 I do not ask you to answer in wordsyou are past that； and I am not unreasonable。 Only； when I finish； make some signa sigh； a movement of the eyelid； a twitch of the lips； even in the small corners of the mouth； nothing more than that； just to show that you have heard； and I shall be satisfied。 Remember all the years that I have been your protector； and this long journey that I have taken on your account； also all that I did for your sainted mother before she died at Voa； to become one of the most important of those who surround the Queen of Heaven； and who； when they wish for any favour； have only to say half a word to get it。 And do not cast in oblivion that at the last I obeyed your wish and brought you safely to Riolama。 It is true that in some small things I deceived you； but that must not weigh with you； because it is a small matter and not worthy of mention when you consider the claims I have on you。 In your hands； Rima； I leave everything； relying on the promise you made me； and on my services。 Only one word of caution remains to be added。 Do not let the magnificence of the place you are now about to enter； the new sights and colours； and the noise of shouting； and musical instruments and blowing of trumpets； put these things out of your head。 Nor must you begin to think meanly of yourself and be abashed when you find yourself surrounded by saints and angels； for you are not less than they； although it may not seem so at first when you see them in their bright clothes； which； they say； shine like the sun。 I cannot ask you to tie a string round your finger； I can only trust to your memory； which was always good； even about the smallest things； and when you are asked； as no doubt you will be； to express a wish； remember before everything to speak of your grandfather； and his claims on you； also on your angelic mother； to whom you will present my humble remembrances。〃
During this petition； which in other circumstances would have moved me to laughter but now only irritated me； a subtle change seemed to come to the apparently lifeless girl to make me hope。 The small hand in mine felt not so icy cold； and though no faintest colour had come to the face； its pallor had lost something of its deathly waxen appearance； and now the compressed lips had relaxed a little and seemed ready to part。 I laid my finger…tips on her heart and felt； or imagined that I felt； a faint fluttering； and at last I became convinced that her heart was really beating。
I turned my eyes on the old man； still bending forward； intently watching for the sign he had asked her to make。 My anger and disgust at his gross earthy egoism had vanished。 〃Let us thank God； old man；〃 I said； the tears of joy half choking my utterance。 〃She livesshe is recovering from her fit。〃
He drew back； and on his knees； with bowed head； murmured a prayer of thanks to Heaven。
Together we continued watching her face for half an hour longer； I still holding her in my arms； which could never grow weary of that sweet burden； waiting for other； surer signs of returning life； and she seemed now like one that had fallen into a profound； death…like sleep which must end in death。 Yet when I remembered her face as it had looked an hour ago； I was confirmed in the belief that the progress to recovery； so strangely slow； was yet sure。 So slow； so gradual was this passing from death to life that we had hardly ceased to fear when we noticed that the lips were parted； or almost parted； that they were no longer white； and that under her pale； transparent skin a faint； bluish…rosy colour was now visible。 And at length； seeing that all danger was past and recovery so slow； old Nuflo withdrew once more to the fireside and； stretching himself out on the sandy floor； soon fell into a deep sleep。
If he had not been lying there before me in the strong light of the glowing embers and dancing flames； I could not have felt more alone with Rimaalone amid those remote mountains； in that secret cavern； with lights and shadows dancing on its grey vault。 In that profound silence and solitude the mysterious loveliness of the still face I continued to gaze on； its appearance of life without consciousness； produced a strange feeling in me； hard； perhaps impossible； to describe。
Once； when clambering among the rough rocks； overgrown with forest； among the Queneveta mountains； I came on a single white flower which was new to me； which I have never seen since。 After I had looked long at it； and passed on； the image of that perfect flower remained so persistently in my mind that on the following day I went again； in the hope of seeing it still untouched by decay。 There was no change； and on this occasion I spent a much longer time looking at it； admiring the marvellous beauty of its form； which seemed so greatly to exceed that of all other flowers。 It had thick petals； and at first gave me the idea of an artificial flower； cut by a divinely inspired artist from some unknown precious stone； of the size of a large orange and whiter than milk； and yet； in spite of its opacity； with a crystalline lustre on the surface。 Next day I went again； scarcely hoping to find it still unwithered； it was fresh as if only just opened； and after that I
