arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第51章
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avoided instinctively all that interfered with bodily well…being。 When
she was cool and well…fed and not thirsty； and surrounded by a proper
degree of feminine daintiness； then she was ready to amuse herself。 But
she could not understand the desirability of those pleasures for which a
certain price in discomfort must be paid。 As for firearms； she confessed
herself frankly afraid of them。 That was the point at which her intimacy
with them stopped。 The natural level to which these waters fell is
easily seen。 Quite simply； the Senor found that a wife does not enter
fully into her husband's workaday life。 The dreams he had dreamed did
not come true。 This was at first a disappointment to him； of course；
but the disappointment did not last。 Senor Johnson was a man of sense；
and he easily modified his first scheme of married life。 〃She'd get
sick of it； and I'd get sick of it；〃 he formulated his new philosophy。 〃Now
I got something to come back to； somebody to look forward to。 And it's a
WOMAN； it ain't one of these darn gangle…leg cowgirls。 The great thing
is to feel you BELONG to someone； and that someone nice and cool and
fresh and purty is waitin' for you when you come in tired。 It beats that
other little old idee of mine slick as a gun barrel。〃 So； during this；
the busy season of the range riding； immediately before the great fall
round…ups； Senor Johnson rode abroad all day； and returned to his own
hearth as many evenings of the week as he could。 Estrella always saw
him coming and stood in the doorway to greet him。 He kicked off his
spurs； washed and dusted himself； and spent the evening with his wife。
He liked the sound of exactly that phrase； and was fond of repeating it to
himself in a variety of connections。 〃When I get in I'll spend the
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evening with my wife。〃 〃If I don't ride over to Circle I； I'll spend the
evening with my wife；〃 and so on。 He had a good deal to tell her of the
day's discoveries； the state of the range； and the condition of the cattle。
To all of this she listened at least with patience。 Senor Johnson； like most
men who have long delayed marriage； was self…centred without knowing it。
His interest in his mate had to do with her personality rather than with her
doings。 〃What you do with yourself all day to…day？〃 he occasionally
inquired。 〃Oh； there's lots to do；〃 she would answer； a trifle listlessly；
and this reply always seemed quite to satisfy his interest in the subject。
Senor Johnson； with a curiously instant transformation often to be
observed among the adventurous； settled luxuriously into the state of
being a married man。 Its smallest details gave him distinct and separate
sensations of pleasure。 〃I plumb likes it all；〃 he said。 〃I likes havin'
interest in some fool geranium plant； and I likes worryin' about the screen
doors and all the rest of the plumb foolishness。 It does me good。 It
feels like stretchin' your legs in front of a good warm fire。〃 The
centre； the compelling influence of this new state of affairs； was
undoubtedly Estrella； and yet it is equally to be doubted whether she stood
for more than the suggestion。 Senor Johnson conducted his entire life
with reference to his wife。 His waking hours were concerned only with
the thought of her； his every act revolved in its orbit controlled by her
influence。 Nevertheless she； as an individual human being； had little to
do with it。 Senor Johnson referred his life to a state of affairs he had
himself invented and which he called the married state； and to a woman
whose attitude he had himself determined upon and whom be designated
as his wife。 The actual state of affairs whatever it might behe did not
see； and the actual woman supplied merely the material medium necessary
to the reality of his idea。 Whether Estrella's eyes were interested or bored；
bright or dull； alert or abstracted； contented or afraid； Senor Johnson could
not have told you。 He might have replied promptly enoughthat they
were happy and loving。 That is the way Senor Johnson conceived a
wife's eyes。 The routine of life； then； soon settled。 After breakfast
the Senor insisted that his wife accompany him on a short tour of
inspection。 〃A little pasear；〃 he called it； 〃just to get set for the day。〃
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Then his horse was brought； and he rode away on whatever business
called him。 Like a true son of the alkali； he took no lunch with him； nor
expected his horse to feed until his return。 This was an hour before
sunset。 The evening passed as has been described。 It was all very simple。
When the business hung close to the ranch house was in the bronco
busting； the rebranding of bought cattle； and the likehe was able to share
his wife's day。 Estrella conducted herself dreamily； with a slow smile for
him when his actual presence insisted on her attention。 She seemed
much given to staring out over the desert。 Senor Johnson； appreciatively；
thought he could understand this。 Again； she gave much leisure to
rocking back and forth on the low； wide veranda； her hands idle； her eyes
vacant； her lips dumb。 Susie O'Toole had early proved incompatible and
had gone。 〃A nice； contented； home sort of a woman；〃 said Senor
Johnson。 One thing alone besides the deserts on which she never
seemed tired of looking； fascinated her。 Whenever a beef was killed for
the uses of the ranch； she commanded strips of the green skin。 Then； like
a child； she bound them and sewed them and nailed them to substances
particularly susceptible to their constricting power。 She choked the necks
of green gourds； she indented the tender bark of cottonwood shoots； she
expended an apparently exhaustless ingenuity on the fabrication of
mechanical devices whose principle answered to the pulling of the drying
rawhide。 And always along the adobe fence could be seen a long row of
potatoes bound in skin； some of them fresh and smooth and round； some
sweating in the agony of squeezing； some wrinkled and dry and little； the
last drops of life tortured out of them。 Senor Johnson laughed good…
humouredly at these toys； puzzled to explain their fascination for his wife。
〃They're sure an amusing enough contraption honey；〃 said he； 〃but
what makes you stand out there in the hot sun staring at them that way？
It's cooler on the porch。〃 〃I don't know；〃 said Estrella； helplessly；
turning her slow； vacant gaze on
