to have and to hold-第48章
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A murmur of assent went round the circle。 The Governor； leaning forward from his seat； his wife's hand in his； gravely bent his head。 〃All this is known； lady；〃 he said courteously。
She did not answer； her eyes were upon the King's favorite； and the circle waited with her。
〃It is known；〃 said my lord。
She smiled proudly。 〃For so much grace； thanks； my lord；〃 she said； then addressed herself again to the Governor： 〃Your Honor； that is the past； the long past； the long； long past； though not a year has gone by。 Then I was a girl； proud and careless； now； your Honor； I am a woman； and I stand here in the dignity of suffering and peril。 I fled from England〃 … She paused； drew herself up； and turned upon my lord a face and form so still； and yet so expressive of noble indignation； outraged womanhood； scorn； and withal a kind of angry pity； that small wonder if he shrank as from a blow。 〃I left the only world I knew；〃 she said。 〃I took a way low and narrow and dark and set with thorns； but the only way that I … alone and helpless and bewildered … could find； because that I； Jocelyn Leigh； willed not to wed with you； my Lord Carnal。 Why did you follow me； my lord？ You knew that I loved you not。 You knew my mind； and that I was weak and friendless； and you used your power。 I must tell you； my lord； that you were not chivalrous； nor compassionate； nor brave〃 …
〃I loved you！〃 he cried； and stretched out his arm toward her across the table。 He saw no one but her； spoke to none but her。 There was a fierce yearning and a hopelessness in his voice and bent head and outstretched arm that lent for the time a tragic dignity to the pageant； evil and magnificent； of his life。
〃You loved me；〃 she said。 〃I had rather you had hated me； my lord。 I came to Virginia； your Honor； and men thought me the thing I professed myself。 In the green meadow beyond the church they wooed me as such。 This one came and that one； and at last a fellow； when I said him nay and bade him begone； did dare to seize my hands and kiss my lips。 While I struggled one came and 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
