to have and to hold-第51章
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yes upon the ground； each seeing only the days when he was even as Nantauquas。 They never knew when a wife of the werowance； turned child by pride； unfolded a doeskin and showed Nantauquas a silver cup carved all over and set with colored stones。〃
〃Humph！〃
〃The cup was a heavy price to pay；〃 continued the Indian。 〃I do not know what great thing it bought。〃
〃Humph！〃 I said again。 〃Did you happen to meet Master Edward Sharpless in the forest？〃
He shook his head。 〃The forest is wide； and there are many trails through it。 Nantauquas looked for that of the werowance of the Paspaheghs； but found it not。 He had no time to waste upon a white man。〃
He gathered his otterskin mantle about him and prepared to depart。 I rose and gave him my hand； for I thoroughly liked him； and in the past he had made me his debtor。 〃Tell Rolfe he will find me alone；〃 I said； 〃and take my thanks for your pains； Nantauquas。 If ever we hunt together again； may I have the chance to serve you！ I bear the scars of the wolf's teeth yet； you came in the nick of time； that day。〃
The Indian smiled。 〃It was a fierce old wolf。 I wish Captain Percy free with all my heart； and then we will hunt more wolves； he and I。〃
When he was gone； and the gaoler and Diccon with him； I returned to the window。 The runaway in the pillory was released； and went away homewards； staggering beside his master's stirrup。 Passers…by grew more and more infrequent； and up the street came faint sounds of laughter and hurrahing； … the bear must be making good sport。 I could see the half…moon； and the guns； and the flag that streamed in the wind； and on the river a sail or two； white in the sunlight as the gulls that swooped past。 Beyond rose the bare masts of the George。 The Santa Teresa rode no more forever in the James。 The King's ship was gone home to the King without the freight he looked for。 Three days； and the George would spread her white wings and go down the wide river； and I with her； and the King's ward； and the King's sometime favorite。 I looked down the wind…ruffled stream； and saw the great bay into which it emptied； and beyond the bay the heaving ocean； dark and light； league on league； league on league； then green England； and London； and the Tower。 The vision disturbed me less than once it would have done。 Men that I knew and trusted were to be passengers on that ship； as well as one I knew and did not trust。 And if； at the journey's end； I saw the Tower； I saw also his Grace of Buckingham。 Where I hated he hated； and was now powerful enough to strike。
The wind blew from the west； from the unknown。 I turned my head； and it beat against my forehead； cold and fragrant with the essence of the forest； … pine and cedar； dead leaves and black mould； fen and hollow and hill； … all the world of woods over which it had passed。 The ghost of things long dead； which face or voice could never conjure up； will sometimes start across our path at the beckoning of an odor。 A day in the Starving Time came back to me： how I had dragged myself from our broken palisade and crazy huts； and the groans of the famished and the plague…stricken； and the presence of the unburied dead； across the neck and into the woods； and had lain down there to die； being taken with a sick fear and horror of the place of cannibals behind me； and how weak I was！ … too weak to care any more。 I had been a strong man； and it had come to that； and I was content to let it be。 The smell of the woods that day； the chill brown earth beneath me； the blowing wind； the long stretch of the river gleaming between the pines； 。 。 。 and fair in sight the white sails of the Patience and the Deliverance。
I had been too nigh gone then to greatly care that I was saved； now I cared； and thanked God for my life。 Come what might in the future； the past was mine。 Though I should never see my wife again； I had that hour in the state cabin of the George。 I loved； and was loved again。
There was a noise outside the door； and Rolfe's voice speaking to the gaoler。 Impatient for his entrance I started toward the door； but when it opened he made no move to cross the threshold。 〃I am not coming in；〃 he said； with a face that he strove to keep grave。 〃I only came to bring some one else。〃 With that he stepped back； and a second figure； coming forward out of the dimness behind him； crossed the threshold。 It was a woman； cloaked and hooded。 The door was drawn to behind her； and we were alone together。
Beside the cloak and hood she wore a riding mask。 〃Do you know who it is？〃 she asked； when she had stood； so shrouded； for a long minute； during which I had found no words with which to welcome her。
〃Yea；〃 I answered： 〃the princess in the fairy tale。〃
She freed her dark hair from its covering； and unclasping her cloak let it drop to the floor。 〃Shall I unmask？〃 she asked； with a sigh。 〃Faith！ I should keep the bit of silk between your eyes； sir； and my blushes。 Am I ever to be the forward one？ Do you not think me too bold a lady？〃 As she spoke； her white hands were busy about the fastening of her mask。 〃The knot is too hard；〃 she murmured； with a little tremulous laugh and a catch of her breath。
I untied the ribbons。
〃May I not sit down？〃 she said plaintively； but with soft merriment in her eyes。 〃I am not quite strong yet。 My heart … you do not know what pain I have in my heart sometimes。 It makes me weep of nights and when none are by； indeed it does！〃
There was a settle beneath the window。 I led her to it； and she sat down。
〃You must know that I am walking in the Governor's garden； that hath only a lane between it and the gaol。〃 Her eyes were downcast； her cheeks pure rose。
〃When did you first love me？〃 I demanded。
〃Lady Wyatt must have guessed why Master Rolfe alone went not to the bear…baiting； but joined us in the garden。 She said the air was keen； and fetched me her mask； and then herself went indoors to embroider Samson in the arms of Delilah。'
〃Was it here at Jamestown； or was it when we were first wrecked； or on the island with the pink hill when you wrote my name in the sand； or〃 …
〃The George will sail in three days； and we are to be taken back to England after all。 It does not scare me now。〃
〃In all my life I have kissed you only once；〃 I said。
The rose deepened； and in her eyes there was laughter； with tears behind。 〃You are a gentleman of determination；〃 she said。 〃If you are bent upon having your way； I do not know that I … that I … can help myself。 I do not even know that I want to help myself。〃
Outside the wind blew and the sun shone； and the laughter from below the fort was too far away and elfin to jar upon us。 The world forgot us； and we were well content。 There seemed not much to say： I suppose we were too happy for words。 I knelt beside her； and she laid her hands in mine； and now and then we spoke。 In her short and lonely life； and in my longer stern and crowded one； there had been little tenderness； little happiness。 In her past； to those about her； she had seemed bright and gay； I had been a comrade whom men liked because I could jest as well as fight。 Now we were happy； but we were not gay。 Each felt for the other a great compassion； each knew that though we smiled to…day； the groan and the tear might be to…morrow's due； the sunshine around us was pure gold； but that the clouds were mounting we knew full well。
〃I must soon be gone；〃 she said at last。 〃It is a stolen meeting。 I do not know when we shall meet again。〃
She rose from the settle； and I rose with her； and we stood together beside the barred window。 There was no danger of her being seen； street and square were left to the wind and the sunshine。 My arm was around her； and she leaned her head against my breast。 〃Perhaps we shall never meet again；〃 she said。
〃The winter is over；〃 I answered。 〃Soon the trees will be green and the flowers in bloom。 I will not believe that our spring can have no summer。〃
She took from her bosom a little flower that had been pinned there。 It lay； a purple star； in the hollow of her hand。 〃It grew in the sun。 It is the first flower of spring。〃 She put it to her lips； then laid it upon the window ledge beside my hand。 〃I have brought you evil gifts； … foes and strife and
