to have and to hold-第69章

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rld。　'As　the　sparks　fly　upwards；'　you　know。　But　a　brave　man　draws　his　breath　and　sets　his　teeth。〃

In　his　manner；　his　rapid　talk；　his　uneasy　glances　toward　the　door；　I　found　something　forced　and　strange。　〃I　thought　Rolfe　was　behind　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　he　must　have　been　delayed。　There　are　meat　and　drink　set　out　in　the　great　room；　where　the　Governor　and　those　of　the　Council　who　are　safe　here　with　us　are　　advising　together。　Let's　descend；　you've　not　eaten；　and　the　good　sack　will　give　you　strength。　Wilt　come？〃

〃Ay；〃　I　answered；　〃but　tell　me　the　news　as　we　go。　I　have　been　gone　ten　days；　…　faith；　it　seems　ten　years！　There　have　no　ships　sailed；　Master　Pory？　The　George　is　still　here？〃　I　looked　him　full　in　the　eye；　for　a　sudden　guess　at　a　possible　reason　for　his　confusion　had　stabbed　me　like　a　knife。

〃Ay；〃　he　said；　with　a　readiness　that　could　scarce　be　feigned。　〃She　was　to　have　sailed　this　week；　it　is　true；　the　Governor　fearing　to　keep　her　longer。　But　the　Esperance；　coming　in　yesterday；　brought　news　which　removed　his　Honor's　scruples。　Now　she'll　wait　to　see　out　this　hand　at　the　cards；　and　to　take　home　the　names　of　those　who　are　left　alive　in　Virginia。　If　the　red　varlets　do　swarm　in　upon　us；　there　are　her　twelve…pounders；　they　and　the　fort　guns〃　…

I　let　him　talk　on。　The　George　had　not　sailed。　I　saw　again　a　firelit　hut；　and　a　man　and　a　panther　who　went　down　together。　Those　claws　had　dug　deep；　the　man　across　whose　face　they　had　torn　their　way　would　keep　his　room　in　the　guest　house　at　Jamestown　until　his　wounds　were　somewhat　healed。　The　George　would　wait　for　him；　would　scarcely　dare　to　sail　without　him；　and　I　should　find　the　lady　whom　she　was　to　carry　away　to　England　in　Virginia　still。　It　was　this　that　I　had　built　upon；　the　grain　of　comfort；　the　passionate　hope；　the　sustaining　cordial；　of　those　year…long　days　in　the　village　above　the　Pamunkey。

My　heart　was　sore　because　of　Diccon；　but　I　could　speak　of　that　grief　to　her；　and　she　would　grieve　with　me。　There　were　awe　and　dread　and　stern　sorrow　in　the　knowledge　that　even　now　in　the　bright　spring　　morning　blood　from　a　hundred　homes　might　be　flowing　to　meet　the　shining；　careless　river；　but　it　was　the　springtime；　and　she　was　waiting　for　me。　I　strode　on　toward　the　stairway　so　fast　that　when　I　asked　a　question　Master　Pory；　at　my　side；　was　too　out　of　breath　to　answer　it。　Halfway　down　the　stairs　I　asked　it　again；　and　again　received　no　answer　save　a　〃Zooks！　you　go　too　fast　for　my　years　and　having　in　flesh！　Go　more　slowly；　Ralph　Percy；　there's　time　enough；　there's　time　enough！〃

There　was　a　tone　in　his　voice　that　I　liked　not；　for　it　savored　of　pity。　I　looked　at　him　with　knitted　brows；　but　we　were　now　in　the　hall；　and　through　the　open　door　of　the　great　room　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　woman's　skirt。　There　were　men　in　the　hall；　servants　and　messengers；　who　made　way　for　us；　staring　at　me　as　they　did　so；　and　whispering。　I　knew　that　my　clothing　was　torn　and　muddied　and　stained　with　blood；　as　we　paused　at　the　door　there　came　to　me　in　a　flash　that　day　in　the　courting　meadow　when　I　had　tried　with　my　dagger　to　scrape　the　dried　mud　from　my　boots。　I　laughed　at　myself　for　caring　now；　and　for　thinking　that　she　would　care　that　I　was　not　dressed　for　a　lady's　bower。　The　next　moment　we　were　in　the　great　room。

She　was　not　there。　The　silken　skirt　that　I　had　seen；　and　…　there　being　but　one　woman　in　all　the　world　for　me　…　had　taken　for　hers；　belonged　to　Lady　Wyatt；　who；　pale　and　terrified；　was　sitting　with　clasped　hands；　mutely　following　with　her　eyes　her　husband　as　he　walked　to　and　fro。　West　had　come　in　from　the　street　and　was　making　some　report。　Around　the　table　were　gathered　two　or　three　of　the　Council；　Master　Sandys　stood　at　a　window；　Rolfe　beside　Lady　　Wyatt's　chair。　The　room　was　filled　with　sunshine；　and　a　caged　bird　was　singing；　singing。　It　made　the　only　sound　there　when　they　saw　that　I　stood　amongst　them。

When　I　had　made　my　bow　to　Lady　Wyatt　and　to　the　Governor；　and　had　clasped　hands　with　Rolfe；　I　began　to　find　in　the　silence；　as　I　had　found　in　Master　Pory's　loquaciousness；　something　strange。　They　looked　at　me　uneasily；　and　I　caught　a　swift　glance　from　the　Treasurer　to　Master　Pory；　and　an　answering　shake　of　the　latter's　head。　Rolfe　was　very　white　and　his　lips　were　set；　West　was　pulling　at　his　mustaches　and　staring　at　the　floor。

〃With　all　our　hearts　we　welcome　you　back　to　life　and　to　the　service　of　Virginia；　Captain　Percy；〃　said　the　Governor；　when　the　silence　had　become　awkward。

A　murmur　of　assent　went　round　the　room。

I　bowed。　〃I　thank　you；　sir；　and　these　gentlemen　very　heartily。　You　have　but　to　command　me　now。　I　find　that　I　have　to…day　the　best　will　in　the　world　toward　fighting。　I　trust　that　your　Honor　does　not　deem　it　necessary　to　send　me　back　to　gaol？〃

〃Virginia　has　no　gaol　for　Captain　Percy；〃　he　answered　gravely。　〃She　has　only　grateful　thanks　and　fullest　sympathy。〃

I　glanced　at　him　keenly。　〃Then　I　hold　myself　at　your　command；　sir；　when　I　shall　have　seen　and　spoken　with　my　wife。〃

He　looked　at　the　floor；　and　they　one　and　all　held　their　peace。

〃Madam；〃　I　said　to　Lady　Wyatt；　〃I　have　been　watching　your　ladyship's　face。　Will　you　tell　me　why　it　is　so　very　full　of　pity；　and　why　there　are　tears　in　your　eyes？〃

She　shrank　back　in　her　chair　with　a　little　cry；　and　Rolfe　stepped　toward　me；　then　turned　sharply　aside。　〃I　cannot！〃　he　cried；　〃　I　that　know〃　…

I　drew　myself　up　to　meet　the　blow；　whatever　it　might　be。　〃I　demand　of　you　my　wife；　Sir　Francis　Wyatt；〃　I　said。　〃If　there　is　ill　news　to　be　told；　be　so　good　as　to　tell　it　quickly。　If　she　is　sick；　or　hath　been　sent　away　to　England〃　…

The　Governor　made　as　if　to　speak；　then　turned　and　flung　out　his　hands　to　his　wife。　〃　'T　is　woman's　work；　Margaret！〃　he　cried。　〃Tell　him！〃

More　merciful　than　the　men；　she　came　to　me　at　once；　the　tears　running　down　her　cheeks；　and　laid　one　trembling　hand　upon　my　arm。　〃She　was　a　brave　lady；　Captain　Percy；〃　she　said。　〃Bear　it　as　she　would　have　had　you　bear　it。〃

〃I　am　bearing　it；　madam；〃　I　answered　at　length。　〃　'She　was　a　brave　lady。'　May　it　please　your　ladyship　to　go　on？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　all；　Captain　Percy；　I　will　tell　you　everything。　。　。　。　She　never　believed　you　dead；　and　she　begged　upon　her　knees　that　we　would　allow　her　to　go　in　search　of　you　with　Master　Rolfe。　That　could　not　be；　my　husband；　in　duty　to　the　Company；　could　not　let　her　have　her　will。　Master　Rolfe　went；　and　she　sat　in　the　window；　yonder；　day　after　day；　watching　for　his　return。　When　other　parties　went　out；　she　besought　the　men；　as　they　had　wives　whom　they　loved；　to　search　as　though　those　loved　ones　were　in　captivity　and　danger；　when　they　grew　weary　and　fainthearted；　to　think　of　her　face　waiting　in　the　window。　。　。　。　Day　after　day　she　sat　there　watching　for　them　to　come　back；　when　they　were　come；　then　she　watched　the　river　for　Master　Rolfe's　boats。　Then　came　word　down　the　river　　that　he　had　found　no　trace　of　you　whom　he　sought；　that　he　was　on　his　way　back　to　Jamestown；　that　he　too　believed　you　dead。　。　。　。　We　put　a　watch　upon　her　after　that；　for　we　feared　we　knew　not　what；　there　was　such　a　light　and　purpose　in　her　eyes。　But　two　nights　ago；　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　the　woman　who　stayed　in　her　chamber　fell　asleep。　When　she　awoke　before　the　dawn；　it　was　to　find　her　gone。〃

〃To　find　her　gone？〃　I　said　dully。　〃To　find　her　dead？〃

She　locked　her　hands　together　and　the　tears　came　faster。　〃Oh；　Captain　Percy；　it　had　been　better　so！　…　it　had　been　better　so！　Then　would　she　have　lain　to　greet　you；　calm　and　white；　unmarred　and　beautiful；　with　the　spring　flowers　upon　her。　。　。　。　She　believed　not　that　you　were　dead；　she　was　distraught　with　grief　and　watching；　she　thought　that　love　might　find　what　friendship　missed；　she　went　to　the　forest　to　seek　you。　They　that　were　sent　to　find　and　bring　her　back　have　never　returned〃　…

〃Into　the　forest！〃　I　cried。　〃Jocelyn；　Jocelyn；　Jocelyn；　come　back！〃

Some　one　pushed　me　into　a　chair；　and　I　felt　the　warmth　of　wine　within　my　lips。　In　the　moment　that　the　world　steadied　I　rose　and　went　toward　the　door　to　find　my　way　barred　by　Rolfe。

〃Not　you；　too；　Ralph！〃　he　cried。　〃I　will　not　let　you　go。　Look　for　yourself！〃

He　drew　me　to　the　window；　Master　Sandys　gravely　making　place　for　us。　From　the　window　was　visible　the　neck