to have and to hold-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a lazar。 At my own door I turned and spoke to the men； who had followed us up the ascent。
〃This lady；〃 I said； taking her hand as she stood beside me； 〃is my true and lawful wife； your mistress； to be honored and obeyed as such。 Who fails in reverence to her I hold as mutinous to myself； and will deal with him accordingly。 She gives you to…morrow for holiday； with double rations； and to each a measure of rum。 Now thank her properly。〃
They cheered lustily； of course； and Diccon； stepping forward； gave us thanks in the name of them all； and wished us joy。 After which； with another cheer； they backed from out our presence； then turned and made for their quarters； while I led my wife within the house and closed the door。
Diccon was an ingenious scoundrel。 I had told him to banish the dogs； to have the house cleaned and lit； and supper upon the table； but I had not ordered the floor to be strewn with rushes； the walls draped with flowering vines； a great jar filled with sunflowers； and an illumination of a dozen torches。 Nevertheless； it looked well； and I highly approved the capon and maize cakes； the venison pasty and ale； with which the table was set。 Through the open doors of the two other rooms were to be seen more rushes； more flowers； and more lights。
To the larger of these rooms I now led the way； deposited her bundle upon the settle； and saw that Diccon had provided fair water for her face and hands； which done； I told her that supper waited upon her convenience； and went back to the great room。
She was long in coming； so long that I grew impatient and went to call her。 The door was ajar； and so I saw her； kneeling in the middle of the floor； her head thrown back； her hands raised and clasped； on her face terror and anguish of spirit written so large that I started to see it。 I stared in amazement； and； had I followed my first impulse； would have gone to her； as I would have gone to any other creature in so dire distress。 On second thoughts； I went noiselessly back to my station in the great room。 She had not seen me； I was sure。 Nor had I long to wait。 Presently she appeared； and I could have doubted the testimony of my eyes； so changed were the agonized face and figure of a few moments before。 Beautiful and disdainful； she moved to the table； and took the great chair drawn before it with the air of an empress mounting a throne。 I contented myself with the stool。
She ate nothing； and scarcely touched the canary I poured for her。 I pressed upon her wine and viands； … in vain； I strove to make conversation； … equally in vain。 Finally； tired of 〃yes〃 and 〃no〃 uttered as though she were reluctantly casting pearls before swine； I desisted； and applied myself to my supper in a silence as sullen as her own。 At last we rose from table； and I went to look to the fastenings of door and windows； and returning found her standing in the centre of the room； her head up and her hands clenched at her sides。 I saw that we were to have it out then and there； and I was glad of it。
〃You have something to say；〃 I said。 〃I am quite at your command；〃 and I went and leaned against the chimneypiece。
The low fire upon the hearth burnt lower still before she broke the silence。 When she did speak it was slowly； and with a voice which was evidently controlled only by a strong effort of a strong will。 She said： …
〃When … yesterday； to…day； ten thousand years ago you went from this horrible forest down to that wretched village yonder； to those huts that make your London； you went to buy you a wife？〃
〃Yes； madam；〃 I answered。 〃I went with that intention。〃
〃You had made your calculation？ In your mind you had pitched upon such and such an article； with such and such qualities； as desirable？ Doubtless you meant to get your money's worth？〃
〃Doubtless；〃 I said dryly。
〃Will you tell me what you were inclined to consider its equivalent？〃
I stared at her； much inclined to laugh。 The interview promised to be interesting。
〃I went to Jamestown to get me a wife；〃 I said at length； 〃because I had pledged my word that I would do so。 I was not over…anxious。 I did not run all the way。 But； as you say； I intended to do the best I could for myself； one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco being a considerable sum； and not to be lightly thrown away。 I went to look for a mistress for my house； a companion for my idle hours； a rosy； humble； docile lass； with no aspirations beyond cleanliness and good temper； who was to order my household and make me a home。 I was to be her head and her law； but also her sword and shield。 That is what I went to look for。〃
〃And you found … me！〃 she said； and broke into strange laughter。
I bowed。
〃In God's name； why did you not go further？〃
I suppose she saw in my face why I went no further； for into her own the color came flaming。
〃I am not what I seem！〃 she cried out。 〃I was not in that company of choice！〃
I bowed again。 〃You have no need to tell me that； madam；〃 I said。 〃I have eyes。 I desire to know why you were there at all； and why you married me。〃
She turned from me； until I could see nothing but the coiled wealth of her hair and the bit of white neck between it and the ruff。 We stood so in silence； she with bent head and fingers clasping and unclasping； I leaning against the wall and staring at her； for what seemed a long time。 At least I had time to grow impatient； when she faced me again； and all my irritation vanished in a gasp of admiration。
Oh； she was beautiful； and of a sweetness most alluring and fatal！ Had Medea worn such a look； sure Jason had quite forgot the fleece； and with those eyes Circe had needed no other charm to make men what she would。 Her voice； when she spoke； was no longer imperious； it was low pleading music。 And she held out entreating hands。
〃Have pity on me；〃 she said。 〃Listen kindly； and have pity on me。 You are a strong man and wear a sword。 You can cut your way through trouble and peril。 I am a woman； weak； friendless； helpless。 I was in distress and peril； and I had no arm to save； no knight to fight my battle。 I do not love deceit。 Ah； do not think that I have not hated myself for the lie I have been。 But these forest creatures that you take； … will they not bite against springe and snare？ Are they scrupulous as to how they free themselves？ I too was in the toils of the hunter； and I too was not scrupulous。 There was a thing of which I stood in danger that would have been bitterer to me； a thousand times； than death。 I had but one thought； to escape； how； I did not care； … only to escape。 I had a waiting woman named Patience Worth。 One night she came to me； weeping。 She had wearied of service； and had signed to go to Virginia as one of Sir Edwyn Sandys' maids； and at the last moment her heart had failed her。 There had been pressure brought to bear upon me that day； … I had been angered to the very soul。 I sent her away with a heavy bribe； and in her dress and under her name I fled from … I went aboard that ship。 No one guessed that I was not the Patience Worth to whose name I answered。 No one
knows now； … none but you； none but you。〃
〃And why am I so far honored； madam？〃 I said bluntly。
She crimsoned； then went white again。 She was trembling now through her whole frame。 At last she broke out： 〃I am not of that crew that came to marry！ To me you are the veriest stranger； … you are but the hand at which I caught to draw myself from a pit that had been digged for me。 It was my hope that this hour would never come。 When I fled； mad for escape； willing to dare anything but that which I left behind； I thought； 'I may die before that ship with its shameless cargo sets sail。' When the ship set sail； and we met with stormy weather； and there was much sickness aboard； I thought； 'I may drown or I may die of the fever。' When； this afternoon； I lay there in the boat； coming up this dreadful river through the glare of the lightning； and you thought I slept； I was thinking； 'The bolts may strike me yet； and all will be well。' I prayed for that death； but the storm passed。 I am not without shame。 I know that you must think all ill of me； that you must feel yourself gulled and cheated。 I am sorry … that is all I can say … I am sorry。 I am your
