to have and to hold-第76章

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〃Ay；　he　sent　away　the　devils　whose　color　he　is；　worse　luck！　He　told　us　that　there　were　Indians；　not　of　his　tribe；　between　us　and　the　town。　If　we　went　on　we　should　fall　into　their　hands。　But　there　was　a　place　that　was　shunned　by　the　Indian　as　by　the　white　man：　we　could　bide　there　until　the　morrow；　when　we　might　find　the　woods　clear。　He　guided　us　to　this　dismal　wood　that　was　not　altogether　strange　to　us。　Ay；　he　told　her　that　you　were　alive。　He　said　no　more　than　that；　all　at　once；　when　we　were　well　within　the　wood　and　the　twilight　was　about　us；　he　was　gone。〃

He　ceased　to　speak；　and　stood　regarding　me　with　a　smile　upon　his　rugged　face。　I　took　his　hand　and　raised　it　to　my　lips。　〃I　owe　you　more　than　I　can　ever　pay；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　she；　my　friend？〃

〃Not　far　away；〃　he　answered。　〃We　sought　the　centre　of　the　wood；　and　because　she　was　so　chilled　and　weary　and　shaken　I　did　dare　to　build　a　fire　there。　Not　a　foe　has　come　against　us；　and　we　waited　but　for　the　dusk　of　this　evening　to　try　to　make　the　town。　I　came　down　to　the　stream　just　now　to　find；　if　I　could；　how　near　we　were　to　the　river〃　…

He　broke　off；　made　a　gesture　with　his　hand　toward　one　of　the　long　aisles　of　pine　trees；　and　then；　with　a　muttered　〃God　bless　you　both；〃　left　me；　and　going　a　little　way　down　the　stream；　stood　with　his　back　to　a　great　tree　and　his　eyes　upon　the　slow；　deep　water。

She　was　coming。　I　watched　the　slight　figure　grow　out　of　the　dusk　between　the　trees；　and　the　darkness　in　which　I　had　walked　of　late　fell　away。　The　wood　that　had　been　so　gloomy　was　a　place　of　sunlight　and　song；　had　red　roses　sprung　up　around　me　I　had　felt　no　wonder。　She　came　softly　and　slowly；　with　bent　head　and　hanging　arms；　not　knowing　that　I　was　near。　I　went　not　to　meet　her；　…　it　was　my　fancy　to　have　her　come　to　me　still；　…　but　when　she　raised　her　eyes　and　saw　me　I　fell　upon　my　knees。

For　a　moment　she　stood　still；　with　her　hands　at　her　bosom；　then；　softly　and　slowly　through　the　dusky　wood；　she　came　to　me　and　touched　me　upon　the　shoulder。　〃Art　come　to　take　me　home？〃　she　asked。　〃I　have　wept　and　prayed　and　waited　long；　but　now　the　spring　is　here　and　the　woods　are　growing　green。〃

I　took　her　hands　and　bowed　my　head　upon　them。　〃I　believed　thee　dead；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　that　thou　hadst　gone　home；　indeed；　and　I　was　left　in　the　world　alone。　I　can　never　tell　thee　how　I　love　thee。〃

〃I　need　no　telling；〃　she　answered。　〃I　am　glad　that　I　did　so　forget　my　womanhood　as　to　come　to　Virginia　on　such　an　errand；　glad　that　they　did　laugh　at　and　insult　me　in　the　meadow　at　Jamestown；　for　else　thou　mightst　have　given　me　no　thought；　very　heartily　glad　that　thou　didst　buy　me　with　thy　handful　of　tobacco。　With　all　my　heart　I　love　thee；　my　knight；　my　lover；　my　lord　and　husband〃　…　Her　voice　broke；　and　I　felt　the　trembling　of　her　frame。　〃I　love　not　　thy　tears　upon　my　hands；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　have　wandered　far　and　am　weary。　Wilt　rise　and　put　thy　arm　around　me　and　lead　me　home？〃

I　stood　up；　and　she　came　to　my　arms　like　a　tired　bird　to　its　nest。　I　bent　my　head；　and　kissed　her　upon　the　brow；　the　blue…veined　eyelids；　the　perfect　lips。　〃I　love　thee；〃　I　said。　〃The　song　is　old；　but　it　is　sweet。　See！　I　wear　thy　color；　my　lady。〃

The　hand　that　had　touched　the　ribbon　upon　my　arm　stole　upwards　to　my　lips。　〃An　old　song；　but　a　sweet　one；〃　she　said。　〃I　love　thee。　I　will　always　love　thee。　My　head　may　lie　upon　thy　breast；　but　my　heart　lies　at　thy　feet。〃

There　was　joy　in　the　haunted　wood；　deep　peace；　quiet　thankfulness；　a　springtime　of　the　heart；　…　not　riotous　like　the　May；　but　fair　and　grave　and　tender　like　the　young　world　in　the　sunshine　without　the　pines。　Our　lips　met　again；　and　then；　with　my　arm　around　her；　we　moved　to　the　giant　pine　beneath　which　stood　the　minister。　He　turned　at　our　approach；　and　looked　at　us　with　a　quiet　and　tender　smile；　though　the　water　stood　in　his　eyes。　〃　'Heaviness　may　endure　for　a　night；'　〃　he　said；　〃　'but　joy　cometh　in　the　morning。'　I　thank　God　for　you　both。〃

〃Last　summer；　in　the　green　meadow；　we　knelt　before　you　while　you　blessed　us；　Jeremy；〃　I　answered。　〃Bless　us　now　again；　true　friend　and　man　of　God。〃

He　laid　his　hands　upon　our　bowed　heads　and　blessed　us；　and　then　we　three　moved　through　the　dismal　wood　and　beside　the　sluggish　stream　down　to　the　great　bright　river。　Ere　we　reached　it　the　pines　had　fallen　away；　the　haunted　wood　was　behind　us；　our　steps　were　set　through　a　fairy　world　of　greening　bough　and　springing　bloom。　The　blue　sky　laughed　　above；　the　late　sunshine　barred　our　path　with　gold。　When　we　came　to　the　river　it　lay　in　silver　at　our　feet；　making　low　music　amongst　its　reeds。

I　had　bethought　me　of　the　boat　which　I　had　fastened　that　morning　to　the　sycamore　between　us　and　the　town；　and　now　we　moved　along　the　river　bank　until　we　should　come　to　the　tree。　Though　we　walked　through　an　enemy's　country　we　saw　no　foe。　Stillness　and　peace　encompassed　us；　it　was　like　a　beautiful　dream　from　which　one　fears　no　wakening。

As　we　went；　I　told　them；　speaking　low；　for　we　knew　not　if　we　were　yet　in　safety；　of　the　slaughter　that　had　been　made　and　of　Diccon。　My　wife　shuddered　and　wept；　and　the　minister　drew　long　breaths　while　his　hands　opened　and　closed。　And　then；　when　she　asked　me；　I　told　of　how　I　had　been　trapped　to　the　ruined　hut　that　night　and　of　all　that　had　followed。　When　I　had　done　she　turned　within　my　arm　and　clung　to　me　with　her　face　hidden。　I　kissed　her　and　comforted　her；　and　presently　we　came　to　the　sycamore　tree　reaching　out　over　the　clear　water；　and　to　the　boat　that　I　had　fastened　there。

The　sunset　was　nigh　at　hand；　and　all　the　west　was　pink。　The　wind　had　died　away；　and　the　river　lay　like　tinted　glass　between　the　dark　borders　of　the　forest。　Above　the　sky　was　blue；　while　in　the　south　rose　clouds　that　were　like　pillars；　tall　and　golden。　The　air　was　soft　as　silk；　there　was　no　sound　other　than　the　ripple　of　the　water　about　our　keel　and　the　low　dash　of　the　oars。　The　minister　rowed；　while　I　sat　idle　beside　my　love。　He　would　have　it　so；　and　I　made　slight　demur。

We　left　the　bank　behind　us　and　glided　into　the　midstream；　for　it　was　as　well　to　be　out　of　arrowshot。　　The　shadow　of　the　forest　was　gone；　still　and　bright　around　us　lay　the　mighty　river。　When　at　length　the　boat　head　turned　to　the　west；　we　saw　far　up　the　stream　the　roofs　of　Jamestown；　dark　against　the　rosy　sky。

〃There　is　a　ship　going　home；〃　said　the　minister。

We　to　whom　he　spoke　looked　with　him　down　the　river；　and　saw　a　tall　ship　with　her　prow　to　the　ocean。　All　her　sails　were　set；　the　last　rays　of　the　sinking　sun　struck　against　her　poop　windows　and　made　of　them　a　half…moon　of　fire。　She　went　slowly；　for　the　wind　was　light；　but　she　went　surely；　away　from　the　new　land　back　to　the　old；　down　the　stately　river　to　the　bay　and　the　wide　ocean；　and　to　the　burial　at　sea　of　one　upon　her。　With　her　pearly　sails　and　the　line　of　flame　color　beneath；　she　looked　a　dwindling　cloud；　a　little　while；　and　she　would　be　claimed　of　the　distance　and　the　dusk。

〃It　is　the　George；〃　I　said。

The　lady　who　sat　beside　me　caught　her　breath。　〃Ay；　sweetheart；〃　I　went　on。　〃She　carries　one　for　whom　she　waited。　He　has　gone　from　out　our　life　forever。〃

She　uttered　a　low　cry　and　turned　to　me；　trembling；　her　lips　parted；　her　eyes　eloquent。　〃We　will　not　speak　of　him；〃　I　said。　〃As　if　he　were　dead　let　his　name　rest　between　us。　I　have　another　thing　to　tell　thee；　dear　heart；　dear　court　lady　masking　as　a　waiting　damsel；　dear　ward　of　the　King　whom　his　Majesty　hath　thundered　against　for　so　many　weary　months。　Would　it　grieve　thee　to　go　home；　after　all？〃

〃Home？〃　she　asked。　〃To　Weyanoke？　That　would　not　grieve　me。〃

〃Not　to　Weyanoke；　but　to　England；〃　I　said。　〃The　　George　is　gone；　but　three　days　since　the　Esperance　came　in。　When　she　sails　again　I　think　that　we　must　go。〃

She　gazed　at　me　with　a　whitening　face。　〃And　you？〃　she　whispered。　〃How　will　you　go？　In　chains？〃

I　took　her　clasped　hands；　parted　them；　and　drew　her　arms　around　my　neck。　〃Ay；〃　I　answered；　〃I　will　go　in　chains　that　I　care　not　to　have　broken。　My　dear　love；　I　think　that　the　summer　lies　fair　before　us。　Listen　while　I　tell　thee　of　news　that　the　Esperance　brought。〃

While　I　told　of　new　orders　from　the　Company　to　the　Governor　and　of　my　letter　from　Buckingham；　the　minister　rested　upon　his　oars　that　he