rezanov-第10章

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om　House　of　Mon…　terey；　there　is　reason　to　believe　that　Russian　aggres…　sion　under　the　leadership　of　so　energetic　and　re…　sourceful　a　spirit　as　Nicolai　Petrovich　de　Rezanov　was　in　a　fair　way　to　make　history　first　in　the　New　Albion　of　Drake　and　the　California　of　the　incompe…　tent　Spaniard。



V

The　Russians　were　to　call　at　the　house　of　the　Com…　mandante　on　their　way　to　the　Mission；　and　Concha　herself　made　the　chocolate　with　which　they　were　to　be　detained　for　another　hour。　　It　was　another　spark…　ling　morning；　one　of　the　few　that　came　between　winter　and　summer；　summer　and　winter；　and　made　even　this　bleak　peninsula　a　land　of　enchantment　be…　fore　the　cold　winds　took　the　sand　hills　up　by　their　foundations　and　drove　them　down　to　Yerba　Buena；　submerging　the　battery　and　every　green　thing　by　the　way；　or　the　great　fogs　rolled　down　from　the　tule　lands　of　the　north　and　in　from　the　sea；　making　the　shivering　San　Franciscan　forget　that　not　ten　miles　away　the　sun　was　as　prodigal　as　youth。　　For　a　few　weeks　San　Francisco　had　her　springtime；　when　the　days　were　warm　and　the　air　of　a　wonder…　ful　lightness　and　brightness；　the　atmosphere　so　clear　that　the　flowers　might　be　seen　on　the　islands；　when　man　walked　with　wings　on　his　feet　and　a　song　in　his　heart；　when　the　past　was　done　with；　the　future　mattered　not；　the　present　with　its　ever　changing　hues　on　bay　and　hill；　its　cool　electrical　breezes　stir…　ring　imagination　and　pulse；　was　all　in　all。

And　it　was　in　San　Francisco's　springtime　that　Concha　Arguello　made　chocolate　for　the　Russian　to　whom　she　was　to　give　a　niche　in　the　history　of　her　land；　and　sang　at　her　task。　　She　whirled　the　molinillo　in　each　cup　as　it　was　filled；　whipping　the　fragrant　liquid　to　froth；　pausing　only　to　scold　when　her　servant　stained　one　of　the　dainty　saucers　or　cups。　　Poor　Rosa　did　not　sing；　although　the　spring　attuned　her　broken　spirit　to　a　gentler　melancholy　than　when　the　winds　howled　and　the　fog　was　cold　in　her　marrow。　　She　had　been　sentenced　by　the　last　Governor；　the　wise　Borica；　to　eight　years　of　domes…　tic　servitude　in　the　house　of　Don　Jose　Arguello　for　abetting　her　lover　in　the　murder　of　his　wife。　　Con…　cha；　thoughtless　in　many　things；　did　what　she　could　to　exorcise　the　terror　and　despair　that　stared　from　the　eyes　of　the　Indian　and　puzzled　her　deeply。　　Rosa　adored　her　young　mistress　and　exulted　even　when　Concha's　voice　rose　in　wrath；　for　was　not　she　noticed　by　the　loveliest　senorita　in　all　the　Cali…　fornias；　while　others；　envious　and　spiteful　to　a　poor　girl　no　worse　than　themselves；　were　ignored？

Concha's　cheeks　were　as　pink　as　the　Castilian　roses　that　grew　even　before　the　kitchen　door　and　were　quivering　at　the　moment　under　the　impas…　sioned　carolling　of　a　choir　of　larks。　　Her　black　eyes　were　full　of　dancing　lights；　like　the　imprisoned　sum…　flecks　under　the　rose　bush；　and　never　had　indolent　Spanish　hands　moved　so　quickly。

〃Mira！　　Mira！〃　she　cried　to　the　luckless　Rosa。　〃That　is　the　third　time　thou　hast　spilt　the　chocolate。　Thy　hands　are　of　wood　when　they　should　be　of　air。　　A　soft　bit　of　linen　to　clean　them；　not　that　coarse　rag。　　Dios　de　mi　alma！　　I　shall　send　for　Malia。〃

〃For　the　love　of　Mary；　senorita；　have　pity！〃　wailed　Rosa。　　〃Thereseethanks　to　the　Virgin　I　have　poured　three　cups　without　spilling　a　drop。　　And　this　rag　is　of　soft　linen。　　Look；　Dona　Concha；　is　it　not　true？〃

〃Bueno；　take　care　thou　leavest　not　one　drop　on　a　saucer　and　I　will　forgive　theedo　not　kiss　my　hand　now；　foolish　one！　　How　can　I　whirl　the　moli…　nillo？　　Be　always　good　and　I　will　burn　a　candle　for　thee　every　time　I　go　to　the　Mission。　　The　Russians　go　to　the　Mission　this　morning。　　Hast　thou　seen　the　Russians；　Rosa？〃

〃I　have　seen　them；　senorita。　　Did　I　not　serve　at　table　yesterday？〃

〃True；　I　had　forgotten。　　What　didst　thou　think　of　them？〃

〃What　matters　it　to　such　great　folk　what　a　poor　Indian　girl　thinks　of　them？　　They　are　very　fair；　which　may　be　the　fashion　in　their　country；　but　I　am　not　accustomed　to　it；　and　I　like　not　beards。〃

〃His　excellency　wore　no　beardhe　who　sat　on　my　mother's　right　and　opposite　to　me。〃

〃He　is　very　grand；　senorita；　more　grand　than　the　Governor；　who　after　all　has　red　hair　and　is　old。　　He　is　even　grander　than　Don　Jose；　whom　may　the　saints　preserve；　or　than　the　padres　at　the　mission。　Perhaps　he　is　a　king；　like　our　King　and　natural　lord　in　spain。　（El　rey　nuestro　y　senor　natural。）　Is　he　a　king；　senorita？〃

〃No；　but　he　should　be。　　Rosa；　thou　mayest　have　my　red　cloak　that　came　from　Mexicolast　year。　I　have　a　new　one　and　that　is　too　small。　　I　had　intended　to　give　it　to　Ana　Paula；　but　thou　art　a　good　girl　and　should　have　a　gay　mantle　for　Sunday；　like　the　other　girls。　　I　have　also　a　red　ribbon　for　thy　hair〃

Rosa　spilt　half　the　contents　of　the　chocolate　pot　on　the　floor　and　Concha　gave　her　a　sound　box　on　the　ear。　　However；　she　did　not　dismiss　her；　a　sen…　tence　for　which　the　trembling　girl　prepared　herself。

〃Make　morequickly！〃　cried　the　lady　of　caprice。　〃They　come。　　I　hear　them。　　But　this　is　enough　for　the　first。　　Make　the　rest　and　beat　with　the　molinillo　as　I　have　done；　and　Malia　will　bring　all　to　the　cor…　ridor。〃

She　ran　to　her　room　and　her　mirror。　　Both　were　small；　the　room　little　more　luxurious　than　the　cell　of　a　nun。　　But　the　roses　hung　over　the　window；　the　birds　had　built　in　the　eaves；　and　over　the　wall　the　sun　shone　in。　　In　one　corner　was　an　altar　and　a　crucifix。　　If　the　walls　were　rough　and　white；　they　were　spotless　as　the　hands　that　shook　out　and　then　twisted　high　the　fine　dusky　masses　of　hair。　When　a　fold　had　been　drawn　over　either　ear；　in　the　modest　fashion　of　the　California　maid　and　wife；　and　the　tall　shell　comb　had　fastened　the　rest；　Con…　cha　instead　of　finishing　the　headdress　with　her　long　Spanish　pins；　divested　the　stems　of　two　half…blown　roses　of　their　thorns　and　thrust　them　obliquely　through　the　knot。　　Her　dress　was　of　simple　white　linen　made　with　a　very　full　skirt　and　little　round　jacket；　but　embroidered　by　her　own　deft　fingers　with　the　color　she　loved　best。　　She　patted　her　frock；　rolled　down　her　sleeves；　and　went　out　to　the　〃corri…　dor〃　to　stand　demurely　behind　her　mother　as　the　Russians；　escorted　by　Father　Ramon　Abella；　rode　into　the　square。

Rezanov　had　intended　merely　to　pay　a　call　of　ceremony　upon　the　hospitable　Arguellos；　but　after　he　had　dismounted　and　kissed　the　hands　of　the　smiling　senora　and　her　beautiful　daughter　he　was　nothing　loath　to　linger　over　a　cup　of　chocolate。

It　was　served　out　there　in　the　shade　of　the　vines。　Rezanov　and　Concha　sat　on　the　railing；　and　the　man　stared　over　his　cup　at　the　girl　with　the　roses　touching　her　cheeks　and　ruffling　her　hair。

〃Do　you　like　chocolate；　senor？〃　asked　Concha；　who　was　not　in　the　intellectual　mood　of　yesterday。　〃I　made　it　myselfI　and　my　poor　Rosa。〃

〃It　is　the　most　delectable　foam　I　have　ever　tasted。　I　am　interested　to　know　that　it　has　the　solid　founda…　tion　of　a　name。　　What　is　the　matter　with　your　Rosa？〃

〃She　is　an　unfortunate。　　Her　lover　killed　his　wife；　and　it　is　said　that　she　is　not　innocent　herself。　The　lover　serves　in　chains　for　eight　years；　and　she　is　with　us　that　we　may　make　her　repent　and　keep　her　from　further　sin。　　She　is　unhappy　and　will　marry　the　man　when　his　punishment　is　over。　　I　am　very　sorry　for　her。〃

〃Fancy　you　living　close　to　a　woman　like　that！　I　find　it　detestable。〃

〃Why？if　I　can　do　her　goodand　make　her　happy；　sometimes？〃

〃Does　she　ever　talk　about　her　lifebefore　she　came　here？〃

〃Oh；　no；　she　is　far　too　sad。　　Once　only；　when　I　told　her　I　would　pray　for　her　in　the　Mission　Church；　she　asked　me　to　burn　a　candle　that　her　lover　might　serve　his　sentence　more　quickly　and　come　out　and　marry　her。　　Will　you　light　one　for　her　to…day；　senor？〃

〃With　the　greatest　pleasure；　if　you　really　want　your　maid　to　marry　a　man　who　no　doubt　will　mur…　der　her　for　the　sake　of　some　other　woman。〃

〃Oh；　surely　not！　　He　loves　her。　　I　know　that　many　men　love　more　than　once；　but　when　they　are　punished　like　that；　they　must　remember。〃

〃Is　it　true　that　you　are　only　sixteen？　　Is　that　an　impertinent　question？　　I　cannot　help　it。　　Those　years　are　so　few；　and　so　much　wisdom　has　gone　into　that　little　head。〃

〃Sixteen　is　quite　old。〃　　Concha　drew　herself　up　with　an　air　of　offended　dignity。　　〃Elena　Castro；　who　lives　on　the　other　sid