rezanov-第17章
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〃My mother has gone to Gertrudis Rudisinda; who is crying;〃 said Concha。 〃It is my pleasure to lead your excellency in to supper。〃
They sat side by side at the head of the long table almost covered by the massive service of sil… ver and loaded with evidences of Dona Ignacia's generosity and skill; chickens in red rice and gravy; oysters; tamales; dulces; pastries; fruits and pleasant drinks。 Luis; with Rafaella Sal dimpling and sparkling at his side; and now quite resigned to the semi…official nature of the ball; rose and drank the health of the distinguished guest in long and flow… ery praises。 Rezanov responded in briefer but no less felicitous vein; and concluded by remarking that the only rift in the lute of his present enchant… ing experience was the fear that whereas he had nearly died of starvation several times during the past three years; he was now threatened with a far more ignominious end; so delicious and irresistible were the temptations that beset the wayfarer in this most hospitable land。 Both speeches were gaily ap… plauded; the conversation became animated and gen… eral; and Concha dropped her voice to the attentive ear beside her。
〃You were very successful to…day at the Mission; Excellency。〃
〃May I ask how you know?〃
〃I never saw anything so serenelyarrogantly; perhaps would be a truer descriptiontriumphant as your bearing when you walked down our humble sala to…night。 You looked like Caesar returned from Gaul; but I suppose that all great conquests are merely the sum of many small ones。〃
〃I do not regard the friendship of so shrewd a man as Father Abella a trifling conquest。 And ac… cording to yourself; dear senorita; it is essential to the success of a mission upon which many lives and my own honor depend。〃
〃Is it really so serious?〃 she asked with a faint sneer。
He drew himself up stiffly and his light eyes glowed with anger。 〃It is a subject I never should have thought of introducing at a festivity like this;〃 he said suavely。 〃May I be permitted to compli… ment you; senorita; upon your marvellous grace in the contra…danza? It quite turned my head; and I am delighted to hear that you will dance alone after supper。〃
Her face had flushed hotly。 She dropped her eyes and her voice trembled as she replied: 〃You humiliate me; senor; and I deserve it。 Imy poor Rosa told me something of her great tragedy while dressing me; and for the moment other things seemed unimportant。 What is hunger and court favor beside a broken heart and a desolate life? But that of course is the attitude of an ignorant girl。〃 She raised her eyes。 They were soft; and her voice was softer。 〃I beg that you will forgive me; senor。 And be sure that I take an even deeper interest in your great mission than yesterday。 I have thought much about it; and while I have told my mother nothing; I have expressed certain peev… ish hopes that a ship would not come all the way from Sitka without taking a hint more than one Boston skipper must have given; and brought us many things we need。 She is quite excited over the prospect of a new shawl for herself; and of send… ing several as presents to the south; besides many other things: cotton; shoes; kitchen utensils。 Have you any of these things; Excellency?〃
Rezanov stared at her face; barely tinted with color; dully wondering why it should be so different from the one roguish; pathetically innocent; that had haunted him all day。 He asked abruptly:
〃Which is the friend whose little ones you envy? You have made me wish to see them and her?〃
〃That is Elenabeside Gervasio。〃 She indicated a young woman with soft; patient; brown eyes; the dignity of her race and the sweetness of young motherhood; who would have looked little older than herself had it not been for an already shape… less figure。 〃I can take you to…morrow to see them if you wish。〃
She had cast down her eyes and her face was white。 Still he groped on。
〃Pardon me if I say that I am surprised your parents should permit such a woman as this Rosa to attend you。 Why should your happy life be dis… turbed by the lamentations of an abandoned crea… turewho can do you no good; and possibly much harm?〃
Still Concha did not raise her eyes。 〃I do not think poor Rosa would do anyone harm。 But per… haps it were as well she went elsewhere。 We have had her long enough。 I have taken a dislike to her。 I reproach myself bitterly; but I cannot help it。 I should like never to see her again。〃
〃What has she told you?〃 Concha glanced up swiftly。 His eyes were blazing。 She felt quite cer… tain that he rolled a Russian oath under his tongue; and she made a slight involuntary motion toward him; her lips trembling apart。
〃Nothing;〃 she murmured。 〃I do not knowI do not know。 But I no longer wish her near me。 Shelife is very strange and terrible; senor。 You know it wellI; so little。〃
Rezanov felt his breath short and his hands cold。 For a moment he made no reply。 Then he smiled charmingly and said in the conventional tone that was ever at his command: 〃Of course you know little of life in this Arcadia。 One who hopes to be numbered among the best of your friends prays that you never may。 Yes; senorita; life is strange strangely commonplace and disillusionizingbut sometimes picturesque。 Believe me when I say that nothing stranger has ever befallen me than to find out here on the lonely brink of a continent nearly twenty thousand versts from Europe; a girl of six… teen with the grand manner; and an intellect with… out the detestable idiosyncrasies of the fashionable bas bleus I have hitherto had the misfortune to en… counter。〃
She was tapping the table slowly with her fork; and he noted that her soft; childish mouth was set。 〃No doubt you are quite right to put me off;〃 she said finally; and in a voice as even as his own。 〃And my intellect would do me little good if it did not teach me to ignore mysteries I can never hope to fathom。 There is no such thing as life in your sense in this forgotten corner of the world; nor ever will be in my time。 If you come back and visit us twenty years hence you will find me fat and worn like Elena; and busy every minute like my mother unless; indeed; I marry Don Weeliam Sturgis and become a great lady in Boston。 It would not be so mean a fate。〃
Rezanov darted a look of angry contempt at the pale young man who was eating little and miser… ably watching the handsome pair at the head of the table。 〃You will not marry him!〃 he said briefly。
〃I could do far worse。〃 Concha's lashes framed an adorable glance that sent the blood to the hair of the sensitive youth。 〃You have no idea how clever and good he is。 AndMadre de Dios! I am so tired of California。〃
〃But you are a part of itthe very symbol of its future; it seems to me。 I wish I had a sculptor in my suite。 I should make him model you; label the statue 'California;' and erect it on the peak of that big island out there。〃
〃That is very poetical; but after all; you are only saying that I am a pretty savage with an education that will be more common in the next generation。 It is little consolation for an existence where the most exciting event in a lifetime is the arrival of a foreign ship or the inauguration of a governor。〃 And once more she smiled at Sturgis。 He raised his glass impulsively; and she hers in gay response。 A moment later she gave the signal to leave the table。 Rezanov followed her back to the sala chewing the cud of many reflections。
X
Concha had eaten no supper。 As she entered the sala she clapped her hands; the guests ranged themselves against the wall; the musicians; livelier than ever; flew to their instruments; with the drift… ing; swaying movement she could assume at will; she went slowly; absently; to the middle of the room。 Then she let her head drop backward; as if with the weight of her hair; and Rezanov; vaguely angry; expected one of those appeals to the senses for which Spanish women of another sort were notorious。 But Concha; after tapping the floor alternately with the points and the wooden heels of her slippers; for a few moments; suddenly made an imperious gesture to Ignacio Sal。 He sprang to her side; took her hand; and once more there was the sa