rezanov-第38章

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rritory　half　its　sizehold　it　against　even　the　'Americans；'　should　they　in　time　feel　strong　enough　to　push　their　way　across　the　western　wilderness。　　It　is　the　destiny　of　this　charming　Arcadia　to　disappear；　and　did　Russia　forego　an　opportunity　to　appropriate　a　do…　main　that　offers　her　literally　everything　except　civil…　ization；　she　would　be　unworthy　of　her　place　among　nations。　　Moreovera　beneficent　triumph　impossi…　ble　to　us　otherwisewith　a　powerful　and　flourish…　ing　colony　up　and　down　this　coast；　and　sending　breadstuffs　regularly　to　our　other　possessions　in　these　waters　until　the　natives；　immigrants；　and　exiles　were　healthy；　vitalized　beings；　it　would　be　but　a　question　of　a　few　years　before　we　should　force　open　the　doors　of　China　and　Japan。〃　　He　caught　Concha　from　her　horse　and　strained　her　to　him　in　the　mount…　ing　ardor　of　his　plunge　down　the　future。　　〃You　must　resent　nothing！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　must　cease　to　be　a　Spanish　woman　when　you　become　my　wife；　and　help　me　as　only　you　can　in　those　inevitable　years　I　have　mapped　out；　and　not　so　much　for　myself　as　for　Russia。　　My　enemies　have　sought　to　persuade　three　sovereigns　that　I　am　a　visionary；　but　I　have　already　accomplished　much　that　met　with　resentment　and　ridicule　when　I　broached　it。　　And　I　know　my　powers！　　I　tingle　with　the　knowledge　of　my　ability　to　carry　to　a　conclusion　every　plan　I　have　thought　worth　the　holding　when　the　ardor　of　conception　was　over。　　I　swear　to　you　that　death　aloneand　I　believe　that　nothing　is　further　aloof　shall　prevent　my　giving　this　country　to　Russia　be…　fore　five　years　have　passed；　and　within　another　brief　span　the　trade　of　China　and　Japan。　　It　is　a　glorious　destiny　for　a　manone　man！to　pass　into　history　as　the　Russian　of　his　century　who　has　done　most　to　add　to　the　extent　and　the　wealth　and　the　power　of　his　empire！　　Does　that　sound　vainglorious；　and　do　you　resent　it？　　You　must　not；　I　tell　you；　you　must　not！〃

Concha　had　never　seen　him　in　such　a　mood。　　Al…　though　he　held　her　so　closely　that　the　horses　were　angrily　biting　each　other；　she　felt　that　for　once　there　was　nothing　personal　in　his　ardor。　　His　eyes　were　blazing；　but　they　stared　as　if　a　great　and　prophetic　panorama　had　risen　in　this　silent　wood；　where　the　long　faded　moss　hung　as　motionless　as　if　by　those　quiet　waters　that　even　the　most　ardent　must　cross　in　his　time。　　She　felt　his　heart　beat　as　she　had　felt　it　before　against　her　soft　breast；　but　she　knew　that　if　he　thought　of　her　at　all　it　was　but　as　a　part　of　himself；　not　as　the　woman　he　impatiently　desired。　But　she　was　sensible　of　no　resentment；　either　for　herself　or　her　race；　which；　indeed；　she　knew　to　be　but　a　wayfarer　in　the　wilderness　engaged　in　a　brief　chimerical　enterprise。　　For　the　first　time　she　felt　her　individuality　melt　into；　commingle　with　his：　and　when　he　lowered　his　gaze；　still　with　that　intensity　of　vision　piercing　the　future；　her　own　eyes　reflected　the　impersonalities　of　his；　and　in　time　he　saw　it。



XXIV

〃We　should　all　wear　black　for　so　mournful　an　oc…　casion；〃　said　Rafaella　Sal；　spreading　out　her　scarlet　skirts。

〃Father　Abella　is　right。　　The　occasion　is　sad　enough　without　giving　it　the　air　of　a　funeral。〃

〃Sad！　　Dios　de　mi　alma！　　Will　he　return？〃

Elena　Castro　shook　her　wise　head。　　She　was　nearly　twenty；　and　four　years　of　matrimony　had　made　her　sceptical　of　man's　capacity　for　romance。　〃Two　years　are　long；　and　he　will　see　many　girls；　and　become　one　again　of　a　life　that　is　always　more　brilliant　than　our　sun　in　May。　　His　eyes　will　be　dazzled；　his　mind　distracted；　full　to　the　brim。　　To　sit　at　table　with　the　Tsar；　to　talk　with　him　alone　in　his　cabinet；　to　have　for　the　asking　audience　of　the　Pope　of　Rome　and　the　King　of　Spain！　　Ay　yi！　　Ay　yi！　　Perhaps　he　will　be　made　a　prince　when　he　re…　turns　to　St。　Petersburg　and　all　the　beautiful　prin…　cesses　will　want　to　marry　him。　　Can　he　remember　this　poor　little　California；　and　even　our　lovely　Con…　cha？　　I　doubt！　　Valgame　Dios；　I　doubt！〃

〃Concha　has　always　been　too　fortunate；〃　said　Rafaella　with　a　touch　of　spite；　for　years　of　waiting　had　tried　her　temper　and　the　sun　always　freckled　her　nose。　　The　flower　of　California　stood　on　the　corridor　of　the　Mission　and　before　the　church　await…　ing　the　guest　of　honor　and　his　escort。　　A　mass　was　to　be　said　in　behalf　of　the　departing　guests；　the　Juno　would　sail　with　the　turn　of　the　afternoon　tide。　Men　and　women　were　in　their　gayest　finery；　an　ex…　otic　mass　of　color　against　the　rough　white…washed　walls；　chattering　as　vivaciously　as　if　the　burden　of　their　conversation　were　not　regret　for　the　Chamber…　lain　and　his　gay　young　lieutenants。　　Concha；　alone；　wore　no　color；　her　frock　was　white；　her　mantilla　black。　　She　stood　somewhat　apart；　but　although　she　was　pale　she　commanded　her　eyes　to　dwell　absently　on　the　shifting　sand　far　down　the　valley；　her　haughty　Spanish　profile　betraying　nothing　of　the　despair　in　her　soul。

〃Yes；　Concha　has　always　been　too　fortunate；〃　re…　peated　Rafaella。　　〃Why　should　she　be　chosen　for　such　a　destinyto　go　to　the　Russian　court　and　wear　a　train　ten　yards　long　of　red　velvet　embroidered　with　gold；　a　white　veil　spangled　with　gold；　a　head…　dress　a　foot　high　set　so　thick　with　jewels　her　head　will　ache　for　a　weekMadre　de　Dios！　　And　we　stay　here　forever　with　white　walls；　horsehair　fur…　niture；　Baja　California　pearls　and　three　silk　dresses　a　year！〃

〃No　one　in　all　Russia　will　look　so　grand　in　court　dress　as　our　Conchita；〃　said　Elena　loyally。　　〃But　I　doubt　if　it　is　the　dress　and　the　state　she　thinks　of　losing　to…day。　　She　will　not　talk　even　to　me　of　him　　Ay　yi！　she　grows　more　reserved　every　day；　our　Concha！except　to　say　she　will　wed　him　when　he　returns；　and　that　I　know；　for　did　not　I　witness　the　betrothal？　　She　only　mocks　me　when　I　beg　her　to　tell　me　if　she　loves　him；　languishes；　or　sings　a　bar　of　some　one　of　our　beautiful　songs　with　ridiculous　words。　　But　she　does。　　She　did　not　sleep　last　night。　　Her　room　is　next　to　mine。　　No；　it　is　of　Rezanov　she　thinks；　and　always。　　Those　proud；　silent　girls；　who　jest　when　others　would　weep　and　use　many　words　and　must　die　without　sympathy　they　have　tragedy　in　their　souls；　ay　yi！　　And　you　think　she　is　fortunate？　　True　she　is　beautiful；　she　is　La　Favorita；　she　receives　many　boxes　from　Mex…　ico；　and　she　has　won　the　love　of　this　Russian。　　But　I　have　not　dared　to　remind　herI　remembered　it　only　yesterdayshe　came　into　this　world　on　the　thirteenth　of　a　month；　and　he　into　her　life　but　one　day　before　the　thirteenth　of　anothernew　style！　True　some　might　say　that　it　was　an　escape；　but　if　he　came　on　the　twelfth；　it　was　on　the　thirteenth　she　began　to　love　himon　the　night　of　the　ball；　of　that　I　am　sure。〃

Rafaella　shuddered　and　crossed　herself。　　〃Poor　Concha！　　Perhaps　in　the　end　she　will　always　stand　apart　like　that。　　Truly　she　is　not　as　others。　　I　have　always　said　it。　　Thanks　be　to　Mary　it　was　Luis　that　wooed　me；　not　the　Russian；　for　I　might　have　been　tempted。　　True　his　eyes　are　blue；　and　only　the　black　could　win　my　heart。　　But　the　court　of　St。　Petersburg！　　Dios　de　mi　vida！　　Did　I　lie　awake　at　night　and　think　of　Concha　Arguello　in　red　velvet　and　jewels　all　over；　I　should　hate　her。　　But　noto…dayI　cannot。　　Two　years！　　Have　I　not　waited　six？　　It　is　eternity　when　one　loves　and　is　young。〃

〃They　come；〃　said　Elena。

The　cavalcade　was　descending　the　sand　hills　on　the　left；　Rezanov　in　full　uniform　between　the　Com…　mandante　and　Luis　Arguello　and　followed　by　a　picked　escort　of　officers　from　Presidio　and　Fort。　The　Californians　wore　full…dress　uniform　of　white　and　scarlet；　Don　Jose　a　blue　velvet　serape；　embroid…　ered　in　gold　with　the　arms　of　Spain。

As　they　dismounted　Rezanov　bowed　ceremoni…　ously　to　the　party　on　the　corridor；　and　they　returned　his　salutation　gravely；　suddenly　silent。　　He　walked　directly　over　to　Concha。

〃We　will　go　in　together；〃　he　said。　　〃It　matters　nothing　what　they　think。　　I　kneel　beside　no　one　else。〃

And　Concha；　with　the　air　of　leading　an　honored　guest　to　the　banquet；　turned　and　walked　with　him　into　the　dark　little　church。

〃Why　did　you　not　wear　a　white　mantilla？〃　he　whispered。　　〃I　do　not　like　that　black　thing。〃

〃I　am　not　a　bride。　　I　knew　we　should　kneel　to…　getherit　would　have　been　ridiculous。　　And　I　could　not　wear　a　colored　reboso　to…day。〃

〃I　should　have　liked　to　fancy　we　were　here