john bull on the guadalquivir-第3章
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one leg。 But what I wonder at is； how on earth he can afford it！〃
Whereupon Johnson again began to interrogate him in Spanish。
〃He says he has got no children；〃 said Johnson； having received a
reply； 〃and that as he has nobody but himself to look after； he is
able to allow himself such little luxuries。〃
〃Tell him that I say he would be better with a wife and couple of
babies；〃 said Iand Johnson interpreted。
〃He says that he'll think of it some of these days； when he finds
that the supply of fools in the world is becoming short；〃 said
Johnson。
We had nearly done with him now； but after regaining my feet； I
addressed myself once more to the heavy pendules； which hung down
almost under his arm。 I lifted one of these； meaning to feel its
weight between my fingers； but unfortunately I gave a lurch； probably
through the motion of the boat； and still holding by the button； tore
it almost off from our friend's coat。
〃Oh； I am so sorry；〃 I said； in broad English。
〃It do not matter at all；〃 he said； bowing； and speaking with equal
plainness。 And then； taking a knife from his pocket； he cut the
pendule off； leaving a bit of torn cloth on the side of his jacket。
〃Upon my word； I am quite unhappy；〃 said I； 〃but I always am so
awkward。〃 Whereupon he bowed low。
〃Couldn't I make it right？〃 said I； bringing out my purse。
He lifted his hand； and I saw that it was small and white； he lifted
it and gently put it upon my purse； smiling sweetly as he did so。
〃Thank you； no； senor； thank you； no。〃 And then； bowing to us both；
he walked away down into the cabin。
〃Upon my word he is a deuced well…mannered fellow；〃 said I。
〃You shouldn't have offered him money；〃 said Johnson； 〃a Spaniard
does not like it。〃
〃Why； I thought you could do nothing without money in this country。
Doesn't every one take bribes？〃
〃Ah！ yes； that is a different thing； but not the price of a button。
By Jove！ he understood English； too。 Did you see that？〃
〃Yes； and I called him an ass！ I hope he doesn't mind it。〃
〃Oh！ no； he won't think anything about it；〃 said Johnson。 〃That sort
of fellows don't。 I dare say we shall see him in the bull…ring next
Sunday； and then we'll make all right with a glass of lemonade。〃
And so our adventure ended with the man of the gold ornaments。 I was
sorry that I had spoken English before him so heedlessly； and
resolved that I would never be guilty of such gaucherie again。 But；
then； who would think that a Spanish bull…fighter would talk a
foreign language？ I was sorry； also； that I had torn his coat； it
had looked so awkward； and sorry again that I had offered the man
money。 Altogether I was a little ashamed of myself； but I had too
much to look forward to at Seville to allow any heaviness to remain
long at my heart； and before I had arrived at the marvellous city I
had forgotten both him and his buttons。
Nothing could be nicer than the way in which I was welcomed at Mr。
Daguilar's house； or more kindI may almost say affectionatethan
Maria's manner to me。 But it was too affectionate； and I am not sure
that I should not have liked my reception better had she been more
diffident in her tone； and less inclined to greet me with open
warmth。 As it was； she again gave me her cheek to kiss； in her
father's presence； and called me dear John； and asked me specially
after some rabbits which I had kept at home merely for a younger
sister； and then it seemed as though she were in no way embarrassed
by the peculiar circumstances of our position。 Twelve months since I
had asked her to be my wife； and now she was to give me an answer；
and yet she was as assured in her gait； and as serenely joyous in her
tone； as though I were a brother just returned from college。 It
could not be that she meant to refuse me； or she would not smile on
me and be so loving； but I could almost have found it in my heart to
wish that she would。 〃It is quite possible；〃 said I to myself； 〃that
I may not be found so ready for this family bargain。 A love that is
to be had like a bale of goods is not exactly the love to suit my
taste。〃 But then； when I met her again in the morning I could no
more have quarrelled with her than I could have flown。
I was inexpressibly charmed with the whole city； and especially with
the house in which Mr。 Daguilar lived。 It opened from the corner of
a narrow； unfrequented streeta corner like an elbowand； as seen
from the exterior； there was nothing prepossessing to recommend it；
but the outer door led by a short hall or passage to an inner door or
grille； made of open ornamental iron…work； and through that we
entered a court； or patio； as they I called it。 Nothing could be
more lovely or deliciously cool than was this small court。 The
building on each side was covered by trellis…work； and beautiful
creepers； vines； and parasite flowers； now in the full magnificence
of the early summer； grew up and clustered round the windows。 Every
inch of wall was covered； so that none of the glaring whitewash
wounded the eye。 In the four corners of the patio were four large
orange…trees； covered with fruit。 I would not say a word in special
praise of these； remembering that childish promise she had made on my
behalf。 In the middle of the court there was a fountain； and round
about on the marble floor there were chairs； and here and there a
small table； as though the space were really a portion of the house。
It was here that we used to take our cup of coffee and smoke our
cigarettes； I and old Mr。 Daguilar； while Maria sat by； not only
approving； but occasionally rolling for me the thin paper round the
fragrant weed with her taper fingers。 Beyond the patio was an open
passage or gallery； filled also with flowers in pots； and then；
beyond this； one entered the drawing…room of the house。 It was by no
means a princely palace or mansion； fit for the owner of untold
wealth。 The rooms were not over large nor very numerous； but the
most had been made of a small space； and everything had been done to
relieve the heat of an almost tropical sun。
〃It is pretty； is it not？〃 she said； as she took me through it。
〃Very pretty；〃 I said。 〃I wish we could live in such houses。〃
〃Oh； they would not do at all for dear old fat； cold； cozy England。
You are quite different； you know； in everything from us in the
south； more phlegmatic； but then so much steadier。 The men and the
houses are all the same。〃
I can hardly tell why； but even this wounded me。 It seemed to me as
though she were inclined to put into one and the same category things
English； dull； useful； and solid； and that she was disposed to show a
sufficient appreciation for such necessaries of life； though she
herself had another and inner sensea sense keenly alive to the
poetry of her own southern chime； and that I； as being English； was
to have no participation in this latter charm。 An English husband
might do very well； the interests of the firm might make such an
arrangement desirable； such a mariage de convenanceso I argued to
myselfmight be quite compatible withwith heaven only knows what
delights of superterrestial romance； from which I； as being an
English thick…headed lump of useful coarse mortality； was to be
altogether debarred。 She had spoken to me of oranges； and having
finished the survey of the house； she offered me some sweet little
cakes。 It could not be that of such things were the thoughts which
lay undivulged beneath the clear waters of those deep black eyes
undivulged to me； though no one else could have so good a right to
read those thoughts！ It could not be that that noble brow gave index
of a mind intent on the trade of which she spoke so often！ Words of
other sort than any that had been vouchsafed to me must fall at times
from the rich curves of that perfect month。
So felt I then； pining for something to make me unhappy。 Ah； me！ I
know all about it now； and am content。 But I wish that some learned
pundit would give us a good definition of romance； would describe in
words that feeling with which our hearts are so pestered when we are
young； which makes us sigh for we know not what； and forbids us to be
contented with
