to have and to hold-第13节
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； gaping at the spectacle of the wife of their commander （then absent from home） pilloried before them； she gave command； through the crier； that they should take their fill of gazing； whispering； and nudging then and there； forever and a day； and then should go about their business and give her leave to mind her own。
That day was gone； but men still dropped their work to see a woman pass； still cheered when a farthingale appeared over a ship's side； and at church still devoted their eyes to other service than staring at the minister。 In our short but crowded history few things had made a greater stir than the coming in of Sir Edwyn's maids。 They were married now； but they were still the observed of all observers； to be pointed out to strangers； run after by children； gaped at by the vulgar； bowed to with broad smiles by Burgess； Councilor； and commander； and openly contemned by those dames who had attained to a husband in somewhat more regular fashion。 Of the ninety who had arrived two weeks before； the greater number had found husbands in the town itself or in the neighboring hundreds； so that in the crowd that had gathered to withstand the Spaniard； and had stayed to welcome the King's favorite； there were farthingales not a few。
But there were none like the woman whose hand I had kissed in the courting meadow。 In the throng； that day； in her Puritan dress and amid the crowd of meaner beauties； she had passed without overmuch comment； and since that day none had seen her save Rolfe and the minister； my servants and myself； and when 〃The Spaniard！〃 was cried； men thought of other things than the beauty of women； so that until this moment she had escaped any special notice。 Now all that was changed。 The Governor； following the pointing of those insolent eyes； fixed his own upon her in a stare of sheer amazement； the gold…laced quality about him craned necks； lifted eyebrows； and whispered； and the rabble behind followed their betters' example with an emphasis quite their own。
〃Where do you suppose that jewel went； Sir Governor；〃 said the favorite； … 〃that jewel which was overnice to shine at court； which set up its will against the King's； which would have none of that one to whom it had been given？〃
〃I am a plain man； my lord；〃 replied the Governor bluntly。 〃An it please you； give me plain words。〃
My lord laughed； his eyes traveling round the ring of greedily intent faces。 〃So be it； sir；〃 he assented。 〃May I ask who is this lady？〃
〃She came in the Bonaventure；〃 answered the Governor。 〃She was one of the treasurer's poor maids。〃
〃With whom I trod a measure at court not long ago；〃 said the favorite。 〃I had to wait for the honor until the prince had been gratified。〃
The Governor's round eyes grew rounder。 Young Hamor； a…tiptoe behind him； drew a long； low whistle。
〃In so small a community；〃 went on my lord； 〃sure you must all know one another。 There can be no masks worn； no false colors displayed。 Everything must be as open as daylight。 But we all have a past as well as a present。 Now； for instance〃 …
I interrupted him。 〃In Virginia； my lord； we live in the present。 At present； my lord； I like not the color of your lordship's cloak。〃
He stared at me； with his black brows drawn together。 〃It is not of your choosing nor for your wearing； sir；〃 he rejoined haughtily。
〃And your sword knot is villainously tied；〃 I continued。 〃And I like not such a fire…new； bejeweled scabbard。 Mine； you see； is out at heel。〃
〃I see；〃 he said dryly。
〃The pinking of your doublet suits me not； either；〃 I declared。 〃I could make it more to my liking；〃 and I touched his Genoa three…pile with the point of my rapier。
A loud murmur arose from the crowd； and the Governor started forward； crying out； 〃Captain Percy！ Are you mad？〃
〃I was never saner in my life； sir；〃 I answered。 〃French fashions like me not； … that is all； … nor Englishmen that wear them。 To my thinking such are scarcely true…born。〃
That thrust went home。 All the world knew the story of my late Lord Carnal and the waiting woman in the service of the French ambassador's wife。 A gasp of admiration went up from the crowd。 My lord's rapier was out； the hand that held it shaking with passion。 I had my blade in my hand； but the point was upon the ground。 〃I'll lesson you； you madman！〃 he said thickly。 Suddenly； without any warning； he thrust at me； had he been less blind with rage； the long score which each was to run up against the other might have ended where it began。 I swerved； and the next instant with my own point sent his rapier whirling。 It fell at the Governor's feet。
〃Your lordship may pick it up；〃 I remarked。 〃Your grasp is as firm as your honor； my lord。〃
He glared at me； foam upon his lips。 Men were between us now； … the Governor； Francis West； Master Pory； Hamor； Wynne； … and a babel of excited voices arose。 The diversion I had aimed to make had been made with a vengeance。 West had me by the arm。 〃What a murrain is all this coil about； Ralph Percy？ If you hurt hair of his head； you are lost！〃
The favorite broke from the Governor's detaining hand and conciliatory speech。
〃You'll fight； sir？〃 he cried hoarsely。
〃You know that I need not now； my lord；〃 I answered。
He stamped upon the ground with rage and shame； not true shame for that foul thrust； but shame for the sword upon the grass； for that which could be read in men's eyes； strive to hide it as they might； for the open scorn upon one face。 Then； during the minute or more in which we faced each other in silence； he exerted to some effect that will of which he had boasted。 The scarlet faded from his face； his frame steadied； and he forced a smile。 Also he called to his aid a certain soldierly； honest…seeming frankness of speech and manner which he could assume at will。
〃Your Virginian sunshine dazzleth the eyes； sir；〃 he said。 〃Of a verity it made me think you on guard。 Forgive me my mistake。〃
I bowed。 〃Your lordship will find me at your service。 I lodge at the minister's house； where your lordship's messenger will find me。 I am going there now with my wife； who hath ridden a score of miles this morning and is weary。 We give you good…day； my lord。〃
I bowed to him again and to the Governor； then gave my hand to Mistress Percy。 The crowd opening before us； we passed through it； and crossed the parade by the west bulwark。 At the further end was a bit of rising ground。 This we mounted； then； before descending the other side into the lane leading to the minister's house； we turned as by one impulse and looked back。 Life is like one of those endless Italian corridors； painted； picture after picture； by a master hand； and man is the traveler through it； taking his eyes from one scene but to rest them upon another。 Some remain a blur in his mind； some he remembers not； for some he has but to close his eyes and he sees them again； line for line； tint for tint； the whole spirit of the piece。 I close my eyes； and I see the sunshine hot and bright； the blue of the skies； the sheen of the river。 The sails are white again upon boats long lost； the Santa Teresa； sunk in a fight with an Algerine rover two years afterward； rides at anchor there forever in the James； her crew in the waist and the rigging； her master and his mates on the poop； above them the flag。 I see the plain at our feet and the crowd beyond； all staring with upturned faces； and standing out from the group of perplexed and wondering dignitaries a man in black and scarlet； one hand busy at his mouth； the other clenched upon the newly restored and unsheathed sword。 And I see； standing on the green hillock； hand in hand； us two； myself and the woman so near to me； and yet so far away that a common enemy seemed our only tie。
We turned and descended to the green lane and the deserted houses。 When we were quite hidden from those we had left on the bank below the fort； she dropped my hand and moved to the other side of the lane； and thus； with never a word to spare； we walked sedately on until we reached the minister's house。
CHAPTER IX IN WHICH TWO DRINK OF ONE CUP
WAITING for us in the doorway we found Master Jeremy Sparrow； relieved of his battered armor； his face wreathed with hospitable smiles； and a posy in his hand。
〃When the Spaniard turned out to be only the King's minion； I slipped away to see that all was in order；〃 he said genially。 〃Here are roses； madam； that you are not to treat as you did those others。〃
She took them from him with a smile； and we went into the house to find three fair large rooms； something bare of furnishing； but clean and sweet； with here and there a bow pot of newly gathered flowers； a dish of wardens on the table； and a cool air laden with the fragrance of the pine blowing through the open window。
〃This is your demesne；〃 quoth the minister。 〃I have worthy Master Bucke's own chamber upstairs。 Ah； good man； I wish he may quickly recover his strength and come back to his own； and so relieve me of the burden of all this luxury。 I； whom nature meant for an eremite； have no business in kings' chambers such as these。〃
His devout faith in his own distaste for soft living and his longings after a hermit's cell was an edifying spectacle。 So was the evident pride whi
