to have and to hold-第5节
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ot upon the heels of another； as they had done an hour agone。
〃I must first satisfy the treasurer；〃 I said； coming to a halt within fifty feet of the now deserted high places。
She drew her hand from mine； and looked me up and down。
〃How much is it？〃 she asked at last。 〃I will pay it。〃
I stared at her。
〃Can't you speak？〃 she cried； with a stamp of her foot。 〃At what am I valued？ Ten pounds … fifty pounds〃 …
〃At one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco； madam；〃 I said dryly。 〃I will pay it myself。 To what name upon the ship's list do you answer？〃
〃Patience Worth；〃 she replied。
I left her standing there； and went upon my errand with a whirling brain。 Her enrollment in that company proclaimed her meanly born； and she bore herself as of blood royal； of her own free will she had crossed an ocean to meet this day； and she held in passionate hatred this day and all that it contained； she was come to Virginia to better her condition； and the purse which she had drawn from her bosom was filled with gold pieces。 To another I would have advised caution； delay； application to the Governor； inquiry； for myself I cared not to make inquiries。
The treasurer gave me my receipt； and I procured； from the crowd around him； Humfrey Kent； a good man and true； and old Belfield； the perfumer； for witnesses。 With them at my heels I went back to her； and； giving her my hand； was making for the nearest minister； when a voice at a little distance hailed me； crying out； 〃This way； Captain Percy！〃
I turned toward the voice； and beheld the great figure of Master Jeremy Sparrow sitting； cross…legged like the Grand Turk； upon a grassy hillock； and beckoning to me from that elevation。
〃Our acquaintance hath been of the shortest；〃 he said genially； when the maid； the witnesses； and I had reached the foot of the hillock； 〃but I have taken a liking to you and would fain do you a service。 Moreover； I lack employment。 The maids take me for a hedge parson； and sheer off to my brethren； who truly are of a more clerical appearance。 Whereas if they could only look upon the inner man！ You have been long in choosing； but have doubtless chosen〃 … He glanced from me to the woman beside me； and broke off with open mouth and staring eyes。 There was excuse； for her beauty was amazing。 〃A paragon；〃 he ended； recovering himself。
〃Marry us quickly； friend；〃 I said。 〃Clouds are gathering； and we have far to go。〃
He came down from his mound； and we went and stood before him。 I had around my neck the gold chain given me upon a certain occasion by Prince Maurice； and in lieu of other ring I now twisted off the smallest link and gave it to her。
〃Your name？〃 asked Master Sparrow； opening his book。
〃Ralph Percy； Gentleman。〃
〃And yours？〃 he demanded； staring at her with a somewhat too apparent delight in her beauty。
She flushed richly and bit her lip。
He repeated the question。
She stood a minute in silence； her eyes upon the darkening sky。 Then she said in a low voice； 〃Jocelyn Leigh。〃
It was not the name I had watched the Cape Merchant strike off his list。 I turned upon her and made her meet my eyes。 〃What is your name？〃 I demanded。 〃Tell me the truth！〃
〃I have told it；〃 she answered proudly。 〃It is Jocelyn Leigh。〃
I faced the minister again。 〃Go on；〃 I said briefly。
〃The Company commands that no constraint be put upon its poor maids。 Wherefore； do you marry this man of your own free will and choice？〃
〃Ay；〃 she said； 〃of my own free will。〃
Well； we were married； and Master Jeremy Sparrow wished us joy； and Kent would have kissed the bride had I not frowned him off。 He and Belfield strode away； and I left her there； and went to get her bundle from the house that had sheltered her overnight。 Returning； I found her seated on the turf； her chin in her hand and her dark eyes watching the distant play of lightning。 Master Sparrow had left his post； and was nowhere to be seen。
I gave her my hand and led her to the shore； then loosed my boat and helped her aboard。 I was pushing off when a voice hailed us from the bank； and the next instant a great bunch of red roses whirled past me and fell into her lap。 〃Sweets to the sweet； you know；〃 said Master Jeremy Sparrow genially。 〃Goodwife Allen will never miss them。〃
I was in two minds whether to laugh or to swear； … for I had never given her flowers； … when she settled the question for me by raising the crimson mass and bestowing it upon the flood。
A sudden puff of wind brought the sail around； hiding his fallen countenance。 The wind freshened； coming from the bay； and the boat was off like a startled deer。 When I next saw him he had recovered his equanimity； and； with a smile upon his rugged features； was waving us a farewell。 I looked at the beauty opposite me； and； with a sudden movement of pity for him； mateless； stood up and waved to him vigorously in turn。
CHAPTER IV IN WHICH I AM LIKE TO REPENT AT LEISURE
WHEN we had passed the mouth of the Chickahominy； I broke the silence； now prolonged beyond reason； by pointing to the village upon its bank； and telling her something of Smith's expedition up that river； ending by asking her if she feared the savages。
When at length she succeeded in abstracting her attention from the clouds； it was to answer in the negative； in a tone of the supremest indifference； after which she relapsed into her contemplation of the weather。
Further on I tried again。 〃That is Kent's； yonder。 He brought his wife from home last year。 What a hedge of sunflowers she has planted！ If you love flowers； you will find those of paradise in these woods。〃
No answer。
Below Martin…Brandon we met a canoe full of Paspaheghs； bound upon a friendly visit to some one of the down…river tribes； for in the bottom of the boat reposed a fat buck； and at the feet of the young men lay trenchers of maize cakes and of late mulberries。 I hailed them； and when we were alongside held up the brooch from my hat； then pointed to the purple fruit。 The exchange was soon made； they sped away； and I placed the mulberries upon the thwart beside her。
〃I am not hungry；〃 she said coldly。 〃Take them away。〃
I bit my lip； and returned to my place at the tiller。 This rose was set with thorns； and already I felt their sting。 Presently she leaned back in the nest I had made for her。 〃I wish to sleep；〃 she said haughtily； and； turning her face from me； pillowed her head upon her arms。
I sat； bent forward； the tiller in my hand； and stared at my wife in some consternation。 This was not the tame pigeon； the rosy； humble； domestic creature who was to make me a home and rear me children。 A sea bird with broad white wings swooped down upon the water； now dark and ridged； rested there a moment； then swept away into the heart of the gathering storm。 She was liker such an one。 Such birds were caught at times； but never tamed and never kept。
The lightning； which had played incessantly in pale flashes across the low clouds in the south； now leaped to higher peaks and became more vivid； and the muttering of the thunder changed to long； booming peals。 Thirteen years before； the Virginia storms had struck us with terror。 Compared with those of the Old World we had left； they were as cannon to the whistling of arrows； as breakers on an iron coast to the dull wash of level seas。 Now they were nothing to me； but as the peals changed to great crashes as of falling cities； I marveled to see my wife sleeping so quietly。 The rain began to fall； slowly； in large sullen drops； and I rose to cover her with my cloak。 Then I saw that the sleep was feigned； for she was gazing at the storm with wide eyes； though with no fear in their dark depths。 When I moved they closed； and when I reached her the lashes still swept her cheeks； and she breathed evenly through parted lips。 But； against her will； she shrank from my touch as I put the cloak about her； and when I had returned to my seat； I bent to one side and saw； as I had expected to see； that her eyes were wide open again。 If she had been one whit less beautiful； I would have wished her back at Jamestown； back on the Atlantic； back at whatever outlandish place； where manners were unknown； that had owned her and cast her out。 Pride and temper！ I set my lips； and vowed that she should find her match。
The storm did not last。 Ere we had reached Piersey's the rain had ceased and the clouds were breaking； above Chaplain's Choice hung a great rainbow； we passed Tants Weyanoke in the glory of the sunset； all shattered gold and crimson。 Not a word had been spoken。 I sat in a humor grim enough； and she lay there before me； wide awake； staring at the shifting banks and running water； and thinking that I thought she slept。
At last my own wharf rose before me through the gathering dusk； and beyond it shone out a light； for I had told Diccon to set my house in order； and to provide fire and torches； that my wife might see I wished to do her honor。 I looked at that wife； and of a sudden the anger in my heart melted away。 It was a wilderness vast and dreadful to which she had come。 The mighty stream； the towering forests； the black skies and deafening thunder； the wild cries of bird and beast the savages； uncouth and terrible； … for a moment I s
