to have and to hold-第8节

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She　met　his　gaze　fully　and　boldly。　〃Memory　plays　us　strange　tricks　at　times；〃　she　told　him　in　a　clear；　slightly　raised　voice；　〃and　it　hath　been　three　years　since　Master　Rolfe　and　his　Indian　princess　were　in　London。　His　memory　hath　played　him　false。〃

She　took　her　seat　in　the　great　chair　which　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　bathed　in　the　sunlight；　and　the　negress　brought　a　cushion　for　her　feet。　It　was　not　until　this　was　done；　and　until　she　had　resigned　her　fan　to　the　slave；　who　stood　behind　her　slowly　waving　the　plumed　toy　to　and　fro；　that　she　turned　her　lovely　face　upon　us　and　bade　us　be　seated。

An　hour　later　a　whippoorwill　uttered　its　cry　close　to　the　window；　through　which　now　shone　the　crescent　moon。　Rolfe　started　up。　〃Beshrew　me！　but　I　had　forgot　that　I　am　to　sleep　at　Chaplain's　to…night。　I　must　hurry　on。〃

I　rose；　also。　〃You　have　had　no　supper！〃　I　cried。　〃I　too　have　forgotten。〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃I　cannot　wait。　Moreover；　I　have　feasted；　…　yea；　and　drunk　deep。〃

His　eyes　were　very　bright；　with　an　exaltation　in　them　as　of　wine。　Mine；　I　felt；　had　the　same　light。　Indeed；　we　were　both　drunk　with　her　laughter；　her　beauty；　and　her　wit。　When　he　had　kissed　her　hand；　and　I　had　followed　him　out　of　the　house　and　down　the　bank；　he　broke　the　silence。

〃Why　she　came　to　Virginia　I　do　not　know　〃　…

〃Nor　care　to　ask；〃　I　said。

〃Nor　care　to　ask；〃　he　repeated；　meeting　my　gaze。　〃And　I　know　neither　her　name　nor　her　rank。　But　　as　I　stand　here；　Ralph；　I　saw　her；　a　guest；　at　that　feast　of　which　I　spoke；　and　Edwyn　Sandys　picked　not　his　maids　from　such　assemblies。〃

I　stopped　him　with　my　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　〃She　is　one　of　Sandys'　maids；〃　I　asserted；　with　deliberation；　〃a　waiting　damsel　who　wearied　of　service　and　came　to　Virginia　to　better　herself。　She　was　landed　with　her　mates　at　Jamestown　a　week　or　more　agone；　went　with　them　to　church　and　thence　to　the　courting　meadow；　where　she　and　Captain　Ralph　Percy；　a　gentleman　adventurer；　so　pleased　each　other　that　they　were　married　forthwith。　That　same　day　he　brought　her　to　his　house；　where　she　now　abides；　his　wife；　and　as　such　to　be　honored　by　those　who　call　themselves　his　friends。　And　she　is　not　to　be　lightly　spoken　of；　nor　comment　passed　upon　her　grace；　beauty；　and　bearing　（something　too　great　for　her　station；　I　admit）；　lest　idle　tales　should　get　abroad。〃

〃Am　I　not　thy　friend；　Ralph？〃　he　asked　with　smiling　eyes。

〃I　have　thought　so　at　times；〃　I　answered。

〃My　friend's　honor　is　my　honor；〃　he　went　on。　〃Where　his　lips　are　sealed　mine　open　not。　Art　content？〃

〃Content；〃　I　said；　and　pressed　the　hand　he　held　out　to　me。

We　reached　the　steps　of　the　wharf；　and　descending　them　he　entered　his　barge；　rocking　lazily　with　the　advancing　tide。　His　rowers　cast　loose　from　the　piles；　and　the　black　water　slowly　widened　between　us。　From　over　my　shoulder　came　a　sudden　bright　gleam　of　light　from　the　house　above；　and　I　knew　that　Mistress　Percy　was　as　usual　wasting　good　pine　knots。　I　had　a　vision　of　the　many　lights　within；　and　of　the　　beauty　whom　the　world　called　my　wife；　sitting　erect；　bathed　in　that　rosy　glow；　in　the　great　armchair；　with　the　turbaned　negress　behind　her。　I　suppose　Rolfe　saw　the　same　thing；　for　he　looked　from　the　light　to　me；　and　I　heard　him　draw　his　breath。

〃Ralph　Percy；　thou　art　the　very　button　upon　the　cap　of　Fortune；〃　he　said。

To　myself　my　laugh　sounded　something　of　the　bitterest；　but　to　him；　I　presume；　it　vaunted　my　return　through　the　darkness　to　the　lit　room　and　its　resplendent　pearl。　He　waved　farewell；　and　the　dusk　swallowed　up　him　and　his　boat。　I　went　back　to　the　house　and　to　her。

She　was　sitting　as　we　had　left　her；　with　her　small　feet　crossed　upon　the　cushion　beneath　them；　her　hands　folded　in　her　silken　lap；　the　air　from　the　waving　fan　blowing　tendrils　of　her　dark　hair　against　her　delicate　standing　ruff。　I　went　and　leaned　against　the　window；　facing　her。

〃I　have　been　chosen　Burgess　for　this　hundred；〃　I　said　abruptly。　〃The　Assembly　meets　next　week。　I　must　be　in　Jamestown　then　and　for　some　time　to　come。〃

She　took　the　fan　from　the　negress；　and　waved　it　lazily　to　and　fro。　〃When　do　we　go？〃　she　asked　at　last。

〃We！〃　I　answered。　〃I　had　thought　to　go　alone。〃

The　fan　dropped　to　the　floor；　and　her　eyes　opened　wide。　〃And　leave　me　here！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Leave　me　in　these　woods；　at　the　mercy　of　Indians；　wolves；　and　your　rabble　of　servants！〃

I　smiled。　〃We　are　at　peace　with　the　Indians；　it　would　be　a　stout　wolf　that　could　leap　this　palisade；　and　the　servants　know　their　master　too　well　to　care　　to　offend　their　mistress。　Moreover；　I　would　leave　Diccon　in　charge。〃

〃Diccon！〃　she　cried。　〃The　old　woman　in　the　kitchen　hath　told　me　tales　of　Diccon！　Diccon　Bravo！　Diccon　Gamester！　Diccon　Cutthroat！〃

〃Granted；〃　I　said。　〃But　Diccon　Faithful　as　well。　I　can　trust　him。〃

〃But　I　do　not　trust　him！〃　she　retorted。　〃And　I　wish　to　go　to　Jamestown。　This　forest　wearies　me。〃　Her　tone　was　imperious。

〃I　must　think　it　over；〃　I　said　coolly。　〃I　may　take　you；　or　I　may　not。　I　cannot　tell　yet。〃

〃But　I　desire　to　go；　sir！〃

〃And　I　may　desire　you　to　stay。〃

〃You　are　a　churl！〃

I　bowed。　〃I　am　the　man　of　your　choice；　madam。〃

She　rose　with　a　stamp　of　her　foot；　and；　turning　her　back　upon　me；　took　a　flower　from　the　table　and　commenced　to　pull　from　it　its　petals。　I　unsheathed　my　sword；　and；　seating　myself；　began　to　polish　away　a　speck　of　rust　upon　the　blade。　Ten　minutes　later　I　looked　up　from　the　task；　to　receive　full　in　my　face　a　red　rose　tossed　from　the　other　side　of　the　room。　The　missile　was　followed　by　an　enchanting　burst　of　laughter。

〃We　cannot　afford　to　quarrel；　can　we？〃　cried　Mistress　Jocelyn　Percy。　〃Life　is　sad　enough　in　this　solitude　without　that。　Nothing　but　trees　and　water　all　day　long；　and　not　a　soul　to　speak　to！　And　I　am　horribly　afraid　of　the　Indians！　What　if　they　were　to　kill　me　while　you　were　away？　You　know　you　swore　before　the　minister　to　protect　me。　You　won't　leave　me　to　the　mercies　of　the　savages；　will　you？　And　I　may　go　to　Jamestown；　may　n't　I？　I　want　to　　go　to　church。　I　want　to　go　to　the　Governor's　house。　I　want　to　buy　a　many　things。　I　have　gold　in　plenty；　and　but　this　one　decent　dress。　You'll　take　me　with　you；　won't　you？〃

〃There's　not　your　like　in　Virginia；〃　I　told　her。　〃If　you　go　to　town　clad　like　that　and　with　that　bearing；　there　will　be　talk　enough。　And　ships　come　and　go；　and　there　are　those　besides　Rolfe　who　have　been　to　London。〃

For　a　moment　the　laughter　died　from　her　eyes　and　lips；　but　it　returned。　〃Let　them　talk；〃　she　said。　〃What　care　I？　And　I　do　not　think　your　ship　captains；　your　traders　and　adventurers；　do　often　dine　with　my　lord　bishop。　This　barbarous　forest　world　and　another　world　that　I　wot　of　are　so　far　apart　that　the　inhabitants　of　the　one　do　not　trouble　those　of　the　other。　In　that　petty　village　down　there　I　am　safe　enough。　Besides；　sir；　you　wear　a　sword。〃

〃My　sword　is　ever　at　your　service；　madam。〃

〃Then　I　may　go　to　Jamestown？〃

〃If　you　will　it　so。〃

With　her　bright　eyes　upon　me；　and　with　one　hand　softly　striking　a　rose　against　her　laughing　lips；　she　extended　the　other　hand。

〃You　may　kiss　it；　if　you　wish；　sir；〃　she　said　demurely。

I　knelt　and　kissed　the　white　fingers；　and　four　days　later　we　went　to　Jamestown。



CHAPTER　VI　　IN　WHICH　WE　GO　TO　JAMESTOWN


IT　was　early　morning　when　we　set　out　on　horseback　for　Jamestown。　I　rode　in　front；　with　Mistress　Percy　upon　a　pillion　behind　me；　and　Diccon　on　the　brown　mare　brought　up　the　rear。　The　negress　and　the　mails　I　had　sent　by　boat。

Now；　a　ride　through　the　green　wood　with　a　noble　horse　beneath　you；　and　around　you　the　freshness　of　the　morn；　is　pleasant　enough。　Each　twig　had　its　row　of　diamonds；　and　the　wet　leaves　that　we　pushed　aside　spilled　gems　upon　us。　The　horses　set　their　hoofs　daintily　upon　fern　and　moss　and　lush　grass。　In　the　purple　distances　deer　stood　at　gaze；　the　air　rang　with　innumerable　bird　notes；　clear　and　sweet；　squirrels　chattered；　bees　hummed；　and　through　the　thick　leafy　roof　of　the　forest　the　sun　showered　gold　dust。　And　Mistress　Jocelyn　Percy　was　as　merry　as　the　morning。　It　was　now　fourteen　days　since　she　and　I　had　first　met；　and　in　that　time　I　had　found　in　her　thrice　that　number　of　moods。　She　could　be　as　gay　and　sweet　as　the　morning；　as　dark　and　vengeful　as　the　storms　that　came　up　of　afternoons；　pensive　as　the　twilight；　stately　as　the　night；　…　in　her　there　met　a　hundred　minds。　Also　she　could　be　childishly　frank　…　and　tell　you　nothing。

To…day　she　chose　to　be　gracious。　Ten　times　in　an　hour　Diccon　was　off　his　horse　to　pluck　this　or　that　　flower　that　her　white　forefinger　pointed　out。　She　wove　the　blooms　into　a　chaplet；　and　placed　it　upon　her　head；　she　filled　her　lap　with　trailers　of　the　vine　that　swayed　against　us；　and　stained　her　fingers　and　lips　with　the　berries　Diccon　brought　her；　she　laughed　at　the　squirrels；　at　the　scurrying　partridges；　at　the　turkeys　that　crossed　our　path；　at　the　fish　that　leaped　from　the　brooks；　at　old　Jocomb　and　his　sons　who　ferried　us　across　the　Chickahominy。　She　was　curious　concerning　the　musket　I　carried；　and　when；　in　an　open　space　in　the　wood；　we　saw　an　eagle　perched　upon　a　blasted　pine；　she　demanded　my　pistol。　I　took　it　from　my　belt　and　gave　it　to　her；　with　a　laugh。　〃I　will　eat　all　of　your　killing；〃　I　said。

She　aimed　the　weapon。　〃A