villa rubein and other stories-第36节
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past fields of corn； where larks were singing。 Up or down； we didn't
draw rein till we came to Dan's hotel。
There was the river gleaming before us under a rainbow mist that
hallowed every shape。 There seemed affinity between the earth and
the sky。 I've never seen that particular soft unity out of Devon。
And every ship； however black or modern； on those pale waters； had
the look of a dream ship。 The tall green woods； the red earth； the
white houses； were all melted into one opal haze。 It was raining；
but the sun was shining behind。 Gulls swooped by usghosts of the
old greedy wanderers of the sea。
We had told our two boatmen to pull us out to the Pied Witcb！ They
started with great resolution； then rested on their oars。
〃The Pied Witch； zurr？〃 asked one politely； 〃an' which may her be？〃
That's the West countryman all over！ Never say you 〃nay；〃 never lose
an opportunity； never own he doesn't know； or can't do anything
independence； amiability； and an eye to the main chance。 We
mentioned Pearse's name。
〃Capt'n Zach'ry Pearse！〃 They exchanged a look half…amused； half…
admiring。
〃The Zunflaower； yu mane。 That's her。 Zunflaower； ahoy！〃 As we
mounted the steamer's black side I heard one say：
〃Pied Witch！ A pra…aper name thata dandy name for her！〃 They
laughed as they made fast。
The mate of the Sunflower； or Pied Witcb； or whatever she was called；
met usa tall young fellow in his shirtsleeves； tanned to the roots
of his hair； with sinewy； tattooed arms； and grey eyes； charred round
the rims from staring at weather。
〃The skipper is on board；〃 he said。 〃We're rather busy； as you see。
Get on with that； you sea…cooks；〃 he bawled at two fellows who were
doing nothing。 All over the ship； men were hauling； splicing； and
stowing cargo。
〃To…day's Friday： we're off on Wednesday with any luck。 Will you
come this way？〃 He led us down the companion to a dark hole which he
called the saloon。 〃Names？ What！ are you Mr。 Treffry？ Then we're
partners！〃 A schoolboy's glee came on his face。
〃Look here！〃 he said； 〃I can show you something；〃 and he unlocked the
door of a cabin。 There appeared to be nothing in it but a huge piece
of tarpaulin； which depended； bulging； from the topmost bunk。 He
pulled it up。 The lower bunk had been removed； and in its place was
the ugly body of a dismounted Gatling gun。
〃Got six of them；〃 he whispered； with unholy mystery； through which
his native frankness gaped out。 〃Worth their weight in gold out
there just now； the skipper says。 Got a heap of rifles； too； and
lots of ammunition。 He's given me a share。 This is better than the
P。 and O。； and playing deck cricket with the passengers。 I'd made up
my mind already to chuck that； and go in for plantin' sugar； when I
ran across the skipper。 Wonderful chap； the skipper！ I'll go and
tell him。 He's been out all night； only came aboard at four bells；
having a nap now； but he won't mind that for you。〃
Off he went。 I wondered what there was in Zachary Pearse to attract
a youngster of this sort； one of the customary twelve children of
some country parson； no doubt…burning to shoot a few niggers； and for
ever frank and youthful。
He came back with his hands full of bottles。
〃What'll you drink？ The skipper'll be here in a jiffy。 Excuse my
goin' on deck。 We're so busy。〃
And in five minutes Zachary Pearse did come。 He made no attempt to
shake hands； for which I respected him。 His face looked worn； and
more defiant than usual。
〃Well； gentlemen？〃 he said。
〃We've come to ask what you're going to do？〃 said Dan。
〃I don't know；〃 answered Pearse； 〃that that's any of your business。〃
Dan's little eyes were like the eyes of an angry pig。
〃You've got five hundred pounds of mine；〃 he said； 〃why do you think
I gave it you？〃
Zachary bit his fingers。
〃That's no concern of mine；〃 he said。 〃I sail on Wednesday。 Your
money's safe。〃
〃Do you know what I think of you？〃 said Dan。
〃No； and you'd better not tell me！〃 Then； with one of his peculiar
changes； he smiled： 〃As you like； though。〃
Dan's face grew very dark。 〃Give me a plain answer；〃 he said： 〃What
are you going to do about her？〃
Zachary looked up at him from under his brows。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Are you cur enough to deny that you've married her？〃
Zachary looked at him coolly。 〃Not at all；〃 he said。
〃What in God's name did you do it for？〃
〃You've no monopoly in the post of husband； Mr。 Treffry。〃
〃To put a child in that positionD！ Haven't you the heart of a man？
What d' ye come sneaking in at night for？ By Gad！ Don't you know
you've done a beastly thing？〃
Zachary's face darkened； he clenched his fists。 Then he seemed to
shut his anger into himself。
〃You wanted me to leave her to you；〃 he sneered。 〃I gave her my
promise that I'd take her out there； and we'd have gone off on
Wednesday quietly enough； if you hadn't come and nosed the whole
thing out with your infernal dog。 The fat's in the fire！ There's no
reason why I should take her now。 I'll come back to her a rich man；
or not at all。〃
〃And in the meantime？〃 I slipped in。
He turned to me； in an ingratiating way。
〃I would have taken her to save the fussI really wouldit's not my
fault the thing's come out。 I'm on a risky job。 To have her with me
might ruin the whole thing； it would affect my nerve。 It isn't safe
for her。〃
〃And what's her position to be；〃 I said； 〃while you're away？ Do you
think she'd have married you if she'd known you were going to leave
her like this？ You ought to give up this business。
You stole her。 Her life's in your hands； she's only a child！〃
A quiver passed over his face； it showed that he was suffering。
〃Give it up！〃 I urged。
〃My last farthing's in it；〃 he sighed； 〃the chance of a lifetime。〃
He looked at me doubtfully； appealingly； as if for the first time in
his life he had been given a glimpse of that dilemma of consequences
which his nature never recognises。 I thought he was going to give
in。 Suddenly； to my horror； Dan growled； 〃Play the man！〃
Pearse turned his head。 〃I don't want your advice anyway；〃 he said；
〃I'll not be dictated to。〃
〃To your last day；〃 said Dan； 〃you shall answer to me for the way you
treat her。〃
Zachary smiled。
〃Do you see that fly？〃 he said。 〃WelI care for you as little as
this；〃 and he flicked the fly off his white trousers。 〃Good…
morning。。。！〃
The noble mariners who manned our boat pulled lustily for the shore；
but we had hardly shoved off' when a storm of rain burst over the
ship； and she seemed to vanish； leaving a picture on my eyes of the
mate waving his cap above the rail； with his tanned young face bent
down at us； smiling； keen； and friendly。
。。。。。。 We reached the shore drenched； angry with ourselves； and with
each other； I started sulkily for home。
As I rode past an orchard； an apple； loosened by the rainstorm； came
down with a thud。
〃The apples were ripe and ready to fall；
Oh！ heigh…ho！ and ready to fall。〃
I made up my mind to pack； and go away。 But there's a strangeness； a
sort of haunting fascination in it all。 To you； who don't know the
people； it may only seem a piece of rather sordid folly。 But it
isn't the good； the obvious； the useful that puts a spell on us in
life。 It's the bizarre； the dimly seen； the mysterious for good or
evil。
The sun was out again when I rode up to the farm； its yellow thatch
shone through the trees as if sheltering a store of gladness and good
news。 John Ford himself opened the door to me。
He began with an apology； which made me feel more than ever an
intruder； then he said：
〃I have not spoken to my granddaughterI waited to see Dan Treffry。〃
He was stern and sad…eyed； like a man with a great weight of grief on
his shoulders。 He looked as if he had not slept； his dress was out
of order； he had not taken his clothes off； I think。 He isn't a man
whom you can pity。 I felt I had taken a liberty in knowing of the
matter at all。 When I told him where we had been； he said：
〃It was good of you to take this trouble。 That you should have had
to！ But since such things have come to pass〃 He made a gesture
full of horror。 He gave one the impression of a man whose pride was
struggling against a mortal hurt。 Presently he asked：
〃You saw him； you say？ He admitted this marriage？ Did he give an
explanation？〃
I tried to make Pearse's point of view clear。 Before this old man；
with his inflexible will and sense of duty； I felt as if I held a
brief for Zachary； and must try to do him justice。
〃Let me understand；〃 he said at last。 〃He stole her； you say； to
make sure； and deserts her within a fortnight。〃
〃He says he meant to take her〃
〃Do you believe that？〃
Before I c
