green mansions-第31节
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For a while I listened with keen interest to this dispute； and at length interposed once more on the old man's side。 The poor girl in her petition had unwittingly revealed to me the power I possessed； and it was a pleasing experience to exercise it。 Touching her shoulder again； I assured her that seven or eight days was only a reasonable time in which to prepare for so long a journey。 She instantly yielded； and after one glance at my face； she moved swiftly away into the darker shadows； leaving me alone with the old man。
As we returned together through the now profoundly dark wood； I explained to him how the subject of Riolama had first come up during my conversation with Rima； and he then apologized for the violent language he had used to me。 This personal question disposed of； he spoke of the pilgrimage before him； and informed me in confidence that he intended preparing a quantity of smoke…dried meat and packing it in a bag； with a layer of cassava bread； dried pumpkin slips； and such innocent trifles to conceal it from Rima's keen sight and delicate nostrils。 Finally he made a long rambling statement which； I vainly imagined； was intended to lead up to an account of Rima's origin； with something about her people at Riolama； but it led to nothing except an expression of opinion that the girl was afflicted with a maggot in the brain； but that as she had interest with the powers above； especially with her mother； who was now a very important person among the celestials； it was good policy to submit to her wishes。 Turning to me； doubtless to wink （only I missed the sign owing to the darkness）； he added that it was a fine thing to have a friend at court。 With a little gratulatory chuckle he went on to say that for others it was necessary to obey all the ordinances of the Church； to contribute to its support； hear mass； confess from time to time； and receive absolution； consequently those who went out into the wilderness； where there were no churches and no priests to absolve them； did so at the risk of losing their souls。 But with him it was different： he expected in the end to escape the fires of purgatory and go directly in all his uncleanness to heavena thing； he remarked； which happened to very few； and he； Nuflo； was no saint； and had first become a dweller in the desert； as a very young man； in order to escape the penalty of his misdeeds。
I could not resist the temptation of remarking here that to an unregenerate man the celestial country might turn out a somewhat uncongenial place for a residence。 He replied airily that he had considered the point and had no fear about the future； that he was old； and from all he had observed of the methods of government followed by those who ruled over earthly affairs from the sky； he had formed a clear idea of that place； and believed that even among so many glorified beings he would be able to meet with those who would prove companionable enough and would think no worse of him on account of his little blemishes。
How he had first got this idea into his brain about Rima's ability to make things smooth for him after death I cannot say； probably it was the effect of the girl's powerful personality and vivid faith acting on an ignorant and extremely；superstitious mind。 While she was making that petition to her mother in heaven； it did not seem in the least ridiculous to me： I had felt no inclination to smile； even when hearing all that about the old man's wings being singed to prevent his escape by flying。 Her rapt look； the intense conviction that vibrated in her ringing； passionate tones； the brilliant scorn with which she； a hater of bloodshed； one so tender towards all living things； even the meanest； bade him kill himself； and only hear first how her vengeance would pursue his deceitful soul into other worlds； the clearness with which she had related the facts of the case； disclosing the inmost secrets of her heartall this had had a strange； convincing effect on me。 Listening to her I was no longer the enlightened； the creedless man。 She herself was so near to the supernatural that it seemed brought near me； indefinable feelings； which had been latent in me； stirred into life； and following the direction of her divine； lustrous eyes； fixed on the blue sky above； I seemed to see there another being like herself； a Rima glorified； leaning her pale； spiritual face to catch the winged words uttered by her child on earth。 And even now； while hearing the old man's talk； showing as it did a mind darkened with such gross delusions； I was not yet altogether free from the strange effect of that prayer。 Doubtless it was a delusion； her mother was not really there above listening to the girl's voice。 Still； in some mysterious way； Rima had become to me； even as to superstitious old Nuflo； a being apart and sacred； and this feeling seemed to mix with my passion； to purify and exalt it and make it infinitely sweet and precious。
After we had been silent for some time； I said： 〃Old man； the result of the grand discussion you have had with Rima is that you have agreed to take her to Riolama； but about my accompanying you not one word has been spoken by either of you。〃
He stopped short to stare at me； and although it was too dark to see his face； I felt his astonishment。 〃Senor！〃 he exclaimed； 〃we cannot go without you。 Have you not heard my granddaughter's wordsthat it is only because of you that she is about to undertake this crazy journey？ If you are not with us in this thing； then； senor； here we must remain。 But what will Rima say to that？〃
〃Very well； I will go； but only on one condition。〃
〃What is it？〃 he asked； with a sudden change of tone； which warned me that he was becoming cautious again。
〃That you tell me the whole story of Rima's origin； and how you came to be now living with her in this solitary place； and who these people are she wishes to visit at Riolama。〃
〃Ah； senor； it is a long story； and sad。 But you shall hear it all。 You must hear it； senor； since you are now one of us； and when I am no longer here to protect her； then she will be yours。 And although you will never be able to do more than old Nuflo for her； perhaps she will be better pleased； and you； senor； better able to exist innocently by her side； without eating flesh； since you will always have that rare flower to delight you。 But the story would take long to tell。 You shall hear it all as we journey to Riolama。 What else will there be to talk about when we are walking that long distance； and when we sit at night by the fire？〃
〃No； no； old man； I am not to be put off in that way。 I must hear it before I start。〃
But he was determined to reserve the narrative until the journey； and after some further argument I yielded the point。
CHAPTER XIII
That evening by the fire old Nuflo； lately so miserable； now happy in his delusions； was more than usually gay and loquacious。 He was like a child who by timely submission has escaped a threatened severe punishment。 But his lightness of heart was exceeded by mine； and； with the exception of one other yet to come； that evening now shines in memory as the happiest my life has known。 For Rima's sweet secret was known to me； and her very ignorance of the meaning of the feeling she experienced； which caused her to fly from me as from an enemy； only served to make the thought of it more purely delightful。
On this occasion she did not steal away like a timid mouse to her own apartment； as her custom was； but remained to give that one evening a special grace； seated well away from the fire in that same shadowy corner where I had first seen her indoors； when I had marvelled at her altered appearance。 From that corner she could see my face； with the firelight full upon it； she herself in shadow； her eyes veiled by their drooping lashes。 Sitting there； the vivid consciousness of my happiness was like draughts of strong； delicious wine； and its effect was like wine； imparting such freedom to fancy； such fluency； that again and again old Nuflo applauded； crying out that I was a poet； and begging me to put it all into rhyme。 I could not do that to please him； never having acquired the art of improvisationthat idle trick of making words jingle which men of Nuflo's class in my country so greatly admire； yet it seemed to me on that evening that my feelings could be adequately expressed only in that sublimated language used by the finest minds in their inspired moments； and； accordingly； I fell to reciting。 But not from any modern； nor from the poets of the last century； nor even from the greater seventeenth century。 I kept to the more ancient romances and ballads； the sweet old verse that； whether glad or sorrowful； seems always natural and spontaneous as the song of a bird； and so simple that even a child can understand it。
It was late that night before all the romances I remembered or cared to recite were exhausted； and not until then did Rima come out of her shaded corner and steal silently away to her sleeping…place。
Although I had resolved to go with them； and had set Nuflo's mind at rest on the point； I was bent on getting the request from Rima's own lips； and the next morning the opportunity of seeing her alone presented i
