rezanov-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
since I left Sitka。 To look upon a vast expanse of greento say nothing of possible sportafter a winter of incessant rain and impene… trable forestswhat a prospect！ I beg you will take me off into the wilderness as soon as possible。〃
〃I promise you the Governor shall not withhold his consentand there are bear and deerquail； wild duckyour excellency will enjoy that beauti… ful wild country as I have done。〃 Arguello was enchanted at the prospect of fresh adventure in the company of this fascinating stranger。 〃But we are once more at our poor abode； senor。 I beg you to remember that it is your own。〃
They ascended the steps of the piazza； suddenly deserted； and it seemed to Rezanov that every sense in his being quivered responsively to the poignant sweetness of the Castilian roses。 He throbbed with a sudden exultant premonition that he stood on the threshold of an historic future； with a pagan joy in mere existence； a sudden rush of desire for the keen wild happiness of youth。 Such is the elixir of California in the north and the spring。
They entered a long sala typical of its day and of many to come； whitewashed walls hung with colored prints of the Virgin and saints； horsehair furniture； matting； deep window seats； and a perennial coolness。 The Chamberlain （his court title and the one commonly attached to his name） made himself as comfortable as the slippery chair would permit； and Arguello went for his mother。
Langsdorff； who had lingered on the piazza with the priest； entered in a moment。
〃The good padre tells me that this rose of Cas… tile is the only imported flower in California；〃 he cried； with enthusiasm； for although not a bot… anist； there was a bump between his eyes as big as a child's fist and he had a nose like the prow of a toy ship。 〃Many cuttings were brought from Spain〃
〃What difference does it make where it came from？〃 interrupted Rezanov testily。 〃Is it not enough that it is beautiful； but it must have a pin stuck through it like some poor devil of a butter… fly？〃
〃Your excellency has also the habit to probe into things he deems worthy of his attention；〃 re… torted the offended scientist； but he was obliged to closet his wrath。 An inner door opened and the host reappeared with his mother and a fair demonstration of her virtues。 She was a very large woman dressed loosely in black； but she car… ried herself with an air of complete； if somewhat sleepy； dignity； and it was evident that her beauty had been great。 Her full face had lost its con… tours； but time had spared the fine Roman nose and the white skin； that birthright of the high…bred Castilian。 Arguello presented his family ceremo… niously as the guest of honor rose and bowed with formal deference。
〃My mother； Dona Ignacia Arguello； your ex… cellency； who unites with me in praying that you will regard our home as yours during your so… journ in the north。 My sister； Maria de la Con… cepcion Marcella Arguello； and my little sisters； Ana Paula and Gertrudis Rudisinda。 My brothers： Gervasiosoldado distinguido of the San Francisco Company； Santiago； a cadet in the same company； Francesco and Toribio； whose presence at the table I beg you will overlook； for when we are so fortunate as to be all together； senor； we cannot bear to be separated。 My oldest brother； alasIgnaciois studying for holy or… ders in Mexico； and my sister Isabel visits at the Presidio of Santa Barbara。 I beg that you will be seated； Excellency。〃 And he continued the intro… duction to the lesser luminaries； with equal cour… tesy but fewer periods。
Rezanov exchanged a few pleasant words with his smiling hostess before she returned to her dis… tracted maids preparing the dinner； but his eyes during Arguello's declamation had wandered with a singular fidelity to the beautiful face of the eld… est daughter of the house。 She had responded with a humorous twinkle in her magnificent black eyes and not a hint of diffidence。 As she entered the room his brain had flashed out the thought： 〃Thank heaven for a pretty girl after these three abominable years！〃 Possibly his pleasure would have been salted with pique had he guessed that her thought was the twin of his own。 He was the first man of any world more considerable than the petty court of the viceroy of Mexico that had vis… ited California in her time； and excellent as she found his tall military figure and pale cold face； the novelty of the circumstance fluttered her more。
Dona 〃Concha〃 Arguello was the beauty of California； and although her years were but six… teen her blood was Spanish； and she carried her tall deep figure and fine head with the grace and dignity of an accomplished woman。 She had in… herited the white skin and delicate Roman…Span… ish profile of the Moragas； but there was an in… telligent fire in her eyes； a sharp accentuation of nostril； and a full mobility of mouth； childish； half… developed as that feature still was； that betrayed a strong cross…current forcing the placid maternal flow into rugged and unexplored channels； while assimilating its fine qualities of pride and high breeding。 Gervasio and Santiago resembled their sister in coloring and profile； but lacked her subtle quality of personality and divine innocence。 Luis was more the mother's son than the father'ssav… ing his olive skin； a grandee； modified by the sim… plicities of a soldier's life； amiable and upright。 Dona Ignacia recognized in Concha the quintes… sence of the two opposing streams； and had long since ceased to impose upon a girl who had little else but her liberties； the conventional restrictions of the Spanish maiden。 Concha had already re… ceived many offers of marriage and regarded men as mere swingers of incense。 Moreover； her cul… tivated mind was filled with ideals and ideas far beyond anything California would yield in her day。
As Rezanov； upon Dona Ignacia's retreat； walked directly over to her； she smilingly seated herself on a sofa and swept aside her voluminous white skirts。 She was not sure that she liked him； but in no doubt whatever of her delight at his advent。
Her manners were very simple and artless； as are the manners of most women whom Nature has gifted with complexity and depth。
〃It is now two years and more that we have been excited over the prospect of this visit；〃 she said。 〃But if you will tell me what you have been doing all this time； I； at least； will forgive you； for you will never be able to imagine； senor； how I long to hear of the great world。 I stare at the map； then at the few pictures we have。 I know many books of travel by heart； but I am afraid my imagination is a poor one； for I cannot con… jure up great cities filled with peoplethousands of people！ DIOS DE MI ALMA！ A world where there is something besides mountains and water； grain fields； orchards； forests； earthquakes； and climate？ Will you； senor？〃
〃For quite as many hours as you will listen to me。 I propose a compact。 You shall improve my Spanish。 I will impart all I know of Europe and of Asiaif your curiosity reaches that far。〃
〃Even of Japan？〃 There was a wicked spark in her eye。
〃I see you already have some knowledge of the cause of my delay。〃 His voice was even； but a wound smarted。 〃It is quite true； senorita； that the first embassy to Japan； from which we hoped so much； was a humiliating failure； and that I was played with for six months by a people whom we had regarded as a nation of monkeys。 When my health began to suffer from the long confinement on shipboardwe had previously been fourteen months at seaand I asked to be permitted to live on shore while my claims to an audience were under consideration； I was removed with my suite to a cage on a strip of land nearly surrounded with water； where I had less liberty and exercise than on shipboard。 Finally； I had a ridiculous interview with a 'great man；' in which I accomplished nothing but the preservation of what personal dignity a man may while sitting on his heels； the superb presents of the Tsar were returned to me； and I was politely told to leave。 Japan wanted neither the friendship of Russia nor her gimcracks。 That； senorita； is the history of the first Russian Embassyfor the tenta… tive visit of Adam Lanxmann； twelve years before； can be dignified by no such titleto Oriental waters。 It is to be hoped that Count Golofkin； who was to undertake a similar mission to China； has met with a better fate。〃
Underneath the polished armour of a man who was a courtier when he chose and the dominating spirit always； he was hot and quick of temper。 His light cold eyes glowed with resentment at the danc… ing lights in hers； as he cynically gave her a bald abstract of the unfortunate mission。 He reflected that commonly he would have fitted a different mask to the ugly skull of fact； but this young bar… barian； as he chose to regard her； excited the ele… mental truth in him； defying him to appear at his worst。 He was astonished to see her eyes suddenly soften and her mouth tremble。
〃It must have been a hateful experiencehate… ful！〃 Her voice； beginning on its usual low soft note； rose to a hoarse pitch of indignation。 〃I should have killed somebody！ To be a man； and strong； and caressed all one's life by fortuneand to be as help
