the devotion of enriquez-第3章

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！



sermon　last　Sunday　week；　which　I　am　told　has　created　considerable

attention。〃　　He　stopped　and　coughed　slightly。　　〃I　have　not　yet

heard　from　any　of　the　Roman　clergy；　but　I　am　led　to　believe　that　my

remarks　were　not　ungrateful　to　Catholics　generally。〃



I　was　relieved；　although　still　in　some　wonder　why　he　should　address

me　on　this　topic。　　I　had　a　vague　remembrance　of　having　heard　that

he　had　said　something　on　Sunday　which　had　offended　some　Puritans　of

his　flock；　but　nothing　more。　　He　continued：　〃I　have　just　said　that

I　was　unacquainted　with　the　characteristics　of　the　Spanish…American

race。　　I　presume；　however；　they　have　the　impulsiveness　of　their

Latin　origin。　　They　gesticulateeh？　　They　express　their　gratitude；

their　joy；　their　affection；　their　emotions　generally；　by　spasmodic

movements？　　They　naturally　dancesingeh？〃　　A　horrible　suspicion

crossed　my　mind；　I　could　only　stare　helplessly　at　him。　　〃I　see；〃　he

said　graciously；　〃perhaps　it　is　a　somewhat　general　question。　　I

will　explain　myself。　　A　rather　singular　occurrence　happened　to　me

the　other　night。　　I　had　returned　from　visiting　a　parishioner；　and

was　alone　in　my　study　reviewing　my　sermon　for　the　next　day。　　It

must　have　been　quite　late　before　I　concluded；　for　I　distinctly

remember　my　niece　had　returned　with　her　servant　fully　an　hour

before。　　Presently　I　heard　the　sounds　of　a　musical　instrument　in

the　road；　with　the　accents　of　someone　singing　or　rehearsing　some

metrical　composition　in　words　that；　although　couched　in　a　language

foreign　to　me；　in　expression　and　modulation　gave　me　the　impression

of　being　distinctly　adulatory。　　For　some　little　time；　in　the

greater　preoccupation　of　my　task；　I　paid　little　attention　to　the

performance；　but　its　persistency　at　length　drew　me　in　no　mere　idle

curiosity　to　the　window。　　From　thence；　standing　in　my　dressing…

gown；　and　believing　myself　unperceived；　I　noticed　under　the　large

oak　in　the　roadside　the　figure　of　a　young　man　who；　by　the　imperfect

light；　appeared　to　be　of　Spanish　extraction。　　But　I　evidently

miscalculated　my　own　invisibility；　for　he　moved　rapidly　forward　as

I　came　to　the　window；　and　in　a　series　of　the　most　extraordinary

pantomimic　gestures　saluted　me。　　Beyond　my　experience　of　a　few

Greek　plays　in　earlier　days；　I　confess　I　am　not　an　adept　in　the

understanding　of　gesticulation；　but　it　struck　me　that　the　various

phases　of　gratitude；　fervor；　reverence；　and　exaltation　were

successively　portrayed。　　He　placed　his　hands　upon　his　head；　his

heart；　and　even　clasped　them　together　in　this　manner。〃　　To　my

consternation　the　reverend　gentleman　here　imitated　Enriquez'　most

extravagant　pantomime。　　〃I　am　willing　to　confess；〃　he　continued；

〃that　I　was　singularly　moved　by　them；　as　well　as　by　the　highly

creditable　and　Christian　interest　that　evidently　produced　them。　　At

last　I　opened　the　window。　　Leaning　out；　I　told　him　that　I　regretted

that　the　lateness　of　the　hour　prevented　any　further　response　from

me　than　a　grateful　though　hurried　acknowledgment　of　his

praiseworthy　emotion；　but　that　I　should　be　glad　to　see　him　for　a

few　moments　in　the　vestry　before　service　the　next　day；　or　at　early

candlelight；　before　the　meeting　of　the　Bible　class。　　I　told　him

that　as　my　sole　purpose　had　been　the　creation　of　an　evangelical

brotherhood　and　the　exclusion　of　merely　doctrinal　views；　nothing

could　be　more　gratifying　to　me　than　his　spontaneous　and　unsolicited

testimony　to　my　motives。　　He　appeared　for　an　instant　to　be　deeply

affected；　and；　indeed；　quite　overcome　with　emotion；　and　then

gracefully　retired；　with　some　agility　and　a　slight　saltatory

movement。〃



He　paused。　　A　sudden　and　overwhelming　idea　took　possession　of　me；

and　I　looked　impulsively　into　his　face。　　Was　it　possible　that　for

once　Enriquez'　ironical　extravagance　had　been　understood；　met；　and

vanquished　by　a　master　hand？　　But　the　Rev。　Mr。　Mannersley's　self…

satisfied　face　betrayed　no　ambiguity　or　lurking　humor。　　He　was

evidently　in　earnest；　he　had　complacently　accepted　for　himself　the

abandoned　Enriquez'　serenade　to　his　niece。　　I　felt　a　hysterical

desire　to　laugh；　but　it　was　checked　by　my　companion's　next　words。



〃I　informed　my　niece　of　the　occurrence　in　the　morning　at　breakfast。

She　had　not　heard　anything　of　the　strange　performance；　but　she

agreed　with　me　as　to　its　undoubted　origin　in　a　grateful　recognition

of　my　liberal　efforts　toward　his　coreligionists。　　It　was　she；　in

fact；　who　suggested　that　your　knowledge　of　these　people　might

corroborate　my　impressions。〃



I　was　dumfounded。　　Had　Miss　Mannersley；　who　must　have　recognized

Enriquez'　hand　in　this；　concealed　the　fact　in　a　desire　to　shield

him？　　But　this　was　so　inconsistent　with　her　utter　indifference　to

him；　except　as　a　grotesque　study；　that　she　would　have　been　more

likely　to　tell　her　uncle　all　about　his　previous　performance。　　Nor

could　it　be　that　she　wished　to　conceal　her　visit　to　the　fandango。

She　was　far　too　independent　for　that；　and　it　was　even　possible　that

the　reverend　gentleman；　in　his　desire　to　know　more　of　Enriquez'

compatriots；　would　not　have　objected。　　In　my　confusion　I　meekly

added　my　conviction　to　hers；　congratulated　him　upon　his　evident

success；　and　slipped　away。　　But　I　was　burning　with　a　desire　to　see

Enriquez　and　know　all。　　He　was　imaginative　but　not　untruthful。

Unfortunately；　I　learned　that　he　was　just　then　following　one　of　his

erratic　impulses；　and　had　gone　to　a　rodeo　at　his　cousin's；　in　the

foothills；　where　he　was　alternately　exercising　his　horsemanship　in

catching　and　breaking　wild　cattle　and　delighting　his　relatives　with

his　incomparable　grasp　of　the　American　language　and　customs；　and　of

the　airs　of　a　young　man　of　fashion。　　Then　my　thoughts　recurred　to

Miss　Mannersley。　　Had　she　really　been　oblivious　that　night　to

Enriquez'　serenade？　　I　resolved　to　find　out；　if　I　could；　without

betraying　Enriquez。　　Indeed；　it　was　possible；　after　all；　that　it

might　not　have　been　he。



Chance　favored　me。　　The　next　evening　I　was　at　a　party　where　Miss

Mannersley；　by　reason　of　her　position　and　quality；　was　a

distinguishedI　had　almost　written　a　popularguest。　　But；　as　I

have　formerly　stated；　although　the　youthful　fair　of　the　Encinal

were　flattered　by　her　casual　attentions；　and　secretly　admired　her

superior　style　and　aristocratic　calm；　they　were　more　or　less　uneasy

under　the　dominance　of　her　intelligence　and　education；　and　were

afraid　to　attempt　either　confidence　or　familiarity。　　They　were　also

singularly　jealous　of　her；　for　although　the　average　young　man　was

equally　afraid　of　her　cleverness　and　her　candor；　he　was　not　above

paying　a　tremulous　and　timid　court　to　her　for　its　effect　upon　her

humbler　sisters。　　This　evening　she　was　surrounded　by　her　usual

satellites；　including；　of　course；　the　local　notables　and　special

guests　of　distinction。　　She　had　been　discussing；　I　think；　the

existence　of　glaciers　on　Mount　Shasta　with　a　spectacled　geologist；

and　had　participated　with　charming　frankness　in　a　conversation　on

anatomy　with　the　local　doctor　and　a　learned　professor；　when　she　was

asked　to　take　a　seat　at　the　piano。　　She　played　with　remarkable

skill　and　wonderful　precision；　but　coldly　and　brilliantly。　　As　she

sat　there　in　her　subdued　but　perfectly　fitting　evening　dress；　her

regular　profile　and　short　but　slender　neck　firmly　set　upon　her　high

shoulders；　exhaling　an　atmosphere　of　refined　puritanism　and

provocative　intelligence；　the　utter　incongruity　of　Enriquez'

extravagant　attentions　if　ironical；　and　their　equal　hopelessness　if

not；　seemed　to　me　plainer　than　ever。　　What　had　this　well…poised；

coldly　observant　spinster　to　do　with　that　quaintly　ironic　ruffler；

that　romantic　cynic；　that　rowdy　Don　Quixote；　that　impossible

Enriquez？　　Presently　she　ceased　playing。　　Her　slim；　narrow　slipper；

revealing　her　thin　ankle；　remained　upon　the　pedal；　her　delicate

fingers　were　resting　idly　on　the　keys；　her　head　was　slightly　thrown

back；　and　her　narrow　eyebrows　prettily　knit　toward　the　ceiling　in

an　effort　of　memory。



〃Something　of　Chopin's；〃　suggested　the　geologist；　ardently。



〃That　exquisite　sonata！〃　pleaded　the　doctor。



　〃Suthin'　of　Rubinstein。　　Heard　him　once；〃　said　a　gentleman　of

Siskiyou。　　〃He　just　made　that　pianner　get　up　and　howl。　　Play　Rube。〃



She　shook　her　head　with　parted　lips　and　a　slight　touch　of　girlish

coquetry　in　her　manner。　　Then　her　fingers　suddenly　dropped　upon　the

keys　with　a　glassy　tinkle；　there　were　a　few　quick　pizzicato　chords；

down　went　the　low　pedal　with　a　monotonous　strumming；　and　she

presently　began　to　hum　to　herself。　　I　startedas　well　I　mightfor

I　recognized　one　of　Enriquez'　favorite　and　most　extravagant　guitar

solos。　　It　was　audacious；　it　was　barbaric；　it　was；　I　fear；　vulgar。

As　I　remembered　itas　he　sang　itit　recounted　the　adventures　of

one　Don　Francisco；　a　provincial　gallant　and　roisterer　of　the　most

objectionable　type。　　It　had　one　hundred　and　four　verses；　which

Enriquez　never　spared　me。　　I　shuddered　as　in　a　pleasant；　quiet

voice　the　correct　Miss　Mannersley　warbled　in　musical　praise　of　the

PELLEJO；　or　wineskin；　and　a　eulogy　of　the　dicebox　came　caressingly

from　her　thin　red　lips。　　But　the　company　was　far　differently

affected：　the　strange；　wild　air　and　wilder　accompaniment　were

evidently　catching；　people　moved　toward　the　piano；　somebody

whistled　the　air　from　a　distant　corner；　even　the　faces　of　the

geologist　and　doctor　brightened。



〃A　tarantella；　I　presume？〃　blandly　suggested　the　doctor。



Miss　Mannersley　stopped；　and　rose　carelessly　from　the　piano。　　〃It

is　a　Moorish　gypsy　song　of　the　fifteenth　century；〃　she　said　dryly。



〃It　seemed　sorter　familiar；　too；〃　hesitated　one　of　the　young　men；

timidly；　〃like　as　ifdon't　you　know？you　had　without　knowing　it；

don't　you　know？〃he　blushed　slightly〃sorter　picked　it　up

somewhere。〃



〃I　'picked　it　up；'　as　you　call　it；　in　the　collection　of　medieval

manuscripts　of　the　Harvard　Library；　and　copied　it；〃　returned　Miss

Mannersley　coldly　as　she　turned　away。



But　I　was　not　inclined　to　let　her　off　so　easily。　　I　presently　made

my　way　to　her　side。　　〃Your　uncle　was　complimentary　enough　to

consult　me　as　to　the　meaning　of　the　appearance　of　a　certain

exuberant　Spanish　visitor　at　his　house　the　other　night。〃　　I　looked

into　her　brown　eyes；　but　my　own　slipped　off　her　velvety　pupils

without　retaining　anything。　　Then　she　reinforced　her　gaze　with　a

pince…nez；　and　said　carelessly：



〃Oh；　it's　you？　　How　are　you？　　Well；　could　you　give　him　any

information？〃



〃Only　generally；〃　I　returned；　still　looking　into　her　eyes。　　〃These

people　are　impulsive。　　The　Spanish　blood　is　a　mixture　of　gold　and

quicksilver。〃



She　smiled　slightly。　　〃That　reminds　me　of　your　volatile　friend。　　He

was　mercurial　enough；　certainly。　　Is　he　still　dancing？〃



〃And　singing　sometimes；〃　I　responded　pointedly。　　But　she　only　added

casually；　〃A　singular　creature；〃　without　exhibiting　the　least

consciousness；　and　drifted　away；　leaving　me　none　the　wiser。　　I　felt

that　Enr