dona perecta-第21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！


re　inflicted　upon　you；　making　yourself　mentally　and　physically　ill。　The　courage　which　you　lack　would　restore　you　to　health；　because　you　are　not　really　ill；　my　dear　girl；　you　aredo　you　wish　me　to　say　it？you　are　frightened；　terrified。　You　are　under　what　the　ancients；　not　knowing　how　to　express　it；　called　an　evil　spell。　Courage；　Rosario；　trust　in　me！　Rise　and　follow　me。　That　is　all　I　will　say。〃

〃Ah；　Pepecousin！　I　believe　that　you　are　right；〃　exclaimed　Rosario；　drowned　in　tears。　〃Your　words　resound　within　my　heart；　arousing　in　it　new　energy；　new　life。　Here　in　this　darkness；　where　we　cannot　see　each　other's　faces；　an　ineffable　light　emanates　from　you　and　inundates　my　soul。　What　power　have　you　to　transform　me　in　this　way？　The　moment　I　saw　you　I　became　another　being。　In　the　days　when　I　did　not　see　you　I　returned　to　my　former　insignificance；　my　natural　cowardice。　Without　you；　my　Pepe；　I　live　in　Limbo。　I　will　do　as　you　tell　me；　I　will　arise　and　follow　you。　We　will　go　together　wherever　you　wish。　Do　you　know　that　I　feel　well？　Do　you　know　that　I　have　no　fever：　that　I　have　recovered　my　strength；　that　I　want　to　run　about　and　cry　out；　that　my　whole　being　is　renewed　and　enlarged；　and　multiplied　a　hundred…fold　in　order　to　adore　you？　Pepe；　you　are　right。　I　am　not　sick；　I　am　only　afraid；　or　rather；　bewitched。〃

〃That　is　it；　bewitched。〃

〃Bewitched！　Terrible　eyes　look　at　me；　and　I　remain　mute　and　trembling。　I　am　afraid；　but　of　what？　You　alone　have　the　strange　power　of　calling　me　back　to　life。　Hearing　you；　I　live　again。　I　believe　if　I　were　to　die　and　you　were　to　pass　by　my　grave；　that　deep　under　the　ground　I　should　feel　your　footsteps。　Oh；　if　I　could　see　you　now！　But　you　are　here　beside　me；　and　I　cannot　doubt　that　it　is　you。　So　many　days　without　seeing　you！　I　was　mad。　Each　day　of　solitude　appeared　to　me　a　century。　They　said　to　me；　to…morrow　and　to…morrow；　and　always　to…morrow。　I　looked　out　of　the　window　at　night；　and　the　light　of　the　lamp　in　your　room　served　to　console　me。　At　times　your　shadow　on　the　window　was　for　me　a　divine　apparition。　I　stretched　out　my　arms　to　you；　I　shed　tears　and　cried　out　inwardly；　without　daring　to　do　so　with　my　voice。　When　I　received　the　message　you　sent　me　with　the　maid；　when　I　received　your　letter　telling　me　that　you　were　going　away；　I　grew　very　sad；　I　thought　my　soul　was　leaving　my　body　and　that　I　was　dying　slowly。　I　fell；　like　the　bird　wounded　as　it　flies；　that　falls　and；　falling；　dies。　To…night；　when　I　saw　that　you　were　awake　so　late；　I　could　not　resist　the　longing　I　had　to　speak　to　you；　and　I　came　down　stairs。　I　believe　that　all　the　courage　of　my　life　has　been　used　up　in　this　single　act；　and　that　now　I　can　never　be　any　thing　again　but　a　coward。　But　you　will　give　me　courage；　you　will　give　me　strength；　you　will　help　me；　will　you　not？　Pepe；　my　dear　cousin；　tell　me　that　you　will；　tell　me　that　I　am　strong；　and　I　will　be　strong；　tell　me　that　I　am　not　ill；　and　I　will　not　be　ill。　I　am　not　ill　now。　I　feel　so　well　that　I　could　laugh　at　my　ridiculous　maladies。〃

As　she　said　this　she　felt　herself　clasped　rapturously　in　her　cousin's　arms。　An　〃Oh！〃　was　heard；　but　it　came；　not　from　her　lips；　but　from　his；　for　in　bending　his　head；　he　had　struck　it　violently　against　the　feet　of　the　crucifix。　In　the　darkness　it　is　that　the　stars　are　seen。

In　the　exalted　state　of　his　mind；　by　a　species　of　hallucination　natural　in　the　darkness；　it　seemed　to　Pepe　Rey　not　that　his　head　had　struck　against　the　sacred　foot；　but　that　this　had　moved；　warning　him　in　the　briefest　and　most　eloquent　manner。　Raising　his　head　he　said；　half　seriously；　half　gayly：

〃Lord；　do　not　strike　me；　I　will　do　nothing　wrong。〃

At　the　same　moment　Rosario　took　the　young　man's　hand　and　pressed　it　against　her　heart。　A　voice　was　heard；　a　pure；　grave；　angelic　voice；　full　of　feeling；　saying：

〃Lord　whom　I　adore；　Lord　God　of　the　world；　and　guardian　of　my　house　and　of　my　family；　Lord　whom　Pepe　also　adores；　holy　and　blessed　Christ　who　died　on　the　cross　for　our　sins；　before　thee；　before　thy　wounded　body；　before　thy　forehead　crowned　with　thorns；　I　say　that　this　man　is　my　husband；　and　that；　after　thee；　he　is　the　being　whom　my　heart　loves　most；　I　say　that　I　declare　him　to　be　my　husband；　and　that　I　will　die　before　I　belong　to　another。　My　heart　and　my　soul　are　his。　Let　not　the　world　oppose　our　happiness；　and　grant　me　the　favor　of　this　union；　which　I　swear　to　be　true　and　good　before　the　world；　as　it　is　in　my　conscience。〃

〃Rosario；　you　are　mine！〃　exclaimed　Pepe　Rey；　with　exaltation。　〃Neither　your　mother　nor　any　one　else　shall　prevent　it。〃

Rosario　sank　powerless　into　her　cousin's　arms。　She　trembled　in　his　manly　embrace；　as　the　dove　trembles　in　the　talons　of　the　eagle。

Through　the　engineer's　mind　the　thought　flashed　that　the　devil　existed；　but　the　devil　then　was　he。　Rosario　made　a　slight　movement　of　fear；　she　felt　the　thrill　of　surprise；　so　to　say；　that　gives　warning　that　danger　is　near。

〃Swear　to　me　that　you　will　not　yield　to　them；〃　said　Pepe　Rey；　with　confusion；　observing　the　movement。

〃I　swear　it　to　you　by　my　father's　ashes　that　are〃

〃Where？〃

〃Under　our　feet。〃

The　mathematician　felt　the　stone　rise　under　his　feetbut　no；　it　was　not　rising；　he　only　fancied；　mathematician　though　he　was；　that　he　felt　it　rise。

〃I　swear　it　to　you；〃　repeated　Rosario；　〃by　my　father's　ashes；　and　by　the　God　who　is　looking　at　us　May　our　bodies；　united　as　they　are；　repose　under　those　stones　when　God　wills　to　take　us　out　of　this　world。〃

〃Yes；〃　repeated　the　Pepe　Rey；　with　profound　emotion；　feeling　his　soul　filled　with　an　inexplicable　trouble。

Both　remained　silent　for　a　short　time。　Rosario　had　risen。

〃Already？〃　he　said。

She　sat　down　again。

〃You　are　trembling　again；〃　said　Pepe。　〃Rosario；　you　are　ill；　your　forehead　is　burning。〃

〃I　think　I　am　dying；〃　murmured　the　young　girl　faintly。　〃I　don't　know　what　is　the　matter　with　me。〃

She　fell　senseless　into　her　cousin's　arms。　Caressing　her；　he　noticed　that　her　face　was　covered　with　a　cold　perspiration。

〃She　is　really　ill；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃It　was　a　piece　of　great　imprudence　to　have　come　down　stairs。〃

He　lifted　her　up　in　his　arms；　endeavoring　to　restore　her　to　consciousness；　but　neither　the　trembling　that　had　seized　her　nor　her　insensibility　passed　away；　and　he　resolved　to　carry　her　out　of　the　chapel；　in　the　hope　that　the　fresh　air　would　revive　her。　And　so　it　was。　When　she　recovered　consciousness　Rosario　manifested　great　disquietude　at　finding　herself　at　such　an　hour　out　of　her　own　room。　The　clock　of　the　cathedral　struck　four。

〃How　late　it　is！〃　exclaimed　the　young　girl。　〃Release　me；　cousin。　I　think　I　can　walk。　I　am　really　very　ill。〃

〃I　will　go　upstairs　with　you。〃

〃Oh；　no；　on　no　account！　I　would　rather　drag　myself　to　my　room　on　my　hands　and　feet。　Don't　you　hear　a　noise？〃

Both　were　silent。　The　anxiety　with　which　they　listened　made　the　silence　intense。

〃Don't　you　hear　any　thing；　Pepe？〃

〃Absolutely　nothing。〃

〃Pay　attention。　There；　there　it　is　again。　It　is　a　noise　that　sounds　as　if　it　might　be　either　very；　very　distant；　or　very　near。　It　might　either　be　my　mother's　breathing　or　the　creaking　of　the　vane　on　the　tower　of　the　cathedral。　Ah！　I　have　a　very　fine　ear。〃

〃Too　fine！　Well；　dear　cousin；　I　will　carry　you　upstairs　in　my　arms。〃

〃Very　well；　carry　me　to　the　head　of　the　stairs。　Afterward　I　can　go　alone。　As　soon　as　I　rest　a　little　I　shall　be　as　well　as　ever。　But　don't　you　hear？〃

They　stopped　on　the　first　step。

〃It　is　a　metallic　sound。〃

〃Your　mother's　breathing？〃

〃No；　it　is　not　that。　The　noise　comes　from　a　great　distance。　Perhaps　it　is　the　crowing　of　a　cock？〃

〃Perhaps　so。〃

〃It　sounds　like　the　words；　'I　am　going　there；　I　am　going　there！'　〃

〃Now；　now　I　hear；〃　murmured　Pepe　Rey。

〃It　is　a　cry。〃

〃It　is　a　cornet。〃

〃A　cornet！〃

〃Yes。　Let　us　hurry。　Orbajosa　is　going　to　wake　up。　Now　I　hear　it　clearly。　It　is　not　a　trumpet　but　a　clarionet。　The　soldiers　are　coming。〃

〃Soldiers！〃

〃I　don't　know　why　I　imagine　that　this　military　invasion　is　going　to　be　advantageous　to　me。　I　feel　glad。　Up；　quickly；　Rosario！〃

〃I　feel　glad；　too。　Up；　up！〃

In　an　instant　he　had　carried　her　upstairs；　and　the　lovers　took　a　whispered　leave　of　each　other。

〃I　will　stand　at　the　window　overlooking　the　garden；　so　that　you　may　know　I　have　reached　my　room　safely。　Good…by。〃

〃Good…by；　Rosario。　Take　care　not　to　stumble　against　the　furniture。〃

〃I　can　find　my　way　here　perfectly；　cousin。　We　shall　soon　see　each　other　again。　Stand　at　your　window　if　you　wish　to　receive　my　telegraphic　despatch。〃

Pepe　Rey　did　as　he　was　bade；　but　he　waited　a　long　time；　and　Rosario　did　not　appear　at　the　window。　The　engineer　fancied　he　heard　agitated　voices　on　the　floor　above　him。



CHAPTER　XVIII

THE　SOLDIERS

The　inhabitants　of　Orbajosa　heard　in　the　twilight　vagueness　of　their　morning　slumbers　the　same　sonorous　clarionet；　and　they　opened　their　eyes；　saying：

〃The　soldiers！〃

Some　murmured　to　themselves　between　sleeping　and　waking：

〃At　last　they　have　sent　us　that　rabble。〃

Others　got　out　of　bed　hastily；　growling：

〃Let　us　go　take　a　look　at　those　confounded　soldiers。〃

Some　soliloquized　in　this　way：

〃It　will　be　necessary　to　hurry　up　matters。　They　say　drafts　and　contributions；　we　will　say　blows　and　more　blows。〃

In　another　house　were　heard　these　words　uttered　joyfully：

〃Perhaps　my　son　is　coming！　Perhaps　my　brother　is　coming！〃

Everywhere　people　were　springing　out　of　bed；　dressing　hastily；　opening　the　windows　to　see　the　regiment　that　caused　all　this　excitement　entering　the　city　in　the　early　dawn。　The　city　was　gloom；　silence；　age；　the　army　gayety；　boisterousness；　youth。　As　the　army　entered　the　city　it　seemed　as　if　the　mummy　received　by　some　magic　art　the　gift　of　life　and　sprang　with　noisy　gayety　from　its　damp　sarcophagus　to　dance　around　it。　What　movement；　what　shouting；　what　laughter；　what　merriment！　There　is　nothing　so　interesting　as　a　regiment。　It　is　our　country　in　its　youthful　and　vigorous　aspect。　All　the　ineptitude；　the　turbulence；　the　superstition　at　times；　and　at　times　the　impiety　of　the　country　as　represented　in　the　individual；　disappears　under　the　iron　rule　of　discipline；　which　of　so　many　insignificant　figures　makes　an　imposing　whole。　The　soldier；　or　so　to　say；　the　corpuscle；　separating　at　the　command　〃Break　ranks！〃　from　the　mass　in　which　he　has　led　a　regular　and　at　times　a　sublime　life；　occasionally　preserves　some　of　the　qualities　peculiar　to　the　army。　But　this　is　not　the　general　rule。　The　separation　is　most　often　accompanied　by　a　sudden　deterioration；　with　the　result　that　if　an　army　is　the　glory　and　honor　of　a　nation；　an　assemblage　of　soldiers　may　be　an　insupportable　calamity；　and　the　towns　that　shed　tears　of　joy　and　enthusiasm　when　they　see　a　victorious　battalion　enter　their　precincts；　groan　with　terror　and　tremble　with　apprehension　when　they　see　the　same　soldiers　separate　and　off　duty。

This　last　was　what　happened　in　Orbajosa；　for　in　those　days　there　were　no　glorious　deeds　to　celebrate；　nor　was　there　any　motive　for　weaving　wreaths　or　tracing　triumphal　inscriptions；　or　even　for　making　mention　of　the　exploits　of　our　brave　soldiers；　for　which　reason　all　was　fear　and　suspicion　in　the　episcopal　city；　which；　although　poor；　did　not　lack　treasures　in　chickens；　fruits；　money；　and　maidenhood；　all　of　which　ran