to have and to hold-第11章

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〃Where　do　you　suppose　that　jewel　went；　Sir　Governor；〃　said　the　favorite；　…　〃that　jewel　which　was　overnice　to　shine　at　court；　which　set　up　its　will　against　the　King's；　which　would　have　none　of　that　one　to　whom　it　had　been　given？〃

〃I　am　a　plain　man；　my　lord；〃　replied　the　Governor　bluntly。　〃An　it　please　you；　give　me　plain　words。〃

My　lord　laughed；　his　eyes　traveling　round　the　ring　of　greedily　intent　faces。　〃So　be　it；　sir；〃　he　assented。　〃May　I　ask　who　is　this　lady？〃

〃She　came　in　the　Bonaventure；〃　answered　the　Governor。　〃She　was　one　of　the　treasurer's　poor　maids。〃

〃With　whom　I　trod　a　measure　at　court　not　long　ago；〃　said　the　favorite。　〃I　had　to　wait　for　the　honor　until　the　prince　had　been　gratified。〃

The　Governor's　round　eyes　grew　rounder。　Young　Hamor；　a…tiptoe　behind　him；　drew　a　long；　low　whistle。

〃In　so　small　a　community；〃　went　on　my　lord；　〃sure　you　must　all　know　one　another。　There　can　be　no　masks　worn；　no　false　colors　displayed。　Everything　must　be　as　open　as　daylight。　But　we　all　have　a　past　as　well　as　a　present。　Now；　for　instance〃　…

I　interrupted　him。　〃In　Virginia；　my　lord；　we　live　in　the　present。　At　present；　my　lord；　I　like　not　the　color　of　your　lordship's　cloak。〃

He　stared　at　me；　with　his　black　brows　drawn　together。　〃It　is　not　of　your　choosing　nor　for　your　wearing；　sir；〃　he　rejoined　haughtily。

〃And　your　sword　knot　is　villainously　tied；〃　I　continued。　〃And　I　like　not　such　a　fire…new；　bejeweled　scabbard。　Mine；　you　see；　is　out　at　heel。〃

〃I　see；〃　he　said　dryly。

〃The　pinking　of　your　doublet　suits　me　not；　either；〃　I　declared。　〃I　could　make　it　more　to　my　liking；〃　and　I　touched　his　Genoa　three…pile　with　the　point　of　my　rapier。

A　loud　murmur　arose　from　the　crowd；　and　the　Governor　started　forward；　crying　out；　〃Captain　Percy！　Are　you　mad？〃

〃I　was　never　saner　in　my　life；　sir；〃　I　answered。　〃French　fashions　like　me　not；　…　that　is　all；　…　nor　Englishmen　that　wear　them。　To　my　thinking　such　are　scarcely　true…born。〃

That　thrust　went　home。　All　the　world　knew　the　　story　of　my　late　Lord　Carnal　and　the　waiting　woman　in　the　service　of　the　French　ambassador's　wife。　A　gasp　of　admiration　went　up　from　the　crowd。　My　lord's　rapier　was　out；　the　hand　that　held　it　shaking　with　passion。　I　had　my　blade　in　my　hand；　but　the　point　was　upon　the　ground。　〃I'll　lesson　you；　you　madman！〃　he　said　thickly。　Suddenly；　without　any　warning；　he　thrust　at　me；　had　he　been　less　blind　with　rage；　the　long　score　which　each　was　to　run　up　against　the　other　might　have　ended　where　it　began。　I　swerved；　and　the　next　instant　with　my　own　point　sent　his　rapier　whirling。　It　fell　at　the　Governor's　feet。

〃Your　lordship　may　pick　it　up；〃　I　remarked。　〃Your　grasp　is　as　firm　as　your　honor；　my　lord。〃

He　glared　at　me；　foam　upon　his　lips。　Men　were　between　us　now；　…　the　Governor；　Francis　West；　Master　Pory；　Hamor；　Wynne；　…　and　a　babel　of　excited　voices　arose。　The　diversion　I　had　aimed　to　make　had　been　made　with　a　vengeance。　West　had　me　by　the　arm。　〃What　a　murrain　is　all　this　coil　about；　Ralph　Percy？　If　you　hurt　hair　of　his　head；　you　are　lost！〃

The　favorite　broke　from　the　Governor's　detaining　hand　and　conciliatory　speech。

〃You'll　fight；　sir？〃　he　cried　hoarsely。

〃You　know　that　I　need　not　now；　my　lord；〃　I　answered。

He　stamped　upon　the　ground　with　rage　and　shame；　not　true　shame　for　that　foul　thrust；　but　shame　for　the　sword　upon　the　grass；　for　that　which　could　be　read　in　men's　eyes；　strive　to　hide　it　as　they　might；　for　the　open　scorn　upon　one　face。　Then；　during　the　minute　or　more　in　which　we　faced　each　other　in　silence；　he　exerted　to　some　effect　that　will　of　which　he　had　　boasted。　The　scarlet　faded　from　his　face；　his　frame　steadied；　and　he　forced　a　smile。　Also　he　called　to　his　aid　a　certain　soldierly；　honest…seeming　frankness　of　speech　and　manner　which　he　could　assume　at　will。

〃Your　Virginian　sunshine　dazzleth　the　eyes；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃Of　a　verity　it　made　me　think　you　on　guard。　Forgive　me　my　mistake。〃

I　bowed。　〃Your　lordship　will　find　me　at　your　service。　I　lodge　at　the　minister's　house；　where　your　lordship's　messenger　will　find　me。　I　am　going　there　now　with　my　wife；　who　hath　ridden　a　score　of　miles　this　morning　and　is　weary。　We　give　you　good…day；　my　lord。〃

I　bowed　to　him　again　and　to　the　Governor；　then　gave　my　hand　to　Mistress　Percy。　The　crowd　opening　before　us；　we　passed　through　it；　and　crossed　the　parade　by　the　west　bulwark。　At　the　further　end　was　a　bit　of　rising　ground。　This　we　mounted；　then；　before　descending　the　other　side　into　the　lane　leading　to　the　minister's　house；　we　turned　as　by　one　impulse　and　looked　back。　Life　is　like　one　of　those　endless　Italian　corridors；　painted；　picture　after　picture；　by　a　master　hand；　and　man　is　the　traveler　through　it；　taking　his　eyes　from　one　scene　but　to　rest　them　upon　another。　Some　remain　a　blur　in　his　mind；　some　he　remembers　not；　for　some　he　has　but　to　close　his　eyes　and　he　sees　them　again；　line　for　line；　tint　for　tint；　the　whole　spirit　of　the　piece。　I　close　my　eyes；　and　I　see　the　sunshine　hot　and　bright；　the　blue　of　the　skies；　the　sheen　of　the　river。　The　sails　are　white　again　upon　boats　long　lost；　the　Santa　Teresa；　sunk　in　a　fight　with　an　Algerine　rover　two　years　afterward；　rides　at　anchor　there　forever　in　the　James；　her　crew　in　the　waist　and　the　rigging；　her　master　and　his　mates　on　　the　poop；　above　them　the　flag。　I　see　the　plain　at　our　feet　and　the　crowd　beyond；　all　staring　with　upturned　faces；　and　standing　out　from　the　group　of　perplexed　and　wondering　dignitaries　a　man　in　black　and　scarlet；　one　hand　busy　at　his　mouth；　the　other　clenched　upon　the　newly　restored　and　unsheathed　sword。　And　I　see；　standing　on　the　green　hillock；　hand　in　hand；　us　two；　myself　and　the　woman　so　near　to　me；　and　yet　so　far　away　that　a　common　enemy　seemed　our　only　tie。

We　turned　and　descended　to　the　green　lane　and　the　deserted　houses。　When　we　were　quite　hidden　from　those　we　had　left　on　the　bank　below　the　fort；　she　dropped　my　hand　and　moved　to　the　other　side　of　the　lane；　and　thus；　with　never　a　word　to　spare；　we　walked　sedately　on　until　we　reached　the　minister's　house。



CHAPTER　IX　　IN　WHICH　TWO　DRINK　OF　ONE　CUP


WAITING　for　us　in　the　doorway　we　found　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow；　relieved　of　his　battered　armor；　his　face　wreathed　with　hospitable　smiles；　and　a　posy　in　his　hand。

〃When　the　Spaniard　turned　out　to　be　only　the　King's　minion；　I　slipped　away　to　see　that　all　was　in　order；〃　he　said　genially。　〃Here　are　roses；　madam；　that　you　are　not　to　treat　as　you　did　those　others。〃

She　took　them　from　him　with　a　smile；　and　we　went　into　the　house　to　find　three　fair　large　rooms；　something　bare　of　furnishing；　but　clean　and　sweet；　with　here　and　there　a　bow　pot　of　newly　gathered　flowers；　a　dish　of　wardens　on　the　table；　and　a　cool　air　laden　with　the　fragrance　of　the　pine　blowing　through　the　open　window。

〃This　is　your　demesne；〃　quoth　the　minister。　〃I　have　worthy　Master　Bucke's　own　chamber　upstairs。　Ah；　good　man；　I　wish　he　may　quickly　recover　his　strength　and　come　back　to　his　own；　and　so　relieve　me　of　the　burden　of　all　this　luxury。　I；　whom　nature　meant　for　an　eremite；　have　no　business　in　kings'　chambers　such　as　these。〃

His　devout　faith　in　his　own　distaste　for　soft　living　and　his　longings　after　a　hermit's　cell　was　an　edifying　spectacle。　So　was　the　evident　pride　which　he　took　in　his　domain；　the　complacence　with　which　he　pointed　　out　the　shady；　well…stocked　garden；　and　the　delight　with　which　he　produced　and　set　upon　the　table　a　huge　pasty　and　a　flagon　of　wine。

〃It　is　a　fast　day　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　may　neither　eat　nor　drink　until　the　sun　goes　down。　The　flesh　is　a　strong　giant；　very　full　of　pride　and　lust　of　living；　and　the　spirit　must　needs　keep　watch　and　ward；　seizing　every　opportunity　to　mortify　and　deject　its　adversary。　Goodwife　Allen　is　still　gaping　with　the　crowd　at　the　fort；　and　your　man　and　maid　have　not　yet　come；　but　I　shall　be　overhead　if　you　need　aught。　Mistress　Percy　must　want　rest　after　her　ride。〃

He　was　gone；　leaving　us　two　alone　together。　She　stood　opposite　me；　beside　the　window；　from　which　she　had　not　moved　since　entering　the　room。　The　color　was　still　in　her　cheeks；　the　light　in　her　eyes；　and　she　still　held　the　roses　with　which　Sparrow　had　heaped　her　arms。　I　was　moving　to　the　table。

〃Wait！〃　she　said；　and　I　turned　toward　her　again。

〃Have　you　no　questions　to　ask？〃　she　demanded。

I　shook　my　head。　〃None；　madam。〃

〃I　was　the　King's　ward！〃　she　cried。

I　bowed；　but　spoke　no　word；　though　she　waited　for　me。

〃If　you　will　listen；〃　she　said　at　last；　proudly；　and　yet　with　a　pleading　sweetness；　…　〃if　you　will　listen；　I　will　tell　you　how　it　was　that　I　…　that　I　came　to　wrong　you　so。〃

〃I　am　listening；　madam；〃　I　replied。

She　stood　against　the　light；　the　roses　pressed　to　her　bosom；　her　dark　eyes　upon　me；　her　head　held　high。　〃My　mother　died　when　I　was　born；　my　father；　years　ago。　I　was　the　King's　ward。　While　the　Queen　lived　she　kept　me　with　her；　…　she　loved　me；　I　think；　and　　the　King　too　was　kind；　…　would　have　me　sing　to　him；　and　would　talk　to　me　about　witchcraft　and　the　Scriptures；　and　how　rebellion　to　a　king　is　rebellion　to　God。　When　I　was　sixteen；　and　he　tendered　me　marriage　with　a　Scotch　lord；　I；　who　loved　the　gentleman　not；　never　having　seen　him；　prayed　the　King　to　take　the　value　of　my　marriage　and　leave　me　my　freedom。　He　was　so　good　to　me　then　that　the　Scotch　lord　was　wed　elsewhere；　and　I　danced　at　the　wedding　with　a　mind　at　ease。　Time　passed；　and　the　King　was　still　my　very　good　lord。　Then；　one　black　day；　my　Lord　Carnal　came　to　court；　and　the　King　looked　at　him　oftener　than　at　his　Grace　of　Buckingham。　A　few　months；　and　my　lord's　wish　was　the　King's　will。　To　do　this　new　favorite　pleasure　he　forgot　his　ancient　kindness　of　heart；　yea；　and　he　made　the　law　of　no　account。　I　was　his　kinswoman；　and　under　my　full　age；　he　would　give　my　hand　to　whom　he　chose。　He　chose　to　give　it　to　my　Lord　Carnal。〃

She　broke　off；　and　turned　her　face　from　me　toward　the　slant　sunshine　without　the　window。　Thus　far　she　had　spoken　quietly；　with　a　certain　proud　patience　of　voice　and　bearing；　but　as　she　stood　there　in　a　silence　which　I　did　not　break；　the　memory　of　her　wrongs　brought　the　crimson　to　her　cheeks　and　the　anger　to　her　eyes。　Suddenly　she　burst　forth　passionately：　〃The　King　is　the　King！　What　is　a　subject's　will　to　clash　with　his？　What　weighs　a　woman's　heart　against　his　whim？　Little　cared　he　that　my　hand　held　back；　grew　cold　at　the　touch　of　that　other　hand　in　which　he　would　have　put　it。　What　matter　if　my　will　was　against　that　marriage？　It　was　but　the　will　of　a　girl；　and　must　be　broken。　All　my　world　was　with　the　King；　I；　who　stood　alone；　was　but　a　woman；　young　　and　untaught。　Oh；　they　pressed　me　sore；　they　angered　me　to　the　very　heart！　There　was　not　one　to　fight　my　battle；　to　help　me　in　that　strait；　to　show　me　a　better　path　than　that　I　took。　With　all　my　heart；　with　all　my　soul；　with　all　my　might；　I　hate　that　man　which　that　ship　brought　here　to…day！　You　know　what　I　did　to　escape　them　all；　to　escape　that　man。　I　fled　from　England　in　the　dress　of　my　waiting　maid　and　under　her　name。　I　came　to　Virginia　in　that　guise。　I　let　myself　be　put　up；　appraised；　cried　for　sale；　in　that　meadow　yonder；　as　if　I　had　been　indeed　the　piece　of　merchandise　I　professed　myself。　The　one　man　who　approached　me　with　respect　I　gulled　and　cheated。　I　let　him；　a　stranger；　give　me　his　nam