to have and to hold-第15章
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efiance of the law； men gave them in exchange for worthless Indian commodities。 This Indian business was the chief matter before the Assembly。 I spoke when I thought speech was needed； and spoke strongly； for my heart foreboded that which was to come upon us too soon and too surely。 The Governor listened gravely； nodding his head； Master Pory； too； the Cape Merchant； and West were of my mind； but the remainder were besotted by their own conceit； esteeming the very name of Englishman sentinel and palisade enough； or trusting in the smooth words and vows of brotherhood poured forth so plentifully by that red Apollyon； Opechancanough。
When the day's work was done； and we streamed out of the church； … the Governor and Council first； the rest of us in order； … it was to find as often as not a red and black figure waiting for us among the graves。 Sometimes it joined itself to the Governor； sometimes to Master Pory； sometimes the whole party； save one； went off with it to the guest house； there to eat； drink； and make merry。
If Virginia and all that it contained； save only that jewel of which it had robbed the court； were out of favor with the King's minion； he showed it not。 Perhaps he had accepted the inevitable with a good grace； perhaps it was but his mode of biding his time； but he had shifted into that soldierly frankness of speech and manner； that genial； hail…fellow…well…met air； behind which most safely hides a villain's mind。 Two days after that morning behind the church； he had removed himself； his French valets； and his Italian physician from the Governor's house to the newly finished guest house。 Here he lived； cock of the walk； taking his ease in his inn； elbowing out all guests save those of his own inviting。 If； what with his open face and his open hand； his dinners and bear…baitings and hunting parties； his tales of the court and the wars； his half hints as to the good he might do Virginia with the King； extending even to the lightening of the tax upon our tobacco and the prohibition of the Spanish import； his known riches and power； and the unknown height to which they might attain if his star at court were indeed in the ascendant； … if with these things he slowly； but surely； won to his following all save a very few of those I had thought my fast friends； it was not a thing marvelous or without precedent。 Upon his side was good that might be seen and handled； on mine was only a dubious right and a not at all dubious danger。 I do not think it plagued me much。 The going of those who had it in their heart to wish to go left me content； and for those who fawned upon him from the first； or for the rabble multitude who flung up their caps and ran at his heels； I cared not a doit。 There were still Rolfe and West and the Governor； Jeremy Sparrow and Diccon。
My lord and I met； perforce； in the street； at the Governor's house； in church； on the river； in the saddle。 If we met in the presence of others； we spoke the necessary formal words of greeting or leave…taking； and he kept his countenance； if none were by； off went the mask。 The man himself and I looked each other in the eyes and passed on。 Once we encountered on a late evening among the graves； and I was not alone。 Mistress Percy had been restless； and had gone； despite the minister's protests； to sit upon the river bank。 When I returned from the assembly and found her gone； I went to fetch her。 A storm was rolling slowly up。 Returning the long way through the churchyard； we came upon him sitting beside a sunken grave； his knees drawn up to meet his chin； his eyes gloomily regardful of the dark broad river； the unseen ocean； and the ship that could not return for weeks to come。 We passed him in silence； … I with a slight bow； she with a slighter curtsy。 An hour later； going down the street in the dusk of the storm； I ran against Dr。 Lawrence Bohun。 〃Don't stop me！〃 he panted。 〃The Italian doctor is away in the woods gathering simples； and they found my Lord Carnal in a fit among the graves； half an hour agone。〃 My lord was bled； and the next morning went hunting。
The lady whom I had married abode with me in the minister's house； held her head high； and looked the world in the face。 She seldom went from home； but when she did take the air it was with pomp and circumstance。 When that slender figure and exquisite face； set off by as rich apparel as could be bought from a store of finery brought in by the Southampton； and attended by a turbaned negress and a serving man who had been to the wars； and had escaped the wheel by the skin of his teeth； appeared in the street； small wonder if a greater commotion arose than had been since the days of the Princess Pocahontas and her train of dusky beauties。 To this fairer； more imperial dame gold lace doffed its hat and made its courtliest bow； and young planters bent to their saddlebows； while the common folk nudged and stared and had their say。 The beauty； the grace； the pride； that deigned small response to well…meant words； … all that would have been intolerable in plain Mistress Percy； once a waiting maid； then a piece of merchandise to be sold for one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco； then the wife of a poor gentleman； was pardoned readily enough to the Lady Jocelyn Leigh； the ward of the King； the bride to be （so soon as the King's Court of High Commission should have snapped in twain an inconvenient and ill…welded fetter） of the King's minion。
So she passed like a splendid vision through the street perhaps once a week。 On Sundays she went with me to church； and the people looked at her instead of at the minister； who rebuked them not； because his eyes were upon the same errand。
The early autumn passed and the leaves began to turn； and still all things were as they had been； save that the Assembly sat no longer。 My fellow Burgesses went back to their hundreds； but my house at Weyanoke knew me no more。 In a tone that was apologetic； but firm； the Governor had told me that he wished my company at Jamestown。 I was pleased enough to stay； I assured him； … as indeed I was。 At Weyanoke； the thunderbolt would fall without warning； at Jamestown； at least I could see； coming up the river； the sails of the Due Return or what other ship the Company might send。
The color of the leaves deepened； and there came a season of a beauty singular and sad； like a smile left upon the face of the dead summer。 Over all things； near and far； the forest where it met the sky； the nearer woods； the great river； and the streams that empty into it； there hung a blue haze； soft and dream…like。 The forest became a painted forest； with an ever thinning canopy and an ever thickening carpet of crimson and gold； everywhere there was a low rustling underfoot and a slow rain of color。 It was neither cold nor hot； but very quiet； and the birds went by like shadows； … a listless and forgetful weather； in which we began to look； every hour of every day； for the sail which we knew we should not see for weeks to come。
Good Master Bucke tarried with Master Thorpe at Henricus； recruiting his strength； and Jeremy Sparrow preached in his pulpit； slept in his chamber； and worked in his garden。 This garden ran down to the green bank of the river； and here； sitting idly by the stream； her chin in her hand and her dark eyes watching the strong； free sea birds as they came and went； I found my wife one evening； as I came from the fort； where had been some martial exercise。 Thirty feet away Master Jeremy Sparrow worked among the dying flowers； and hummed： …
〃There is a garden in her face；
Where roses and white lilies grow。〃
He and I had agreed that when I must needs be absent he should be within call of her； for I believed my Lord Carnal very capable of intruding himself into her presence。 That house and garden； her movements and mine； were spied upon by his foreign hirelings； I knew perfectly well。
As I sat down upon the bank at her feet； she turned to me with a sudden passion。 〃I am weary of it all！〃 she cried。 〃I am tired of being pent up in this house and garden； and of the watch you keep upon me。 And if I go abroad； it is worse！ I hate all those shameless faces that stare at me as if I were in the pillory。 I am pilloried before you all； and I find the experience sufficiently bitter。 And when I think that that man whom I hate； hate； hate； breathes the air that I breathe； it stifles me！ If I could fly away like those birds； if I could only be gone from this place for even a day！〃
〃I would beg leave to take you home； to Weyanoke；〃 I said after a pause； 〃but I cannot go and leave the field to him。〃
〃And I cannot go；〃 she answered。 〃I must watch for that ship and that King's command that my Lord Carnal thinks potent enough to make me his wife。 King's commands are strong； but a woman's will is stronger。 At the last I shall know what to do。 But now why may I not take Angela and cross that strip of sand and go into the woods on the other side？ They are so fair and strange； … all red and yellow； … and they look very still and peaceful。 I could walk in them； or lie down under the trees and forget awhile； and they are not at all far away。〃 She looked at me eagerly。
〃You could not go alone；〃 I told her。 〃There would be danger in that。 But to…morrow； if you choose； I and Master Sparrow and Diccon will take you there。 A day in the woods is pleasant enough； and will do none of us harm。 Then you may wander as you please； fill your arms with colored leaves； and forget the world。 We will watch that no harm comes nigh you； but otherwise you shall not be disturbed。〃
She broke into delighted laughter。 Of all women the most steadfast of soul； her outward moods were as variable as a child's。 〃Agreed！〃 she cried。 〃You and the minister and Diccon Demon shall lay your muskets across your knees； and Angela shall witch you into stone with her old； mad； heathen charms。 And then … and then … I will gather more gold than had King Midas； I will dance with the hamadryads； I will find out Oberon and make Titania jealous！〃
〃I do not doubt that you could do so；〃 I said； as she sprang to her feet； childishly eager and radiantly beautiful。
I rose to go in with her； for it was supper time； but in a moment changed my mind； and resumed my seat on the bank of turf。 〃Do you go in；〃 I said。 〃There's a snake near by； in those bushes below the bank。 I'll kill the creature； and then I'll come to supper。〃
When she was gone； I walked to where； ten feet away； the bank dipped to a clump of reeds and willows planted in the mud on the brink of the river。 Dropping on my knees I leaned over； and； grasping a man by the collar； lifted him from the slime where he belonged to the bank beside me。
It was my Lord Carnal's Italian doctor that I had so fished up。 I had seen him before； and had found in his very small； mean figure clad all in black； and his narrow face with malignant eyes； and thin white lips drawn tightly over gleaming teeth； something infinitely repulsive； sickening to the sight as are certain reptiles to the touch。
〃There are no simples or herbs of grace to be found amongst reeds and half…drowned willows；〃 I said。 〃What did so learned a doctor look for in so unlikely a place？〃
He shrugged his shoulders and made play with his clawlike hands； as if he understoo
