to have and to hold-第4章

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an's　voice；　and　then　a　woman's　angry　〃Begone；　sir！〃

〃Kiss　and　be　friends；〃　said　the　man。

The　sound　that　followed　being　something　of　the　loudest　for　even　the　most　hearty　salutation；　I　was　not　surprised；　on　parting　the　bushes；　to　find　the　man　nursing　his　cheek；　and　the　maid　her　hand。

〃You　shall　pay　well　for　that；　you　sweet　vixen！〃　he　cried；　and　caught　her　by　both　wrists。

She　struggled　fiercely；　bending　her　head　this　way　and　that；　but　his　hot　lips　had　touched　her　face　before　I　could　come　between。

When　I　had　knocked　him　down　he　lay　where　he　　fell；　dazed　by　the　blow；　and　blinking　up　at　me　with　his　small　ferret　eyes。　I　knew　him　to　be　one　Edward　Sharpless；　and　I　knew　no　good　of　him。　He　had　been　a　lawyer　in　England。　He　lay　on　the　very　brink　of　the　stream；　with　one　arm　touching　the　water。　Flesh　and　blood　could　not　resist　it；　so；　assisted　by　the　toe　of　my　boot；　he　took　a　cold　bath　to　cool　his　hot　blood。

When　he　had　clambered　out　and　had　gone　away；　cursing；　I　turned　to　face　her。　She　stood　against　the　trunk　of　a　great　cedar；　her　head　thrown　back；　a　spot　of　angry　crimson　in　each　cheek；　one　small　hand　clenched　at　her　throat。　I　had　heard　her　laugh　as　Sharpless　touched　the　water；　but　now　there　was　only　defiance　in　her　face。　As　we　gazed　at　each　other；　a　burst　of　laughter　came　to　us　from　the　meadow　behind。　I　looked　over　my　shoulder；　and　beheld　young　Hamor；　probably　disappointed　of　a　wife；　…　with　Giles　Allen　and　Wynne；　returning　to　his　abandoned　quarry。　She　saw；　too；　for　the　crimson　spread　and　deepened　and　her　bosom　heaved。　Her　dark　eyes；　glancing　here　and　there　like　those　of　a　hunted　creature；　met　my　own。

〃Madam；〃　I　said；　〃will　you　marry　me？〃

She　looked　at　me　strangely。　〃Do　you　live　here？〃　she　asked　at　last；　with　a　disdainful　wave　of　her　hand　toward　the　town。

〃No；　madam；〃　I　answered。　〃I　live　up　river；　in　Weyanoke　Hundred；　some　miles　from　here。〃

〃Then；　in　God's　name；　let　us　be　gone！〃　she　cried；　with　sudden　passion。

I　bowed　low；　and　advanced　to　kiss　her　hand。

The　finger　tips　which　she　slowly　and　reluctantly　resigned　to　me　were　icy；　and　the　look　with　which　she　favored　me　was　not　such　an　one　as　poets　feign　for　like　　occasions。　I　shrugged　the　shoulders　of　my　spirit；　but　said　nothing。　So；　hand　in　hand；　though　at　arms'　length；　we　passed　from　the　shade　of　the　cedars　into　the　open　meadow；　where　we　presently　met　Hamor　and　his　party。　They　would　have　barred　the　way；　laughing　and　making　unsavory　jests；　but　I　drew　her　closer　to　me　and　laid　my　hand　upon　my　sword。　They　stood　aside；　for　I　was　the　best　swordsman　in　Virginia。

The　meadow　was　now　less　thronged。　The　river；　up　and　down；　was　white　with　sailboats；　and　across　the　neck　of　the　peninsula　went　a　line　of　horsemen；　each　with　his　purchase　upon　a　pillion　behind　him。　The　Governor；　the　Councilors；　and　the　commanders　had　betaken　themselves　to　the　Governor's　house；　where　a　great　dinner　was　to　be　given。　But　Master　Piersey；　the　Cape　Merchant；　remained　to　see　the　Company　reimbursed　to　the　last　leaf；　and　the　four　ministers　still　found　occupation；　though　one　couple　trod　not　upon　the　heels　of　another；　as　they　had　done　an　hour　agone。

〃I　must　first　satisfy　the　treasurer；〃　I　said；　coming　to　a　halt　within　fifty　feet　of　the　now　deserted　high　places。

She　drew　her　hand　from　mine；　and　looked　me　up　and　down。

〃How　much　is　it？〃　she　asked　at　last。　〃I　will　pay　it。〃

I　stared　at　her。

〃Can't　you　speak？〃　she　cried；　with　a　stamp　of　her　foot。　〃At　what　am　I　valued？　Ten　pounds　…　fifty　pounds〃　…

〃At　one　hundred　and　twenty　pounds　of　tobacco；　madam；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃I　will　pay　it　myself。　To　what　name　upon　the　ship's　list　do　you　answer？〃

〃Patience　Worth；〃　she　replied。

I　left　her　standing　there；　and　went　upon　my　errand　with　a　whirling　brain。　Her　enrollment　in　that　company　proclaimed　her　meanly　born；　and　she　bore　herself　as　of　blood　royal；　of　her　own　free　will　she　had　crossed　an　ocean　to　meet　this　day；　and　she　held　in　passionate　hatred　this　day　and　all　that　it　contained；　she　was　come　to　Virginia　to　better　her　condition；　and　the　purse　which　she　had　drawn　from　her　bosom　was　filled　with　gold　pieces。　To　another　I　would　have　advised　caution；　delay；　application　to　the　Governor；　inquiry；　for　myself　I　cared　not　to　make　inquiries。

The　treasurer　gave　me　my　receipt；　and　I　procured；　from　the　crowd　around　him；　Humfrey　Kent；　a　good　man　and　true；　and　old　Belfield；　the　perfumer；　for　witnesses。　With　them　at　my　heels　I　went　back　to　her；　and；　giving　her　my　hand；　was　making　for　the　nearest　minister；　when　a　voice　at　a　little　distance　hailed　me；　crying　out；　〃This　way；　Captain　Percy！〃

I　turned　toward　the　voice；　and　beheld　the　great　figure　of　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow　sitting；　cross…legged　like　the　Grand　Turk；　upon　a　grassy　hillock；　and　beckoning　to　me　from　that　elevation。

〃Our　acquaintance　hath　been　of　the　shortest；〃　he　said　genially；　when　the　maid；　the　witnesses；　and　I　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　hillock；　〃but　I　have　taken　a　liking　to　you　and　would　fain　do　you　a　service。　Moreover；　I　lack　employment。　The　maids　take　me　for　a　hedge　parson；　and　sheer　off　to　my　brethren；　who　truly　are　of　a　more　clerical　appearance。　Whereas　if　they　could　only　look　upon　the　inner　man！　You　have　been　long　in　choosing；　but　have　doubtless　chosen〃　…　He　glanced　from　me　to　the　woman　beside　me；　and　broke　off　with　open　mouth　and　staring　eyes。　There　was　　excuse；　for　her　beauty　was　amazing。　〃A　paragon；〃　he　ended；　recovering　himself。

〃Marry　us　quickly；　friend；〃　I　said。　〃Clouds　are　gathering；　and　we　have　far　to　go。〃

He　came　down　from　his　mound；　and　we　went　and　stood　before　him。　I　had　around　my　neck　the　gold　chain　given　me　upon　a　certain　occasion　by　Prince　Maurice；　and　in　lieu　of　other　ring　I　now　twisted　off　the　smallest　link　and　gave　it　to　her。

〃Your　name？〃　asked　Master　Sparrow；　opening　his　book。

〃Ralph　Percy；　Gentleman。〃

〃And　yours？〃　he　demanded；　staring　at　her　with　a　somewhat　too　apparent　delight　in　her　beauty。

She　flushed　richly　and　bit　her　lip。

He　repeated　the　question。

She　stood　a　minute　in　silence；　her　eyes　upon　the　darkening　sky。　Then　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃Jocelyn　Leigh。〃

It　was　not　the　name　I　had　watched　the　Cape　Merchant　strike　off　his　list。　I　turned　upon　her　and　made　her　meet　my　eyes。　〃What　is　your　name？〃　I　demanded。　〃Tell　me　the　truth！〃

〃I　have　told　it；〃　she　answered　proudly。　〃It　is　Jocelyn　Leigh。〃

I　faced　the　minister　again。　〃Go　on；〃　I　said　briefly。

〃The　Company　commands　that　no　constraint　be　put　upon　its　poor　maids。　Wherefore；　do　you　marry　this　man　of　your　own　free　will　and　choice？〃

〃Ay；〃　she　said；　〃of　my　own　free　will。〃

Well；　we　were　married；　and　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow　wished　us　joy；　and　Kent　would　have　kissed　the　bride　had　I　not　frowned　him　off。　He　and　Belfield　strode　　away；　and　I　left　her　there；　and　went　to　get　her　bundle　from　the　house　that　had　sheltered　her　overnight。　Returning；　I　found　her　seated　on　the　turf；　her　chin　in　her　hand　and　her　dark　eyes　watching　the　distant　play　of　lightning。　Master　Sparrow　had　left　his　post；　and　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

I　gave　her　my　hand　and　led　her　to　the　shore；　then　loosed　my　boat　and　helped　her　aboard。　I　was　pushing　off　when　a　voice　hailed　us　from　the　bank；　and　the　next　instant　a　great　bunch　of　red　roses　whirled　past　me　and　fell　into　her　lap。　〃Sweets　to　the　sweet；　you　know；〃　said　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow　genially。　〃Goodwife　Allen　will　never　miss　them。〃

I　was　in　two　minds　whether　to　laugh　or　to　swear；　…　for　I　had　never　given　her　flowers；　…　when　she　settled　the　question　for　me　by　raising　the　crimson　mass　and　bestowing　it　upon　the　flood。

A　sudden　puff　of　wind　brought　the　sail　around；　hiding　his　fallen　countenance。　The　wind　freshened；　coming　from　the　bay；　and　the　boat　was　off　like　a　startled　deer。　When　I　next　saw　him　he　had　recovered　his　equanimity；　and；　with　a　smile　upon　his　rugged　features；　was　waving　us　a　farewell。　I　looked　at　the　beauty　opposite　me；　and；　with　a　sudden　movement　of　pity　for　him；　mateless；　stood　up　and　waved　to　him　vigorously　in　turn。



CHAPTER　IV　　IN　WHICH　I　AM　LIKE　TO　REPENT　AT　LEISURE


WHEN　we　had　passed　the　mouth　of　the　Chickahominy；　I　broke　the　silence；　now　prolonged　beyond　reason；　by　pointing　to　the　village　upon　its　bank；　and　telling　her　something　of　Smith's　expedition　up　that　river；　ending　by　asking　her　if　she　feared　the　savages。

When　at　length　she　succeeded　in　abstracting　her　attention　from　the　clouds；　it　was　to　answer　in　the　negative；　in　a　tone　of　the　supremest　indifference；　after　which　she　relapsed　into　her　contemplation　of　the　weather。

Further　on　I　tried　again。　〃That　is　Kent's；　yonder。　He　brought　his　wife　from　home　last　year。　What　a　hedge　of　sunflowers　she　has　planted！　If　you　love　flowers；　you　will　find　those　of　paradise　in　these　woods。〃

No　answer。

Below　Martin…Brandon　we　met　a　canoe　full　of　Paspaheghs；　bound　upon　a　friendly　visit　to　some　one　of　the　down…river　tribes；　for　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat　reposed　a　fat　buck；　and　at　the　feet　of　the　young　men　lay　trenchers　of　maize　cakes　and　of　late　mulberries。　I　hailed　them；　and　when　we　were　alongside　held　up　the　brooch　from　my　hat；　then　pointed　to　the　purple　fruit。　The　exchange　was　soon　made；　they　sped　away；　and　I　placed　the　mulberries　upon　the　thwart　beside　her。

〃I　am　not　hungry；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃Take　them　away。〃

I　bit　my　lip；　and　returned　to　my　place　at　the　tiller。　This　rose　was　set　with　thorns；　and　already　I　felt　their　sting。　Presently　she　leaned　back　in　the　nest　I　had　made　for　her。　〃I　wish　to　sleep；〃　she　said　haughtily；　and；　turning　her　face　from　me；　pillowed　her　head　upon　her　arms。

I　sat；　bent　forward；　the　tiller　in　my　hand；　and　stared　at　my　wife　in　some　consternation。　This　was　not　the　tame　pigeon；　the　rosy；　humble；　domestic　creature　who　was　to　make　me　a　home　and　rear　me　children。　A　sea　bird　with　broad　white　wings　swooped　down　upon　the　water；　now　dark　and　ridged；　rested　there　a　moment；　then　swept　away　into　the　heart　of　the　gathering　storm。　She　was　liker　such　an　one。　Such　birds　were　caught　at　times；　but　never　tamed　and　never　kept。

The　lightning；　which　had　played　incessantly　in　pale　flashes　across　the　low　clouds　in　the　south；　now　leaped　to　higher　peaks　and　became　more　vivid；　and　the　muttering　of　the　thunder　changed　to　long；　booming　peals。　Thirteen　years　before；　the　Virginia　storms　had　struck　us　with　terror。　Compared　with　those　of　the　Old　World　we　had　left；　they　were　as　cannon　to　the　whistling　of　arrows；　as　breakers　on　an　iron　coast　to　the　dull　wash　of　level　seas。　Now　they　were　nothing　to　me；　but　as　the　peals　changed　to　great　crashes　as　of　falling　cities；　I　marveled　to　see　my　wife　sleeping　so　quietly。　The　rain　began　to　fall；　slowly；　in　large　sullen　drops；　and　I　rose　to　cover　her　with　my　cloak。　Then　I　saw　that　the　sleep　was　feigned；　for　she　was　gazing　at　the　storm　with　wide　eyes；　though　with　no　fear　in　their　dark　depths。　When　I　moved　they　closed；　　and　when　I　reached　her　the　lashes　still　swept　her　cheeks；　and　she　breathed　evenly　through　parted　lips。　But；　against　her　will；　she　shrank　from　my　touch　as　I　put　the　cloak　about　her；　and　when　I　had　returned　to　my　seat；　I　bent　to　one　side　and　saw；　as　I　had　expected　to　see；　that　her　eyes　were　wide　open　again。　If　she　had　been　one　whit　less　beautiful；　I　would　have　wished　her　back　at　Jamestown；　back　on　the　Atlantic；　back　at　whatever　outlandish　place；　where　manners　were　unknown；　that　had　owned　her　and　cast　her　out。　Pride