to have and to hold-第5章

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t　whatever　outlandish　place；　where　manners　were　unknown；　that　had　owned　her　and　cast　her　out。　Pride　and　temper！　I　set　my　lips；　and　vowed　that　she　should　find　her　match。

The　storm　did　not　last。　Ere　we　had　reached　Piersey's　the　rain　had　ceased　and　the　clouds　were　breaking；　above　Chaplain's　Choice　hung　a　great　rainbow；　we　passed　Tants　Weyanoke　in　the　glory　of　the　sunset；　all　shattered　gold　and　crimson。　Not　a　word　had　been　spoken。　I　sat　in　a　humor　grim　enough；　and　she　lay　there　before　me；　wide　awake；　staring　at　the　shifting　banks　and　running　water；　and　thinking　that　I　thought　she　slept。

At　last　my　own　wharf　rose　before　me　through　the　gathering　dusk；　and　beyond　it　shone　out　a　light；　for　I　had　told　Diccon　to　set　my　house　in　order；　and　to　provide　fire　and　torches；　that　my　wife　might　see　I　wished　to　do　her　honor。　I　looked　at　that　wife；　and　of　a　sudden　the　anger　in　my　heart　melted　away。　It　was　a　wilderness　vast　and　dreadful　to　which　she　had　come。　The　mighty　stream；　the　towering　forests；　the　black　skies　and　deafening　thunder；　the　wild　cries　of　bird　and　beast　the　savages；　uncouth　and　terrible；　…　for　a　moment　I　saw　my　world　as　the　woman　at　my　feet　must　see　it；　strange；　wild；　and　menacing；　an　evil　land；　the　other　side　of　the　moon。　A　thing　that　I　had　　forgotten　came　to　my　mind：　how　that；　after　our　landing　at　Jamestown；　years　before；　a　boy　whom　we　had　with　us　did　each　night　fill　with　cries　and　lamentations　the　hut　where　he　lay　with　my　cousin　Percy；　Gosnold；　and　myself；　nor　would　cease　though　we　tried　both　crying　shame　and　a　rope's　end。　It　was　not　for　homesickness；　for　he　had　no　mother　or　kin　or　home；　and　at　length　Master　Hunt　brought　him　to　confess　that　it　was　but　pure　panic　terror　of　the　land　itself；　…　not　of　the　Indians　or　of　our　hardships；　both　of　which　he　faced　bravely　enough；　but　of　the　strange　trees　and　the　high　and　long　roofs　of　vine；　of　the　black　sliding　earth　and　the　white　mist；　of　the　fireflies　and　the　whippoorwills；　…　a　sick　fear　of　primeval　Nature　and　her　tragic　mask。

This　was　a　woman；　young；　alone；　and　friendless；　unless　I；　who　had　sworn　to　cherish　and　protect　her；　should　prove　myself　her　friend。　Wherefore；　when；　a　few　minutes　later；　I　bent　over　her；　it　was　with　all　gentleness　that　I　touched　and　spoke　to　her。

〃Our　journey　is　over；〃　I　said。　〃This　is　home；　my　dear。〃

She　let　me　help　her　to　her　feet；　and　up　the　wet　and　slippery　steps　to　the　level　of　the　wharf。　It　was　now　quite　dark；　there　being　no　moon；　and　thin　clouds　obscuring　the　stars。　The　touch　of　her　hand；　which　I　perforce　held　since　I　must　guide　her　over　the　long；　narrow；　and　unrailed　trestle；　chilled　me；　and　her　breathing　was　hurried；　but　she　moved　by　my　side　through　the　gross　darkness　unfalteringly　enough。　Arrived　at　the　gate　of　the　palisade；　I　beat　upon　it　with　the　hilt　of　my　sword；　and　shouted　to　my　men　to　open　to　us。　A　moment；　and　a　dozen　torches　came　flaring　down　the　bank。　Diccon　shot　back　the　bolts；　　and　we　entered。　The　men　drew　up　and　saluted；　for　I　held　my　manor　a　camp；　my　servants　soldiers；　and　myself　their　captain。

I　have　seen　worse　favored　companies；　but　doubtless　the　woman　beside　me　had　not。　Perhaps；　too；　the　red　light　of　the　torches；　now　flaring　brightly；　now　sunk　before　the　wind；　gave　their　countenances　a　more　villainous　cast　than　usual。　They　were　not　all　bad。　Diccon　had　the　virtue　of　fidelity；　if　none　other；　there　were　a　brace　of　Puritans；　and　a　handful　of　honest　fools；　who；　if　they　drilled　badly；　yet　abhorred　mutiny。　But　the　half　dozen　I　had　taken　off　Argall's　hands；　the　Dutchmen　who　might　have　been　own　brothers　to　those　two　Judases；　Adam　and　Francis；　the　thief　and　the　highwayman　I　had　bought　from　the　precious　crew　sent　us　by　the　King　the　year　before；　the　negro　and　the　Indians　…　small　wonder　that　she　shrank　and　cowered。　It　was　but　for　a　moment。　I　was　yet　seeking　for　words　sufficiently　reassuring　when　she　was　herself　again。　She　did　not　deign　to　notice　the　men's　awkward　salute；　and　when　Diccon；　a　handsome　rogue　enough；　advancing　to　light　us　up　the　bank；　brushed　by　her　something　too　closely；　she　drew　away　her　skirts　as　though　he　had　been　a　lazar。　At　my　own　door　I　turned　and　spoke　to　the　men；　who　had　followed　us　up　the　ascent。

〃This　lady；〃　I　said；　taking　her　hand　as　she　stood　beside　me；　〃is　my　true　and　lawful　wife；　your　mistress；　to　be　honored　and　obeyed　as　such。　Who　fails　in　reverence　to　her　I　hold　as　mutinous　to　myself；　and　will　deal　with　him　accordingly。　She　gives　you　to…morrow　for　holiday；　with　double　rations；　and　to　each　a　measure　of　rum。　Now　thank　her　properly。〃

They　cheered　lustily；　of　course；　and　Diccon；　stepping　　forward；　gave　us　thanks　in　the　name　of　them　all；　and　wished　us　joy。　After　which；　with　another　cheer；　they　backed　from　out　our　presence；　then　turned　and　made　for　their　quarters；　while　I　led　my　wife　within　the　house　and　closed　the　door。

Diccon　was　an　ingenious　scoundrel。　I　had　told　him　to　banish　the　dogs；　to　have　the　house　cleaned　and　lit；　and　supper　upon　the　table；　but　I　had　not　ordered　the　floor　to　be　strewn　with　rushes；　the　walls　draped　with　flowering　vines；　a　great　jar　filled　with　sunflowers；　and　an　illumination　of　a　dozen　torches。　Nevertheless；　it　looked　well；　and　I　highly　approved　the　capon　and　maize　cakes；　the　venison　pasty　and　ale；　with　which　the　table　was　set。　Through　the　open　doors　of　the　two　other　rooms　were　to　be　seen　more　rushes；　more　flowers；　and　more　lights。

To　the　larger　of　these　rooms　I　now　led　the　way；　deposited　her　bundle　upon　the　settle；　and　saw　that　Diccon　had　provided　fair　water　for　her　face　and　hands；　which　done；　I　told　her　that　supper　waited　upon　her　convenience；　and　went　back　to　the　great　room。

She　was　long　in　coming；　so　long　that　I　grew　impatient　and　went　to　call　her。　The　door　was　ajar；　and　so　I　saw　her；　kneeling　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　her　head　thrown　back；　her　hands　raised　and　clasped；　on　her　face　terror　and　anguish　of　spirit　written　so　large　that　I　started　to　see　it。　I　stared　in　amazement；　and；　had　I　followed　my　first　impulse；　would　have　gone　to　her；　as　I　would　have　gone　to　any　other　creature　in　so　dire　distress。　On　second　thoughts；　I　went　noiselessly　back　to　my　station　in　the　great　room。　She　had　not　seen　me；　I　was　sure。　Nor　had　I　long　to　wait。　Presently　she　appeared；　and　I　could　have　doubted　the　testimony　of　my　eyes；　so　changed　were　the　agonized　　face　and　figure　of　a　few　moments　before。　Beautiful　and　disdainful；　she　moved　to　the　table；　and　took　the　great　chair　drawn　before　it　with　the　air　of　an　empress　mounting　a　throne。　I　contented　myself　with　the　stool。

She　ate　nothing；　and　scarcely　touched　the　canary　I　poured　for　her。　I　pressed　upon　her　wine　and　viands；　…　in　vain；　I　strove　to　make　conversation；　…　equally　in　vain。　Finally；　tired　of　〃yes〃　and　〃no〃　uttered　as　though　she　were　reluctantly　casting　pearls　before　swine；　I　desisted；　and　applied　myself　to　my　supper　in　a　silence　as　sullen　as　her　own。　At　last　we　rose　from　table；　and　I　went　to　look　to　the　fastenings　of　door　and　windows；　and　returning　found　her　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　her　head　up　and　her　hands　clenched　at　her　sides。　I　saw　that　we　were　to　have　it　out　then　and　there；　and　I　was　glad　of　it。

〃You　have　something　to　say；〃　I　said。　〃I　am　quite　at　your　command；〃　and　I　went　and　leaned　against　the　chimneypiece。

The　low　fire　upon　the　hearth　burnt　lower　still　before　she　broke　the　silence。　When　she　did　speak　it　was　slowly；　and　with　a　voice　which　was　evidently　controlled　only　by　a　strong　effort　of　a　strong　will。　She　said：　…

〃When　…　yesterday；　to…day；　ten　thousand　years　ago　you　went　from　this　horrible　forest　down　to　that　wretched　village　yonder；　to　those　huts　that　make　your　London；　you　went　to　buy　you　a　wife？〃

〃Yes；　madam；〃　I　answered。　〃I　went　with　that　intention。〃

〃You　had　made　your　calculation？　In　your　mind　you　had　pitched　upon　such　and　such　an　article；　with　such　and　such　qualities；　as　desirable？　Doubtless　you　meant　to　get　your　money's　worth？〃

〃Doubtless；〃　I　said　dryly。

〃Will　you　tell　me　what　you　were　inclined　to　consider　its　equivalent？〃

I　stared　at　her；　much　inclined　to　laugh。　The　interview　promised　to　be　interesting。

〃I　went　to　Jamestown　to　get　me　a　wife；〃　I　said　at　length；　〃because　I　had　pledged　my　word　that　I　would　do　so。　I　was　not　over…anxious。　I　did　not　run　all　the　way。　But；　as　you　say；　I　intended　to　do　the　best　I　could　for　myself；　one　hundred　and　twenty　pounds　of　tobacco　being　a　considerable　sum；　and　not　to　be　lightly　thrown　away。　I　went　to　look　for　a　mistress　for　my　house；　a　companion　for　my　idle　hours；　a　rosy；　humble；　docile　lass；　with　no　aspirations　beyond　cleanliness　and　good　temper；　who　was　to　order　my　household　and　make　me　a　home。　I　was　to　be　her　head　and　her　law；　but　also　her　sword　and　shield。　That　is　what　I　went　to　look　for。〃

〃And　you　found　…　me！〃　she　said；　and　broke　into　strange　laughter。

I　bowed。

〃In　God's　name；　why　did　you　not　go　further？〃

I　suppose　she　saw　in　my　face　why　I　went　no　further；　for　into　her　own　the　color　came　flaming。

〃I　am　not　what　I　seem！〃　she　cried　out。　〃I　was　not　in　that　company　of　choice！〃

I　bowed　again。　〃You　have　no　need　to　tell　me　that；　madam；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　eyes。　I　desire　to　know　why　you　were　there　at　all；　and　why　you　married　me。〃

She　turned　from　me；　until　I　could　see　nothing　but　the　coiled　wealth　of　her　hair　and　the　bit　of　white　neck　between　it　and　the　ruff。　We　stood　so　in　silence；　she　with　bent　head　and　fingers　clasping　and　unclasping；　I　leaning　against　the　wall　and　staring　at　her；　for　　what　seemed　a　long　time。　At　least　I　had　time　to　grow　impatient；　when　she　faced　me　again；　and　all　my　irritation　vanished　in　a　gasp　of　admiration。

Oh；　she　was　beautiful；　and　of　a　sweetness　most　alluring　and　fatal！　Had　Medea　worn　such　a　look；　sure　Jason　had　quite　forgot　the　fleece；　and　with　those　eyes　Circe　had　needed　no　other　charm　to　make　men　what　she　would。　Her　voice；　when　she　spoke；　was　no　longer　imperious；　it　was　low　pleading　music。　And　she　held　out　entreating　hands。

〃Have　pity　on　me；〃　she　said。　〃Listen　kindly；　and　have　pity　on　me。　You　are　a　strong　man　and　wear　a　sword。　You　can　cut　your　way　through　trouble　and　peril。　I　am　a　woman；　weak；　friendless；　helpless。　I　was　in　distress　and　peril；　and　I　had　no　arm　to　save；　no　knight　to　fight　my　battle。　I　do　not　love　deceit。　Ah；　do　not　think　that　I　have　not　hated　myself　for　the　lie　I　have　been。　But　these　forest　creatures　that　you　take；　…　will　they　not　bite　against　springe　and　snare？　Are　they　scrupulous　as　to　how　they　free　themselves？　I　too　was　in　the　toils　of　the　hunter；　and　I　too　was　not　scrupulous。　There　was　a　thing　of　which　I　stood　in　danger　that　would　have　been　bitterer　to　me；　a　thousand　times；　than　death。　I　had　but　one　thought；　to　escape；　how；　I　did　not　care；　…　only　to　escape。　I　had　a　waiting　woman　named　Patience　Worth。　One　night　she　came　to　me；　weeping。　She　had　wearied　of　service；　and　had　signed　to　go　to　Virginia　as　one　of　Sir　Edwyn　Sandys'　maids；　and　at　the　last　moment　her　heart　had　failed　her。　There　had　been　pressure　brought　to　bear　upon　me　that　day；　…　I　had　been　angered　to　the　very　soul。　I　sent　her　away　with　a　heavy　bribe；　and　in　her　dress　and　under　her　name　I　fled　from　…　I　went　aboard　that　ship。　No　one　guessed　that　I　was　　not　the　Patience　Worth　to　whose　name　I　answered。　No　one

knows　now；　…　none　but　you；　none　but　you。〃

〃And　why　am　I　so　far　honored；　madam？〃　I　said　bluntly。

She　crimsoned；　then　went　white　again。