to have and to hold-第6章
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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 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 l
