westward ho- 第123部分

〃Coming　here　to…morrow；　as　I　hopefor　he　left　London　with　me；　and　so　down　by　us　into　Cornwall；　to　drill　the　train…bands；　as　he　is　bound　to　do；　being　Seneschal　of　the　Duchies　and　Lieutenant…General　of　the　county。〃

〃Besides　Lord　Warden　of　the　Stanneries！　　How　the　man　thrives！〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh。

〃How　the　man　deserves　to　thrive！〃　said　Amyas；　〃but　what　are　we　to　do？〃

〃That　is　the　rub。　　I　would　fain　stay　and　fight　the　Spaniards。〃

〃So　would　I；　and　will。〃

〃But　he　has　other　plans　in　his　head　for　us。〃

〃We　can　make　our　own　plans　without　his　help。〃

〃Heyday；　Amyas！　　How　long？　　When　did　he　ask　you　to　do　a　thing　yet　and　you　refuse　him？〃

〃Not　often；　certainly；　but　Spaniards　I　must　fight。〃

〃Well；　so　must　I；　boy：　but　I　have　given　a　sort　of　promise　to　him；　nevertheless。〃

〃Not　for　me　too；　I　hope？〃

〃No：　he　will　extract　that　himself　when　he　comes；　you　must　come　and　sup　to…morrow；　and　talk　it　over。〃

〃Be　talked　over；　rather。　　What　chestnut　does　the　cat　want　us　monkeys　to　pull　out　of　the　fire　for　him　now；　I　wonder？〃

〃Sir　Richard　Grenville　is　hardly　accustomed　to　be　called　a　monkey；〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh。

〃I　meant　no　harm；　and　his　worship　knows　it；　none　better：　but　where　is　Raleigh　going　to　send　us；　with　a　murrain？〃

〃To　Virginia。　　The　settlers　must　have　help：　and；　as　I　trust　in　God；　we　shall　be　back　again　long　before　this　armament　can　bestir　itself。〃

So　Raleigh　came；　saw；　and　conquered。　　Mrs。　Leigh　consented　to　Amyas's　going　（for　his　twelve…month　would　be　over　ere　the　fleet　could　start）　upon　so　peaceful　and　useful　an　errand；　and　the　next　five　months　were　spent　in　continual　labor　on　the　part　of　Amyas　and　Grenville；　till　seven　ships　were　all　but　ready　in　Bideford　river；　the　admiral　whereof　was　Amyas　Leigh。

But　that　fleet　was　not　destined　ever　to　see　the　shores　of　the　New　World：　it　had　nobler　work　to　do　（if　Americans　will　forgive　the　speech）　than　even　settling　the　United　States。

It　was　in　the　long　June　evenings；　in　the　year　1588；　Mrs。　Leigh　sat　in　the　open　window；　busy　at　her　needle…work；　Ayacanora　sat　opposite　to　her；　on　the　seat　of　the　bay；　trying　diligently　to　read　〃The　History　of　the　Nine　Worthies；〃　and　stealing　a　glance　every　now　and　then　towards　the　garden；　where　Amyas　stalked　up　and　down　as　he　had　used　to　do　in　happier　days　gone　by。　　But　his　brow　was　contracted　now；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　as　he　plodded　backwards　and　forwards；　his　hands　behind　his　back；　and　a　huge　cigar　in　his　mouth；　the　wonder　of　the　little　boys　of　Northam；　who　peeped　in　stealthily　as　they　passed　the　iron…work　gates；　to　see　the　back　of　the　famous　fire…breathing　captain　who　had　sailed　round　the　world　and　been　in　the　country　of　headless　men　and　flying　dragons；　and　then　popped　back　their　heads　suddenly；　as　he　turned　toward　them　in　his　walk。　And　Ayacanora　looked；　and　looked；　with　no　less　admiration　than　the　urchins　at　the　gate：　but　she　got　no　more　of　an　answering　look　from　Amyas　than　they　did；　for　his　head　was　full　of　calculations　of　tonnage　and　stowage；　of　salt　pork　and　ale…barrels；　and　the　packing　of　tools　and　seeds；　for　he　had　promised　Raleigh　to　do　his　best　for　the　new　colony；　and　he　was　doing　it　with　all　his　might；　so　Ayacanora　looked　back　again　to　her　book；　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　It　was　answered　by　one　from　Mrs。　Leigh。

〃We　are　a　melancholy　pair；　sweet　chuck；〃　said　the　fair　widow。　〃What　is　my　maid　sighing　about；　there？〃

〃Because　I　cannot　make　out　the　long　words；〃　said　Ayacanora；　telling　a　very　white　fib。

〃Is　that　all？　　Come　to　me；　and　I　will　tell　you。〃

Ayacanora　moved　over　to　her；　and　sat　down　at　her　feet。

〃He；　he；　ro；　ro；　ical；　heroical；〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh。

〃But　what　does　that　mean？〃

〃Grand；　good；　and　brave；　like〃

Mrs。　Leigh　was　about　to　have　said　the　name　of　one　who　was　lost　to　her　on　earth。　　His　fair　angelic　face　hung　opposite　upon　the　wall。　She　paused　unable　to　pronounce　his　name；　and　lifted　up　her　eyes；　and　gazed　on　the　portrait；　and　breathed　a　prayer　between　closed　lips；　and　drooped　her　head　again。

Her　pupil　caught　at　the　pause；　and　filled　it　up　for　herself

〃Like　him？〃　and　she　turned　her　head　quickly　toward　the　window。

〃Yes；　like　him；　too；〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh；　with　a　half…smile　at　the　gesture。　　〃Now；　mind　your　book。　　Maidens　must　not　look　out　of　the　window　in　school　hours。〃

〃Shall　I　ever　be　an　English　girl？〃　asked　Ayacanora。

〃You　are　one　now；　sweet；　your　father　was　an　English　gentleman。〃

Amyas　looked　in；　and　saw　the　two　sitting　together。

〃You　seem　quite　merry　there；〃　said　he。

〃Come　in；　then；　and　be　merry　with　us。〃

He　entered；　and　sat　down；　while　Ayacanora　fixed　her　eyes　most　steadfastly　on　her　book。

〃Well；　how　goes　on　the　reading？〃　said　he；　and　then；　without　waiting　for　an　answer〃We　shall　be　ready　to　clear　out　this　day　week；　mother；　I　do　believe；　that　is；　if　the　hatchets　are　made　in　time　to　pack　them。〃

〃I　hope　they　will　be　better　than　the　last；〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh。　　〃It　seems　to　me　a　shameful　sin　to　palm　off　on　poor　ignorant　savages　goods　which　we　should　consider　worthless　for　ourselves。〃

〃Well；　it's　not　over　fair：　but　still；　they　are　a　sight　better　than　they　ever　had　before。　　An　old　hoop　is　better　than　a　deer's　bone；　as　Ayacanora　knows；eh？〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　it；〃　said　she；　who　was　always　nettled　at　the　least　allusion　to　her　past　wild　life。　　〃I　am　an　English　girl　now；　and　all　that　is　goneI　forget　it。〃

〃Forget　it？〃　said　he；　teasing　her　for　want　of　something　better　to　do。　　〃Should　not　you　like　to　sail　with　us；　now；　and　see　the　Indians　in　the　forests　once　again？〃

〃Sail　with　you？〃　and　she　looked　up　eagerly。

〃There！　　I　knew　it！　　She　would　not　be　four…and…twenty　hours　ashore；　but　she　would　be　off　into　the　woods　again；　bow　in　hand；　like　any　runaway　nymph；　and　we　should　never　see　her　more。〃

〃It　is　false；　bad　man！〃　and　she　burst　into　violent　tears；　and　hid　her　face　in　Mrs。　Leigh's　lap。

〃Amyas；　Amyas；　why　do　you　tease　the　poor　fatherless　thing？〃

〃I　was　only　jesting；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Amyas；　like　a　repentant　schoolboy。　　〃Don't　cry　now；　don't　cry；　my　child；　see　here；〃　and　he　began　fumbling　in　his　pockets；　〃see　what　I　bought　of　a　chapman　in　town　to…day；　for　you；　my　maid；　indeed；　I　did。〃

And　out　he　pulled　some　smart　kerchief　or　other；　which　had　taken　his　sailor's　fancy。

〃Look　at　it　now；　blue；　and　crimson；　and　green；　like　any　parrot！〃　and　he　held　it　out。

She　looked　round　sharply；　snatched　it　out　of　his　hand；　and　tore　it　to　shreds。

〃I　hate　it；　and　I　hate　you！〃　and　she　sprang　up　and　darted　out　of　the　room。

〃Oh；　boy；　boy！〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh；　〃will　you　kill　that　poor　child？　It　matters　little　for　an　old　heart　like　mine；　which　has　but　one　or　two　chords　left　whole；　how　soon　it　be　broken　altogether；　but　a　young　heart　is　one　of　God's　precious　treasures；　Amyas；　and　suffers　many　a　long　pang　in　the　breaking；　and　woe　to　them　who　despise　Christ's　little　ones！〃

〃Break　your　heart；　mother？〃

〃Never　mind　my　heart；　dear　son；　yet　how　can　you　break　it　more　surely　than　by　tormenting　one　whom　I　love；　because　she　loves　you？〃

〃Tut！　play；　mother；　and　maids'　tempers。　　But　how　can　I　break　your　heart？　　What　have　I　done？　　Have　I　not　given　up　going　again　to　the　West　Indies　for　your　sake？　　Have　I　not　given　up　going　to　Virginia；　and　now　again　settled　to　go　after　all；　just　because　you　commanded？　Was　it　not　your　will？　　Have　I　not　obeyed　you；　mother；　mother？　　I　will　stay　at　home　now；　if　you　will。　　I　would　rather　rust　here　on　land；　I　vow　I　would；　than　grieve　you〃　and　he　threw　himself　at　his　mother's　knees。

〃Have　I　asked　you　not　to　go　to　Virginia？　　No；　dear　boy；　though　every　thought　of　a　fresh　parting　seems　to　crack　some　new　fibre　within　me；　you　must　go！　　It　is　your　calling。　　Yes；　you　were　not　sent　into　the　world　to　amuse　me；　but　to　work。　　I　have　had　pleasure　enough　of　you；　my　darling；　for　many　a　year；　and　too　much；　perhaps；　till　I　shrank　from　lending　you　to　the　Lord。　　But　He　must　have　you。　。　。　。　　It　is　enough　for　the　poor　old　widow　to　know　that　her　boy　is　what　he　is；　and　to　forget　all　her　anguish　day　by　day；　for　joy　that　a　man　is　born　into　the　world。　　But；　Amyas；　Amyas；　are　you　so　blind　as　not　to　see　that　Ayacanora〃

〃Don't　talk　about　her；　poor　child。　　Talk　about　yourself。〃

〃How　long　have　I　been　worth　talking　about？　　No；　Amyas；　you　must　see　it；　and　if　you　will　not　see　it　now；　you　will　see　it　one　day　in　some　sad　and　fearful　prodigy；　for　she　is　not　one　to　die　tamely。　　She　loves　you；　Amyas；　as　a　woman　only　can　love。〃

〃Loves　me？　　Well；　of　course。　　I　found　her；　and　brought　her　home；　and　I　don't　deny　she　may　think　that　she　owes　me　somewhatthough　it　was　no　more　than　a　Christian　man's　duty。　　But　as　for　her　caring　much　for　me；　mother；　you　measure　every　one　else's　tenderness　by　your　own。〃

〃Think　that　she　owes　you　somewhat？　　Silly　boy；　this　is　not　gratitude；　but　a　deeper　affection；　which　may　be　more　heavenly　than　gratitude；　as　it　may；　too；　become　a　horrible　cause　of　ruin。　　It　rests　with　you；　Amyas；　which　of　the　two　it　will　be。〃

〃You　are　in　earnest？〃

〃Have　I　the　heart　or　the　time　to　jest？〃

〃No；　no；　of　course　not；　but；　mother；　I　thought　it　was　not　comely　for　women　to　fall　in　love　with　men？〃

〃Not　comely；　at　least；　to　confess　their　love　to　men。　　But　she　has　never　done　that；　Amyas；　not　even　by　a　look　or　a　tone　of　voice；　though　I　have　watched　her　for　months。〃

〃To　be　sure；　she　is　as　demure　as　any　cat　when　I　am　in　the　way。　　I　only　wonder　how　you　found　it　out。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　she；　smiling　sadly；　〃even　in　the　saddest　woman's　soul　there　linger　snatches　of　old　music；　odors　of　flowers　long　dead　and　turned　to　dustpleasant　ghosts；　which　still　keep　her　mind　attuned　to　that　which　may　be　in　others；　though　in　her　never　more；　till　she　can　hear　her　own　wedding…hymn　re…echoed　in　the　tones　of　every　girl　who　loves；　and　sees　her　own　wedding…torch　re…lighted　in　the　eyes　of　every　bride。〃

〃You　would　not　have　me　marry　her？〃　asked　blunt；　practical　Amyas。

〃God　knows　what　I　would　haveI　know　not；　I　see　neither　your　path　nor　my　ownno；　not　after　weeks　and　months　of　prayer。　　All　things　beyond　are　wrapped　in　mist；　and　what　will　be；　I　know　not；　save　that　whatever　else　is　wrong；　mercy　at　least　is　right。〃

〃I'd　sail　to…morrow；　if　I　could。　　As　for　marrying　her；　motherher　birth；　mind　me〃

〃Ah；　boy；　boy！　　Are　you　God；　to　visit　the　sins　of　the　parents　upon　the　children？〃

〃Not　that。　　I　don't　mean　th