green mansions- 第16部分

It　seemed　probable　from　this　that　the　good　old　man　had　already　been　casting　covetous　eyes　on　my　property；　and　that　his　granddaughter　had　taken　care　of　it　for　me。　　But　how　the　silent；　demure　girl　had　kept　it　from　him　was　a　puzzle；　so　intensely　did　he　seem　now　to　enjoy　it；　drawing　the　smoke　vigorously　into　his　lungs　and；　after　keeping　it　ten　or　fifteen　seconds　there；　letting　it　fly　out　again　from　mouth　and　nose　in　blue　jets　and　clouds。　　His　face　softened　visibly；　he　became　more　and　more　genial　and　loquacious；　and　asked　me　how　I　came　to　be　in　that　solitary　place。　　I　told　him　that　I　was　staying　with　the　Indian　Runi；　his　neighbour。

〃But；　senor；〃　he　said；　〃if　it　is　not　an　impertinence；　how　is　it　that　a　young　man　of　so　distinguished　an　appearance　as　yourself；　a　Venezuelan；　should　be　residing　with　these　children　of　the　devil？〃

〃You　love　not　your　neighbours；　then？〃

〃I　know　them；　sirhow　should　I　love　them？〃　　He　was　rolling　up　his　second　or　third　cigarette　by　this　time；　and　I　could　not　helD　noticing　that　he　took　a　great　deal　more　tobacco　than　he　required　in　his　fingers；　and　that　the　surplus　on　each　occasion　was　conveyed　to　some　secret　receptacle　among　his　rags。　　〃Love　them；　sir！　　They　are　infidels；　and　therefore　the　good　Christian　must　only　hate　them。　They　are　thievesthey　will　steal　from　you　before　your　very　face；　so　devoid　are　they　of　all　shame。　　And　also　murderers；　gladly　would　they　burn　this　poor　thatch　above　my　head；　and　kill　me　and　my　poor　grandchild；　who　shares　this　solitary　life　with　me；　if　they　had　the　courage。　　But　they　are　all　arrant　cowards；　and　fear　to　approach　mefear　even　to　come　into　this　wood。　　You　would　laugh　to　hear　what　they　are　afraid　ofa　child　would　laugh　to　hear　it！〃

〃What　do　they　fear？〃　　I　said；　for　his　words　had　excited　my　interest　in　a　great　degree。

〃Why；　sir；　would　you　believe　it？　　They　fear　this　childmy　granddaughter；　seated　there　before　you。　　A　poor　innocent　girl　of　seventeen　summers；　a　Christian　who　knows　her　Catechism；　and　would　not　harm　the　smallest　thing　that　God　has　madeno；　not　a　fly；　which　is　not　regarded　on　account　of　its　smallness。　　Why；　sir；　it　is　due　to　her　tender　heart　that　you　are　safely　sheltered　here；　instead　of　being　left　out　of　doors　in　this　tempestuous　night。〃

〃To　herto　this　girl？〃　　I　returned　in　astonishment。　　〃Explain；　old　man；　for　I　do　not　know　how　I　was　saved。〃

〃Today；　senor；　through　your　own　heedlessness　you　were　bitten　by　a　venomous　snake。〃

〃Yes；　that　is　true；　although　I　do　not　know　how　it　came　to　your　knowledge。　　But　why　am　I　not　a　dead　man；　thenhave　you　done　something　to　save　me　from　the　effects　of　the　poison？〃

〃Nothing。　　What　could　I　do　so　long　after　you　were　bitten？　　When　a　man　is　bitten　by　a　snake　in　a　solitary　place　he　is　in　God's　hands。　　He　will　live　or　die　as　God　wills。　　There　is　nothing　to　be　done。　　But　surely；　sir；　you　remember　that　my　poor　grandchild　was　with　you　in　the　wood　when　the　snake　bit　you？〃

〃A　girl　was　therea　strange　girl　I　have　seen　and　heard　before　when　I　have　walked　in　the　forest。　　But　not　this　girlsurely　not　this　girl！〃

〃No　other；〃　said　he；　carefully　rolling　up　another　cigarette。

〃It　is　not　possible！〃　　I　returned。

〃III　would　you　have　fared；　sir；　had　she　not　been　there。　　For　after　being　bitten；　you　rushed　away　into　the　thickest　part　of　the　wood；　and　went　about　in　a　circle　like　a　demented　person　for　Heaven　knows　how　long。　　But　she　never　left　you；　she　was　always　close　to　youyou　might　have　touched　her　with　your　hand。　　And　at　last　some　good　angel　who　was　watching　you；　in　order　to　stop　your　career；　made　you　mad　altogether　and　caused　you　to　jump　over　a　precipice　and　lose　your　senses。　　And　you　were　no　sooner　on　the　ground　than　she　was　with　youask　me　not　how　she　got　down！　　And　when　she　had　propped　you　up　against　the　bank；　she　came　for　me。　　Fortunately　the　spot　where　you　had　fallen　is　nearnot　five　hundred　yards　from　the　door。　　And　I；　on　my　part；　was　willing　to　assist　her　in　saving　you；　for　I　knew　it　was　no　Indian　that　had　fallen；　since　she　loves　not　that　breed；　and　they　come　not　here。　　It　was　not　an　easy　task；　for　you　weigh；　senor；　but　between　us　we　brought　you　in。〃

While　he　spoke；　the　girl　continued　sitting　in　the　same　listless　attitude　as　when　I　first　observed　her；　with　eyes　cast　down　and　hands　folded　in　her　lap。　　Recalling　that　brilliant　being　in　the　wood　that　had　protected　the　serpent　from　me　and　calmed　its　rage；　I　found　it　hard　to　believe　his　words；　and　still　felt　a　little　incredulous。

〃Rimethat　is　your　name；　is　it　not？〃　　I　said。　　〃Will　you　come　here　and　stand　before　me；　and　let　me　look　closely　at　you？〃

〃Si；　senor。〃　　she　meekly　answered；　and　removing　the　things　from　her　lap；　she　stood　up；　then；　passing　behind　the　old　man；　came　and　stood　before　me；　her　eyes　still　bent　on　the　grounda　picture　of　humility。

She　had　the　figure　of　the　forest　girl；　but　wore　now　a　scanty　faded　cotton　garment；　while　the　loose　cloud　of　hair　was　confined　in　two　plaits　and　hung　down　her　back。　　The　face　also　showed　the　same　delicate　lines；　but　of　the　brilliant　animation　and　variable　colour　and　expression　there　appeared　no　trace。　　Gazing　at　her　countenance　as　she　stood　there　silent；　shy；　and　spiritless　before　me；　the　image　of　her　brighter　self　came　vividly　to　my　mind　and　I　could　not　recover　from　the　astonishment　I　felt　at　such　a　contrast。

Have　you　ever　observed　a　humming…bird　moving　about　in　an　aerial　dance　among　the　flowersa　living　prismatic　gem　that　changes　its　colour　with　every　change　of　positionhow　in　turning　it　catches

the　sunshine　on　its　burnished　neck　and　gorges　plumesgreen　and　gold　and　flame…coloured；　the　beams　changing　to　visible　flakes　as　they　fall；　dissolving　into　nothing；　to　be　succeeded　by　others　and　yet　others？　　In　its　exquisite　form；　its　changeful　splendour；　its　swift　motions　and　intervals　of　aerial　suspension；　it　is　a　creature　of　such　fairy…like　loveliness　as　to　mock　all　description。　　And　have　you　seen　this　same　fairy…like　creature　suddenly　perch　itself　on　a　twig；　in　the　shade；　its　misty　wings　and　fan…like　tail　folded；　the　iridescent　glory　vanished；　looking　like　some　common　dull…plumaged　little　bird　sitting　listless　in　a　cage？　　Just　so　great　was　the　difference　in　the　girl　as　I　had　seen　her　in　the　forest　and　as　she　now　appeared　under　the　smoky　roof　in　the　firelight。

After　watching　her　for　some　moments；　I　spoke：　〃Rime；　there　must　be　a　good　deal　of　strength　in　that　frame　of　yours；　which　looks　so　delicate；　will　you　raise　me　up　a　little？〃

She　went　down　on　one　knee　and；　placing　her　arms　round　me；　assisted　me　to　a　sitting　posture。

〃Thank　you；　Rimaoh；　misery！〃　　I　groaned。　　〃Is　there　a　bone　left　unbroken　in　my　poor　body？〃

〃Nothing　broken；〃　cried　the　old　man；　clouds　of　smoke　flying　out　with　his　words。　　〃I　have　examined　you　welllegs；　arms；　ribs。　　For　this　is　how　it　was；　senor。　　A　thorny　bush　into　which　you　fell　saved　you　from　being　flattened　on　the　stony　ground。　　But　you　are　bruised；　sir；　black　with　bruises；　and　there　are　more　scratches　of　thorns　on　your　skin　than　letters　on　a　written　page。〃

〃A　long　thorn　might　have　entered　my　brain；〃　I　said；　〃from　the　way　it　pains。　　Feel　my　forehead；　Rima；　is　it　very　hot　and　dry？〃

She　did　as　I　asked；　touching　me　lightly　with　her　little　cool　hand。　　〃No；　senor；　not　hot；　but　warm　and　moist；〃　she　said。

〃Thank　Heaven　for　that！〃　　I　said。　　〃Poor　girl！　　And　you　followed　me　through　the　wood　in　all　that　terrible　storm！　　Ah；　if　I　could　lift　my　bruised　arm　I　would　take　your　hand　to　kiss　it　in　gratitude　for　so　great　a　service。　　I　owe　you　my　life；　sweet　Rimawhat　shall　I　do　to　repay　so　great　a　debt？〃

The　old　man　chuckled　as　if　amused；　but　the　girl　lifted　not　her　eyes　nor　spoke。

〃Tell　me；　sweet　child；〃　I　said；　〃for　I　cannot　realize　it　yet；　was　it　really　you　that　saved　the　serpent's　life　when　I　would　have　killed　itdid　you　stand　by　me　in　the　wood　with　the　serpent　lying　at　your　feet？〃

〃Yes；　senor；〃　came　her　gentle　answer。

〃And　it　was　you　I　saw　in　the　wood　one　day；　lying　on　the　ground　playing　with　a　small　bird？〃

〃Yes；　senor。〃

〃And　it　was　you　that　followed　me　so　often　among　the　trees；　calling　to　me；　yet　always　hiding　so　that　I　could　never　see　you？〃

〃Yes；　senor。〃

〃Oh；　this　is　wonderful！〃　　I　exclaimed；　whereat　the　old　man　chuckled　again。

〃But　tell　me　this；　my　sweet　girl；〃　I　continued。　　〃You　never　addressed　me　in　Spanish；　what　strange　musical　language　was　it　you　spoke　to　me　in？〃

She　shot　a　timid　glance　at　my　face　and　looked　troubled　at　the　question；　but　made　no　reply。

〃Senor；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃that　is　a　question　which　you　must　excuse　my　child　from　answering。　　Not；　sir；　from　want　of　will；　for　she　is　docile　and　obedient；　though　I　say　it；　but　there　is　no　answer　beyond　what　I　can　tell　you。　　And　this　is；　sir；　that　all　creatures；　whether　man　or　bird；　have　the　voice　that　God　has　given　them；　and　in　some　the　voice　is　musical　and　in　others　not　so。〃

〃Very　well；　old　man；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃there　let　the　matter　rest　for　the　present。　　But　if　I　am　destined　to　live　and　not　die；　I　shall　not　long　remain　satisfied　with　your　too　simple　explanation。〃

〃Rima；〃　I　said；　〃you　must　be　fatigued；　it　is　thoughtless　of　me　to　keep　you　standing　here　so　long。〃

Her　face　brightened　a　little；　and　bending　down；　she　replied　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　am　not　fatigued；　sir。　　Let　me　get　you　something　to　eat　now。〃

She　moved　quickly　away　to　the　fire；　and　presently　returned　with　an　earthenware　dish　of　roasted　pumpkin　and　sweet　potatoes　and；　kneeling　at　my　side；　fed　me　deftly　with　a　small　wooden　spoon。　　I　did　not　feel　grieved　at　the　absence　of　meat　and　the　stinging　condiments　the　Indians　love；　nor　did　I　even　remark　that　there　was　no　salt　in　the　vegetables；　so　much　was　I　taken　up　with　watching　her　beautiful　delicate　face　while　she　ministered　to　me。　　The　exquisite　fragrance　of　her　breath　was　more　to　me　than　the　most　delicious　viands　could　have　been；　and　it　was　a　delight　each　time　she　raised　the　spoon　to　my　mouth　to　catch　a　momentary　glimpse　of　her　eyes；　which　now　looked　dark　as　wine　when　we　lift　the　glass　to　see　the　ruby　gleam　of　light　within　the　purple。　　But　she　never　for　a　moment　laid　aside　the　silent；　meek；　constrained　manner；　and　when　I　remembered　her　bursting　out　in　her　brilliant　wrath　on　me；　pouring　forth　that　torrent　of　stinging　invective　in　her　mysterious　language；　I　was　lost　in　wonder　and　admiration　at　the　change　in　her；