rezanov-第18部分

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sity。　　His　eye　rolled　over　the　steep　hills　that　were　designed　to　bristle　with　forts；　and；　as　sometimes　happened；　when　he　spoke　again　to　Concha；　whom　he　kept　close　to　his　side；　for　the　other　girls　bored　him；　his　words　did　not　express　the　work…　ings　of　his　mind。

〃Athens　has　no　finer　site　than　this；〃　he　said。　　〃I　should　like　to　see　a　white　marble　city　on　these　hills；　and　on　that　plain；　when　all　the　sand　dunes　are　leveled。　　Not　in　our　time；　perhaps！　　But；　as　I　told　you；　I　have　surrendered　myself　to　the　habit　of　dreaming。〃

Concha　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　made　no　re…　ply　at　the　moment。　　As　they　sailed　toward　the　east　before　turning　south　again；　she　pointed　across　the　great　silvery　sheet　of　water　melting　into　the　misty　southern　horizon；　to　a　high　ridge　of　mountains　that　looked　to　be　a　continuation　of　the　San　Bruno　range　behind　the　Mission；　but　slanting　farther　west　with　the　coast　line。

〃Those　are　behind　our　rancho；　senorRancho　El　Pilar；　or　Las　Pulgas；　as　some　prefer。　　Perhaps　my　father　will　take　you　there。　　I　hope　so；　for　we　love　to　go；　and　may　not　too　often；　my　father　is　very　busy　here。　　He　is　one　of　the　few　that　has　received　a　large　grant　of　land；　and　it　is　because　the　clergy　love　him　so　much　they　oppose　his　wish　in　nothing。　　Do　you　see　those　sharp　points　against　the　sky？　　They　are　the　tops　of　lofty　trees；　like　the　masts　of　giant　ships；　and　with　many　rigid　arms　spiked　like　the　pines。　You　saw　a　few　of　them　in　the　hollow　below　Tamal…　pais；　but　up　on　those　mountains　there　are　miles　and　miles　of　mighty　forests。　　No　white　man　has　ever　penetrated　them；　nor　ever　will；　perhaps。　　We　have　no　use　for　them；　and　even　if　you　made　this　your　kingdom；　senor；　I　suppose　not　many　would　come　with　you。　　Far；　far　down　where　the　water　stops　are　the　Mission　of　Santa　Clara　and　the　pueblo　of　San　Jose；　but　I　have　heard　you　cannot　approach　within　many　miles　of　the　land　in　a　boat。〃

When　they　had　sailed　south　for　a　few　moments　the　boat　came　about　sharply。　　Concha　laughed。　　〃I　had　forgotten　the　chart。　　I　rather　hoped　you　would　run　on　a　shoal。〃

But　as　they　approached　the　cove　of　Yerba　Buena　again　she　caught　his　arm　suddenly；　unconscious　of　the　act；　and　the　little　dancing　lights　of　humor　in　her　eyes　went　out。　　〃Your　white　city；　senor！　　Ay；　Dios！　what　a　city　of　dreams　that　can　never　come　true！〃

The　soft　white　fog　that　sometimes；　even　at　this　season；　came　in　from　the　sea；　was　rolling　over　the　hills　between　the　Battery　and　the　Presidio；　wreath…　ing　about　the　rocky　heights　and　slopes。　　It　broke　into　domes　and　cupolas；　spires　and　minarets。　　Great　waves　rolled　over　the　sand　dunes　and　beat　upon　the　cliffs　with　the　phantoms　clinging　to　its　sides。　Then　the　sun　struggled　with　a　thousand　colors。　The　sun　conquered；　the　mist　shimmered　into　sun…　light；　and　once　more　the　hills　were　gray　and　bare。

Rezanov　laughed；　but　his　eyes　glowed　down　upon　her。　　〃I　am　not　sure　it　was　there；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　an　idea　your　imagination　and　touch　acted　as　a　sort　of　enchanter's　wand。　　The　others　evidently　saw　nothing。〃

〃The　others　saw　only　fog　and　shivered。　　But　it　was　there；　senor！　　We　have　had　a　vision。　　A　Rus…　sian　city！　　Ay；　yi！〃

But　Rezanov　had　forgotten　the　city。　　Her　reboso　had　fallen　and　a　strand　of　her　hair　blew　across　his　face。　　His　lips　caught　it　and　his　eyes　burned。　　They　rounded　a　headland　and　the　world　looked　green　and　young。

〃Concha！〃　he　whispered。

Her　eyes　flashed　and　melted；　she　lifted　her　chin；　then　burst　into　a　merry　ripple　of　laughter。

〃Senor！〃　she　said；　〃if　you　make　love　to　me；　I　shall　have　to　compare　you　with　many　others；　and　I　might　not　like　the　Russian　fashion。　　You　are　much　better　as　you　arevery　grand　seigneur；　iron…　handed　and　absolute；　haughty　and　arrogant；　but　the　most　charming　person　in　the　world；　with　ends　to　gain；　even　from　such　humble　folk　as　a　handful　of　stranded　Californians。　　But　to　sigh！　to　languish　with　the　eye！　to　sing　at　the　grating！　　I　fear　that　the　lightest　headed　of　the　caballeros　you　despise　could　transcend　you　in　all。〃

〃Very　likely！　　I　have　not　the　least　intention　of　sighing　or　languishing　or　singing　at　gratings。　　But　if　we　were　alone　I　certainly　should　kiss　you。〃

But　her　eyes　did　not　melt　again　at　the　vision。　She　flushed　hotly　with　annoyance。　　〃I　am　a　child　to　you！　　Were　it　not　that　I　have　read　a　few　books；　you　would　find　me　but　a　year　older　than　Ana　Paula。　　Well！　　Regard　me　as　a　child　and　do　not　attempt　to　flirt　with　me　again。　　Shall　it　be　so？〃

〃As　you　wish！〃　　Rezanov　looked　at　her　half　in　resentment；　half　wistfully；　then　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　called　to　Davidov　to　steer　for　the　anchorage。　　She　was　quite　right；　and　on　the　whole　he　was　grateful　to　her。



XIII

〃Concha；〃　said　Sturgis　abruptly；　〃will　you　marry　me？〃

Concha；　who　was　sitting　in　the　shade　of　the　rose　vines　on　the　corridor　making　a　dress　for　Gertrudis　Rudisinda；　ran　the　needle　into　her　finger。

〃Madre　de　Dios！〃　she　cried　angrily。　　〃Who　would　have　expected　such　foolish　words　from　you？　and　now　I　have　pricked　my　finger　and　stained　my　little　frock。　　It　will　have　to　be　washed　before　worn；　and　is　never　so　pretty　after。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Sturgis　humbly。　　〃But　it　seems　to　me　that　if　a　man　wishes　to　marry　a　maid　he　should　ask　her　in　a　straightforward　manner；　with　no　preliminary　sighs　and　hints　and　serenadesand　all　sorts　of　insincere　stage　play。

〃He　should　at　least　address　her　parents　first。〃

〃True。　　I　was　wholly　the　American　for　the　mo…　ment。　　May　I　speak　to　Don　Jose　and　Dona　Ignacia；　Concha？〃

〃How　can　I　prevent？　　No；　I　will　not　coquet　with　you；　Weeliam。　　But　I　am　angry　that　you　have　thought　of　such　nonsense。　　Such　friends　as　we　were！　　We　have　talked　and　read　together　by　the　hour；　and　my　parents　have　thought　no　more　of　it　than　if　it　had　been　Santiago。　　There！　　You　have　a　new　book　in　your　pocket。　　Why　did　you　not　read　it　to　me　instead　of　making　love？　　Let　me　see　it。〃

〃I　brought　it　to　read　later　if　you　wished；　but　I　came　to　ask　you　to　marry　me　and　to　receive　your　answer。　　I　never　expected　to　ask　youbutlately　things　have　changedlife　seems；　somehow；　more　real。　　The　thought　of　losing　you　has　suddenly　be…　come　terrible。〃

〃You　have　been　drinking　Russian　tea；〃　said　Con…　cha；　stitching　quietly　but　flashing　him　a　glance　of　amusement；　not　wholly　without　malice。

〃It　is　true；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　suppose　I　never　really　believed　you　would　marry　Raimundo　or　Ignacio　or　any　of　the　caballeros。　　They　think　and　talk　of　noth…　ing　but　horse…racing；　gambling；　cock…fighting；　love　and　cigaritos。　　I　thought　of　you　always　here；　where　at　least　I　could　look　at　you　or　read　with　you。　　But　one　must　admit　that　this　Russian　is　no　ordinary　man。　　I　hate　him；　yet　like　him　more　than　any　I　have　ever　met。　　Last　night　I　stayed　to　punch　with　him；　and　we　talked　English　for　an　hour。　　That　is　to　say；　he　did；　I　could　have　listened　to　him　till　morning。　Langsdorff　says　that　he　has　the　greatest　possible　command　of　his　native　tongue；　but　he　speaks　Eng…　lish　well　enough。　　I　wish　I　could　despise　him；　but　I　do　not　believe　I　even　hate　him。〃

〃Well？〃　demanded　Concha。　　She　kept　her　eyes　on　her　work　（and　the　delight　that　rose　in　her　breast　from　her　voice）。

〃Well？〃

〃Why　should　you　hate　him？〃

〃Do　you　ask　me　that；　Concha；　when　he　makes　a　fence　of　himself　about　you；　and　his　fine　eyesprac…　tised　is　nearer　the　marklook　at　no　one　else？〃

〃But　why　should　that　cause　you　jealousy？　　He　is　a　man　of　the　world；　accustomed　to　make　himself　agreeable；　and　I　am　the　daughter　of　the　Com…　mandante。〃

〃He　is　more　in　love　with　you　than　he　knows。〃

〃Do　you　think　so；　Weeliam？〃　　Still　her　voice　was　innocent　and　even；　although　the　color　rose　above　the　inner　commotion。　　〃But　even　so；　what　of　it？　Have　not　many　loved　me？　　Am　I　to　be　won　by　the　first　stranger？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃

The　tumult　in　Concha　turned　to　wrath；　and　she　lifted　flashing　eyes　to　his　moody　face。　　〃Do　you　presume　to　say　you　are　jealous　because　you　think　I　love　hima　stranger　I　have　known　but　a　week　who　looks　upon　me　as　a　childwho　has　never　never　thought〃　　But　her　dignity；　flying　to　the　rescue；　assumed　control。　　Her　upper　lip　curled；　her　body　stiffened　for　a　moment；　and　she　went　on　with　her　stitching。　　〃You　deserve　I　should　rap　your　silly　little　skull　with　my　thimble。　　You　are　no　better　than　Ignacio　and　Fernando。　　Such　scenes　as　I　have　had　with　them！　　They　wanted　to　fight　the　Russian！　How　he　would　laugh　at　them！　　I　have　threatened　they　shall　both　be　sent　to　San　Diego　if　there　is　any　more　nonsense。〃　　Then　curiosity　overcame　her。　〃You　never　had　the　least；　least　reason　to　think　I　would　marry　you；　and　now；　according　to　your　own　words；　you　think　you　have　less。　　Then　why；　pray；　did　you　address　me？〃

〃Because　I　am　a　man；　I　suppose。　　I　could　not　sit　tamely　down　and　see　you　go。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　slight　access　of　interest。　A　man？　　Perhaps　he　was；　after　all。　　And　his　well…　bred；　bony　face　looked　very　determined；　albeit　the　eyes　were　wistful。　　Suddenly　she　felt　sorry　for　him；　and　she　had　never　experienced　a　pang　of　sym…　pathy　for　a　suitor　before。　　She　leaned　forward　and　patted　his　hand。

〃I　cannot　marry　you；　dear　Weeliam；〃　she　said；　and　never　had　he　seen　her　so　sweet　and　adorable；　although　he　noted　with　a　pang　that　her　mouth　was　already　drawn　with　a　firmer　line。　　〃But　what　mat…　ter？　　I　shall　never　marry　at　all。　　For　many　years　forty；　fifty　perhapsI　shall　sit　here　on　the　veranda；　and　you　shall　read　to　me。〃

And　then　she　shivered　violently。　　But　she　set　her　mouth　until　it　was　almost　straight；　and　picked　up　the　little　dress。　　〃Not　that；　perhaps；〃　she　said　quietly　in　a　moment。　　〃I　sometimes　think　I　should　like　to　be　a　nun；　that；　after　all；　it　is　my　vocation。　Not　a　cloistered　one；　for　that　is　but　a　selfish　life。　But　to　teach；　to　do　good；　to　forget　myself。　　There　are　no　convents　in　California；　but　I　could　join　the　Third　Order　of　the　Franciscans；　and　wear　the　gray　habit；　and　be　set　aside　by　the　world　as　one　that　only　lived　to　make　it　a　little　better。　　To　forget　oneself！　That；　after　all；　may　be　the　secret　of　happiness。　　I　envy　none　of　my　friends　that　are　married。　　They　have　the　dear　children；　it　is　true。　　But　the　children　grow　up　and　go　away；　and　then　one　is　fat　and　eats　many　dulces　and　the　siesta　grows　longer　and　longer　and　the　face　very　brown。　　That　is　life　in　California。　I　should　prefer　to　work　and　pray；　and〃with　a　flash　of　insight　that