rezanov-第23部分

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〃Mother　of　God！　　Mother　of　God！〃　　Don　Jose's　face　was　purple。　　The　veins　swelled　in　his　neck。　　He　was　the　more　wroth　because　he　recognized　his　own　daughter　and　his　own　handiwork；　because　he　saw　that　he　confronted　a　Toledo　blade；　not　a　woman's　brittle　will。　　Concha　regarded　him　calmly。

〃If　you　refuse　your　consent　you　will　lose　me　in　another　way。　　I　may　not　be　able　to　marry　as　I　wish；　but　I　will　have　no　worldly　alternative。　　I　shall　join　the　Third　Order　of　the　Franciscans；　and　enter　a　convent　as　soon　as　one　is　built　in　California。　　To　that　you　cannot　withhold　your　consent；　or　they　no　longer　would　call　you　El　santo。〃

Don　Jose　leaped　from　his　chair。　　〃Go　to　your　room！〃　he　thundered。　　〃And　do　not　dare　to　leave　it　without　my　permission〃

But　Concha　sprang　forward　and　flung　herself　upon　his　neck。　　She　rubbed　her　warm　elastic　cheek　against　his　own　in　the　manner　he　loved；　and　softened　her　voice。　　〃Papacito　mio；　papacito　mio；〃　she　pleaded。　　〃Thou　wilt　not　refuse　thy　Concha　the　only　thing　she　has　ever　begged　of　thee。　　And　I　beg！　　I　beg！　　Papa　mio！　　I　love　him！　　I　love　him！〃　　And　she　broke　into　wild　weeping　and　kissed　him　franti…　cally；　while　Rezanov　who　had　followed　her　plan　of　attack　and　resistance　in　silent　admiration；　did　not　know　whether　he　should　himself　be　moved　to　tears　or　further　admire。

Don　Jose　pushed　her　from　him　with　a　heavy　sob　and　hastily　left　the　room；　oblivious　in　the　confusion　of　his　faculties　of　the　boon　he　conferred　on　the　lovers。　　Concha　dried　her　eyes；　but　her　face　was　deathly　pale。　　It　had　not　been　all　acting；　by　any　means；　and　she　was　beginning　to　feel　the　tyranny　of　sleepless　nights；　and　the　joy　and　wonder　of　the　morning　had　left　her　with　but　a　remnant　of　endur…　ance　for　the　domestic　battleground。

〃Go；〃　she　whispered；　as　he　took　her　in　his　arms。　〃Return　for　the　dance　to…night　as　if　nothing　had　happened　　I　forgot；　there　is　to　be　a　bull…bear　fight　in　the　square。　　So　much　the　better；　for　it　is　in　your　honor；　and　you　could　not　well　remain　away。　There　is　much　trouble　to　come；　but　in　the　end　we　shall　win。〃



XVII

The　muscles　in　Dona　Ignacia's　cheeks　fell　an　inch　as　she　listened；　dumbfounded；　to　the　tale　her　husband　poured　out。　　To　her　simple　aristocratic　soul　Rez…　anov　had　loomed　too　great　a　personage　to　dream　of　mating　with　a　Californian；　and　as　her　sharp　mater…　nal　instinct　had　recognized　his　personal　probity；　even　his　gallantries　had　seemed　to　her　no　more　con…　sequent　than　the　more　catholic　trifling　of　his　officers。

〃Holy　Mary！〃　she　whimpered；　when　her　voice　came　back。　　〃Holy　Mary！　　A　heretic！　　And　he　would　take　our　Concha　from　us！　　And　she　would　go！　　To　St。　Petersburg！　　Ten　thousand　miles！　To　the　priests　with　hernowthis　very　day！〃

Concha　had　thrown　herself　on　her　bed　in　belated　hope　of　siesta；　when　Malia　（Rosa　had　been　sent　to　the　house　of　Don　Mario　Sal　in　the　valley）　entered　with　the　message　that　she　was　to　accompany　her　parents　to　the　Mission　at　once。　　She　rose　sullenly；　but　in　the　manifold　essentials　of　a　girl's　life　she　had　always　yielded　the　implicit　obedience　exacted　by　the　Californian　parent。　　In　a　few　moments　she　was　riding　out　of　the　Presidio　beside　her　father。　Dona　Ignacia　jolted　behind　in　her　carreta；　a　low　and　clumsy　vehicle；　on　solid　wheels　and　springless；　drawn　by　oxen；　and　driven　by　a　stable…boy　on　a　mustang。　　The　journey　was　made　in　complete　si…　lence　save　for　the　maledictions　addressed　to　the　oxen　by　the　boy；　and　an　occasional　〃Ay　yi！〃　　〃Madre　de　Dios！〃　　〃Sainted　Mary；　but　the　sun　bores　a　hole　in　the　head；〃　from　Dona　Ignacia；　whose　increasing　discomfort　banished　wrath　and　apprehension　for　the　hour。

Don　Jose　did　not　even　look　at　his　daughter；　but　his　face　was　ten　years　older　than　in　the　morning。　He　had　begun　dimly　to　appreciate　that　she　was　suf…　fering；　and　in　a　manner　vastly　different　from　the　passionate　resentment　he　had　seen　her　display　when　the　contents　of　a　box　from　Mexico　disappointed　her；　or　she　was　denied　a　visit　to　Monterey。　　That　his　best…loved　child　should　suffer　tore　his　own　heart；　but　he　merely　cursed　Rezanov　and　resolved　to　do　his　best　to　persuade　the　Governor　to　yield　to　his　other　demands；　that　California　might　be　rid　of　him　the　sooner。

Father　Abella　was　walking　down　the　long　outer　corridor　of　the　Mission　reading　his　breviary；　and　praying　he　might　not　be　diverted　from　righteousness　by　the　comforting　touch　of　his　new　habit；　when　he　looked　up　and　saw　the　party　from　the　presidio　floundering　over　the　last　of　the　sand　hills。　　He　shuffled　off　to　order　refreshments；　and　returned　in　time　to　disburden　the　carreta　of　Dona　Ignaciano　mean　featvolubly　delighted　in　the　visit　and　the　gossip　it　portended。　　But　as　he　offered　his　arm　to　lead　her　into　the　sala；　she　pushed　him　aside　and　pointed　to　Concha；　who　had　sprung　to　the　ground　unassisted。

〃She　has　come　to　confess；　padre！〃　she　exclaimed；　her　mind；　under　the　deep　tiled　roof　of　the　corridor；　readjusting　itself　to　tragedy。　　〃I　beg　that　you　will　take　her　at　once。　　Padre　Landaeta　can　give　us　chocolate　and　we　will　tell　our　terrible　news　to　him　and　receive　advice　and　consolation。〃

Father　Abella；　not　without　a　glimmering　of　the　truth；　for　better　than　any　one　he　understood　the　girl　he　had　confessed　many　times；　besides　himself　having　succumbed　to　the　Russian；　led　the　way　to　the　confessional　in　some　perturbation　of　spirit。　　He　walked　slowly；　hoping　that　the　long；　cool　church；　its　narrow　high　windows　admitting　so　scant　a　meed　of　sunlight　that　no　one　of　its　worshippers　had　ever　read　the　legends　on　the　walls；　and　even　the　stations　were　but　deeper　bits　of　shade；　would　attune　her　mind　to　holy　things；　and　throw　a　mantle　of　un…　reality　over　those　of　the　world。

He　covered　his　face　with　his　hand　as　she　told　her　story。　　This　she　did　in　a　few　words；　disjointed；　for　she　was　both　tired　and　seething。　　For　a　few　mo…　ments　afterward　there　was　a　silence；　the　good　priest　was　increasingly　disturbed　and　by　no　means　certain　of　his　course。　　He　was　astonished　to　feel　a　tug　at　his　sleeve。　　Before　he　could　reprove　this　impenitent　child　for　audacity　she　had　raised　herself　that　she　might　approach　her　lips　more　closely　to　his　ear。

〃Mi　padre！〃　she　whispered　hoarsely；　〃you　will　take　my　part！　　You　will　not　condemn　me　to　a　life　of　misery！　　I　am　too　proud　to　speak　openly　to　others　but　I　love　this　man　more　than　my　soulmore　than　my　immortal　soul。　　Do　you　hear？　　I　am　in　danger　of　mortal　sin。　　Perhaps　I　am　already　in　that　state。　　You　cannot　save　me　if　he　goes。　　I　will　not　pray。　　I　will　not　come　to　the　church。　　I　will　be　an　outcast。　　If　I　marry　him；　I　will　be　a　good　Catholic　to　the　end　of　my　days。　　If　I　marry　him　I　can　think　of　other　things　besidesof　my　church；　my　father；　my　mother；　my　sisters；　brothers。　　If　he　goes；　I　shall　pass　my　life　thinking　of　nothing　but　him；　and　if　it　be　true　that　heretics　are　doomed　to　hell；　then　I　will　live　so　that　I　may　go　to　hell　with　him。〃

In　spite　of　his　horror　the　priest　was　thrilled　by　the　intense　passion　in　the　voice　so　close　to　his　ear。　Moreover；　he　knew　women　well；　this　good　padre；　for　even　in　California　they　differed　little　from　those　that　played　ball　with　the　world。　　So　he　dismissed　the　horror　and　spoke　soothingly。

〃What　you　have　said　would　be　mortal　sin；　my　daughter；　were　it　not　that　you　are　laboring　under　strong　and　natural　excitement；　and　I　shall　absolve　you　freely　when　you　have　done　the　penance　I　must　impose。　　You　have　always　been　such　a　good　child　that　I　am　able　to　forgive　you　even　in　this　terrible　moment。　　But；　my　daughter；　surely　you　know　that　this　marriage　can　never　take　place〃

〃It　shall！　　It　shall！〃

〃Control　yourself；　my　daughter。　　You　cannot　bring　this　man　into　the　true　church。　　His　character　is　long　since　formed　and　castit　is　iron。　　Even　love　will　not　melt　it。　　Were　he　younger〃

〃I　should　hate　him。　　All　young　men　are　insuffer…　able　to　mealways　have　been。　　I　have　found　my　mate；　and　have　him　I　will　if　I　have　to　hide　in　the　hold　of　his　ship。　　Ah；　padre　mio；　I　know　not　what　I　say。　　But　you　will　help　me。　　Only　you　can。　　My　father　thinks　you　as　wise　as　a　saint。　　And　there　are　other　thingsmy　head　turns　roundI　can　hardly　thinkbut　you　dare　not　lose　the　friendship　of　this　Russian。　　And　my　marriage　to　him　would　be　as　much　for　the　good　of　the　Missions　as　for　Cali…　fornia　herself。　　Champion　our　course；　point　out　that　not　only　would　it　be　a　great　match　for　me；　but　that　many　ends　would　be　lost　by　ruining　my　life。　The　Governor　will　find　himself　in　a　position　to　grant　your　prayers　for　the　cargo；　particularly　if　you　first　persuaded　my　fatherso　long　they　have　been　friends；　the　Governor　could　not　resist　if　he　joined　our　forces。　　What　is　one　girl　that　she　should　be　held　of　greater　account　than　the　welfare　of　this　country　to　which　you　are　devoting　your　life？　　The　happier　are　your　converts；　the　more　kindly　will　they　take　to　Christianitywhich　they　do　not　love　as　yet！the　more　faithful　and　contented　will　they　be；　in　the　prospect　of　the　luxuries　and　the　toys　and　the　trinkets　of　the　Russian　north。　　What　is　one　girl　against　the　friendship　of　Russia　for　Spain？　　Who　am　I　that　I　should　weigh　a　peseta　in　the　scale？〃

〃You　are　Concha　Arguello；　the　flower　of　all　the　maidens　in　California；　and　the　daughter　of　the　best　of　our　men；〃　replied　Father　Abella　musingly。　　〃And　until　to…day　there　has　been　no　Catholic　more　de…　vout〃

〃It　lies　with　you；　mi　padre；　whether　I　continue　to　be　the　best　of　Catholics　or　become　the　most　abandoned　of　heretics。　　You　know　me　better　than　anyone。　　You　know　that　I　will　not　weaken　and　bend　and　submit；　like　a　thousand　other　women。　　I　could　be　badbadbadand　I　will　be！　　Do　you　hear？〃　　And　she　shook　his　arm　violently；　while　her　hoarse　voice　filled　the　church。

〃My　child！　　My　child！　　I　have　always　believed　that　you　had　it　in　you　to　become　a　saint。　　Yes；　yes；　I　feel　the　strength　and　maturity　of　your　nature；　I　know　the　lengths　to　which　it　might　lead　another；　but　you　could　not　be　bad；　Conchita。　　I　have　known　many　women。　　In　you　alone　have　I　perceived　the　capacity　for　spiritual　exaltation。　　You　are　the　stuff　of　which　saints　and　martyrs　are　made。　　The　vio…　lent　will；　the　transcendent　passionsthey　have　existed　in　the　greatest　of　our　saints；　and　been　con…　quered。〃

〃I　will　not　conquer。　　I　　Oh；　padrefor　the　love　of　heaven〃

He　left　the　box　hastily　and　lifted　her　where　she　had　fallen　and　carried　her　into　the　room　adjoinin