rezanov-第9部分

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〃Sixteen　is　quite　old。〃　　Concha　drew　herself　up　with　an　air　of　offended　dignity。　　〃Elena　Castro；　who　lives　on　the　other　side；　is　but　eighteen　and　she　has　three　little　ones。　　The　Virgin　brought　them　in　the　night　and　left　them　in　the　big　rosebush　you　see　before　the　doorone　at　a　time；　of　course。　　Only　the　old　nurse　knew；　the　Virgin　whispered　it　while　she　was　saying　a　prayer　for　Elena；　and　early　in　the　morning　she　came　and　found　the　dear　little　baby　and　put　it　in　Elena's　arms。　　I　am　the　godmother　of　the　firstConchitita。　　In　Santa　Barbara；　where　we　lived　for　some　years；　Anita　Amanda　Carillo；　the　friend　of　Ana　Paula；　is　married；　although　she　is　but　twelve　and　sits　on　the　floor　all　day　and　plays　with　her　dolls。　　She　prays　every　night　to　the　Virgin　to　bring　her　a　real　baby；　but　she　is　not　old　enough　to　take　care　of　it　and　must　wait。　　Twelve　is　too　young　to　marry。〃　　Concha　shook　her　head。　　Her　eyes　were　wise；　and　Rezanov　noted　anew　that　her　mouth　alone　was　as　young　as　her　years。　　〃My　father　would　not　permit　such　a　thing。　　I　am　glad　he　is　not　anxious　we　should　marry　soon。　　I　should　love　to　have　the　babies；　though；　they　are　so　sweet　to　play　with　and　make　little　dresses　for。　　But　my　mother　says　the　Virgin　does　not　bring　the　little　ones　to　good　girlspoor　Rosa　had　one　but　it　dieduntil　their　parents　find　them　a　husband　first。　　I　have　never　wanted　a　husband〃　　Concha　darted　a　swift　glance　over　her　shoulder；　but　Santiago　was　in　the　clutches　of　the　learned　doctor　and　wishing　that　he　knew　no　Latin；　〃so　I　go　every　day　and　play　with　Elena's　babies；　which　is　well　enough。〃

Rezanov　listened　to　this　innocent　revelation　with　the　utmost　gravity；　but　for　the　first　time　in　many　years　he　was　conscious　of　a　novel　fascination　in　a　sex　to　which　he　had　paid　no　niggard's　tribute。　　In　his　world　the　married　woman　reigned；　it　was　doubt…　ful　if　he　had　ever　had　ten　minutes'　conversation　with　a　young　girl　before；　never　with　one　whose　face　and　form　were　as　arresting　as　her　crystal　purity。　He　was　fascinated；　but　more　than　ever　on　his　guard。　As　he　rode　over　the　sand　hills　to　the　Mission　she　clung　fast　to　his　thoughts　and　he　speculated　upon　the　woman　hidden　away　in　the　depths　of　that　lovely　shell　like　the　deep　color　within　the　tight　Castilian　buds　that　opened　so　slowly。　　He　recalled　the　per…　sonalities　of　the　young　officers　that　surrounded　her。　They　were　charming　fellows；　gay；　kindly；　honest；　but　he　felt　sure　that　not　one　of　them　was　fit　to　hold　the　cup　of　life　to　the　exquisite　young　lips　of　Concha　Arguello。　　The　very　thought　disposed　him　to　twist　their　necks。



VI

The　Mission　San　Francisco　de　Assisi　stood　at　the　head　of　a　great　valley　about　a　league　from　the　Presidio　and　facing　the　eastern　hills。　　Behind　it；　yet　not　too　close；　for　the　priests　were　ever　on　their　guard　against　Indians　more　lustful　of　loot　than　sal…　vation；　was　a　long　irregular　chain　of　hills；　break…　ing　into　twin　peaks　on　its　highest　ridge；　with　a　lone　mountain　outstanding。　　It　was　an　imposing　but　forbidding　mass；　as　steep　and　bare　as　the　walls　of　a　fortress；　but　in　the　distance；　north　and　south；　as　the　range　curved　in　a　tapering　arc　that　gave　the　valley　the　appearance　of　a　colossal　stadium；　the　outlines　were　soft　in　a　haze　of　pale　color。　　The　sheltered　valley　between　the　western　heights　and　the　sand　hills　far　down　the　bay　where　it　turned　to　the　south；　was　green　with　wheat　fields；　and　a　small　herd　of　cattle　grazed　on　the　lower　slopes。　　The　beauty　of　this　superbly　proportioned　valley　was　further　enhanced　by　groves　of　oaks　and　bay　trees；　and　by　a　lagoon；　communicating　with　an　arm　of　the　bay；　which　the　priests　had　named　for　their　Lady　of　SorrowsNuestra　Senora　de　los　Dolores。　　The　little　sheet　of　water　was　almost　round；　very　green　and　set　in　a　thicket　of　willows　that　were　green；　too；　in　the　springtime；　and　golden　in　summer。　　Near　its　banks；　or　closer　to　the　protecting　Missionon　whose　land　grant　they　were　builtwere　the　com…　fortable　adobe　homes　of　the　few　Spanish　pioneers　that　preferred　the　bracing　north　to　the　monotonous　warmth　of　the　south。　　Some　of　these　houses　were　long　and　rambling；　others　built　about　a　court；　all　were　surrounded　by　a　high　wall；　enclosing　a　gar…　den　where　the　Castilian　roses　grew　even　more　lux…　uriantly　than　at　the　Presidio。　　The　walls；　like　the　houses；　were　white；　and　on　those　of　Don　Juan　Moraga；　a　cousin　of　Dona　Ignacia　Arguello；　the　roses　had　been　trained　to　form　a　border　along　the　top　in　a　fashion　that　reminded　Rezanov　of　the　pink　edged　walls　of　Fiesole。

The　white　red…tiled　church　and　the　long　line　of　rooms　adjoining　were　built　of　adobe　with　no　effort　at　grandeur；　but　with　a　certain　noble　simplicity　of　outline　that　harmonized　not　only　with　the　lofty　re…　serve　of　the　hills　but　with　the　innocent　hope　of　creat…　ing　a　soul　in　the　lowest　of　human　bipeds。　　The　Indians　of　San　Francisco　were　as　immedicable　as　they　were　hideous；　but　the　fathers　belabored　them　with　sticks　and　heaven　with　prayer；　and　had　so　far　succeeded　that　if　as　yet　they　had　sown　piety　no　higher　than　the　knees；　they　had　trained　some　twelve　hundred　pairs　of　hands　to　useful　service。

On　the　right　was　a　graveyard；　with　little　in　it　as　yet　but　rose　trees；　behind　the　church　and　the　many　spacious　rooms　built　for　the　consolation　of　virtue　in　the　wilderness　was　a　large　building　surrounding　a　court。　　Girls　and　young　widows　occupied　the　cells　on　the　north　side；　and　the　work　rooms　on　the　east；　while　the　youths；　under　the　sharp　eye　of　a　lay　brother；　were　opposite。　　All　lived　a　life　of　unwill…　ing　industry：　cleaning　and　combing　wool；　spinning；　weaving；　manufacturing　chocolate；　grinding　corn　between　stones；　making　shoes；　fashioning　the　simple　garments　worn　by　priest　and　Indian。　　Between　the　main　group　of　buildings　and　the　natural　rampart　of　the　〃San　Bruno　Mountains〃　was　the　Rancheria；　where　the　Indian　families　lived　in　eight　long　rows　of　isolated　huts。

In　spite　of　vigilance　an　Indian　escaped　now　and　again　to　the　mountains；　where　he　could　lie　naked　in　the　sun　and　curse　the　fetich　of　civilization。　　As　the　Russians　approached；　a　friar；　with　deer…skin　armor　over　his　cassock；　was　tugging　at　a　recalcitrant　mule；　while　a　body…guard　of　four　Indians　stood　ready　to　attend　him　down　the　coast　in　search　of　an　enviable　brother。　　The　mule；　as　if　in　sympathy　with　the　fugitive；　had　planted　his　four　feet　in　the　earth　and　lifted　his　voice　in　derision；　while　the　young　friar；　a　recruit　at　the　Mission；　and　far　from　enamored　of　his　task；　strained　at　the　rope；　and　an　Indian　pelted　the　hindquarters　with　stones。　　Suddenly；　the　mule　flung　out　his　heels；　the　enemy　in　the　rear　sprawled；　the　rope　flew　loose；　the　beast　with　a　loud　bray　fled　toward　the　willows　of　Dolores。　　But　the　young　priest　was　both　agile　and　angry。　　With　a　flying　leap　he　reached　the　heaving　back。　　The　mule　acknowl…　edged　himself　conquered。　　The　body…guard　trotted　on　their　own　feet；　and　the　party　disappeared　round　a　bend　of　the　hills。

Rezanov　laughed　heartily　and　even　the　glum　vis…　age　of　Father　Abella　relaxed。

〃It　is　a　common　sight；　Excellency；〃　he　said。　　〃We　are　thankful　to　have　a　younger　friar　for　such　fatiguing　work。　　Many　a　time　have　I　belabored　stubborn　mules　and　bestrode　bucking　mustangs　while　searching　for　one　of　these　ungrateful　but　no　doubt　chosen　creatures。　　It　is　the　will　of　God；　and　we　make　no　complaint；　but　we　are　very　willing；　Father　Landaeta　and　I；　that　youth　should　cool　its　ardor　in　so　certain　a　fashion　while　we　attend　to　the　more　reasonable　duties　at　home。〃

They　were　dismounted　at　the　door　of　the　church。　The　horses　were　led　off　by　waiting　Indians。　　The　soldiers　on　guard　saluted　and　stepped　aside；　and　the　party　entered。　　Two　priests　in　handsome　vest…　ments　stood　before　the　altar；　but　the　long　dim　nave　was　empty。　　The　Russians　had　been　told　that　a　mass　would　be　said　in　their　honor；　and　they　marched　down　the　church　and　bent　their　knees　with　as　much　ceremony　as　had　they　been　of　the　faith　of　their　hosts。　　When　the　short　mass　was　over；　Rezanov　bethought　himself　of　Concha's　re…　quest；　and　whispering　its　purport　to　Father　Abella　was　led　to　a　double　iron　hoop　stuck　with　tallow　dips　in　various　stages　of　petition。　　Rezanov　lit　a　candle　and　fastened　it　in　an　empty　socket。　　Then　with　a　whimsical　twist　of　his　mouth　he　lit　and　adjusted　another。

〃No　doubt　she　has　some　fervent　wish；　like　all　children；〃　he　thought　apologetically。　　〃And　whether　this　will　help　her　to　realize　it　or　not；　at　least　it　will　be　interesting　to　watch　her　eyesand　mouth　when　I　tell　her。　　Will　she　melt；　or　flash；　or　receive　my　offering　at　her　shrine　as　a　matter　of　course？　I'll　surprise　her　to…night　in　the　middle　of　a　dance。〃

He　deposited　a　gold　piece　among　the　candles　on　the　table　and　followed　Father　Abella　through　a　side　door。　　A　corridor　ran　behind　the　long　line　of　rooms　designed　not　only　for　priests　but　for　travellers　al…　ways　sure　of　a　welcome　at　these　hospitable　Mis…　sions。　　Father　Abella　shuffled　ahead；　halted　on　the　threshold　of　a　large　room；　and　ceremoniously　in…　vited　his　guests　to　enter。　　Two　other　priests　stood　before　a　table　set　with　wine　and　delicate　confec…　tions；　their　hands　concealed　in　their　wide　brown　sleeves；　but　their　unmatched　physiognomiesthe　one　lean　and　jovial；　the　other　plump　and　resigned　alight　with　the　same　smile　of　welcome。　　Father　Abella　mentioned　them　as　his　coadjutor　Father　Martin　Landaeta；　and　their　guest　Father　Jose　Uria　of　San　Jose；　and　then　the　three；　with　the　scant　rites　of　genuine　hospitality；　applied　themselves　to　the　tick…　ling　of　palates　long　unused　to　ambrosial　living。　　Re…　sponding　ingenuously　to　the　glow　of　their　home…　made　wines；　they　begged　Rezanov　to　accept　the　Mis…　sion；　burn　it；　plunder　it；　above　all；　to　plan　his　own　day。

〃I　hope　that　I　am　to　see　every　detail　of　your　great　work；〃　replied　the　diplomatic　guest　of　honor。　　〃But　at　your　own　leisure。　　Meanwhile；　I　beg　that　you　will　order　one　of　your　Indians　to　bring　in　the　little　presents　I　venture　to　offer　as　a　token　of　my　respect。　You　may　have　heard　that　the　presents　of　his　Im…　perial　Majesty　were　refused　by　the　Mikado　of　Japan。　　I　reserved　many　of　them　for　possible　use　in　our　own　possessions；　particularly　a　piece　of　cloth　of　gold。　　This　I　had　intended　for　our　church　at　New　Archangel；　but　finding　the　priests　there　more　in　need　of　punishment　than　reward；　I　concluded　to　bring　it　here　and　offer　it　as　a　manifest　of　my　a