the quest of the golden girl-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ging；　and　blessings　on　the　river　that　seemed　all　silver　with　the　backs　of　magic　trout。　　As　I　thought　of　all　I　owed　that　noble　fish；　I　kneeled　by　the　river's　bearded　lip；　among　the　nettles　and　the　meadowsweet；　and　swore　by　the　inconstant　moon　that　trout　and　I　were　henceforth　kinsmen；　and　that　between　our　houses　should　be　an　eternal　amity。　　The　chub　and　the　dace　and　the　carp；　not　to　speak　of　that　Chinese　pirate　the　pike；　might　still　look　to　it；　when　I　came　forth　armed　with　rod　and　line；　but　for　me　and　my　house　the　trout　is　henceforth　sacred。　By　the　memory　of　the　Blessed　Saint　Izaak；　I　swore　it！

My　arrival　at　Beaucaire　was　one　of　great　excitement。　　Nicolete　and　the　Obstacle　were　both　awaiting　me；　for　the　mysteries　of　masculine　attire　were　not　to　be　explored　alone。　The　parcel　was　snatched　quite　unceremoniously　from　my　hands；　the　door　shut　upon　me；　and　I　laughingly　bidden　go　listen　to　the　nightingale。　　I　was　not　long　in　finding　one；　nor；　being　an　industrious　phrase…maker；　did　I　waste　my　time；　for；　before　I　was　summoned　to　behold　Nicolete　in　all　her　boyhood；　I　had　found　occasion　and　moonlight　to　remark　to　my　pocket…book　that；　Though　all　the　world　has　heard　the　song　of　the　Nightingale　to　the　Rose；　only　the　Nightingale　has　heard　the　answer　of　the　Rose。　　This　I　hurriedly　hid　in　my　heart　for　future　conversation；　as　the　pre…arranged　tinkle　of　the　silver　bell　called　me　to　the　rose。

Would；　indeed；　that　I　were　a　nightingale　to　sing　aright　the　beauty　of　that　rose　with　which；　think　of　it；　I　was　to　spend　a　whole　fortnight；yes；　no　less　than　fourteen　wonderful　days。　　

The　two　girls　were　evidently　proud　of　themselves　at　having　succeeded　so　well　with　the　mysterious　garments。　　There　were　one　or　two　points　on　which　they　needed　my　guidance；　but　they　were　unimportant；　and　when　at　last　Nicolete　would　consent　to　stand　up　straight　and　let　me　have　a　good　look　at　her；for；　poor　child！　she　was　as　shy　and　shrinking　as　though　she　had　nothing　on；she　made　a　very　pretty　young　man　indeed。

She　didn't；　I'm　afraid；　look　like　a　young　man　of　our　degenerate　day。　　She　was　far　too　beautiful　and　distinguished　for　that。　Besides；　her　dark　curling　hair；　quite　short　for　a　woman；　was　too　long；　and　her　eyes　like　the　eyes　of　all　poetswere　women's　eyes。　　She　looked；　indeed；　like　one　of　those　wonderful　boys　of　the　Italian　Renaissance；　whom　you　may　still　see　at　the　National　Gallery；　whose　beauty　is　no　denial；　but　rather　the　stamp　of　their　slender；　supple　strength；　young　painters　and　sculptors　who　held　the　palette　for　Leonardo；　or　wielded　the　chisel　for　Michelangelo；　and　anon　threw　both　aside　to　take　up　sword　for　Guelf　or　Ghibelline　in　the　narrow　streets　of　Florence。

Her　knapsack　was　already　packed；　and　its　contents　included　a　serge　skirt　〃in　case　of　emergencies。〃　　Already；　she　naughtily　reminded　me；　we　possessed　a　petticoat　between　us。

The　brief　remainder　of　the　evening　passed　in　excited　chatter　and　cigarettes；　and　in　my　instructing　Nicolete　in　certain　tricks　of　masculine　deportment。　　The　chief　difficulty　I　hardly　like　mentioning；　and　if　the　Obstacle　had　not　been　present；　I　certainly　dare　not　have　spoken　of　it　to　Nicolete。　　I　mean　that　she　was　so　shy　about　her　pretty　legs。　　She　couldn't　cross　them　with　any　successful　nonchalance。

〃You　must　take　your　legs　more　for　granted；　dear　Nicolete；〃　I　summoned　courage　to　say。　　〃The　nonchalance　of　the　legs　is　the　first　lesson　to　be　learnt　in　such　a　masquerade　as　this。　　You　must　regard　them　as　so　much　bone　and　iron；　rude　skeleton　joints　and　shins；　as　though　they　were　the　bones　of　the　great　elk　or　other　extinct　South　Kensington　specimen；〃〃not；〃　I　added　in　my　heart；　〃as　the　velvet　and　ivory　which　they　are。〃

We　had　agreed　to　start　with　the　sun　on　the　morrow；　so　as　to　get　clear　of　possible　Peeping　Toms；　and　when　good…nights　had　been　said；　and　I　was　once　more　swinging　towards　my　inn；　it　seemed　but　an　hour　or　two；　as　indeed　it　was；　before　I　heard　four　o'clock　drowsily　announced　through　my　bedroom　door；　and　before　I　was　once　more　striding　along　that　river…bank　all　dew…　silvered　with　last　night's　moonlight；　the　sun　rubbing　his　great　eye　on　the　horizon；　the　whole　world　yawning　through　dainty　bed…clothes　of　mist；　and　here　and　there　a　copse…full　of　birds　congratulating　themselves　on　their　early　rising。

Nicolete　was　not　quite　ready；　so　I　had　to　go　listen　to　the　lark；　about　whom；　alas！　I　could　find　nothing　to　say　to　my　pocket…book；　before　Nicolete；　armed　cap…a…pie　with　stick　and　knapsack；　appeared　at　the　door　of　her　chalet。

The　Obstacle　was　there　to　see　us　start。　She　and　Nicolete　exchanged　many　kisses　which　were　hard　to　bear；　and　the　first　quarter　of　an　hour　of　our　journey　was　much　obstructed　by　the　farewells　of　her　far…fluttering　handkerchief。　　When　at　last　we　were　really　alone；　I　turned　and　looked　at　Nicolete　striding　manfully　at　my　side；　just　to　make　sure　that　it　was　really　true。

〃Well；　we're　in　for　it　now；〃　I　said；　〃aren't　you　frightened？〃

〃Oh；　it's　wonderful；〃　she　replied；　〃don't　spoil　it　by　talking。〃

And　I　didn't；　for　who　could　hope　to　compete　with　the　sun；　who　was　making　the　whole　dewy　world　shake　with　laughter　at　his　brilliancy；　or　with　the　birds；　any　one　of　whom　was　a　poet　at　least　equal　to　Herrick？

Presently　we　found　ourselves　at　four　crossroads；　with　a　four…fingered　post　in　the　centre。　We　had　agreed　to　leave　our　destination　to　chance。　　We　read　the　sign…post。

〃Which　shall　we　choose？〃　I　said；


〃Aucassin；　true　love　and　fair；　　　　　　　To　what　land　do　we　repair？〃　


〃Don't　you　think　this　one；〃　she　replied。　〃this　one？To　the　Moon！〃

〃Certainly；　we　couldn't　find　a　prettier　place；　but　it's　a　long　way；〃　I　replied；　looking　up　at　the　sky；　all　roses　and　pearls；〃a　long　way　from　the　Morning　Star　to　the　Moon。〃

〃All　the　longer　to　be　free；〃　cried　Nicolete；　recklessly。

〃So　be　it；〃　I　assented。　　〃Allonsto　the　Moon！〃



CHAPTER　VIII


THE　KIND　OF　THING　THAT　HAPPENS　IN　THE　MOON

Two　friends　of　my　youth；　with　whom　it　would　be　hopeless　to　attempt　competition；　have　described　the　star…strewn　journey　to　the　moon。　　It　is　not　for　me　to　essay　again　where　the　ingenious　M。　Jules　Verne　and　Mr。　William　Morris　have　preceded　me。　Besides；　the　journey　is　nowadays　much　more　usual；　and　therefore　much　less　adventurous；　than　when　those　revered　writers　first　described　it。　　In　the　middle　ages　a　journey　to　the　moon　with　a　woman　you　loved　was　a　very　perilous　matter　indeed。　　Even　in　the　last　century　the　roads　were　much　beset　with　danger；　but　in　our　own　day；　like　most　journeys；　it　is　accomplished　with　ease　and　safety　in　a　few　hours。

However；　to　the　latter…day　hero；　whose　appetite　for　dragons　is　not　keen；　this　absence　of　adventure　is　perhaps　rather　pleasurable　than　otherwise；　and　I　confess　that　I　enjoyed　the　days　I　spent　on　foot　with　Nicolete　none　the　less　because　they　passed　in　tranquil　uneventfulness；that　is；　without　events　of　the　violent　kind。　　Of　course；　all　depends　on　what　you　call　an　event。　　We　were　not　waylaid　by　robbers；　we　fed　and　slept　unchallenged　at　inns；　we　escaped　collision　with　the　police；　and　we　encountered　no　bodily　dangers　of　any　kind；　yet　should　I　not　call　the　journey　uneventful；　nor　indeed；　I　think；　would　Nicolete。

To　me　it　was　one　prolonged　divine　event；　and；　with　such　daily　intercourse　with　Nicolete；　I　never　dreamed　of　craving　for　any　other　excitement。　　To　walk　from　morning　to　evening　by　her　side；　to　minister　to　her　moods；　to　provide　such　entertainment　as　I　might　for　her　brain；　and　watch　like　a　father　over　her　physical　needs；　to　note　when　she　was　weary　and　too　proud　to　show　it；　and　to　pretend　to　be　done　up　myself；　to　choose　for　her　the　easiest　path；　and　keep　my　eyes　open　for　wayside　flowers　and　every　country　surprise；these；　and　a　hundred　other　atten…　tions；　kept　my　heart　and　mind　in　busy　service。

To　picnic　by　some　lonely　stream…side　on　a　few　sandwiches；　a　flask　of　claret；　and　a　pennyworth　of　apples；　to　talk　about　the　books　we　loved；　to　exchange　our　hopes　and　dreams；we　asked　nothing　better　than　this　simple　fare。

And　so　a　week　went　by。　　But；　though　so　little　had　seemed　to　happen；　and　though　our　walking　record　was　shamefully　modest；　yet；　imperceptible　as　the　transition　had　been；　we　were；　quite　insensibly　indeed；　and　unacknowledged；　in　a　very　different　relation　to　each　other　than　when　we　had　started　out　from　the　Morning　Star。　　In　fact；　to　make　no　more　words　about　it；　I　was　head　over　heels　in　love　with　Nicolete；　and　I　think；　without　conceit；　I　may　say　that　Nicolete　was　rapidly　growing　rather　fond　of　me。　　Apart　from　anything　else；　we　were　such　excellent　chums。　We　got　along　together　as　if　indeed　we　had　been　two　brothers；　equable　in　our　tempers　and　one　in　our　desires。

At　last　the　feeling　on　my　side　became　so　importunate　that　I　could　no　longer　keep　silence。

We　were　seated　together　taking　tea　at　a　small　lonely　inn；　whose　windows　looked　out　over　a　romantic　little　lake；　backed　by　Salvator　Rosa　pine…woods。　　The　sun　was　beginning　to　grow　dreamy；　and　the　whole　world　to　wear　a　dangerously　sentimental　expression。

I　forget　exactly　what　it　was；　but　something　in　our　talk　had　set　us　glowing；　had　touched　tender　chords　of　unexpected　sympathy；　and　involuntarily　I　stretched　out　my　hand　across　the　corner　of　the　table　and　pressed　Nicolete's　hand　as　it　rested　on　the　cloth。　　She　did　not　withdraw　it；　and　our　eyes　met　with　a　steady　gaze　of　love。

〃Nicolete；〃　I　said　presently；　when　I　could　speak；　〃it　is　time　for　you　to　be　going　back　home。〃

〃Why？〃　she　asked　breathlessly。

〃Because；〃　I　answered；　〃I　must　love　you　if　you　stay。〃

〃Would　you　then　bid　me　go？〃　she　said。

〃Nicolete；〃　I　said；　〃don't　tempt　me。　　Be　a　good　girl　and　go　home。〃

〃But　supposing　I　don't　want　to　go　home；〃　she　said；　〃supposingoh；　supposing　I　love　you　too？　　Would　you　still　bid　me　go？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　　〃In　that　case　it　would　be　even　more　imperative。〃

〃Aucassin！〃

〃It　is　true；　it　is　true；　dear　Nicolete。〃

〃Then；　Aucassin；〃　she　replied；　almost　sternly；　in　her　great　girlish　love；　〃this　is　true　also；I　love　you。　　I　have　never　loved；　shall　never　love；　any　man　but　you！〃

〃Nicolete！〃

〃Aucassin！〃

There　were　no　more　words　spoken　between　us　for　a　full　hour　that　afternoon。



CHAPTER　IX


WRITTEN　BY　MOONLIGHT

I　knew　deep　down　in　my　heart　that　it　couldn't　last；　yet　how　deny　myself　these　roses；　while　the　opportunity　of　gathering　them　was　mine！the　mor