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green mansions-第26部分

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I put out my hand and touched something soft and wet; it was her breast; and moving my hand higher up; I felt her hair; hanging now and streaming with water。  She was trembling; and I thought the rain had chilled her。

〃Rimepoor child!  How wet you are!  How strange to meet you in such a place!  Tell me; dear Rima; how did you find me?〃

〃I was waitingwatchingall day。  I saw you coming across the savannah; and followed at a distance through the wood。〃

〃And I had treated you so unkindly!  Ah; my guardian angel; my light in the darkness; how I hate myself for giving you pain! Tell me; sweet; did you wish me to come back and live with you again?〃  She made no reply。  Then; running my fingers down her arm; I took her hand in mine。  It was hot; like the hand of one in a fever。  I raised it to my lips and then attempted to draw her to me; but she slipped down and out of my arms to my feet。  I felt her there; on her knees; with head bowed low。  Stooping and putting my arm round her body; I drew her up and held her against my breast; and felt her heart throbbing wildly。  With many endearing words I begged her to speak to me; but her only reply was: 〃Comecome;〃 as she slipped again out of my arms and; holding my hand in hers; guided me through the bushes。

Before long we came to an open path or glade; where the darkness was not profound; and releasing my hand; she began walking rapidly before me; always keeping at such a distance as just enabled me to distinguish her grey; shadowy figure; and with frequent doublings to follow the natural paths and openings which she knew so well。  In this way we kept on nearly to the end; without exchanging a word; and hearing no sound except the continuous rush of rain; which to our accustomed ears had ceased to have the effect of sound; and the various gurgling noises of innumerable runners。  All at once; as we came to a more open place; a strip of bright firelight appeared before us; shining from the half…open door of Nuflo's lodge。  She turned round as much as to say: 〃Now you know where you are;〃 then hurried on; leaving me to follow as best I could。  



CHAPTER XI

There was a welcome change in the weather when I rose early next morning; the sky was without cloud and had that purity in its colour and look of infinite distance seen only when the atmosphere is free from vapour。  The sun had not yet risen; but old Nuflo was already among the ashes; on his hands and knees; blowing the embers he had uncovered to a flame。Then Rima appeared only to pass through the room with quick light tread to go out of the door without a word or even a glance at my face。  The old man; after watching at the door for a few minutes; turned and began eagerly questioning me about my adventures on the previous evening。  In reply I related to him how the girl had found me in the forest lost and unable to extricate myself from the tangled undergrowth。

He rubbed his hands on his knees and chuckled。  〃Happy for you; senor;〃 he said; 〃that my granddaughter regards you with such friendly eyes; otherwise you might have perished before morning。 Once she was at your side; no light; whether of sun or moon or lantern; was needed; nor that small instrument which is said to guide a man aright in the desert; even in the darkest nightlet him that can believe such a thing!〃

〃Yes; happy for me;〃 I returned。  〃I am filled with remorse that it was all through my fault that the poor child was exposed to such weather。〃

〃O senor;〃 he cried airily; 〃let not that distress you!  Rain and wind and hot suns; from which we seek shelter; do not harm her。 She takes no cold; and no fever; with or without ague。〃

After some further conversation I left him to steal away unobserved on his own account; and set out for a ramble in the hope of encountering Rima and winning her to talk to me。

My quest did not succeed: not a glimpse of her delicate shadowy form did I catch among the trees; and not one note from her melodious lips came to gladden me。  At noon I returned to the house; where I found food placed ready for me; and knew that she had come there during my absence and had not been forgetful of my wants。  〃Shall I thank you for this?〃  I said。  〃I ask you for heavenly nectar for the sustentation of the higher winged nature in me; and you give me a boiled sweet potato; toasted strips of sun…dried pumpkins; and a handful of parched maize!  Rima!  Rima! my woodland fairy; my sweet saviour; why do you yet fear me?  Is it that love struggles in you with repugnance?  Can you discern with clear spiritual eyes the grosser elements in me; and hate them; or has some false imagination made me appear all dark and evil; but too late for your peace; after the sweet sickness of love has infected you?〃

But she was not there to answer me; and so after a time I went forth again and seated myself listlessly on the root of an old tree not far from the house。  I had sat there a full hour when all at once Rima appeared at my side。  Bending forward; she touched my hand; but without glancing at my face; 〃Come with me;〃 she said; and turning; moved swiftly towards the northern extremity of the forest。  She seemed to take it for granted that I would follow; never casting a look behind nor pausing in her rapid walk; but I was only too glad to obey and; starting up; was quickly after her。  She led me by easy ways; familiar to her; with many doublings to escape the undergrowth; never speaking or pausing until we came out from the thick forest; and I found myself for the first time at the foot of the great hill or mountain Ytaioa。 Glancing back for a few moments; she waved a hand towards the summit; and then at once began the ascent。  Here too it seemed all familiar ground to her。  From below; the sides had presented an exceedingly rugged appearancea wild confusion of huge jagged rocks; mixed with a tangled vegetation of trees; bushes; and vines; but following her in all her doublings; it became easy enough; although it fatigued me greatly owing to our rapid pace。 The hill was conical; but I found that it had a flat topan oblong or pear…shaped area; almost level; of a soft; crumbly sandstone; with a few blocks and boulders of a harder stone scattered aboutand no vegetation; except the grey mountain lichen and a few sere…looking dwarf shrubs。

Here Rima; at a distance of a few yards from me; remained standing still for some minutes; as if to give me time to recover my breath; and I was right glad to sit down on a stone to rest。 Finally she walked slowly to the centre of the level area; which was about two acres in extent; rising; I followed her and; climbing on to a huge block of stone; began gazing at the wide prospect spread out before me。  The day was windless and bright; with only a few white clouds floating at a great height above and casting travelling shadows over that wild; broken country; where forest; marsh; and savannah were only distinguishable by their different colours; like the greys and greens and yellows on a map。  At a great distance the circle of the horizon was broken here and there by mountains; but the hills in our neighbourhood were all beneath our feet。

After gazing all round for some minutes; I jumped down from my stand and; leaning against the stone; stood watching the girl; waiting for her to speak。  I felt convinced that she had something of the very highest importance (to herself) to communicate; and that only the pressing need of a confidant; not Nuflo; had overcome her shyness of me; and I determined to let her take her own time to say it in her own way。  For a while she continued silent; her face averted; but her little movements and the way she clasped and unclasped her fingers showed that she was anxious and her mind working。  Suddenly; half turning to me; she began speaking eagerly and rapidly。

〃Do you see;〃 she said; waving her hand to indicate the whole circuit of earth; 〃how large it is?  Look!〃  pointing now to mountains in the west。  〃Those are the Vahanasone; two; threethe highestI can tell you their namesVahana…Chara; Chumi; Aranoa。  Do you see that water?  It is a river; called Guaypero。 From the hills it comes down; Inaruna is their name; and you can see them there in the southfar; far。〃  And in this way she went on pointing out and naming all the mountains and rivers within sight。  Then she suddenly dropped her hands to her sides and continued: 〃That is all。  Because we can see no further。  But the world is larger than that!  Other mountains; other rivers。  Have I not told you of Voa; on the River Voa; where I was born; where mother died; where the priest taught me; years; years ago?  All that you cannot see; it is so far awayso far。〃

I did not laugh at her simplicity; nor did I smile or feel any inclination to smile。  On the contrary; I only experienced a sympathy so keen that it was like pain while watching her clouded face; so changeful in its expression; yet in all changes so wistful。  I could not yet form any idea as to what she wished to communicate or to discover; but seeing that she paused for a reply; I answered: 〃The world is so large; Rima; that we can only see a very small portion of it from any one spot。  Look at this;〃 and with a stick I had used to aid me in my ascent I traced a circle six or
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