the pathfinder-第95部分

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a　prospect　of　her　regarding　him　as　he　regards　her。　　This
matter　must　be　cleared　up；　Eau…douce；　as　the　Delawares
say；　until　there　shall　not　be　a　cloud　'atween　us。〃

〃What　clearing　up　can　it　want；　Pathfinder？　　I　love
Mabel　Dunham；　and　Mabel　Dunham　does　not　love　me；
she　prefers　you　for　a　husband；　and　the　wisest　thing　I　can
do　is　to　go　off　at　once　to　the　salt　water；　and　try　to　forget
you　both。〃

〃Forget　me；　Jasper！　that　would　be　a　punishment　I
don't　desarve。　　But　how　do　you　know　that　Mabel　prefars
_me_？　how　do　you　know　it；　lad？　　To　me　it　seems　impossible
like！〃

〃Is　she　not　to　marry　you；　and　would　Mabel　marry　a
man　she　does　not　love？〃

〃She　has　been　hard　urged　by　the　Sergeant；　she　has；
and　a　dutiful　child　may　have　found　it　difficult　to　with…
stand　the　wishes　of　a　dying　parent。　　Have　you　ever　told
Mabel　that　you　prefarred　her；　Jasper　　that　you　bore　her
these　feelings？〃

〃Never；　Pathfinder。　　I　would　not　do　you　that　wrong。〃

〃I　believe　you；　lad；　I　do　believe　you；　and　I　think　you
would　now　go　off　to　the　salt　water；　and　let　the　scent　die
with　you。　　But　this　must　not　be。　　Mabel　shall　hear　all；
and　she　shall　have　her　own　way；　if　my　heart　breaks　in
the　trial；　she　shall。　　No　words　have　ever　passed　'atween
you；　then；　Jasper？〃

〃Nothing　of　account；　nothing　direct。　　Still；　I　will　own
all　my　foolishness；　Pathfinder；　for　I　ought　to　own　it　to　a
generous　friend　like　you；　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　it。
You　know　how　young　people　understand　each　other；　or
think　they　understand　each　other；　without　always　speak…
ing　out　in　plain　speech；　and　get　to　know　each　other's
thoughts；　or　to　think　they　know　them；　by　means　of　a　hun…
dred　little　ways。〃

〃Not　I；　Jasper；　not　I；〃　truly　answered　the　guide；　for；
sooth　to　say；　his　advances　had　never　been　met　with　any　of
that　sweet　and　precious　encouragement　which　silently
marks　the　course　of　sympathy　united　to　passion。　　〃Not
I；　Jasper；　I　know　nothing　of　all　this。　　Mabel　has　always
treated　me　fairly；　and　said　what　she　has　had　to　say　in
speech　as　plain　as　tongue　could　tell　it。〃

〃You　have　had　the　pleasure　of　hearing　her　say　that　she
loved　you；　Pathfinder？〃

〃Why；　no；　Jasper；　not　just　that　in　words。　　She　has　told
me　that　we　never　could；　never　ought　to　be　married；　that
_she_　was　not　good　enough　for　_me_；　though　she　_did_　say　that
she　honored　me　and　respected　me。　　But　then　the　Sergeant
said　it　was　always　so　with　the　youthful　and　timid；　that
her　mother　did　so　and　said　so　afore　her；　and　that　I　ought
to　be　satisfied　if　she　would　consent　on　any　terms　to　marry
me；　and　therefore　I　have　concluded　that　all　was　right；　I
have。〃

In　spite　of　all　his　friendship　for　the　successful　wooer；　in
spite　of　all　his　honest；　sincere　wished　for　his　happiness；
we　should　be　unfaithful　chroniclers　did　we　not　own　that
Jasper　felt　his　heart　bound　with　an　uncontrollable　feeling
of　delight　at　this　admission。　　It　was　not　that　he　saw　or
felt　any　hope　connected　with　the　circumstance；　but　it　was
grateful　to　the　jealous　covetousness　of　unlimited　love　thus
to　learn　that　no　other　ears　had　heard　the　sweet　confessions
that　were　denied　its　own。

〃Tell　me　more　of　this　manner　of　talking　without　the
use　of　the　tongue；〃　continued　Pathfinder；　whose　counte…
nance　was　becoming　grave；　and　who　now　questioned　his
companion　like　one　who　seemed　to　anticipate　evil　in　the
reply。　　〃I　can　and　have　conversed　with　Chingachgook；
and　with　his　son　Uncas　too；　in　that　mode；　afore　the　latter
fell；　but　I　didn't　know　that　young　girls　practysed　this
art；　and；　least　of　all；　Mabel　Dunham。〃

〃'Tis　nothing；　Pathfinder。　　I　mean　only　a　look；　or　a
smile；　or　a　glance　of　the　eye；　or　the　trembling　of　an　arm
or　a　hand　when　the　young　woman　has　had　occasion　to
touch　me；　and　because　I　have　been　weak　enough　to　trem…
ble　even　at　Mabel's　breath；　or　her　brushing　me　with　her
clothes；　my　vain　thoughts　have　misled　me。　　I　never　spoke
plainly　to　Mabel　myself；　and　now　there　is　no　use　for　it；
since　there　is　clearly　no　hope。〃

〃Jasper；〃　returned　Pathfinder　simply；　but　with　a　dig…
nity　that　precluded　further　remarks　at　the　moment；　〃we
will　talk　of　the　Sergeant's　funeral　and　of　our　own　depar…
ture　from　this　island。　　After　these　things　are　disposed　of；
it　will　be　time　enough　to　say　more　of　the　Sergeant's
daughter。　　This　matter　must　be　looked　into；　for　the　father
left　me　the　care　of　his　child。〃

Jasper　was　glad　enough　to　change　the　subject；　and　the
friends　separated；　each　charged　with　the　duty　most　pecu…
liar　to　his　own　station　and　habits。

That　afternoon　all　the　dead　were　interred；　the　grave　of
Sergeant　Dunham　being　dug　in　the　centre　of　the　glade；
beneath　the　shade　of　a　huge　elm。　　Mabel　wept　bitterly　at
the　ceremony；　and　she　found　relief　in　thus　disburthening
her　sorrow。　　The　night　passed　tranquilly；　as　did　the　whole
of　the　following　day；　Jasper　declaring　that　the　gale　was
too　severe　to　venture　on　the　lake。　　This　circumstance　de…
tained　Captain　Sanglier　also；　who　did　not　quit　the　island
until　the　morning　of　the　third　day　after　the　death　of　Dun…
ham；　when　the　weather　had　moderated；　and　the　wind　had
become　fair。　　Then；　indeed；　he　departed；　after　taking
leave　of　the　Pathfinder；　in　the　manner　of　one　who　believed
he　was　in　company　of　a　distinguished　character　for　the
last　time。　　The　two　separated　like　those　who　respect　one
another；　while　each　felt　that　the　other　was　all　enigma　to
himself。



CHAPTER　XXIX。

Playful　she　turn'd　that　he　might　see
　　　The　passing　smile　her　cheek　put　on；
But　when　she　marked　how　mournfully
　　His　eyes　met　hers；　that　smile　was　gone。
_Lalla　Rookh。_


The　occurrences　of　the　last　few　days　had　been　too　ex…
citing；　and　had　made　too　many　demands　on　the　fortitude
of　our　heroine；　to　leave　her　in　the　helplessness　of　grief。
She　mourned　for　her　father；　and　she　occasionally　shud…
dered　as　she　recalled　the　sudden　death　of　Jennie；　and　all
the　horrible　scenes　she　had　witnessed；　but　on　the　whole
she　had　aroused　herself；　and　was　no　longer　in　the　deep
depression　which　usually　accompanies　grief。　　Perhaps　the
overwhelming；　almost　stupefying　sorrow　that　crushed　poor
June；　and　left　her　for　nearly　twenty…four　hours　in　a　state
of　stupor；　assisted　Mabel　in　conquering　her　own　feelings；
for　she　had　felt　called　on　to　administer　consolation　to　the
young　Indian　woman。　　This　she　had　done　in　the　quiet；
soothing；　insinuating　way　in　which　her　sex　usually　exerts
its　influence　on　such　occasions。

The　morning　of　the　third　day　was　set　for　that　on　which
the　_Scud_　was　to　sail。　　Jasper　had　made　all　his　prepara…
tions；　the　different　effects　were　embarked；　and　Mabel　had
taken　leave　of　June；　a　painful　and　affectionate　parting。　　In
a　word；　all　was　ready；　and　every　soul　had　left　the　island
but　the　Indian　woman；　Pathfinder；　Jasper；　and　our　hero…
ine。　　The　former　had　gone　into　a　thicket　to　weep；　and　the
three　last　were　approaching　the　spot　where　three　canoes
lay；　one　of　which　was　the　property　of　June；　and　the　other
two　were　in　waiting　to　carry　the　others　off　to　the　_Scud_。
Pathfinder　led　the　way；　but；　when　he　drew　near　the　shore；
instead　of　taking　the　direction　to　the　boats；　he　motioned
to　his　companions　to　follow；　and　proceeded　to　a　fallen　tree
which　lay　on　the　margin　of　the　glade　and　out　of　view　of
those　in　the　cutter。　　Seating　himself　on　the　trunk；　he
signed　to　Mabel　to　take　her　place　on　one　side　of　him　and
to　Jasper　to　occupy　the　other。

〃Sit　down　here　Mabel；　sit　down　there；　Eau…douce；〃　he
commenced；　as　soon　as　he　had　taken　his　own　seat。　　〃I've
something　that　lies　heavy　on　my　mind；　and　now　is　the
time　to　take　it　off；　if　it's　ever　to　be　done。　　Sit　down；　Mabel；
and　let　me　lighten　my　heart；　if　not　my　conscience；　while
I've　the　strength　to　do　it。〃

The　pause　that　succeeded　lasted　two　or　three　minutes；　and
both　the　young　people　wondered　what　was　to　come　next；
the　idea　that　Pathfinder　could　have　any　weight　on　his　con…
science　seeming　equally　improbable　to　each。

〃Mabel；〃　our　hero　at　length　resumed；　〃we　must　talk
plainly　to　each　other　afore　we　join　your　uncle　in　the　cut…
ter；　where　the　Saltwater　has　slept　every　night　since　the
last　rally；　for　he　says　it's　the　only　place　in　which　a　man
can　be　sure　of　keeping　the　hair　on　his　head；　he　does。　　Ah's
me！　what　have　I　to　do　with　these　follies　and　sayings　now？
I　try　to　be　pleasant；　and　to　feel　light…hearted；　but　the　power
of　man　can't　make　water　run　up　stream。　　Mabel；　you　know
that　the　Sergeant；　afore　he　left　us；　had　settled　it　'atween
us　two　that　we　were　to　become　man　and　wife；　and　that　we
were　to　live　together　and　to　love　one　another　as　long　as
the　Lord　was　pleased　to　keep　us　both　on　'arth；　yes；　and
afterwards　too？〃

Mabel's　cheeks　had　regained　a　little　of　their　ancient
bloom　in　the　fresh　air　of　the　morning；　but　at　this　un…
looked…for　address　they　blanched　again；　nearly　to　the　pal…
lid　hue　which　grief　had　imprinted　there。　　Still；　she　looked
kindly；　though　seriously；　at　Pathfinder　and　even　endeav…
ored　to　force　a　smile。

〃Very　true；　my　excellent　friend；〃　she　answered；　〃this
was　my　poor　father's　wish；　and　I　feel　certain　that　a　whole
life　devoted　to　your　welfare　and　comforts　could　scarcely
repay　you　for　all　you　have　done　for　us。〃

〃I　fear　me；　Mabel；　that　man　and　wife　needs　be　bound
together　by　a　stronger　tie　than　such　feelings；　I　do。　　You
have　done　nothing　for　me；　or　nothing　of　any　account；　and
yet　my　very　heart　yearns　towards　you；　it　does；　and　there…
fore　it　seems　likely　that　these　feelings　come　from　some…
thing　besides　saving　scalps　and　guiding　through　woods。〃

Mabel's　cheek　had　begun　to　glow　again；　and　though　she
struggled　hard　to　smile；　her　voice　trembled　a　little　as　she
answered。

〃Had　we　not　better　postpone　this　conversation；　Path…
finder？〃　she　said；　〃we　are　not　alone；　and　nothing　is　so
unpleasant　to　a　listener；　they　say；　as　family　matters　in
which　he　feels　no　interest。〃

〃It's　because　we　are　not　alone；　Mabel；　or　rather　because
Jasper　is　with　us；　that　I　wish　to　talk　of　this　matter。　　The
Sergeant　believed　I　might　make　a　suitable　companion　for
you；　and；　though　I　had　misgivings　about　it；　　yes；　I　had
many　misgivings；　　he　finally　persuaded　me　into　the　idee；
and　things　came　round　'atween　us；　as　you　know。　　But；
when　you　promised　your　father　to　marry　me；　Mabel；　and
gave　me　your　hand　so　modestly；　but　so　pre