"Get up, beast!" said the father, digging his heels into the comfortable flanks of his mule with some human impatience11, "or art THOU, too, a lazy renegade? Thinkest thou, besotted one, that the heretic will spare thee more work than the Holy Church."
The mule, thus apostrophized in ear and flesh, shook its head obstinately12 as if the question was by no means clear to its mind, but nevertheless started into a little trot13, which presently brought it to the low adobe14 wall of the courtyard of "The Innocents," and entered the gate. A few lounging peons in the shadow of an archway took off their broad-brimmed hats and made way for the padre, and a half dozen equally listless vaqueros helped him to alight. Accustomed as he was to the indolence and superfluity of his host's retainers, to-day it nevertheless seemed to strike some note of irritation15 in his breast.
A stout, aged17" target="_blank">middle-aged16 woman of ungirt waist and beshawled head and shoulders appeared at the gateway18 as if awaiting him. After a formal salutation she drew him aside into an inner passage.
"Ah—always the same?"
"Yes, your Reverence—and this time to 'a meeting' of the heretics at their pueblo20, at Jonesville—where they will ask him of his land for a road."
"At a MEETING?" echoed the priest uneasily.
"Ah yes! a meeting—where Tiburcio says they shout and spit on the ground, your Reverence, and only one has a chair and him they call a 'chairman' because of it, and yet he sits not but shouts and spits even as the others and keeps up a tapping with a hammer like a very pico. And there it is they are ever 'resolving' that which is not, and consider it even as done."
"Then he is still the same," said the priest gloomily, as the woman paused for breath.
"Only more so, your Reverence, for he reads nought21 but the newspaper of the Americanos that is brought in the ship, the 'New York 'errald'—and recites to himself the orations22 of their legislators. Ah! it was an evil day when the shipwrecked American sailor taught him his uncouth23 tongue, which, as your Reverence knows, is only fit for beasts and heathen incantation."
"Pray Heaven THAT were all he learned of him," said the priest hastily, "for I have great fear that this sailor was little better than an atheist24 and an emissary from Satan. But where are these newspapers and the fantasies of publicita that fill his mind? I would see them, my daughter."
"You shall, your Reverence, and more too," she replied eagerly, leading the way along the passage to a grated door which opened upon a small cell-like apartment, whose scant25 light and less air came through the deeply embayed windows in the outer wall. "Here is his estudio."
In spite of this open invitation, the padre entered with that air of furtive26 and minute inspection27 common to his order. His glance fell upon a rude surveyor's plan of the adjacent embryo28 town of Jonesville hanging on the wall, which he contemplated29 with a cold disfavor that even included the highly colored vignette of the projected Jonesville Hotel in the left-hand corner. He then passed to a supervisor's notice hanging near it, which he examined with a suspicion heightened by that uneasiness common to mere30 worldly humanity when opposed to an unknown and unfamiliar31 language. But an exclamation32 broke from his lips when he confronted an election placard immediately below it. It was printed in Spanish and English, and Father Felipe had no difficulty in reading the announcement that "Don Jose Sepulvida would preside at a meeting of the Board of Education in Jonesville as one of the trustees."
"This is madness," said the padre.
Observing that Dona Maria was at the moment preoccupied33 in examining the pictorial34 pages of an illustrated35 American weekly which had hitherto escaped his eyes, he took it gently from her hand.
"Pardon, your Reverence," she said with slightly acidulous36 deprecation, "but thanks to the Blessed Virgin37 and your Reverence's teaching, the text is but gibberish to me and I did but glance at the pictures."
"Much evil may come in with the eye," said the priest sententiously, "as I will presently show thee. We have here," he continued, pointing to an illustration of certain college athletic38 sports, "a number of youthful cavaliers posturing39 and capering40 in a partly nude41 condition before a number of shameless women, who emulate42 the saturnalia of heathen Rome by waving their handkerchiefs. We have here a companion picture," he said, indicating an illustration of gymnastic exercises by the students of a female academy at "Commencement," "in which, as thou seest, even the aged of both sexes unblushingly assist as spectators with every expression of immodest satisfaction."
"Have they no bull-fights or other seemly recreation that they must indulge in such wantonness?" asked Dona Maria indignantly, gazing, however, somewhat curiously43 at the baleful representations.
"Of all that, my daughter, has their pampered44 civilization long since wearied," returned the good padre, "for see, this is what they consider a moral and even a religious ceremony." He turned to an illustration of a woman's rights convention; "observe with what rapt attention the audience of that heathen temple watch the inspired ravings of that elderly priestess on the dais. It is even this kind of sacrilegious performance that I am told thy nephew Don Jose expounds47 and defends."
"I will show thee," said Father Felipe, briskly turning the pages with the same lofty ignoring of the text until he came to a representation of a labor49 procession. "There is one of their periodic revolutions unhappily not unknown even in Mexico. Thou perceivest those complacent50 artisans marching with implements51 of their craft, accompanied by the military, in the presence of their own stricken masters. Here we see only another instance of the instability of all communities that are not founded on the principles of the Holy Church."
"And what is to be done with my nephew?"
The good father's brow darkened with the gloomy religious zeal52 of two centuries ago. "We must have a council of the family, the alcalde, and the archbishop, at ONCE," he said ominously. To the mere heretical observer the conclusion might have seemed lame53 and impotent, but it was as near the Holy inquisition as the year of grace 1852 could offer.
A few days after this colloquy54 the unsuspecting subject of it, Don Jose Sepulvida, was sitting alone in the same apartment. The fading glow of the western sky, through the deep embrasured windows, lit up his rapt and meditative55 face. He was a young man of apparently56 twenty-five, with a colorless satin complexion57, dark eyes alternating between melancholy58 and restless energy, a narrow high forehead, long straight hair, and a lightly penciled moustache. He was said to resemble the well-known portrait of the Marquis of Monterey in the mission church, a face that was alleged59 to leave a deep and lasting60 impression upon the observers. It was undoubtedly61 owing to this quality during a brief visit of the famous viceroy to a remote and married ancestress of Don Jose at Leon that the singular resemblance may be attributed.
A heavy and hesitating step along the passage stopped before the grating. Looking up, Don Jose beheld62 to his astonishment63 the slightly inflamed64 face of Roberto, a vagabond American whom he had lately taken into his employment.
Roberto, a polite translation of "Bob the Bucker," cleaned out at a monte-bank in Santa Cruz, penniless and profligate65, had sold his mustang to Don Jose and recklessly thrown himself in with the bargain. Touched by the rascal's extravagance, the quality of the mare66, and observing that Bob's habits had not yet affected67 his seat in the saddle, but rather lent a demoniac vigor68 to his chase of wild cattle, Don Jose had retained rider and horse in his service as vaquero.
Bucking69 Bob, observing that his employer was alone, coolly opened the door without ceremony, shut it softly behind him, and then closed the wooden shutter70 of the grating. Don Jose surveyed him with mild surprise and dignified71 composure. The man appeared perfectly72 sober,—it was a peculiarity73 of his dissipated habits that, when not actually raving45 with drink, he was singularly shrewd and practical.
"Look yer, Don Kosay," he began in a brusque but guarded voice, "you and me is pards. When ye picked me and the mare up and set us on our legs again in this yer ranch2, I allowed I'd tie to ye whenever you was in trouble—and wanted me. And I reckon that's what's the matter now. For from what I see and hear on every side, although you're the boss of this consarn, you're surrounded by a gang of spies and traitors74. Your comings and goings, your ins and outs, is dogged and followed and blown upon. The folks you trust is playing it on ye. It ain't for me to say why or wherefore—what's their rights and what's yourn—but I've come to tell ye that if you don't get up and get outer this ranch them d—d priests and your own flesh and blood—your aunts and your uncles and your cousins, will have you chucked outer your property, and run into a lunatic asylum75."
"Me—Don Jose Sepulvida—a lunatico! You are yourself crazy of drink, friend Roberto."
"Yes," said Roberto grimly, "but that kind ain't ILLEGAL, while your makin' ducks and drakes of your property and going into 'Merikin ideas and 'Merikin speculations76 they reckon is. And speakin' on the square, it ain't NAT'RAL."
Don Jose sprang to his feet and began to pace up and down his cell-like study. "Ah, I remember now," he muttered, "I begin to comprehend: Father Felipe's homilies and discourses77! My aunt's too affectionate care! My cousin's discreet78 consideration! The prompt attention of my servants! I see it all! And you," he said, suddenly facing Roberto, "why come you to tell me this?"
"Well, boss," said the American dryly, "I reckoned to stand by you."
"Ah," said Don Jose, visibly affected. "Good Roberto, come hither, child, you may kiss my hand."
"Ah, if—yes," said Don Jose, meditatively79 putting his hand to his forehead, "miserable80 that I am!—I remembered not you were Americano. Pardon, my friend—embrace me—Conpanero y Amigo."
With characteristic gravity he reclined for a moment upon Robert's astonished breast. Then recovering himself with equal gravity he paused, lifted his hand with gentle warning, marched to a recess81 in the corner, unhooked a rapier hanging from the wall, and turned to his companion.
"We will defend ourselves, friend Roberto. It is the sword of the Comandante—my ancestor. The blade is of Toledo."
"An ordinary six-shooter of Colt's would lay over that," said Roberto grimly—"but that ain't your game just now, Don Kosay. You must get up and get, and at once. You must vamose the ranch afore they lay hold of you and have you up before the alcalde. Once away from here, they daren't follow you where there's 'Merikin law, and when you kin fight 'em in the square."
"Good," said Don Jose with melancholy preciseness. "You are wise, friend Roberto. We may fight them later, as you say—on the square, or in the open Plaza82. And you, camarado, YOU shall go with me—you and your mare."
Sincere as the American had been in his offer of service, he was somewhat staggered at this imperative83 command. But only for a moment. "Well," he said lazily, "I don't care if I do."
"But," said Don Jose with increased gravity, "you SHALL care, friend Roberto. We shall make an alliance, an union. It is true, my brother, you drink of whiskey, and at such times are even as a madman. It has been recounted to me that it was necessary to your existence that you are a lunatic three days of the week. Who knows? I myself, though I drink not of aguardiente, am accused of fantasies for all time. Necessary it becomes therefore that we should go TOGETHER. My fantasies and speculations cannot injure you, my brother; your whiskey shall not empoison me. We shall go together in the great world of your American ideas of which I am much inflamed. We shall together breathe as one the spirit of Progress and Liberty. We shall be even as neophytes making of ourselves Apostles of Truth. I absolve84 and renounce85 myself henceforth of my family. I shall take to myself the sister and the brother, the aunt and the uncle, as we proceed. I devote myself to humanity alone. I devote YOU, my friend, and the mare—though happily she has not a Christian87 soul—to this glorious mission."
The few level last rays of light lit up a faint enthusiasm in the face of Don Jose, but without altering his imperturbable88 gravity. The vaquero eyed him curiously and half doubtfully.
"We will go to-morrow," resumed Don Jose with solemn decision, "for it is Wednesday. It was a Sunday that thou didst ride the mare up the steps of the Fonda and demanded that thy liquor should be served to thee in a pail. I remember it, for the landlord of the Fonda claimed twenty pesos for damage and the kissing of his wife. Therefore, by computation, good Roberto, thou shouldst be sober until Friday, and we shall have two clear days to fly before thy madness again seizes thee."
"They kin say what they like, Don Kosay, but YOUR head is level," returned the unabashed American, grasping Don Jose's hand. "All right, then. Hasta manana, as your folks say."
"Hasta manana," repeated Don Jose gravely.
At daybreak next morning, while slumber89 still weighted the lazy eyelids90 of "the Blessed Innocents," Don Jose Sepulvida and his trusty squire91 Roberto, otherwise known as "Bucking Bob," rode forth86 unnoticed from the corral.
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1
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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9
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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13
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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14
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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15
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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19
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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20
pueblo
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| n.（美国西南部或墨西哥等）印第安人的村庄 | |
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21
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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orations
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| n.（正式仪式中的）演说，演讲( oration的名词复数 ) | |
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23
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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24
atheist
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| n.无神论者 | |
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25
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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embryo
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| n.胚胎，萌芽的事物 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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31
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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32
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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33
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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34
pictorial
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| adj.绘画的；图片的；n．画报 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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acidulous
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| adj.微酸的；苛薄的 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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posturing
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| 做出某种姿势( posture的现在分词 ) | |
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40
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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41
nude
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| adj.裸体的；n.裸体者，裸体艺术品 | |
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42
emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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43
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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44
pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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46
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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47
expounds
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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49
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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50
complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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51
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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52
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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53
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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54
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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55
meditative
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| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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56
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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57
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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58
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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59
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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60
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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61
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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62
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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63
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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64
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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66
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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67
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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68
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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69
bucking
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| v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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70
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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71
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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72
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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73
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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74
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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75
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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76
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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77
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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78
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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79
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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80
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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81
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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82
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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83
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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84
absolve
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| v.赦免，解除（责任等） | |
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85
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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86
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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87
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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88
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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89
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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90
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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91
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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