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〃 he said； as I went up to him； 〃I am most heartily sorry for you and for the lady whom you so ignorantly married。〃
〃I shall not plead ignorance；〃 I told him。
〃You married； not the Lady Jocelyn Leigh； but a waiting woman named Patience Worth。 The Lady Jocelyn Leigh； a noble lady； and a ward of the King； could not marry without the King's consent。 And you； Captain Percy； are but a mere private gentleman； a poor Virginia adventurer； and my Lord Carnal is … my Lord Carnal。 The Court of High Commission will make short work of this fantastic marriage。〃
〃Then they may do it without my aid；〃 I said。 〃Come； Sir George； had you wed my Lady Temperance in such fashion； and found this hornets' nest about your ears； what would you have done？〃
He gave his short； honest laugh。 〃It's beside the question； Ralph Percy； but I dare say you can guess what I would have done。〃
〃I'll fight for my own to the last ditch；〃 I continued。 〃I married her knowing her name； if not her quality。 Had I known the latter； had I known she was the King's ward； all the same I should have married her； an she would have had me。 She is my wife in the sight of God and honest men。 Esteeming her honor； which is mine； at stake； Death may silence me； but men shall not bend me。〃
〃Your best hope is in my Lord of Buckingham；〃 he said。 〃They say it is out of sight； out of mind； with the King； and； thanks to this infatuation of my Lord Carnal's； Buckingham hath the field。 That he strains every nerve to oust completely this his first rival since he himself distanced Somerset goes without saying。 That to thwart my lord in this passion would be honey to him is equally of course。 I do not need to tell you that； if the Company so orders； I shall have no choice but to send you and the lady home to England。 When you are in London； make your suit to my Lord of Buckingham； and I earnestly hope that you may find in him an ally powerful enough to bring you and the lady； to whose grace； beauty； and courage we all do homage； out of this coil。〃
〃We give you thanks； sir；〃 I said。
〃As you know；〃 he went on； 〃I have written to the Company； humbly petitioning that I be graciously relieved from a most thankless task； to wit； the governorship of Virginia。 My health faileth； and I am； moreover； under my Lord Warwick's displeasure。 He waxeth ever stronger in the Company； and if I put not myself out； he will do it for me。 If I be relieved at once； and one of the Council appointed in my place； I shall go home to look after certain of my interests there。 Then shall I be but a private gentleman； and if I can serve you； Ralph Percy； I shall be blithe to do so； but now； you understand〃 …
〃I understand； and thank you； Sir George；〃 I said。 〃May I ask one question？〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Will you obey to the letter the instructions the Company sends？〃
〃To the letter；〃 he answered。 〃I am its sworn officer。〃
〃One thing more；〃 I went on： 〃the parole I gave you； sir； that morning behind the church； is mine own again when you shall have read those letters and know the King's will。 I am free from that bond； at least。〃
He looked at me with a frown。 〃Make not bad worse； Captain Percy；〃 he said sternly。
I laughed。 〃It is my aim to make bad better； Sir George。 I see through the window that the Due Return hath come to anchor； I will no longer trespass on your Honor's time。〃 I bowed myself out； leaving him still with the frown upon his face； staring at the fire。
Without； the world was bathed in the glow of a magnificent sunset。 Clouds； dark purple and dark crimson； reared themselves in the west to dizzy heights； and hung threateningly over the darkening land beneath。 In the east loomed more pallid masses； and from the bastions of the east to the bastions of the west went hurrying； wind…driven cloudless； dark in the east； red in the west。 There was a high wind； and the river； where it was not reddened by the sunset； was lividly green。 〃A storm； too！〃 I muttered。
As I passed the guest house； there came to me from within a burst of loud and vaunting laughter and a boisterous drinking catch sung by many voices； and I knew that my lord drank； and gave others to drink； to the orders which the Due Return should bring。 The minister's house was in darkness。 In the great room I struck a light and fired the fresh torches； and found I was not its sole occupant。 On the hearth； the ashes of the dead fire touching her skirts； sat Mistress Jocelyn Percy； her arms resting upon a low stool； and her head pillowed upon them。 Her face was not hidden： it was cold and pure and still； like carven marble。 I stood and gazed at her a moment； then； as she did not offer to move； I brought wood to the fire and made the forlorn room bright again。
〃Where is Rolfe？〃 I asked at last。
〃He would have stayed；〃 she answered； 〃but I made him go。 I wished to be alone。〃 She rose； and going to the window leaned her forehead against the bars； and looked out upon the wild sky and the hurrying river。 〃I would I were alone；〃 she said in a low voice and with a catch of her breath。 As she stood there in the twilight by the window； I knew that she was weeping； though her pride strove to keep that knowledge from me。 My heart ached for her； and I knew not how to comfort her。 At last she turned。 A pasty and stoup of wine were upon the table。
〃You are tired and shaken；〃 I said； 〃and you may need all your strength。 Come； eat and drink。〃
〃For to…morrow we die；〃 she added； and broke into tremulous laughter。 Her lashes were still wet； but her pride and daring had returned。 She drank the wine I poured for her； and we spoke of indifferent things； … of the game that afternoon； of the Indian Nantauquas； of the wild night that clouds and wind portended。 Supper over； I called Angela to bear her company； and I myself went out into the night； and down the street toward the guest house。
CHAPTER XVIII IN WHICH WE GO OUT INTO THE NIGHT
THE guest house was aflame with lights。 As I neared it； there was borne to my ears a burst of drunken shouts accompanied by a volley of musketry。 My lord was pursuing with a vengeance our senseless fashion of wasting in drinking bouts powder that would have been better spent against the Indians。 The noise increased。 The door was flung open； and there issued a tide of drawers and servants headed by mine host himself； and followed by a hail of such minor breakables as the house contained and by Olympian laughter。
I made my way past the indignant host and his staff； and standing upon the threshold looked at the riot within。 The long room was thick with the smoke of tobacco and the smoke of powder； through which the many torches burned yellow。 Upon the great table wine had been spilt； and dripped to swell a red pool upon the floor。 Underneath the table； still grasping his empty tankard； lay the first of my lord's guests to fall； an up…river Burgess with white hair。 The rest of the company were fast reeling to a like fate。 Young Hamor had a fiddle； and； one foot upon a settle； the other upon the table； drew across it a fast and furious bow。 Master Pory； arrived at the maudlin stage； alternately sang a slow and melancholy ditty and wiped the tears from his eyes with elaborate care。 Master Edwar