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Green Mansions-Part17_W.H.Hudson(1841-1922)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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child, she was left on my hands by her sainted mother--my

daughter, sir--who perished young. Now, her birthplace, where



she was taught letters and the Catechism by the priest, was in an

unhealthy situation. It was hot and wet--always wet--a place



suited to frogs rather than to human beings. At length, thinking

that it would suit the child better--for she was pale and



weakly--to live in a drier atmosphere among mountains, I brought

her to this district. For this, senor, and for all I have done



for her, I look for no reward here, but to that place where my

daughter has got her foot; not, sir, on the threshold, as you



might think, but well inside. For, after all, it is to the

authorities above, in spite of some blots which we see in their



administration, that we must look for justice. Frankly, sir,

this is the whole story of my granddaughter's origin."



"Ah, yes," I returned, "your story explains why she can call a

wild bird to her hand, and touch a venomousserpent with her bare



foot and receive no harm."

"Doubtless you are right," said the old dissembler. "Living



alone in the wood, she had only God's creatures to play and make

friends with; and wild animals, I have heard it said, know those



who are friendly towards them."

"You treat her friends badly," said I, kicking the long tail of



the coatimundi away with my foot, and regretting that I had

joined in his repast.



"Senor, you must consider that we are only what Heaven made us.

When all this was formed," he continued, opening his arms wide to



indicate the entire creation, "the Person who concerned Himself

with this matter gave seeds and fruitless and nectar of flowers



for the sustentation of His small birds. But we have not their

delicate appetites. The more robuststomach which he gave to man



cries out for meat. Do you understand? But of all this, friend,

not one word to Rima!"



I laughed scornfully. "Do you think me such a child, old man, as

to believe that Rima, that little sprite, does not know that you



are an eater of flesh? Rima, who is everywhere in the wood,

seeing all things, even if I lift my hand against a serpent, she



herself unseen."

"But, sir, if you will pardon my presumption, you are saying too



much. She does not come here, and therefore cannot see that I

eat meat. In all that wood where she flourishes and sings, where



she is in her house and garden, and mistress of the creatures,

even of the small butterfly with painted wings, there, sir, I



hunt no animal. Nor will my dogs chase any animal there. That

is what I meant when I said that if an animal should stumble



against their legs, they would lift up their noses and pass on

without seeing it. For in that wood there is one law, the law



that Rima imposes, and outside of it a different law."

"I am glad that you have told me this," I replied. "The thought



that Rima might be near, and, unseen herself, look in upon us

feeding with the dogs and, like dogs, on flesh, was one which



greatly troubled my mind."

He glanced at me in his usual quick, cunning way.



"Ah, senor, you have that feeling too--after so short a time with

us! Consider, then, what it must be for me, unable to nourish



myself on gums and fruitlets, and that little sweetness made by

wasps out of flowers, when I am compelled to go far away and eat



secretly to avoid giving offence."

It was hard, no doubt, but I did not pity him; secretly I could



only feel anger against him for refusing to enlighten me, while

making such a presence of openness; and I also felt disgusted



with myself for having joined him in his rank repast. But

dissimulation was necessary, and so, after conversing a little



more on indifferent topics, and thanking him for his hospitality,

I left him alone to go on with his smoky task.



On my way back to the lodge, fearing that some taint of Nuflo's

evil-smelling den and dinner might still cling to me, I turned



aside to where a streamlet in the wood widened and formed a deep

pool, to take a plunge in the water. After drying myself in the






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