john bull on the guadalquivir-第4部分

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manage　the　settlement　that　there　should　be　no　doubt　left　as　to　my
intentions　and　my　own　ideas。　　I　would　not　be　guilty　of　shilly…shally
conduct；　I　would　tell　her　frankly　what　I　felt　and　what　I　thought；　and
would　make　her　understand　that　I　did　not　desire　her　hand　if　I　could
not　have　her　heart。　　I　did　not　value　the　kindness　of　her　manner；
seeing　that　that　kindness　sprung　from　indifference　rather　than
passion；　and　so　I　would　declare　to　her。　　And　I　would　ask　her；　also；
who　was　this　young　man　with　whom　she　was　intimatefor　whom　all　her
volubility　and　energy　of　tone　seemed　to　be　employed？　　She　had　told　me
once　that　it　behoved　her　to　consult　a　friend　in　Seville　as　to　the
expediency　of　her　marriage　with　me。　　Was　this　the　friend　whom　she　had
wished　to　consult？　　If　so；　she　need　not　trouble　herself。　　Under　such
circumstances　I　should　decline　the　connection！　　And　I　resolved　that　I
would　find　out　how　this　might　be。　　A　man　who　proposes　to　take　a　woman
to　his　bosom　as　his　wife；　has　a　right　to　ask　for　informationay；　and
to　receive　it　too。　　It　flashed　upon　my　mind　at　this　moment　that　Donna
Maria　was　well　enough　inclined　to　come　to　me　as　my　wife；　but　。　　I
could　hardly　define　the　〃buts〃　to　myself；　for　there　were　three　or
four　of　them。　　Why　did　she　always　speak　to　me　in　a　tone　of　childish
affection；　as　though　I　were　a　schoolboy　home　for　the　holidays？　　I
would　have　all　this　out　with　her　on　the　tower　on　the　following
morning；　standing　under　the　Giralda。

On　that　morning　we　met　together　in　the　patio；　soon　after　five
o'clock；　and　started　for　the　cathedral。　　She　looked　beautiful；　with
her　black　mantilla　over　her　head；　and　with　black　gloves　on；　and　her
black　morning　silk　dressbeautiful；　composed；　and　at　her　ease；　as
though　she　were　well　satisfied　to　undertake　this　early　morning　walk
from　feelings　of　good　naturesustained；　probably；　by　some　under…
current　of　a　deeper　sentiment。　　Well；　I　would　know　all　about　it
before　I　returned　to　her　father's　house。

There　hardly　stands；　as　I　think；　on　the　earth；　a　building　more
remarkable　than　the　cathedral　of　Seville；　and　hardly　one　more　grand。
Its　enormous　size；　its　gloom　and　darkness；　the　richness　of
ornamentation　in　the　details；　contrasted　with　the　severe　simplicity
of　the　larger　outlines；　the　variety　of　its　architecture；　the　glory　of
its　paintings；　and　the　wondrous　splendour　of　its　metallic　decoration；
its　altar…friezes；　screens；　rails；　gates；　and　the　like；　render　it；　to
my　mind；　the　first　in　interest　among　churches。　　It　has　not　the
coloured　glass　of　Chartres；　or　the　marble　glory　of　Milan；　or　such　a
forest　of　aisles　as　Antwerp；　or　so　perfect　a　hue　in　stone　as
Westminster；　nor　in　mixed　beauty　of　form　and　colour　does　it　possess
anything　equal　to　the　choir　of　Cologne；　but；　for　combined
magnificence　and　awe…compelling　grandeur；　I　regard　it　as　superior　to
all　other　ecclesiastical　edifices。

It　is　its　deep　gloom　with　which　the　stranger　is　so　greatly　struck　on
his　first　entrance。　　In　a　region　so　hot　as　the　south　of　Spain；　a　cool
interior　is　a　main　object　with　the　architect；　and　this　it　has　been
necessary　to　effect　by　the　exclusion　of　light；　consequently　the
church　is　dark；　mysterious；　and　almost　cold。　　On　the　morning　in
question；　as　we　entered；　it　seemed　to　be　filled　with　gloom；　and　the
distant　sound　of　a　slow　footstep　here　and　there　beyond　the　transept
inspired　one　almost　with　awe。　　Maria；　when　she　first　met　me；　had
begun　to　talk　with　her　usual　smile；　offering　me　coffee　and　a　biscuit
before　I　started。　　〃I　never　eat　biscuit；〃　I　said；　with　almost　a
severe　tone；　as　I　turned　from　her。　　That　dark；　horrid　man　of　the
plazawould　she　have　offered　him　a　cake　had　she　been　going　to　walk
with　him　in　the　gloom　of　the　morning？　　After　that　little　had　been
spoken　between　us。　　She　walked　by　my　side　with　her　accustomed　smile；
but　she　had；　as　I　flattered　myself；　begun　to　learn　that　I　was　not　to
he　won　by　a　meaningless　good　nature。　　〃We　are　lucky　in　our　morning
for　the　view！〃　that　was　all　she　said；　speaking　with　that　peculiarly
clear；　but　slow　pronunciation　which　she　had　assumed　in　learning　our
language。

We　entered　the　cathedral；　and；　walking　the　whole　length　of　the　aisle；
left　it　again　at　the　porter's　porch　at　the　farther　end。　　Here　we
passed　through　a　low　door　on　to　the　stone　flight　of　steps；　and　at
once　began　to　ascend。　　〃There　are　a　party　of　your　countrymen　up
before　us；〃　said　Maria；　〃the　porter　says　that　they　went　through　the
lodge　half　an　hour　since。〃　　〃I　hope　they　will　return　before　we　are　on
the　top；〃　said　I；　bethinking　myself　of　the　task　that　was　before　me。
And　indeed　my　heart　was　hardly　at　ease　within　me；　for　that　which　I
had　to　say　would　require　all　the　spirit　of　which　I　was　master。

The　ascent　to　the　Giralda　is　very　long　and　very　fatiguing；　and　we　had
to　pause　on　the　various　landings　and　in　the　singular　belfry　in　order
that　Miss　Daguilar　might　recruit　her　strength　and　breath。　　As　we
rested　on　one　of　these　occasions；　in　a　gallery　which　runs　round　the
tower　below　the　belfry；　we　heard　a　great　noise　of　shouting；　and　a
clattering　of　sticks　among　the　bells。　　〃It　is　the　party　of　your
countrymen　who　went　up　before　us；〃　said　she。　　〃What　a　pity　that
Englishmen　should　always　make　so　much　noise！〃　　And　then　she　spoke　in
Spanish　to　the　custodian　of　the　bells；　who　is　usually　to　be　found　in
a　little　cabin　up　there　within　the　tower。　　〃He　says　that　they　went　up
shouting　like　demons；〃　continued　Maria；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　she
looked　as　though　I　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　the　name　of　an　Englishman。
〃They　may　not　be　so　solemn　in　their　demeanour　as　Spaniards；〃　I
answered；　〃but；　for　all　that；　there　may　be　quite　as　much　in　them。〃

We　then　again　began　to　mount；　and　before　we　had　ascended　much　farther
we　passed　my　three　countrymen。　　They　were　young　men；　with　gray　coats
and　gray　trousers；　with　slouched　hats；　and　without　gloves。　　They　had
fair　faces　and　fair　hair；　and　swung　big　sticks　in　their　hands；　with
crooked　handles。　　They　laughed　and　talked　loud；　and；　when　we　met
them；　seemed　to　be　racing　with　each　other；　but　nevertheless　they　were
gentlemen。　　No　one　who　knows　by　sight　what　an　English　gentleman　is；
could　have　doubted　that；　but　I　did　acknowledge　to　myself　that　they
should　have　remembered　that　the　edifice　they　were　treading　was　a
church；　and　that　the　silence　they　were　invading　was　the　cherished
property　of　a　courteous　people。

〃They　are　all　just　the　same　as　big　boys；〃　said　Maria。　　The　colour
instantly　flew　into　my　face；　and　I　felt　that　it　was　my　duty　to　speak
up　for　my　own　countrymen。　　The　word　〃boys〃　especially　wounded　my
ears。　　It　was　as　a　boy　that　she　treated　me；　but；　on　looking　at　that
befringed　young　Spanish　Donwho　was　not；　apparently；　my　elder　in
ageshe　had　recognised　a　man。　　However；　I　said　nothing　further　till
I　reached　the　summit。　　One　cannot　speak　with　manly　dignity　while　one
is　out　of　breath　on　a　staircase。

〃There；　John；〃　she　said；　stretching　her　hands　away　over　the　fair
plain　of　the　Guadalquivir；　as　soon　as　we　stood　against　the　parapet；
〃is　not　that　lovely？〃

I　would　not　deign　to　notice　this。　　〃Maria；〃　I　said；　〃I　think　that　you
are　too　hard　upon　my　countrymen？〃

〃Too　hard！　no；　for　I　love　them。　　They　are　so　good　and　industrious；
and　come　home　to　their　wives；　and　take　care　of　their　children。　　But
why　do　they　make　themselves　sosowhat　the　French　call　gauche？〃

〃Good　and　industrious；　and　come　home　to　their　wives！〃　thought　I。　　〃I
believe　you　hardly　understand　us　as　yet；〃　I　answered。　　〃Our　domestic
virtues　are　not　always　so　very　prominent；　but；　I　believe；　we　know　how
to　conduct　ourselves　as　gentlemen：　　at　any　rate；　as　well　as
Spaniards。〃　　I　was　very　angrynot　at　the　faults；　but　at　the　good
qualities　imputed　to　us。

〃In　affairs　of　business；　yes；〃　said　Maria；　with　a　look　of　firm
confidence　in　her　own　opinionthat　look　of　confidence　which　she　has
never　lost；　and　I　pray　that　she　may　never　lose　it　while　I　remain　with
her〃but　in　the　little　intercourses　of　the　world；　no！　　A　Spaniard
never　forgets　what　is　personally　due　either　to　himself　or　his
neighbours。　　If　he　is　eating　an　onion；　he　eats　it　as　an　onion　should
be　eaten。〃

〃In　such　matters　as　that　he　is　very　grand；　no　doubt；〃　said　I；
angrily。

〃And　why　should　you　not　eat　an　onion　properly；　John？　　Now；　I　heard　a
story　yesterday　from　Donabout　two　Englishmen；　which　annoyed　me　very
much。〃　　I　did　not　exactly　catch　the　name　of　the　Don　in　question　but　I
felt　through　every　nerve　in　my　body　that　it　was　the　man　who　had　been
talking　to　her　on　the　plaza。

〃And　what　have　they　done？〃　said　I。　　〃But　it　is　the　same　everywhere。
We　are　always　abused；　but；　nevertheless；　no　people　are　so　welcome。
At　any　rate；　we　pay　for　the　mischief　we　do。〃　　I　was　angry　with　myself
the　moment　the　words　were　out　of　my　mouth；　for；　after　all；　there　is
no　feeling　more　mean　than　that　pocket…confidence　with　which　an
Englishman　sometimes　swaggers。

〃There　was　no　mischief　done　in　this　case；〃　she　answered。　　〃It　was
simply　that　two　men　have　made　themselves　ridiculous　for　ever。　　The
story　is　all　about　Seville；　and；　of　course；　it　annoys　me　that　they
should　be　Englishmen。〃

〃And　what　did　they　do？〃

〃The　Marquis　D'Almavivas　was　coming　up　to　Seville　in　the　boat；　and
they　behaved　to　him　in　the　most　outrageous　manner。　　He　is　here　now
and　is　going　to　give　a　series　of　fetes。　　Of　course　he　will　not　ask　a
single　Englishman。〃

〃We　shall　manage　to　live　even　though　the　Marquis　D'Almavivas　may
frown　upon　us；〃　said　I；　proudly。

〃He　is　the　richest；　and　also　the　best　of　our　noblemen；〃　continued
Maria；　〃and　I　never　heard　of　anything　so　absurd　as　what　they　did　to
him。　　It　made　me　blush　when　Don　　told　me。〃　　Don　Tomas；　I　thought
she　said。

〃If　he　be　the　best　of　your　noblemen；　how　comes　it　that　he　is　angry
because　he　has　met　two　vulgar　men？　　It　is　not　to　be　supposed　that
every　Englishman　is　a　gentleman。〃

〃Angry！　　Oh；　no！　he　was　not　angry；　he　enjoyed　the　joke　too　much　for
that。　　He　got　completely　the　best　of　them；　though　they　did　not　know
it；　poor　fools！　　How　would　your　Lord　John　Russell　behave　if　two
Spaniards　in　an　English　railway　carriage　were　to　pull　him　about　and
tear　his　clothes？〃

〃He　would　give　them　in　charge　to　a　policeman；　of　course；〃　said　I；
speaking　of　such　a　matter　with　the　contempt　it　deserved。