按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ever at the earliest instant possible under academic requirements； he knew
the Greek and Latin names that he now saw as well as he knew those of
Shakspere； Dante； Moliere； and Cervantes。 These were here also； but it
could not be precisely said of them； either； that they made a part of the
young man's daily reading。 As he surveyed the Padre's august shelves； it
was with a touch of the histrionic Southern gravity which his Northern
education had not wholly schooled out of him that he said：
〃I fear I am no scholar； sir。 But I know what writers every gentleman
ought to respect。〃
The polished Padre bowed gravely to this compliment。 It was when
10
… Page 11…
PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
his eyes caught sight of the music that the young man felt again at ease；
and his vivacity returned to him。 Leaving his chair； he began
enthusiastically to examine the tall piles that filled one side of the room。
The volumes lay piled and scattered everywhere； making a pleasant
disorder； and； as perfume comes from a flower； memories of singers and
chandeliers rose bright from the printed names。 Norma； Tancredi； Don
Pasquale； La Vestale； dim lights in the fashions of to…day； sparkled upon
the exploring Gaston； conjuring the radiant halls of Europe before him。
〃The Barber of Seville！〃 he presently exclaimed。 〃And I happened to hear
it in Seville。〃
But Seville's name brought over the Padre a new rush of home
thoughts。 〃Is not Andalusia beautiful？〃 he said。 〃Did you see it in April；
when the flowers come？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Gaston； among the music。 〃I was at Cordova then。〃
〃Ah； Cordova！〃 murmured the Padre。
〃Semiramide！〃 cried Gaston； lighting upon that opera。 〃That was a
week！〃 I should like to live it over； every day and night of it！〃
〃Did you reach Malaga from Marseilles or Gibraltar？〃 asked the Padre；
wistfully。
〃From Marseilles。 Down from Paris through the Rhone Valley； you
know。〃
〃Then you saw Provence！ And did you go； perhaps； from Avignon to
Nismes by the Pont du Gard？ There is a place I have made herea little；
little placewith olive…trees。 And now they have grown； and it looks
something like that country； if you stand in a particular position。 I will take
you there to…morrow。 I think you will understand what I mean。〃
〃Another resemblance！〃 said the volatile and happy Gaston。 〃We both
seem to have an eye for them。 But； believe me； Padre； I could never stay
here planting olives。 I should go back and see the original onesand then
I'd hasten on to Paris。〃
And； with a volume of Meyerbeer open in his hand； Gaston hummed：
〃'Robert； Robert； toi que j'aime。' Why； Padre； I think that your library
contains none of the masses and all of the operas in the world！〃
〃I will make you a little confession；〃 said Padre Ignacio； 〃and then you
11
… Page 12…
PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
shall give me a little absolution。〃
〃For a penance；〃 said Gaston； 〃you must play over some of these
things to me。〃
〃I suppose I could not permit myself this luxury；〃 began the Padre；
pointing to his operas； 〃and teach these to my choir； if the people had any
worldly associations with the music。 But I have reasoned that the music
cannot do them harm〃
The ringing of a bell here interrupted him。 〃In fifteen minutes；〃 he said；
〃our poor meal will be ready for you。〃 The good Padre was not quite
sincere when he spoke of a 〃poor meal。〃 While getting the aguardiente for
his guest he had given orders； and he knew how well such orders would be
carried out。 He lived alone； and generally supped simply enough； but not
even the ample table at San Fernando could surpass his own on occasions。
And this was for him indeed an occasion！
〃Your half…breeds will think I am one of themselves；〃 said Gaston；
showing his dusty clothes。 〃I am not fit to be seated with you。〃 But he did
not mean this any more than his host had meant his remark about the food。
In his pack； which an Indian had brought from his horse； he carried some
garments of civilization。 And presently； after fresh water and not a little
painstaking with brush and scarf； there came back to the Padre a young
guest whose elegance and bearing and ease of the great world were to the
exiled priest as sweet as was his traveled conversation。
They repaired to the hall and took their seats at the head of the long
table。 For the Spanish centuries of stately custom lived at Santa YsabeI del
Mar； inviolate； feudal； remote。
They were the only persons of quality present； and between
themselves and the gente de razon a space intervened。 Behind the Padre's
chair stood an Indian to waft upon him； and another stood behind the chair
of Gaston Villere。 Each of these servants wore one single white garment；
and offered the many dishes to the gente fina and refilled their glasses。 At
the lower end of the table a general attendant wafted upon mescladosthe
half…breeds。 There was meat with spices； and roasted quail； with various
cakes and other preparations of grain； also the brown fresh olives and
grapes； with several sorts of figs and plums； and preserved fruits； and
12
… Page 13…
PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
white and red winethe white fifty years old。 Beneath the quiet shining of
candles； fresh…cut flowers leaned from vessels of old Mexican and Spanish
make。
There at one end of this feast sat the wild； pastoral； gaudy company；
speaking little over their food； and there at the other the pale Padre；
questioning his visitor about Rachel。 The mere name of a street would
bring memories crowding to his lips； and when his guest told him of a new
play he was ready with old quotations from the same author。 Alfred de
Vigny they spoke of； and Victor Hugo； whom the Padre disliked。 Long
after the dulce； or sweet dish； when it was the custom for the vaqueros and
the rest of the retainers to rise and leave the gente fina to themselves； the
host sat on in the empty hail； fondly talking to his guest of his bygone
Paris and fondly learning of the later Paris that