CHAPTER IX.
When Magdalena was led from the presence of Juan, she was conductedthrough many chambers and passages, which gave her an idea of theimmense extent of the palace, to the quarter especially appropriated tothe women, and which was as carefully guarded from the approach of theother sex as the harem of an oriental monarch. It consisted of a seriesof dormitories and other small apartments, as well as a vast hall,covered with pictured tapestry and knots of flowers, in which the dailylabour of the loom and spindle was shared by all, the princess and theslave alike, mingled with the more elegant occupations of embroidery andfeather-painting.
But the toil of the day had been long since over, and when she entered,the maidens were amusing themselves, some talking and laughing, andothers dancing to the sound of flutes, and all unconscious or heedlessof the perils that were about to hem them in.
The appearance of a vision so strange, so often imagined, yet neverbefore seen--a woman of the race of the invaders, and one at once somajestic and lovely as Magdalena--produced an immediate sensationthroughout the merry crew. The dancing ceased, the music of the pipe wasexchanged for a murmur of admiration, and all eyes were turned upon thenovel apparition. But it was observable, that the maidens indulged in norude demonstrations of curiosity or surprise. They neither throngedabout her, nor uttered any loud exclamations; and however ardently theygazed, when unperceived, each cast her looks modestly to the floor, themoment she found the eyes of the stranger directed upon her.
Troubled as were Magdalena's thoughts by the strangeness of hersituation, and conscious of her inability to exchange a word with thesenew companions, she yet felt a sort of relief, and even pleasure, tofind herself once more surrounded by individuals of her own sex, who, aswas evident from their appearance, were neither rude in manners nordegraded in mind.
In this happier frame of feeling, she suffered herself to be conductedto a chamber, where two young female slaves attended her withrefreshments of meats, fruits, and confections, and pointing to a couchof robes, upon a little platform under a canopy, left her to hermeditations.
She rose from a troubled and dreamy slumber at the dawn, and waitedimpatiently for the moment when she should be led to Juan. The slavesagain made their appearance, bearing, besides food, which they setbefore her, rich garments of the most splendid hues, which they desiredher by signs to substitute for her monastic attire. To this she acceded,after some hesitation, thinking it needful to humour the wishes of thoseupon whose friendship her existence, as well as that of Juan, soobviously depended. She exchanged, at least, the gray veil for a broadmantle embroidered with feathers and gold, and placed over her otherdress three several tunics, each of a different hue, and each gorgeouslyornamented. Her toilet was completed when the slaves had encircled herarms and neck with jewels, and wreathed her hair with chains of gold; toall which she passively, yet impatiently, submitted.
Thus dressed and decorated, she was conducted again to the great hall,and seated upon a throne cushioned over with feathers of every hue,when, to her great surprise, she found herself the object upon whom wasto be showered marks of the most extraordinary honour. The crowd ofmaidens was huddled in the farther end of the apartment, where theystood with downcast eyes, giving place to a female, evidently of exaltedrank, who came from among them, followed by five or six girls, much moresplendidly dressed than the others, one of whom bore in her arms asleeping infant.
The Indian lady was distinguished from her attendants by apparel similarin hues and splendour to that worn by Magdalena, and she had on her heada little cap or caul of emeralds, mingled with pearls. Her face wasprepossessing, her figure well proportioned, and her bearing not withoutdignity. Yet there was in her aspect something of trouble andhesitation, and she went through the business of salutation, or ratherhomage, for so it appeared, with visible reluctance. She approached thethrone, and kneeling before it, took Magdalena's hand, and laid it uponher head, speaking a few words which the Christian did not comprehend.Then taking the infant from the girl who bore it, she laid Magdalena'shand upon its innocent brows, in the same manner; after which shestepped aside, and the young attendants went each separately through thesame ceremony. This accomplished, she stole from the apartment, and in afew moments, the spindle rolled, the shuttle of the simple loom rattled,and the fingers of the embroiderers and feather-painters moved overtheir tasks.
The morning passed away, and Magdalena still expected a summons to thepresence of Juan. The evening darkened, the fragrant torches werelighted, the pipe and dance were again summoned to close the labours ofthe day, and Magdalena was, a second time, conducted to her chamber, tomuse with fear and distrust over her singular situation.
The second day beheld the same ceremonies, succeeded by the same laboursand diversions, and still not a movement indicated the approach of amessenger. She looked upon the maidens around,--their faces were graveand placid. They gazed upon her no more, except when her eyes wereaverted. She imagined a thousand reasons to account for her seclusion.Was her brother, notwithstanding his assurances to the contrary, in astate of as much restraint as herself? Or--was it possible?--did it notdepend upon himself?--was it possible, he did not desire to see her? Shethought of his slowness to admit her claim of consanguinity; she thoughtof the words of Camarga,--of their wildness--Had not Juan said he wasinsane?--of their insufficiency. Nay, she remembered that Juan spoke of_his_ father, whom he well remembered; and among the tears she shed ofdoubt and disappointment, she blushed at the boldness and warmth withwhich she had advocated her claims.
Another day came,--another, and still another; and her heart sickenedand her cheek grew pale with suspense and humiliation. Then impatiencewaxed into anger, and she stalked among the maidens with looks ofdetermination, as if she would have commanded them to lead her from whatshe justly conceived to be imprisonment. But _how_ command them? Herlanguage was as the language of the gods to them, and their words wereto her as unmeaning as the songs of the birds at the windows. Eyes canspeak many things, but not all; and signs are of too arbitrary a natureto serve as the medium of communication betwixt two hemispheres. If shestrove to depart from the chamber, she was followed by the two slaves,who seemed to be specially devoted to her service, and who, attendingher from room to room, yet arrested her with humble and supplicatinggestures, when she seemed to be overstepping the limits of the harem. Ifshe persisted, she found herself in the power of certain antiquebeldames, who prowled around the sacred chambers, bearing wands toindicate their authority, and who opposed themselves, though withoutrudeness, to further egress. If she still made her way through these,she found herself stopped by passages, in which were armed barbarians,who did not hesitate to block up the avenues with their shields andspears. In other words, she found that she was a prisoner, confined to asociety as recluse, as peaceful, and perhaps as happy as that from whichit had been her misfortune to be released. The pride and energy of hernature were here lost; for there was nothing with which to contend,except her feelings, and nothing to excite, save a sense of wrong,inflicted she knew not by whom, nor why.
This was precisely the state of things to tame her spirit intosubmission and inaction; and, almost insensibly to herself, she began toaccommodate her deportment to her condition, substituting anxiety foranger, and despondence for decision. She began to think that Juan was,like herself, a prisoner; and the apprehension of his distresses weighedon her heart more heavily than the sense of her own; and, as with allher strength of mind and passion, there was a tinge of superstitionrunning through all her thoughts, she beheld, in the singular train ofcalamities that had brought her so often to his side, a revelation andproof that she was ordained, finally, to rescue him from this, as wellas the other ills, which oppressed him. Another thought brooded also inher bosom. Hitherto, whatsoever efforts she had made for his good, hadministered only to his griefs; and what had they brought to _her_? Fromthe moment in which she had first attempted deceit, by concealing thesanctity of her profession, her life had been but a history of
agony andshame. Had she avowed herself, immediately after the shipwreck, thebride of the cross, Hilario had not died under the knife of theassassin, Juan Lerma had not forfeited the favour of his general, andshe herself had, perhaps, closed her life in the peace with which it hadbegun. She began to picture to herself the sinfulness of her evasions ofvows, and to consider these the causes of her sufferings. Such thoughtsas these, and a thousand others, divided and harassed her mind by turns,and confounded while they tormented. But one idea never left her--andthat was, the uncertainty of the fate of Juan Lerma, and the hope thatit might be reserved for her to free him from the bondage of infidels.But how was this to be effected? She knew not.
Her first vague desire was to gain a friend among the grave andpassionless creatures, by whom she was surrounded. She examined alltheir countenances, and soon fixed upon several in which she thought shecould trace kindly feelings and simplicity of character. She strove alsoto acquire a little of their language,--an effort which she soon gaveup, not so much from the difficulty of acquisition, as from theremoteness of any benefit to be derived in that way.
She perceived that the Mexican lady who, each morning, for the firstfortnight of her captivity, (after which time she was seen no more,)commenced the ceremonies of salutation, so humble, and indeed to her soirksome, must be of the highest rank,--perhaps the queen of Guatimozinhimself; though it seemed improbable that one so exalted wouldcondescend to homage so servile. She was conscious also, that the sixmaidens who attended upon this princess were of no mean rank; for thoughthey frequently remained in the hall, engaged in labour, like the rest,it was clear that the others looked upon them with the greatestdeference. Of these she had long singled out one who was superior to theothers in beauty and mildness of countenance; and it seemed to her thatthis one, in going through the morning ceremony, endeavoured to make hersensible that she did so with sincerity and feeling. Thus, besidesplacing Magdalena's hand on her head, she carried it also to her lips,expressing as much desire as her countenance could convey, to beesteemed the Christian's friend.
These things almost escaped Magdalena's notice at first; but sheafterwards remembered them, and strove to respond with manifestations ofsimilar inclination. She observed, however, that the maiden graduallychanged from tranquillity to melancholy, as if something preyed upon herspirits. She repeated, indeed, her salutation each morning, but it wasno longer with smiles, and with a disposition to linger aboutMagdalena's person. On the contrary, she retired without delay to alittle nook under a window, where she continued her task among feathersand flowers, seldom stirring from the spot. It was evident to thepenetrating eye of Magdalena, that the Indian maiden was wasting awayunder some grief as poignant and enduring as her own; and though sheattributed it only to some of the evils of war, the commencement ofwhich had long since been indicated by the distant explosions ofartillery, she was the more favourably impressed by the damsel'semotion, since none of the others seemed to share it, nor to betrayeither fear or anxiety.
She attempted then to come to some understanding with this maiden. Shesat down by her in her little nook, and watched, with what, had she beenin a better frame of mind, would have been admiration, the progress ofher toils, as well as the effects of previous labours. She beheld, withsurprise, garlands and bouquets of flowers, constructed of feathers, andimitated with such wonderful precision, that when they were mingled witha few natural ones, and impregnated with their odours, it seemed almostimpossible that they could be artificial. The same art has existed inother parts of the continent, and is practised to this day, in some ofthe nunneries of Brazil. There were also pictures, worked with the samebeautiful materials, upon a groundwork of prepared cloth, which werechiefly confined to the representation of flowers and birds. WhenMagdalena first visited the maiden, she found her engaged upon whatseemed a wood-pigeon, surrounded by a little wilderness of flowers andleaves. The design, though simple, was pretty and spirited; yet themaiden seemed dissatisfied with her work, and altered it daily, as ifeach day still more displeased; until, at last, she seemed to have hitupon a plan more to her taste, when she pursued her task with whatseemed a morbid ardour. When Magdalena looked at it last, she found thewhole design and character of the work changed. The flowers had beendisplaced by stones and brambles; an arrow was represented stickingthrough the neck of the bird; and the story of a wounded heart was toldin the metaphor of the poor flutterer, harmed by some wanton bolt, andleft dying in a desert place.
When Magdalena beheld this painted sentiment, she took the hand of theartist, and pressing it as if with sympathy, pointed to her bosom. Afaint tinge of blood passed over her embrowned visage, but she lookedconfidingly into Magdalena's face, as if not ashamed to confess hergrief. When Magdalena was persuaded she was understood, she directed thepainter's eyes to the bird, and then pointed expressively to her ownbosom, as if to signify that she also was unhappy. The maiden bowed herhead upon her breast, and Magdalena saw that tears were stealing fromher eyes. She thought they were the tears of sympathy; and when thedamsel looked up, she cast off all reserve, and indicated as plainly asshe could, by gestures, that she desired to make her way into thegarden.
The maiden shook her head, and would have departed, but that Magdalena,rendered indiscreet by her impatience, arrested her, to make trial of anew appeal. She took the jewels from her hair, and without reflectingthat the rank of the maiden, indicated by gems quite as valuable as herown, might render her inaccessible to such temptation, she made as ifshe would have thrown them upon her head and neck. She was sorry for theact; for as soon as the maiden understood what she designed, she drewback with a look of offended dignity, and with cheeks burning at oncewith mortification and anger. Then, gathering up her little picture, herbodkins, and basket of coloured feathers, she left the apartment, andreturned to it no more that day.
Amid all her grief at the disappointment of her hopes, Magdalena had yetgenerosity enough to appreciate the spirit of the young pagan, and tolament having outraged her feelings.
That night, when the female slaves had departed from her chamber, andshe was musing disconsolately in the light of a little night-lantern,consisting of a taper of resinous wood, surrounded by thin plates ofgold, perforated with holes in many fantastic figures, which transmittedthe light, she was roused by a sigh; and looking up, she beheld, to hergreat surprise, the young artist standing before her, in an attitude ofsad and patient humility. As soon as the visitor perceived that she wasseen, she approached, and knelt at Magdalena's feet, who now saw, with atouch of shame, and, at first, even of resentment, that, as if inrequital of the insult of the morning, she held in her hands all thejewels that had decorated her hair and person, and offered them for heracceptance. But Magdalena's displeasure soon passed away; for the jewelswere proffered with the deepest humility, and the damsel's eyes weresuffused with tears. She murmured out some words, too, and the tone wasexpressive of grief.
All this was mysterious to Magdalena, who puzzled herself in vain toaccount for the act and the donation. She restored the jewels, and themaiden being wholly submissive, she replaced them about her person withher own hands; and then, taking advantage of the opportunity, madeanother effort to come to a better understanding with her. Sheremembered that her companion was a painter, and being herself a littleskilled in the art, she drew with a bodkin from her hair, upon the softwood of the table that supported her lamp, the figure of a man inSpanish costume, bound in a cell. The representation was awkward, yet itappeared that the damsel understood it; for she took the bodkin, andimmediately, though with a trembling hand, completed the picture by theaddition of another figure, representing a Mexican, with a crown likethat Magdalena had seen on the head of Guatimozin, who, with one hand,extended to him the handle of a macana, while threatening him withanother, brandished above his head.
This was expressive enough, and Magdalena's alarm for the safety of theyoung man was only removed when the maiden drew what was plainlydesigned for a buckler, interposed between the weapon and his head. br />
Magdalena then, without further hesitation, leaped to the grand objectof her desires, by drawing the figure of a man paddling in a canoe. Thisalso her companion understood, and replied to it significantly enough,by surrounding the little vessel with many others, filled with Indians,or other human beings, who attacked it with showers of arrows and darts.
"Alas! is there no hope for us then? no hope for my poor brother?"exclaimed Magdalena, wringing her hands. "Maiden! maiden! carry me butto him!--Alas, I speak as to a stone statue!"
She then resumed the bodkin, and returning to the first sketch, she drewthe figure of two women, entering the cell. The response to this endedher hopes immediately. The Indian girl sketched the outlines of men,armed with spears, circling around the whole cell.
Magdalena sank upon the couch in despair, and almost in a frenzy. Themaiden, frighted by the vehemence of her grief, endeavoured to sootheher, by pressing her hand to her bosom and forehead, and covering itwith kisses and tears; after which she stole quietly from the chamber.
It was many weeks before Magdalena beheld her again. She vanished fromthe hall, she came no more to kneel on her footstool in the morning, anddisplay her melancholy visage to the stranger. Magdalena's heart diedwithin her. She was in a solitude among living creatures,--the mostoppressive of all solitudes. Her suspense was intolerable, and preyedupon her health, until she was wasted to a shadow, and the pagan damselseyed her, when she appeared among them, with looks of pity. Shesuccumbed at last to her fate; the fever of her mind extended to herbody; and she was missed from the hall, as well as the young artist. Shebecame ill, and she threw herself upon her couch, to waste away withpassion and delirium. But there was still a gleam of happiness to breakupon her.
One night, when the dancing,--now no longer pursued with spirit, for thecannon of the Spaniards sounded each day louder and nearer,--had ceased,and the flutes were breathed upon no more, she felt her hand pressedwith a gentle grasp. She looked up, and beheld the Indian girl at herside, eyeing her with compassion. She sprang to her feet, in an ecstacyof delight, and embraced her; for she hailed her appearance as theherald of joy.
"Oh, maiden! maiden!" she cried, "what news of my brother?"
The damsel replied with the only words in her power, but the best shecould have used, had she been acquainted with the whole speech ofCastile. She looked sadly but firmly into Magdalena's face, and murmuredsoftly,
"Juan Lelma"--
The accent was imperfect and false, but the sounds were music toMagdalena. She clasped the young barbarian again in her arms, but hercaresses were only responded to by tears and sobs, which seemed toincrease in proportion to her own raptures. But Magdalena was too wildwith hope to think of the sorrows of her friend. She saw that the Indianheld in her hand, two long and capacious mantles of a plain stuff,which, she knew, were to veil them from evil eyes, while they crept tothe cell of her brother. But the maiden checked her impetuosity. Sheremoved the trinkets from her head and person, and again offered them tothe Christian; and persisted to do so, though still most gently andhumbly, until Magdalena, thinking this might be some important ceremony,a proof perhaps of friendship offered and received, and perceiving, whatwas more influential still, that it was necessary to hasten theproceedings of her visitor, consented to receive them. She yielded toher importunities, and the Indian girl clasped around her ankles, arms,and neck, and twisted in her hair, all the jewels that had decorated herown person, besides hanging round her neck the silver cross androsary,--Magdalena's own gift to Juan,--which she received with rapture,not doubting that he had sent it to her as a token and a full warrant tosubmit herself to the guidance of the young infidel. This accomplished,she assisted Magdalena to secure the larger mantle about her figure, andwrapped herself in the other. Then beckoning the Christian to follow,and signing to her to preserve silence, she led the way from thechamber.