catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第6部分
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sundownfor hundreds of years very likely。 Perhaps when the shutters are
closed； and all the world tired and silent； there is HE silent； but untired
cutting； cutting； cutting。 You enter； you get your meat to your liking； you
depart； and； quite unmoved； on； on he goes； reaping ceaselessly the Great
Harvest of Beef。 You would fancy that if Passion ever failed to conquer； it
had in vain assailed the calm bosom of THAT MAN。 I doubt it； and would
give much to know his history。
Who knows what furious Aetna…flames are raging underneath the
surface of that calm flesh…mountainwho can tell me that that calmness
itself is not DESPAIR？
* * *
The reader； if he does not now understand why it was that Mr。 Hayes
agreed to drink the Corporal's proffered beer； had better just read the
foregoing remarks over again； and if he does not understand THEN； why；
small praise to his brains。 Hayes could not bear that Mr。 Bullock should
have a chance of seeing； and perhaps making love to Mrs。 Catherine in his
absence； and though the young woman never diminished her coquetries；
but； on the contrary； rather increased them in his presence； it was still a
kind of dismal satisfaction to be miserable in her company。
On this occasion； the disconsolate lover could be wretched to his
heart's content； for Catherine had not a word or a look for him； but
bestowed all her smiles upon the handsome stranger who owned the black
horse。 As for poor Tummas Bullock； his passion was never violent； and he
was content in the present instance to sigh and drink beer。 He sighed and
drank； sighed and drank； and drank again； until he had swallowed so much
of the Corporal's liquor； as to be induced to accept a guinea from his purse
also； and found himself； on returning to reason and sobriety； a soldier of
Queen Anne's。
But oh！ fancy the agonies of Mr。 Hayes when； seated with the
Corporal's friends at one end of the kitchen； he saw the Captain at the
place of honour； and the smiles which the fair maid bestowed upon him；
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Catherine： A Story
when； as she lightly whisked past him with the Captain's supper； she；
pointing to the locket that once reposed on the breast of the Dutch lady at
the Brill； looked archly on Hayes and said； 〃See； John； what his Lordship
has given me；〃 and when John's face became green and purple with rage
and jealousy； Mrs。 Catherine laughed ten times louder； and cried 〃Coming；
my Lord；〃 in a voice of shrill triumph； that bored through the soul of Mr。
John Hayes and left him gasping for breath。
On Catherine's other lover； Mr。 Thomas； this coquetry had no effect：
he； and two comrades of his； had by this time quite fallen under the spell
of the Corporal； and hope； glory； strong beer； Prince Eugene； pair of
colours； more strong beer； her blessed Majesty； plenty more strong beer；
and such subjects； martial and bacchic； whirled through their dizzy brains
at a railroad pace。
And now； if there had been a couple of experienced reporters present
at the 〃Bugle Inn；〃 they might have taken down a conversation on love
and warthe two themes discussed by the two parties occupying the
kitchenwhich； as the parts were sung together； duetwise； formed together
some very curious harmonies。 Thus； while the Captain was whispering the
softest nothings； the Corporal was shouting the fiercest combats of the war；
and； like the gentleman at Penelope's table； on it exiguo pinxit praelia tota
bero。 For example：
CAPTAIN。 What do you say to a silver trimming； pretty Catherine？
Don't you think a scarlet riding…cloak； handsomely laced； would become
you wonderfully well？and a grey hat with a blue feather and a pretty
nag to ride onand all the soldiers to present arms as you pass； and say；
〃There goes the Captain's lady〃？ What do you think of a side…box at
Lincoln's Inn playhouse； or of standing up to a minuet with my Lord
Marquis at？
CORPORAL。 The ball； sir； ran right up his elbow； and was found the
next day by Surgeon Splinter of ours；where do you think； sir？ upon my
honour as a gentleman it came out of the nape of his
CAPTAIN。 Necklaceand a sweet pair of diamond earrings； mayhap
and a little shower of patches； which ornament a lady's face wondrously
and a leetle rougethough； egad！ such peach…cheeks as yours don't want
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Catherine： A Story
it；fie！ Mrs。 Catherine； I should think the birds must come and peck at
them as if they were fruit
CORPORAL。 Over the wall； and three…and…twenty of our fellows
jumped after me。 By the Pope of Rome； friend Tummas； that was a day！
Had you seen how the Mounseers looked when four…and…twenty
rampaging he…devils； sword and pistol； cut and thrust； pell…mell came
tumbling into the redoubt！ Why； sir； we left in three minutes as many
artillerymen's heads as there were cannon…balls。 It was； 〃Ah sacre！〃 〃D
… you； take that！〃 〃O mon Dieu！〃 〃Run him through！〃 〃Ventrebleu！〃 and it
WAS ventrebleu with him； I warrant you； for bleu； in the French language；
means 〃through；〃 and ventrewhy； you see； ventre means
CAPTAIN。 Waists； which are worn now excessive long； and for the
hoops； if you COULD but see themstap my vitals； my dear； but there
was a lady at Warwick's Assembly （she came in one of my Lord's coaches）
who had a hoop as big as a tent： you might have dined under it
comfortably；ha！ ha！ 'pon my faith； now
CORPORAL。 And there we found the Duke of Marlborough seated
along with Marshal Tallard； who was endeavouring to drown his sorrow
over a cup of Johannisberger wine； and a good drink too； my lads； only not
to compare to Warwick beer。 〃Who was the man who has done this？〃 said
our noble General。 I stepped up。 〃How many heads was it；〃 says he； 〃that
you cut off？〃 〃Nineteen；〃 says I； 〃besides wounding several。〃 When he
heard it （Mr。 Hayes； you don't drink） I'm blest if he didn't burst into tears！
〃Noble noble fellow；〃 says he。 〃Marshal； you must excuse me if I am
pleased to hear of the destruction of your countrymen。 Noble noble
fellow！here's a hundred guineas for you。〃 Which sum he placed in my
hand。 〃Nay；〃 says the Marshal 〃the man has done his duty：〃 and； pulling
out a magnificent gold diamond…hilted snuff…box； he gave me
MR。 BULLOCK。 What； a goold snuff…box？ Wauns； but thee WAST in
luck； Corporal！
CORPORAL。 No； not the snuff…box； butA PINCH OF SNUFF；ha！
ha！run me through the body if he didn't。 Could you but have seen the
smile on Jack Churchill's grave face at this piece of generosity！ So；
beckoning Colonel Cadogan up to him； he pinched his Ear and whispered…
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CAPTAIN。 〃May I have the honour to dance a minuet with your
Ladyship？〃 The whole room was in titters at Jack's blunder； for； as you
know very well； poor Lady Susan HAS A WOODEN LEG。 Ha！ ha！ fancy
a minuet and a wooden leg； hey； my dear？
MRS。 CATHERINE。 Gigglegigglegiggle： he！ he！ he！ Oh； Captain；
you rogue； you
SECOND TABLE。 Haw！ haw！ haw！ Well you be a foony mon；
Sergeant； zure enoff。
* * *
This little specimen of the conversation must be sufficient。 It will show
pretty clearly that EACH of the two military commanders was conducting
his operations with perfect success。 Three of the detachment of five
attacked by the Corporal surrendered to him： Mr。 Bullock； namely； who
gave in at a very early stage of the evening； and ignominiously laid down
his arms under the table； after standing not more than a dozen volleys of
beer； Mr。 Blacksmith's boy； and a labourer whose name we have not been
able to learn。 Mr。 Butcher himself was on the point of yielding； when he
was rescued by the furious charge of a detachment that marched to his
relief： his wife namely； who； with two squalling children； rushed into the
〃Bugle；〃 boxed Butcher's ears； and kept up such a tremendous fire of oaths
and screams upon the Corporal； that he was obliged to retreat。 Fixing then
her claws into Mr。 Butcher's hair； she proceeded to drag him out of the
premises； and thus Mr。 Brock was overcome。 His attack upon John Hayes
was a still greater failure； for that young man seemed to be invincible by
drink； if not by love： and at the end of the drinking…bout was a great deal
more cool than the Corporal himself； to whom he wished a very polite
good…evening； as calmly he took his hat to depart。 He turned to look at
Catherine； to be sure； and then he was not quite so calm： but Catherine did
not give any reply to his good…night。 She was seated at the Captain's table
playing at cribbage with him； and though Count Gustavus Maximilian lost
every game； he won more than he lost；sly fellow！and Mrs。 Cath
