the trumpet-major-第14部分

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！


yeomanry　cavalry；　one　of　them　being　Festus。　　They　were　drinking；
laughing；　singing；　thumping　their　fists　on　the　tables；　and　enjoying
themselves　in　the　very　perfection　of　confusion。　　The　candles；　blown
by　the　breeze　from　the　partly　opened　window；　had　guttered　into
coffin　handles　and　shrouds；　and；　choked　by　their　long　black　wicks
for　want　of　snuffing；　gave　out　a　smoky　yellow　light。　　One　of　the
young　men　might　possibly　have　been　in　a　maudlin　state；　for　he　had
his　arm　round　the　neck　of　his　next　neighbour。　　Another　was　making　an
incoherent　speech　to　which　nobody　was　listening。　　Some　of　their
faces　were　red；　some　were　sallow；　some　were　sleepy；　some　wide　awake。
The　only　one　among　them　who　appeared　in　his　usual　frame　of　mind　was
Festus；　whose　huge；　burly　form　rose　at　the　head　of　the　table；
enjoying　with　a　serene　and　triumphant　aspect　the　difference　between
his　own　condition　and　that　of　his　neighbours。　　While　the
trumpet…major　looked；　a　young　woman；　niece　of　Anthony　Cripplestraw；
and　one　of　Uncle　Benjy's　servants；　was　called　in　by　one　of　the　crew；
and　much　against　her　will　a　fiddle　was　placed　in　her　hands；　from
which　they　made　her　produce　discordant　screeches。

The　absence　of　Uncle　Benjy　had；　in　fact；　been　contrived　by　young
Derriman　that　he　might　make　use　of　the　hall　on　his　own　account。
Cripplestraw　had　been　left　in　charge；　and　Festus　had　found　no
difficulty　in　forcing　from　that　dependent　the　keys　of　whatever　he
required。　　John　Loveday　turned　his　eyes　from　the　scene　to　the
neighbouring　moonlit　path；　where　Anne　still　stood　waiting。　　Then　he
looked　into　the　room；　then　at　Anne　again。　　It　was　an　opportunity　of
advancing　his　own　cause　with　her　by　exposing　Festus；　for　whom　he
began　to　entertain　hostile　feelings　of　no　mean　force。

'No；　I　can't　do　it；'　he　said。　　''Tis　underhand。　　Let　things　take
their　chance。'

He　moved　away；　and　then　perceived　that　Anne；　tired　of　waiting；　had
crossed　the　stream；　and　almost　come　up　with　him。

'What　is　the　noise　about？'　she　said。

'There's　company　in　the　house；'　said　Loveday。

'Company？　　Farmer　Derriman　is　not　at　home；'　said　Anne；　and　went　on
to　the　window　whence　the　rays　of　light　leaked　out；　the　trumpet…major
standing　where　he　was。　　He　saw　her　face　enter　the　beam　of
candlelight；　stay　there　for　a　moment；　and　quickly　withdraw。　　She
came　back　to　him　at　once。　　'Let　us　go　on；'　she　said。

Loveday　imagined　from　her　tone　that　she　must　have　an　interest　in
Derriman；　and　said　sadly；　'You　blame　me　for　going　across　to　the
window；　and　leading　you　to　follow　me。'

'Not　a　bit；'　said　Anne；　seeing　his　mistake　as　to　the　state　of　her
heart；　and　being　rather　angry　with　him　for　it。　　'I　think　it　was　most
natural；　considering　the　noise。'

Silence　again。　　'Derriman　is　sober　as　a　judge；'　said　Loveday；　as
they　turned　to　go。　　'It　was　only　the　others　who　were　noisy。'

'Whether　he　is　sober　or　not　is　nothing　whatever　to　me；'　said　Anne。

'Of　course　not。　　I　know　it；'　said　the　trumpet…major；　in　accents
expressing　unhappiness　at　her　somewhat　curt　tone；　and　some　doubt　of
her　assurance。

Before　they　had　emerged　from　the　shadow　of　the　hall　some　persons
were　seen　moving　along　the　road。　　Loveday　was　for　going　on　just　the
same；　but　Anne；　from　a　shy　feeling　that　it　was　as　well　not　to　be
seen　walking　alone　with　a　man　who　was　not　her　lover；　said

'Mr。　Loveday；　let　us　wait　here　a　minute　till　they　have　passed。'

On　nearer　view　the　group　was　seen　to　comprise　a　man　on　a　piebald
horse；　and　another　man　walking　beside　him。　　When　they　were　opposite
the　house　they　halted；　and　the　rider　dismounted；　whereupon　a　dispute
between　him　and　the　other　man　ensued；　apparently　on　a　question　of
money。

''Tis　old　Mr。　Derriman　come　home！'　said　Anne。　　'He　has　hired　that
horse　from　the　bathing…machine　to　bring　him。　　Only　fancy！'

Before　they　had　gone　many　steps　further　the　farmer　and　his　companion
had　ended　their　dispute；　and　the　latter　mounted　the　horse　and
cantered　away；　Uncle　Benjy　coming　on　to　the　house　at　a　nimble　pace。
As　soon　as　he　observed　Loveday　and　Anne；　he　fell　into　a　feebler
gait；　when　they　came　up　he　recognized　Anne。

'And　you　have　torn　yourself　away　from　King　George's　Esplanade　so
soon；　Farmer　Derriman？'　said　she。

'Yes；　faith！　　I　couldn't　bide　at　such　a　ruination　place；'　said　the
farmer。　　'Your　hand　in　your　pocket　every　minute　of　the　day。　　'Tis　a
shilling　for　this；　half…a…crown　for　that；　if　you　only　eat　one　egg；
or　even　a　poor　windfall　of　an　apple；　you've　got　to　pay；　and　a　bunch
o'　radishes　is　a　halfpenny；　and　a　quart　o'　cider　a　good　tuppence
three…farthings　at　lowest　reckoning。　　Nothing　without　paying！　　I
couldn't　even　get　a　ride　homeward　upon　that　screw　without　the　man
wanting　a　shilling　for　it；　when　my　weight　didn't　take　a　penny　out　of
the　beast。　　I've　saved　a　penn'orth　or　so　of　shoeleather　to　be　sure；
but　the　saddle　was　so　rough　wi'　patches　that　'a　took　twopence　out　of
the　seat　of　my　best　breeches。　　King　George　hev'　ruined　the　town　for
other　folks。　　More　than　that；　my　nephew　promised　to　come　there
to…morrow　to　see　me；　and　if　I　had　stayed　I　must　have　treated　en。
Heywhat's　that？'

It　was　a　shout　from　within　the　walls　of　the　building；　and　Loveday
said

'Your　nephew　is　here；　and　has　company。'

'My　nephew　HERE？'　gasped　the　old　man。　　'Good　folks；　will　you　come　up
to　the　door　with　me？　　I　meanheeheejust　for　company！　　Dear　me；
I　thought　my　house　was　as　quiet　as　a　church？'

They　went　back　to　the　window；　and　the　farmer　looked　in；　his　mouth
falling　apart　to　a　greater　width　at　the　corners　than　in　the　middle；
and　his　fingers　assuming　a　state　of　radiation。

''Tis　my　best　silver　tankards　they've　got；　that　I've　never　used！　　O！
'tis　my　strong　beer！　　'Tis　eight　candles　guttering　away；　when　I've
used　nothing　but　twenties　myself　for　the　last　half…year！'

'You　didn't　know　he　was　here；　then？'　said　Loveday。

'O　no！'　said　the　farmer；　shaking　his　head　half…way。　　'Nothing's
known　to　poor　I！　　There's　my　best　rummers　jingling　as　careless　as　if
'twas　tin　cups；　and　my　table　scratched；　and　my　chairs　wrenched　out
of　joint。　　See　how　they　tilt　'em　on　the　two　back　legsand　that's
ruin　to　a　chair！　　Ah！　when　I　be　gone　he　won't　find　another　old　man
to　make　such　work　with；　and　provide　goods　for　his　breaking；　and
house…room　and　drink　for　his　tear…brass　set！'

'Comrades　and　fellow…soldiers；'　said　Festus　to　the　hot　farmers　and
yeomen　he　entertained　within；　'as　we　have　vowed　to　brave　danger　and
death　together；　so　we'll　share　the　couch　of　peace。　　You　shall　sleep
here　to…night；　for　it　is　getting　late。　　My　scram　blue…vinnied
gallicrow　of　an　uncle　takes　care　that　there　shan't　be　much　comfort
in　the　house；　but　you　can　curl　up　on　the　furniture　if　beds　run
short。　　As　for　my　sleep；　it　won't　be　much。　　I'm　melancholy！　　A　woman
has；　I　may　say；　got　my　heart　in　her　pocket；　and　I　have　hers　in　mine。
She's　not　muchto　other　folk；　I　meanbut　she　is　to　me。　　The　little
thing　came　in　my　way；　and　conquered　me。　　I　fancy　that　simple　girl！
I　ought　to　have　looked　higherI　know　it；　what　of　that？　　'Tis　a　fate
that　may　happen　to　the　greatest　men。'

'Whash　her　name？'　said　one　of　the　warriors；　whose　head　occasionally
drooped　upon　his　epaulettes；　and　whose　eyes　fell　together　in　the
casual　manner　characteristic　of　the　tired　soldier。　　（It　was　really
Farmer　Stubb；　of　Duddle　Hole。）

'Her　name？　　Well；　'tis　spelt；　A；　Nbut；　by　gad；　I　won't　give　ye　her
name　here　in　company。　　She　don't　live　a　hundred　miles　off；　however；
and　she　wears　the　prettiest　cap…ribbons　you　ever　saw。　　Well；　well；
'tis　weakness！　　She　has　little；　and　I　have　much；　but　I　do　adore　that
girl；　in　spite　of　myself！'

'Let's　go　on；'　said　Anne。

'Prithee　stand　by　an　old　man　till　he's　got　into　his　house！'　implored
Uncle　Benjy。　　'I　only　ask　ye　to　bide　within　call。　　Stand　back　under
the　trees；　and　I'll　do　my　poor　best　to　give　no　trouble。'

'I'll　stand　by　you　for　half…an…hour；　sir；'　said　Loveday。　　'After
that　I　must　bolt　to　camp。'

'Very　well；　bide　back　there　under　the　trees；'　said　Uncle　Benjy。　　'I
don't　want　to　spite　'em？'

'You'll　wait　a　few　minutes；　just　to　see　if　he　gets　in？'　said　the
trumpet…major　to　Anne　as　they　retired　from　the　old　man。

'I　want　to　get　home；'　said　Anne　anxiously。

When　they　had　quite　receded　behind　the　tree…trunks　and　he　stood
alone；　Uncle　Benjy；　to　their　surprise；　set　up　a　loud　shout；
altogether　beyond　the　imagined　power　of　his　lungs。

'Man　a…lost！　man　a…lost！'　he　cried；　repeating　the　exclamation
several　times；　and　then　ran　and　hid　himself　behind　a　corner　of　the
building。　　Soon　the　door　opened；　and　Festus　and　his　guests　came
tumbling　out　upon　the　green。

''Tis　our　duty　to　help　folks　in　distress；'　said　Festus。　　'Man
a…lost；　where　are　you？'

''Twas　across　there；'　said　one　of　his　friends。

'No！　'twas　here；'　said　another。

Meanwhile　Uncle　Benjy；　coming　from　his　hiding…place；　had　scampered
with　the　quickness　of　a　boy　up　to　the　door　they　had　quitted；　and
slipped　in。　　In　a　moment　the　door　flew　together；　and　Anne　heard　him
bolting　and　barring　it　inside。　　The　revellers；　however；　did　not
notice　this；　and　came　on　towards　the　spot　where　the　trumpet…major
and　Anne　were　standing。

'Here's　succour　at　hand；　friends；'　said　Festus。　　'We　are　all　king's
men；　do　not　fear　us。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Loveday；　'so　are　we。'　　He　explained　in　two　words
that　they　were　not　the　distressed　traveller　who　had　cried　out；　and
turned　to　go　on。

''Tis　she！　my　life；　'tis　she　said　Festus；　now　first　recognizing
Anne。　　'Fair　Anne；　I　will　not　part　from　you　till　I　see　you　safe　at
your　own　dear　door。'

'She's　in　my　hands；'　said　Loveday　civilly；　though　not　without
firmness；　'so　it　is　not　required；　thank　you。'

'Man；　had　I　but　my　sword'

'Come；'　said　Loveday；　'I　don't　want　to　quarrel。　　Let's　put　it　to
her。　　Whichever　of　us　she　likes　best；　he　shall　take　her　home。　　Miss
Anne；　which？'

Anne　would　much　rather　have　gone　home　alone；　but　seeing　the
remainder　of　the　yeomanry　party　staggering　up　she　thought　it　best　to
secure　a　protector　of　some　kind。　　How　to　choose　one　without
offending　the　other　and　provoking　a　quarrel　was　the　difficulty。

'You　must　both　walk　home　with　me；'　she　adroitly　said；　'one　on　one
side；　and　one　on　the　other。　　And　if　you　are　not　quite　civil　to　one
another　all　the　time；　I'll　never　speak　to　either　o