the trumpet-major-第18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！


of　enthusiasm　which　was　not　altogether　encouraging。

'And　of　course　some　day　I　shall；'　stammered　the　dragoon'shall　be
in　rather　a　better　position　than　I　am　at　present。'

'I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　Mr。　Loveday。'

'And　in　short；　Mistress　Anne；'　continued　John　Loveday　bravely　and
desperately；　'may　I　pay　court　to　you　in　the　hope　thatno；　no；　don't
go　away！you　haven't　heard　yetthat　you　may　make　me　the　happiest
of　men；　not　yet；　but　when　peace　is　proclaimed　and　all　is　smooth　and
easy　again？　　I　can't　put　it　any　better；　though　there's　more　to　be
explained。'

'This　is　most　awkward；'　said　Anne；　evidently　with　pain。　　'I　cannot
possibly　agree；　believe　me；　Mr。　Loveday；　I　cannot。'

'But　there's　more　than　this。　　You　would　be　surprised　to　see　what
snug　rooms　the　married　trumpet…　and　sergeant…majors　have　in
quarters。'

'Barracks　are　not　all；　consider　camp　and　war。'

'That　brings　me　to　my　strong　point！'　exclaimed　the　soldier
hopefully。　　'My　father　is　better　off　than　most　non…commissioned
officers'　fathers；　and　there's　always　a　home　for　you　at　his　house　in
any　emergency。　　I　can　tell　you　privately　that　he　has　enough　to　keep
us　both；　and　if　you　wouldn't　hear　of　barracks；　well；　peace　once
established；　I'd　live　at　home　as　a　miller　and　farmernext　door　to
your　own　mother。'

'My　mother　would　be　sure　to　object；'　expostulated　Anne。

'No；　she　leaves　it　all　to　you。'

'What！　you　have　asked　her？'　said　Anne；　with　surprise。

'Yes。　　I　thought　it　would　not　be　honourable　to　act　otherwise。'

'That's　very　good　of　you；'　said　Anne；　her　face　warming　with　a
generous　sense　of　his　straightforwardness。　　'But　my　mother　is　so
entirely　ignorant　of　a　soldier's　life；　and　the　life　of　a　soldier's
wifeshe　is　so　simple　in　all　such　matters；　that　I　cannot　listen　to
you　any　more　readily　for　what　she　may　say。'

'Then　it　is　all　over　for　me；'　said　the　poor　trumpet…major；　wiping
his　face　and　putting　away　his　handkerchief　with　an　air　of　finality。

Anne　was　silent。　　Any　woman　who　has　ever　tried　will　know　without
explanation　what　an　unpalatable　task　it　is　to　dismiss；　even　when　she
does　not　love　him；　a　man　who　has　all　the　natural　and　moral　qualities
she　would　desire；　and　only　fails　in　the　social。　　Would…be　lovers　are
not　so　numerous；　even　with　the　best　women；　that　the　sacrifice　of　one
can　be　felt　as　other　than　a　good　thing　wasted；　in　a　world　where
there　are　few　good　things。

'You　are　not　angry；　Miss　Garland？'　said　he；　finding　that　she　did　not
speak。

'O　no。　　Don't　let　us　say　anything　more　about　this　now。'　　And　she
moved　on。

When　she　drew　near　to　the　miller　and　her　mother　she　perceived　that
they　were　engaged　in　a　conversation　of　that　peculiar　kind　which　is
all　the　more　full　and　communicative　from　the　fact　of　definitive
words　being　few。　　In　short；　here　the　game　was　succeeding　which　with
herself　had　failed。　　It　was　pretty　clear　from　the　symptoms；　marks；
tokens；　telegraphs；　and　general　byplay　between　widower　and　widow；
that　Miller　Loveday　must　have　again　said　to　Mrs。　Garland　some　such
thing　as　he　had　said　before；　with　what　result　this　time　she　did　not
know。

As　the　situation　was　delicate；　Anne　halted　awhile　apart　from　them。
The　trumpet…major；　quite　ignorant　of　how　his　cause　was　entered　into
by　the　white…coated　man　in　the　distance　（for　his　father　had　not　yet
told　him　of　his　designs　upon　Mrs。　Garland）；　did　not　advance；　but
stood　still　by　the　gate；　as　though　he　were　attending　a　princess；
waiting　till　he　should　be　called　up。　　Thus　they　lingered；　and　the
day　began　to　break。　　Mrs。　Garland　and　the　miller　took　no　heed　of　the
time；　and　what　it　was　bringing　to　earth　and　sky；　so　occupied　were
they　with　themselves；　but　Anne　in　her　place　and　the　trumpet…major　in
his；　each　in　private　thought　of　no　bright　kind；　watched　the　gradual
glory　of　the　east　through　all　its　tones　and　changes。　　The　world　of
birds　and　insects　got　lively；　the　blue　and　the　yellow　and　the　gold
of　Loveday's　uniform　again　became　distinct；　the　sun　bored　its　way
upward；　the　fields；　the　trees；　and　the　distant　landscape　kindled　to
flame；　and　the　trumpet…major；　backed　by　a　lilac　shadow　as　tall　as　a
steeple；　blazed　in　the　rays　like　a　very　god　of　war。

It　was　half…past　three　o'clock。　　A　short　time　after；　a　rattle　of
horses　and　wheels　reached　their　ears　from　the　quarter　in　which　they
gazed；　and　there　appeared　upon　the　white　line　of　road　a　moving　mass；
which　presently　ascended　the　hill　and　drew　near。

Then　there　arose　a　huzza　from　the　few　knots　of　watchers　gathered
there；　and　they　cried；　'Long　live　King　Jarge！'　　The　cortege　passed
abreast。　　It　consisted　of　three　travelling…carriages；　escorted　by　a
detachment　of　the　German　Legion。　　Anne　was　told　to　look　in　the　first
carriagea　post…chariot　drawn　by　four　horsesfor　the　King　and
Queen；　and　was　rewarded　by　seeing　a　profile　reminding　her　of　the
current　coin　of　the　realm；　but　as　the　party　had　been　travelling　all
night；　and　the　spectators　here　gathered　were　few；　none　of　the　royal
family　looked　out　of　the　carriage　windows。　　It　was　said　that　the　two
elder　princesses　were　in　the　same　carriage；　but　they　remained
invisible。　　The　next　vehicle；　a　coach　and　four；　contained　more
princesses；　and　the　third　some　of　their　attendants。

'Thank　God；　I　have　seen　my　King！'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　when　they　had
all　gone　by。

Nobody　else　expressed　any　thankfulness；　for　most　of　them　had
expected　a　more　pompous　procession　than　the　bucolic　tastes　of　the
King　cared　to　indulge　in；　and　one　old　man　said　grimly　that　that
sight　of　dusty　old　leather　coaches　was　not　worth　waiting　for。　　Anne
looked　hither　and　thither　in　the　bright　rays　of　the　day；　each　of　her
eyes　having　a　little　sun　in　it；　which　gave　her　glance　a　peculiar
golden　fire；　and　kindled　the　brown　curls　grouped　over　her　forehead
to　a　yellow　brilliancy；　and　made　single　hairs；　blown　astray　by　the
night；　look　like　lacquered　wires。　　She　was　wondering　if　Festus　were
anywhere　near；　but　she　could　not　see　him。

Before　they　left　the　ridge　they　turned　their　attention　towards　the
Royal　watering…place；　which　was　visible　at　this　place　only　as　a
portion　of　the　sea…shore；　from　which　the　night…mist　was　rolling
slowly　back。　　The　sea　beyond　was　still　wrapped　in　summer　fog；　the
ships　in　the　roads　showing　through　it　as　black　spiders　suspended　in
the　air。　　While　they　looked　and　walked　a　white　jet　of　smoke　burst
from　a　spot　which　the　miller　knew　to　be　the　battery　in　front　of　the
King's　residence；　and　then　the　report　of　guns　reached　their　ears。
This　announcement　was　answered　by　a　salute　from　the　Castle　of　the
adjoining　Isle；　and　the　ships　in　the　neighbouring　anchorage。　　All
the　bells　in　the　town　began　ringing。　　The　King　and　his　family　had
arrived。



XII。　　HOW　EVERYBODY　GREAT　AND　SMALL　CLIMBED　TO　THE　TOP　OF　THE　DOWNS

As　the　days　went　on；　echoes　of　the　life　and　bustle　of　the　town
reached　the　ears　of　the　quiet　people　in　Overcombe　hollowexciting
and　moving　those　unimportant　natives　as　a　ground…swell　moves　the
weeds　in　a　cave。　　Travelling…carriages　of　all　kinds　and　colours
climbed　and　descended　the　road　that　led　towards　the　seaside　borough。
Some　contained　those　personages　of　the　King's　suite　who　had　not　kept
pace　with　him　in　his　journey　from　Windsor；　others　were　the　coaches
of　aristocracy；　big　and　little；　whom　news　of　the　King's　arrival　drew
thither　for　their　own　pleasure：　　so　that　the　highway；　as　seen　from
the　hills　about　Overcombe；　appeared　like　an　ant…walka　constant
succession　of　dark　spots　creeping　along　its　surface　at　nearly
uniform　rates　of　progress；　and　all　in　one　direction。

The　traffic　and　intelligence　between　camp　and　town　passed　in　a
measure　over　the　villagers'　heads。　　It　being　summer　time　the　miller
was　much　occupied　with　business；　and　the　trumpet…major　was　too
constantly　engaged　in　marching　between　the　camp　and　Gloucester　Lodge
with　the　rest　of　the　dragoons　to　bring　his　friends　any　news　for　some
days。

At　last　he　sent　a　message　that　there　was　to　be　a　review　on　the　downs
by　the　King；　and　that　it　was　fixed　for　the　day　following。　　This
information　soon　spread　through　the　village　and　country　round；　and
next　morning　the　whole　population　of　Overcombeexcept　two　or　three
very　old　men　and　women；　a　few　babies　and　their　nurses；　a　cripple；
and　Corporal　Tullidgeascended　the　slope　with　the　crowds　from　afar；
and　awaited　the　events　of　the　day。

The　miller　wore　his　best　coat　on　this　occasion；　which　meant　a　good
deal。　　An　Overcombe　man　in　those　days　would　have　a　best　coat；　and
keep　it　as　a　best　coat　half　his　life。　　The　miller's　had　seen　five
and　twenty　summers　chiefly　through　the　chinks　of　a　clothes…box；　and
was　not　at　all　shabby　as　yet；　though　getting　singular。　　But　that
could　not　be　helped；　common　coats　and　best　coats　were　distinct
species；　and　never　interchangeable。　　Living　so　near　the　scene　of　the
review　he　walked　up　the　hill；　accompanied　by　Mrs。　Garland　and　Anne
as　usual。

It　was　a　clear　day；　with　little　wind　stirring；　and　the　view　from　the
downs；　one　of　the　most　extensive　in　the　county；　was　unclouded。　　The
eye　of　any　observer　who　cared　for　such　things　swept　over　the
wave…washed　town；　and　the　bay　beyond；　and　the　Isle；　with　its　pebble
bank；　lying　on　the　sea　to　the　left　of　these；　like　a　great　crouching
animal　tethered　to　the　mainland。　　On　the　extreme　east　of　the　marine
horizon；　St。　Aldhelm's　Head　closed　the　scene；　the　sea　to　the
southward　of　that　point　glaring　like　a　mirror　under　the　sun。　　Inland
could　be　seen　Badbury　Rings；　where　a　beacon　had　been　recently
erected；　and　nearer；　Rainbarrow；　on　Egdon　Heath；　where　another
stood：　　farther　to　the　left　Bulbarrow；　where　there　was　yet　another。
Not　far　from　this　came　Nettlecombe　Tout；　to　the　west；　Dogberry　Hill；
and　Black'on　near　to　the　foreground；　the　beacon　thereon　being　built
of　furze　faggots　thatched　with　straw；　and　standing　on　the　spot　where
the　monument　now　raises　its　head。

At　nine　o'clock　the　troops　marched　upon　the　groundsome　from　the
camps　in　the　vicinity；　and　some　from　quarters　in　the　different　towns
round　about。　　The　approaches　to　the　down　were　blocked　with　carriages
of　all　descriptions；　ages；　and　colours；　and　with　pedestrians　of
every　class。　　At　ten　the　royal　personages　were　said　to　be　drawing
near；　and　soon　after　the　King；　accompanied　by　the　Dukes　of　Cambridge
and　Cumberland；　and　a　coup