the trumpet-major-第22部分

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reaching　as　high　as　the　capillary　power　of　the　walls　would　fetch　up
moisture　for　their　nourishment；　and　the　penned　mill…pond；　now　as
ever　on　the　point　of　overflowing　into　the　garden。　　Everything　was
the　same。

When　he　had　had　enough　of　this　it　occurred　to　Loveday　that　he　might
get　into　the　house　in　spite　of　the　locked　doors；　and　by　entering　the
garden；　placing　a　pole　from　the　fork　of　an　apple…tree　to　the
window…sill　of　a　bedroom　on　that　side；　and　climbing　across　like　a
Barbary　ape；　he　entered　the　window　and　stepped　down　inside。　　There
was　something　anomalous　in　being　close　to　the　familiar　furniture
without　having　first　seen　his　father；　and　its　silent；　impassive
shine　was　not　cheering；　it　was　as　if　his　relations　were　all　dead；
and　only　their　tables　and　chests　of　drawers　left　to　greet　him。　　He
went　downstairs　and　seated　himself　in　the　dark　parlour。　　Finding
this　place；　too；　rather　solitary；　and　the　tick　of　the　invisible
clock　preternaturally　loud；　he　unearthed　the　tinder…box；　obtained　a
light；　and　set　about　making　the　house　comfortable　for　his　father's
return；　divining　that　the　miller　had　gone　out　to　meet　him　by　the
wrong　road。

Robert's　interest　in　this　work　increased　as　he　proceeded；　and　he
bustled　round　and　round　the　kitchen　as　lightly　as　a　girl。　　David；
the　indoor　factotum；　having　lost　himself　among　the　quart　pots　of
Budmouth；　there　had　been　nobody　left　here　to　prepare　supper；　and　Bob
had　it　all　to　himself。　　In　a　short　time　a　fire　blazed　up　the
chimney；　a　tablecloth　was　found；　the　plates　were　clapped　down；　and　a
search　made　for　what　provisions　the　house　afforded；　which；　in
addition　to　various　meats；　included　some　fresh　eggs　of　the　elongated
shape　that　produces　cockerels　when　hatched；　and　had　been　set　aside
on　that　account　for　putting　under　the　next　broody　hen。

A　more　reckless　cracking　of　eggs　than　that　which　now　went　on　had
never　been　known　in　Overcombe　since　the　last　large　christening；　and
as　Loveday　gashed　one　on　the　side；　another　at　the　end；　another
longways；　and　another　diagonally；　he　acquired　adroitness　by
practice；　and　at　last　made　every　son　of　a　hen　of　them　fall　into　two
hemispheres　as　neatly　as　if　it　opened　by　a　hinge。　　From　eggs　he
proceeded　to　ham；　and　from　ham　to　kidneys；　the　result　being　a
brilliant　fry。

Not　to　be　tempted　to　fall　to　before　his　father　came　back；　the
returned　navigator　emptied　the　whole　into　a　dish；　laid　a　plate　over
the　top；　his　coat　over　the　plate；　and　his　hat　over　his　coat。　　Thus
completely　stopping　in　the　appetizing　smell；　he　sat　down　to　await
events。　　He　was　relieved　from　the　tediousness　of　doing　this　by
hearing　voices　outside；　and　in　a　minute　his　father　entered。

'Glad　to　welcome　ye　home；　father；'　said　Bob。　　'And　supper　is　just
ready。'

'Lard；　lardwhy；　Captain　Bob's　here！'　said　Mrs。　Garland。

'And　we've　been　out　waiting　to　meet　thee！'　said　the　miller；　as　he
entered　the　room；　followed　by　representatives　of　the　houses　of
Cripplestraw；　Comfort；　Mitchell；　Beach；　and　Snooks；　together　with
some　small　beginnings　of　Fencible　Tremlett's　posterity。　　In　the　rear
came　David；　and　quite　in　the　vanishing…point　of　the　composition；
Anne　the　fair。

'I　drove　over；　and　so　was　forced　to　come　by　the　road；'　said　Bob。

'And　we　went　across　the　fields；　thinking　you'd　walk；'　said　his
father。

'I　should　have　been　here　this　morning；　but　not　so　much　as　a
wheelbarrow　could　I　get　for　my　traps；　everything　was　gone　to　the
review。　　So　I　went　too；　thinking　I　might　meet　you　there。　　I　was　then
obliged　to　return　to　the　harbour　for　the　luggage。'

Then　there　was　a　welcoming　of　Captain　Bob　by　pulling　out　his　arms
like　drawers　and　shutting　them　again；　smacking　him　on　the　back　as　if
he　were　choking；　holding　him　at　arm's　length　as　if　he　were　of　too
large　type　to　read　close。　　All　which　persecution　Bob　bore　with　a
wide；　genial　smile　that　was　shaken　into　fragments　and　scattered
promiscuously　among　the　spectators。

'Get　a　chair　for　'n！'　said　the　miller　to　David；　whom　they　had　met　in
the　fields　and　found　to　have　got　nothing　worse　by　his　absence　than　a
slight　slant　in　his　walk。

'Never　mindI　am　not　tiredI　have　been　here　ever　so　long；'　said
Bob。　　'And　I'　　But　the　chair　having　been　placed　behind　him；　and　a
smart　touch　in　the　hollow　of　a　person's　knee　by　the　edge　of　that
piece　of　furniture　having　a　tendency　to　make　the　person　sit　without
further　argument；　Bob　sank　down　dumb；　and　the　others　drew　up　other
chairs　at　a　convenient　nearness　for　easy　analytic　vision　and　the
subtler　forms　of　good　fellowship。　　The　miller　went　about　saying；
'David；　the　nine　best　glasses　from　the　corner　cupboard！''David；
the　corkscrew！''David；　whisk　the　tail　of　thy　smock…frock　round　the
inside　of　these　quart　pots　afore　you　draw　drink　in　'emthey　be　an
inch　thick　in　dust！''David；　lower　that　chimney…crook　a　couple　of
notches　that　the　flame　may　touch　the　bottom　of　the　kettle；　and　light
three　more　of　the　largest　candles！''If　you　can't　get　the　cork　out
of　the　jar；　David；　bore　a　hole　in　the　tub　of　Hollands　that's　buried
under　the　scroff　in　the　fuel…house；　d'ye　hear？Dan　Brown　left　en
there　yesterday　as　a　return　for　the　little　porker　I　gied　en。'

When　they　had　all　had　a　thimbleful　round；　and　the　superfluous
neighbours　had　reluctantly　departed；　one　by　one；　the　inmates　gave
their　minds　to　the　supper；　which　David　had　begun　to　serve　up。

'What　be　you　rolling　back　the　tablecloth　for；　David？'　said　the
miller。

'Maister　Bob　have　put　down　one　of　the　under　sheets　by　mistake；　and　I
thought　you　might　not　like　it；　sir；　as　there's　ladies　present！'

'Faith；　'twas　the　first　thing　that　came　to　hand；'　said　Robert。　　'It
seemed　a　tablecloth　to　me。'

'Never　minddon't　pull　off　the　things　now　he's　laid　'em　downlet
it　bide；'　said　the　miller。　　'But　where's　Widow　Garland　and　Maidy
Anne？'

'They　were　here　but　a　minute　ago；'　said　David。　　'Depend　upon　it　they
have　slinked　off　'cause　they　be　shy。'

The　miller　at　once　went　round　to　ask　them　to　come　back　and　sup　with
him；　and　while　he　was　gone　David　told　Bob　in　confidence　what　an
excellent　place　he　had　for　an　old　man。

'Yes；　Cap'n　Bob；　as　I　suppose　I　must　call　ye；　I've　worked　for　yer
father　these　eight…and…thirty　years；　and　we　have　always　got　on　very
well　together。　　Trusts　me　with　all　the　keys；　lends　me　his
sleeve…waistcoat；　and　leaves　the　house　entirely　to　me。　　Widow
Garland　next　door；　too；　is　just　the　same　with　me；　and　treats　me　as
if　I　was　her　own　child。'

'She　must　have　married　young　to　make　you　that；　David。'

'Yes；　yesI'm　years　older　than　she。　　'Tis　only　my　common　way　of
speaking。'

Mrs。　Garland　would　not　come　in　to　supper；　and　the　meal　proceeded
without　her；　Bob　recommending　to　his　father　the　dish　he　had　cooked；
in　the　manner　of　a　householder　to　a　stranger　just　come。　　The　miller
was　anxious　to　know　more　about　his　son's　plans　for　the　future；　but
would　not　for　the　present　interrupt　his　eating；　looking　up　from　his
own　plate　to　appreciate　Bob's　travelled　way　of　putting　English
victuals　out　of　sight；　as　he　would　have　looked　at　a　mill　on　improved
principles。

David　had　only　just　got　the　table　clear；　and　set　the　plates　in　a　row
under　the　bakehouse　table　for　the　cats　to　lick；　when　the　door　was
hastily　opened；　and　Mrs。　Garland　came　in；　looking　concerned。

'I　have　been　waiting　to　hear　the　plates　removed　to　tell　you　how
frightened　we　are　at　something　we　hear　at　the　back…door。　　It　seems
like　robbers　muttering；　but　when　I　look　out　there's　nobody　there！'

'This　must　be　seen　to；'　said　the　miller；　rising　promptly。　　'David；
light　the　middle…sized　lantern。　　I'll　go　and　search　the　garden。'

'And　I'll　go　too；'　said　his　son；　taking　up　a　cudgel。　　'Lucky　I've
come　home　just　in　time！'

They　went　out　stealthily；　followed　by　the　widow　and　Anne；　who　had
been　afraid　to　stay　alone　in　the　house　under　the　circumstances。　　No
sooner　were　they　beyond　the　door　when；　sure　enough；　there　was　the
muttering　almost　close　at　hand；　and　low　upon　the　ground；　as　from
persons　lying　down　in　hiding。

'Bless　my　heart！'　said　Bob；　striking　his　head　as　though　it　were　some
enemy's：　　'why；　'tis　my　luggage。　　I'd　quite　forgot　it！'

'What！'　asked　his　father。

'My　luggage。　　Really；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　Mrs。　Garland　it　would
have　stayed　there　all　night；　and　they；　poor　things！　would　have　been
starved。　　I've　got　all　sorts　of　articles　for　ye。　　You　go　inside；　and
I'll　bring　'em　in。　　'Tis　parrots　that　you　hear　a　muttering；　Mrs。
Garland。　　You　needn't　be　afraid　any　more。'

'Parrots？'　said　the　miller。　　'Well；　I'm　glad　'tis　no　worse。　　But　how
couldst　forget　so；　Bob？'

The　packages　were　taken　in　by　David　and　Bob；　and　the　first
unfastened　were　three；　wrapped　in　cloths；　which　being　stripped　off
revealed　three　cages；　with　a　gorgeous　parrot　in　each。

'This　one　is　for　you；　father；　to　hang　up　outside　the　door；　and　amuse
us；'　said　Bob。　　'He'll　talk　very　well；　but　he's　sleepy　to…night。
This　other　one　I　brought　along　for　any　neighbour　that　would　like　to
have　him。　　His　colours　are　not　so　bright；　but　'tis　a　good　bird。　　If
you　would　like　to　have　him　you　are　welcome　to　him；'　he　said；　turning
to　Anne；　who　had　been　tempted　forward　by　the　birds。　　'You　have
hardly　spoken　yet；　Miss　Anne；　but　I　recollect　you　very　well。　　How
much　taller　you　have　got；　to　be　sure！'

Anne　said　she　was　much　obliged；　but　did　not　know　what　she　could　do
with　such　a　present。　　Mrs。　Garland　accepted　it　for　her；　and　the
sailor　went　on'Now　this　other　bird　I　hardly　know　what　to　do　with；
but　I　dare　say　he'll　come　in　for　something　or　other。'

'He　is　by　far　the　prettiest；'　said　the　widow。　　'I　would　rather　have
it　than　the　other；　if　you　don't　mind。'

'Yes；'　said　Bob；　with　embarrassment。　　'But　the　fact　is；　that　bird
will　hardly　do　for　ye；　ma'am。　　He's　a　hard　swearer；　to　tell　the
truth；　and　I　am　afraid　he's　too　old　to　be　broken　of　it。'

'How　dreadful！'　said　Mrs。　Garland。

'We　could　keep　him　in　the　mill；'　suggested　the　miller。　　'It　won't
matter　about　the　grinder　hearing　him；　for　he　can't　learn　to　cuss
worse　than　he　do　already！'

'The　grinder　shall　have　him；　then；'　said　Bob。　　'The　one　I　have　given
you；　ma'am；　has　no　harm　in　him　at　all。　　You　might　take　him　to　church
o'　Sundays　as　far　as　that　goes。'

The　sailor　now　untied　a　small　wooden　box　about　a　foot　square；
perforated　with　holes。　　'H