the trumpet-major-第31部分

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'I　couldn't　stand　itI　should　break　down。'

'Deuce　take　me　if　I　would　have　asked　her；　then；　if　I　had　known　'twas
going　to　drive　thee　out　of　the　house！　　Now；　come；　Bob；　I'll　find　a
way　of　arranging　it　and　sobering　it　down；　so　that　it　shall　be　as
melancholy　as　you　can　requirein　short；　just　like　a　funeral；　if
thou'lt　promise　to　stay？'

'Very　well；'　said　the　afflicted　one。　　'On　that　condition　I'll　stay。'



XXI。　　'UPON　THE　HILL　HE　TURNED'

Having　entered　into　this　solemn　compact　with　his　son；　the　elder
Loveday's　next　action　was　to　go　to　Mrs。　Garland；　and　ask　her　how　the
toning　down　of　the　wedding　had　best　be　done。　　'It　is　plain　enough
that　to　make　merry　just　now　would　be　slighting　Bob's　feelings；　as　if
we　didn't　care　who　was　not　married；　so　long　as　we　were；'　he　said。
'But　then；　what's　to　be　done　about　the　victuals？'

'Give　a　dinner　to　the　poor　folk；'　she　suggested。　　'We　can　get
everything　used　up　that　way。'

'That's　true'　said　the　miller。　　'There's　enough　of　'em　in　these
times　to　carry　off　any　extras　whatsoever。'

'And　it　will　save　Bob's　feelings　wonderfully。　　And　they　won't　know
that　the　dinner　was　got　for　another　sort　of　wedding　and　another　sort
of　guests；　so　you'll　have　their　good…will　for　nothing。'

The　miller　smiled　at　the　subtlety　of　the　view。　　'That　can　hardly　be
called　fair；'　he　said。　　'Still；　I　did　mean　some　of　it　for　them；　for
the　friends　we　meant　to　ask　would　not　have　cleared　all。'

Upon　the　whole　the　idea　pleased　him　well；　particularly　when　he
noticed　the　forlorn　look　of　his　sailor　son　as　he　walked　about　the
place；　and　pictured　the　inevitably　jarring　effect　of　fiddles　and
tambourines　upon　Bob's　shattered　nerves　at　such　a　crisis；　even　if
the　notes　of　the　former　were　dulled　by　the　application　of　a　mute；
and　Bob　shut　up　in　a　distant　bedrooma　plan　which　had　at　first
occurred　to　him。　　He　therefore　told　Bob　that　the　surcharged　larder
was　to　be　emptied　by　the　charitable　process　above　alluded　to；　and
hoped　he　would　not　mind　making　himself　useful　in　such　a　good　and
gloomy　work。　　Bob　readily　fell　in　with　the　scheme；　and　it　was　at
once　put　in　hand　and　the　tables　spread。

The　alacrity　with　which　the　substituted　wedding　was　carried　out；
seemed　to　show　that　the　worthy　pair　of　neighbours　would　have　joined
themselves　into　one　long　ago；　had　there　previously　occurred　any
domestic　incident　dictating　such　a　step　as　an　apposite　expedient；
apart　from　their　personal　wish　to　marry。

The　appointed　morning　came；　and　the　service　quietly　took　place　at
the　cheerful　hour　of　ten；　in　the　face　of　a　triangular　congregation；
of　which　the　base　was　the　front　pew；　and　the　apex　the　west　door。
Mrs。　Garland　dressed　herself　in　the　muslin　shawl　like　Queen
Charlotte's；　that　Bob　had　brought　home；　and　her　best　plum…coloured
gown；　beneath　which　peeped　out　her　shoes　with　red　rosettes。　　Anne
was　present；　but　she　considerately　toned　herself　down；　so　as　not　to
too　seriously　damage　her　mother's　appearance。　　At　moments　during　the
ceremony　she　had　a　distressing　sense　that　she　ought　not　to　be　born；
and　was　glad　to　get　home　again。

The　interest　excited　in　the　village；　though　real；　was　hardly　enough
to　bring　a　serious　blush　to　the　face　of　coyness。　　Neighbours'　minds
had　become　so　saturated　by　the　abundance　of　showy　military　and　regal
incident　lately　vouchsafed　to　them；　that　the　wedding　of　middle…aged
civilians　was　of　small　account；　excepting　in　so　far　that　it　solved
the　question　whether　or　not　Mrs。　Garland　would　consider　herself　too
genteel　to　mate　with　a　grinder　of　corn。

In　the　evening；　Loveday's　heart　was　made　glad　by　seeing　the　baked
and　boiled　in　rapid　process　of　consumption　by　the　kitchenful　of
people　assembled　for　that　purpose。　　Three…quarters　of　an　hour　were
sufficient　to　banish　for　ever　his　fears　as　to　spoilt　food。　　The
provisions　being　the　cause　of　the　assembly；　and　not　its　consequence；
it　had　been　determined　to　get　all　that　would　not　keep　consumed　on
that　day；　even　if　highways　and　hedges　had　to　be　searched　for
operators。　　And；　in　addition　to　the　poor　and　needy；　every　cottager's
daughter　known　to　the　miller　was　invited；　and　told　to　bring　her
lover　from　campan　expedient　which；　for　letting　daylight　into　the
inside　of　full　platters；　was　among　the　most　happy　ever　known。

While　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Loveday；　Anne；　and　Bob　were　standing　in　the
parlour；　discussing　the　progress　of　the　entertainment　in　the　next
room；　John；　who　had　not　been　down　all　day；　entered　the　house　and
looked　in　upon　them　through　the　open　door。

'How's　this；　John？　　Why　didn't　you　come　before？'

'Had　to　see　the　captain；　andother　duties；'　said　the　trumpet…major；
in　a　tone　which　showed　no　great　zeal　for　explanations。

'Well；　come　in；　however；'　continued　the　miller；　as　his　son　remained
with　his　hand　on　the　door…post；　surveying　them　reflectively。

'I　cannot　stay　long；'　said　John；　advancing。　　'The　Route　is　come；　and
we　are　going　away。'

'Going　away！　　Where　to？'

'To　Exonbury。'

'When？'

'Friday　morning。'

'All　of　you？'

'Yes；　some　to…morrow　and　some　next　day。　　The　King　goes　next　week。'

'I　am　sorry　for　this；'　said　the　miller；　not　expressing　half　his
sorrow　by　the　simple　utterance。　　'I　wish　you　could　have　been　here
to…day；　since　this　is　the　case；'　he　added；　looking　at　the　horizon
through　the　window。

Mrs。　Loveday　also　expressed　her　regret；　which　seemed　to　remind　the
trumpet…major　of　the　event　of　the　day；　and　he　went　to　her　and　tried
to　say　something　befitting　the　occasion。　　Anne　had　not　said　that　she
was　either　sorry　or　glad；　but　John　Loveday　fancied　that　she　had
looked　rather　relieved　than　otherwise　when　she　heard　his　news。　　His
conversation　with　Bob　on　the　down　made　Bob's　manner；　too；　remarkably
cool；　notwithstanding　that　he　had　after　all　followed　his　brother's
advice；　which　it　was　as　yet　too　soon　after　the　event　for　him　to
rightly　value。　　John　did　not　know　why　the　sailor　had　come　back；
never　supposing　that　it　was　because　he　had　thought　better　of　going；
and　said　to　him　privately；　'You　didn't　overtake　her？'

'I　didn't　try　to；'　said　Bob。

'And　you　are　not　going　to？'

'No；　I　shall　let　her　drift。'

'I　am　glad　indeed；　Bob；　you　have　been　wise；'　said　John　heartily。

Bob；　however；　still　loved　Matilda　too　well　to　be　other　than
dissatisfied　with　John　and　the　event　that　he　had　precipitated；　which
the　elder　brother　only　too　promptly　perceived；　and　it　made　his　stay
that　evening　of　short　duration。　　Before　leaving　he　said　with　some
hesitation　to　his　father；　including　Anne　and　her　mother　by　his
glance；　'Do　you　think　to　come　up　and　see　us　off？'

The　miller　answered　for　them　all；　and　said　that　of　course　they　would
come。　　'But　you'll　step　down　again　between　now　and　then？'　he
inquired。

'I'll　try　to。'　　He　added　after　a　pause；　'In　case　I　should　not；
remember　that　Revalley　will　sound　at　half　past　five；　we　shall　leave
about　eight。　　Next　summer；　perhaps；　we　shall　come　and　camp　here
again。'

'I　hope　so；'　said　his　father　and　Mrs。　Loveday。

There　was　something　in　John's　manner　which　indicated　to　Anne　that　he
scarcely　intended　to　come　down　again；　but　the　others　did　not　notice
it；　and　she　said　nothing。　　He　departed　a　few　minutes　later；　in　the
dusk　of　the　August　evening；　leaving　Anne　still　in　doubt　as　to　the
meaning　of　his　private　meeting　with　Miss　Johnson。

John　Loveday　had　been　going　to　tell　them　that　on　the　last　night；　by
an　especial　privilege；　it　would　be　in　his　power　to　come　and　stay
with　them　until　eleven　o'clock；　but　at　the　moment　of　leaving　he
abandoned　the　intention。　　Anne's　attitude　had　chilled　him；　and　made
him　anxious　to　be　off。　　He　utilized　the　spare　hours　of　that　last
night　in　another　way。

This　was　by　coming　down　from　the　outskirts　of　the　camp　in　the
evening；　and　seating　himself　near　the　brink　of　the　mill…pond　as　soon
as　it　was　quite　dark；　where　he　watched　the　lights　in　the　different
windows　till　one　appeared　in　Anne's　bedroom；　and　she　herself　came
forward　to　shut　the　casement；　with　the　candle　in　her　hand。　　The
light　shone　out　upon　the　broad　and　deep　mill…head；　illuminating　to　a
distinct　individuality　every　moth　and　gnat　that　entered　the
quivering　chain　of　radiance　stretching　across　the　water　towards　him；
and　every　bubble　or　atom　of　froth　that　floated　into　its　width。　　She
stood　for　some　time　looking　out；　little　thinking　what　the　darkness
concealed　on　the　other　side　of　that　wide　stream；　till　at　length　she
closed　the　casement；　drew　the　curtains；　and　retreated　into　the　room。
Presently　the　light　went　out；　upon　which　John　Loveday　returned　to
camp　and　lay　down　in　his　tent。

The　next　morning　was　dull　and　windy；　and　the　trumpets　of　the　th
sounded　Reveille　for　the　last　time　on　Overcombe　Down。　　Knowing　that
the　Dragoons　were　going　away；　Anne　had　slept　heedfully；　and　was　at
once　awakened　by　the　smart　notes。　　She　looked　out　of　the　window；　to
find　that　the　miller　was　already　astir；　his　white　form　being　visible
at　the　end　of　his　garden；　where　he　stood　motionless；　watching　the
preparations。　　Anne　also　looked　on　as　well　as　she　could　through　the
dim　grey　gloom；　and　soon　she　saw　the　blue　smoke　from　the　cooks'
fires　creeping　fitfully　along　the　ground；　instead　of　rising　in
vertical　columns；　as　it　had　done　during　the　fine　weather　season。
Then　the　men　began　to　carry　their　bedding　to　the　waggons；　and　others
to　throw　all　refuse　into　the　trenches；　till　the　down　was　lively　as
an　ant…hill。　　Anne　did　not　want　to　see　John　Loveday　again；　but
hearing　the　household　astir；　she　began　to　dress　at　leisure；　looking
out　at　the　camp　the　while。

When　the　soldiers　had　breakfasted；　she　saw　them　selling　and　giving
away　their　superfluous　crockery　to　the　natives　who　had　clustered
round；　and　then　they　pulled　down　and　cleared　away　the　temporary
kitchens　which　they　had　constructed　when　they　came。　　A　tapping　of
tent…pegs　and　wriggling　of　picket…posts　followed；　and　soon　the　cones
of　white　canvas；　now　almost　become　a　component　part　of　the
landscape；　fell　to　the　ground。　　At　this　moment　the　miller　came
indoors　and　asked　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　if　anybody　was　going　up
the　hill　with　him。

Anne　felt　that；　in　spite　of　the　cloud　hanging　over　John　in　her　mind；
it　would　ill　become　the　present　moment　not　to　see　him　off；　and　she
went　downstairs　to　her　mother；　who　was　already　there；　though　Bob　was