the trumpet-major-第32部分

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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
nowhere　to　be　seen。　　Each　took　an　arm　of　the　miller；　and　thus
climbed　to　the　top　of　the　hill。　　By　this　time　the　men　and　horses
were　at　the　place　of　assembly；　and；　shortly　after　the　mill…party
reached　level　ground；　the　troops　slowly　began　to　move　forward。　　When
the　trumpet…major；　half　buried　in　his　uniform；　arms；　and
horse…furniture；　drew　near　to　the　spot　where　the　Lovedays　were
waiting　to　see　him　pass；　his　father　turned　anxiously　to　Anne　and
said；　'You　will　shake　hands　with　John？'

Anne　faintly　replied　'Yes；'　and　allowed　the　miller　to　take　her
forward　on　his　arm　to　the　trackway；　so　as　to　be　close　to　the　flank
of　the　approaching　column。　　It　came　up；　many　people　on　each　side
grasping　the　hands　of　the　troopers　in　bidding　them　farewell；　and　as
soon　as　John　Loveday　saw　the　members　of　his　father's　household；　he
stretched　down　his　hand　across　his　right　pistol　for　the　same
performance。　　The　miller　gave　his；　then　Mrs。　Loveday　gave　hers；　and
then　the　hand　of　the　trumpet…major　was　extended　towards　Anne。　　But
as　the　horse　did　not　absolutely　stop；　it　was　a　somewhat　awkward
performance　for　a　young　woman　to　undertake；　and；　more　on　that
account　than　on　any　other；　Anne　drew　back；　and　the　gallant　trooper
passed　by　without　receiving　her　adieu。　　Anne's　heart　reproached　her
for　a　moment；　and　then　she　thought　that；　after　all；　he　was　not　going
off　to　immediate　battle；　and　that　she　would　in　all　probability　see
him　again　at　no　distant　date；　when　she　hoped　that　the　mystery　of　his
conduct　would　be　explained。　　Her　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a
voice　at　her　elbow：　　'Thank　heaven；　he's　gone！　　Now　there's　a　chance
for　me。'

She　turned；　and　Festus　Derriman　was　standing　by　her。

'There's　no　chance　for　you；'　she　said　indignantly。

'Why　not？'

'Because　there's　another　left！'

The　words　had　slipped　out　quite　unintentionally；　and　she　blushed
quickly。　　She　would　have　given　anything　to　be　able　to　recall　them；
but　he　had　heard；　and　said；　'Who？'

Anne　went　forward　to　the　miller　to　avoid　replying；　and　Festus　caught
her　no　more。

'Has　anybody　been　hanging　about　Overcombe　Mill　except　Loveday's　son
the　soldier？'　he　asked　of　a　comrade。

'His　son　the　sailor；'　was　the　reply。

'Ohis　son　the　sailor；'　said　Festus　slowly。　　'Damn　his　son　the
sailor！'



XXII。　　THE　TWO　HOUSEHOLDS　UNITED

At　this　particular　moment　the　object　of　Festus　Derriman's
fulmination　was　assuredly　not　dangerous　as　a　rival。　　Bob；　after
abstractedly　watching　the　soldiers　from　the　front　of　the　house　till
they　were　out　of　sight；　had　gone　within　doors　and　seated　himself　in
the　mill…parlour；　where　his　father　found　him；　his　elbows　resting　on
the　table　and　his　forehead　on　his　hands；　his　eyes　being　fixed　upon　a
document　that　lay　open　before　him。

'What　art　perusing；　Bob；　with　such　a　long　face？'

Bob　sighed；　and　then　Mrs。　Loveday　and　Anne　entered。　　''Tis　only　a
state…paper　that　I　fondly　thought　I　should　have　a　use　for；'　he　said
gloomily。　　And；　looking　down　as　before；　he　cleared　his　voice；　as　if
moved　inwardly　to　go　on；　and　began　to　read　in　feeling　tones　from
what　proved　to　be　his　nullified　marriage　licence：

'〃Timothy　Titus　Philemon；　by　permission　Bishop　of　Bristol：　　To　our
well…beloved　Robert　Loveday；　of　the　parish　of　Overcombe；　Bachelor；
and　Matilda　Johnson；　of　the　same　parish；　Spinster。　　Greeting。〃'

Here　Anne　sighed；　but　contrived　to　keep　down　her　sigh　to　a　mere
nothing。

'Beautiful　language；　isn't　it！'　said　Bob。　　'I　was　never　greeted　like
that　afore！'

'Yes；　I　have　often　thought　it　very　excellent　language　myself；'　said
Mrs。　Loveday。

'Come　to　that；　the　old　gentleman　will　greet　thee　like　it　again　any
day　for　a　couple　of　guineas；'　said　the　miller。

'That's　not　the　point；　father！　　You　never　could　see　the　real　meaning
of　these　things。　。　。　。　　Well；　then　he　goes　on：　　〃Whereas　ye　are；　as
it　is　alleged；　determined　to　enter　into　the　holy　estate　of
matrimony〃　　But　why　should　I　read　on？　　It　all　means　nothing　now
nothing；　and　the　splendid　words　are　all　wasted　upon　air。　　It　seems
as　if　I　had　been　hailed　by　some　venerable　hoary　prophet；　and　had
turned　away；　put　the　helm　hard　up；　and　wouldn't　hear。'

Nobody　replied；　feeling　probably　that　sympathy　could　not　meet　the
case；　and　Bob　went　on　reading　the　rest　of　it　to　himself；
occasionally　heaving　a　breath　like　the　wind　in　a　ship's　shrouds。

'I　wouldn't　set　my　mind　so　much　upon　her；　if　I　was　thee；'　said　his
father　at　last。

'Why　not？'

'Well；　folk　might　call　thee　a　fool；　and　say　thy　brains　were　turning
to　water。'

Bob　was　apparently　much　struck　by　this　thought；　and；　instead　of
continuing　the　discourse　further；　he　carefully　folded　up　the
licence；　went　out；　and　walked　up　and　down　the　garden。　　It　was
startlingly　apt　what　his　father　had　said；　and；　worse　than　that；　what
people　would　call　him　might　be　true；　and　the　liquefaction　of　his
brains　turn　out　to　be　no　fable。　　By　degrees　he　became　much
concerned；　and　the　more　he　examined　himself　by　this　new　light　the
more　clearly　did　he　perceive　that　he　was　in　a　very　bad　way。

On　reflection　he　remembered　that　since　Miss　Johnson's　departure　his
appetite　had　decreased　amazingly。　　He　had　eaten　in　meat　no　more　than
fourteen　or　fifteen　ounces　a　day；　but　one…third　of　a　quartern
pudding　on　an　average；　in　vegetables　only　a　small　heap　of　potatoes
and　half　a　York　cabbage；　and　no　gravy　whatever；　which；　considering
the　usual　appetite　of　a　seaman　for　fresh　food　at　the　end　of　a　long
voyage；　was　no　small　index　of　the　depression　of　his　mind。　　Then　he
had　waked　once　every　night；　and　on　one　occasion　twice。　　While
dressing　each　morning　since　the　gloomy　day　he　had　not　whistled　more
than　seven　bars　of　a　hornpipe　without　stopping　and　falling　into
thought　of　a　most　painful　kind；　and　he　had　told　none　but　absolutely
true　stories　of　foreign　parts　to　the　neighbouring　villagers　when
they　saluted　and　clustered　about　him；　as　usual；　for　anything　he
chose　to　pour　forthexcept　that　story　of　the　whale　whose　eye　was
about　as　large　as　the　round　pond　in　Derriman's　ewe…leasewhich　was
like　tempting　fate　to　set　a　seal　for　ever　upon　his　tongue　as　a
traveller。　　All　this　enervation；　mental　and　physical；　had　been
produced　by　Matilda's　departure。

He　also　considered　what　he　had　lost　of　the　rational　amusements　of
manhood　during　these　unfortunate　days。　　He　might　have　gone　to　the
neighbouring　fashionable　resort　every　afternoon；　stood　before
Gloucester　Lodge　till　the　King　and　Queen　came　out；　held　his　hat　in
his　hand；　and　enjoyed　their　Majesties'　smiles　at　his　homage　all　for
nothingwatched　the　picket…mounting；　heard　the　different　bands
strike　up；　observed　the　staff；　and；　above　all；　have　seen　the　pretty
town　girls　go　trip…trip…trip　along　the　esplanade；　deliberately
fixing　their　innocent　eyes　on　the　distant　sea；　the　grey　cliffs；　and
the　sky；　and　accidentally　on　the　soldiers　and　himself。

'I'll　raze　out　her　image；'　he　said。　　'She　shall　make　a　fool　of　me　no
more。'　　And　his　resolve　resulted　in　conduct　which　had　elements　of
real　greatness。

He　went　back　to　his　father；　whom　he　found　in　the　mill…loft。　　''Tis
true；　father；　what　you　say；'　he　observed：　　'my　brains　will　turn　to
bilge…water　if　I　think　of　her　much　longer。　　By　the　oath　of　a
navigator；　I　wish　I　could　sigh　less　and　laugh　more！　She's　gonewhy
can't　I　let　her　go；　and　be　happy？　　But　how　begin？'

'Take　it　careless；　my　son；'　said　the　miller；　'and　lay　yourself　out
to　enjoy　snacks　and　cordials。'

'Ahthat's　a　thought！'　said　Bob。

'Baccy　is　good　for't。　　So　is　sperrits。　　Though　I　don't　advise　thee
to　drink　neat。'

'BaccyI'd　almost　forgot　it！'　said　Captain　Loveday。

He　went　to　his　room；　hastily　untied　the　package　of　tobacco　that　he
had　brought　home；　and　began　to　make　use　of　it　in　his　own　way；
calling　to　David　for　a　bottle　of　the　old　household　mead　that　had
lain　in　the　cellar　these　eleven　years。　　He　was　discovered　by　his
father　three…quarters　of　an　hour　later　as　a　half…invisible　object
behind　a　cloud　of　smoke。

The　miller　drew　a　breath　of　relief。　　'Why；　Bob；'　he　said；　'I　thought
the　house　was　a…fire！'

'I'm　smoking　rather　fast　to　drown　my　reflections；　father。　　'Tis　no
use　to　chaw。'

To　tempt　his　attenuated　appetite　the　unhappy　mate　made　David　cook　an
omelet　and　bake　a　seed…cake；　the　latter　so　richly　compounded　that　it
opened　to　the　knife　like　a　freckled　buttercup。　　With　the　same　object
he　stuck　night…lines　into　the　banks　of　the　mill…pond；　and　drew　up
next　morning　a　family　of　fat　eels；　some　of　which　were　skinned　and
prepared　for　his　breakfast。　　They　were　his　favourite　fish；　but　such
had　been　his　condition　that；　until　the　moment　of　making　this　effort；
he　had　quite　forgotten　their　existence　at　his　father's　back…door。

In　a　few　days　Bob　Loveday　had　considerably　improved　in　tone　and
vigour。　　One　other　obvious　remedy　for　his　dejection　was　to　indulge
in　the　society　of　Miss　Garland；　love　being　so　much　more　effectually
got　rid　of　by　displacement　than　by　attempted　annihilation。　　But
Loveday's　belief　that　he　had　offended　her　beyond　forgiveness；　and
his　ever…present　sense　of　her　as　a　woman　who　by　education　and
antecedents　was　fitted　to　adorn　a　higher　sphere　than　his　own；
effectually　kept　him　from　going　near　her　for　a　long　time；
notwithstanding　that　they　were　inmates　of　one　house。　　The　reserve
was；　however；　in　some　degree　broken　by　the　appearance　one　morning；
later　in　the　season；　of　the　point　of　a　saw　through　the　partition
which　divided　Anne's　room　from　the　Loveday　half　of　the　house。
Though　she　dined　and　supped　with　her　mother　and　the　Loveday　family；
Miss　Garland　had　still　continued　to　occupy　her　old　apartments；
because　she　found　it　more　convenient　there　to　pursue　her　hobbies　of
wool…work　and　of　copying　her　father's　old　pictures。　　The　division
wall　had　not　as　yet　been　broken　down。

As　the　saw　worked　its　way　downwards　under　her　astonished　gaze　Anne
jumped　up　from　her　drawing；　and　presently　the　temporary　canvasing
and　papering　which　had　sealed　up　the　old　door　of　communication　was
cut　completely　through。　　The　door　burst　open；　and　Bob　stood　revealed
on　the　other　side；　with　the　saw　in　his　hand。

'I　beg　your　ladyship's　pardon；'　he　said；　taking　off　the