the trumpet-major-第42部分

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but　a　powerful　bay；　bearing　a　man　in　full　yeomanry　uniform。

Anne　did　not　wait　to　recognize　further；　instantly　re…entering　the
house；　she　shut　the　door　and　bolted　it。　　In　the　dark　she　sat　and
listened：　　not　a　sound。　　At　the　end　of　ten　minutes；　thinking　that
the　rider　if　he　were　not　Festus　had　carelessly　passed　by；　or　that　if
he　were　Festus　he　had　not　seen　her；　she　crept　softly　upstairs　and
peeped　out　of　the　window。　　Excepting　the　spot　of　shade；　formed　by
the　gig　as　before；　the　down　was　quite　bare。　　She　then　opened　the
casement　and　stretched　out　her　neck。

'Ha；　young　madam！　　There　you　are！　　I　knew　'ee！　　Now　you　are　caught！'
came　like　a　clap　of　thunder　from　a　point　three　or　four　feet　beneath
her；　and　turning　down　her　frightened　eyes　she　beheld　Festus　Derriman
lurking　close　to　the　wall。　　His　attention　had　first　been　attracted
by　her　shutting　the　door　of　the　cottage；　then　by　the　overturned　gig；
and　after　making　sure；　by　examining　the　vehicle；　that　he　was　not
mistaken　in　her　identity；　he　had　dismounted；　led　his　horse　round　to
the　side；　and　crept　up　to　entrap　her。

Anne　started　back　into　the　room；　and　remained　still　as　a　stone。
Festus　went　on'Come；　you　must　trust　to　me。　　The　French　have
landed。　　I　have　been　trying　to　meet　with　you　every　hour　since　that
confounded　trick　you　played　me。　　You　threw　me　into　the　water。
Faith；　it　was　well　for　you　I　didn't　catch　ye　then！　　I　should　have
taken　a　revenge　in　a　better　way　than　I　shall　now。　　I　mean　to　have
that　kiss　of　ye。　　Come；　Miss　Nancy；　do　you　hear？'Tis　no　use　for
you　to　lurk　inside　there。　　You'll　have　to　turn　out　as　soon　as　Boney
comes　over　the　hillAre　you　going　to　open　the　door；　I　say；　and
speak　to　me　in　a　civil　way？　　What　do　you　think　I　am；　then；　that　you
should　barricade　yourself　against　me　as　if　I　was　a　wild　beast　or
Frenchman？　　Open　the　door；　or　put　out　your　head；　or　do　something；　or
'pon　my　soul　I'll　break　in　the　door！'

It　occurred　to　Anne　at　this　point　of　the　tirade　that　the　best　policy
would　be　to　temporize　till　somebody　should　return；　and　she　put　out
her　head　and　face；　now　grown　somewhat　pale。

'That's　better；'　said　Festus。　　'Now　I　can　talk　to　you。　　Come；　my
dear；　will　you　open　the　door？　　Why　should　you　be　afraid　of　me？'

'I　am　not　altogether　afraid　of　you；　I　am　safe　from　the　French　here；'
said　Anne；　not　very　truthfully；　and　anxiously　casting　her　eyes　over
the　vacant　down。

'Then　let　me　tell　you　that　the　alarm　is　false；　and　that　no　landing
has　been　attempted。　　Now　will　you　open　the　door　and　let　me　in？　　I　am
tired。　　I　have　been　on　horseback　ever　since　daylight；　and　have　come
to　bring　you　the　good　tidings。'

Anne　looked　as　if　she　doubted　the　news。

'Come；'　said　Festus。

'No；　I　cannot　let　you　in；'　she　murmured；　after　a　pause。

'Dash　my　wig；　then；'　he　cried；　his　face　flaming　up；　'I'll　find　a　way
to　get　in！　　Now；　don't　you　provoke　me！　　You　don't　know　what　I　am
capable　of。　　I　ask　you　again；　will　you　open　the　door？'

'Why　do　you　wish　it？'　she　said　faintly。

'I　have　told　you　I　want　to　sit　down；　and　I　want　to　ask　you　a
question。'

'You　can　ask　me　from　where　you　are。'

'I　cannot　ask　you　properly。　　It　is　about　a　serious　matter：　　whether
you　will　accept　my　heart　and　hand。　　I　am　not　going　to　throw　myself
at　your　feet；　but　I　ask　you　to　do　your　duty　as　a　woman；　namely；　give
your　solemn　word　to　take　my　name　as　soon　as　the　war　is　over　and　I
have　time　to　attend　to　you。　　I　scorn　to　ask　it　of　a　haughty　hussy
who　will　only　speak　to　me　through　a　window；　however；　I　put　it　to　you
for　the　last　time；　madam。'

There　was　no　sign　on　the　down　of　anybody's　return；　and　she　said；
'I'll　think　of　it；　sir。'

'You　have　thought　of　it　long　enough；　I　want　to　know。　　Will　you　or
won't　you？'

'Very　well；　I　think　I　will。'　　And　then　she　felt　that　she　might　be
buying　personal　safety　too　dearly　by　shuffling　thus；　since　he　would
spread　the　report　that　she　had　accepted　him；　and　cause　endless
complication。　　'No；'　she　said；　'I　have　changed　my　mind。　　I　cannot
accept　you；　Mr。　Derriman。'

'That's　how　you　play　with　me！'　he　exclaimed；　stamping。　　'〃Yes；〃　one
moment；　〃No；〃　the　next。　　Come；　you　don't　know　what　you　refuse。　　That
old　hall　is　my　uncle's　own；　and　he　has　nobody　else　to　leave　it　to。
As　soon　as　he's　dead　I　shall　throw　up　farming　and　start　as　a　squire。
And　now；'　he　added　with　a　bitter　sneer；　'what　a　fool　you　are　to　hang
back　from　such　a　chance！'

'Thank　you；　I　don't　value　it；'　said　Anne。

'Because　you　hate　him　who　would　make　it　yours？'

'It　may　not　lie　in　your　power　to　do　that。'

'Whathas　the　old　fellow　been　telling　you　his　affairs？'

'No。'

'Then　why　do　you　mistrust　me？　　Now；　after　this　will　you　open　the
door；　and　show　that　you　treat　me　as　a　friend　if　you　won't　accept　me
as　a　lover？　　I　only　want　to　sit　and　talk　to　you。'

Anne　thought　she　would　trust　him；　it　seemed　almost　impossible　that
he　could　harm　her。　　She　retired　from　the　window　and　went　downstairs。
When　her　hand　was　upon　the　bolt　of　the　door；　her　mind　misgave　her。
Instead　of　withdrawing　it　she　remained　in　silence　where　she　was；　and
he　began　again

'Are　you　going　to　unfasten　it？'

Anne　did　not　speak。

'Now；　dash　my　wig；　I　will　get　at　you！　　You've　tried　me　beyond
endurance。　　One　kiss　would　have　been　enough　that　day　in　the　mead；
now　I'll　have　forty；　whether　you　will　or　no！'

He　flung　himself　against　the　door；　but　as　it　was　bolted；　and　had　in
addition　a　great　wooden　bar　across　it；　this　produced　no　effect。　　He
was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　terrified　girl　heard　him
attempt　the　shuttered　window。　　She　ran　upstairs　and　again　scanned
the　down。　　The　yellow　gig　still　lay　in　the　blazing　sunshine；　and　the
horse　of　Festus　stood　by　the　corner　of　the　gardennothing　else　was
to　be　seen。　　At　this　moment　there　came　to　her　ear　the　noise　of　a
sword　drawn　from　its　scabbard；　and；　peeping　over　the　window…sill；
she　saw　her　tormentor　drive　his　sword　between　the　joints　of　the
shutters；　in　an　attempt　to　rip　them　open。　　The　sword　snapped　off　in
his　hand。　　With　an　imprecation　he　pulled　out　the　piece；　and　returned
the　two　halves　to　the　scabbard。

'Ha！　ha！'　he　cried；　catching　sight　of　the　top　of　her　head。　　''Tis
only　a　joke；　you　know；　but　I'll　get　in　all　the　same。　　All　for　a
kiss！　　But　never　mind；　we'll　do　it　yet！'　　He　spoke　in　an　affectedly
light　tone；　as　if　ashamed　of　his　previous　resentful　temper；　but　she
could　see　by　the　livid　back　of　his　neck　that　he　was　brimful　of
suppressed　passion。　　'Only　a　jest；　you　know；'　he　went　on。　　'How　are
we　going　to　do　it　now？　　Why；　in　this　way。　　I　go　and　get　a　ladder；
and　enter　at　the　upper　window　where　my　love　is。　　And　there's　the
ladder　lying　under　that　corn…rick　in　the　first　enclosed　field。　　Back
in　two　minutes；　dear！'

He　ran　off；　and　was　lost　to　her　view。



XXVIII。　　ANNE　DOES　WONDERS

Anne　fearfully　surveyed　her　position。　　The　upper　windows　of　the
cottage　were　of　flimsiest　lead…work；　and　to　keep　him　out　would　be
hopeless。　　She　felt　that　not　a　moment　was　to　be　lost　in　getting
away。　　Running　downstairs　she　opened　the　door；　and　then　it　occurred
to　her　terrified　understanding　that　there　would　be　no　chance　of
escaping　him　by　flight　afoot　across　such　an　extensive　down；　since　he
might　mount　his　horse　and　easily　ride　after　her。　　The　animal　still
remained　tethered　at　the　corner　of　the　garden；　if　she　could　release
him　and　frighten　him　away　before　Festus　returned；　there　would　not　be
quite　such　odds　against　her。　　She　accordingly　unhooked　the　horse　by
reaching　over　the　bank；　and　then；　pulling　off　her　muslin
neckerchief；　flapped　it　in　his　eyes　to　startle　him。　　But　the　gallant
steed　did　not　move　or　flinch；　she　tried　again；　and　he　seemed　rather
pleased　than　otherwise。　　At　this　moment　she　heard　a　cry　from　the
cottage；　and　turning；　beheld　her　adversary　approaching　round　the
corner　of　the　building。

'I　thought　I　should　tole　out　the　mouse　by　that　trick！'　cried　Festus
exultingly。　　Instead　of　going　for　a　ladder；　he　had　simply　hidden
himself　at　the　back　to　tempt　her　down。

Poor　Anne　was　now　desperate。　　The　bank　on　which　she　stood　was　level
with　the　horse's　back；　and　the　creature　seemed　quiet　as　a　lamb。
With　a　determination　of　which　she　was　capable　in　emergencies；　she
seized　the　rein；　flung　herself　upon　the　sheepskin；　and　held　on　by
the　mane。　　The　amazed　charger　lifted　his　head；　sniffed；　wrenched　his
ears　hither　and　thither；　and　started　off　at　a　frightful　speed　across
the　down。

'O；　my　heart　and　limbs！'　said　Festus　under　his　breath；　as；
thoroughly　alarmed；　he　gazed　after　her。　　'She　on　Champion！　　She'll
break　her　neck；　and　I　shall　be　tried　for　manslaughter；　and　disgrace
will　be　brought　upon　the　name　of　Derriman！'

Champion　continued　to　go　at　a　stretch…gallop；　but　he　did　nothing
worse。　　Had　he　plunged　or　reared；　Derriman's　fears　might　have　been
verified；　and　Anne　have　come　with　deadly　force　to　the　ground。　　But
the　course　was　good；　and　in　the　horse's　speed　lay　a　comparative
security。　　She　was　scarcely　shaken　in　her　precarious　half…horizontal
position；　though　she　was　awed　to　see　the　grass；　loose　stones；　and
other　objects　pass　her　eyes　like　strokes　whenever　she　opened　them；
which　was　only　just　for　a　second　at　intervals　of　half　a　minute；　and
to　feel　how　wildly　the　stirrups　swung；　and　that　what　struck　her　knee
was　the　bucket　of　the　carbine；　and　that　it　was　a　pistol…holster
which　hurt　her　arm。

They　quickly　cleared　the　down；　and　Anne　became　conscious　that　the
course　of　the　horse　was　homeward。　　As　soon　as　the　ground　began　to
rise　towards　the　outer　belt　of　upland　which　lay　between　her　and　the
coast；　Champion；　now　panting　and　reeking　with　moisture；　lessened　his
speed　in　sheer　weariness；　and　proceeded　at　a　rapid　jolting　trot。
Anne　felt　that　she　could　not　hold　on　half　so　well；　the　gallop　had
been　child's　play　compared　with　this。　　They　were　in　a　lane；
ascending　to　a　ridge；　and　she　made　up　her　mind　for　a　fall。　　Over　the
ridge　rose　an　animated　spot；　higher　and　higher；　it　turned　out　to　be
the　upper　part　of　a　man；　and　the　man　to　be　a　soldier。　　Such　was
Anne's　attitude　that　she　only　got　an　occasional　glimpse　of　him；　and；
though　she　feared　that　he　might　be　a　Frenchman；　she　feared　the　horse
more　than　the　enemy；　as　she　had　feared　Festus　more　than　the　horse。
Anne　had　energy　enough　left　to　cry；　'Stop　him；　stop　him！