the trumpet-major-第49部分

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intent　upon　the　sound　of　footsteps　and　dreading　the　reappearance　of
daylight　and　the　gang's　return。　　Three　or　four　times　during　the
night　she　descended　to　the　mill　to　inquire　of　her　stepfather　if　Bob
had　shown　himself；　but　the　answer　was　always　in　the　negative。

At　length　the　curtains　of　her　bed　began　to　reveal　their　pattern；　the
brass　handles　of　the　drawers　gleamed　forth；　and　day　dawned。　　While
the　light　was　yet　no　more　than　a　suffusion　of　pallor；　she　arose；　put
on　her　hat；　and　determined　to　explore　the　surrounding　premises
before　the　men　arrived。　　Emerging　into　the　raw　loneliness　of　the
daybreak；　she　went　upon　the　bridge　and　looked　up　and　down　the　road。
It　was　as　she　had　left　it；　empty；　and　the　solitude　was　rendered　yet
more　insistent　by　the　silence　of　the　mill…wheel；　which　was　now
stopped；　the　miller　having　given　up　expecting　Bob　and　retired　to　bed
about　three　o'clock。　　The　footprints　of　the　marines　still　remained
in　the　dust　on　the　bridge；　all　the　heel…marks　towards　the　house；
showing　that　the　party　had　not　as　yet　returned。

While　she　lingered　she　heard　a　slight　noise　in　the　other　direction；
and；　turning；　saw　a　woman　approaching。　　The　woman　came　up　quickly；
and；　to　her　amazement；　Anne　recognized　Matilda。　　Her　walk　was
convulsive；　face　pale；　almost　haggard；　and　the　cold　light　of　the
morning　invested　it　with　all　the　ghostliness　of　death。　　She　had
plainly　walked　all　the　way　from　Budmouth；　for　her　shoes　were　covered
with　dust。

'Has　the　press…gang　been　here？'　she　gasped。　　'If　not　they　are
coming！'

'They　have　been。'

'And　got　himI　am　too　late！'

'No；　they　are　coming　back　again。　　Why　did　you'

'I　came　to　try　to　save　him。　　Can　we　save　him？　　Where　is　he？'

Anne　looked　the　woman　in　the　face；　and　it　was　impossible　to　doubt
that　she　was　in　earnest。

'I　don't　know；'　she　answered。　　'I　am　trying　to　find　him　before　they
come。'

'Will　you　not　let　me　help　you？'　cried　the　repentant　Matilda。

Without　either　objecting　or　assenting　Anne　turned　and　led　the　way　to
the　back　part　of　the　homestead。

Matilda；　too；　had　suffered　that　night。　　From　the　moment　of　parting
with　Festus　Derriman　a　sentiment　of　revulsion　from　the　act　to　which
she　had　been　a　party　set　in　and　increased；　till　at　length　it　reached
an　intensity　of　remorse　which　she　could　not　passively　bear。　　She　had
risen　before　day　and　hastened　thitherward　to　know　the　worst；　and　if
possible　hinder　consequences　that　she　had　been　the　first　to　set　in
train。

After　going　hither　and　thither　in　the　adjoining　field；　Anne　entered
the　garden。　　The　walks　were　bathed　in　grey　dew；　and　as　she　passed
observantly　along　them　it　appeared　as　if　they　had　been　brushed　by
some　foot　at　a　much　earlier　hour。　　At　the　end　of　the　garden；　bushes
of　broom；　laurel；　and　yew　formed　a　constantly　encroaching　shrubbery；
that　had　come　there　almost　by　chance；　and　was　never　trimmed。　　Behind
these　bushes　was　a　garden…seat；　and　upon　it　lay　Bob　sound　asleep。

The　ends　of　his　hair　were　clotted　with　damp；　and　there　was　a　foggy
film　upon　the　mirror…like　buttons　of　his　coat；　and　upon　the　buckles
of　his　shoes。　　His　bunch　of　new　gold　seals　was　dimmed　by　the　same
insidious　dampness；　his　shirt…frill　and　muslin　neckcloth　were　limp
as　seaweed。　　It　was　plain　that　he　had　been　there　a　long　time。　　Anne
shook　him；　but　he　did　not　awake；　his　breathing　being　slow　and
stertorous。

'Bob；　wake；　'tis　your　own　Anne！'　she　said；　with　innocent
earnestness；　and　then；　fearfully　turning　her　head；　she　saw　that
Matilda　was　close　behind　her。

'You　needn't　mind　me；'　said　Matilda　bitterly。　　　'I　am　on　your　side
now。　　Shake　him　again。'

Anne　shook　him　again；　but　he　slept　on。　　Then　she　noticed　that　his
forehead　bore　the　mark　of　a　heavy　wound。

'I　fancy　I　hear　something！'　said　her　companion；　starting　forward　and
endeavouring　to　wake　Bob　herself。　　'He　is　stunned；　or　drugged！'　she
said；　'there　is　no　rousing　him。'

Anne　raised　her　head　and　listened。　　From　the　direction　of　the
eastern　road　came　the　sound　of　a　steady　tramp。　　'They　are　coming
back！'　she　said；　clasping　her　hands。　　'They　will　take　him；　ill　as　he
is！　　He　won't　open　his　eyesno；　it　is　no　use！　　O；　what　shall　we
do？'

Matilda　did　not　reply；　but　running　to　the　end　of　the　seat　on　which
Bob　lay；　tried　its　weight　in　her　arms。

'It　is　not　too　heavy；'　she　said。　　'You　take　that　end；　and　I'll　take
this。　　We'll　carry　him　away　to　some　place　of　hiding。'

Anne　instantly　seized　the　other　end；　and　they　proceeded　with　their
burden　at　a　slow　pace　to　the　lower　garden…gate；　which　they　reached
as　the　tread　of　the　press…gang　resounded　over　the　bridge　that　gave
access　to　the　mill　court；　now　hidden　from　view　by　the　hedge　and　the
trees　of　the　garden。

'We　will　go　down　inside　this　field；'　said　Anne　faintly。

'No！'　said　the　other；　'they　will　see　our　foot…tracks　in　the　dew。　　We
must　go　into　the　road。'

'It　is　the　very　road　they　will　come　down　when　they　leave　the　mill。'

'It　cannot　be　helped；　it　is　neck　or　nothing　with　us　now。'

So　they　emerged　upon　the　road；　and　staggered　along　without　speaking；
occasionally　resting　for　a　moment　to　ease　their　arms；　then　shaking
him　to　arouse　him；　and　finding　it　useless；　seizing　the　seat　again。
When　they　had　gone　about　two　hundred　yards　Matilda　betrayed　signs　of
exhaustion；　and　she　asked；　'Is　there　no　shelter　near？'

'When　we　get　to　that　little　field　of　corn；'　said　Anne。

'It　is　so　very　far。　　Surely　there　is　some　place　near？'

She　pointed　to　a　few　scrubby　bushes　overhanging　a　little　stream；
which　passed　under　the　road　near　this　point。

'They　are　not　thick　enough；'　said　Anne。

'Let　us　take　him　under　the　bridge；'　said　Matilda。　　'I　can　go　no
further。'

Entering　the　opening　by　which　cattle　descended　to　drink；　they　waded
into　the　weedy　water；　which　here　rose　a　few　inches　above　their
ankles。　　To　ascend　the　stream；　stoop　under　the　arch；　and　reach　the
centre　of　the　roadway；　was　the　work　of　a　few　minutes。

'If　they　look　under　the　arch　we　are　lost；'　murmured　Anne。

'There　is　no　parapet　to　the　bridge；　and　they　may　pass　over　without
heeding。'

They　waited；　their　heads　almost　in　contact　with　the　reeking　arch；
and　their　feet　encircled　by　the　stream；　which　was　at　its　summer
lowness　now。　　For　some　minutes　they　could　hear　nothing　but　the
babble　of　the　water　over　their　ankles；　and　round　the　legs　of　the
seat　on　which　Bob　slumbered；　the　sounds　being　reflected　in　a　musical
tinkle　from　the　hollow　sides　of　the　arch。　　Anne's　anxiety　now　was
lest　he　should　not　continue　sleeping　till　the　search　was　over；　but
start　up　with　his　habitual　imprudence；　and　scorning　such　means　of
safety；　rush　out　into　their　arms。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　dragged　by；　and　then　indications　reached　their
ears　that　the　re…examination　of　the　mill　had　begun　and　ended。　　The
well…known　tramp　drew　nearer；　and　reverberated　through　the　ground
over　their　heads；　where　its　volume　signified　to　the　listeners　that
the　party　had　been　largely　augmented　by　pressed　men　since　the　night
preceding。　　The　gang　passed　the　arch；　and　the　noise　regularly
diminished；　as　if　no　man　among　them　had　thought　of　looking　aside　for
a　moment。

Matilda　broke　the　silence。　　'I　wonder　if　they　have　left　a　watch
behind？'　she　said　doubtfully。

'I　will　go　and　see；'　said　Anne。　　'Wait　till　I　return。'

'No；　I　can　do　no　more。　　When　you　come　back　I　shall　be　gone。　　I　ask
one　thing　of　you。　　If　all　goes　well　with　you　and　him；　and　he　marries
youdon't　be　alarmed；　my　plans　lie　elsewherewhen　you　are　his　wife
tell　him　who　helped　to　carry　him　away。　　But　don't　mention　my　name　to
the　rest　of　your　family；　either　now　or　at　any　time。'

Anne　regarded　the　speaker　for　a　moment；　and　promised；　after　which
she　waded　out　from　the　archway。

Matilda　stood　looking　at　Bob　for　a　moment；　as　if　preparing　to　go；
till　moved　by　some　impulse　she　bent　and　lightly　kissed　him　once。

'How　can　you！'　cried　Anne　reproachfully。　　When　leaving　the　mouth　of
the　arch　she　had　bent　back　and　seen　the　act。

Matilda　flushed。　　'You　jealous　baby！'　she　said　scornfully。

Anne　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　went　out　from　the　water；　and
hastened　towards　the　mill。

She　entered　by　the　garden；　and；　seeing　no　one；　advanced　and　peeped
in　at　the　window。　　Her　mother　and　Mr。　Loveday　were　sitting　within　as
usual。

'Are　they　all　gone？'　said　Anne　softly。

'Yes。　　They　did　not　trouble　us　much；　beyond　going　into　every　room；
and　searching　about　the　garden；　where　they　saw　steps。　　They　have
been　lucky　to…night；　they　have　caught　fifteen　or　twenty　men　at
places　further　on；　so　the　loss　of　Bob　was　no　hurt　to　their　feelings。
I　wonder　where　in　the　world　the　poor　fellow　is！'

'I　will　show　you；'　said　Anne。　　And　explaining　in　a　few　words　what
had　happened；　she　was　promptly　followed　by　David　and　Loveday　along
the　road。　　She　lifted　her　dress　and　entered　the　arch　with　some
anxiety　on　account　of　Matilda；　but　the　actress　was　gone；　and　Bob　lay
on　the　seat　as　she　had　left　him。

Bob　was　brought　out；　and　water　thrown　upon　his　face；　but　though　he
moved　he　did　not　rouse　himself　until　some　time　after　he　had　been
borne　into　the　house。　　Here　he　opened　his　eyes；　and　saw　them
standing　round；　and　gathered　a　little　consciousness。

'You　are　all　right；　my　boy！'　said　his　father。　　'What　hev　happened　to
ye？　　Where　did　ye　get　that　terrible　blow？'

'AhI　can　mind　now；'　murmured　Bob；　with　a　stupefied　gaze　around。
'I　fell　in　slipping　down　the　topsail　halyardthe　rope；　that　is；　was
too　shortand　I　fell　upon　my　head。　　And　then　I　went　away。　　When　I
came　back　I　thought　I　wouldn't　disturb　ye：　　so　I　lay　down　out　there；
to　sleep　out　the　watch；　but　the　pain　in　my　head　was　so　great　that　I
couldn't　get　to　sleep；　so　I　picked　some　of　the　poppy…heads　in　the
border；　which　I　once　heard　was　a　good　thing　for　sending　folks　to
sleep　when　they　are　in　pain。　　So　I　munched　up　all　I　could　find；　and
dropped　off　quite　nicely。'

'I　wondered　who　had　picked　'em！'　said　Molly。　　'I　noticed　they　were
gone。'

'Why；　you　might　never　have　woke　again！'　said　Mrs。　Loveday；　holding
up　her　hands。　　'How　is　your　head　now？'

'I　hardly　know；'　replied　the　young　man；　putting　his　hand　to　his
forehead　and　beginning　to　doze　again。　　'Where　be　those　fellows　that
boarded　us？　　With　thissmooth　water　andfine　breeze　we　ought　to
get　away　from　'em。　　Haul　inthe　larboard　braces；