the trumpet-major-第50部分

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boarded　us？　　With　thissmooth　water　andfine　breeze　we　ought　to
get　away　from　'em。　　Haul　inthe　larboard　braces；　andbring　her　to
the　wind。'

'You　are　at　home；　dear　Bob；'　said　Anne；　bending　over　him；　'and　the
men　are　gone。'

'Come　along　upstairs：　　th'　beest　hardly　awake　now；'　said　his　father
and　Bob　was　assisted　to　bed。



XXXIII。　　A　DISCOVERY　TURNS　THE　SCALE

In　four…and…twenty　hours　Bob　had　recovered。　　But　though　physically
himself　again；　he　was　not　at　all　sure　of　his　position　as　a　patriot。
He　had　that　practical　knowledge　of　seamanship　of　which　the　country
stood　much　in　need；　and　it　was　humiliating　to　find　that　impressment
seemed　to　be　necessary　to　teach　him　to　use　it　for　her　advantage。
Many　neighbouring　young　men；　less　fortunate　than　himself；　had　been
pressed　and　taken；　and　their　absence　seemed　a　reproach　to　him。　　He
went　away　by　himself　into　the　mill…roof；　and；　surrounded　by　the
corn…heaps；　gave　vent　to　self…condemnation。

'Certainly；　I　am　no　man　to　lie　here　so　long　for　the　pleasure　of
sighting　that　young　girl　forty　times　a　day；　and　letting　her　sight
mebless　her　eyes！till　I　must　needs　want　a　press…gang　to　teach　me
what　I've　forgot。　　And　is　it　then　all　over　with　me　as　a　British
sailor？　　We'll　see。'

When　he　was　thrown　under　the　influence　of　Anne's　eyes　again；　which
were　more　tantalizingly　beautiful　than　ever　just　now　（so　it　seemed
to　him）；　his　intention　of　offering　his　services　to　the　Government
would　wax　weaker；　and　he　would　put　off　his　final　decision　till　the
next　day。　　Anne　saw　these　fluctuations　of　his　mind　between　love　and
patriotism；　and　being　terrified　by　what　she　had　heard　of　sea…fights；
used　the　utmost　art　of　which　she　was　capable　to　seduce　him　from　his
forming　purpose。　　She　came　to　him　in　the　mill；　wearing　the　very
prettiest　of　her　morning　jacketsthe　one　that　only　just　passed　the
waist；　and　was　laced　so　tastefully　round　the　collar　and　bosom。　　Then
she　would　appear　in　her　new　hat；　with　a　bouquet　of　primroses　on　one
side；　and　on　the　following　Sunday　she　walked　before　him　in
lemon…coloured　boots；　so　that　her　feet　looked　like　a　pair　of
yellow…hammers　flitting　under　her　dress。

But　dress　was　the　least　of　the　means　she　adopted　for　chaining　him
down。　　She　talked　more　tenderly　than　ever；　asked　him　to　begin　small
undertakings　in　the　garden　on　her　account；　she　sang　about　the　house；
that　the　place　might　seem　cheerful　when　he　came　in。　　This　singing
for　a　purpose　required　great　effort　on　her　part；　leaving　her
afterwards　very　sad。　　When　Bob　asked　her　what　was　the　matter；　she
would　say；　'Nothing；　only　I　am　thinking　how　you　will　grieve　your
father；　and　cross　his　purposes；　if　you　carry　out　your　unkind　notion
of　going　to　sea；　and　forsaking　your　place　in　the　mill。'

'Yes；'　Bob　would　say　uneasily。　　'It　will　trouble　him；　I　know。'

Being　also　quite　aware　how　it　would　trouble　her；　he　would　again
postpone；　and　thus　another　week　passed　away。

All　this　time　John　had　not　come　once　to　the　mill。　　It　appeared　as　if
Miss　Johnson　absorbed　all　his　time　and　thoughts。　　Bob　was　often　seen
chuckling　over　the　circumstance。　　'A　sly　rascal！'　he　said。
'Pretending　on　the　day　she　came　to　be　married　that　she　was　not　good
enough　for　me；　when　it　was　only　that　he　wanted　her　for　himself。　　How
he　could　have　persuaded　her　to　go　away　is　beyond　me　to　say！'

Anne　could　not　contest　this　belief　of　her　lover's；　and　remained
silent；　but　there　had　more　than　once　occurred　to　her　mind　a　doubt　of
its　probability。　　Yet　she　had　only　abandoned　her　opinion　that　John
had　schemed　for　Matilda；　to　embrace　the　opposite　error；　that；
finding　he　had　wronged　the　young　lady；　he　had　pitied　and　grown　to
love　her。

'And　yet　Jack；　when　he　was　a　boy；　was　the　simplest　fellow　alive；'
resumed　Bob。　　'By　George；　though；　I　should　have　been　hot　against　him
for　such　a　trick；　if　in　losing　her　I　hadn't　found　a　better！　　But
she'll　never　come　down　to　him　in　the　world：　　she　has　high　notions
now。　　I　am　afraid　he's　doomed　to　sigh　in　vain！'

Though　Bob　regretted　this　possibility；　the　feeling　was　not
reciprocated　by　Anne。　　It　was　true　that　she　knew　nothing　of
Matilda's　temporary　treachery；　and　that　she　disbelieved　the　story　of
her　lack　of　virtue；　but　she　did　not　like　the　woman。　　'Perhaps　it
will　not　matter　if　he　is　doomed　to　sigh　in　vain；'　she　said。　　'But　I
owe　him　no　ill…will。　　I　have　profited　by　his　doings；
incomprehensible　as　they　are。'　　And　she　bent　her　fair　eyes　on　Bob
and　smiled。

Bob　looked　dubious。　　'He　thinks　he　has　affronted　me；　now　I　have　seen
through　him；　and　that　I　shall　be　against　meeting　him。　　But；　of
course；　I　am　not　so　touchy。　　I　can　stand　a　practical　joke；　as　can
any　man　who　has　been　afloat。　　I'll　call　and　see　him；　and　tell　him
so。'

Before　he　started；　Bob　bethought　him　of　something　which　would　still
further　prove　to　the　misapprehending　John　that　he　was　entirely
forgiven。　　He　went　to　his　room；　and　took　from　his　chest　a　packet
containing　a　lock　of　Miss　Johnson's　hair；　which　she　had　given　him
during　their　brief　acquaintance；　and　which　till　now　he　had　quite
forgotten。　　When；　at　starting；　he　wished　Anne　goodbye；　it　was
accompanied　by　such　a　beaming　face；　that　she　knew　he　was　full　of　an
idea；　and　asked　what　it　might　be　that　pleased　him　so。

'Why；　this；'　he　said；　smacking　his　breast…pocket。　　'A　lock　of　hair
that　Matilda　gave　me。'

Anne　sank　back　with　parted　lips。

'I　am　going　to　give　it　to　Jackhe'll　jump　for　joy　to　get　it！　　And
it　will　show　him　how　willing　I　am　to　give　her　up　to　him；　fine　piece
as　she　is。'

'Will　you　see　her　to…day；　Bob？'　Anne　asked　with　an　uncertain　smile。

'O　nounless　it　is　by　accident。'

On　reaching　the　outskirts　of　the　town　he　went　straight　to　the
barracks；　and　was　lucky　enough　to　find　John　in　his　room；　at　the
left…hand　corner　of　the　quadrangle。　　John　was　glad　to　see　him；　but
to　Bob's　surprise　he　showed　no　immediate　contrition；　and　thus
afforded　no　room　for　the　brotherly　speech　of　forgiveness　which　Bob
had　been　going　to　deliver。　　As　the　trumpet…major　did　not　open　the
subject；　Bob　felt　it　desirable　to　begin　himself。

'I　have　brought　ye　something　that　you　will　value；　Jack；'　he　said；　as
they　sat　at　the　window；　overlooking　the　large　square　barrack…yard。
'I　have　got　no　further　use　for　it；　and　you　should　have　had　it　before
if　it　had　entered　my　head。'

'Thank　you；　Bob；　what　is　it？'　said　John；　looking　absently　at　an
awkward　squad　of　young　men　who　were　drilling　in　the　enclosure。

''Tis　a　young　woman's　lock　of　hair。'

'Ah！'　said　John；　quite　recovering　from　his　abstraction；　and　slightly
flushing。　　Could　Bob　and　Anne　have　quarrelled？　　Bob　drew　the　paper
from　his　pocket；　and　opened　it。

'Black！'　said　John。

'Yesblack　enough。'

'Whose？'

'Why；　Matilda's。'

'O；　Matilda's！'

'Whose　did　you　think　then？'

Instead　of　replying；　the　trumpet…major's　face　became　as　red　as
sunset；　and　he　turned　to　the　window　to　hide　his　confusion。

Bob　was　silent；　and　then　he；　too；　looked　into　the　court。　　At　length
he　arose；　walked　to　his　brother；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　his
shoulder。　　'Jack；'　he　said；　in　an　altered　voice；　'you　are　a　good
fellow。　　Now　I　see　it　all。'

'O　nothat's　nothing；'　said　John　hastily。

'You've　been　pretending　that　you　care　for　this　woman　that　I　mightn't
blame　myself　for　heaving　you　out　from　the　otherwhich　is　what　I've
done　without　knowing　it。'

'What　does　it　matter？'

'But　it　does　matter！　　I've　been　making　you　unhappy　all　these　weeks
and　weeks　through　my　thoughtlessness。　　They　seemed　to　think　at　home；
you　know；　John；　that　you　had　grown　not　to　care　for　her；　or　I
wouldn't　have　done　it　for　all　the　world！'

'You　stick　to　her；　Bob；　and　never　mind　me。　　She　belongs　to　you。　　She
loves　you。　　I　have　no　claim　upon　her；　and　she　thinks　nothing　about
me。'

'She　likes　you；　John；　thoroughly　well；　so　does　everybody；　and　if　I
hadn't　come　home；　putting　my　foot　in　it　　That　coming　home　of　mine
has　been　a　regular　blight　upon　the　family！　　I　ought　never　to　have
stayed。　　The　sea　is　my　home；　and　why　couldn't　I　bide　there？'

The　trumpet…major　drew　Bob's　discourse　off　the　subject　as　soon　as　he
could；　and　Bob；　after　some　unconsidered　replies　and　remarks；　seemed
willing　to　avoid　it　for　the　present。　　He　did　not　ask　John　to
accompany　him　home；　as　he　had　intended；　and　on　leaving　the　barracks
turned　southward　and　entered　the　town　to　wander　about　till　he　could
decide　what　to　do。

It　was　the　3rd　of　September；　but　the　King's　watering…place　still
retained　its　summer　aspect。　　The　royal　bathing…machine　had　been
drawn　out　just　as　Bob　reached　Gloucester　Buildings；　and　he　waited　a
minute；　in　the　lack　of　other　distraction；　to　look　on。　　Immediately
that　the　King's　machine　had　entered　the　water　a　group　of　florid　men
with　fiddles；　violoncellos；　a　trombone；　and　a　drum；　came　forward；
packed　themselves　into　another　machine　that　was　in　waiting；　and　were
drawn　out　into　the　waves　in　the　King's　rear。　　All　that　was　to　be
heard　for　a　few　minutes　were　the　slow　pulsations　of　the　sea；　and
then　a　deafening　noise　burst　from　the　interior　of　the　second　machine
with　power　enough　to　split　the　boards　asunder；　it　was　the　condensed
mass　of　musicians　inside；　striking　up　the　strains　of　'God　save　the
King；'　as　his　Majesty's　head　rose　from　the　water。　　Bob　took　off　his
hat　and　waited　till　the　end　of　the　performance；　which；　intended　as　a
pleasant　surprise　to　George　III。　by　the　loyal　burghers；　was　possibly
in　the　watery　circumstances　tolerated　rather　than　desired　by　that
dripping　monarch。　*

*　Vide　Preface。

Loveday　then　passed　on　to　the　harbour；　where　he　remained　awhile；
looking　at　the　busy　scene　of　loading　and　unloading　craft　and
swabbing　the　decks　of　yachts；　at　the　boats　and　barges　rubbing
against　the　quay　wall；　and　at　the　houses　of　the　merchants；　some
ancient　structures　of　solid　stone；　others　green…shuttered　with　heavy
wooden　bow…windows　which　appeared　as　if　about　to　drop　into　the
harbour　by　their　own　weight。　　All　these　things　he　gazed　upon；　and
thought　of　one　thingthat　he　had　caused　great　misery　to　his　brother
John。

The　town　clock　struck；　and　Bob　retraced　his　steps　till　he　again
approached　the　Esplanade　and　Gloucester　Lodge；　where　the　morning　sun
blazed　in　upon　the　house　fronts；　and　not　a　spot　of　shade　seemed　to
be　attainable。　　A　huzzaing　attracted　his　attention；　an