the trumpet-major-第51部分

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blazed　in　upon　the　house　fronts；　and　not　a　spot　of　shade　seemed　to
be　attainable。　　A　huzzaing　attracted　his　attention；　and　he　observed
that　a　number　of　people　had　gathered　before　the　King's　residence；
where　a　brown　curricle　had　stopped；　out　of　which　stepped　a　hale　man
in　the　prime　of　life；　wearing　a　blue　uniform；　gilt　epaulettes；
cocked　hat；　and　sword；　who　crossed　the　pavement　and　went　in。　　Bob
went　up　and　joined　the　group。　　'What's　going　on？'　he　said。

'Captain　Hardy；'　replied　a　bystander。

'What　of　him？'

'Just　gone　inwaiting　to　see　the　King。'

'But　the　captain　is　in　the　West　Indies？'

'No。　　The　fleet　is　come　home；　they　can't　find　the　French　anywhere。'

'Will　they　go　and　look　for　them　again？'　asked　Bob。

'O　yes。　　Nelson　is　determined　to　find　'em。　　As　soon　as　he's　refitted
he'll　put　to　sea　again。　　Ah；　here's　the　King　coming　in。'

Bob　was　so　interested　in　what　he　had　just　heard　that　he　scarcely
noticed　the　arrival　of　the　King；　and　a　body　of　attendant　gentlemen。
He　went　on　thinking　of　his　new　knowledge；　Captain　Hardy　was　come。
He　was　doubtless　staying　with　his　family　at　their　small　manor…house
at　Pos'ham；　a　few　miles　from　Overcombe；　where　he　usually　spent　the
intervals　between　his　different　cruises。

Loveday　returned　to　the　mill　without　further　delay；　and　shortly
explaining　that　John　was　very　well；　and　would　come　soon；　went　on　to
talk　of　the　arrival　of　Nelson's　captain。

'And　is　he　come　at　last？'　said　the　miller；　throwing　his　thoughts
years　backward。　　'Well　can　I　mind　when　he　first　left　home　to　go　on
board　the　Helena　as　midshipman！'

'That's　not　much　to　remember。　　I　can　remember　it　too；'　said　Mrs。
Loveday。

''Tis　more　than　twenty　years　ago　anyhow。　　And　more　than　that；　I　can
mind　when　he　was　born；　I　was　a　lad；　serving　my　'prenticeship　at　the
time。　　He　has　been　in　this　house　often　and　often　when　'a　was　young。
When　he　came　home　after　his　first　voyage　he　stayed　about　here　a　long
time；　and　used　to　look　in　at　the　mill　whenever　he　went　past。　　〃What
will　you　be　next；　sir？〃　said　mother　to　him　one　day　as　he　stood　with
his　back　to　the　doorpost。　　〃A　lieutenant；　Dame　Loveday；〃　says　he。
〃And　what　next？〃　says　she。　　〃A　commander。〃　　〃And　next？〃　　〃Next；
post…captain。〃　　〃And　then？〃　　〃Then　it　will　be　almost　time　to　die。〃
I'd　warrant　that　he'd　mind　it　to　this　very　day　if　you　were　to　ask
him。'

Bob　heard　all　this　with　a　manner　of　preoccupation；　and　soon　retired
to　the　mill。　　Thence　he　went　to　his　room　by　the　back　passage；　and
taking　his　old　seafaring　garments　from　a　dark　closet　in　the　wall
conveyed　them　to　the　loft　at　the　top　of　the　mill；　where　he　occupied
the　remaining　spare　moments　of　the　day　in　brushing　the　mildew　from
their　folds；　and　hanging　each　article　by　the　window　to　get　aired。
In　the　evening　he　returned　to　the　loft；　and　dressing　himself　in　the
old　salt　suit；　went　out　of　the　house　unobserved　by　anybody；　and
ascended　the　road　towards　Captain　Hardy's　native　village　and　present
temporary　home。

The　shadeless　downs　were　now　brown　with　the　droughts　of　the　passing
summer；　and　few　living　things　met　his　view；　the　natural　rotundity　of
the　elevation　being　only　occasionally　disturbed　by　the　presence　of　a
barrow；　a　thorn…bush；　or　a　piece　of　dry　wall　which　remained　from
some　attempted　enclosure。　　By　the　time　that　he　reached　the　village
it　was　dark；　and　the　larger　stars　had　begun　to　shine　when　he　walked
up　to　the　door　of　the　old…fashioned　house　which　was　the　family
residence　of　this　branch　of　the　South…Wessex　Hardys。

'Will　the　captain　allow　me　to　wait　on　him　to…night？'　inquired
Loveday；　explaining　who　and　what　he　was。

The　servant　went　away　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　told　Bob　that　he
might　see　the　captain　in　the　morning。

'If　that's　the　case；　I'll　come　again；'　replied　Bob；　quite　cheerful
that　failure　was　not　absolute。

He　had　left　the　door　but　a　few　steps　when　he　was　called　back　and
asked　if　he　had　walked　all　the　way　from　Overcombe　Mill　on　purpose。

Loveday　replied　modestly　that　he　had　done　so。

'Then　will　you　come　in？'　　He　followed　the　speaker　into　a　small　study
or　office；　and　in　a　minute　or　two　Captain　Hardy　entered。

The　captain　at　this　time　was　a　bachelor　of　thirty…five；　rather　stout
in　build；　with　light　eyes；　bushy　eyebrows；　a　square　broad　face；
plenty　of　chin；　and　a　mouth　whose　corners　played　between　humour　and
grimness。　　He　surveyed　Loveday　from　top　to　toe。

'Robert　Loveday；　sir；　son　of　the　miller　at　Overcombe；'　said　Bob；
making　a　low　bow。

'Ah！　　I　remember　your　father；　Loveday；'　the　gallant　seaman　replied。
'Well；　what　do　you　want　to　say　to　me？'　　Seeing　that　Bob　found　it
rather　difficult　to　begin；　he　leant　leisurely　against　the
mantelpiece；　and　went　on；　'Is　your　father　well　and　hearty？　　I　have
not　seen　him　for　many；　many　years。'

'Quite　well；　thank　'ee。'

'You　used　to　have　a　brother　in　the　army；　I　think？　　What　was　his
nameJohn？　　A　very　fine　fellow；　if　I　recollect。'

'Yes；　cap'n；　he's　there　still。'

'And　you　are　in　the　merchant…service？'

'Late　first　mate　of　the　brig　Pewit。'

'How　is　it　you're　not　on　board　a　man…of…war？'

'Ay；　sir；　that's　the　thing　I've　come　about；'　said　Bob；　recovering
confidence。　　'I　should　have　been；　but　'tis　womankind　has　hampered
me。　　I've　waited　and　waited　on　at　home　because　of　a　young　woman
lady；　I　might　have　said；　for　she's　sprung　from　a　higher　class　of
society　than　I。　　Her　father　was　a　landscape　paintermaybe　you've
heard　of　him；　sir？　　The　name　is　Garland。'

'He　painted　that　view　of　our　village　here；'　said　Captain　Hardy；
looking　towards　a　dark　little　picture　in　the　corner　of　the　room。

Bob　looked；　and　went　on；　as　if　to　the　picture；　'Well；　sir；　I　have
found　that　　However；　the　press…gang　came　a　week　or　two　ago；　and
didn't　get　hold　of　me。　　I　didn't　care　to　go　aboard　as　a　pressed
man。'

'There　has　been　a　severe　impressment。　　It　is　of　course　a
disagreeable　necessity；　but　it　can't　be　helped。'

'Since　then；　sir；　something　has　happened　that　makes　me　wish　they　had
found　me；　and　I　have　come　to…night　to　ask　if　I　could　enter　on　board
your　ship　the　Victory。'

The　captain　shook　his　head　severely；　and　presently　observed：　　'I　am
glad　to　find　that　you　think　of　entering　the　service；　Loveday；　smart
men　are　badly　wanted。　　But　it　will　not　be　in　your　power　to　choose
your　ship。'

'Well；　well；　sir；　then　I　must　take　my　chance　elsewhere；'　said　Bob；
his　face　indicating　the　disappointment　he　would　not　fully　express。
''Twas　only　that　I　felt　I　would　much　rather　serve　under　you　than
anybody　else；　my　father　and　all　of　us　being　known　to　ye；　Captain
Hardy；　and　our　families　belonging　to　the　same　parts。'

Captain　Hardy　took　Bob's　altitude　more　carefully。　　'Are　you　a　good
practical　seaman？'　he　asked　musingly。

'Ay；　sir；　I　believe　I　am。'

'Active？　　Fond　of　skylarking？'

'Well；　I　don't　know　about　the　last。　　I　think　I　can　say　I　am　active
enough。　　I　could　walk　the　yard…arm；　if　required；　cross　from　mast　to
mast　by　the　stays；　and　do　what　most　fellows　do　who　call　themselves
spry。'

The　captain　then　put　some　questions　about　the　details　of　navigation；
which　Loveday；　having　luckily　been　used　to　square　rigs；　answered
satisfactorily。　　'As　to　reefing　topsails；'　he　added；　'if　I　don't　do
it　like　a　flash　of　lightning；　I　can　do　it　so　that　they　will　stand
blowing　weather。　　The　Pewit　was　not　a　dull　vessel；　and　when　we　were
convoyed　home　from　Lisbon；　she　could　keep　well　in　sight　of　the
frigate　scudding　at　a　distance；　by　putting　on　full　sail。　　We　had
enough　hands　aboard　to　reef　topsails　man…o'…war　fashion；　which　is　a
rare　thing　in　these　days；　sir；　now　that　able　seamen　are　so　scarce　on
trading　craft。　　And　I　hear　that　men　from　square…rigged　vessels　are
liked　much　the　best　in　the　navy；　as　being　more　ready　for　use？　　So
that　I　shouldn't　be　altogether　so　raw；'　said　Bob　earnestly；　'if　I
could　enter　on　your　ship；　sir。　　Still；　if　I　can't；　I　can't。'

'I　might　ask　for　you；　Loveday；'　said　the　captain　thoughtfully；　'and
so　get　you　there　that　way。　　In　short；　I　think　I　may　say　I　will　ask
for　you。　　So　consider　it　settled。'

'My　thanks　to　you；　sir；'　said　Loveday。

'You　are　aware　that　the　Victory　is　a　smart　ship；　and　that
cleanliness　and　order　are；　of　necessity；　more　strictly　insisted　upon
there　than　in　some　others？'

'Sir；　I　quite　see　it。'

'Well；　I　hope　you　will　do　your　duty　as　well　on　a　line…of…battle　ship
as　you　did　when　mate　of　the　brig；　for　it　is　a　duty　that　may　be
serious。'

Bob　replied　that　it　should　be　his　one　endeavour；　and　receiving　a　few
instructions　for　getting　on　board　the　guard…ship；　and　being　conveyed
to　Portsmouth；　he　turned　to　go　away。

'You'll　have　a　stiff　walk　before　you　fetch　Overcombe　Mill　this　dark
night；　Loveday；'　concluded　the　captain；　peering　out　of　the　window。
'I'll　send　you　in　a　glass　of　grog　to　help　'ee　on　your　way。'

The　captain　then　left　Bob　to　himself；　and　when　he　had　drunk　the　grog
that　was　brought　in　he　started　homeward；　with　a　heart　not　exactly
light；　but　large　with　a　patriotic　cheerfulness；　which　had　not
diminished　when；　after　walking　so　fast　in　his　excitement　as　to　be
beaded　with　perspiration；　he　entered　his　father's　door。

They　were　all　sitting　up　for　him；　and　at　his　approach　anxiously
raised　their　sleepy　eyes；　for　it　was　nearly　eleven　o'clock。

'There；　I　knew　he'd　not　be　much　longer！'　cried　Anne；　jumping　up　and
laughing；　in　her　relief。　　'They　have　been　thinking　you　were　very
strange　and　silent　today；　Bob；　you　were　not；　were　you？'

'What's　the　matter；　Bob？'　said　the　miller；　for　Bob's　countenance　was
sublimed　by　his　recent　interview；　like　that　of　a　priest　just　come
from　the　penetralia　of　the　temple。

'He's　in　his　mate's　clothes；　just　as　when　he　came　home！'　observed
Mrs。　Loveday。

They　all　saw　now　that　he　had　something　to　tell。　　'I　am　going　away；'
he　said　when　he　had　sat　down。　　'I　am　going　to　enter　on　board　a
man…of…war；　and　perhaps　it　will　be　the　Victory。'

'Going？'　said　Anne　faintly。

'Now；　don't　you　mind　it；　there's　a　dear；'　he　went　on　solemnly；
taking　her　hand　in　his　own。　　'And　you；　father；　don't　you　begin　to
take　it　to　heart'　（the　miller　was　looking　grave）。　　'The　press…gang
has　been　here；　and　though　I　showed　them　that　I　was　a　free　man；　I　am
going　to　show　everybody　that　I　can　do　my　duty。'

Neither　of　the　other　three　answered；　Anne　and　the　miller