the trumpet-major-第58部分

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across　the　room；　in　the　corner；　or　to　any　place　except　where　he
happened　to　be；　as　had　been　her　custom　hitherto；　she　remained　seated
near　him；　returning　interesting　answers　to　his　general　remarks；　and
at　every　opportunity　letting　him　know　that　at　last　he　had　found
favour　in　her　eyes。

The　day　was　fine；　and　they　went　out　of　doors；　where　Anne　endeavoured
to　seat　herself　on　the　sloping　stone　of　the　window…sill。

'How　good　you　have　become　lately；'　said　John；　standing　over　her　and
smiling　in　the　sunlight　which　blazed　against　the　wall。　　'I　fancy　you
have　stayed　at　home　this　afternoon　on　my　account。'

'Perhaps　I　have；'　she　said　gaily

　　　　　'〃Do　whatever　we　may　for　him；　dame；　we　cannot　do　too　much！
　　　　　　　For　he's　one　that　has　guarded　our　land。〃

'And　he　has　done　more　than　that：　　he　has　saved　me　from　a　dreadful
scalding。　　The　back　of　your　hand　will　not　be　well　for　a　long　time；
John；　will　it？'

He　held　out　his　hand　to　regard　its　condition；　and　the　next　natural
thing　was　to　take　hers。　　There　was　a　glow　upon　his　face　when　he　did
it：　　his　star　was　at　last　on　a　fair　way　towards　the　zenith　after　its
long　and　weary　declination。　　The　least　penetrating　eye　could　have
perceived　that　Anne　had　resolved　to　let　him　woo；　possibly　in　her
temerity　to　let　him　win。　　Whatever　silent　sorrow　might　be　locked　up
in　her；　it　was　by　this　time　thrust　a　long　way　down　from　the　light。

'I　want　you　to　go　somewhere　with　me　if　you　will；'　he　said；　still
holding　her　hand。

'Yes？　　Where　is　it？'

He　pointed　to　a　distant　hill…side　which；　hitherto　green；　had　within
the　last　few　days　begun　to　show　scratches　of　white　on　its　face。　　'Up
there；'　he　said。

'I　see　little　figures　of　men　moving　about。　　What　are　they　doing？'

'Cutting　out　a　huge　picture　of　the　king　on　horseback　in　the　earth　of
the　hill。　　The　king's　head　is　to　be　as　big　as　our　mill…pond　and　his
body　as　big　as　this　garden；　he　and　the　horse　will　cover　more　than　an
acre。　　When　shall　we　go？'

'Whenever　you　please；'　said　she。

'John！'　cried　Mrs。　Loveday　from　the　front　door。　　'Here's　a　friend
come　for　you。'

John　went　round；　and　found　his　trusty　lieutenant；　Trumpeter　Buck；
waiting　for　him。　　A　letter　had　come　to　the　barracks　for　John　in　his
absence；　and　the　trumpeter；　who　was　going　for　a　walk；　had　brought　it
along　with　him。　　Buck　then　entered　the　mill　to　discuss；　if　possible；
a　mug　of　last　year's　mead　with　the　miller；　and　John　proceeded　to
read　his　letter；　Anne　being　still　round　the　corner　where　he　had　left
her。　　When　he　had　read　a　few　words　he　turned　as　pale　as　a　sheet；　but
he　did　not　move；　and　perused　the　writing　to　the　end。

Afterwards　he　laid　his　elbow　against　the　wall；　and　put　his　palm　to
his　head；　thinking　with　painful　intentness。　　Then　he　took　himself
vigorously　in　hand；　as　it　were；　and　gradually　became　natural　again。
When　he　parted　from　Anne　to　go　home　with　Buck　she　noticed　nothing
different　in　him。

In　barracks　that　evening　he　read　the　letter　again。　　It　was　from　Bob；
and　the　agitating　contents　were　these：

'DEAR　JOHN；I　have　drifted　off　from　writing　till　the　present　time
because　I　have　not　been　clear　about　my　feelings；　but　I　have
discovered　them　at　last；　and　can　say　beyond　doubt　that　I　mean　to　be
faithful　to　my　dearest　Anne　after　all。　　The　fact　is；　John；　I've　got
into　a　bit　of　a　scrape；　and　I've　a　secret　to　tell　you　about　it
（which　must　go　no　further　on　any　account）。　　On　landing　last　autumn　I
fell　in　with　a　young　woman；　and　we　got　rather　warm　as　folks　do；　in
short；　we　liked　one　another　well　enough　for　a　while。　　But　I　have　got
into　shoal　water　with　her；　and　have　found　her　to　be　a　terrible
take…in。　　Nothing　in　her　at　allno　sense；　no　niceness；　all　tantrums
and　empty　noise；　John；　though　she　seemed　monstrous　clever　at　first。
So　my　heart　comes　back　to　its　old　anchorage。　　I　hope　my　return　to
faithfulness　will　make　no　difference　to　you。　　But　as　you　showed　by
your　looks　at　our　parting　that　you　should　not　accept　my　offer　to
give　her　upmade　in　too　much　haste；　as　I　have　since　foundI　feel
that　you　won't　mind　that　I　have　returned　to　the　path　of　honour。　　I
dare　not　write　to　Anne　as　yet；　and　please　do　not　let　her　know　a　word
about　the　other　young　woman；　or　there　will　be　the　devil　to　pay。　　I
shall　come　home　and　make　all　things　right；　please　God。　　In　the
meantime　I　should　take　it　as　a　kindness；　John；　if　you　would　keep　a
brotherly　eye　upon　Anne；　and　guide　her　mind　back　to　me。　　I　shall　die
of　sorrow　if　anybody　sets　her　against　me；　for　my　hopes　are　getting
bound　up　in　her　again　quite　strong。　　Hoping　you　are　jovial；　as　times
go；　I　am；Your　affectionate　brother；　ROBERT。'

When　the　cold　daylight　fell　upon　John's　face；　as　he　dressed　himself
next　morning；　the　incipient　yesterday's　wrinkle　in　his　forehead　had
become　permanently　graven　there。　　He　had　resolved；　for　the　sake　of
that　only　brother　whom　he　had　nursed　as　a　baby；　instructed　as　a
child；　and　protected　and　loved　always；　to　pause　in　his　procedure　for
the　present；　and　at　least　do　nothing　to　hinder　Bob's　restoration　to
favour；　if　a　genuine；　even　though　temporarily　smothered；　love　for
Anne　should　still　hold　possession　of　him。　　But　having　arranged　to
take　her　to　see　the　excavated　figure　of　the　king；　he　started　for
Overcombe　during　the　day；　as　if　nothing　had　occurred　to　check　the
smooth　course　of　his　love。



XXXVIII。　　A　DELICATE　SITUATION

'I　am　ready　to　go；'　said　Anne；　as　soon　as　he　arrived。

He　paused　as　if　taken　aback　by　her　readiness；　and　replied　with　much
uncertainty；　'Would　itwouldn't　it　be　better　to　put　it　off　till
there　is　less　sun？'

The　very　slightest　symptom　of　surprise　arose　in　her　as　she　rejoined；
'But　the　weather　may　change；　or　had　we　better　not　go　at　all？'

'O　no！it　was　only　a　thought。　　We　will　start　at　once。'

And　along　the　vale　they　went；　John　keeping　himself　about　a　yard　from
her　right　hand。　　When　the　third　field　had　been　crossed　they　came
upon　half…a…dozen　little　boys　at　play。

'Why　don't　he　clasp　her　to　his　side；　like　a　man？'　said　the　biggest
and　rudest　boy。

'Why　don't　he　clasp　her　to　his　side；　like　a　man？'　echoed　all　the
rude　smaller　boys　in　a　chorus。

The　trumpet…major　turned；　and；　after　some　running；　succeeded　in
smacking　two　of　them　with　his　switch；　returning　to　Anne　breathless。
'I　am　ashamed　they　should　have　insulted　you　so；'　he　said；　blushing
for　her。

'They　said　no　harm；　poor　boys；'　she　replied　reproachfully。

Poor　John　was　dumb　with　perception。　　The　gentle　hint　upon　which　he
would　have　eagerly　spoken　only　one　short　day　ago　was　now　like　fire
to　his　wound。

They　presently　came　to　some　stepping…stones　across　a　brook。　　John
crossed　first　without　turning　his　head；　and　Anne；　just　lifting　the
skirt　of　her　dress；　crossed　behind　him。　　When　they　had　reached　the
other　side　a　village　girl　and　a　young　shepherd　approached　the　brink
to　cross。　　Anne　stopped　and　watched　them。　　The　shepherd　took　a　hand
of　the　young　girl　in　each　of　his　own；　and　walked　backward　over　the
stones；　facing　her；　and　keeping　her　upright　by　his　grasp；　both　of
them　laughing　as　they　went。

'What　are　you　staying　for；　Miss　Garland？'　asked　John。

'I　was　only　thinking　how　happy　they　are；'　she　said　quietly；　and
withdrawing　her　eyes　from　the　tender　pair；　she　turned　and　followed
him；　not　knowing　that　the　seeming　sound　of　a　passing　bumble…bee　was
a　suppressed　groan　from　John。

When　they　reached　the　hill　they　found　forty　navvies　at　work　removing
the　dark　sod　so　as　to　lay　bare　the　chalk　beneath。　　The　equestrian
figure　that　their　shovels　were　forming　was　scarcely　intelligible　to
John　and　Anne　now　they　were　close；　and　after　pacing　from　the　horse's
head　down　his　breast　to　his　hoof；　back　by　way　of　the　king's
bridle…arm；　past　the　bridge　of　his　nose；　and　into　his　cocked…hat；
Anne　said　that　she　had　had　enough　of　it；　and　stepped　out　of　the
chalk　clearing　upon　the　grass。　　The　trumpet…major　had　remained　all
the　time　in　a　melancholy　attitude　within　the　rowel　of　his　Majesty's
right　spur。

'My　shoes　are　caked　with　chalk；'　she　said　as　they　walked　downwards
again；　and　she　drew　back　her　dress　to　look　at　them。　　'How　can　I　get
some　of　it　cleared　off？'

'If　you　was　to　wipe　them　in　the　long　grass　there；'　said　John；
pointing　to　a　spot　where　the　blades　were　rank　and　dense；　'some　of　it
would　come　off。'　　Having　said　this；　he　walked　on　with　religious
firmness。

Anne　raked　her　little　feet　on　the　right　side；　on　the　left　side；　over
the　toe；　and　behind　the　heel；　but　the　tenacious　chalk　held　its　own。
Panting　with　her　exertion；　she　gave　it　up；　and　at　length　overtook
him。

'I　hope　it　is　right　now？'　he　said；　looking　gingerly　over　his
shoulder。

'No；　indeed！'　said　she。　　'I　wanted　some　assistancesome　one　to
steady　me。　　It　is　so　hard　to　stand　on　one　foot　and　wipe　the　other
without　support。　　I　was　in　danger　of　toppling　over；　and　so　gave　it
up。'

'Merciful　stars；　what　an　opportunity！'　thought　the　poor　fellow　while
she　waited　for　him　to　offer　help。　But　his　lips　remained　closed；　and
she　went　on　with　a　pouting　smile

'You　seem　in　such　a　hurry！　　Why　are　you　in　such　a　hurry？　　After　all
the　fine　things　you　have　said　aboutabout　caring　so　much　for　me；
and　all　that；　you　won't　stop　for　anything！'

It　was　too　much　for　John。　　'Upon　my　heart　and　life；　my　dea'　he
began。　　Here　Bob's　letter　crackled　warningly　in　his　waistcoat　pocket
as　he　laid　his　hand　asseveratingly　upon　his　breast；　and　he　became
suddenly　scaled　up　to　dumbness　and　gloom　as　before。

When　they　reached　home　Anne　sank　upon　a　stool　outside　the　door；
fatigued　with　her　excursion。　　Her　first　act　was　to　try　to　pull　off
her　shoeit　was　a　difficult　matter；　but　John　stood　beating　with　his
switch　the　leaves　of　the　creeper　on　the　wall。

'MotherDavidMolly；　or　somebodydo　come　and　help　me　pull　off
these　dirty　shoes！'　she　cried　aloud　at　last。　　'Nobody　helps　me　in
anything！'

'I　am　very　sorry；'　said　John；　coming　towards　her　with　incredible
slowness　and　an　air　of　unutterable　depression。

'O；　I　can　do　without　YOU。　　David　is　best；'　she　returned；　as　the　old
man　approached　and　removed　the　obnoxious　shoes　in　a　trice。

Anne　was　amazed　at　this　sudden　change　from　devotion　to　crass
indifference。　　On　entering　her　room　she　flew　to　the　glass；　almost
expecting　to　learn　that　some　extraordinary　change　had　come　over　her
pretty　countenance；