the trumpet-major-第59部分

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expecting　to　learn　that　some　extraordinary　change　had　come　over　her
pretty　countenance；　rendering　her　intolerable　for　evermore。　　But　it
was；　if　anything；　fresher　than　usual；　on　account　of　the　exercise。
'Well！'　she　said　retrospectively。　　For　the　first　time　since　their
acqaintance　she　had　this　week　encouraged　him；　and　for　the　first　time
he　had　shown　that　encouragement　was　useless。　　'But　perhaps　he　does
not　clearly　understand；'　she　added　serenely。

When　he　next　came　it　was；　to　her　surprise；　to　bring　her　newspapers；
now　for　some　time　discontinued。　　As　soon　as　she　saw　them　she　said；
'I　do　not　care　for　newspapers。'

'The　shipping　news　is　very　full　and　long　to…day；　though　the　print　is
rather　small。'

'I　take　no　further　interest　in　the　shipping　news；'　she　replied　with
cold　dignity。

She　was　sitting　by　the　window；　inside　the　table；　and　hence　when；　in
spite　of　her　negations；　he　deliberately　unfolded　the　paper　and　began
to　read　about　the　Royal　Navy　she　could　hardly　rise　and　go　away。
With　a　stoical　mien　he　read　on　to　the　end　of　the　report；　bringing
out　the　name　of　Bob's　ship　with　tremendous　force。

'No；'　she　said　at　last；　'I'll　hear　no　more！　　Let　me　read　to　you。'

The　trumpet…major　sat　down。　　Anne　turned　to　the　military　news；
delivering　every　detail　with　much　apparent　enthusiasm。　　'That's　the
subject　_I_　like！'　she　said　fervently。

'Butbut　Bob　is　in　the　navy　now；　and　will　most　likely　rise　to　be　an
officer。　　And　then'

'What　is　there　like　the　army？'　she　interrupted。　　'There　is　no
smartness　about　sailors。　　They　waddle　like　ducks；　and　they　only
fight　stupid　battles　that　no　one　can　form　any　idea　of。　　There　is　no
science　nor　stratagem　in　sea…fightsnothing　more　than　what　you　see
when　two　rams　run　their　heads　together　in　a　field　to　knock　each
other　down。　　But　in　military　battles　there　is　such　art；　and　such
splendour；　and　the　men　are　so　smart；　particularly　the
horse…soldiers。　　O；　I　shall　never　forget　what　gallant　men　you　all
seemed　when　you　came　and　pitched　your　tents　on　the　downs！　　I　like
the　cavalry　better　than　anything　I　know；　and　the　dragoons　the　best
of　the　cavalryand　the　trumpeters　the　best　of　the　dragoons！'

'O；　if　it　had　but　come　a　little　sooner！'　moaned　John　within　him。　　He
replied　as　soon　as　he　could　regain　self…command；　'I　am　glad　Bob　is
in　the　navy　at　lasthe　is　so　much　more　fitted　for　that　than　the
merchant…serviceso　brave　by　nature；　ready　for　any　daring　deed。　　I
have　heard　ever　so　much　more　about　his　doings　on　board　the　Victory。
Captain　Hardy　took　special　notice　that　when　he'

'I　don't　want　to　know　anything　more　about　it；'　said　Anne
impatiently；　'of　course　sailors　fight；　there's　nothing　else　to　do　in
a　ship；　since　you　can't　run　away！　　You　may　as　well　fight　and　be
killed　as　be　killed　not　fighting。'

'Still　it　is　his　character　to　be　careless　of　himself　where　the
honour　of　his　country　is　concerned；'　John　pleaded。　　'If　you　had　only
known　him　as　a　boy　you　would　own　it。　　He　would　always　risk　his　own
life　to　save　anybody　else's。　　Once　when　a　cottage　was　afire　up　the
lane　he　rushed　in　for　a　baby；　although　he　was　only　a　boy　himself；
and　he　had　the　narrowest　escape。　　We　have　got　his　hat　now　with　the
hole　burnt　in　it。　　Shall　I　get　it　and　show　it　to　you？'

'NoI　don't　wish　it。　　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　me。'　　But　as　he
persisted　in　his　course　towards　the　door；　she　added；　'Ah！　you　are
leaving　because　I　am　in　your　way。　　You　want　to　be　alone　while　you
read　the　paperI　will　go　at　once。　　I　did　not　see　that　I　was
interrupting　you。'　　And　she　rose　as　if　to　retreat。

'No；　no！　　I　would　rather　be　interrupted　by　YOU　thanO；　Miss
Garland；　excuse　me！　　I'll　just　speak　to　father　in　the　mill；　now　I　am
here。'

It　is　scarcely　necessary　to　state　that　Anne　（whose　unquestionable
gentility　amid　somewhat　homely　surroundings　has　been　many　times
insisted　on　in　the　course　of　this　history）　was　usually　the　reverse
of　a　woman　with　a　coming…on　disposition；　but；　whether　from　pique　at
his　manner；　or　from　wilful　adherence　to　a　course　rashly　resolved　on；
or　from　coquettish　maliciousness　in　reaction　from　long　depression；
or　from　any　other　thing；so　it　was　that　she　would　not　let　him　go。

'Trumpet…major；'　she　said；　recalling　him。

'Yes？'　he　replied　timidly。

'The　bow　of　my　cap…ribbon　has　come　untied；　has　it　not？'　　She　turned
and　fixed　her　bewitching　glance　upon　him。

The　bow　was　just　over　her　forehead；　or；　more　precisely；　at　the　point
where　the　organ　of　comparison　merges　in　that　of　benevolence；
according　to　the　phrenological　theory　of　Gall。　　John；　thus　brought
to；　endeavoured　to　look　at　the　bow　in　a　skimming；　duck…and…drake
fashion；　so　as　to　avoid　dipping　his　own　glance　as　far　as　to　the
plane　of　his　interrogator's　eyes。　　'It　is　untied；'　he　said；　drawing
back　a　little。

She　came　nearer；　and　asked；　'Will　you　tie　it　for　me；　please？'

As　there　was　no　help　for　it；　he　nerved　himself　and　assented。　　As　her
head　only　reached　to　his　fourth　button　she　necessarily　looked　up　for
his　convenience；　and　John　began　fumbling　at　the　bow。　　Try　as　he
would　it　was　impossible　to　touch　the　ribbon　without　getting　his
finger　tips　mixed　with　the　curls　of　her　forehead。

'Your　hand　shakesah！　you　have　been　walking　fast；'　she　said。

'Yesyes。'

'Have　you　almost　done　it？'　　She　inquiringly　directed　her　gaze　upward
through　his　fingers。

'Nonot　yet；'　he　faltered　in　a　warm　sweat　of　emotion；　his　heart
going　like　a　flail。

'Then　be　quick；　please。'

'Yes；　I　will；　Miss　Garland！　　BBBob　is　a　very　good　fel'

'Not　that　man's　name　to　me！'　she　interrupted。

John　was　silent　instantly；　and　nothing　was　to　be　heard　but　the
rustling　of　the　ribbon；　till　his　hands　once　more　blundered　among　the
curls；　and　then　touched　her　forehead。

'O　good　God！'　ejaculated　the　trumpet…major　in　a　whisper；　turning
away　hastily　to　the　corner…cupboard；　and　resting　his　face　upon　his
hand。

'What's　the　matter；　John？'　said　she。

'I　can't　do　it！'

'What？'

'Tie　your　cap…ribbon。'

'Why　not？'

'Because　you　are　soBecause　I　am　clumsy；　and　never　could　tie　a
bow。'

'You　are　clumsy　indeed；'　answered　Anne；　and　went　away。

After　this　she　felt　injured；　for　it　seemed　to　show　that　he　rated　her
happiness　as　of　meaner　value　than　Bob's；　since　he　had　persisted　in
his　idea　of　giving　Bob　another　chance　when　she　had　implied　that　it
was　her　wish　to　do　otherwise。　　Could　Miss　Johnson　have　anything　to
do　with　his　firmness？　　An　opportunity　of　testing　him　in　this
direction　occurred　some　days　later。　　She　had　been　up　the　village；
and　met　John　at　the　mill…door。

'Have　you　heard　the　news？　　Matilda　Johnson　is　going　to　be　married　to
young　Derriman。'

Anne　stood　with　her　back　to　the　sun；　and　as　he　faced　her；　his
features　were　searchingly　exhibited。　　There　was　no　change　whatever
in　them；　unless　it　were　that　a　certain　light　of　interest　kindled　by
her　question　turned　to　complete　and　blank　indifference。　　'Well；　as
times　go；　it　is　not　a　bad　match　for　her；'　he　said；　with　a　phlegm
which　was　hardly　that　of　a　lover。

John　on　his　part　was　beginning　to　find　these　temptations　almost　more
than　he　could　bear。　　But　being　quartered　so　near　to　his　father's
house　it　was　unnatural　not　to　visit　him；　especially　when　at　any
moment　the　regiment　might　be　ordered　abroad；　and　a　separation　of
years　ensue；　and　as　long　as　he　went　there　he　could　not　help　seeing
her。

The　year　changed　from　green　to　gold；　and　from　gold　to　grey；　but
little　change　came　over　the　house　of　Loveday。　　During　the　last
twelve　months　Bob　had　been　occasionally　heard　of　as　upholding　his
country's　honour　in　Denmark；　the　West　Indies；　Gibraltar；　Malta；　and
other　places　about　the　globe；　till　the　family　received　a　short
letter　stating　that　he　had　arrived　again　at　Portsmouth。　　At
Portsmouth　Bob　seemed　disposed　to　remain；　for　though　some　time
elapsed　without　further　intelligence；　the　gallant　seaman　never
appeared　at　Overcombe。　　Then　on　a　sudden　John　learnt　that　Bob's
long…talked…of　promotion　for　signal　services　rendered　was　to　be　an
accomplished　fact。　　The　trumpet…major　at　once　walked　off　to
Overcombe；　and　reached　the　village　in　the　early　afternoon。　　Not　one
of　the　family　was　in　the　house　at　the　moment；　and　John　strolled
onwards　over　the　hill　towards　Casterbridge；　without　much　thought　of
direction　till；　lifting　his　eyes；　he　beheld　Anne　Garland　wandering
about　with　a　little　basket　upon　her　arm。

At　first　John　blushed　with　delight　at　the　sweet　vision；　but；
recalled　by　his　conscience；　the　blush　of　delight　was　at　once　mangled
and　slain。　　He　looked　for　a　means　of　retreat。　　But　the　field　was
open；　and　a　soldier　was　a　conspicuous　object：　　there　was　no　escaping
her。

'It　was　kind　of　you　to　come；'　she　said；　with　an　inviting　smile。

'It　was　quite　by　accident；'　he　answered；　with　an　indifferent　laugh。
'I　thought　you　was　at　home。'

Anne　blushed　and　said　nothing；　and　they　rambled　on　together。　　In　the
middle　of　the　field　rose　a　fragment　of　stone　wall　in　the　form　of　a
gable；　known　as　Faringdon　Ruin；　and　when　they　had　reached　it　John
paused　and　politely　asked　her　if　she　were　not　a　little　tired　with
walking　so　far。　　No　particular　reply　was　returned　by　the　young　lady；
but　they　both　stopped；　and　Anne　seated　herself　on　a　stone；　which　had
fallen　from　the　ruin　to　the　ground。

'A　church　once　stood　here；'　observed　John　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。

'Yes；　I　have　often　shaped　it　out　in　my　mind；'　she　returned。　　'Here
where　I　sit　must　have　been　the　altar。'

'True；　this　standing　bit　of　wall　was　the　chancel　end。'

Anne　had　been　adding　up　her　little　studies　of　the　trumpet…major's
character；　and　was　surprised　to　find　how　the　brightness　of　that
character　increased　in　her　eyes　with　each　examination。　　A　kindly　and
gentle　sensation　was　again　aroused　in　her。　　Here　was　a　neglected
heroic　man；　who；　loving　her　to　distraction；　deliberately　doomed
himself　to　pensive　shade　to　avoid　even　the　appearance　of　standing　in
a　brother's　way。

'If　the　altar　stood　here；　hundreds　of　people　have　been　made　man　and
wife　just　there；　in　past　times；'　she　said；　with　calm　deliberateness；
throwing　a　little　stone　on　a　spot　about　a　yard　westward。

John　annihilated　another　tender　burst　and　replied；　'Yes；　this　field
used　to　be　a　village。　　My　grandfather　could　call　to　mind　when　there
were　houses　here。　　But　the　squire　pulled　'em