the trumpet-major-第60部分

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used　to　be　a　village。　　My　grandfather　could　call　to　mind　when　there
were　houses　here。　　But　the　squire　pulled　'em　down；　because　poor　folk
were　an　eyesore　to　him。'

'Do　you　know；　John；　what　you　once　asked　me　to　do？'　she　continued；
not　accepting　the　digression；　and　turning　her　eyes　upon　him。

'In　what　sort　of　way？'

'In　the　matter　of　my　future　life；　and　yours。'

'I　am　afraid　I　don't。'

'John　Loveday！'

He　turned　his　back　upon　her　for　a　moment；　that　she　might　not　see　his
face。　　'AhI　do　remember；'　he　said　at　last；　in　a　dry；　small；
repressed　voice。

'Wellneed　I　say　more？　　Isn't　it　sufficient？'

'It　would　be　sufficient；'　answered　the　unhappy　man。　　'But'

She　looked　up　with　a　reproachful　smile；　and　shook　her　head。　　'That
summer；'　she　went　on；　'you　asked　me　ten　times　if　you　asked　me　once。
I　am　older　now；　much　more　of　a　woman；　you　know；　and　my　opinion　is
changed　about　some　people；　especially　about　one。'

'O　Anne；　Anne！'　he　burst　out　as；　racked　between　honour　and　desire；
he　snatched　up　her　hand。　　The　next　moment　it　fell　heavily　to　her
lap。　　He　had　absolutely　relinquished　it　half…way　to　his　lips。

'I　have　been　thinking　lately；'　he　said；　with　preternaturally　sudden
calmness；　'that　men　of　the　military　profession　ought　not　to　mought
to　be　like　St。　Paul；　I　mean。'

'Fie；　John；　pretending　religion！'　she　said　sternly。　　'It　isn't　that
at　all。　　IT'S　BOB！'

'Yes！'　cried　the　miserable　trumpet…major。　　'I　have　had　a　letter　from
him　to…day。'　He　pulled　out　a　sheet　of　paper　from　his　breast。
'That's　it！　　He's　promotedhe's　a　lieutenant；　and　appointed　to　a
sloop　that　only　cruises　on　our　own　coast；　so　that　he'll　be　at　home
on　leave　half　his　timehe'll　be　a　gentleman　some　day；　and　worthy　of
you！'

He　threw　the　letter　into　her　lap；　and　drew　back　to　the　other　side　of
the　gable…wall。　　Anne　jumped　up　from　her　seat；　flung　away　the　letter
without　looking　at　it；　and　went　hastily　on。　　John　did　not　attempt　to
overtake　her。　　Picking　up　the　letter；　he　followed　in　her　wake　at　a
distance　of　a　hundred　yards。

But；　though　Anne　had　withdrawn　from　his　presence　thus　precipitately；
she　never　thought　more　highly　of　him　in　her　life　than　she　did　five
minutes　afterwards；　when　the　excitement　of　the　moment　had　passed。
She　saw　it　all　quite　clearly；　and　his　self…sacrifice　impressed　her
so　much　that　the　effect　was　just　the　reverse　of　what　he　had　been
aiming　to　produce。　　The　more　he　pleaded　for　Bob；　the　more　her
perverse　generosity　pleaded　for　John。　　To…day　the　crisis　had　come
with　what　results　she　had　not　foreseen。

As　soon　as　the　trumpet…major　reached　the　nearest　pen…and…ink　he
flung　himself　into　a　seat　and　wrote　wildly　to　Bob：

'DEAR　ROBERT；I　write　these　few　lines　to　let　you　know　that　if　you
want　Anne　Garland　you　must　come　at　onceyou　must　come　instantly；
and　post…hasteOR　SHE　WILL　BE　GONE！　　Somebody　else　wants　her；　and
she　wants　him！　　It　is　your　last　chance；　in　the　opinion　of
　　　　　　　　　　'Your　faithful　brother　and　well…wisher；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'JOHN。
'P。S。Glad　to　hear　of　your　promotion。　　Tell　me　the　day　and　I'll
meet　the　coach。'



XXXIX。　　BOB　LOVEDAY　STRUTS　UP　AND　DOWN

One　night；　about　a　week　later；　two　men　were　walking　in　the　dark
along　the　turnpike　road　towards　Overcombe；　one　of　them　with　a　bag　in
his　hand。

'Now；'　said　the　taller　of　the　two；　the　squareness　of　whose　shoulders
signified　that　he　wore　epaulettes；　'now　you　must　do　the　best　you　can
for　yourself；　Bob。　　I　have　done　all　I　can；　but　th'hast　thy　work　cut
out；　I　can　tell　thee。'

'I　wouldn't　have　run　such　a　risk　for　the　world；'　said　the　other；　in
a　tone　of　ingenuous　contrition。　　'But　thou'st　see；　Jack；　I　didn't
think　there　was　any　danger；　knowing　you　was　taking　care　of　her；　and
keeping　my　place　warm　for　me。　　I　didn't　hurry　myself；　that's　true；
but；　thinks　I；　if　I　get　this　promotion　I　am　promised　I　shall
naturally　have　leave；　and　then　I'll　go　and　see　'em　all。　　Gad；　I
shouldn't　have　been　here　now　but　for　your　letter！'

'You　little　think　what　risks　you've　run；'　said　his　brother。
'However；　try　to　make　up　for　lost　time。'

'All　right。　　And　whatever　you　do；　Jack；　don't　say　a　word　about　this
other　girl。　　Hang　the　girl！I　was　a　great　fool；　I　know；　still；　it
is　over　now；　and　I　am　come　to　my　senses。　　I　suppose　Anne　never
caught　a　capful　of　wind　from　that　quarter？'

'She　knows　all　about　it；'　said　John　seriously。

'Knows？　　By　George；　then；　I'm　ruined！'　said　Bob；　standing
stock…still　in　the　road　as　if　he　meant　to　remain　there　all　night。

'That's　what　I　meant　by　saying　it　would　be　a　hard　battle　for　'ee；'
returned　John；　with　the　same　quietness　as　before。

Bob　sighed　and　moved　on。　　'I　don't　deserve　that　woman！'　he　cried
passionately；　thumping　his　three　upper　ribs　with　his　fist。

'I've　thought　as　much　myself；'　observed　John；　with　a　dryness　which
was　almost　bitter。　　'But　it　depends　on　how　thou'st　behave　in
future。'

'John；'　said　Bob；　taking　his　brother's　hand；　'I'll　be　a　new　man。　　I
solemnly　swear　by　that　eternal　milestone　staring　at　me　there　that
I'll　never　look　at　another　woman　with　the　thought　of　marrying　her
whilst　that　darling　is　freeno；　not　if　she　be　a　mermaiden　of　light！
It's　a　lucky　thing　that　I'm　slipped　in　on　the　quarterdeck！　it　may
help　me　with　herhey？'

'It　may　with　her　mother；　I　don't　think　it　will　make　much　difference
with　Anne。　　Still；　it　is　a　good　thing；　and　I　hope　that　some　day
you'll　command　a　big　ship。'

Bob　shook　his　head。　　'Officers　are　scarce；　but　I'm　afraid　my　luck
won't　carry　me　so　far　as　that。'

'Did　she　ever　tell　you　that　she　mentioned　your　name　to　the　King？'

The　seaman　stood　still　again。　　'Never！'　he　said。　　'How　did　such　a
thing　as　that　happen；　in　Heaven's　name？'

John　described　in　detail；　and　they　walked　on；　lost　in　conjecture。

As　soon　as　they　entered　the　house　the　returned　officer　of　the　navy
was　welcomed　with　acclamation　by　his　father　and　David；　with　mild
approval　by　Mrs。　Loveday；　and　by　Anne　not　at　allthat　discreet
maiden　having　carefully　retired　to　her　own　room　some　time　earlier　in
the　evening。　　Bob　did　not　dare　to　ask　for　her　in　any　positive
manner；　he　just　inquired　about　her　health；　and　that　was　all。

'Why；　what's　the　matter　with　thy　face；　my　son？'　said　the　miller；
staring。　　'David；　show　a　light　here。'　　And　a　candle　was　thrust
against　Bob's　cheek；　where　there　appeared　a　jagged　streak　like　the
geological　remains　of　a　lobster。

'Othat's　where　that　rascally　Frenchman's　grenade　busted　and　hit　me
from　the　Redoubtable；　you　know；　as　I　told　'ee　in　my　letter。'

'Not　a　word！'

'What；　didn't　I　tell　'ee？　　Ah；　no；　I　meant　to；　but　I　forgot　it。'

'And　here's　a　sort　of　dint　in　yer　forehead　too；　what　do　that　mean；
my　dear　boy？'　said　the　miller；　putting　his　finger　in　a　chasm　in
Bob's　skull。

'That　was　done　in　the　Indies。　　Yes；　that　was　rather　a　troublesome
chopa　cutlass　did　it。　　I　should　have　told　'ee；　but　I　found　'twould
make　my　letter　so　long　that　I　put　it　off；　and　put　it　off；　and　at
last　thought　it　wasn't　worth　while。'

John　soon　rose　to　take　his　departure。

'It's　all　up　with　me　and　her；　you　see；'　said　Bob　to　him　outside　the
door。　　'She's　not　even　going　to　see　me。'

'Wait　a　little；'　said　the　trumpet…major。　　It　was　easy　enough　on　the
night　of　the　arrival；　in　the　midst　of　excitement；　when　blood　was
warm；　for　Anne　to　be　resolute　in　her　avoidance　of　Bob　Loveday。　　But
in　the　morning　determination　is　apt　to　grow　invertebrate；　rules　of
pugnacity　are　less　easily　acted　up　to；　and　a　feeling　of　live　and　let
live　takes　possession　of　the　gentle　soul。　　Anne　had　not　meant　even
to　sit　down　to　the　same　breakfast…table　with　Bob；　but　when　the　rest
were　assembled；　and　had　got　some　way　through　the　substantial　repast
which　was　served　at　this　hour　in　the　miller's　house；　Anne　entered。
She　came　silently　as　a　phantom；　her　eyes　cast　down；　her　cheeks　pale。
It　was　a　good　long　walk　from　the　door　to　the　table；　and　Bob　made　a
full　inspection　of　her　as　she　came　up　to　a　chair　at　the　remotest
corner；　in　the　direct　rays　of　the　morning　light；　where　she　dumbly
sat　herself　down。

It　was　altogether　different　from　how　she　had　expected。　　Here　was
she；　who　had　done　nothing；　feeling　all　the　embarrassment；　and　Bob；
who　had　done　the　wrong；　feeling　apparently　quite　at　ease。

'You'll　speak　to　Bob；　won't　you；　honey？'　said　the　miller　after　a
silence。　　To　meet　Bob　like　this　after　an　absence　seemed　irregular　in
his　eyes。

'If　he　wish　me　to；'　she　replied；　so　addressing　the　miller　that　no
part；　scrap；　or　outlying　beam　whatever　of　her　glance　passed　near　the
subject　of　her　remark。

'He's　a　lieutenant；　you　know；　dear；'　said　her　mother　on　the　same
side；　'and　he's　been　dreadfully　wounded。'

'Oh？'　said　Anne；　turning　a　little　towards　the　false　one；　at　which
Bob　felt　it　to　be　time　for　him　to　put　in　a　spoke　for　himself。

'I　am　glad　to　see　you；'　he　said　contritely；　'and　how　do　you　do？'

'Very　well；　thank　you。'

He　extended　his　hand。　　She　allowed　him　to　take　hers；　but　only　to　the
extent　of　a　niggardly　inch　or　so。　　At　the　same　moment　she　glanced　up
at　him；　when　their　eyes　met；　and　hers　were　again　withdrawn。

The　hitch　between　the　two　younger　members　of　the　household　tended　to
make　the　breakfast　a　dull　one。　　Bob　was　so　depressed　by　her
unforgiving　manner　that　he　could　not　throw　that　sparkle　into　his
stories　which　their　substance　naturally　required；　and　when　the　meal
was　over；　and　they　went　about　their　different　businesses；　the　pair
resembled　the　two　Dromios　in　seldom　or　never　being；　thanks　to　Anne's
subtle　contrivances；　both　in　the　same　room　at　the　same　time。

This　kind　of　performance　repeated　itself　during　several　days。　　At
last；　after　dogging　her　hither　and　thither；　leaning　with　a　wrinkled
forehead　against　doorposts；　taking　an　oblique　view　into　the　room
where　she　happened　to　be；　picking　up　worsted　balls　and　getting　no
thanks；　placing　a　splinter　from　the　Victory；　several　bullets　from
the　Redoubtable；　a　strip　of　the　flag；　and　other　interesting　relics；
carefully　labelled；　upon　her　table；　and　hearing　no　more　about　them
than　if　they　had　been　pebbles　from　the　nearest　brook；　he　hit　upon　a
new　plan。　　To　avoid　him　she　frequently　sat　upstairs　in　a　window
overlooking　the　garden。　　Lieutenant　Loveday　carefully　dressed
himself　in　a　new　uniform；　which　he　had　caused　to　be　se