catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
children his offspring； at length joined himself to his flock。
To this audience the little ostler explained that the animals belonged to
two gentlemen now reposing at the 〃Bugle：〃 one young with gold hair； the
other old with grizzled locks； both in red coats； both in jack…boots； putting
the house into a bustle； and calling for the best。 He then discoursed to
some of his own companions regarding the merits of the horses； and the
parson； a learned man； explained to the villagers； that one of the travellers
must be a count； or at least had a count's horsecloth； pronounced that the
stirrups were of real silver； and checked the impetuosity of his son；
William Nassau Dobbs； who was for mounting the animals； and who
expressed a longing to fire off one of the pistols in the holsters。
As this family discussion was taking place； the gentlemen whose
appearance had created so much attention came to the door of the inn； and
the elder and stouter was seen to smile at his companion； after which he
strolled leisurely over the green； and seemed to examine with much
benevolent satisfaction the assemblage of villagers who were staring at
9
… Page 10…
Catherine： A Story
him and the quadrupeds。
Mr。 Brock； when he saw the parson's band and cassock； took off his
beaver reverently； and saluted the divine： 〃I hope your reverence won't
baulk the little fellow；〃 said he； 〃I think I heard him calling out for a ride；
and whether he should like my horse； or his Lordship's horse； I am sure it
is all one。 Don't be afraid； sir！ the horses are not tired； we have only come
seventy mile to…day； and Prince Eugene once rode a matter of fifty…two
leagues （a hundred and fifty miles）； sir； upon that horse； between sunrise
and sunset。〃
〃Gracious powers！ on which horse？〃 said Doctor Dobbs； very
solemnly。
〃On THIS； sir；on mine； Corporal Brock of Cutts's black gelding；
'William of Nassau。' The Prince； sir； gave it me after Blenheim fight； for I
had my own legs carried away by a cannon…ball； just as I cut down two of
Sauerkrauter's regiment； who had made the Prince prisoner。〃
〃Your own legs； sir！〃 said the Doctor。 〃Gracious goodness！ this is more
and more astonishing！〃
〃No； no； not my own legs； my horse's I mean； sir； and the Prince gave
me 'William of Nassau' that very day。〃
To this no direct reply was made； but the Doctor looked at Mrs。 Dobbs；
and Mrs。 Dobbs and the rest of the children at her eldest son； who grinned
and said； 〃Isn't it wonderful？〃 The Corporal to this answered nothing； but；
resuming his account； pointed to the other horse and said； 〃THAT horse；
sirgood as mine isthat horse； with the silver stirrups； is his Excellency's
horse； Captain Count Maximilian Gustavus Adolphus von Galgenstein；
captain of horse and of the Holy Roman Empire〃 （he lifted here his hat
with much gravity； and all the crowd； even to the parson； did likewise）。
〃We call him 'George of Denmark；' sir； in compliment to Her Majesty's
husband： he is Blenheim too； sir； Marshal Tallard rode him on that day；
and you know how HE was taken prisoner by the Count。〃
〃George of Denmark； Marshal Tallard； William of Nassau！ this is
strange indeed； most wonderful！ Why； sir； little are you aware that there
are before you； AT THIS MOMENT； two other living beings who bear
these venerated names！ My boys； stand forward！ Look here； sir： these
10
… Page 11…
Catherine： A Story
children have been respectively named after our late sovereign and the
husband of our present Queen。〃
〃And very good names too； sir； ay； and very noble little fellows too；
and I propose that； with your reverence and your ladyship's leave； William
Nassau here shall ride on George of Denmark； and George of Denmark
shall ride on William of Nassau。〃
When this speech of the Corporal's was made； the whole crowd set up
a loyal hurrah； and； with much gravity； the two little boys were lifted up
into the saddles； and the Corporal leading one； entrusted the other to the
horse…boy； and so together marched stately up and down the green。
The popularity which Mr。 Brock gained by this manoeuvre was very
great； but with regard to the names of the horses and children； which
coincided so extraordinarily； it is but fair to state； that the christening of
the quadrupeds had only taken place about two minutes before the
dragoon's appearance on the green。 For if the fact must be confessed； he；
while seated near the inn window； had kept a pretty wistful eye upon all
going on without； and the horses marching thus to and fro for the
wonderment of the village； were only placards or advertisements for the
riders。
There was； besides the boy now occupied with the horses； and the
landlord and landlady of the 〃Bugle Inn；〃 another person connected with
that establishmenta very smart； handsome； vain； giggling servant…girl；
about the age of sixteen； who went by the familiar name of Cat； and
attended upon the gentlemen in the parlour； while the landlady was
employed in cooking their supper in the kitchen。 This young person had
been educated in the village poor…house； and having been pronounced by
Doctor Dobbs and the schoolmaster the idlest； dirtiest； and most
passionate little minx with whom either had ever had to do； she was； after
receiving a very small portion of literary instruction （indeed it must be
stated that the young lady did not know her letters）； bound apprentice at
the age of nine years to Mrs。 Score； her relative； and landlady of the
〃Bugle Inn。〃
If Miss Cat； or Catherine Hall； was a slattern and a minx； Mrs。 Score
was a far superior shrew； and for the seven years of her apprenticeship the
11
… Page 12…
Catherine： A Story
girl was completely at her mistress's mercy。 Yet though wondrously stingy；
jealous； and violent； while her maid was idle and extravagant； and her
husband seemed to abet the girl； Mrs。 Score put up with the wench's airs；
idleness； and caprices； without ever wishing to dismiss her from the
〃Bugle。〃 The fact is； that Miss Catherine was a great beauty； and for about
two years； since her fame had begun to spread； the custom of the inn had
also increased vastly。 When there was a debate whether the farmers； on
their way from market； would take t'other pot； Catherine； by appearing
with it； would straightway cause the liquor to be swallowed and paid for；
and when the traveller who proposed riding that night and sleeping at
Coventry or Birmingham； was asked by Miss Catherine whether he would
like a fire in his bedroom； he generally was induced to occupy it； although
he might before have vowed to Mrs。 Score that he would not for a
thousand guineas be absent from home that night。 The girl had； too； half…a…
dozen lovers in the village； and these were bound in honour to spend their
pence at the alehouse she inhabited。 O woman； lovely woman！ what strong
resolves canst thou twist round thy little finger！ what gunpowder passions
canst thou kindle with a single sparkle of thine eye！ what lies and fribble
nonsense canst thou make us listen to； as they were gospel truth or
splendid wit！ above all what bad liquor canst thou make us swallow when
thou puttest a kiss within the cupand we are content to call the poison
wine！
The mountain…wine at the 〃Bugle〃 was； in fact； execrable； but Mrs。 Cat；
who served it to the two soldiers； made it so agreeable to them； that they
found it a passable； even a pleasant task； to swallow the contents of a
second bottle。 The miracle had been wrought instantaneously on her
appearance： for whereas at that very moment the Count was employed in
cursing the wine； the landlady； the wine…grower； and the English nation
