men of iron(铁人)-第23节
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branches of which overhung into the garden beyond。 So； first making sure
that no one was looking that way； and bidding the others keep a sharp
lookout； Myles shinned up this tree； and choosing one of the thicker limbs；
climbed out upon it for some little distance。 Then lowering his body； he
hung at arm's…length； the branch bending with his weight； and slowly let
himself down hand under hand； until at last he hung directly over the top
of the wall； and perhaps a foot above it。 Below him he could see the leafy
top of an arbor covered with a thick growth of clematis； and even as he
hung there he noticed the broad smooth walks； the grassy terrace in front
of the Countess's apartments in the distance； the quaint flower…beds； the
yew…trees trimmed into odd shapes； and even the deaf old gardener
working bare…armed in the sunlight at a flower…bed in the far corner by the
tool…house。
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The top of the wall was pointed like a house roof； and immediately
below him was covered by a thick growth of green moss； and it flashed
through his mind as he hung there that maybe it would offer a very
slippery foothold for one dropping upon the steep slopes of the top。 But it
was too late to draw back now。
Bracing himself for a moment； he loosed his hold upon the limb above。
The branch flew back with a rush； and he dropped； striving to grasp the
sloping angle with his feet。 Instantly the treacherous slippery moss slid
away from beneath him； he made a vain clutch at the wall； his fingers
sliding over the cold stones； then； with a sharp exclamation； down he
pitched bodily into the garden beneath！ A thousand thoughts flew through
his brain like a cloud of flies； and then a leafy greenness seemed to strike
up against him。 A splintering crash sounded in his ears as the lattice top of
the arbor broke under him； and with one final clutch at the empty air he
fell heavily upon the ground beneath。
He heard a shrill scream that seemed to find an instant echo； even as
he fell he had a vision of faces and bright colors； and when he sat up；
dazed and bewildered； he found himself face to face with the Lady Anne；
the daughter of the house； and her cousin； the Lady Alice； who clutching
one another tightly； stood staring at him with wide scared eyes。
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CHAPTER 18
For a little time there was a pause of deep silence； during which the
fluttering leaves came drifting down from the broken arbor above。
It was the Lady Anne who first spoke。 〃Who art thou； and whence
comest thou？〃 said she； tremulously。
Then Myles gathered himself up sheepishly。 〃My name is Myles
Falworth；〃 said he； 〃and I am one of the squires of the body。〃
〃Oh！ aye！〃 said the Lady Alice； suddenly。 〃Me thought I knew thy face。
Art thou not the young man that I have seen in Lord George's train？〃
〃Yes； lady；〃 said Myles； wrapping and twining a piece of the broken
vine in and out among his fingers。 〃Lord George hath often had me of late
about his person。〃
〃And what dost thou do here； sirrah？〃 said Lady Anne； angrily。 〃How
darest thou come so into our garden？〃
〃I meant not to come as I did；〃 said Myles； clumsily； and with a face
hot and red。 〃But I slipped over the top of the wall and fell hastily into the
garden。 Truly； lady； I meant ye no harm or fright thereby。〃
He looked so drolly abashed as he stood before them； with his clothes
torn and soiled from the fall； his face red； and his eyes downcast； all the
while industriously twisting the piece of clematis in and around his fingers；
that Lady Anne's half…frightened anger could not last。 She and her cousin
exchanged glances； and smiled at one another。
〃But；〃 said she at last； trying to draw her pretty brows together into a
frown； 〃tell me； why didst thou seek to climb the wall？〃
〃I came to seek a ball；〃 said Myles； 〃which I struck over hither from
the court beyond。〃
〃And wouldst thou come into our privy garden for no better reason
than to find a ball？〃 said the young lady。
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃it was not so much to find the ball； but； in good
sooth； I did truly strike it harder than need be； and so； gin I lost the ball； I
could do no less than come and find it again； else our sport is done for the
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day。 So it was I came hither。〃
The two young ladies had by now recovered from their fright。 The
Lady Anne slyly nudged her cousin with her elbow； and the younger could
not suppress a half…nervous laugh。 Myles heard it； and felt his face grow
hotter and redder than ever。
〃Nay；〃 said Lady Anne； 〃I do believe Master Giles〃
〃My name be'st Myles；〃 corrected Myles。
〃Very well； then； Master Myles； I say I do believe that thou meanest no
harm in coming hither； ne'theless it was ill of thee so to do。 An my father
should find thee here； he would have thee shrewdly punished for such
trespassing。 Dost thou not know that no one is permitted to enter this
placeno； not even my uncle George？ One fellow who came hither to
steal apples once had his ears shaven close to his head； and not more than
a year ago one of the cook's men who climbed the wall early one morning
was shot by the watchman。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； 〃I knew of him who was shot； and it did go
somewhat against my stomach to venture； knowing what had happed to
him。 Ne'theless； an I gat not the ball； how were we to play more to…day at
the trap？〃
〃Marry； thou art a bold fellow； I do believe me；〃 said the young lady；
〃and sin thou hast come in the face of such peril to get thy ball； thou shalt
not go away empty。 Whither didst thou strike it？〃
〃Over yonder by the cherry…tree；〃 said Myles； jerking his head in that
direction。 〃An I may go get it； I will trouble ye no more。〃 As he spoke he
made a motion to leave them。
〃Stay！〃 said the Lady Anne； hastily； 〃remain where thou art。 An thou
cross the open； some one may haply see thee from the house； and will give
the alarm； and thou wilt be lost。 I will go get thy ball。〃
And so she left Myles and her cousin； crossing the little plots of grass
and skirting the rosebushes to the cherry…tree。
When Myles found himself alone with Lady Alice； he knew not where
to look or what to do； but twisted the piece of clematis which he still held
in and out more industriously than ever。
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Lady Alice watched him with dancing eyes for a little while。 〃Haply
thou wilt spoil that poor vine；〃 said she by…and…by； breaking the silence
and laughing； then turning suddenly serious again。 〃Didst thou hurt thyself
by thy fall？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； looking up； 〃such a fall as that was no great matter。
Many and many a time I have had worse。〃
〃Hast thou so？〃 said the Lady Alice。 〃Thou didst fright me parlously；
and my coz likewise。〃
Myles hesitated for a moment； and then blurted out； 〃Thereat I grieve；
for thee I would not fright for all the world。〃
The young lady laughed and blushed。 〃All the world is a great matter；〃
said she。
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃it is a great matter； but it is a greater matter to fright
thee； and so I would not do it for that； and more。〃
The young lady laughed again； but she did not say anything further；
and a space of silence fell so long that by…and…by she forced herself to say；
〃My cousin findeth not the ball presently。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； briefly； and then again neither spoke； until by…and…
by the Lady Anne came； bringing the ball。 Myles felt a great sense of relief
at that coming； and yet was somehow sorry。 Then he took the ball； and
knew enough to bow his acknowledgment in a manner neither ill nor
awkward。
〃Didst thou hurt thyself？〃 asked Lady Anne。
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； giving himself a shake； 〃seest thou not I be whole；
limb and bone？ Nay； I have had shrewdly worse falls than that。 Once I fell
out of an oak…tree down by
