beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第13节
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coming to the farm。
〃I knew 'twere a…coming。 There's been signs an' warnings。〃
〃Who's dead； then； old Mother？〃 called out the young man。
〃'Tis young Mister Ladbruk；〃 she shrilled back； 〃they've just a…
carried his body in。 Run out of the way of a tree that was coming down
an' ran hisself on to an iron post。 Dead when they picked un up。 Aye；
I knew 'twere coming。〃
And she turned to fling a handful of barley at a belated group of
guinea…fowl that came racing toward her。
* * * *
The farm was a family property； and passed to the rabbit…shooting
cousin as the next…of…kin。 Emma Ladbruk drifted out of its history as a
bee that had wandered in at an open window might flit its way out again。
On a cold grey morning she stood waiting； with her boxes already
stowed in the farm cart； till the last of the market produce should be
ready； for the train she was to catch was of less importance than the
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chickens and butter and eggs that were to be offered for sale。 From
where she stood she could see an angle of the long latticed window
that was to have been cosy with curtains and gay with bowls of flowers。
Into her mind came the thought that for months； perhaps for years； long
after she had been utterly forgotten； a white； unheeding face would be
seen peering out through those latticed panes； and a weak muttering
voice would be heard quavering up and down those flagged passages。
She made her way to a narrow barred casement that opened into the farm
larder。 Old Martha was standing at a table trussing a pair of chickens
for the market stall as she had trussed them for nearly fourscore years。
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THE LULL
I'VE asked Latimer Springfield to spend Sunday with us and stop
the night；〃 announced Mrs。 Durmot at the breakfast…table。
〃I thought he was in the throes of an election；〃 remarked her
husband。
〃Exactly； the poll is on Wednesday； and the poor man will have
worked himself to a shadow by that time。 Imagine what electioneering
must be like in this awful soaking rain； going along slushy country roads
and speaking to damp audiences in draughty schoolrooms； day after
day for a fortnight。 He'll have to put in an appearance at some place of
worship on Sunday morning； and he can come to us immediately
afterwards and have a thorough respite from everything connected with
politics。 I won't let him even think of them。 I've had the picture of
Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament taken down from the staircase；
and even the portrait of Lord Rosebery's 'Ladas' removed from the
smoking…room。 And Vera；〃 added Mrs。 Durmot； turning to her sixteen…
year…old niece； 〃be careful what colour ribbon you wear in your hair；
not blue or yellow on any account； those are the rival party colours； and
emerald green or orange would be almost as bad； with this Home Rule
business to the fore。〃
〃On state occasions I always wear a black ribbon in my hair；〃 said
Vera with crushing dignity。
Latimer Springfield was a rather cheerless； oldish young man； who
went into politics somewhat in the spirit in which other people might go
into half…mourning。 Without being an enthusiast； however； he was a
fairly strenuous plodder； and Mrs。 Durmot had been reasonably near
the mark in asserting that he was working at high pressure over this
election。 The restful lull which his hostess enforced on him was
decidedly welcome； and yet the nervous excitement of the contest had
too great a hold on him to be totally banished。
〃I know he's going to sit up half the night working up points for his
final speeches；〃 said Mrs。 Durmot regretfully； 〃however； we've kept
politics at arm's length all the afternoon and evening。 More than that
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we cannot do。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Vera； but she said it to herself。
Latimer had scarcely shut his bedroom door before he was immersed
in a sheaf of notes and pamphlets； while a fountain…pen and pocket…book
were brought into play for the due marshalling of useful facts and
discreet fictions。 He had been at work for perhaps thirty…five minutes；
and the house was seemingly consecrated to the healthy slumber of
country life； when a stifled squealing and scuffling in the passage was
followed by a loud tap at his door。 Before he had time to answer； a
much… encumbered Vera burst into the room with the question； 〃I say；
can I leave these here？〃
〃These〃 were a small black pig and a lusty specimen of black…red
gamecock。
Latimer was moderately fond of animals； and particularly interested
in small livestock rearing from the economic point of view； in fact； one
of the pamphlets on which he was at that moment engaged warmly
advocated the further development of the pig and poultry industry in
our rural districts； but he was pardonably unwilling to share even a
commodious bedroom with samples of henroost and stye products。
〃Wouldn't they be happier somewhere outside？〃 he asked； tactfully
expressing his own preference in the matter in an apparent solicitude for
theirs。
〃There is no outside；〃 said Vera impressively； 〃nothing but a waste of
dark； swirling waters。 The reservoir at Brinkley has burst。〃
〃I didn't know there was a reservoir at Brinkley；〃 said Latimer。
〃Well； there isn't now； it's jolly well all over the place； and as we
stand particularly low we're the centre of an inland sea just at present。
You see the river has overflowed its banks as well。〃
〃Good gracious！ Have any lives been lost？〃
〃Heaps； I should say。 The second housemaid has already identified
three bodies that have floated past the billiard…room window as being the
young man she's engaged to。 Either she's engaged to a large assortment
of the population round here or else she's very careless at identification。
Of course it may be the same body coming round again and again in a
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swirl； I hadn't thought of that。〃
〃But we ought to go out and do rescue work； oughtn't we？〃 said
Latimer； with the instinct of a Parliamentary candidate for getting into
the local limelight。
〃We can't；〃 said Vera decidedly； 〃we haven't any boats and we're cut
off by a raging torrent from any human habitation。 My aunt
particularly hoped you would keep to your room and not add to the
confusion； but she thought it would be so kind of you if you would take
in Hartlepool's Wonder； the gamecock； you know； for the night。 You
see； there are eight other gamecocks； and they fight like furies if they get
together； so we're putting one in each bedroom。 The fowl…houses are
all flooded out； you know。 And then I thought perhaps you wouldn't
mind taking in this wee piggie； he's rather a little love； but he has a vile
t
