the trumpet-major-第10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！


pigs　surprisingly　large；　with　young　ones　surprisingly　small。　　In　the
groined　porch　some　heifers　were　amusing　themselves　by　stretching　up
their　necks　and　licking　the　carved　stone　capitals　that　supported　the
vaulting。　　Anne　went　on　to　a　second　and　open　door；　across　which　was
another　hurdle　to　keep　the　live　stock　from　absolute　community　with
the　inmates。　　There　being　no　knocker；　she　knocked　by　means　of　a
short　stick　which　was　laid　against　the　post　for　that　purpose；　but
nobody　attending；　she　entered　the　passage；　and　tried　an　inner　door。

A　slight　noise　was　heard　inside；　the　door　opened　about　an　inch；　and
a　strip　of　decayed　face；　including　the　eye　and　some　forehead
wrinkles；　appeared　within　the　crevice。

'Please　I　have　come　for　the　paper；'　said　Anne。

'O；　is　it　you；　dear　Anne？'　whined　the　inmate；　opening　the　door　a
little　further。　　'I　could　hardly　get　to　the　door　to　open　it；　I　am　so
weak。'

The　speaker　was　a　wizened　old　gentleman；　in　a　coat　the　colour　of　his
farmyard；　breeches　of　the　same　hue；　unbuttoned　at　the　knees；
revealing　a　bit　of　leg　above　his　stocking　and　a　dazzlingly　white
shirt…frill　to　compensate　for　this　untidiness　below。　　The　edge　of
his　skull　round　his　eye…sockets　was　visible　through　the　skin；　and　he
had　a　mouth　whose　corners　made　towards　the　back　of　his　head　on　the
slightest　provocation。　　He　walked　with　great　apparent　difficulty
back　into　the　room；　Anne　following　him。

'Well；　you　can　have　the　paper　if　you　want　it；　but　you　never　give　me
much　time　to　see　what's　in　en！　　Here's　the　paper。'　　He　held　it　out；
but　before　she　could　take　it　he　drew　it　back　again；　saying；　'I　have
not　had　my　share　o'　the　paper　by　a　good　deal；　what　with　my　weak
sight；　and　people　coming　so　soon　for　en。　　I　am　a　poor　put…upon　soul；
but　my　〃Duty　of　Man〃　will　be　left　to　me　when　the　newspaper　is　gone。'
And　he　sank　into　his　chair　with　an　air　of　exhaustion。

Anne　said　that　she　did　not　wish　to　take　the　paper　if　he　had　not　done
with　it；　and　that　she　was　really　later　in　the　week　than　usual；　owing
to　the　soldiers。

'Soldiers；　yesrot　the　soldiers！　　And　now　hedges　will　be　broke；　and
hens'　nests　robbed；　and　sucking…pigs　stole；　and　I　don't　know　what
all。　　Who's　to　pay　for't；　sure？　　I　reckon　that　because　the　soldiers
be　come　you　don't　mean　to　be　kind　enough　to　read　to　me　what　I　hadn't
time　to　read　myself。'

She　would　read　if　he　wished；　she　said；　she　was　in　no　hurry。　　And
sitting　herself　down　she　unfolded　the　paper。

'〃Dinner　at　Carlton　House〃？'

'No；　faith。　　'Tis　nothing　to　I。'

'〃Defence　of　the　country〃？'

'Ye　may　read　that　if　ye　will。　　I　hope　there　will　be　no　billeting　in
this　parish；　or　any　wild　work　of　that　sort；　for　what　would　a　poor
old　lamiger　like　myself　do　with　soldiers　in　his　house；　and　nothing
to　feed　'em　with？'

Anne　began　reading；　and　continued　at　her　task　nearly　ten　minutes；
when　she　was　interrupted　by　the　appearance　in　the　quadrangular
slough　without　of　a　large　figure　in　the　uniform　of　the　yeomanry
cavalry。

'What　do　you　see　out　there？'　said　the　farmer　with　a　start；　as　she
paused　and　slowly　blushed。

'A　soldierone　of　the　yeomanry；'　said　Anne；　not　quite　at　her　ease。

'Scrounch　it　all'tis　my　nephew！'　exclaimed　the　old　man；　his　face
turning　to　a　phosphoric　pallor；　and　his　body　twitching　with
innumerable　alarms　as　he　formed　upon　his　face　a　gasping　smile　of
joy；　with　which　to　welcome　the　new…coming　relative。　　'Read　on；
prithee；　Miss　Garland。'

Before　she　had　read　far　the　visitor　straddled　over　the　door…hurdle
into　the　passage　and　entered　the　room。

'Well；　nunc；　how　do　you　feel？'　said　the　giant；　shaking　hands　with
the　farmer　in　the　manner　of　one　violently　ringing　a　hand…bell。
'Glad　to　see　you。'

'Bad　and　weakish；　Festus；'　replied　the　other；　his　person　responding
passively　to　the　rapid　vibrations　imparted。　　'O；　be　tender；　please
a　little　softer；　there's　a　dear　nephew！　　My　arm　is　no　more　than　a
cobweb。'

'Ah；　poor　soul！'

'Yes；　I　am　not　much　more　than　a　skeleton；　and　can't　bear　rough
usage。'

'Sorry　to　hear　that；　but　I'll　bear　your　affliction　in　mind。　　Why；
you　are　all　in　a　tremble；　Uncle　Benjy！'

''Tis　because　I　am　so　gratified；'　said　the　old　man。　　'I　always　get
all　in　a　tremble　when　I　am　taken　by　surprise　by　a　beloved　relation。'

'Ah；　that's　it！'　said　the　yeoman；　bringing　his　hand　down　on　the　back
of　his　uncle's　chair　with　a　loud　smack；　at　which　Uncle　Benjy
nervously　sprang　three　inches　from　his　seat　and　dropped　into　it
again。　　'Ask　your　pardon　for　frightening　ye；　uncle。　　'Tis　how　we　do
in　the　army；　and　I　forgot　your　nerves。　　You　have　scarcely　expected
to　see　me；　I　dare　say；　but　here　I　am。'

'I　am　glad　to　see　ye。　　You　are　not　going　to　stay　long；　perhaps？'

'Quite　the　contrary。　　I　am　going　to　stay　ever　so　long！'

'O　I　see！　　I　am　so　glad；　dear　Festus。　　Ever　so　long；　did　ye　say？'

'Yes；　EVER　so　long；'　said　the　young　gentleman；　sitting　on　the　slope
of　the　bureau　and　stretching　out　his　legs　as　props。　　'I　am　going　to
make　this　quite　my　own　home　whenever　I　am　off　duty；　as　long　as　we
stay　out。　　And　after　that；　when　the　campaign　is　over　in　the　autumn；
I　shall　come　here；　and　live　with　you　like　your　own　son；　and　help
manage　your　land　and　your　farm；　you　know；　and　make　you　a　comfortable
old　man。'

'Ah！　　How　you　do　please　me！'　said　the　farmer；　with　a　horrified
smile；　and　grasping　the　arms　of　his　chair　to　sustain　himself。

'Yes；　I　have　been　meaning　to　come　a　long　time；　as　I　knew　you'd　like
to　have　me；　Uncle　Benjy；　and　'tisn't　in　my　heart　to　refuse　you。'

'You　always　was　kind　that　way！'

'Yes；　I　always　was。　　But　I　ought　to　tell　you　at　once；　not　to
disappoint　you；　that　I　shan't　be　here　alwaysall　day；　that　is；
because　of　my　military　duties　as　a　cavalry　man。'

'O；　not　always？　　That's　a　pity！'　exclaimed　the　farmer　with　a
cheerful　eye。

'I　knew　you'd　say　so。　　And　I　shan't　be　able　to　sleep　here　at　night
sometimes；　for　the　same　reason。'

'Not　sleep　here　o'　nights？'　said　the　old　gentleman；　still　more
relieved。　　'You　ought　to　sleep　hereyou　certainly　ought；　in　short；
you　must。　　But　you　can't！'

'Not　while　we　are　with　the　colours。　　But　directly　that's　overthe
very　next　dayI'll　stay　here　all　day；　and　all　night　too；　to　oblige
you；　since　you　ask　me　so　very　kindly。'

'Th…thank　ye；　that　will　be　very　nice！'　said　Uncle　Benjy。

'Yes；　I　knew　'twould　relieve　ye。'　　And　he　kindly　stroked　his　uncle's
head；　the　old　man　expressing　his　enjoyment　at　the　affectionate　token
by　a　death's…head　grimace。　　'I　should　have　called　to　see　you　the
other　night　when　I　passed　through　here；'　Festus　continued；　'but　it
was　so　late　that　I　couldn't　come　so　far　out　of　my　way。　　You　won't
think　it　unkind？'

'Not　at　all；　if　you　COULDN'T。　　I　never　shall　think　it　unkind　if　you
really　CAN'T　come；　you　know；　Festy。'　　There　was　a　few　minutes'
pause；　and　as　the　nephew　said　nothing　Uncle　Benjy　went　on：　　'I　wish
I　had　a　little　present　for　ye。　　But　as　ill…luck　would　have　it　we
have　lost　a　deal　of　stock　this　year；　and　I　have　had　to　pay　away　so
much。'

'Poor　old　manI　know　you　have。　　Shall　I　lend　you　a　seven…shilling
piece；　Uncle　Benjy？'

'Ha；　ha！you　must　have　your　joke；　well；　I'll　think　o'　that。　　And　so
they　expect　Buonaparty　to　choose　this　very　part　of　the　coast　for　his
landing；　hey？　　And　that　the　yeomanry　be　to　stand　in　front　as　the
forlorn　hope？'

'Who　says　so？'　asked　the　florid　son　of　Mars；　losing　a　little
redness。

'The　newspaper…man。'

'O；　there's　nothing　in　that；'　said　Festus　bravely。　　'The　gover'ment
thought　it　possible　at　one　time；　but　they　don't　know。'

Festus　turned　himself　as　he　talked；　and　now　said　abruptly：　　'Ah；
who's　this？　　Why；　'tis　our　little　Anne！'　　He　had　not　noticed　her
till　this　moment；　the　young　woman　having　at　his　entry　kept　her　face
over　the　newspaper；　and　then　got　away　to　the　back　part　of　the　room。
'And　are　you　and　your　mother　always　going　to　stay　down　there　in　the
mill…house　watching　the　little　fishes；　Miss　Anne？'

She　said　that　it　was　uncertain；　in　a　tone　of　truthful　precision
which　the　question　was　hardly　worth；　looking　forcedly　at　him　as　she
spoke。　　But　she　blushed　fitfully；　in　her　arms　and　hands　as　much　as
in　her　face。　　Not　that　she　was　overpowered　by　the　great　boots；
formidable　spurs；　and　other　fierce　appliances　of　his　person；　as　he
imagined；　simply　she　had　not　been　prepared　to　meet　him　there。

'I　hope　you　will；　I　am　sure；　for　my　own　good；'　said　he；　letting　his
eyes　linger　on　the　round　of　her　cheek。

Anne　became　a　little　more　dignified；　and　her　look　showed　reserve。
But　the　yeoman　on　perceiving　this　went　on　talking　to　her　in　so　civil
a　way　that　he　irresistibly　amused　her；　though　she　tried　to　conceal
all　feeling。　　At　a　brighter　remark　of　his　than　usual　her　mouth
moved；　her　upper　lip　playing　uncertainly　over　her　white　teeth；　it
would　stay　stillno；　it　would　withdraw　a　little　way　in　a　smile；
then　it　would　flutter　down　again；　and　so　it　wavered　like　a　butterfly
in　a　tender　desire　to　be　pleased　and　smiling；　and　yet　to　be　also
sedate　and　composed；　to　show　him　that　she　did　not　want　compliments；
and　yet　that　she　was　not　so　cold　as　to　wish　to　repress　any　genuine
feeling　he　might　be　anxious　to　utter。

'Shall　you　want　any　more　reading；　Mr。　Derriman？'　said　she；
interrupting　the　younger　man　in　his　remarks。　　'If　not；　I'll　go