the trumpet-major-第19节

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that　duty。　　And　turning　half　from　his　father；　and　half　towards　Anne；
he　added；　in　a　tentative　tone；　that　he　thought　he　might　get　leave
for　the　night；　if　anybody　would　like　to　be　taken　to　the　top　of　the
Ridgeway　over　which　the　royal　party　must　pass。

Anne；　knowing　by　this　time　of　the　budding　hope　in　the　gallant
dragoon's　mind；　and　not　wishing　to　encourage　it；　said；　'I　don't　want
to　go。'

The　miller　looked　disappointed　as　well　as　John。

'Your　mother　might　like　to？'

'Yes；　I　am　going　indoors；　and　I'll　ask　her　if　you　wish　me　to；'　said
she。

She　went　indoors　and　rather　coldly　told　her　mother　of　the　proposal。
Mrs。　Garland；　though　she　had　determined　not　to　answer　the　miller's
question　on　matrimony　just　yet；　was　quite　ready　for　this　jaunt；　and
in　spite　of　Anne　she　sailed　off　at　once　to　the　garden　to　hear　more
about　it。　　When　she　re…entered；　she　said

'Anne；　I　have　not　seen　the　King　or　the　King's　horses　for　these　many
years；　and　I　am　going。'

'Ah；　it　is　well　to　be　you；　mother；'　said　Anne；　in　an　elderly　tone。

'Then　you　won't　come　with　us？'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　rather　rebuffed。

'I　have　very　different　things　to　think　of；'　said　her　daughter　with
virtuous　emphasis；　'than　going　to　see　sights　at　that　time　of　night。'

Mrs。　Garland　was　sorry；　but　resolved　to　adhere　to　the　arrangement。
The　night　came　on；　and　it　having　gone　abroad　that　the　King　would
pass　by　the　road；　many　of　the　villagers　went　out　to　see　the
procession。　　When　the　two　Lovedays　and　Mrs。　Garland　were　gone；　Anne
bolted　the　door　for　security；　and　sat　down　to　think　again　on　her
grave　responsibilities　in　the　choice　of　a　husband；　now　that　her
natural　guardian　could　no　longer　be　trusted。

A　knock　came　to　the　door。

Anne's　instinct　was　at　once　to　be　silent；　that　the　comer　might　think
the　family　had　retired。

The　knocking　person；　however；　was　not　to　be　easily　persuaded。　　He
had　in　fact　seen　rays　of　light　over　the　top　of　the　shutter；　and；
unable　to　get　an　answer；　went　on　to　the　door　of　the　mill；　which　was
still　going；　the　miller　sometimes　grinding　all　night　when　busy。　　The
grinder　accompanied　the　stranger　to　Mrs。　Garland's　door。

'The　daughter　is　certainly　at　home；　sir；'　said　the　grinder。　　'I'll
go　round　to　t'other　side；　and　see　if　she's　there；　Master　Derriman。'

'I　want　to　take　her　out　to　see　the　King；'　said　Festus。

Anne　had　started　at　the　sound　of　the　voice。　　No　opportunity　could
have　been　better　for　carrying　out　her　new　convictions　on　the
disposal　of　her　hand。　　But　in　her　mortal　dislike　of　Festus；　Anne
forgot　her　principles；　and　her　idea　of　keeping　herself　above　the
Lovedays。　　Tossing　on　her　hat　and　blowing　out　the　candle；　she
slipped　out　at　the　back　door；　and　hastily　followed　in　the　direction
that　her　mother　and　the　rest　had　taken。　　She　overtook　them　as　they
were　beginning　to　climb　the　hill。

'What！　you　have　altered　your　mind　after　all？'　said　the　widow。　　'How
came　you　to　do　that；　my　dear？'

'I　thought　I　might　as　well　come；'　said　Anne。

'To　be　sure　you　did；'　said　the　miller　heartily。　　'A　good　deal　better
than　biding　at　home　there。'

John　said　nothing；　though　she　could　almost　see　through　the　gloom　how
glad　he　was　that　she　had　altered　her　mind。　　When　they　reached　the
ridge　over　which　the　highway　stretched　they　found　many　of　their
neighbours　who　had　got　there　before　them　idling　on　the　grass　border
between　the　roadway　and　the　hedge；　enjoying　a　sort　of　midnight
picnic；　which　it　was　easy　to　do；　the　air　being　still　and　dry。　　Some
carriages　were　also　standing　near；　though　most　people　of　the
district　who　possessed　four　wheels；　or　even　two；　had　driven　into　the
town　to　await　the　King　there。　　From　this　height　could　be　seen　in　the
distance　the　position　of　the　watering…place；　an　additional　number　of
lanterns；　lamps；　and　candles　having　been　lighted　to…night　by　the
loyal　burghers　to　grace　the　royal　entry；　if　it　should　occur　before
dawn。

Mrs。　Garland　touched　Anne's　elbow　several　times　as　they　walked；　and
the　young　woman　at　last　understood　that　this　was　meant　as　a　hint　to
her　to　take　the　trumpet…major's　arm；　which　its　owner　was　rather
suggesting　than　offering　to　her。　　Anne　wondered　what　infatuation　was
possessing　her　mother；　declined　to　take　the　arm；　and　contrived　to
get　in　front　with　the　miller；　who　mostly　kept　in　the　van　to　guide
the　others'　footsteps。　　The　trumpet…major　was　left　with　Mrs。
Garland；　and　Anne's　encouraging　pursuit　of　them　induced　him　to　say　a
few　words　to　the　former。

'By　your　leave；　ma'am；　I'll　speak　to　you　on　something　that　concerns
my　mind　very　much　indeed？'

'Certainly。'

'It　is　my　wish　to　be　allowed　to　pay　my　addresses　to　your　daughter。'

'I　thought　you　meant　that；'　said　Mrs。　Garland　simply。

'And　you'll　not　object？'

'I　shall　leave　it　to　her。　　I　don't　think　she　will　agree；　even　if　I
do。'

The　soldier　sighed；　and　seemed　helpless。　　'Well；　I　can　but　ask　her；'
he　said。

The　spot　on　which　they　had　finally　chosen　to　wait　for　the　King　was
by　a　field　gate；　whence　the　white　road　could　be　seen　for　a　long
distance　northwards　by　day；　and　some　little　distance　now。　　They
lingered　and　lingered；　but　no　King　came　to　break　the　silence　of　that
beautiful　summer　night。　　As　half…hour　after　half…hour　glided　by；　and
nobody　came；　Anne　began　to　get　weary；　she　knew　why　her　mother　did
not　propose　to　go　back；　and　regretted　the　reason。　　She　would　have
proposed　it　herself；　but　that　Mrs。　Garland　seemed　so　cheerful；　and
as　wide　awake　as　at　noonday；　so　that　it　was　almost　a　cruelty　to
disturb　her。

The　trumpet…major　at　last　made　up　his　mind；　and　tried　to　draw　Anne
into　a　private　conversation。　　The　feeling　which　a　week　ago　had　been
a　vague　and　piquant　aspiration；　was　to…day　altogether　too　lively　for
the　reasoning　of　this　warm…hearted　soldier　to　regulate。　　So　he
persevered　in　his　intention　to　catch　her　alone；　and　at　last；　in
spite　of　her　manoeuvres　to　the　contrary；　he　succeeded。　　The　miller
and　Mrs。　Garland　had　walked　about　fifty　yards　further　on；　and　Anne
and　himself　were　left　standing　by　the　gate。

But　the　gallant　musician's　soul　was　so　much　disturbed　by　tender
vibrations　and　by　the　sense　of　his　presumption　that　he　could　not
begin；　and　it　may　be　questioned　if　he　would　ever　have　broached　the
subject　at　all；　had　not　a　distant　church　clock　opportunely　assisted
him　by　striking　the　hour　of　three。　　The　trumpet…major　heaved　a
breath　of　relief。

'That　clock　strikes　in　G　sharp；'　he　said。

'IndeedG　sharp？'　said　Anne　civilly。

'Yes。　　'Tis　a　fine…toned　bell。　　I　used　to　notice　that　note　when　I
was　a　boy。'

'Did　youthe　very　same？'

'Yes；　and　since　then　I　had　a　wager　about　that　bell　with　the
bandmaster　of　the　North　Wessex　Militia。　　He　said　the　note　was　G；　I
said　it　wasn't。　　When　we　found　it　G　sharp　we　didn't　know　how　to
settle　it。'

'It　is　not　a　deep　note　for　a　clock。'

'O　no！　　The　finest　tenor　bell　about　here　is　the　bell　of　Peter's；
Casterbridgein　E　flat。　　Tum…m…m…mthat's　the　notetum…m…m…m。'
The　trumpet…major　sounded　from　far　down　his　throat　what　he
considered　to　be　E　flat；　with　a　parenthetic　sense　of　luxury
unquenchable　even　by　his　present　distraction。

'Shall　we　go　on　to　where　my　mother　is？'　said　Anne；　less　impressed　by
the　beauty　of　the　note　than　the　trumpet…major　himself　was。

'In　one　minute；'　he　said　tremulously。　　'Talking　of　musicI　fear　you
don't　think　the　rank　of　a　trumpet…major　much　to　compare　with　your
own？'

'I　do。　　I　think　a　trumpet…major　a　very　respectable　man。'

'I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　　It　is　given　out　by　the　King's
command　that　trumpet…majors　are　to　be　considered　respectable。'

'Indeed！　　Then　I　am；　by　chance；　more　loyal　than　I　thought　for。'

'I　get　a　good　deal　a　year　extra　to　the　trumpeters；　because　of　my
position。'

'That's　very　nice。'

'And　I　am　not　supposed　ever　to　drink　with　the　trumpeters　who　serve
beneath　me。'

'Naturally。'

'And；　by　the　orders　of　the　War　Office；　I　am　to　exert　over　them
（that's　the　government　word）　exert　over　them　full　authority；　and　if
any　one　behaves　towards　me　with　the　least　impropriety；　or　neglects
my　orders；　he　is　to　be　confined　and　reported。'

'It　is　really　a　dignified　post；'　she　said；　with；　however；　a　reserve
of　enthusiasm　which　was　not　altogether　encouraging。

'And　of　course　some　day　I　shall；'　stammered　the　dragoon'shall　be
in　rather　a　better　position　than　I　am　at　present。'

'I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　Mr。　Loveday。'

'And　in　short；　Mistress　Anne；'　continued　John　Loveday　bravely　and
desperately；　'may　I　pay　court　to　you　in　the　hope　thatno；　no；　don't
go　away！you　haven't　heard　yetthat　you　may　make　me　the　happiest
of　men；　not　yet；　but　when　peace　is　proclaimed　and　all　is　smooth　and
easy　again？　　I　can't　put　it　any　better；　though　there's　more　to　be
explained。'

'This　is　most　awkward；'　said　Anne；　evidently　with　pain。　　'I　cannot
possibly　agree；　believe　me；　Mr。　Loveday；　I　cannot。'

'But　there's　more　than　this。　　You　would　be　surprised　to　see　what
snug　rooms　the　married　trumpet…　and　sergeant…majors　have　in
quarters。'

'Barracks　are　not　all；　consider　camp　and　war。'

'That　brings　me　to　my　strong　point！'　exclaimed　the　soldier
hopefully。　　'My　father　is　better　off　than　most　non…commissioned
officers'　fathers；　and　there's　always　a　home　for　you　at　his　house　in
any　emergency。　　I　can　tell　you　privat