the trumpet-major-第25节

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'Yes；　Cap'n　Bob；　as　I　suppose　I　must　call　ye；　I've　worked　for　yer
father　these　eight…and…thirty　years；　and　we　have　always　got　on　very
well　together。　　Trusts　me　with　all　the　keys；　lends　me　his
sleeve…waistcoat；　and　leaves　the　house　entirely　to　me。　　Widow
Garland　next　door；　too；　is　just　the　same　with　me；　and　treats　me　as
if　I　was　her　own　child。'

'She　must　have　married　young　to　make　you　that；　David。'

'Yes；　yesI'm　years　older　than　she。　　'Tis　only　my　common　way　of
speaking。'

Mrs。　Garland　would　not　come　in　to　supper；　and　the　meal　proceeded
without　her；　Bob　recommending　to　his　father　the　dish　he　had　cooked；
in　the　manner　of　a　householder　to　a　stranger　just　come。　　The　miller
was　anxious　to　know　more　about　his　son's　plans　for　the　future；　but
would　not　for　the　present　interrupt　his　eating；　looking　up　from　his
own　plate　to　appreciate　Bob's　travelled　way　of　putting　English
victuals　out　of　sight；　as　he　would　have　looked　at　a　mill　on　improved
principles。

David　had　only　just　got　the　table　clear；　and　set　the　plates　in　a　row
under　the　bakehouse　table　for　the　cats　to　lick；　when　the　door　was
hastily　opened；　and　Mrs。　Garland　came　in；　looking　concerned。

'I　have　been　waiting　to　hear　the　plates　removed　to　tell　you　how
frightened　we　are　at　something　we　hear　at　the　back…door。　　It　seems
like　robbers　muttering；　but　when　I　look　out　there's　nobody　there！'

'This　must　be　seen　to；'　said　the　miller；　rising　promptly。　　'David；
light　the　middle…sized　lantern。　　I'll　go　and　search　the　garden。'

'And　I'll　go　too；'　said　his　son；　taking　up　a　cudgel。　　'Lucky　I've
come　home　just　in　time！'

They　went　out　stealthily；　followed　by　the　widow　and　Anne；　who　had
been　afraid　to　stay　alone　in　the　house　under　the　circumstances。　　No
sooner　were　they　beyond　the　door　when；　sure　enough；　there　was　the
muttering　almost　close　at　hand；　and　low　upon　the　ground；　as　from
persons　lying　down　in　hiding。

'Bless　my　heart！'　said　Bob；　striking　his　head　as　though　it　were　some
enemy's：　　'why；　'tis　my　luggage。　　I'd　quite　forgot　it！'

'What！'　asked　his　father。

'My　luggage。　　Really；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　Mrs。　Garland　it　would
have　stayed　there　all　night；　and　they；　poor　things！　would　have　been
starved。　　I've　got　all　sorts　of　articles　for　ye。　　You　go　inside；　and
I'll　bring　'em　in。　　'Tis　parrots　that　you　hear　a　muttering；　Mrs。
Garland。　　You　needn't　be　afraid　any　more。'

'Parrots？'　said　the　miller。　　'Well；　I'm　glad　'tis　no　worse。　　But　how
couldst　forget　so；　Bob？'

The　packages　were　taken　in　by　David　and　Bob；　and　the　first
unfastened　were　three；　wrapped　in　cloths；　which　being　stripped　off
revealed　three　cages；　with　a　gorgeous　parrot　in　each。

'This　one　is　for　you；　father；　to　hang　up　outside　the　door；　and　amuse
us；'　said　Bob。　　'He'll　talk　very　well；　but　he's　sleepy　to…night。
This　other　one　I　brought　along　for　any　neighbour　that　would　like　to
have　him。　　His　colours　are　not　so　bright；　but　'tis　a　good　bird。　　If
you　would　like　to　have　him　you　are　welcome　to　him；'　he　said；　turning
to　Anne；　who　had　been　tempted　forward　by　the　birds。　　'You　have
hardly　spoken　yet；　Miss　Anne；　but　I　recollect　you　very　well。　　How
much　taller　you　have　got；　to　be　sure！'

Anne　said　she　was　much　obliged；　but　did　not　know　what　she　could　do
with　such　a　present。　　Mrs。　Garland　accepted　it　for　her；　and　the
sailor　went　on'Now　this　other　bird　I　hardly　know　what　to　do　with；
but　I　dare　say　he'll　come　in　for　something　or　other。'

'He　is　by　far　the　prettiest；'　said　the　widow。　　'I　would　rather　have
it　than　the　other；　if　you　don't　mind。'

'Yes；'　said　Bob；　with　embarrassment。　　'But　the　fact　is；　that　bird
will　hardly　do　for　ye；　ma'am。　　He's　a　hard　swearer；　to　tell　the
truth；　and　I　am　afraid　he's　too　old　to　be　broken　of　it。'

'How　dreadful！'　said　Mrs。　Garland。

'We　could　keep　him　in　the　mill；'　suggested　the　miller。　　'It　won't
matter　about　the　grinder　hearing　him；　for　he　can't　learn　to　cuss
worse　than　he　do　already！'

'The　grinder　shall　have　him；　then；'　said　Bob。　　'The　one　I　have　given
you；　ma'am；　has　no　harm　in　him　at　all。　　You　might　take　him　to　church
o'　Sundays　as　far　as　that　goes。'

The　sailor　now　untied　a　small　wooden　box　about　a　foot　square；
perforated　with　holes。　　'Here　are　two　marmosets；'　he　continued。
'You　can't　see　them　tonight；　but　they　are　beautiesthe　tufted
sort。'

'What's　a　marmoset？'　said　the　miller。

'O；　a　little　kind　of　monkey。　　They　bite　strangers　rather　hard；　but
you'll　soon　get　used　to　'em。'

'They　are　wrapped　up　in　something；　I　declare；'　said　Mrs。　Garland；
peeping　in　through　a　chink。

'Yes；　that's　my　flannel　shirt；'　said　Bob　apologetically。　　'They
suffer　terribly　from　cold　in　this　climate；　poor　things！　and　I　had
nothing　better　to　give　them。　　Well；　now；　in　this　next　box　I've　got
things　of　different　sorts。'

The　latter　was　a　regular　seaman's　chest；　and　out　of　it　he　produced
shells　of　many　sizes　and　colours；　carved　ivories；　queer　little
caskets；　gorgeous　feathers；　and　several　silk　handkerchiefs；　which
articles　were　spread　out　upon　all　the　available　tables　and　chairs
till　the　house　began　to　look　like　a　bazaar。

'What　a　lovely　shawl！'　exclaimed　Widow　Garland；　in　her　interest
forestalling　the　regular　exhibition　by　looking　into　the　box　at　what
was　coming。

'O　yes；'　said　the　mate；　pulling　out　a　couple　of　the　most　bewitching
shawls　that　eyes　ever　saw。　　'One　of　these　I　am　going　to　give　to　that
young　lady　I　am　shortly　to　be　married　to；　you　know；　Mrs。　Garland。
Has　father　told　you　about　it？　　Matilda　Johnson；　of　Southampton；
that's　her　name。'

'Yes；　we　know　all　about　it；'　said　the　widow。

'Well；　I　shall　give　one　of　these　shawls　to　herbecause；　of　course；
I　ought　to。'

'Of　course；'　said　she。

'But　the　other　one　I've　got　no　use　for　at　all；　and；'　he　continued；
looking　round；　'will　you　have　it；　Miss　Anne？　　You　refused　the
parrot；　and　you　ought　not　to　refuse　this。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Anne　calmly；　but　much　distressed；　'but　really　I
don't　want　it；　and　couldn't　take　it。'

'But　do　have　it！'　said　Bob　in　hurt　tones；　Mrs。　Garland　being　all　the
while　on　tenter…hooks　lest　Anne　should　persist　in　her　absurd
refusal。

'Why；　there's　another　reason　why　you　ought　to！'　said　he；　his　face
lighting　up　with　recollections。　　'It　never　came　into　my　head　till
this　moment　that　I　used　to　be　your　beau　in　a　humble　sort　of　way。
Faith；　so　I　did；　and　we　used　to　meet　at　places　sometimes；　didn't　we…
…that　is；　when　you　were　not　too　proud；　and　once　I　gave　you；　or
somebody　else；　a　bit　of　my　hair　in　fun。'

'It　was　somebody　else；'　said　Anne　quickly。

'Ah；　perhaps　it　was；'　said　Bob　innocently。　　'But　it　was　you　I　used
to　meet；　or　try　to；　I　am　sure。　　Well；　I've　never　thought　of　that
boyish　time　for　years　till　this　minute！　　I　am　sure　you　ought　to
accept　some　one　gift；　dear；　out　of　compliment　to　those　old　times！'

Anne　drew　back　and　shook　her　head；　for　she　would　not　trust　her
voice。

'Well；　Mrs。　Garland；　then　you　shall　have　it；'　said　Bob；　tossing　the
shawl　to　that　ready　receiver。　　'If　you　don't；　upon　my　life　I　will
throw　it　out　to　the　first　beggar　I　see。　　Now；　here's　a　parcel　of　cap
ribbons　of　the　splendidest　sort　I　could　get。　　Have　thesedo；　Anne！'

'Yes；　do；'　said　Mrs。　Garland。

'I　promised　them　to　Matilda；'　continued　Bob；　'but　I　am　sure　she
won't　want　'em；　as　she　has　got　some　of　her　own：　　and　I　would　as　soon
see　them　upon　your　head；　my　dear；　as　upon　hers。'

'I　think　you　had　better　keep　them　for　your　bride　if　you　have
promised　them　to　her；'　said　Mrs。　Garland　mildly。

'It　wasn't　exactly　a　promise。　　I　just　said；　〃Til；　there's　some　cap
ribbons　in　my　box；　if　you　would　like　to　have　them。〃　　But　she's　got
enough　things　already　for　any　bride　in　creation。　　Anne；　now　you
shall　have　'emupon　my　soul　you　shallor　I'll　fling　them　down　the
mill…tail！'

Anne　had　meant　to　be　perfectly　firm　in　refusing　everything；　for
reasons　obvious　even　to　that　poor　waif；　the　meanest　capacity；　but
when　it　came　to　this　point　she　was　absolutely　compelled　to　give　in；
and　reluctantly　received　the　cap　ribbons　in　her　arms；　blushing
fitfully；　and　with　her　lip　trembling　in　a　motion　which　she　tried　to
exhibit　as　a　smile。

'What　would　Tilly　say　if　she　knew！'　said　the　miller　slily。

'Yes；　indeedand　it　is　wrong　of　him！'　Anne　instantly　cried；　tears
running　down　her　face　as　she　threw　the　parcel　of　ribbons　on　the
floor。　　'You'd　better　bestow　your　gifts　where　you　bestow　your　ll
love；　Mr。　Lovedaythat's　what　I　say！'　　And　Anne　turned　her　back　and
went　away。

'I'll　take　them　for　her；'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　quickly　picking　up　the
parcel。

'Now　that's　a　pity；'　said　Bob；　looking　regretfully　after　Anne。　　'I
didn't　remember　that　she　was　a　quick…tempered　sort　of　girl　at　all。
Tell　her；　Mrs。　Garland；　that　I　ask　her　pardon。　　But　of　course　I
didn't　know　she　was　too　proud　to　accept　a　little　presenthow　should
I？　　Upon　my　life　if　it　wasn't　for　Matilda　I'dWell；　that　can't　be；
of　course。'

'What's　this？'　said　Mrs。　Garland；　touching　with　her　foot　a　large
package　that　had　been　laid　down　by　Bob　unseen。

'That's　a　bit　of　baccy　for　myself；'　said　Robert　meekly。

The　examination　of　presents　at　last　ended；　and　the　two　families
parted　for　the　night。　　When　they　were　alone；　Mrs。　Garland　said　to
Anne；　'What　a　close　girl　you　are！　　I　am　sure　I　never　knew　that　Bob
Loveday　and