the trumpet-major-第35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！



'No；　I　shall　let　her　drift。'

'I　am　glad　indeed；　Bob；　you　have　been　wise；'　said　John　heartily。

Bob；　however；　still　loved　Matilda　too　well　to　be　other　than
dissatisfied　with　John　and　the　event　that　he　had　precipitated；　which
the　elder　brother　only　too　promptly　perceived；　and　it　made　his　stay
that　evening　of　short　duration。　　Before　leaving　he　said　with　some
hesitation　to　his　father；　including　Anne　and　her　mother　by　his
glance；　'Do　you　think　to　come　up　and　see　us　off？'

The　miller　answered　for　them　all；　and　said　that　of　course　they　would
come。　　'But　you'll　step　down　again　between　now　and　then？'　he
inquired。

'I'll　try　to。'　　He　added　after　a　pause；　'In　case　I　should　not；
remember　that　Revalley　will　sound　at　half　past　five；　we　shall　leave
about　eight。　　Next　summer；　perhaps；　we　shall　come　and　camp　here
again。'

'I　hope　so；'　said　his　father　and　Mrs。　Loveday。

There　was　something　in　John's　manner　which　indicated　to　Anne　that　he
scarcely　intended　to　come　down　again；　but　the　others　did　not　notice
it；　and　she　said　nothing。　　He　departed　a　few　minutes　later；　in　the
dusk　of　the　August　evening；　leaving　Anne　still　in　doubt　as　to　the
meaning　of　his　private　meeting　with　Miss　Johnson。

John　Loveday　had　been　going　to　tell　them　that　on　the　last　night；　by
an　especial　privilege；　it　would　be　in　his　power　to　come　and　stay
with　them　until　eleven　o'clock；　but　at　the　moment　of　leaving　he
abandoned　the　intention。　　Anne's　attitude　had　chilled　him；　and　made
him　anxious　to　be　off。　　He　utilized　the　spare　hours　of　that　last
night　in　another　way。

This　was　by　coming　down　from　the　outskirts　of　the　camp　in　the
evening；　and　seating　himself　near　the　brink　of　the　mill…pond　as　soon
as　it　was　quite　dark；　where　he　watched　the　lights　in　the　different
windows　till　one　appeared　in　Anne's　bedroom；　and　she　herself　came
forward　to　shut　the　casement；　with　the　candle　in　her　hand。　　The
light　shone　out　upon　the　broad　and　deep　mill…head；　illuminating　to　a
distinct　individuality　every　moth　and　gnat　that　entered　the
quivering　chain　of　radiance　stretching　across　the　water　towards　him；
and　every　bubble　or　atom　of　froth　that　floated　into　its　width。　　She
stood　for　some　time　looking　out；　little　thinking　what　the　darkness
concealed　on　the　other　side　of　that　wide　stream；　till　at　length　she
closed　the　casement；　drew　the　curtains；　and　retreated　into　the　room。
Presently　the　light　went　out；　upon　which　John　Loveday　returned　to
camp　and　lay　down　in　his　tent。

The　next　morning　was　dull　and　windy；　and　the　trumpets　of　the　th
sounded　Reveille　for　the　last　time　on　Overcombe　Down。　　Knowing　that
the　Dragoons　were　going　away；　Anne　had　slept　heedfully；　and　was　at
once　awakened　by　the　smart　notes。　　She　looked　out　of　the　window；　to
find　that　the　miller　was　already　astir；　his　white　form　being　visible
at　the　end　of　his　garden；　where　he　stood　motionless；　watching　the
preparations。　　Anne　also　looked　on　as　well　as　she　could　through　the
dim　grey　gloom；　and　soon　she　saw　the　blue　smoke　from　the　cooks'
fires　creeping　fitfully　along　the　ground；　instead　of　rising　in
vertical　columns；　as　it　had　done　during　the　fine　weather　season。
Then　the　men　began　to　carry　their　bedding　to　the　waggons；　and　others
to　throw　all　refuse　into　the　trenches；　till　the　down　was　lively　as
an　ant…hill。　　Anne　did　not　want　to　see　John　Loveday　again；　but
hearing　the　household　astir；　she　began　to　dress　at　leisure；　looking
out　at　the　camp　the　while。

When　the　soldiers　had　breakfasted；　she　saw　them　selling　and　giving
away　their　superfluous　crockery　to　the　natives　who　had　clustered
round；　and　then　they　pulled　down　and　cleared　away　the　temporary
kitchens　which　they　had　constructed　when　they　came。　　A　tapping　of
tent…pegs　and　wriggling　of　picket…posts　followed；　and　soon　the　cones
of　white　canvas；　now　almost　become　a　component　part　of　the
landscape；　fell　to　the　ground。　　At　this　moment　the　miller　came
indoors　and　asked　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　if　anybody　was　going　up
the　hill　with　him。

Anne　felt　that；　in　spite　of　the　cloud　hanging　over　John　in　her　mind；
it　would　ill　become　the　present　moment　not　to　see　him　off；　and　she
went　downstairs　to　her　mother；　who　was　already　there；　though　Bob　was
nowhere　to　be　seen。　　Each　took　an　arm　of　the　miller；　and　thus
climbed　to　the　top　of　the　hill。　　By　this　time　the　men　and　horses
were　at　the　place　of　assembly；　and；　shortly　after　the　mill…party
reached　level　ground；　the　troops　slowly　began　to　move　forward。　　When
the　trumpet…major；　half　buried　in　his　uniform；　arms；　and
horse…furniture；　drew　near　to　the　spot　where　the　Lovedays　were
waiting　to　see　him　pass；　his　father　turned　anxiously　to　Anne　and
said；　'You　will　shake　hands　with　John？'

Anne　faintly　replied　'Yes；'　and　allowed　the　miller　to　take　her
forward　on　his　arm　to　the　trackway；　so　as　to　be　close　to　the　flank
of　the　approaching　column。　　It　came　up；　many　people　on　each　side
grasping　the　hands　of　the　troopers　in　bidding　them　farewell；　and　as
soon　as　John　Loveday　saw　the　members　of　his　father's　household；　he
stretched　down　his　hand　across　his　right　pistol　for　the　same
performance。　　The　miller　gave　his；　then　Mrs。　Loveday　gave　hers；　and
then　the　hand　of　the　trumpet…major　was　extended　towards　Anne。　　But
as　the　horse　did　not　absolutely　stop；　it　was　a　somewhat　awkward
performance　for　a　young　woman　to　undertake；　and；　more　on　that
account　than　on　any　other；　Anne　drew　back；　and　the　gallant　trooper
passed　by　without　receiving　her　adieu。　　Anne's　heart　reproached　her
for　a　moment；　and　then　she　thought　that；　after　all；　he　was　not　going
off　to　immediate　battle；　and　that　she　would　in　all　probability　see
him　again　at　no　distant　date；　when　she　hoped　that　the　mystery　of　his
conduct　would　be　explained。　　Her　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a
voice　at　her　elbow：　　'Thank　heaven；　he's　gone！　　Now　there's　a　chance
for　me。'

She　turned；　and　Festus　Derriman　was　standing　by　her。

'There's　no　chance　for　you；'　she　said　indignantly。

'Why　not？'

'Because　there's　another　left！'

The　words　had　slipped　out　quite　unintentionally；　and　she　blushed
quickly。　　She　would　have　given　anything　to　be　able　to　recall　them；
but　he　had　heard；　and　said；　'Who？'

Anne　went　forward　to　the　miller　to　avoid　replying；　and　Festus　caught
her　no　more。

'Has　anybody　been　hanging　about　Overcombe　Mill　except　Loveday's　son
the　soldier？'　he　asked　of　a　comrade。

'His　son　the　sailor；'　was　the　reply。

'Ohis　son　the　sailor；'　said　Festus　slowly。　　'Damn　his　son　the
sailor！'



XXII。　　THE　TWO　HOUSEHOLDS　UNITED

At　this　particular　moment　the　object　of　Festus　Derriman's
fulmination　was　assuredly　not　dangerous　as　a　rival。　　Bob；　after
abstractedly　watching　the　soldiers　from　the　front　of　the　house　till
they　were　out　of　sight；　had　gone　within　doors　and　seated　himself　in
the　mill…parlour；　where　his　father　found　him；　his　elbows　resting　on
the　table　and　his　forehead　on　his　hands；　his　eyes　being　fixed　upon　a
document　that　lay　open　before　him。

'What　art　perusing；　Bob；　with　such　a　long　face？'

Bob　sighed；　and　then　Mrs。　Loveday　and　Anne　entered。　　''Tis　only　a
state…paper　that　I　fondly　thought　I　should　have　a　use　for；'　he　said
gloomily。　　And；　looking　down　as　before；　he　cleared　his　voice；　as　if
moved　inwardly　to　go　on；　and　began　to　read　in　feeling　tones　from
what　proved　to　be　his　nullified　marriage　licence：

'〃Timothy　Titus　Philemon；　by　permission　Bishop　of　Bristol：　　To　our
well…beloved　Robert　Loveday；　of　the　parish　of　Overcombe；　Bachelor；
and　Matilda　Johnson；　of　the　same　parish；　Spinster。　　Greeting。〃'

Here　Anne　sighed；　but　contrived　to　keep　down　her　sigh　to　a　mere
nothing。

'Beautiful　language；　isn't　it！'　said　Bob。　　'I　was　never　greeted　like
that　afore！'

'Yes；　I　have　often　thought　it　very　excellent　language　myself；'　said
Mrs。　Loveday。

'Come　to　that；　the　old　gentleman　will　greet　thee　like　it　again　any
day　for　a　couple　of　guineas；'　said　the　miller。

'That's　not　the　point；　father！　　You　never　could　see　the　real　meaning
of　these　things。　。　。　。　　Well；　then　he　goes　on：　　〃Whereas　ye　are；　as
it　is　alleged；　determined　to　enter　into　the　holy　estate　of
matrimony〃　　But　why　should　I　read　on？　　It　all　means　nothing　now
nothing；　and　the　splendid　words　are　all　wasted　upon　air。　　It　seems
as　if　I　had　been　hailed　by　some　venerable　hoary　prophet；　and　had
turned　away；　put　the　helm　hard　up；　and　wouldn't　hear。'

Nobody　replied；　feeling　probably　that　sympathy　could　not　meet　the
case；　and　Bob　went　on　reading　the　rest　of　it　to　himself；
occasionally　heaving　a　breath　like　the　wind　in　a　ship's　shrouds。

'I　wouldn't　set　my　mind　so　much　upon　her；　if　I　was　thee；'　said　his
father　at　last。

'Why　not？'

'Well；　folk　might　call　thee　a　fool；　and　say　thy　brains　were　turning
to　water。'

Bob　was　apparently　much　struck　by　this　thought；　and；　instead　of
continuing　the　discourse　further；　he　carefully　folded　up　the
licence；　went　out；　and　walked　up　and　down　the　garden。　　It　was
startlingly　apt　what　his　father　had　said；　and；　worse　than　that；　what
people　would　call　him　might　be　true；　and　the　liquefaction　of　his
brains　turn　out　to　be　no　fable。　　By　degrees　he　became　much
concerned；　and　the　more　he　examined　himself　by　this　new　light　the
more　clearly　did　he　perceive　that　he　was　in　a　very　bad　way。

On　reflection　he　remembered　tha