the trumpet-major-第41节

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authority；　that　the　army　at　Boulogne　is　ready；　the　boats　equipped；
the　plans　laid；　and　the　First　Consul　only　waits　for　a　tide。　　Heaven
knows　what　will　become　o'　the　men　o'　these　parts！　　But　most　likely
the　women　will　he　spared。　　Now　I'll　show　'ee。'

He　led　her　across　the　hall　to　a　stone　staircase　of　semi…circular
plan；　which　conducted　to　the　cellars。

'Down　here？'　she　said。

'Yes；　I　must　trouble　ye　to　come　down　here。　　I　have　thought　and
thought　who　is　the　woman　that　can　best　keep　a　secret　for　six　months；
and　I　say；　〃Anne　Garland。〃　　You　won't　be　married　before　then？'

'O　no！'　murmured　the　young　woman。

'I　wouldn't　expect　ye　to　keep　a　close　tongue　after　such　a　thing　as
that。　　But　it　will　not　be　necessary。'

When　they　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps　he　struck　a　light　from　a
tinder…box；　and　unlocked　the　middle　one　of　three　doors　which
appeared　in　the　whitewashed　wall　opposite。　　The　rays　of　the　candle
fell　upon　the　vault　and　sides　of　a　long　low　cellar；　littered　with
decayed　woodwork　from　other　parts　of　the　hall；　among　the　rest　stair…
balusters；　carved　finials；　tracery　panels；　and　wainscoting。　　But
what　most　attracted　her　eye　was　a　small　flagstone　turned　up　in　the
middle　of　the　floor；　a　heap　of　earth　beside　it；　and　a
measuring…tape。　　Derriman　went　to　the　corner　of　the　cellar；　and
pulled　out　a　clamped　box　from　under　the　straw。　　'You　be　rather
heavy；　my　dear；　eh？'　he　said；　affectionately　addressing　the　box　as
he　lifted　it。　　'But　you　are　going　to　be　put　in　a　safe　place；　you
know；　or　that　rascal　will　get　hold　of　ye；　and　carry　ye　off　and　ruin
me。'　　He　then　with　some　difficulty　lowered　the　box　into　the　hole；
raked　in　the　earth　upon　it；　and　lowered　the　flagstone；　which　he　was
a　long　time　in　fixing　to　his　satisfaction。　　Miss　Garland；　who　was
romantically　interested；　helped　him　to　brush　away　the　fragments　of
loose　earth；　and　when　he　had　scattered　over　the　floor　a　little　of
the　straw　that　lay　about；　they　again　ascended　to　upper　air。

'Is　this　all；　sir？'　said　Anne。

'Just　a　moment　longer；　honey。　　Will　you　come　into　the　great
parlour？'

She　followed　him　thither。

'If　anything　happens　to　me　while　the　fighting　is　going　onit　may　be
on　these　very　fieldsyou　will　know　what　to　do；'　he　resumed。　　'But
first　please　sit　down　again；　there's　a　dear；　whilst　I　write　what's
in　my　head。　　See；　there's　the　best　paper；　and　a　new　quill　that　I've
afforded　myself　for't。'

'What　a　strange　business！　　I　don't　think　I　much　like　it；　Mr。
Derriman；'　she　said；　seating　herself。

He　had　by　this　time　begun　to　write；　and　murmured　as　he　wrote

'〃Twenty…three　and　a　half　from　N。W。　　Sixteen　and　three…quarters　from
N。E。〃There；　that's　all。　　Now　I　seal　it　up　and　give　it　to　you　to
keep　safe　till　I　ask　ye　for　it；　or　you　hear　of　my　being　trampled
down　by　the　enemy。'

'What　does　it　mean？'　she　asked；　as　she　received　the　paper。

'Clk！　　Ha！　ha！　　Why；　that's　the　distance　of　the　box　from　the　two
corners　of　the　cellar。　　I　measured　it　before　you　came。　　And；　my
honey；　to　make　all　sure；　if　the　French　soldiery　are　after　ye；　tell
your　mother　the　meaning　on't；　or　any　other　friend；　in　case　they
should　put　ye　to　death；　and　the　secret　be　lost。　　But　that　I　am　sure
I　hope　they　won't　do；　though　your　pretty　face　will　be　a　sad　bait　to
the　soldiers。　　I　often　have　wished　you　was　my　daughter；　honey；　and
yet　in　these　times　the　less　cares　a　man　has　the　better；　so　I　am　glad
you　bain't。　　Shall　my　man　drive　you　home？'

'No；　no；'　she　said；　much　depressed　by　the　words　he　had　uttered。　　'I
can　find　my　way。　　You　need　not　trouble　to　come　down。'

'Then　take　care　of　the　paper。　　And　if　you　outlive　me；　you'll　find　I
have　not　forgot　you。'



XXV。　　FESTUS　SHOWS　HIS　LOVE

Festus　Derriman　had　remained　in　the　Royal　watering…place　all　that
day；　his　horse　being　sick　at　stables；　but；　wishing　to　coax　or　bully
from　his　uncle　a　remount　for　the　coming　summer；　he　set　off　on　foot
for　Oxwell　early　in　the　evening。　　When　he　drew　near　to　the　village；
or　rather　to　the　hall；　which　was　a　mile　from　the　village；　he
overtook　a　slim；　quick…eyed　woman；　sauntering　along　at　a　leisurely
pace。　　She　was　fashionably　dressed　in　a　green　spencer；　with
'Mameluke'　sleeves；　and　wore　a　velvet　Spanish　hat　and　feather。

'Good　afternoon　t'ye；　ma'am；'　said　Festus；　throwing　a
sword…and…pistol　air　into　his　greeting。　　'You　are　out　for　a　walk？'

'I　AM　out　for　a　walk；　captain；'　said　the　lady；　who　had　criticized
him　from　the　crevice　of　her　eye；　without　seeming　to　do　much　more
than　continue　her　demure　look　forward；　and　gave　the　title　as　a　sop
to　his　apparent　character。

'From　the　town？I'd　swear　it；　ma'am；　'pon　my　honour　I　would！'

'Yes；　I　am　from　the　town；　sir；'　said　she。

'Ah；　you　are　a　visitor！　　I　know　every　one　of　the　regular
inhabitants；　we　soldiers　are　in　and　out　there　continually。　　Festus
Derriman；　Yeomanry　Cavalry；　you　know。　　The　fact　is；　the
watering…place　is　under　our　charge；　the　folks　will　be　quite
dependent　upon　us　for　their　deliverance　in　the　coming　struggle。　　We
hold　our　lives　in　our　hands；　and　theirs；　I　may　say；　in　our　pockets。
What　made　you　come　here；　ma'am；　at　such　a　critical　time？'

'I　don't　see　that　it　is　such　a　critical　time？'

'But　it　is；　though；　and　so　you'd　say　if　you　was　as　much　mixed　up
with　the　military　affairs　of　the　nation　as　some　of　us。'

The　lady　smiled。　　'The　King　is　coming　this　year；　anyhow；'　said　she。

'Never！'　said　Festus　firmly。　　'Ah；　you　are　one　of　the　attendants　at
court　perhaps；　come　on　ahead　to　get　the　King's　chambers　ready；　in
case　Boney　should　not　land？'

'No；'　she　said；　'I　am　connected　with　the　theatre；　though　not　just　at
the　present　moment。　　I　have　been　out　of　luck　for　the　last　year　or
two；　but　I　have　fetched　up　again。　　I　join　the　company　when　they
arrive　for　the　season。'

Festus　surveyed　her　with　interest。　　'Faith！　and　is　it　so？　　Well；
ma'am；　what　part　do　you　play？'

'I　am　mostly　the　leading　ladythe　heroine；'　she　said；　drawing
herself　up　with　dignity。

'I'll　come　and　have　a　look　at　ye　if　all's　well；　and　the　landing　is
put　offhang　me　if　I　don't！Hullo；　hullo；　what　do　I　see？'

His　eyes　were　stretched　towards　a　distant　field；　which　Anne　Garland
was　at　that　moment　hastily　crossing；　on　her　way　from　the　hall　to
Overcombe。

'I　must　be　off。　　Good…day　to　ye；　dear　creature！'　he　exclaimed；
hurrying　forward。

The　lady　said；　'O；　you　droll　monster！'　as　she　smiled　and　watched　him
stride　ahead。

Festus　bounded　on　over　the　hedge；　across　the　intervening　patch　of
green；　and　into　the　field　which　Anne　was　still　crossing。　　In　a
moment　or　two　she　looked　back；　and　seeing　the　well…known　Herculean
figure　of　the　yeoman　behind　her　felt　rather　alarmed；　though　she
determined　to　show　no　difference　in　her　outward　carriage。　　But　to
maintain　her　natural　gait　was　beyond　her　powers。　　She　spasmodically
quickened　her　pace；　fruitlessly；　however；　for　he　gained　upon　her；
and　when　within　a　few　strides　of　her　exclaimed；　'Well；　my　darling！'
Anne　started　off　at　a　run。

Festus　was　already　out　of　breath；　and　soon　found　that　he　was　not
likely　to　overtake　her。　　On　she　went；　without　turning　her　head；　till
an　unusual　noise　behind　compelled　her　to　look　round。　　His　face　was
in　the　act　of　falling　back；　he　swerved　on　one　side；　and　dropped　like
a　log　upon　a　convenient　hedgerow…bank　which　bordered　the　path。
There　he　lay　quite　still。

Anne　was　somewhat　alarmed；　and　after　standing　at　gaze　for　two　or
three　minutes；　drew　nearer　to　him；　a　step　and　a　half　at　a　time；
wondering　and　doubting；　as　a　meek　ewe　draws　near　to　some　strolling
vagabond　who　flings　himself　on　the　grass　near　the　flock。

'He　is　in　a　swoon！'　she　murmured。

Her　heart　beat　quickly；　and　she　looked　around。　　Nobody　was　in　sight；
she　advanced　a　step　nearer　still　and　observed　him　again。　　Apparently
his　face　was　turning　to　a　livid　hue；　and　his　breathing　had　become
obstructed。

''Tis　not　a　swoon；　'tis　apoplexy！'　she　said；　in　deep　distress。　　'I
ought　to　untie　his　neck。'　　But　she　was　afraid　to　do　this；　and　only
drew　a　little　closer　still。

Miss　Garland　was　now　within　three　feet　of　him；　whereupon　the
senseless　man；　who　could　hold　his　breath　no　longer；　sprang　to　his
feet　and　darted　at　her；　saying；　'Ha！　ha！　a　scheme　for　a　kiss！'

She　felt　his　arm　slipping　round　her　neck；　but；　twirling　about　with
amazing　dexterity；　she　wriggled　from　his　embrace　and　ran　away　along
the　field。　　The　force　with　which　she　had　extricated　herself　was
sufficient　to　throw　Festus　upon　the　grass；　and　by　the　time　that　he
got　upon　his　legs　again　she　was　many　yards　off。　　Uttering　a　word
which　was　not　exactly　a　blessing；　he　immediately　gave　chase；　and
thus　they　ran　till　Anne　entered　a　meadow　divided　down　the　middle　by
a　brook　about　six　feet　wide。　　A　narrow　plank　was　thrown　loosely
across　at　the　point　where　the　path　traversed　this　stream；　and　when
Anne　reached　it　she　at　once　scampered　over。　　At　the　other　side　she
turned　her　head　to　gather　the　probabilities　of　the　situation；　which
were　that　Festus　Derriman　would　overtake　her　even　now。　　By　a　sudden
forethought　she　stooped；　seized　the　end　of　the　plank；　and
endeavoured　to　drag　it　away　from　the　opposite　bank。　　But　the　weight
was　too　great　for　her　to　do　more　than　slightly　move　it；　and　with　a
desperate　sigh　she　ran　on　again；　having　lost　many　valuable