the trumpet-major-第46节

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track　which　Anne　and　her　companions　were　last　seen　to　pursue。

This　road　had　been　ascended　by　the　gig　in　question　nearly　two　hours
before　the　present　moment。　　Molly；　the　servant；　held　the　reins；　Mrs。
Loveday　sat　beside　her；　and　Anne　behind。　　Their　progress　was　but
slow；　owing　partly　to　Molly's　want　of　skill；　and　partly　to　the
steepness　of　the　road；　which　here　passed　over　downs　of　some　extent；
and　was　rarely　or　never　mended。　　It　was　an　anxious　morning　for　them
all；　and　the　beauties　of　the　early　summer　day　fell　upon　unheeding
eyes。　　They　were　too　anxious　even　for　conjecture；　and　each　sat
thinking　her　own　thoughts；　occasionally　glancing　westward；　or
stopping　the　horse　to　listen　to　sounds　from　more　frequented　roads
along　which　other　parties　were　retreating。　　Once；　while　they
listened　and　gazed　thus；　they　saw　a　glittering　in　the　distance；　and
heard　the　tramp　of　many　horses。　　It　was　a　large　body　of　cavalry
going　in　the　direction　of　the　King's　watering…place；　the　same
regiment　of　dragoons；　in　fact；　which　Festus　had　seen　further　on　in
its　course。　　The　women　in　the　gig　had　no　doubt　that　these　men　were
marching　at　once　to　engage　the　enemy。　　By　way　of　varying　the
monotony　of　the　journey　Molly　occasionally　burst　into　tears　of
horror；　believing　Buonaparte　to　be　in　countenance　and　habits
precisely　what　the　caricatures　represented　him。　　Mrs。　Loveday
endeavoured　to　establish　cheerfulness　by　assuring　her　companions　of
the　natural　civility　of　the　French　nation；　with　whom　unprotected
women　were　safe　from　injury；　unless　through　the　casual　excesses　of
soldiery　beyond　control。　　This　was　poor　consolation　to　Anne；　whose
mind　was　more　occupied　with　Bob　than　with　herself；　and　a　miserable
fear　that　she　would　never　again　see　him　alive　so　paled　her　face　and
saddened　her　gaze　forward；　that　at　last　her　mother　said；　'Who　was
you　thinking　of；　my　dear？'　　Anne's　only　reply　was　a　look　at　her
mother；　with　which　a　tear　mingled。

Molly　whipped　the　horse；　by　which　she　quickened　his　pace　for　five
yards；　when　he　again　fell　into　the　perverse　slowness　that　showed　how
fully　conscious　he　was　of　being　the　master…mind　and　chief　personage
of　the　four。　　Whenever　there　was　a　pool　of　water　by　the　road　he
turned　aside　to　drink　a　mouthful；　and　remained　there　his　own　time　in
spite　of　Molly's　tug　at　the　reins　and　futile　fly…flapping　on　his
rump。　　They　were　now　in　the　chalk　district；　where　there　were　no
hedges；　and　a　rough　attempt　at　mending　the　way　had　been　made　by
throwing　down　huge　lumps　of　that　glaring　material　in　heaps；　without
troubling　to　spread　it　or　break　them　abroad。　　The　jolting　here　was
most　distressing；　and　seemed　about　to　snap　the　springs。

'How　that　wheel　do　wamble；'　said　Molly　at　last。　　She　had　scarcely
spoken　when　the　wheel　came　off；　and　all　three　were　precipitated　over
it　into　the　road。

Fortunately　the　horse　stood　still；　and　they　began　to　gather
themselves　up。　　The　only　one　of　the　three　who　had　suffered　in　the
least　from　the　fall　was　Anne；　and　she　was　only　conscious　of　a　severe
shaking　which　had　half　stupefied　her　for　the　time。　　The　wheel　lay
flat　in　the　road；　so　that　there　was　no　possibility　of　driving
further　in　their　present　plight。　　They　looked　around　for　help。　　The
only　friendly　object　near　was　a　lonely　cottage；　from　its　situation
evidently　the　home　of　a　shepherd。

The　horse　was　unharnessed　and　tied　to　the　back　of　the　gig；　and　the
three　women　went　across　to　the　house。　　On　getting　close　they　found
that　the　shutters　of　all　the　lower　windows　were　closed；　but　on
trying　the　door　it　opened　to　the　hand。　　Nobody　was　within；　the　house
appeared　to　have　been　abandoned　in　some　confusion；　and　the
probability　was　that　the　shepherd　had　fled　on　hearing　the　alarm。
Anne　now　said　that　she　felt　the　effects　of　her　fall　too　severely　to
be　able　to　go　any　further　just　then；　and　it　was　agreed　that　she
should　be　left　there　while　Mrs。　Loveday　and　Molly　went　on　for
assistance；　the　elder　lady　deeming　Molly　too　young　and　vacant…minded
to　be　trusted　to　go　alone。　　Molly　suggested　taking　the　horse；　as　the
distance　might　be　great；　each　of　them　sitting　alternately　on　his
back　while　the　other　led　him　by　the　head。　　This　they　did；　Anne
watching　them　vanish　down　the　white　and　lumpy　road。

She　then　looked　round　the　room；　as　well　as　she　could　do　so　by　the
light　from　the　open　door。　　It　was　plain；　from　the　shutters　being
closed；　that　the　shepherd　had　left　his　house　before　daylight；　the
candle　and　extinguisher　on　the　table　pointing　to　the　same
conclusion。　　Here　she　remained；　her　eyes　occasionally　sweeping　the
bare；　sunny　expanse　of　down；　that　was　only　relieved　from　absolute
emptiness　by　the　overturned　gig　hard　by。　　The　sheep　seemed　to　have
gone　away；　and　scarcely　a　bird　flew　across　to　disturb　the　solitude。
Anne　had　risen　early　that　morning；　and　leaning　back　in　the　withy
chair；　which　she　had　placed　by　the　door；　she　soon　fell　into　an
uneasy　doze；　from　which　she　was　awakened　by　the　distant　tramp　of　a
horse。　　Feeling　much　recovered　from　the　effects　of　the　overturn；　she
eagerly　rose　and　looked　out。　　The　horse　was　not　Miller　Loveday's；
but　a　powerful　bay；　bearing　a　man　in　full　yeomanry　uniform。

Anne　did　not　wait　to　recognize　further；　instantly　re…entering　the
house；　she　shut　the　door　and　bolted　it。　　In　the　dark　she　sat　and
listened：　　not　a　sound。　　At　the　end　of　ten　minutes；　thinking　that
the　rider　if　he　were　not　Festus　had　carelessly　passed　by；　or　that　if
he　were　Festus　he　had　not　seen　her；　she　crept　softly　upstairs　and
peeped　out　of　the　window。　　Excepting　the　spot　of　shade；　formed　by
the　gig　as　before；　the　down　was　quite　bare。　　She　then　opened　the
casement　and　stretched　out　her　neck。

'Ha；　young　madam！　　There　you　are！　　I　knew　'ee！　　Now　you　are　caught！'
came　like　a　clap　of　thunder　from　a　point　three　or　four　feet　beneath
her；　and　turning　down　her　frightened　eyes　she　beheld　Festus　Derriman
lurking　close　to　the　wall。　　His　attention　had　first　been　attracted
by　her　shutting　the　door　of　the　cottage；　then　by　the　overturned　gig；
and　after　making　sure；　by　examining　the　vehicle；　that　he　was　not
mistaken　in　her　identity；　he　had　dismounted；　led　his　horse　round　to
the　side；　and　crept　up　to　entrap　her。

Anne　started　back　into　the　room；　and　remained　still　as　a　stone。
Festus　went　on'Come；　you　must　trust　to　me。　　The　French　have
landed。　　I　have　been　trying　to　meet　with　you　every　hour　since　that
confounded　trick　you　played　me。　　You　threw　me　into　the　water。
Faith；　it　was　well　for　you　I　didn't　catch　ye　then！　　I　should　have
taken　a　revenge　in　a　better　way　than　I　shall　now。　　I　mean　to　have
that　kiss　of　ye。　　Come；　Miss　Nancy；　do　you　hear？'Tis　no　use　for
you　to　lurk　inside　there。　　You'll　have　to　turn　out　as　soon　as　Boney
comes　over　the　hillAre　you　going　to　open　the　door；　I　say；　and
speak　to　me　in　a　civil　way？　　What　do　you　think　I　am；　then；　that　you
should　barricade　yourself　against　me　as　if　I　was　a　wild　beast　or
Frenchman？　　Open　the　door；　or　put　out　your　head；　or　do　something；　or
'pon　my　soul　I'll　break　in　the　door！'

It　occurred　to　Anne　at　this　point　of　the　tirade　that　the　best　policy
would　be　to　temporize　till　somebody　should　return；　and　she　put　out
her　head　and　face；　now　grown　somewhat　pale。

'That's　better；'　said　Festus。　　'Now　I　can　talk　to　you。　　Come；　my
dear；　will　you　open　the　door？　　Why　should　you　be　afraid　of　me？'

'I　am　not　altogether　afraid　of　you；　I　am　safe　from　the　French　here；'
said　Anne；　not　very　truthfully；　and　anxiously　casting　her　eyes　over
the　vacant　down。

'Then　let　me　tell　you　that　the　alarm　is　false；　and　that　no　landing
has　been　attempted。　　Now　will　you　open　the　door　and　let　me　in？　　I　am
tired。　　I　have　been　on　horseback　ever　since　daylight；　and　have　come
to　bring　you　the　good　tidings。'

Anne　looked　as　if　she　doubted　the　news。

'Come；'　said　Festus。

'No；　I　cannot　let　you　in；'　she　murmured；　after　a　pause。

'Dash　my　wig；　then；'　he　cried；　his　face　flaming　up；　'I'll　find　a　way
to　get　in！　　Now；　don't　you　provoke　me！　　You　don't　know　what　I　am
capable　of。　　I　ask　you　again；　will　you　open　the　door？'

'Why　do　you　wish　it？'　she　said　faintly。

'I　have　told　you　I　want　to　sit　down；　and　I　want　to　ask　you　a
question。'

'You　can　ask　me　from　where　you　are。'

'I　cannot　ask　you　properly。　　It　is　about　a　serious　matter：　　whether
you　will　accept　my　heart　and　hand。　　I　am　not　going　to　throw　myself
at　your　feet；　but　I　ask　you　to　do　your　duty　as　a　woman；　namely；　give
your　solemn　word　to　take　my　name　as　soon　as　the　war　is　over　and　I
have　time　to　attend　to　you。　　I　scorn　to　ask　it　of　a　haughty　hussy
who　will　only　speak　to　me　through　a　window；　however；　I　put　it　to　you
for　the　last　time；　madam。'

There　was　no　sign　on　the　down　of　anybody's　return；　and　she　said；
'I'll　think　of　it；　sir。'

'You　have　thought　of　it　long　enough；　I　want　to　know。　　Will　you　or
won't　you？'

'Very　well；　I　think　I　will。'　　And　then　she　felt　that　she　might　be
buying　personal　safety　too　dearly　by　shuffling　thus；　since　he　would
spread　the　report　that　she　had　accepted　him；　and　cause　endless
complication。　　'No；'　she　said；　'I　have　changed　my　mind。　　I　cannot
accept　you；　Mr。　Derriman。'

'That's　how　you　play　with　me！'　he　exclaimed；　stamping。　　'〃Yes；〃　one
moment；　〃No；〃　the　next。　　Come；　you　don't　know　what　you　refuse。　　That
o