the trumpet-major-第51节

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seen。

'Come　to　see　the　King；　hip…hip　hurrah！'　cried　a　voice　within；　and
turning　they　saw　through　the　leaves　the　nose　and　face　of
Cripplestraw。　　The　waggon　contained　all　Derriman's　workpeople。

'Is　your　master　here？'　said　John。

'No；　trumpet…major；　sir。　　But　young　maister　is　coming　to　fetch　us　at
nine　o'clock；　in　case　we　should　be　too　blind　to　drive　home。'

'O！　where　is　he　now？'

'Never　mind；'　said　Anne　impatiently；　at　which　the　trumpet…major
obediently　moved　on。

By　the　time　they　reached　the　pier　it　was　six　o'clock；　the　royal
yacht　was　returning；　a　fact　announced　by　the　ships　in　the　harbour
firing　a　salute。　　The　King　came　ashore　with　his　hat　in　his　hand；　and
returned　the　salutations　of　the　well…dressed　crowd　in　his　old
indiscriminate　fashion。　　While　this　cheering　and　waving　of
handkerchiefs　was　going　on　Anne　stood　between　the　two　brothers；　who
protectingly　joined　their　hands　behind　her　back；　as　if　she　were　a
delicate　piece　of　statuary　that　a　push　might　damage。　　Soon　the　King
had　passed；　and　receiving　the　military　salutes　of　the　piquet；　joined
the　Queen　and　princesses　at　Gloucester　Lodge；　the　homely　house　of
red　brick　in　which　he　unostentatiously　resided。

As　there　was　yet　some　little　time　before　the　theatre　would　open；
they　strayed　upon　the　velvet　sands；　and　listened　to　the　songs　of　the
sailors；　one　of　whom　extemporized　for　the　occasion：

　　　　　'Portland　Road　the　King　aboard；　the　King　aboard！
　　　　　　Portland　Road　the　King　aboard；
　　　　　　We　weighed　and　sailed　from　Portland　Road　！'　*

*　Vide　Preface。

When　they　had　looked　on　awhile　at　the　combats　at　single…stick　which
were　in　progress　hard　by；　and　seen　the　sum　of　five　guineas　handed
over　to　the　modest　gentleman　who　had　broken　most　heads；　they
returned　to　Gloucester　Lodge；　whence　the　King　and　other　members　of
his　family　now　reappeared；　and　drove；　at　a　slow　trot；　round　to　the
theatre　in　carriages　drawn　by　the　Hanoverian　white　horses　that　were
so　well　known　in　the　town　at　this　date。

When　Anne　and　Bob　entered　the　theatre　they　found　that　John　had　taken
excellent　places；　and　concluded　that　he　had　got　them　for　nothing
through　the　influence　of　the　lady　of　his　choice。　　As　a　matter　of
fact　he　had　paid　full　prices　for　those　two　seats；　like　any　other
outsider；　and　even　then　had　a　difficulty　in　getting　them；　it　being　a
King's　night。　　When　they　were　settled　he　himself　retired　to　an
obscure　part　of　the　pit；　from　which　the　stage　was　scarcely　visible。

'We　can　see　beautifully；'　said　Bob；　in　an　aristocratic　voice；　as　he
took　a　delicate　pinch　of　snuff；　and　drew　out　the　magnificent
pocket…handkerchief　brought　home　from　the　East　for　such　occasions。
'But　I　am　afraid　poor　John　can't　see　at　all。'

'But　we　can　see　him；'　replied　Anne；　'and　notice　by　his　face　which　of
them　it　is　he　is　so　charmed　with。　　The　light　of　that　corner　candle
falls　right　upon　his　cheek。'

By　this　time　the　King　had　appeared　in　his　place；　which　was　overhung
by　a　canopy　of　crimson　satin　fringed　with　gold。　　About　twenty　places
were　occupied　by　the　royal　family　and　suite；　and　beyond　them　was　a
crowd　of　powdered　and　glittering　personages　of　fashion；　completely
filling　the　centre　of　the　little　building；　though　the　King　so
frequently　patronized　the　local　stage　during　these　years　that　the
crush　was　not　inconvenient。

The　curtain　rose　and　the　play　began。　　To…night　it　was　one　of
Colman's；　who　at　this　time　enjoyed　great　popularity；　and　Mr。
Bannister　supported　the　leading　character。　　Anne；　with　her　hand
privately　clasped　in　Bob's；　and　looking　as　if　she　did　not　know　it；
partly　watched　the　piece　and　partly　the　face　of　the　impressionable
John　who　had　so　soon　transferred　his　affections　elsewhere。　　She　had
not　long　to　wait。　　When　a　certain　one　of　the　subordinate　ladies　of
the　comedy　entered　on　the　stage　the　trumpet…major　in　his　corner　not
only　looked　conscious；　but　started　and　gazed　with　parted　lips。

'This　must　be　the　one；'　whispered　Anne　quickly。　　'See；　he　is
agitated！'

She　turned　to　Bob；　but　at　the　same　moment　his　hand　convulsively
closed　upon　hers　as　he；　too；　strangely　fixed　his　eyes　upon　the
newly…entered　lady。

'What　is　it？'

Anne　looked　from　one　to　the　other　without　regarding　the　stage　at
all。　　Her　answer　came　in　the　voice　of　the　actress　who　now　spoke　for
the　first　time。　　The　accents　were　those　of　Miss　Matilda　Johnson。

One　thought　rushed　into　both　their　minds　on　the　instant；　and　Bob　was
the　first　to　utter　it。

'Whatis　she　the　woman　of　his　choice　after　all？'

'If　so；　it　is　a　dreadful　thing！'　murmured　Anne。

But；　as　may　be　imagined；　the　unfortunate　John　was　as　much　surprised
by　this　rencounter　as　the　other　two。　　Until　this　moment　he　had　been
in　utter　ignorance　of　the　theatrical　company　and　all　that　pertained
to　it。　　Moreover；　much　as　he　knew　of　Miss　Johnson；　he　was　not　aware
that　she　had　ever　been　trained　in　her　youth　as　an　actress；　and　that
after　lapsing　into　straits　and　difficulties　for　a　couple　of　years
she　had　been　so　fortunate　as　to　again　procure　an　engagement　here。

The　trumpet…major；　though　not　prominently　seated；　had　been　seen　by
Matilda　already；　who　had　observed　still　more　plainly　her　old
betrothed　and　Anne　in　the　other　part　of　the　house。　　John　was　not
concerned　on　his　own　account　at　being　face　to　face　with　her；　but　at
the　extraordinary　suspicion　that　this　conjuncture　must　revive　in　the
minds　of　his　best　beloved　friends。　　After　some　moments　of　pained
reflection　he　tapped　his　knee。

'Gad；　I　won't　explain；　it　shall　go　as　it　is！'　he　said。　　'Let　them
think　her　mine。　　Better　that　than　the　truth；　after　all。'

Had　personal　prominence　in　the　scene　been　at　this　moment
proportioned　to　intentness　of　feeling；　the　whole　audience；　regal　and
otherwise；　would　have　faded　into　an　indistinct　mist　of　background；
leaving　as　the　sole　emergent　and　telling　figures　Bob　and　Anne　at　one
point；　the　trumpet…major　on　the　left　hand；　and　Matilda　at　the
opposite　corner　of　the　stage。　　But　fortunately　the　deadlock　of
awkward　suspense　into　which　all　four　had　fallen　was　terminated　by　an
accident。　　A　messenger　entered　the　King's　box　with　despatches。
There　was　an　instant　pause　in　the　performance。　　The　despatch…box
being　opened　the　King　read　for　a　few　moments　with　great　interest；
the　eyes　of　the　whole　house；　including　those　of　Anne　Garland；　being
anxiously　fixed　upon　his　face；　for　terrible　events　fell　as
unexpectedly　as　thunderbolts　at　this　critical　time　of　our　history。
The　King　at　length　beckoned　to　Lord　；　who　was　immediately　behind
him；　the　play　was　again　stopped；　and　the　contents　of　the　despatch
were　publicly　communicated　to　the　audience。

Sir　Robert　Calder；　cruising　off　Finisterre；　had　come　in　sight　of
Villeneuve；　and　made　the　signal　for　action；　which；　though　checked　by
the　weather；　had　resulted　in　the　capture　of　two　Spanish
line…of…battle　ships；　and　the　retreat　of　Villeneuve　into　Ferrol。

The　news　was　received　with　truly　national　feeling；　if　noise　might　be
taken　as　an　index　of　patriotism。　　'Rule　Britannia'　was　called　for
and　sung　by　the　whole　house。　　But　the　importance　of　the　event　was
far　from　being　recognized　at　this　time；　and　Bob　Loveday；　as　he　sat
there　and　heard　it；　had　very　little　conception　how　it　would　bear
upon　his　destiny。

This　parenthetic　excitement　diverted　for　a　few　minutes　the　eyes　of
Bob　and　Anne　from　the　trumpet…major；　and　when　the　play　proceeded；
and　they　looked　back　to　his　corner；　he　was　gone。

'He's　just　slipped　round　to　talk　to　her　behind　the　scenes；'　said　Bob
knowingly。　　'Shall　we　go　too；　and　tease　him　for　a　sly　dog？'

'No；　I　would　rather　not。'

'Shall　we　go　home；　then？'

'Not　unless　her　presence　is　too　much　for　you？'

'Onot　at　all。　　We'll　stay　here。　　Ah；　there　she　is　again。'

They　sat　on；　and　listened　to　Matilda's　speeches　which　she　delivered
with　such　delightful　coolness　that　they　soon　began　to　considerably
interest　one　of　the　party。

'Well；　what　a　nerve　the　young　woman　has！'　he　said　at　last　in　tones
of　admiration；　and　gazing　at　Miss　Johnson　with　all　his　might。
'After　all；　Jack's　taste　is　not　so　bad。　　She's　really　deuced
clever。'

'Bob；　I'll　go　home　if　you　wish　to；'　said　Anne　quickly。

'O　nolet　us　see　how　she　fleets　herself　off　that　bit　of　a　scrape
she's　playing　at　now。　　Well；　what　a　hand　she　is　at　it；　to　be　sure！'

Anne　said　no　more；　but　waited　on；　supremely　uncomfortable；　and
almost　tearful。　　She　began　to　feel　that　she　did　not　like　life
particularly　well；　it　was　too　complicated：　　she　saw　nothing　of　the
scene；　and　only　longed　to　get　away；　and　to　get　Bob　away　with　her。
At　last　the　curtain　fell　on　the　final　act；　and　then　began　the　farce
of　'No　Song　no　Supper。'　　Matilda　did　not　appear　in　this　piece；　and
Anne　again　inquired　if　they　should　go　home。　　This　time　Bob　agreed；
and　taking　her　under　his　care　with　redoubled　affection；　to　make　up
for　the　species　of　coma　which　had　seized　upon　his　heart　for　a　time；
he　quietly　accompanied　her　out　of　the　house。

When　they　emerged　upon　the　esplanade；　the　August　moon　was　shining
across　the　sea　from　the　direction　of　St。　Aldhelm's　Head。　　Bob
unconsciously　loitered；　and　turned　towards　the　pier。　　Reaching　the
end　of　the　promenade　they　surveyed　the　quivering　waters　in　silence
for　some　time；　until　a　long　dark　line　shot　from　behind　the
promon