the trumpet-major-第52节

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end　of　the　promenade　they　surveyed　the　quivering　waters　in　silence
for　some　time；　until　a　long　dark　line　shot　from　behind　the
promontory　of　the　Nothe；　and　swept　forward　into　the　harbour。

'What　boat　is　that？'　said　Anne。

'It　seems　to　be　some　frigate　lying　in　the　Roads；'　said　Bob
carelessly；　as　he　brought　Anne　round　with　a　gentle　pressure　of　his
arm　and　bent　his　steps　towards　the　homeward　end　of　the　town。

Meanwhile；　Miss　Johnson；　having　finished　her　duties　for　that
evening；　rapidly　changed　her　dress；　and　went　out　likewise。　　The
prominent　position　which　Anne　and　Captain　Bob　had　occupied　side　by
side　in　the　theatre；　left　her　no　alternative　but　to　suppose　that　the
situation　was　arranged　by　Bob　as　a　species　of　defiance　to　herself；
and　her　heart；　such　as　it　was；　became　proportionately　embittered
against　him。　　In　spite　of　the　rise　in　her　fortunes；　Miss　Johnson
still　rememberedand　always　would　rememberher　humiliating
departure　from　Overcombe；　and　it　had　been　to　her　even　a　more
grievous　thing　that　Bob　had　acquiesced　in　his　brother's　ruling　than
that　John　had　determined　it。　　At　the　time　of　setting　out　she　was
sustained　by　a　firm　faith　that　Bob　would　follow　her；　and　nullify　his
brother's　scheme；　but　though　she　waited　Bob　never　came。

She　passed　along　by　the　houses　facing　the　sea；　and　scanned　the
shore；　the　footway；　and　the　open　road　close　to　her；　which；
illuminated　by　the　slanting　moon　to　a　great　brightness；　sparkled
with　minute　facets　of　crystallized　salts　from　the　water　sprinkled
there　during　the　day。　　The　promenaders　at　the　further　edge　appeared
in　dark　profiles；　and　beyond　them　was　the　grey　sea；　parted　into　two
masses　by　the　tapering　braid　of　moonlight　across　the　waves。

Two　forms　crossed　this　line　at　a　startling　nearness　to　her；　she
marked　them　at　once　as　Anne　and　Bob　Loveday。　　They　were　walking
slowly；　and　in　the　earnestness　of　their　discourse　were　oblivious　of
the　presence　of　any　human　beings　save　themselves。　　Matilda　stood
motionless　till　they　had　passed。

'How　I　love　them！'　she　said；　treading　the　initial　step　of　her　walk
onwards　with　a　vehemence　that　walking　did　not　demand。

'So　do　Iespecially　one；'　said　a　voice　at　her　elbow；　and　a　man
wheeled　round　her；　and　looked　in　her　face；　which　had　been　fully
exposed　to　the　moon。

'Youwho　are　you？'　she　asked。

'Don't　you　remember；　ma'am？　　We　walked　some　way　together　towards
Overcombe　earlier　in　the　summer。'　　Matilda　looked　more　closely；　and
perceived　that　the　speaker　was　Derriman；　in　plain　clothes。　　He
continued；　'You　are　one　of　the　ladies　of　the　theatre；　I　know。　　May　I
ask　why　you　said　in　such　a　queer　way　that　you　loved　that　couple？'

'In　a　queer　way？'

'Well；　as　if　you　hated　them。'

'I　don't　mind　your　knowing　that　I　have　good　reason　to　hate　them。
You　do　too；　it　seems？'

'That　man；'　said　Festus　savagely；　'came　to　me　one　night　about　that
very　woman；　insulted　me　before　I　could　put　myself　on　my　guard；　and
ran　away　before　I　could　come　up　with　him　and　avenge　myself。　　The
woman　tricks　me　at　every　turn！　　I　want　to　part　'em。'

'Then　why　don't　you？　　There's　a　splendid　opportunity。　　Do　you　see
that　soldier　walking　along？　　He's　a　marine；　he　looks　into　the
gallery　of　the　theatre　every　night：　　and　he's　in　connexion　with　the
press…gang　that　came　ashore　just　now　from　the　frigate　lying　in
Portland　Roads。　　They　are　often　here　for　men。'

'Yes。　　Our　boatmen　dread　'em。'

'Well；　we　have　only　to　tell　him　that　Loveday　is　a　seaman　to　be　clear
of　him　this　very　night。'

'Done！'　said　Festus。　　'Take　my　arm　and　come　this　way。'　　They　walked
across　to　the　footway。　　'Fine　night；　sergeant。'

'It　is；　sir。'

'Looking　for　hands；　I　suppose？'

'It　is　not　to　be　known；　sir。　　We　don't　begin　till　half　past　ten。'

'It　is　a　pity　you　don't　begin　now。　　I　could　show　'ee　excellent
game。'

'What；　that　little　nest　of　fellows　at　the　〃Old　Rooms〃　in　Cove　Row？
I　have　just　heard　of　'em。'

'Nocome　here。'　　Festus；　with　Miss　Johnson　on　his　arm；　led　the
sergeant　quickly　along　the　parade；　and　by　the　time　they　reached　the
Narrows　the　lovers；　who　walked　but　slowly；　were　visible　in　front　of
them。　　'There's　your　man；'　he　said。

'That　buck　in　pantaloons　and　half…bootsa　looking　like　a　squire？'

'Twelve　months　ago　he　was　mate　of　the　brig　Pewit；　but　his　father　has
made　money；　and　keeps　him　at　home。'

'Faith；　now　you　tell　of　it；　there's　a　hint　of　sea　legs　about　him。
What's　the　young　beau's　name？'

'Don't　tell！'　whispered　Matilda；　impulsively　clutching　Festus's　arm。

But　Festus　had　already　said；　'Robert　Loveday；　son　of　the　miller　at
Overcombe。　　You　may　find　several　likely　fellows　in　that
neighbourhood。'

The　marine　said　that　he　would　bear　it　in　mind；　and　they　left　him。

'I　wish　you　had　not　told；'　said　Matilda　tearfully。　　'She's　the
worst！'

'Dash　my　eyes　now；　listen　to　that！　　Why；　you　chicken…hearted　old
stager；　you　was　as　well　agreed　as　I。　　Come　now；　hasn't　he　used　you
badly？'

Matilda's　acrimony　returned。　　'I　was　down　on　my　luck；　or　he　wouldn't
have　had　the　chance！'　she　said。

'Well；　then；　let　things　be。'



XXXI。　　MIDNIGHT　VISITORS

Miss　Garland　and　Loveday　walked　leisurely　to　the　inn　and　called　for
horse…and…gig。　　While　the　hostler　was　bringing　it　round；　the
landlord；　who　knew　Bob　and　his　family　well；　spoke　to　him　quietly　in
the　passage。

'Is　this　then　because　you　want　to　throw　dust　in　the　eyes　of　the
Black　Diamond　chaps？'　（with　an　admiring　glance　at　Bob's　costume）。

'The　Black　Diamond？'　said　Bob；　and　Anne　turned　pale。

'She　hove　in　sight　just　after　dark；　and　at　nine　o'clock　a　boat
having　more　than　a　dozen　marines　on　board；　with　cloaks　on；　rowed
into　harbour。'

Bob　reflected。　　'Then　there'll　be　a　press　to…night；　depend　upon　it；'
he　said。

'They　won't　know　you；　will　they；　Bob？'　said　Anne　anxiously。

'They　certainly　won't　know　him　for　a　seaman　now；'　remarked　the
landlord；　laughing；　and　again　surveying　Bob　up　and　down。　　'But　if　I
was　you　two；　I　should　drive　home…along　straight　and　quiet；　and　be
very　busy　in　the　mill　all　to…morrow；　Mr。　Loveday。'

They　drove　away；　and　when　they　had　got　onward　out　of　the　town；　Anne
strained　her　eyes　wistfully　towards　Portland。　　Its　dark　contour；
lying　like　a　whale　on　the　sea；　was　just　perceptible　in　the　gloom　as
the　background　to　half…a…dozen　ships'　lights　nearer　at　hand。

'They　can't　make　you　go；　now　you　are　a　gentleman　tradesman；　can
they？'　she　asked。

'If　they　want　me　they　can　have　me；　dearest。　　I　have　often　said　I
ought　to　volunteer。'

'And　not　care　about　me　at　all？'

'It　is　just　that　that　keeps　me　at　home。　　I　won't　leave　you　if　I　can
help　it。'

'It　cannot　make　such　a　vast　difference　to　the　country　whether　one
man　goes　or　stays！　　But　if　you　want　to　go　you　had　better；　and　not
mind　us　at　all！'

Bob　put　a　period　to　her　speech　by　a　mark　of　affection　to　which
history　affords　many　parallels　in　every　age。　　She　said　no　more　about
the　Black　Diamond；　but　whenever　they　ascended　a　hill　she　turned　her
head　to　look　at　the　lights　in　Portland　Roads；　and　the　grey　expanse
of　intervening　sea。

Though　Captain　Bob　had　stated　that　he　did　not　wish　to　volunteer；　and
would　not　leave　her　if　he　could　help　it；　the　remark　required　some
qualification。　　That　Anne　was　charming　and　loving　enough　to　chain
him　anywhere　was　true；　but　he　had　begun　to　find　the　mill…work
terribly　irksome　at　times。　　Often　during　the　last　month；　when
standing　among　the　rumbling　cogs　in　his　new　miller's　suit；　which　ill
became　him；　he　had　yawned；　thought　wistfully　of　the　old　pea…jacket；
and　the　waters　of　the　deep　blue　sea。　　His　dread　of　displeasing　his
father　by　showing　anything　of　this　change　of　sentiment　was　great；
yet　he　might　have　braved　it　but　for　knowing　that　his　marriage　with
Anne；　which　he　hoped　might　take　place　the　next　year；　was　dependent
entirely　upon　his　adherence　to　the　mill　business。　　Even　were　his
father　indifferent；　Mrs。　Loveday　would　never　intrust　her　only
daughter　to　the　hands　of　a　husband　who　would　be　away　from　home
five…sixths　of　his　time。

But　though；　apart　from　Anne；　he　was　not　averse　to　seafaring　in
itself；　to　be　smuggled　thither　by　the　machinery　of　a　press…gang　was
intolerable；　and　the　process　of　seizing；　stunning；　pinioning；　and
carrying　off　unwilling　hands　was　one　which　Bob　as　a　man　had　always
determined　to　hold　out　against　to　the　utmost　of　his　power。　　Hence；
as　they　went　towards　home；　he　frequently　listened　for　sounds　behind
him；　but　hearing　none　he　assured　his　sweetheart　that　they　were　safe
for　that　night　at　least。　　The　mill　was　still　going　when　they
arrived；　though　old　Mr。　Loveday　was　not　to　be　seen；　he　had　retired
as　soon　as　he　heard　the　horse's　hoofs　in　the　lane；　leaving　Bob　to
watch　the　grinding　till　three　o'clock；　when　the　elder　would　rise；
and　Bob　withdraw　to　beda　frequent　arrangement　between　them　since
Bob　had　taken　the　place　of　grinder。

Having　reached　the　privacy　of　her　own　room；　Anne　threw　open　the
window；　for　she　had　not　the　slightest　intention　of　going　to　bed　just
yet。　　The　tale　of　the　Black　Diamond　had　disturbed　her　by　a　slow；
insidious　process　that　was　worse　than　sudden　fright。　　Her　window
looked　into　the　court　before　the　house；　now　wrapped　in　the　shadow　of
the　trees　and　the　hill；　and　she　leaned　upon　its　sill　listening
intently。　　She　could