the trumpet-major-第62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！



'Thank　you；　Mr。　Derriman；'　said　the　mother　placably。　　'But　she　is
ill　at　present。　　I'll　mention　it　to　her　when　she　is　better。'

'Ask　her　to　alter　her　cruel；　cruel　resolves　against　me；　on　the　score
ofof　my　consuming　passion　for　her。　　In　short；'　continued　Festus；
dropping　his　parlour　language　in　his　warmth；　'I'll　tell　thee　what；
Dame　Loveday；　I　want　the　maid；　and　must　have　her。'

Mrs。　Loveday　replied　that　that　was　very　plain　speaking。

'Well；　'tis。　　But　Bob　has　given　her　up。　　He　never　meant　to　marry
her。　　I'll　tell　you；　Mrs。　Loveday；　what　I　have　never　told　a　soul
before。　　I　was　standing　upon　Budmouth　Quay　on　that　very　day　in　last
September　that　Bob　set　sail；　and　I　heard　him　say　to　his　brother　John
that　he　gave　your　daughter　up。'

'Then　it　was　very　unmannerly　of　him　to　trifle　with　her　so；'　said
Mrs。　Loveday　warmly。　　'Who　did　he　give　her　up　to？'

Festus　replied　with　hesitation；　'He　gave　her　up　to　John。'

'To　John？　　How　could　he　give　her　up　to　a　man　already　over　head　and
ears　in　love　with　that　actress　woman？'

'O？　　You　surprise　me。　　Which　actress　is　it？'

'That　Miss　Johnson。　　Anne　tells　me　that　he　loves　her　hopelessly。'

Festus　arose。　　Miss　Johnson　seemed　suddenly　to　acquire　high　value　as
a　sweetheart　at　this　announcement。　　He　had　himself　felt　a　nameless
attractiveness　in　her；　and　John　had　done　likewise。　　John　crossed　his
path　in　all　possible　ways。

Before　the　yeoman　had　replied　somebody　opened　the　door；　and　the
firelight　shone　upon　the　uniform　of　the　person　they　discussed。
Festus　nodded　on　recognizing　him；　wished　Mrs。　Loveday　good　evening；
and　went　out　precipitately。

'So　Bob　told　you　he　meant　to　break　off　with　my　Anne　when　he　went
away？'　Mrs。　Loveday　remarked　to　the　trumpet…major。　　'I　wish　I　had
known　of　it　before。'

John　appeared　disturbed　at　the　sudden　charge。　　He　murmured　that　he
could　not　deny　it；　and　then　hastily　turned　from　her　and　followed
Derriman；　whom　he　saw　before　him　on　the　bridge。

'Derriman！'　he　shouted。

Festus　started　and　looked　round。　　'Well；　trumpet…major；'　he　said
blandly。

'When　will　you　have　sense　enough　to　mind　your　own　business；　and　not
come　here　telling　things　you　have　heard　by　sneaking　behind　people's
backs？'　demanded　John　hotly。　　'If　you　can't　learn　in　any　other　way；
I　shall　have　to　pull　your　ears　again；　as　I　did　the　other　day！'

'YOU　pull　my　ears？　　How　can　you　tell　that　lie；　when　you　know　'twas
somebody　else　pulled　'em？'

'O　no；　no。　　I　pulled　your　ears；　and　thrashed　you　in　a　mild　way。'

'You'll　swear　to　it？　　Surely　'twas　another　man？'

'It　was　in　the　parlour　at　the　public…house；　you　were　almost　in　the
dark。'　　And　John　added　a　few　details　as　to　the　particular　blows；
which　amounted　to　proof　itself。

'Then　I　heartily　ask　your　pardon　for　saying　'twas　a　lie！'　cried
Festus；　advancing　with　extended　hand　and　a　genial　smile。　　'Sure；　if
I　had　known　'TWAS　you；　I　wouldn't　have　insulted　you　by　denying　it。'

'That　was　why　you　didn't　challenge　me；　then？'

'That　was　it！　　I　wouldn't　for　the　world　have　hurt　your　nice　sense　of
honour　by　letting　'ee　go　unchallenged；　if　I　had　known！　　And　now；　you
see；　unfortunately　I　can't　mend　the　mistake。　　So　long　a　time　has
passed　since　it　happened　that　the　heat　of　my　temper　is　gone　off。　　I
couldn't　oblige　'ee；　try　how　I　might；　for　I　am　not　a　man；
trumpet…major；　that　can　butcher　in　cold　bloodno；　not　I；　nor　you
neither；　from　what　I　know　of　'ee。　　So；　willy…nilly；　we　must　fain　let
it　pass；　eh？'

'We　must；　I　suppose；'　said　John；　smiling　grimly。　　'Who　did　you　think
I　was；　then；　that　night　when　I　boxed　you　all　round？'

'No；　don't　press　me；'　replied　the　yeoman。　　'I　can't　reveal；　it　would
be　disgracing　myself　to　show　how　very　wide　of　the　truth　the　mockery
of　wine　was　able　to　lead　my　senses。　　We　will　let　it　be　buried　in
eternal　mixens　of　forgetfulness。'

'As　you　wish；'　said　the　trumpet…major　loftily。　　'But　if　you　ever
SHOULD　think　you　knew　it　was　me；　why；　you　know　where　to　find　me？'
And　Loveday　walked　away。

The　instant　that　he　was　gone　Festus　shook　his　fist　at　the　evening
star；　which　happened　to　lie　in　the　same　direction　as　that　taken　by
the　dragoon。

'Now　for　my　revenge！　　Duels？　　Lifelong　disgrace　to　me　if　ever　I
fight　with　a　man　of　blood　below　my　own！　　There　are　other　remedies
for　upper…class　souls！。　。　。　　Matildathat's　my　way。'

Festus　strode　along　till　he　reached　the　Hall；　where　Cripplestraw
appeared　gazing　at　him　from　under　the　arch　of　the　porter's　lodge。
Derriman　dashed　open　the　entrance…hurdle　with　such　violence　that　the
whole　row　of　them　fell　flat　in　the　mud。

'Mercy；　Maister　Festus！'　said　Cripplestraw。　　'〃Surely；〃　I　says　to
myself　when　I　see　ye　a…coming；　〃surely　Maister　Festus　is　fuming　like
that　because　there's　no　chance　of　the　enemy　coming　this　year　after
all。〃'

'Cr…r…ripplestraw！　　I　have　been　wounded　to　the　heart；'　replied
Derriman；　with　a　lurid　brow。

'And　the　man　yet　lives；　and　you　wants　yer　horse…pistols　instantly？
Certainly；　Maister　F'

'No；　Cripplestraw；　not　my　pistols；　but　my　new…cut　clothes；　my　heavy
gold　seals；　my　silver…topped　cane；　and　my　buckles　that　cost　more
money　than　he　ever　saw！　　Yes；　I　must　tell　somebody；　and　I'll　tell

you；　because　there's　no　other　fool　near。　　He　loves　her　heart　and
soul。　　He's　poor；　she's　tip…top　genteel；　and　not　rich。　　I　am　rich；
by　comparison。　　I'll　court　the　pretty　play…actress；　and　win　her
before　his　eyes。'

'Play…actress；　Maister　Derriman？'

'Yes。　　I　saw　her　this　very　day；　met　her　by　accident；　and　spoke　to
her。　　She's　still　in　the　townperhaps　because　of　him。　　I　can　meet
her　at　any　hour　of　the　day　　But　I　don't　mean　to　marry　her；　not　I。
I　will　court　her　for　my　pastime；　and　to　annoy　him。　　It　will　be　all
the　more　death　to　him　that　I　don't　want　her。　　Then　perhaps　he　will
say　to　me；　〃You　have　taken　my　one　ewe　lamb〃meaning　that　I　am　the
king；　and　he's　the　poor　man；　as　in　the　church　verse；　and　he'll　beg
for　mercy　when　'tis　too　lateunless；　meanwhile；　I　shall　have　tired
of　my　new　toy。　　Saddle　the　horse；　Cripplestraw；　tomorrow　at　ten。'

Full　of　this　resolve　to　scourge　John　Loveday　to　the　quick　through
his　passion　for　Miss　Johnson；　Festus　came　out　booted　and　spurred　at
the　time　appointed；　and　set　off　on　his　morning　ride。

Miss　Johnson's　theatrical　engagement　having　long　ago　terminated；　she
would　have　left　the　Royal　watering…place　with　the　rest　of　the
visitors　had　not　matrimonial　hopes　detained　her　there。　　These　had
nothing　whatever　to　do　with　John　Loveday；　as　may　be　imagined；　but
with　a　stout；　staid　boat…builder　in　Cove　Row　by　the　quay；　who　had
shown　much　interest　in　her　impersonations。　　Unfortunately　this
substantial　man　had　not　been　quite　so　attentive　since　the　end　of　the
season　as　his　previous　manner　led　her　to　expect；　and　it　was　a　great
pleasure　to　the　lady　to　see　Mr。　Derriman　leaning　over　the　harbour
bridge　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　her　as　she　came　towards　it　after　a
stroll　past　her　elderly　wooer's　house。

'Od　take　it；　ma'am；　you　didn't　tell　me　when　I　saw　you　last　that　the
tooting　man　with　the　blue　jacket　and　lace　was　yours　devoted？'　began
Festus。

'Who　do　you　mean？'　　In　Matilda's　ever…changing　emotional　interests；
John　Loveday　was　a　stale　and　unprofitable　personality。

'Why；　that　trumpet…major　man。'

'O！　　What　of　him？'

'Come；　he　loves　you；　and　you　know　it；　ma'am。'

She　knew；　at　any　rate；　how　to　take　the　current　when　it　served。　　So
she　glanced　at　Festus；　folded　her　lips　meaningly；　and　nodded。

'I've　come　to　cut　him　out。'

She　shook　her　head；　it　being　unsafe　to　speak　till　she　knew　a　little
more　of　the　subject。

'What！'　said　Festus；　reddening；　'do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　think
of　him　seriouslyyou；　who　might　look　so　much　higher？'

'Constant　dropping　will　wear　away　a　stone；　and　you　should　only　hear
his　pleading！　　His　handsome　face　is　impressive；　and　his　manners　are…
…O；　so　genteel！　　I　am　not　rich；　I　am；　in　short；　a　poor　lady　of
decayed　family；　who　has　nothing　to　boast　of　but　my　blood　and
ancestors；　and　they　won't　find　a　body　in　food　and　clothing！I　hold
the　world　but　as　the　world；　Derrimanioa　stage　where　every　man　must
play　a　part；　and　mine　a　sad　one！'　　She　dropped　her　eyes　thoughtfully
and　sighed。

'We　will　talk　of　this；'　said　Festus；　much　affected。　　'Let　us　walk　to
the　Look…out。'

She　made　no　objection；　and　said；　as　they　turned　that　way；　'Mr。
Derriman；　a　long　time　ago　I　found　something　belonging　to　you；　but　I
have　never　yet　remembered　to　return　it。'　　And　she　drew　from　her
bosom　the　paper　which　Anne　had　dropped　in　the　meadow　when　eluding
the　grasp　of　Festus　on　that　summer　day。

'Zounds；　I　smell　fresh　meat！'　cried　Festus　when　he　had　looked　it
over。　　''Tis　in　my　uncle's　writing；　and　'tis　what　I　heard　him
singing　on　the　day　the　French　didn't　come；　and　afterwards　saw　him
marking　in　the　road。　　'Tis　something　he's　got　hid　away。　　Give　me　the
paper；　there's　a　dear；　'tis　worth　sterling　gold！'

'Halves；　then？'　said　Matilda　tenderly。

'Gad；　yesanything！'　replied　Festus；　blazing　into　a　smile；　for　she
had　looked　up　in　her　best　new　manner　at　the　possibility　that　he
might　be　worth　the　winning。　　They　went　up　the　steps　to　the　summit　of
the　cliff；　and　dwindled　over　it　against　the　sky。



XXXVII。　　REACTION

There　was　no　letter　from　Bob；　though　December　had　passed；　and　the