the trumpet-major-第71节

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men。

They　could　not　stay　so　long　to…night　as　on　that　earlier　and　more
cheerful　occasion；　and　the　final　adieus　were　spoken　at　an　early
hour。　　It　was　no　mere　playing　at　departure；　as　when　they　had　gone　to
Exonbury　barracks；　and　there　was　a　warm　and　prolonged　shaking　of
hands　all　round。

'You'll　wish　the　poor　fellows　good…bye？'　said　Bob　to　Anne；　who　had
not　come　forward　for　that　purpose　like　the　rest。　　'They　are　going
away；　and　would　like　to　have　your　good　word。'

She　then　shyly　advanced；　and　every　man　felt　that　he　must　make　some
pretty　speech　as　he　shook　her　by　the　hand。

'Good…bye！　　May　you　remember　us　as　long　as　it　makes　ye　happy；　and
forget　us　as　soon　as　it　makes　ye　sad；'　said　Sergeant　Brett。

'Good…night！　　Health；　wealth；　and　long　life　to　ye！'　said
Sergeant…major　Wills；　taking　her　hand　from　Brett。

'I　trust　to　meet　ye　again　as　the　wife　of　a　worthy　man；'　said
Trumpeter　Buck。

'We'll　drink　your　health　throughout　the　campaign；　and　so　good…bye
t'ye；'　said　Saddler…sergeant　Jones；　raising　her　hand　to　his　lips。

Three　others　followed　with　similar　remarks；　to　each　of　which　Anne
blushingly　replied　as　well　as　she　could；　wishing　them　a　prosperous
voyage；　easy　conquest；　and　a　speedy　return。

But；　alas；　for　that！　　Battles　and　skirmishes；　advances　and　retreats；
fevers　and　fatigues；　told　hard　on　Anne's　gallant　friends　in　the
coming　time。　　Of　the　seven　upon　whom　these　wishes　were　bestowed；
five；　including　the　trumpet…major；　were　dead　men　within　the　few
following　years；　and　their　bones　left　to　moulder　in　the　land　of
their　campaigns。

John　lingered　behind。　　When　the　others　were　outside；　expressing　a
final　farewell　to　his　father；　Bob；　and　Mrs。　Loveday；　he　came　to
Anne；　who　remained　within。

'But　I　thought　you　were　going　to　look　in　again　before　leaving？'　she
said　gently。

'No；　I　find　I　cannot。　　Good…bye！'

'John；'　said　Anne；　holding　his　right　hand　in　both　hers；　'I　must　tell
you　something。　　You　were　wise　in　not　taking　me　at　my　word　that　day。
I　was　greatly　mistaken　about　myself。　　Gratitude　is　not　love；　though
I　wanted　to　make　it　so　for　the　time。　　You　don't　call　me　thoughtless
for　what　I　did？'

'My　dear　Anne；'　cried　John；　with　more　gaiety　than　truthfulness；
'don't　let　yourself　be　troubled！　　What　happens　is　for　the　best。
Soldiers　love　here　to…day　and　there　to…morrow。　　Who　knows　that　you
won't　hear　of　my　attentions　to　some　Spanish　maid　before　a　month　is
gone　by？　　'Tis　the　way　of　us；　you　know；　a　soldier's　heart　is　not
worth　a　week's　purchaseha；　ha！　　Goodbye；　good…bye！'

Anne　felt　the　expediency　of　his　manner；　received　the　affectation　as
real；　and　smiled　her　reply；　not　knowing　that　the　adieu　was　for
evermore。　　Then　with　a　tear　in　his　eye　he　went　out　of　the　door；
where　he　bade　farewell　to　the　miller；　Mrs。　Loveday；　and　Bob；　who
said　at　parting；　'It's　all　right；　Jack；　my　dear　fellow。　　After　a
coaxing　that　would　have　been　enough　to　win　three　ordinary
Englishwomen；　five　French；　and　ten　Mulotters；　she　has　to…day　agreed
to　bestow　her　hand　upon　me　at　the　end　of　six　months。　　Good…bye；
Jack；　good…bye！'

The　candle　held　by　his　father　shed　its　waving　light　upon　John's　face
and　uniform　as　with　a　farewell　smile　he　turned　on　the　doorstone；
backed　by　the　black　night；　and　in　another　moment　he　had　plunged　into
the　darkness；　the　ring　of　his　smart　step　dying　away　upon　the　bridge
as　he　joined　his　companions…in…arms；　and　went　off　to　blow　his
trumpet　till　silenced　for　ever　upon　one　of　the　bloody　battle…fields
of　Spain。







End