第 21 节
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铲除不公 更新:2021-10-21 08:52 字数:9322
near; and soon after the King; accompanied by the Dukes of Cambridge
and Cumberland; and a couple of generals; appeared on horseback;
wearing a round hat turned up at the side; with a cockade and
military feather。 (Sensation among the crowd。) Then the Queen and
three of the princesses entered the field in a great coach drawn by
six beautiful cream…coloured horses。 Another coach; with four
horses of the same sort; brought the two remaining princesses。
(Confused acclamations; 'There's King Jarge!' 'That's Queen
Sharlett!' 'Princess 'Lizabeth!' 'Princesses Sophiar and Meelyer!'
etc。; from the surrounding spectators。)
Anne and her party were fortunate enough to secure a position on the
top of one of the barrows which rose here and there on the down; and
the miller having gallantly constructed a little cairn of flints; he
placed the two women thereon; by which means they were enabled to
see over the heads; horses; and coaches of the multitudes below and
around。 At the march…past the miller's eye; which had been
wandering about for the purpose; discovered his son in his place by
the trumpeters; who had moved forwards in two ranks; and were
sounding the march。
'That's John!' he cried to the widow。 'His trumpet…sling is of two
colours; d'ye see; and the others be plain。'
Mrs。 Garland too saw him now; and enthusiastically admired him from
her hands upwards; and Anne silently did the same。 But before the
young woman's eyes had quite left the trumpet…major they fell upon
the figure of Yeoman Festus riding with his troop; and keeping his
face at a medium between haughtiness and mere bravery。 He certainly
looked as soldierly as any of his own corps; and felt more soldierly
than half…a…dozen; as anybody could see by observing him。 Anne got
behind the miller; in case Festus should discover her; and;
regardless of his monarch; rush upon her in a rage with; 'Why the
devil did you run away from me that nighthey; madam?' But she
resolved to think no more of him just now; and to stick to Loveday;
who was her mother's friend。 In this she was helped by the stirring
tones which burst from the latter gentleman and his subordinates
from time to time。
'Well;' said the miller complacently; 'there's few of more
consequence in a regiment than a trumpeter。 He's the chap that
tells 'em what to do; after all。 Hey; Mrs。 Garland?'
'So he is; miller;' said she。
'They could no more do without Jack and his men than they could
without generals。'
'Indeed they could not;' said Mrs。 Garland again; in a tone of
pleasant agreement with any one in Great Britain or Ireland。
It was said that the line that day was three miles long; reaching
from the high ground on the right of where the people stood to the
turnpike road on the left。 After the review came a sham fight;
during which action the crowd dispersed more widely over the downs;
enabling Widow Garland to get still clearer glimpses of the King;
and his handsome charger; and the head of the Queen; and the elbows
and shoulders of the princesses in the carriages; and fractional
parts of General Garth and the Duke of Cumberland; which sights gave
her great gratification。 She tugged at her daughter at every
opportunity; exclaiming; 'Now you can see his feather!' 'There's her
hat!' 'There's her Majesty's India muslin shawl!' in a minor form of
ecstasy; that made the miller think her more girlish and animated
than her daughter Anne。
In those military manoeuvres the miller followed the fortunes of one
man; Anne Garland of two。 The spectators; who; unlike our party;
had no personal interest in the soldiery; saw only troops and
battalions in the concrete; straight lines of red; straight lines of
blue; white lines formed of innumerable knee…breeches; black lines
formed of many gaiters; coming and going in kaleidoscopic change。
Who thought of every point in the line as an isolated man; each
dwelling all to himself in the hermitage of his own mind? One
person did; a young man far removed from the barrow where the
Garlands and Miller Loveday stood。 The natural expression of his
face was somewhat obscured by the bronzing effects of rough weather;
but the lines of his mouth showed that affectionate impulses were
strong within himperhaps stronger than judgment well could
regulate。 He wore a blue jacket with little brass buttons; and was
plainly a seafaring man。
Meanwhile; in the part of the plain where rose the tumulus on which
the miller had established himself; a broad…brimmed tradesman was
elbowing his way along。 He saw Mr。 Loveday from the base of the
barrow; and beckoned to attract his attention。 Loveday went halfway
down; and the other came up as near as he could。
'Miller;' said the man; 'a letter has been lying at the post…office
for you for the last three days。 If I had known that I should see
ye here I'd have brought it along with me。'
The miller thanked him for the news; and they parted; Loveday
returning to the summit。 'What a very strange thing!' he said to
Mrs。 Garland; who had looked inquiringly at his face; now very
grave。 'That was Budmouth postmaster; and he says there's a letter
for me。 Ah; I now call to mind that there WAS a letter in the
candle three days ago this very nighta large red one; but
foolish…like I thought nothing o't。 Who CAN that letter be from?'
A letter at this time was such an event for hamleteers; even of the
miller's respectable standing; that Loveday thenceforward was thrown
into a fit of abstraction which prevented his seeing any more of the
sham fight; or the people; or the King。 Mrs。 Garland imbibed some
of his concern; and suggested that the letter might come from his
son Robert。
'I should naturally have thought that;' said Miller Loveday; 'but he
wrote to me only two months ago; and his brother John heard from him
within the last four weeks; when he was just about starting on
another voyage。 If you'll pardon me; Mrs。 Garland; ma'am; I'll see
if there's any Overcombe man here who is going to Budmouth to…day;
so that I may get the letter by night…time。 I cannot possibly go
myself。'
So Mr。 Loveday left them for awhile; and as they were so near home
Mrs。 Garland did not wait on the barrow for him to come back; but
walked about with Anne a little time; until they should be disposed
to trot down the slope to their own door。 They listened to a man
who was offering one guinea to receive ten in case Buonaparte should
be killed in three months; and to other entertainments of that
nature; which at this time were not rare。 Once during their
peregrination the eyes of the sailor before…mentioned fell upon
Anne; but he glanced over her and passed her unheedingly by。
Loveday the elder was at this time on the other side of the line;
looking for a messenger to the town。 At twelve o'clock the review
was over; and the King and his family left the hill。 The troops
then cleared off the field; the spectators followed; and by one
o'clock the downs were again bare。
They still spread their grassy surface to the sun as on that
beautiful morning not; historically speaking; so very long ago; but
the King and his fifteen thousand armed men; the horses; the bands
of music; the princesses; the cream…coloured teamsthe gorgeous
centre…piece; in short; to which the downs were but the mere mount
or marginhow entirely have they all passed and gone!lying
scattered about the world as military and other dust; some at
Talavera; Albuera; Salamanca; Vittoria; Toulouse; and Waterloo; some
in home churchyards; and a few small handfuls in royal vaults。
In the afternoon John Loveday; lightened of his trumpet and
trappings; appeared at the old mill…house door; and beheld Anne
standing at hers。
'I saw you; Miss Garland;' said the soldier gaily。
'Where was I?' said she; smiling。
'On the top of the big moundto the right of the King。'
'And I saw you; lots of times;' she rejoined。
Loveday seemed pleased。 'Did you really take the trouble to find
me? That was very good of you。'
'Her eyes followed you everywhere;' said Mrs。 Garland from an upper
window。
'Of course I looked at the dragoons most;' said Anne; disconcerted。
'And when I looked at them my eyes naturally fell upon the trumpets。
I looked at the dragoons generally; no more。'
She did not mean to show any vexation to the trumpet…major; but he
fancied otherwise; and stood repressed。 The situation was relieved
by the arrival of the miller; still looking serious。
'I am very much concerned; John; I did not go to the review for
nothing。 There's a letter a…waiting for me at Budmouth; and I must
get it before bedtime; or I shan't sleep a wink。'
'I'll go; of course;' said John; 'and perhaps Miss Garland would
like to see what's doing there to…day? Everybody is gone or going;
the road is like a fair。'
He spoke pleadingly; but Anne was not won to assent。
'You can drive in the gig; 'twill do Blossom good;' said the miller。
'Let David drive Miss Garland;' said the trumpet…major; not wishing
to coerce her; 'I would just as soon walk。'
Anne joyfully welcomed this arrangement; and a time was fixed for
the start。
XIII。 THE CONVERSATION IN THE CROWD
In the afterno