malvina of brittany-第5章
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Commander Raffleton could not for the moment remember the name of
the village。 It would come to him。 It was northwest of Newbury。
You crossed Salisbury Plain and made straight for Magdalen Tower。
The Downs reached almost to the orchard gate。 There was a level
stretch of sward nearly half a mile long。 It seemed to Commander
Raffleton that Cousin Christopher had been created and carefully
preserved by Providence for this particular job。
He was no longer the moonstruck youth of the previous night； on whom
phantasy and imagination could play what pranks they chose。 That
part of him the keen； fresh morning air had driven back into its
cell。 He was Commander Raffleton； an eager and alert young engineer
with all his wits about him。 At this point that has to be
remembered。 Descending on a lonely reach of shore he proceeded to
again disturb Malvina for the purpose of extracting tins。 He
expected his passenger would in broad daylight prove to be a pretty；
childish…looking girl； somewhat dishevelled； with； maybe； a tinge of
blue about the nose； the natural result of a three…hours' flight at
fifty miles an hour。 It was with a startling return of his original
sensations when first she had come to life beneath his kiss that he
halted a few feet away and stared at her。 The night was gone； and
the silence。 She stood there facing the sunlight； clad in a
Burberry overcoat half a dozen sizes too large for her。 Beyond her
was a row of bathing…machines； and beyond that again a gasometer。 A
goods train half a mile away was noisily shunting trucks。
And yet the glamour was about her still； something indescribable but
quite palpablesomething out of which she looked at you as from
another world。
He took her proffered hand； and she leapt out lightly。 She was not
in the least dishevelled。 It seemed as if the air must be her
proper element。 She looked about her； interested； but not curious。
Her first thought was for the machine。
〃Poor thing！〃 she said。 〃He must be tired。〃
That faint tremor of fear that had come to him when beneath the
menhir's shadow he had watched the opening of her eyes； returned to
him。 It was not an unpleasant sensation。 Rather it added a
piquancy to their relationship。 But it was distinctly real。 She
watched the feeding of the monster； and then he came again and stood
beside her on the yellow sands。
〃England！〃 he explained with a wave of his hand。 One fancies she
had the impression that it belonged to him。 Graciously she repeated
the name。 And somehow； as it fell from her lips； it conjured up to
Commander Raffleton a land of wonder and romance。
〃I have heard of it；〃 she added。 〃I think I shall like it。〃
He answered that he hoped she would。 He was deadly serious about
it。 He possessed； generally speaking； a sense of humour； but for
the moment this must have deserted him。 He told her he was going to
leave her in the care of a wise and learned man called 〃Cousin
Christopher〃； his description no doubt suggesting to Malvina a
friendly magician。 He himself would have to go away for a little
while； but would return。
It did not seem to matter to Malvina； these minor details。 It was
evidentthe idea in her mindthat he had been appointed to her。
Whether as master or servant it was less easy to conjecture：
probably a mixture of both； with preference towards the latter。
He mentioned again that he would not be away for longer than he
could help。 There was no necessity for this repetition。 She wasn't
doubting it。
Weymouth with its bathing machines and its gasometer faded away。
King Rufus was out a…hunting as they passed over the New Forest； and
from Salisbury Plain； as they looked down； the pixies waved their
hands and laughed。 Later； they heard the clang of the anvil；
telling them they were in the neighbourhood of Wayland Smith's cave；
and so planed down sweetly and without a jar just beyond Cousin
Christopher's orchard gate。
A shepherd's boy was whistling somewhere upon the Downs； and in the
valley a ploughman had just harnessed his team； but the village was
hidden from them by the sweep of the hills； and no other being was
in sight。 He helped Malvina out； and leaving her seated on a fallen
branch beneath a walnut tree； proceeded cautiously towards the
house。 He found a little maid in the garden。 She had run out of
the house on hearing the sound of his propeller and was staring up
into the sky； so that she never saw him until he put his hand upon
her shoulder； and then was fortunately too frightened to scream。 He
gave her hasty instructions。 She was to knock at the Professor's
door and tell him that his cousin； Commander Raffleton； was there；
and would he come down at once； by himself； into the orchard。
Commander Raffleton would rather not come in。 Would the Professor
come down at once and speak to Commander Raffleton in the orchard。
She went back into the house； repeating it all to herself； a little
scared。
〃Good God！〃 said Cousin Christopher from beneath the bedclothes。
〃He isn't hurt； is he？〃
The little maid； through the jar of the door； thought not。 Anyhow；
he didn't look it。 But would the Professor kindly come at once？
Commander Raffleton was waiting for himin the orchard。
So Cousin Christopher； in bedroom slippers； without socks； wearing a
mustard…coloured dressing…gown and a black skull cap upon his head
the very picture of a friendly magiciantrotted hastily downstairs
and through the garden； talking to himself about 〃foolhardy boys〃
and 〃knowing it would happen〃； and was much relieved to meet young
Arthur Raffleton coming towards him； evidently sound in wind and
limb。 And then began to wonder why the devil he had been frightened
out of bed at six o'clock in the morning if nothing was the matter。
But something clearly was。 Before speaking Arthur Raffleton looked
carefully about him in a manner suggestive of mystery； if not of
crime； and still without a word； taking Cousin Christopher by the
arm； led the way to the farther end of the orchard。 And there； on a
fallen branch beneath the walnut tree； Cousin Christopher saw
apparently a khaki coat； with nothing in it； which； as they
approached it； rose up。
But it did not rise very high。 The back of the coat was towards
them。 Its collar stood out against the sky line。 But there wasn't
any head。 Standing upright； it turned round； and peeping out of its
folds Cousin Christopher saw a child's face。 And then looking
closer saw that it wasn't a child。 And then wasn't quite sure what
it was； so that coming to a sudden halt in front of it； Cousin
Christopher stared at it with round wide eyes； and then at Flight
Commander Raffleton。
It was to Malvina that Flight Commander Raffleton addressed himself。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃is Professor Littlecherry； my Cousin Christopher；
about whom I told you。〃
It was obvious that Malvina regarded the Professor as a person of
importance。 Evidently her intention was to curtsy； an operation
that； hampered by those trailing yards of clinging khaki； might
proveso it flashed upon the Professornot only difficult but
dangerous。
〃Allow me；〃 said the Professor。
His idea was to help Malvina out of Commander Raffleton's coat； and
Malvina was preparing to assist him。 Commander Raffleton was only
just in time。
〃I don't think；〃 said Commander Raffleton。 〃If you don't mind I
think we'd better leave that for Mrs。 Muldoon。〃
The Professor let go the coat。 Malvina appeared a shade
disappointed。 One opines that not unreasonably she may have thought
to make a better impression without it。 But a smiling acquiescence
in all arrangements made for her welfare seems to have been one of
her charms。
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Commander Raffleton to Malvina while
refastening a few of the more important buttons； 〃if you wouldn't
mind explaining yourself to my Cousin Christopher just exactly who
and what you areyou'd do it so much better than I should。〃 （What
Commander Raffleton was saying to himself was： 〃If I tell the dear
old Johnny； he'll think I'm pulling his leg。 It will sound
altogether different the way she will put it。〃） 〃You're sure you
don't mind？〃
Malvina hadn't
