st. ives-第16章
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was my first thought to drop from the wall upon the other side。 A
glance sufficed to show me that even the way by which I had come
was now cut off; and the field behind me already occupied by a
couple of shepherds' assistants and a score or two of sheep。 I
have named the talismans on which I habitually depend; but here was
a conjuncture in which both were wholly useless。 The copestone of
a wall arrayed with broken bottles is no favourable rostrum; and I
might be as eloquent as Pitt; and as fascinating as Richelieu; and
neither the gardener nor the shepherd lads would care a halfpenny。
In short; there was no escape possible from my absurd position:
there I must continue to sit until one or other of my neighbours
should raise his eyes and give the signal for my capture。
The part of the wall on which (for my sins) I was posted could be
scarce less than twelve feet high on the inside; the leaves of the
beech which made a fashion of sheltering me were already partly
fallen; and I was thus not only perilously exposed myself; but
enabled to command some part of the garden walks and (under an
evergreen arch) the front lawn and windows of the cottage。 For
long nothing stirred except my friend with the spade; then I heard
the opening of a sash; and presently after saw Miss Flora appear in
a morning wrapper and come strolling hitherward between the
borders; pausing and visiting her flowers … herself as fair。 THERE
was a friend; HERE; immediately beneath me; an unknown quantity …
the gardener: how to communicate with the one and not attract the
notice of the other? To make a noise was out of the question; I
dared scarce to breathe。 I held myself ready to make a gesture as
soon as she should look; and she looked in every possible direction
but the one。 She was interested in the vilest tuft of chickweed;
she gazed at the summit of the mountain; she came even immediately
below me and conversed on the most fastidious topics with the
gardener; but to the top of that wall she would not dedicate a
glance! At last she began to retrace her steps in the direction of
the cottage; whereupon; becoming quite desperate; I broke off a
piece of plaster; took a happy aim; and hit her with it in the nape
of the neck。 She clapped her hand to the place; turned about;
looked on all sides for an explanation; and spying me (as indeed I
was parting the branches to make it the more easy); half uttered
and half swallowed down again a cry of surprise。
The infernal gardener was erect upon the instant。 'What's your
wull; miss?' said he。
Her readiness amazed me。 She had already turned and was gazing in
the opposite direction。 'There's a child among the artichokes;'
she said。
'The Plagues of Egyp'! I'LL see to them!' cried the gardener
truculently; and with a hurried waddle disappeared among the
evergreens。
That moment she turned; she came running towards me; her arms
stretched out; her face incarnadined for the one moment with
heavenly blushes; the next pale as death。 'Monsieur de。 Saint…
Yves!' she said。
'My dear young lady;' I said; 'this is the damnedest liberty … I
know it! But what else was I to do?'
'You have escaped?' said she。
'If you call this escape;' I replied。
'But you cannot possibly stop there!' she cried。
'I know it;' said I。 'And where am I to go?'
She struck her hands together。 'I have it!' she exclaimed。 'Come
down by the beech trunk … you must leave no footprint in the border
… quickly; before Robie can get back! I am the hen…wife here: I
keep the key; you must go into the hen…house … for the moment。'
I was by her side at once。 Both cast a hasty glance at the blank
windows of the cottage and so much as was visible of the garden
alleys; it seemed there was none to observe us。 She caught me by
the sleeve and ran。 It was no time for compliments; hurry breathed
upon our necks; and I ran along with her to the next corner of the
garden; where a wired court and a board hovel standing in a grove
of trees advertised my place of refuge。 She thrust me in without a
word; the bulk of the fowls were at the same time emitted; and I
found myself the next moment locked in alone with half a dozen
sitting hens。 In the twilight of the place all fixed their eyes on
me severely; and seemed to upbraid me with some crying impropriety。
Doubtless the hen has always a puritanic appearance; although (in
its own behaviour) I could never observe it to be more particular
than its neighbours。 But conceive a British hen!
CHAPTER VIII … THE HEN…HOUSE
I WAS half an hour at least in the society of these distressing
bipeds; and alone with my own reflections and necessities。 I was
in great pain of my flayed hands; and had nothing to treat them
with; I was hungry and thirsty; and had nothing to eat or to drink;
I was thoroughly tired; and there was no place for me to sit。 To
be sure there was the floor; but nothing could be imagined less
inviting。
At the sound of approaching footsteps; my good…humour was restored。
The key rattled in the lock; and Master Ronald entered; closed the
door behind him; and leaned his back to it。
'I say; you know!' he said; and shook a sullen young head。
'I know it's a liberty;' said I。
'It's infernally awkward: my position is infernally embarrassing;'
said he。
'Well;' said I; 'and what do you think of mine?'
This seemed to pose him entirely; and he remained gazing upon me
with a convincing air of youth and innocence。 I could have
laughed; but I was not so inhumane。
'I am in your hands;' said I; with a little gesture。 'You must do
with me what you think right。'
'Ah; yes!' he cried: 'if I knew!'
'You see;' said I; 'it would be different if you had received your
commission。 Properly speaking; you are not yet a combatant; I have
ceased to be one; and I think it arguable that we are just in the
position of one ordinary gentleman to another; where friendship
usually comes before the law。 Observe; I only say ARGUABLE。 For
God's sake; don't think I wish to dictate an opinion。 These are
the sort of nasty little businesses; inseparable from war; which
every gentleman must decide for himself。 If I were in your place …
'
'Ay; what would you do; then?' says he。
'Upon my word; I do not know;' said I。 'Hesitate; as you are
doing; I believe。'
'I will tell you;' he said。 'I have a kinsman; and it is what HE
would think; that I am thinking。 It is General Graham of Lynedoch
… Sir Thomas Graham。 I scarcely know him; but I believe I admire
him more than I do God。'
'I admire him a good deal myself;' said I; 'and have good reason
to。 I have fought with him; been beaten; and run away。 VENI;
VICTUS SUM; EVASI。'
'What!' he cried。 'You were at Barossa?'
'There and back; which many could not say;' said I。 'It was a
pretty affair and a hot one; and the Spaniards behaved abominably;
as they usually did in a pitched field; the Marshal Duke of Belluno
made a fool of himself; and not for the first time; and your friend
Sir Thomas had the best of it; so far as there was any best。 He is
a brave and ready officer。'
'Now; then; you will understand!' said the boy。 'I wish to please
Sir Thomas: what would he do?'
'Well; I can tell you a story;' said I; 'a true one too; and about
this very combat of Chiclana; or Barossa as you call it。 I was in
the Eighth of the Line; we lost the eagle of the First Battalion;
more betoken; but it cost you dear。 Well; we had repulsed more
charges than I care to count; when your 87th Regiment came on at a
foot's pace; very slow but very steady; in front of them a mounted
officer; his hat in his hand; white…haired; and talking very
quietly to the battalions。 Our Major; Vigo…Roussillon; set spurs
to his