lay morals-第40章

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bed　and　the　white　sheets；　at　the　strip　　of　carpet　laid；　like　an　island；　on　the　great　expanse　of　the　　stone　floor；　and　at　the　broken　glazing　of　the　casement　　clumsily　repaired　with　paper。

'Leave　that　fire　a…be；'　he　cried。　　'What；　have　I　toiled　all　　my　life　to　turn　innkeeper　at　the　hind　end？　　Leave　it　a…be；　I　　say。'

'La；　uncle；　it　doesn't　burn　a　bit；　it　only　smokes；'　said　　Nance；　looking　up　from　her　position。

'You　are　come　of　decent　people　on　both　sides；'　returned　the　　old　man。　　'Who　are　you　to　blow　the　coals　for　any　Robin…run…　agate？　　Get　up；　get　on　your　hood；　make　yourself　useful；　and　　be　off　to　the　〃Green　Dragon。〃'

'I　thought　you　was　to　go　yourself；'　Nance　faltered。

'So　did　I；'　quoth　Jonathan；　'but　it　appears　I　was　mistook。'

The　very　excess　of　her　eagerness　alarmed　her；　and　she　began　　to　hang　back。　　'I　think　I　would　rather　not；　dear　uncle；'　she　　said。　　'Night　is　at　hand；　and　I　think；　dear；　I　would　rather　　not。'

'Now　you　look　here；'　replied　Jonathan；　'I　have　my　lord's　　orders；　have　I　not？　　Little　he　gives　me；　but　it's　all　my　　livelihood。　　And　do　you　fancy；　if　I　disobey　my　lord；　I'm　　likely　to　turn　round　for　a　lass　like　you？　　No；　I've　that　　hell…fire　of　pain　in　my　old　knee；　I　wouldn't　walk　a　mile；　not　　for　King　George　upon　his　bended　knees。'　　And　he　walked　to　the　　window　and　looked　down　the　steep　scarp　to　where　the　river　　foamed　in　the　bottom　of　the　dell。

Nance　stayed　for　no　more　bidding。　　In　her　own　room；　by　the　　glimmer　of　the　twilight；　she　washed　her　hands　and　pulled　on　　her　Sunday　mittens；　adjusted　her　black　hood；　and　tied　a　dozen　　times　its　cherry　ribbons；　and　in　less　than　ten　minutes；　with　　a　fluttering　heart　and　excellently　bright　eyes；　she　passed　　forth　under　the　arch　and　over　the　bridge；　into　the　thickening　　shadows　of　the　groves。　　A　well…marked　wheel…track　conducted　　her。　　The　wood；　which　upon　both　sides　of　the　river　dell　was　a　　mere　scrambling　thicket　of　hazel；　hawthorn；　and　holly；　　boasted　on　the　level　of　more　considerable　timber。　　Beeches　　came　to　a　good　growth；　with　here　and　there　an　oak；　and　the　　track　now　passed　under　a　high　arcade　of　branches；　and　now　ran　　under　the　open　sky　in　glades。　　As　the　girl　proceeded　these　　glades　became　more　frequent；　the　trees　began　again　to　decline　　in　size；　and　the　wood　to　degenerate　into　furzy　coverts。　　Last　　of　all　there　was　a　fringe　of　elders；　and　beyond　that　the　　track　came　forth　upon　an　open；　rolling　moorland；　dotted　with　　wind…bowed　and　scanty　bushes；　and　all　golden　brown　with　the　　winter；　like　a　grouse。　　Right　over　against　the　girl　the　last　　red　embers　of　the　sunset　burned　under　horizontal　clouds；　the　　night　fell　clear　and　still　and　frosty；　and　the　track　in　low　　and　marshy　passages　began　to　crackle　under　foot　with　ice。

Some　half　a　mile　beyond　the　borders　of　the　wood　the　lights　of　　the　'Green　Dragon'　hove　in　sight；　and　running　close　beside　　them；　very　faint　in　the　dying　dusk；　the　pale　ribbon　of　the　　Great　North　Road。　　It　was　the　back　of　the　post…house　that　was　　presented　to　Nance　Holdaway；　and　as　she　continued　to　draw　　near　and　the　night　to　fall　more　completely；　she　became　aware　　of　an　unusual　brightness　and　bustle。　　A　post…chaise　stood　in　　the　yard；　its　lamps　already　lighted：　light　shone　hospitably　　in　the　windows　and　from　the　open　door；　moving　lights　and　　shadows　testified　to　the　activity　of　servants　bearing　　lanterns。　　The　clank　of　pails；　the　stamping　of　hoofs　on　the　　firm　causeway；　the　jingle　of　harness；　and；　last　of　all；　the　　energetic　hissing　of　a　groom；　began　to　fall　upon　her　ear。　　By　　the　stir　you　would　have　thought　the　mail　was　at　the　door；　but　　it　was　still　too　early　in　the　night。　　The　down　mail　was　not　　due　at　the　'Green　Dragon'　for　hard　upon　an　hour；　the　up　mail　　from　Scotland　not　before　two　in　the　black　morning。

Nance　entered　the　yard　somewhat　dazzled。　　Sam；　the　tall　　ostler；　was　polishing　a　curb…chain　wit　sand；　the　lantern　at　　his　feet　letting　up　spouts　of　candle…light　through　the　holes　　with　which　its　conical　roof　was　peppered。

'Hey；　miss；'　said　he　jocularly；　'you　won't　look　at　me　any　　more；　now　you　have　gentry　at　the　castle。'

Her　cheeks　burned　with　anger。

'That's　my　lord's　chay；'　the　man　continued；　nodding　at　the　　chaise；　'Lord　Windermoor's。　　Came　all　in　a　fluster　…　dinner；　　bowl　of　punch；　and　put　the　horses　to。　For　all　the　world　like　　a　runaway　match；　my　dear　…　bar　the　bride。　　He　brought　Mr。　　Archer　in　the　chay　with　him。'

'Is　that　Holdaway？'　cried　the　landlord　from　the　lighted　　entry；　where　he　stood　shading　his　eyes。

'Only　me；　sir；'　answered　Nance。

'O；　you；　Miss　Nance；'　he　said。　　'Well；　come　in　quick；　my　　pretty。　　My　lord　is　waiting　for　your　uncle。'

And　he　ushered　Nance　into　a　room　cased　with　yellow　wainscot　　and　lighted　by　tall　candles；　where　two　gentlemen　sat　at　a　　table　finishing　a　bowl　of　punch。　　One　of　these　was　stout；　　elderly；　and　irascible；　with　a　face　like　a　full　moon；　well　　dyed　with　liquor；　thick　tremulous　lips；　a　short；　purple　hand；　　in　which　he　brandished　a　long　pipe；　and　an　abrupt　and　　gobbling　utterance。　　This　was　my　Lord　Windermoor。　　In　his　　companion　Nance　beheld　a　younger　man；　tall；　quiet；　grave；　　demurely　dressed；　and　wearing　his　own　hair。　　Her　glance　but　　lighted　on　him；　and　she　flushed；　for　in　that　second　she　made　　sure　that　she　had　twice　betrayed　herself　…　betrayed　by　the　　involuntary　flash　of　her　black　eyes　her　secret　impatience　to　　behold　this　new　companion；　and；　what　was　far　worse；　betrayed　　her　disappointment　in　the　realisation　of　her　dreams。　　He；　　meanwhile；　as　if　unconscious；　continued　to　regard　her　with　　unmoved　decorum。

'O；　a　man　of　wood；'　thought　Nance。

'What　…　what？'　said　his　lordship。　　'Who　is　this？'

'If　you　please；　my　lord；　I　am　Holdaway's　niece；'　replied　　Nance；　with　a　curtsey。

'Should　have　been　here　himself；'　observed　his　lordship。　　　'Well；　you　tell　Holdaway　that　I'm　aground；　not　a　stiver　…　not　　a　stiver。　　I'm　running　from　the　beagles　…　going　abroad；　tell　　Holdaway。　　And　he　need　look　for　no　more　wages：　glad　of　'em　　myself；　if　I　could　get　'em。　　He　can　live　in　the　castle　if　he　　likes；　or　go　to　the　devil。　　O；　and　here　is　Mr。　Archer；　and　I　　recommend　him　to　take　him　in　…　a　friend　of　mine　…　and　Mr。　　Archer　will　pay；　as　I　wrote。　　And　I　regard　that　in　the　light　　of　a　precious　good　thing　for　Holdaway；　let　me　tell　you；　and　a　　set…off　against　the　wages。'

'But　O；　my　lord！'　cried　Nance；　'we　live　upon　the　wages；　and　　what　are　we　to　do　without？'

'What　am　I　to　do？　…　what　am　I　to　do？'　replied　Lord　Windermoor　　with　some　exasperation。　　'I　have　no　wages。　　And　there　is　Mr。　　Archer。　　And　if　Holdaway　doesn't　like　it；　he　can　go　to　the　　devil；　and　you　with　him！　…　and　you　with　him！'

'And　yet；　my　lord；'　said　Mr。　Archer；　'these　good　people　will　　have　as　keen　a　sense　of　loss　as　you　or　I；　keener；　perhaps；　　since　they　have　done　nothing　to　deserve　it。'

'Deserve　it？'　cried　the　peer。　　'What？　　What？　　If　a　rascally　　highwayman　comes　up　to　me　with　a　confounded　pistol；　do　you　　say　that　I've　deserved　it？　　How　often　am　I　to　tell　you；　sir；　　that　I　was　cheated　…　that　I　was　cheated？'

'You　are　happy　in　the　belief；'　returned　Mr。　Archer　gravely。

'Archer；　you　would　be　the　death　of　me！'　exclaimed　his　　lordship。　　'You　know　you're　drunk；　you　know　it；　sir；　and　yet　　you　can't　get　up　a　spark　of　animation。'

'I　have　drunk　fair；　my　lord；'　replied　the　younger　man；　'but　I　　own　I　am　conscious　of　no　exhilaration。'

'If　you　had　as　black　a　look…out　as　me；　sir；'　cried　the　peer；　　'you　would　be　very　glad　of　a　little　innocent　exhilaration；　　let　me　tell　you。　　I　am　glad　of　it　…　glad　of　it；　and　I　only　　wish　I　was　drunker。　　For　let　me　tell　you　it's　a　cruel　hard　　thing　upon　a　man　of　my　time　of　life　and　my　position；　to　be　　brought　down　to　beggary　because　the　world　is　full　of　thieves　　and　rascals　…　thieves　and　rascals。　　What？　　For　all　I　know；　　you　may　be　a　thief　and　a　rascal　yourself；　and　I　would　fight　　you　for　a　pinch　of　snuff　…　a　pinch　of　snuff；'　exclaimed　his　　lordship。

Here　Mr。　Archer　turned　to　Nance　Holdaway　with　a　pleasant　　smile；　so　full　of　sweetness；　kindness；　and　composure　that；　at　　one　bound；　her　dreams　returned　to　her。　　'My　good　Miss　　Holdaway；'　said　he；　'if　you　are　willing　to　show　me　the　road；　　I　am　even　eager　to　be　gone。　　As　for　his　lordship　and　myself；　　compose　yourself；　there　is　no　fear；　this　is　his　l